Me...

Ahhh Monday, here you are again... you know most weeks, something flies along my twitter timeline or pops up on Facebook or I spot something online that inspires my Monday Motivation post... But last week something happened that made me think this Monday it should probably be about me... *wipes sweat off brow* they should give out bravery awards in Weight Watchers ya know!!!

Last Thursday I walked into my Weight Watchers class thinking maybe, just maybe, I had hit the 100lb loss, I had been fecking about for about for weeks but my tracker was perfect... I'd walked... drank water... swam... surely this week...  

At a glance, the room looked a little different... I spotted my usual leader wasn't taking the class... Instead there was someone beside the scales, someone I felt I already knew... her before and after pics have been all over the place... I read her blog all the time... I follow her on Facebook... she's a Weight Watcher leader herself ... and all my Irish followers would know her from her amazing blog the Niptuck Food Blog!!! I know right!!! 

You know they say you should never meet your heroes... Well lemme tell ya... she is awesome! I couldn't bring myself to tell her who I was, I'm a big chicken, roasted and stuffed with gravy... oooohhhh... (mental note: never write blog posts when hungry!)...  plus I'm painfully shy about admitting who I am, people who know me in real life would never guess that being I'm so gobby... I always think people have an expectation and they will be bitterly disappointed when they meet me... But I was so distracted by her and her fab figure (and cute sneakers BTW!)... her before and after pics were at the scales large as life and they are SO inspirational! So when I stood on the scales, it took me a minute to notice that the 3.5lb loss had pushed me over the 100lb loss!!! 

Amazing? Yes! Inspirational? Yes! Motivating? Yes! Hardest thing I've ever done?! Abso-feckin-loutely!! 

It has been hard... really hard... disheartening... I've wanted to give up so many times.. I have binged... not tracked... cried... been so angry with myself... driven round the roundabout on the way to class twice talking myself into going, people of Terenure I'm not lost I swear... I've had two amazing leaders and honestly that's half the battle... I'm happy to get a telling off every Thursday when I know I've been bold... but I also want someone who understands how much I want this and when I've tried hard and the results aren't showing, I just need a bit of a lift... both of them have done that... But for every 'you've stayed the same' or 'You're down a half pound..' Here I am, 7stone 3.5lbs lighter... in my mind, I'm over the hardest part and I'll tell you why... 

Before I started "properly", you know that 'Oprah moment' you're suppose to have... well something just clicked... I'd had enough, I was so fed up with myself... My knees hurt... I had no neck... I was breathless doing the smallest things... I was judged for my size... Not my skills or personality... But I stuck with it this time... I'm now at a point where some of the things on my 'I'm Done' list >>> HERE  <<< are well and truly done... I'm never going back there... Below are my weigh-in cards for the last two years (I re-wrote them out neatly)... It's baby steps... This weight didn't go on overnight... I didn't go to bed and wake up 10 stone heavier... I'm an emotional gal... Food was my friend when I thought I had none... I was at a very low point... Slowly but surely, I've taken better care of myself and stopped worrying about others who didn't worry about me... I'm a people pleaser... and I realised I had to start pleasing myself first, put ME at the top of my list for a change...  Despite the number on the scales... I can buckle a belt on a plane, FYI never scream in delight in an enclosed plane... ahem... I can walk upstairs without stopping... I can shop in 'normal' shops... I've got my collarbones back, nearly... My blood pressure / skin / energy levels are all better! I can walk into a restaurant and not care who is staring at me ... I'm having my lunch and pointing it so feck off... I appear to have developed a bit of an attitude problem too! 

Sometimes we get so hung up on a number... Here's a non scale victory that happened to me a couple of weeks ago coming through passport control in Dublin Airport... 

Security guard: NEXT! 

Me: *hands over passport trying to look like I'm not a terrorist* (What is that about?!?)

Security guard: *silence* *looks at me... looks at passport* ... *looks at me again.. looks at passport*  *finally speaks...* 'Is this your passport?'

Me: 'um.. Yes... God aahhh ...' 

      *panics and pulls a face that makes me look like I've a handbag full of cocaine*

Security guard: 'Have you lost a bit of weight?'  

Me: 'oh... um.. yes' *beetroot face* 'I'm doing weight watchers... 

      Down 6 and a half stone so far...' 

Security guard: 'Fair play to ya ... Next!' 

so yeah... 

Morto!!! I wanted to kiss him but the queue behind me was massive and everyone was tired, wanted to get the hell outta there... but if I was a little bit braver and a bit more mental, I would have thrown a look at the 'judgey' people in the queue and shouted 'So there!' ... Well that, and I'm pretty sure that safety glass is tough... and I don't want to be done for assault in the airport...  Ahem... 

