Life, Dieting and Everything

Tales From The Scales - Week 7 - officially down 1 lb

2007-11-08T10:00:00.000Z

A day late in doing this, but for some reason 'Blogger' wouldn't let me sign in yesterday...did anyone else have a problem?

After stepping on the official scales of truth, I can proudly announce that my official weight is 290 lbs....so my bathroom scales weren't telling lies to me!

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297 lbs
Current weight: 290 lbs
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 7 lbs

Week 14 Weigh-in - 290 lbs

2007-11-05T20:47:00.000Z

Missed 2 week for different reasons, so headed back to my meeting to assess the damage, and pleased to see the scales of truth show me officially 1 lb down at 290 lbs.

We were introduced to the new Woman's Way & Weightwatchers run up to Christmas programme. Haven't had a chance to read it properly yet,but am catching a plne this evening to the UK so hopeing to get some reading time then, to see what's what.

Tales From The Scales - Week 6 - down 1 lb

2007-10-31T09:09:00.001Z

Missed Week 5, so please don't think you're going mad.

Not officially weighed-in at a weight watchers meeting for the last two weeks, so today's weigh-in was done on my bathroom scales...so the caveat is that they will not be as accurate as the weight watchers scales.

My bathroom scales give me 20 stone 10 lbs (290 lbs)

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297 lbs
Current weight: 290 lbs
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 7 lbs

Busy busy busy!

2007-10-29T16:56:00.000Z

Mad busy recently...so here's a quick summary

Went camping down in Co. Kerry last weekend with a group of friends, fabulous!

Didn't weigh in last week as I didn't get back from Kerry until Monday night, too late for my meeting. By the time I got around to checking on any other local WW meetings I'd seemingly missed those too (all seem to be Mondays or Tuesday?)

Entertained my mother who was visiting until she flew back to the UK Tuesday evening.

Started a new (temporary) job on Wednesday....sod the exercise pledge, mucking out and exercising 8 horses a day is plenty exercise for little old me! Using muscles I haven't used for years, and boy do they know how to complain....need to take out shares in Radox Muscle Ease!

Took one of my Jack Russell Terriers to an Irish Kennel Club Breed Championship show on Saturday, and after not showing any dogs for the last 18 months I was delighted when she won the Open Bitch class, then she won the Bitch Challenge, and was Reserve Best of Breed....not bad for a day out!
[Old photo...not the prizes she won this weekend...just showing y'all what she looks like]

Sunday I messed around at home with my VW Beetle project, and had a little tinker with the wiring loom. Pleased to report she now starts on the key, and we no longer have to resort to a very complicated 'hot-wiring' procedure to get her starter motor to turn. Not a huge job in the grand scheme of the things I have planned for her, but satisfying to have done something and achieved what I set out to do that day!

Today is a Bank Holiday Monday, but horses still have to be fed and mucked out, so off I trooped. Ran out of diesel *twice* on the way home (my emergency diesel can didn't have enough in it to get me home, and I had no cash on me! Doh! But J came to the rescue with a another can of diesel. In my defence my fuel gauge isn't working properly, and I forget that I shouldn't trust it. I'd rather it just didn't work at all...then I'd pay more attention to the mileage I'm doing compared to the diesel I'm putting in, but instead of being a dead gauge its a plain old *lying* gauge!
No weigh-in today either, as its a bank holiday over here in Ireland....will try and trust my bathroom scales for the Challenge Weigh-In on Wednesday.

Well I think that just about brings us all up to date...and hopefully time is now back on my side I can get back to posting on here more regularly!

Chat soon x

Tales From The Scales - Week 4 - down 1 lb

2007-10-17T09:04:00.000Z

Slowly but surely...down I go. 1 lb down this week, and I'm glad to be a loser. Better than a 'maintain' and 100% better than a gain!

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297 lbs
Current weight: 291 lbs
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 6 lbs

Just noticed I completely forgot to blog about my Weight Watchers weigh-in on Monday...so this post can surely cover that too!
The meeting this week was based around lunches, and whether we were finding it easy to make good choices at lunchtime. Our leader explored the points values of what could be perceived as healthy options pre-packed sandwiches....shocking really, and in future I will try to plan for this if I know I'm not going to be at home for lunch time.

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 8

2007-10-16T23:47:00.000Z

Had to work today, and then attend a meeting in Dublin afterwards, not returning home until gone 11pm.

With this in mind I went marching around the streets of the town where I work, during my lunchbreak.

Should have been doing a weights workout...but the walk was better than nothing.

Work was good, busy today, and busy days always go quickest. Also currently trying to input the data from our latest stocktake, so satisfying to have been able to put a dent in all those facts and figures.

The meeting was interesting, and a good opportunity to catch up with old friends who I've not seen for a while.

A long, but satisfying day...its bed time now...night night x

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 7

2007-10-15T14:30:00.000Z

Another session from the Power of 3 video, and boy do I know it! Not starting to feel easier yet, but its still early days...and I know that it will.

