Dare I dream?

Hi I had previously started a blog but truth be told I'm spending significantly more time in here I might as well create my blog/diary here.

So a bit about me I guess: I am a professional project manager, I would n't describe myself as a career girl because I firmly believe there is more to life than the 9-5 (or even 7-6). Far more importantly than my work position is the fact I am a newly wed, although it's coming up to a year now (how long can you call yourself a newly wed?) I am also a part time Bonus parent. That is I have a 15 year old former step daughter (I've been married before) and m husband has 2 former step sons (15 &17). They all come over once a month for the weekends, sometimes all at the same time sometimes different weekends (this weekend is bonu daughter, next week its the boys).

when I met my husband I was a very fit 13 stone 4. I was exercising a lot and very happy with my shape. I was a 12 top and a 14 bottom. 3 years later I weighed in at slimming world at 16stone 5.5 GUTTED didn't begin to describe it. I hadn't even managed to lose weight before the wedding.

anway you can't turn the clock back and all that, but last year, after the wedding and house move (and job change all in 6 weeks - stressful? - surprisingly not) I started to notice little health detriments. my feet hurt (alot) and eventually I was diagnosed with planta fasilittis. When I researched this it said it was weight related. i also have no energy and everything was beginning to not only not fit but starting to dig in. Basically I felt like a right mess!

so on 30th December (who? I mean WHO in their right mind joins a slimming club on the 30th December?) I joined Rugeley Rose slimming world group. worst case, I thought, was that it gave me an opportunity to make some new friends (I am new to the area). To make things even more challenging the following week I was going skiing. I had secretly bought yet another new pair of sallopettes in a size 20 - when I started skiing 4 years ago I wore size 14, so each year had caused me to buy bigger and bigger kit. Huge embarrassment in October when at the ski show I couldn't buy a womans jacket because of my size, however at 5foot 4 a mans jacket swamps me.

anyway I digress.....so I joined SW and I wish I could write that I have never looked back but thats not the truth. Having never done EE previously I had my mind scrambled by the free foods (Ive previously been a red and green girl). So I joined then went back two weeks later (after the holiday) to discover a 3lb loss! The following week it was 4lb, Wow, I thought this is amazing.

Then my weight loss stopped. For a month. I'm not talking about it slowing down, no it stopped completely, which was consistent with the previous experiences of sw I had had. fortunately this time I had a different slimming world leader and she encouraged me to have syns, where I hadn't been having any. Next week came, with a 1lb loss, the week after 3lbs and in the course of March I lost 9lbs!

Then another skiing holiday and a gain this time, 2 weeks later I am still carrying the 1.5lb gain, but I am hopeful it will have gone this week. I could be despondant about my weight loss, I see on here other people who, having joined in Jan, have lost in excess of 2stone in the same time. There is a young girl in the group who joined a week after me, is a lovely size and is approaching 2 stone. I wonder how she does it. But I realise that this is just my journey, its going to be scenic.

I am fortunate, my husband is amazingly supportive, is relishing cooking slimming world food and is making this as easy as it could possibly be.

This week has been a corker. we had a small class on Monday and Rachel talked to us about speed foods and I really took on board what she said. I am hoping for a HUGE loss this week. I am expecting about 4lbs. That will give me a massive boost. I have a family wedding in 2 weeks and really wanted to get 1.5 stone or at least into the 14s for it. I have started running, following the c25k programme, although I have fallen to the wayside after the last skiing holiday. I am starting to feel the need to run once more.

So why write this? I thought if I can encourage others who find it hard to take the scenic route then thats good but its mainly selfish, I want to be able to look back on the good weeks and see what I did, and avoid the same mistakes on the bad weeks.


So starting today, I had a huge breakfast: I have had a hifi, I'm making shepherds pie for tea (will use HEA for cheese). But I am now ready for some lunch, Im thinking a tuna jacket potato

Today I am a little less focused I started ok. But have nibbled a bit. It's not disastrous but I thinking get complacent when I see a good loss on the scales. I need to hide the scales!

anyway breakfast was ok lunch was heated up shepherds pie, then I've had a hifi and a small chocolate cake. Actually reading that makes me realise I haven't been too bad after all.

Hi

ive been married 12 years last week but I moved away, got new job and married within 3 weeks - stressy! Married at just about my heaviest ever. 12 years on still overweight (have been lighter but never got to goal although pretty close) and am ready to sort it. Don't want to always be a 'big girl' & only I can change that. I'm in HR so have a very sitting down job which is not helpful so got to up the exercise. Anyway, here to subscribe if you'd like support & to wish you 'good luck'

Michelle

I've been married 16 years - started out a Size 18 went down to a size 14 and currently at a size 22 at 18 stone.

Within 2 years of marriage I had moved 300 miles away from family, had 2 children and basically adopted a new lifestyle.

I've been doing SW on and off all my life it seems. I used to moan at being size 16-18 but I'd be more than happy with that now.

I can totally empathise with the jacket situation. Being very bottom heavy the only jacket I could get for last winter to accommodate my hips is a size 24 fleece. But it's massive on top and looks daft lol.