So.. What's the bottom line? How did I do it? What miracle was it? Simple... 

I didn't give up this time... 

Losing weight takes time... It doesn't matter what plan you follow, ProPoints, F&H, Syns, counting calories... it's healthy eating, portion control and exercise... and whatever suits YOU... people often tell me to follow this or that plan... no thanks... I'm happy doing it my way and well done you for doing it yours... but clearly this is what works for me... when I stick with it... 

Life happens, and some weeks your body will go against you... but don't give up... periods, bloating, the ice cream man, that one cocktail that turned into a full blown night with a full Irish the next morning ... no matter what, there will always be a wedding, birthday, BBQ, but just enjoy it... In 100 years time will anyone worry that you were ONLY down half a pound last week?! Get a little perspective, life is too short to be miserable...  

Measure yourself, that muscle V fat is true... and some people get so upset not realising they're toning up... if only they tried on a tight pair of jeans they would realise their body is changing! My three rolls of belly fat are now just one big belly... yes its big but if you throw me a 'OMG she's huge' look... I'll whip out my WW card so fast you'll be blinded by the silver sevens on the back! 

and, finally... half a pound is a massive achievement!!! Don't knock it... look at my cards... it's slow and steady... there's ups and downs... and there's still a way to go.. I'm no where near my goal yet but my body is now at a place where I can work with it better... swim faster... walk further... I feel better about myself... and I know its a cliche but seriously, if I can do it... anyone can... 

I started WW many times but this is when I decided enough was enough and I started to record my losses properly on the 2nd August...

Wanna hear something funny... I thought by starting in August, no one would see me in class until the September 'rush' and surely I'd have given up by then... 

Whatever you do this week... take it a day at a time... a meal at a time... an hour at a time... but remember you're doing it for you... so don't give up on yourself! xxx

*hides under desk* 

  

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Happy new year!!! Part 2!

Nope... I haven't gone mad... I'm not drunky... today we celebrate the new year... Part 2.. the sequel... We are half way trough 2014! HALF WAY!!! Do we all remember on the 1st of January? All those promises we made to ourselves... I'm gonna be thinner... smarter... happier... less stressed... so where are we with all that?! There is 6 months left in 2014 and considering how fast the first 6 months went, hang onto your pants!!! 

Resolutions are a bit... meh... we pretty much all set the same ones... we all look at the new year with hope... 'this will be my year...' and its all so positive till we wake up with the mother of all hangovers ... get a 'full irish' then promise ourselves.. hands on hearts... that tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of our lives... sound familiar?! 

A new year can start at any time... start today... start on the 5th of august... we get so hung up on dates and schedules that we forget that its up to us to feel good and look after our bodies... no one else is in charge of you... so, start with your next meal... make it a healthy one... like my leader says... we eat 21 meals a week... just because you feck up one, doesn't mean you should throw in the towel ... so ... anyone on the fence at the moment... don't let the excuses win... 

'the kids are off school' ... are they force feeding you 99s? 

'I'll start after my holidays' ... why not start now and have a little splurge on your holidays? 

'I'll wait till they go back...' ah here... that's two whole months away!!! Just think of the damage you could do in two months! Plan stuff ... encourage them to eat well... have fun with food... teach them to bake... make fruit kebabs... rainbow jelly .. they're own ice pops... Dealz have the molds in at the moment for €1.49... make it a little competition ... see who makes the best ice pops... let granny play Simon Cowell... XFactor style... it's all about getting  creative ... if you really want to do it... you will... Just think by the end of the year... this ... 

0.5lb a week is 13lbs less 

1lb a week is 1st 12lbs

1.5lbs a week is 2st 11lbs

2 lbs a week is 3st 10lbs

Happy New Year The Sequel... this doesn't mean you get another Chinese new year by the way... chancers! 

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"R" is for...

REWARDS...

Even if your goal takes a lot of work and a long time to achieve, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Is there a treat that is so appealing that you can't help but be drawn to it? Apart from the obvious benefits and wins like lower blood pressure, more energy, more fashionable clothes... we all have something in mind, a promise we made to ourselves once we got to goal... a fancy pair of shoes, a makeover, a new haircut, a holiday in a bikini.... These are good things to have.. but along the journey when you're feeling a little .. meh... then you have to reward yourself or you'll lose the plot and just give in... One gal in my class has a pedicure/manicure/facial for every silver 7.. it spurs her on... its summer and her toes are coming out (dear GOD let the sun shine this weekend!) .. and treat don't have to be expensive! They're very personal and 

Buy yourself ... a belt, cause you're shrinking... a book, flowers, clothes (shirt, shorts, skirt, jacket, jeans, etc., DVD, exercise clothes, healthy cookbook, iPod or mp3 player, iPhone, or iPad accessory, kitchen gadget, magazine subscription, membership (to a website, club, museum, etc.), new shoes, perfume/cologne, picture frame, exercise equipment (ball, weights, resistance bands, yoga mat, etc.), jewelry, fancy underwear...