Absolutely staggered and amazed! 2007 RWC

2007-10-15T12:44:00.001Z

I've been a life-long England rugby fan, in a family of rugby fans (I even played for my college and University - loose-head prop)....and made a pledge with my mother a few years back to go to an England game in every 6-Nation stadium. we haven't got very far with this pledge, having only managed Twickenham (of course) and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff so far...2 down, 4 to go!

But, I digress, I've followed the England team and experienced the elation of the highs, most notably the 2003 RWC, and the utter despair of the lows (too many to mention)...and went in to the 2007 RWC with a measure of trepidation, impending gloom, humiliation, and a tiny measure of hope. I didn't expect much...and our first few pool games did nothing to make me think any more...but then all of a sudden we were in the Quarter Finals....facing Australia! Ah well, we'd have a reasonable run but really didn't expect much from the Quarter Final, an fully expected to be coming home after a good and proper thrashing. But what's this? We scraped a win 12-10...against one the Rugby Super Powers. Not a pretty game, but nonetheless, when the whistle went at 80 minutes, we had more points on the board than Australia, and so we progressed through to the Semi-Finals...we won a reprieve and and extra game, we weren't going home!
France then surprised many and beat another Super Power, New Zealand, and they progressed to the Semi Finals too! I felt a bit happier with that, in my mind, psychologically France was an easier team to overcome than New Zealand...but then again they had just beaten New Zealand, so had proved themselves very worthy opponents, and we couldn't afford any complacency.

So Saturay evening, with a little more hope, and good measure of trepidation I sat down to watch the Semis...spent lots of it with my hands over my eyes, spent the final 10 minutes of the match in the kitchen with my hands over my ears...reminiscent of my behaviour during the 2003 RWC final, where I spent the last 15 minutes in the bathroom, with the TV on mute, and the door firmly locked, but we won then....and OMG, we've just beaten the French! I don't know how, I don#'t care how, it was another ugly match, with neither team showing any particular brilliance...but again at the FULL Time whistle, we had more points than the opposition, and we are now heading to the FINAL next weekend, facing South Africa who gave us a proper and deserved ass-whooping during the pool stage. I can scarcely believe it, and certainly didn't expect it...my emotions are all over the place...but bring it on.

Go ENGLAND!

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 6

2007-10-14T13:08:00.001Z

Couldn't drive out anywhere today as J had taken my camper off to work on in his farm workshop. Replacing my broken exhasut manifold (bus will sound less like a tractor when it comes home), and putting my thermostat bck in (bus will now have a properly behaving temperature gauge)...so instead I took myself and a couple of dogs for a good long walk on the lanes around here. Not quite the full hour that I pledged, but not the 20 minute cop-out either. So very pleased with myself.

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 5

2007-10-13T18:44:00.000Z

J spent the day down in Kilkenny again, but this time I chose to stay at home.

According to my plan I should have gone up to Golden Grove for a good hours walk...but heavy showers made me less inclined to do this...call me a fair-weather-walker if you want...but instead I did 20 minute shower-dodging walk up the lane at home and felt happy that I'd made myself do that.

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 4

2007-10-12T12:42:00.000Z

Back on track today, and another session with the Power of 3 video. This time it the turn of my abdominals to do some work....and boy do they know it! Youchy!

Going to start looking on eBay for a DVD version of this...the video is grand, but my remote control is missing...and manually fat-forwarding and rewinding to find the right bits to work to is becoming a bit of a pain in the butt....pun not intended!
Kinda ruins the flow of the workout.

If you see any good bargains give me a heads up!

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 3

2007-10-11T10:30:00.000Z

Spent a day out with J today, down in Kilkenny, playing with his '71 Volkswagen project....came back via Carlow where he dropped a part off an engineering firm.
Got home in the dark so went for a 20minute walk up the lane with a torch. Not really very exciting, fulfilling or fun....but done nonetheless!

Nostalgia and possbily another beetle!

2007-10-10T18:10:00.000Z

Minding my own business at home today and a car pulls up outside. This is odd. We live miles out in the countryside, and we live down a farm track. So no traffic passes the cottage directly...and its not the kind of track to attract Nosey-Parker's...it just looks like a boring old farm track.
I wait for the driver to come and knock on the door...but she doesn't. She gets out and goes for a wander around the place. So I stir the dogs up and make them bark lots...just so she knows I'm not here on my own...then I stick the biggest (and softest) on a lead, and march out the door to see what this visitor is up to.

Turns out she was born here, and her family lived in this cottage for a few generations. When she lived her, she lived with her siblings, her parents and her grandparents! Yikes, this place is tiny, and with just two of us living here it feels like a squeeze, I can't imagine how it was with 8 people living here!

We spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around, while she pointed stuff out to me and gave new meaning to things I pass and mostly ignore on a daily basis. She showed me where all the farm buildings ( now long gone) used to stand. She showed me the area, now overgrown with brambles, where flagstone steps led down to the stream, which in those days was their only source of fresh water. She told me the names her family gave to all the fields that belong to this cottage, and we reminisced and wallowed in nostalgia together for a good while.
She didn't want to come in the house as she was afraid of the dogs (who were still barking), but she described to me how it used to be, and I know that previous owners have changed the inside structure around a lot, so much of what she told me I had heard before from both my landlord and my nearest neighbour (who incidentally lived here for a good few years too).