The only thing that fit are leggings at the moment - not the most forgiving of things to wear I know.

I'd love to share your journey there's some brilliantly supportive people on here including my slimming best friend Michelle (Malamobile).

It's my first proper weigh in tomorrow and I've followed the plan 100% for the whole week probably for the first time in years. The previous 5 weeks I actually managed to lose 10lb and then gain it all back again. So I started a fresh last week - back to basics and square one, week one all over again doing extra easy.

I need to lose 8 stone, but realistically I'm aiming for 4 stone and then I'll take a look at my options then.

Good luck with your journey. I've subscribed

Lisa xxx

Hello and welcome.


So my weigh in gave me a 3 lb loss and slimmer of the week again (this is my third time). I annoyed myself as I ended up eating a load of cake the bonus daughter made and I'm sure it would have been more if I hadn't. But let's move on, I have been 100% again since Monday. Again we had another small attendance at group. I suspect the bank holidays are putting people off and I think that they may want to get them out if the way before they return. I'm not looking at it like that. I'm going to encounter high days and holidays once I am maintaining so best learn how to deal with them now,

So this week has been a week of two halves already, my husband is having serious grief at work, to the point we are identifying a way he can leave and I am exploring redundancy (voluntary) options. Maybe I'm a career girl after all? So by this time next week our professional lives may be completely changed. Funnily even this isn't too stressful. And although April had been a rubbish weightloss month (overall I achieved 1.5lb) it was however still a loss whilst going through quite a stressful period and a holiday.

This week has been interesting in terms of lunches for work. I was starting to get bored of salads, but I'm currently using left overs and really enjoying it. Last night we had teriyaki chicken and fried rice (on a diet!!!) it was delish so I'm looking forward to revisiting that this afternoon.

I reward myself with a new cooking book. From SW when I have a good loss and I've got to confess my favourite is the taste of Asia book. It's got some amazingly tasty recipes in it, I'll endeavour to remember to take and post pictures when we make dishes. The hubbie is doing most of the cooking at the moment as he is on gardening leave.


I had a big ego boost yesterday when some random man in the office asked me which diet I was following, so when I explained it was SW he told me he had done red and green but couldn't get his head around EE I told him to stick with it and it's fantastic. I almost feel like a reformed smoker. I'm a bit evangelical about it. I wish my mother in law would join me, she's not having much success and thinks she is being good on a calorie diet but is all over the place and using herbal life too. She is lovely and her weight is affecting her health and happiness. I wish she could accept where she is and be happy.


Anyway I Hope you're all having a good week.

3lbs is a brilliant result especially when you are more than a few weeks into plan...well done!!

First week back on it and weigh in this morning gave me a 6lb loss and that's with totm too, so I'm very, VERY happy with that . I was considering doing a few original days this week, but if it's not broke why fix it??....I'll be staying on Extra Easy for the time being

I've heard big things about the taste of Asia cookbook on here it seems a lot of people like it and the recipes/ingredients are pretty cook friendly. Shame that I don't attend group else I would probably have bought it myself. Think a visit to the SW website is in order for a little splurge with the credit card.

Hope you have a good day...catch you later

Lisa xxx

Lisa YoYo said:

3lbs is a brilliant result especially when you are more than a few weeks into plan...well done!! First week back on it and weigh in this morning gave me a 6lb loss and that's with totm too, so I'm very, VERY happy with that . I was considering doing a few original days this week, but if it's not broke why fix it??....I'll be staying on Extra Easy for the time being I've heard big things about the taste of Asia cookbook on here it seems a lot of people like it and the recipes/ingredients are pretty cook friendly. Shame that I don't attend group else I would probably have bought it myself. Think a visit to the SW website is in order for a little splurge with the credit card. Hope you have a good day...catch you later Lisa xxx

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Here are some of the meals we've cooked from it, grand total 2.5 syns per person

Today has been another good day, I have had a hi if bar to get my syns up a bit. Tonight the lovely husband cooked spicy bean burgers, rest assured we haven't gone veggie I just won the raffle at the group on Monday and the prize was the ingredients to make the recipe from the fakeaways book. I didn't like them, I mean why should I? I hate kidney beans! Anyway they looked good and the husband liked them (he loves kidney beans)

Smilingsuzy said:

Here are some of the meals we've cooked from it, grand total 2.5 syns per person

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The dishes looked gorgeous and the spicy bean burgers look nice too - Im lucky if my husband makes me a piece of toast lol.

Lisa xxx

Lisa YoYo said:

The dishes looked gorgeous and the spicy bean burgers look nice too - Im lucky if my husband makes me a piece of toast lol. Lisa xxx

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He's pretty good and he's not at work at the moment, we both like cooking.

I should have said what the dishes were......chicken Kung po, chilli and ginger prawns and special fried rice, they were all excellent.

Congrats on your 3 lbs. the food looks very nice, but I'm a veggie and even I don't like kidney beans much! Sounds like you are well into it. If you need any hr advice re your hubby let me know.

Keep it up!

malamobile said:

Congrats on your 3 lbs. the food looks very nice, but I'm a veggie and even I don't like kidney beans much! Sounds like you are well into it. If you need any hr advice re your hubby let me know. Keep it up!