Rewards don’t have to be expensive.

Download an app, computer game, exercise video, kindle book (e-book), movie...

Earn a date night with your significant other, a day off from doing the dishes or pick some housework you hate (ironing people!)... get a massage, a night off from cooking, a night off from giving the kids a bath.. whatever is a treat to you...

Spend time alone.... and do nothing... how often do you just sit down and do NOTHING.. just enjoy peace and quiet, lay down for a nap, read a book or magazine, sip coffee or tea and watch the world go by... Watch your favorite TV show (reserve the TV!!!)

Spend time doing anything you enjoy but don’t typically take the time to do.

Go to the bowling alley, comedy club, get tickets to a concert, golf course (even if its crazy golf!), go to the movies or a museum, take a day for yourself at the spa, or just decide today is your day and wander around at the zoo... 

Pamper yourself.... try acupuncture, run yourself a bubble bath with some fancy new  products, book yourself in for a facial.. I did this after I was sick and my poor skin needed it badly.. it was such a treat and well worth the money.. try a new haircut, feck it a new color, even a bit of fake tan would make you feel good about you!

Start saving and put the money towards a gift card for your favorite store, horse back riding, hot air balloon ride, a personal training session, sky diving, Spa day, a weekend trip...something you've really wanted to do but just haven't got round to it for whatever reasons... 

Set up a reward system where you earn money for achieving daily or weekly goals. Save the money in a jar or bank account and spend it on a large reward once you’ve earned enough. You could even start a matching program (euro for euro) if you have the cooperation from a significant other, friend, or family member!

Take a class from photography to golf.. whatever takes your fancy...

You're succeeding and you deserve to celebrate it!

RESULTS
Non scale victories can sometimes be your biggest friends.. that bloody scale hasn't moved in a few weeks and you're sick of counting points.. but .. but .. but.. wait! Your belt on your jeans in a notch tighter and that 'snug' dress just glides on now! Every thing from the seat belt on an airplane to being about to put on a sundress and not freak out about your bingo wings! You can sit in a meeting knowing the buttons on your shirt arent' going to take someones eye out! It all adds to your confidence... and the more compliments you get and the better you feel, the more likely you are to stay on track! Don't take the number on the scale as the be all and end all...

REVAMP
Throw out old clothes… I'm currently in the process of doing just that! 3 bags so far! You're never going to be that size again! If you keep your fat pants.. in your mind you're doubting your own success... chuck em! Get that haircut you've wanted but didn't have the confidence to get let alone brazen it out! Get some pals you trust and have a mini Gok session.. new underwear.. lads look away... I have gone down a bra size recently but when I got measured and fitted my boobs actually looked bigger!!! I KNOW!!! So the right undies make ALL the difference! Your body is changing so the clothes you put on it need to adjust too!

REFUSE
... to give up... Don't let the biscuit tin win... 

RECIPES
You all know I love to cook.. and I really must get around to adding more recipes on here.. I don't work for Weight Watchers but their cook books are ACE! Most of their products are over processed and whilst handy to have as a back up in the freezer or cupboard ... I'm the kinda gal who likes to make stuff from scratch knowing there's no 'E' numbers in there and it won't last until 2015 or beyond! There's so many great WW recipes blogs online.. seek them out and start with something simple if you're not a foodie.. before you know it .. you'll be telling Jamie Oliver he's wrong! I mean WHO would do that?! ahem..  *raises hand*

Soup is the easiest... experimenting is best.. add chilli, garlic, herbs, spices.. you will make mistakes.. and it will taste rubbish and you'll bin stuff and curse Nigella but you will improve with every recipe and be eating freshly made food that's so much better for you!

RESOLUTIONS!
Don't wait until January to climb back up on the wagon.. and that 'I'll start again on MONDAY' will always be there.. make a decision today.. for you.. for your health.. and your body... that you will take care of it and nourish it.. you only get one.. there's no spare parts! 

Again amazing losses.. this challenge has been I think one of the better ones.. I've been so motivated by you.. I mean I came back from NYC lighter!!! I KNOW!!! 

Hope you all had a great bank holiday weekend and didn't go too crazy! 

Another challenge in the pipeline and a little revamp going on here but fear not there will be no disturbance whilst the decorators are in! 

Doll x

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