Then she discovered one of my Beetles, Tipsy parked up around the back of the cottage, and asked me if I liked old cars. She told me she had a few dotted around the farm where she lived with her husband...and had at least one old beetle there too. I asked her how much she wanted for it, and she laughed and told me she fully expected to pay someone to take it away...and that I could help myself. Whilst it maybe totally rotten, I'm sure there will be bits on it that will come in handy with the current, and future, restoration projects. Can't look a gift horse in the mouth, so hopefully I'll go and have a look, and see just what she has got, over this coming weekend.

Feel like I have the startings of a good friendship here...and I hope to see more of her soon.

Also, if we have any ghostly occurrences in this very old Irish cottage, at least I can now put a name to them....her Grandmother, Granny Walsh died here over 30 years ago...knock three times Granny Walsh...

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 2

2007-10-10T17:45:00.000Z

Today on the list was to do a workout from Davina McCall's Power of 3 video. I chose to do the Upper Body workout, sandwiched between the warm-up and cool-down. A whole 30 minutes...found it tough, and had to walk-on-the-spot through some of it. But this will get easier, won't it?

Suffice to say I completed what I pledged to myself I would do...and there's a second set of initials on my print-out.

Tales From The Scales - Week 3 - up ½ lb

2007-10-10T10:39:00.000Z

Up this week, but to be honest I expected to be up more so I'm pretty happy to have only a ½ lb of damage to repair for next week. It could have been a whole lot worse.

Just noticed, that even with the ½ lb gain I've lost my first 5 pounds on the challenge, so I guess I've earned one of these...

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297
Current weight: 292
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 5 lbs

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 1

2007-10-09T12:06:00.000Z

OK, so I spent the morning sorting out a 21-day plan on MS Excel, which I duly printed off and stuck on the noticeboard, so I can't miss it, ignore it, forget it etc etc...
21 days took me up to the 29th October....so what the heck, I threw the 30th and the 31st in to it too, which gives me the rest of October to work on forming this habit.

After that I indulged in a little aversion therapy...it became quite necessary to watch the exercise video the whole way through, and make notes about where on the tape the 3 separate programmes are so I can forward to whichever programme I want to do on whatever day. I watched the video whilst enjoying my breakfast, my ritualistic cup of tea...and not feeling even a little bit guilty that I was eating instead of *doing*.

But then enough was enough...time to to something!
According to my carefully worked out planner today's session was from Joyce L Vedral's "The 12-Minute Total-Body Workout". Working from page 41 to 53. The session was as follows:
3 sets of 10 repetitions of
Flat ID Dumbbell Presses - Chest
Incline ID Dumbbell Flyes - Chest
Front ID Lateral Raises - Shoulders
Pee-Wee Rear Lateral Raises - Shoulders
Double Arm ID Kickbacks - Triceps
Double Arm ID Overhead Extensions - Triceps

Feeling very pleased with myself for taking this big step and making a start on this pledge. Was harder than I imagined, and whilst I wasn't puffing, I was noticeably breathing harder by the 3rd set of each exercise, and built up a rewarding bit of sweat. So, unlike my expectations, its a bit more than sitting about (or standing) and flailing some weight about. Now, ten minutes later, the muscles I worked today don't feel uncomfortable or tight, but they definitely feel like they've done something.
My dumbbells are 2¼ lbs, rather than 3, but only because I couldn't find any 3lb weights when I was shopping for them...and 2¼ lb weights are better than no weights eh!

Rewarding myself with a lovely cool glass of water right now as I type this, and sneaking a peak at my initials in the 'completed' box on my print-out.
First step taken and achieved! Yay me!

Week 11 Weigh-in - 292 lbs

2007-10-08T20:08:00.000Z

DoGdamn the monthly curse!

Up a half pound this week, but to be honest I expected to be up more, so I am happy with just a half pound to demolish this week.

Last month I was up 4lbs during my TotM, so a half pound is nothing to demolish in my weight battle.

My biggest problem seems to be that for a 24-48 hr period right in the middle of my TotM I devlop a ravenous appetite which just doesn't want to be satisfied. This time, after my 4lb increase last month, I had a battle plan. Make lots of 0 point snacks readily available....so I filled the fridge with carrotsticks and cucumber strips...and made a huge pot of Zero Point Soup....and I happily scoffed into these thinking the munchy monster would be satisfied and yet, at zero points I was doing no damage...but boy was I wrong. I'd finish my 0 point snack, and then turn to the cupboards, because the hunger hound just wasn't happy. I raided the fridge, I raided the cupboards, I filled out on pasta and potatoes and other high-point fillers and comfort food...and I went continually over my points...so really I *AM* grateful that the scales showed a mere half pound gain....but I need to be ultra strict with myself this week.