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Thanks.

We are consulting with a solicitor, it will come good in the end, looks like I have a good opportunity on the horizon which could help alleviate some of the financial stress. I am amazed I have lost weight during this, as it's been very stressful, but decisions have been made.

Today is salad for lunch and I haven't thought far enough for our evening meal. I am about to get my period so I will have a 2lb handicap this week but I'm still going for it! I'm very determined but I'm also, for the first time since 1997, actually seeing the rewards for the effort I am putting in. That's a good feeling.

Smilingsuzy said:

Thanks. We are consulting with a solicitor, it will come good in the end, looks like I have a good opportunity on the horizon which could help alleviate some of the financial stress. I am amazed I have lost weight during this, as it's been very stressful, but decisions have been made. Today is salad for lunch and I haven't thought far enough for our evening meal. I am about to get my period so I will have a 2lb handicap this week but I'm still going for it! I'm very determined but I'm also, for the first time since 1997, actually seeing the rewards for the effort I am putting in. That's a good feeling.

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When you see progress that's all you need - I lose very slowly but if it comes off every week in a few months a stone is off!

Good to get legal advice. Companies think they can do what they want but they really can't (which is why people like me are there - to make sure they behave legally and ethically. Hope it works out well, and your good opportunity sounds promising. I've just had a new project given to me which means more £s but of course more work and no more excitement! I am at the stage where an easy life is appealing. Go to work, do my best, come home at decent time and spend my time and the money I've earned doing stuff I really like without having to worry about work outside work. It is like this at the mo and I work only10 mins drive from home so I am lucky.

I always used to gain during ovulation and lose during period so you never know - you may be lucky!

Oh no we went to the Chinese....I tried to be sensible but ate too much. Success express for the rest of the weekend for me!

I went shopping today for a new top for my interview on Tuesday, I picked up an 18, tried it on and it stomped me. I ended buying a 16, that was a nice feeling.

I'm not managing to sleep though, too much going on in my head. I need to go into town and get my eyebrows done tomorrow, I had planned to do it on Thursday but the interview trumped it. I'm also taking the hair do aka step son no 1 in to get his wig cut off....it's hilarious!

Im meeting up with a uni friend next week too. Really looking forward to that.

Suzanne

A 16 is great! Congrats. When is your interview? Is it going to be a tough one with presentation etc? Just remember they need you more than you need them!

Don't worry about the Chinese, just do some exercise and stick to it for the rest of the week

malamobile said:

A 16 is great! Congrats. When is your interview? Is it going to be a tough one with presentation etc? Just remember they need you more than you need them! Don't worry about the Chinese, just do some exercise and stick to it for the rest of the week

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It's Tuesday 8am. It's fortuitous, I have been head hunted and there is voluntary redundancy available where I currently work, so I'm hoping to get a yes from both. The interview is really just a chat from the sounds of it.

Smilingsuzy said:

It's Tuesday 8am. It's fortuitous, I have been head hunted and there is voluntary redundancy available where I currently work, so I'm hoping to get a yes from both. The interview is really just a chat from the sounds of it.

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Oh I love it when you can get money from the company you want to leave and a job lined up straight away so you don't have to use the redundancy money! The perfect outcome. I always hope for headhunting. Only time it happened they offered me less money?!! Good luck

malamobile said:

Oh I love it when you can get money from the company you want to leave and a job lined up straight away so you don't have to use the redundancy money! The perfect outcome. I always hope for headhunting. Only time it happened they offered me less money?!! Good luck

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Thanks I'll let you know

The diet has been rubbish today, lots to period pain and I've eaten dark chocolate and not enough super-free, nor have I ran, so it's off to Tesco in the morning then 2 days of success express.

Lovely free food on the Barrie last night and quite a lot of gardening done. I fear I may not have lost weight this week, what with my period and the lack of shopping I've not eaten enough superfree foods at all.

It's forgivable though, it's been a very hectic week. Interview in the morning then once I know where I stand I need to confirm my desire for redundancy (it's voluntary) and get my fingers crossed! I have mentally spent the money many times this weekend. But we have finally decided it's a kitchen renovation and we are going to move the stud wall between the garage and the utility to make the utility bigger. I am hopeful that by Friday I will know about both. It has been a big distraction this week. But in terms of diet goals I would start my new job first week of July, so I think I would be going for a stone in the next two months. The new company is half a mile from a gym, and I am already a member of the same chain so I'm thinking morning swimming before work!

Anyway I'm up, it's 6am, I'm going to do some ironing then get to the shops for some food, need to get back on it!

Good morning. The interview is at 8 this morning.

I had a tremendous weight loss of 2.5lbs last night, and was slimmer of the week. I also managed to achieve my 15. Stone, which was always my goal for this week.

we have a big family wedding this weekend so I am on plan and focused for the rest of the week. If I get a weight loss this week I think I will be over the moon.

lots of life changing stuff this week so I'm mindful of stress levels and will run this week to keep myself balanced.

How have you all got on?

This is morning I am having one of my favourite breakfasts.....riveta 70g phili and smoked salmon. Mmmmm