I feel better tonight than I felt last night. Last night I was on the phone to my mother in the UK in despair. She used to be a Weight Watchers leader (although in her day they were called 'Lecturers') and she's a great source of info and fantastic support on the end of the phone when I'm at my wit's end. I feel with this monthly gain I'm constantly taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back. I have my TotM and inevitably gain that week. Then I spend the next week or two repairing the damage, and then the third week hopefully shows a true loss, and then its TotM and I'm back to square one again. It can't go on! If anyone has some handy hints and tips on how to keep this monster at bay I'd love to hear them. If I can control it at half a pound each month I'll be very happy. Its easy to repair half a pound....but last months 4 lb gain was a real shocker!
I'm currently on the Points plan (I think you guys on the west side of the Atlantic all it Flex), so maybe I'll try 7 days of Core plan next month, and see if that makes any difference. Perhaps the indiscipline of grazing my fill of points each day is leaving me with too much temptation...I'll let you know next month if it works.

A Matter of Excercise - making a plan!

2007-10-08T19:37:00.000Z

I think its time to get serious about exercise...OK, I have six dogs here at home, and they get walked everyday....but I have been walking dogs everyday since I was given my very own dog (in a multi-dog family home where there were always several), Trouble - a female terrier cross, when I was 16 years old....so I have been walking dogs almost every day for the last 17 years (those clever clogs out there will now know I'm 33 [grin]) and my theory is that my body is used to this regular exercise, and thus I have gained weight in spite of this daily walk.
So in order to boost my body into letting go of even more of that weight I need to exercise MORE.

I have a few options open to me....I could walk the dogs for a little longer each day.
I could go on a separate walk, and walk harder, at another time of day.
I could go to a gym.
I could work out at home.

So here's my plan.

I feel if I just walk the dogs longer this won't have enough of an impact. I'm not necessarily striding out throughout the whole walk....its more of an amble, a chance for the mutts to stretch their legs, empty their bladders, sniff all those new sniffs and checkout their favourite places, and for me its a chance to switch off and wind down.
The 'gym' idea is out too...I don't have one very near. The closest one is a half hour drive...and I just know I wouldn't keep it up, so why set myself to fail? I also couldn't afford to go regularly...so we'll strike 'gym' off that list right now.

So this leaves me with two options remaining
1) to go for a walk on my own, without any canine distractions, and walk out properly. Maybe bring along the MP3 player, and lose myself in some music while I stride along.
2) To work out at home. I've a video workout that I bought a year or so ago (and *NEVER* followed, not even once), and that is Davina McCall's Power Of 3
And I've got a great book, again I've read it but never followed it, and that is Joyce L Vedral's 12-Minute Total Workout. I even bought myself a couple of proper 2 lb weights to use with this book recently...but still haven't done anything.

I don't want to dive in, do too much, too soon, and put myself off. I know my own psyche and again, I don't want to set myself up to fail. I need to make a small commitment now, one I know I can stick with and make into a habit....and once the daily habit is formed I can take it further and introduce more. One that will overcome the "I can't be bothered", and replace it with "sure it'll only take a short while, lets go!"

I hereby pledge, on my blog, in public, to try to do something new every day for the next 3 weeks. Don't they say it takes 21 days to form a habit?
On Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays I will do a short workout from the video.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I will do something out of Ms Verdal's book.
At the weekends I will go for a nice walk, without the dogs, in someplace new.
If, for whatever reason, I can't do any of these things (work, out, away etc) I will make an effort to go for at least a 20 minute walk instead...
When I've done whatever I'm doing for that day I *will* blog it, and make that a habit too.
Catch you all tomorrow, after my 12-minutes weight session!

If anyone has any knowledge of the two workout items I mentioned, the video and the book, or any opinions on my plan of action...please sing out. I love hearing from you.

Tales From The Scales - Week 2 - down 1 lb

2007-10-03T18:53:00.000Z

Weighed in Monday 1st October at my Weight Watchers meeting, and my weight loss for this week was -1 lb

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297
Current weight: 291.5
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 5.5 lbs

Week 10 Weigh-in - 291.5 lbs

2007-10-01T17:50:00.000Z

Down just 1 lb this week.

OK, I sound more disappointed than I should, but I just can't convince myself that it *IS* good. And really, it is....because I don't think I really deserve it.

Tuesday night we went to a meeting for an organisation we're both on the committee for....and knowing we wouldn't be home until gone 10pm we decided to go early and eat in the hotel where the meeting was being held.
I made the best food choices that I could, but they just weren't point friendly. Really going to have to re-think this if the next meeting co-incides with one of my work days (not home early enough to cook & eat properly before heading to the meeting).

And then 2 other days I went over my points...not way over, but over nonetheless....so only mananged 4 days out of 7 within my points this week. Really should have shown a gain on the scales if anything. So I'll take that 1 lb loss and learn to be happy with it....just difficult when the previous two weeks have shown such fantastic losses of 5 lbs and 4.5 lbs respectively.

So back on track this week, no meetings, no distractions...just me and my tracker.

Time To Go Sloe

2007-09-27T10:05:00.000Z

This morning we had our first good frost, heralding in my favourite time of year, the Autumn. (or 'Fall' for our friends across the Atlantic).
It was truly glorious out romping with the dogs in the fields this morning. A really crisp day.

So today is the day to get picking my sloes. Traditionally you wait for the first frost...which can be a bit nail-biting here in Ireland, as we're just east of the Gulf Stream, so some winter's we don't get frosts at all, or they start very late in the year. My own rule of thumb is to pick by the end of September if we've had no frosts by then.

For more information on what a 'sloe' is look HERE

And what will I do with my freshly picked sloes? Well I'm going to make Sloe Gin of course!
Always a very well received and popular Christmas present....and this year, for the first time, when I've decanted my sloe gin in a couple of months, I'm going to try the Sloe Chocolate recipe, for family members too.
Whilst my current dieting lifestyle ought to prohibit me from eating the chocolates, I think I'm going to have to try one, maybe two.....just for quality control purposes of course *LOL*

A few more indoors chores to do, including checking out that all is well in Internet-land [grin] and then its time to go Sloe!

Tales From The Scales - Week 1 - down 4.5 lbs

2007-09-26T10:33:00.000Z

Undecided about this post, but wanting to have a seperate post to record my weigh-in results for the Tales From The Scales 2008 Challenge...knowing that it's basically repeating my post from Monday...

But for the sake of clarity, here goes.

Weighed in Monday 24th September at my Weight Watchers meeting, and my weight loss for this week was -4.5 lbs

Challenge Stats so far:
Start weight: 297
Current weight: 292.5
Challenge goal: 266 lbs
Loss so far: 4.5 lbs

Week 9 Weigh-in - 292.7

2007-09-24T18:31:00.000Z

Quite a pleasant surprise to be down 4½ lbs this week. Takes me down to 20 stone 12½ lbs...which also means 1 less eating point, so now I can only eat up to 29 points per day.
Actually less eating points is a relief....been really struggling this week to make up my points each day, so one less is one less to worry about eating. Our leader recommends that we don't eat less then 4 points below our maximum each day, but even so, finding enough to fill 26 points each day has been a struggle, and found me raiding the fridge and cupboards late in the evening.
In a way I'll take this as a non-scale victory (NSV) that my appetite is starting to reduce....Yay!

Out of interest, our points are partly determined by how many stones we weigh. So having gone from 21-x to 20-x I drop 1 point. In those countries that don't use stones as a weight measure, how do you calculate points and when to reduce the number?

I've not been so great at getting my water in this week, and will make a concerted effort to try harder for the next 7 days. Each morning I fill a 2-litre bottle with filtered water, and aim to drink most if not all by the time I go to bed. Not a big ask really. But nearly every morning I've only had to top-up this week because only half or so has been drunk each day.

Going back to NSV's, the belt I've worn for years on the last hole is also showing a rewarding NSV. It now comfortably goes to the hole fifth from last....almost 12 cm away from the last hole! My late father's watch is now too loose and sliding around my wrist, and my engagement ring slips on and off much more easily and also slides around my finger so I have to keep moving the stone back to the top.

Tonight's meeting was about goals, and keeping the motivation going. She said that for those of us who have a long journey ahead of us to get to the ultimate weight goal, then break it down. The 10% system works well, but maybe take it as far as weekly goals (I'll lose 2 lbs by next week for example), or monthly goals if you needed to reward yourself with goals more often to keep the motivation going. She pointed out that Christmas was only 12 weeks away, which drew a gasp from the audience. But then she delighted us by pointing out that if we merely lost 1 lb a week until then, well we'd be 12 lbs down. Sounds very easy and achievable doesn't it!

Pounds and Stones

2007-09-19T09:38:00.000Z

A couple of comments got me thinking about stones.

Naively I assumed everyone knew what a stone was, so these comments surprised me. Then I looked into it a little....and it seems its one of those curious things we use here in the British Isles, and doesn't seem to be used anywhere else. So apologies to those who were confused by my reference to stones in regard to weight. And here, just for you guys, is a little explanation of what a stone is, with regard to weight.

1 stone = 14 lbs

So, 10 stone is 140 lbs
A little maths for you
My current weight is recorded at 21 stone 3 lbs, recorded on here as 297 lbs
So, 21 X 14 = 294, plus 3 = 297
Get it?

In my Weight Watchers class, every time we lose a stone in weight our leader gives us a small coloured glass stone to symbolise this, just a bit of fun...I assume this happens in other Weight Watchers classes across the British Isles, and would be grateful for info from other Uk and Ireland WW-ers.
We also get Silver Seven stickers for every 7lbs we lose...which symbolises 7 pounds (or half a stone) lost. Does this happen anywhere else?

Any questions about stones, please don't hesitate to shout out.

Wikipedia has a great explanation of the use of the stone as a weight measure
HERE Enjoy!

Tales From The Scales - Week 0

2007-09-18T17:05:00.000Z

So, here it is...my intro post for the new Tales From The Scales Challenge

My weight loss goal for this challenge is 31 lbs....that will, fingers firmly crossed, bring me down to a round 19 stone (pardon the pun!)....and keep me focused over Christmas!
Hmmmm....19 stone....somewhere I haven't been in quite a few years.

My long term weight-loss aspirations are to get to that magical BMI of 'Normal'...currently I sit in the 'Morbidly Obese' category which is NOT good!
I become 'Normal' at 11 stone 5 lbs (159 lbs), I drop out of the 'Morbid' range at 18 stone 3lbs...still a good way off, but I'm determined.
My short term weight loss aspirations are my wedding next August...I really don't want to be a fat bride. With good sensible weight loss I have set my self a 'wedding target' of 16 stone 3lb (227 lbs)...which I feel should be easily achievable, and any more weight loss is a bonus. Whilst I won't be a slim bride, I'll be a lot slimmer and look a whole heap better in that dress that I currently do!

I need to be ordering my dress in January, and going in at 19 stone will be a lot more fun that trying dresses at 21+ stone

So, the all-important Challenge Stats

Current weight: 297 lbs (21st-3lbs)
Target weight: 266 lbs (19st-0lbs)
Loss required by Jan 11th: 31 lbs

Measurements

Hips: 57½ "
Waist:44½ "
Bust: 49½ "

Let's go!

Facing up to myself on Facebook

2007-09-17T19:08:00.000Z

Oh my, once I've started posting I just can't seem to stop...its a bit like eating!

So last night I found an old friend on Facebook, and she had put up a few photos from her recent wedding (July 07). Well as luck would have it, I featured in a couple of photos...and clearly looked the size I am, there's just no hiding it.

But I was mortified that, having been tagged on this photo, all my old college friends who were also 'friends' on Facebook would be able to see this photo because of their 'friend status' access to my profile. I almost begged her to remove it, I really didn't want my college friends to see what I had become...but then I realised I could'nt ask her to do that without being completely pathetic...so here, to truly get this out of the closet, I'm going to publish those photos here in all their glory. If that doesn't cure me of any silliness, and focus my diet, then I don't know what will!

Avert your eyes if you're easily offended (well, I know for sure these photos offend me!)
J & T's Wedding - 19th July 2007

I cut out my fiance in the next pic, in case you're wondering about the fella I'm sprawling across!

Look Great in 2008 Challenge

2007-09-17T19:04:00.000Z

Found this on the Princess's blog Once Upon A Diet and I figured I'd give it a go.

Go here for more info: Tales From The Scales - Look Great in 2008 Challenge

Week 8 Weigh-in - 297 lbs

2007-09-17T18:30:00.000Z

Put some manners on that horse, and discarded those 4 lbs with the disdain they deserved...and threw out an extra lb just for added effect! Ha!

Actually quite surprised by this...tried to do my best but not been overly angelic, and have knowingly gone over my points allocation (30 points) a few times this week to my knowledge, as well as a sinful camping weekend with friends at Carraig Dulra courtesy of our very generous hosts, Suzie and Mike.
Good company, beautiful location, too many sausages snaffled from the barbecue, cold beer going down all too well, and the most delicious (yet utterly sinful) idea for combining toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate and digestive biscuit...all conspired to make me very worried when I stepped up on the scale this evening.
And came home clutching my little coloured stone that our leader gives to folks when they've lost a stone in weight. Only 13 lbs to go until I get the next one!

But I guess when I wasn't being bad I was doing something right.

If you're consfused by the title this week, I decided to bite the bullet and apply these current posts to my current efforts at WW. This is week 8 since I went back in at the end of July, and it didn't seem right to give the weigh-in days similar titles to those posted last year. Interesting to see that my weekly average is 2lbs, if I can keep that up over the longh aul then I will be very happy indeed...baby steps and all that

Apologies for not posting more last week, busy at work, and busy at home and busy eating badly, and feeling I had nothing much to say that would inspire me. Will honestly try and make more of an effort this week, thanks Princess for the reminders x

Weigh Day - 302 lbs (bummer!)

2007-09-10T18:21:00.000Z

Am so pi**ed with myself right now. *UP* 4 lbs this week. The delightful balloon of losing my first stone last week is well and truly burst, and now sits shrivelled and deflated, as does my mood.

Had the TOTM from hell this week. Stomach cramps that had me rolling about on the floor, groaning....and an appetite to test the most virtuous. Some days I just couldn't get full, and the hunger demons pulled my hair constantly. Went well over my points more days this week than I stayed under, and the price is paid.

And now, the scales of truth show me the damage and make me feel even worse.

So, I fell off the horse, bruised my ego and motivation. Now to grab the reins, find that stirrup and remount...

New Start, New Ticker, New Stats

2007-09-08T15:05:00.000Z

Have altered the Ticker at the bottom to reflect the new start, to save any confusion (mine mostly!).

And now for the new stats:
Age: 33
Height: 5'7"
Starting Weight: 313 lbs
10% Goal Weight: 282 lbs
Overall Goal Weight: 159 lbs
Current Weight: 298 lbs
Loss to date: 15 lbs
Left to Lose (overall): 144 lbs
Left to Lose (10%): 16 lbs
Starting BMI: 49.1
Current BMI: 46.7
BMI Lost: 2.4
Current Measurements: Bust 50½" / Waist 46½" / Hips 58"

Back on the weight loss wagon!

2007-09-08T13:33:00.000Z

A lot has happened to me in the last 12 months or so.

Good stuff, not so good stuff.

My dad died after a long and brave battle aginst the big C.

My partner of nearly 9 years shocked me with a proposal.

We've increased our classic VW collection to 6½ vehicles, a camper, a kombi pickup, 4 beetles and a rolling beetle chassis [don't ask! *LOL]

Blah blah blah...

and I'm ashamed to say weight loss took a back seat.

But on the 22nd July 2007 I crept back in to Weight Watchers to face the music and assess the damage.

So here's a short recap of the weigh-ins since then. Have surprised myself with my progress, and thrilled with the current motivation!

22 July 07 - 313 lbs
Not great, but could have been a lot worse after 12 months off the scales of truth!
Decided to stick to the Points Plan. I know I'm a grazer, and simply cannot guarantee I can sit down to 3 meals a day on a regular basis, so it makes sense to stick to what I know has worked for me in the past.

30 July 07 - 303 lbs
Yes! You did read that correctly, in my first week I lost 10 lbs! Woo feckin' Hoo!
OK, realistically i know that the first week is ususally the biggest loss, but neither me or my leader expected 10lbs to go.

6 Aug 07 - 302.5 lbs
Only half a pound down this week, but at least its half a pound in the right direction. Dodgy mood swings, and nagging stomach cramps give me an indication of why I perhaps didn't lose more this week.

13 Aug 07 - 302 lbs
Another half pound in the right direction but disappointed I didn't lose more.

20 Aug 07 - No Weigh IN
Am too busy away on a 10-day Charity Drive, eating as well as I can, but not as well as I should! And drinking far too much.

27 Aug 07 - 302 lbs
Wow! Considering the last 10 days of total food and alcohol debauchery, I'm actually pretty thrilled with this weigh-in! I had prepeared myself and my leader for a gain this week. And we had both agreed to take whatever the scales said, and work out a damage limitation plan.
Now just to make this weigh-in seeme even better that it was, I was also wearing *wet* jeans when I weighed in.
Each week I wear jeans and work boots (steel toe caps) to weigh in. Sometimes I'm working on WW days, and coming straight from work. So I made my mind up at the start to wear these each week, so I could be consistent with what I was wearing. Also, although its a long way away, when I do get to goal, I can put on some cotton trousers and proper shoes, and make those scales really sing my tune!
So, after 10 days of terrible eating habits, and wearing wet jeans because I could'nt get them dry in time, I think that to maintain was a pretty fantastic result here!

3 Sep 07 - 298 lbs
Brilliant! 4 lbs down, cracked the 200's and lost my first stone. Total loss so far this time is 15 lbs, and life is good. I was walking on air as I left my meeting, and feeling pretty chuffed. I treated myself to a CD as a reward, and my OH bought me flowers.

Hopefully, now I've got my weight loss back on track I'll get this blog back on track too.

Chat soon

2006-08-02T12:31:00.000Z

Just had a run in with some members of the travelling community. Pleased to say I won, but still feeling shook up, intimidated and apprehensive about going to work tomorrow and leaving the house empty...

Our landlord has a large area of land behind our house. We don't rent the land, the grazing is rented to someone else....but because of my agric background its an unspoken agreement that I keep an eye on things and the cattle when they are here. We have lots of hares...and rolling hills of grassland...hare heaven. Because of this we get lots of people looking to course the hares with their lurchers and greyhounds...this is where i have trouble. This past time *IS* still legal over here, but there are specific seasons...to course outside of the season is an offence...if you could get a Guard to care enough. [this post is not going to turn into a discussion on the right or wrongs of this activity, pro or anti arguments etc! I'm just giving this info for background] Obviously you also need permission to course on someone else's land...and I know our landlord doesn't give this permission to anyone....so I can be reasonably confident that anyone attempting to course on this land, whether in season or not, is doing it without permission...so I don my pit bull terrier disguise and march out to confront them. Normally I get curt apologies, explanations that they were just looking for somewhere to exercise their dogs (yeah right!), out hunting foxes (with a greyhound? and still out of season?)...or that the hare numbers were crap here anyway (did it ever occur to this particular genius that this was because of the out-of-season coursing...if they want lots of hares they have to allow them to breed, duh!) But everytime without fail, and without a fight as such they turn around and leave the property....well today, this charming guy wasn't going to do that.

Would I just let him cut across the track so he could take his three boys (too very young) home to their mammy, accompanied by two enormous lurchers. NO
But I just need to get across there. Well I've just there [just there is actually a pig farm, and no other dwellings - I know for a fact he's not from the pig farm] No, this isn't a public right of way.
But I've come a long way, and its two miles back around the roads No, this is private land and there's cattle everywhere, including two bulls.
But the roads (a quiet country lane) are too dangerous for the boys What the road you've clearly just come along? No, you're not coming across this land.
The young'uns will be kil't in the roads They're more likely to be run down by the bullocks, believe me! Even if you had permission to cross this land it wouldn't be safe to do so...especially with two small children. You're not coming across.
God will judge you for this, you nasty b*tch Unlikely, I'm not really religious
Can we just no
But... NO
I've come a long way already and its two miles on the roads You really should have thought of that
Do you own this land No, it belongs to my landlord (no point lying, this info is easily found)
So its not your land then? No
So you don't have a say then? Actually yes, no one comes on this land except me, the cattle owner and the land owner...that is fact. You're not coming across this land.
How will you stop me I could let my dogs out on you...and I WILL call the gardai. they can be here is less than 3 minutes...you'll never cross the land in that time.
But its not your land We've discussed that already
can't I just No
what if I go down this field [the other side of the house, belongs to another farmer] then out the bottom You still have to cross this land, and you may not do that
no i don't Um, yes you do...unless you can fly
why can't I come across the land because I said so. because its not safe with the bullocks out there. Because you've no permission, shall I go on?
Do you have a problem with me. No I have a problem with people who can't stay off private property. I don't come trotting across your garden, so don't come trotting across here. I'm fed up with people with your sort of dog coming on here illegally, chasing the livestock, damaging fences, and illegally coursing for hares.
[he deliberately mis-hears me here]
Oh..so its all down to 'my sort' is it now? That's not what I said and you know it. Kindly don't twist my words. [for what its worth I actually have J on the phone, listening to every word...which I hope won't be handy - he'd phoned me about lunch just before these people turned up]
You said 'my sort' I said your sort of dog.
What do you mean by that lurchers, long dogs, greyhounds etc
Oh...and I suppose you think only certain types of people own those types of dog not at all, I haven't mentioned any type of people, you did. Do you have a problem with certain types of people?
I have a problem with people who run me off their land and expect me to take two small boys on the road, shame on you how did you get out here [we're in the middle of nowhere] and what are you doing out here anyway?

Then followed a barrage of curses and insults, and threats on me, my house and my dogs (who were barking behind me) and finally they left with the aprting words "well f*** you, and watch your back!"

3 minutes later J turns up and we go into the house to start lunch, but I can't...I'm too jumpy. I spot the horses in the field next door (NOT my landlord's land) and notice that they are all looking in the same direction ,ears pricked and very interested. I go out of the house, to find my 'friends' tiptoeing across the field, trying to duck down behind long grass. I shout 'Oi!' at them and come inside to look out of the kitchen window...Just in time to see them cut through the hedge on to 'my' [landlords] land...at which point the cattle in the first field spot them...and charge over. Well the man and his children run for their lives (literally) down the hedge line, duck under the electric fence wire and cross into the next field. They need to be heading to the right across the field, but so far they're stuck on the left-hand hedgeline. The cattle in the next fields spot them and charge over too. The man and children run some more. They can't cross back through the hedge now...the hedge sits on a stone wall at this point and its impossible. On they go into the third field. J is asking me to ignore them and come inside...but I can't now. Not because I want to see them fail, but because I wasn't lying when I mentioned the bull, and the fact that the cattle will happily run them down...they're in the farthest field now, they are in HIS domain, and I NEVER go in there unless I'm IN a vehicle, NEVER on foot...I'm now watching so that I can call an ambulance should I need to, all smug self-righteousness is firmly in check. Can I get inside and grab my collie (who's pretty brave with cattle) in time to help them if they get into trouble...even if I could they're too far away for me to get there quick enough...all I can do is watch. With all the luck in the world they get out just in time, and retrace their steps up the hedgeline...they've spotted me watching them and start shouting some more abuse...but I stay silent this time. Even the kids are shouting at me now. As if its MY fault that the cattle chased them off...yes of course, cattle training is the next big thing don'cha know! They really should have listened, and not tried to get one over on me...when I said the cattle were dangerous they should have listened. He crosses back through the neighbours field...shouts some more, and waves the smallest child at me (hard to describe, even more bizarre to watch) as if it is a ragdoll...as if to emphasize that he just ran the gauntlet with the bull with his youngest child...um...I did try and stop you, you idiot! He threw out some more threats then headed off...I've locked my front door...and keep checking out of my windows front and back...tempted to pull a sickie tomorrow, can't imagine life without my dogs, and they would be their principle target. They are all microchipped...but still

On the diet front, I'm too worried to be hungry...going to force some soup down in a while, when I feel confident enough to stop watching through this window right by the pc...I'm scared if I miss them through this window they'd be in before I knew it...they'd meet my two biggest dogs head on, but would that be enough?

No time for exercising yet...to busy arguing with travellers...sorry. maybe I'll have a good walk around the [empty] field this evening instead....and while I'm there I may as well check my boundaries

Too Fat To Shop

2006-08-01T13:51:00.000Z

Is it just me this happens to?

Motivated by my great weight loss this week I dug out an old exercise video I bought in the cheap bins at Woolworth's last Christmas...I scanned through it to note down timings of the different workouts for future use, then prepared myself to jump around like a loon...find sensible clothes, debate footwear and shut the dogs away...they only ever want to jump about and join in, generally barking and frequently ending up in a 5-dog fight...not fun, so away they went.
Back to the footwear issue...hmmm...here's the problem...I'm not a shoesy girl...in fact I truly don't understand the fascination with shoes that other members of my sex can have...I like my shoes to be functional for what I need, and I like to be prepared should a shirehorse tread on me, or a bus run over my foot... For every day I have comfy steel toe cap boots. For work I have the same comfy steel toe cap boots. For going out to the pub etc,at the bottom of my jeans you'll find the same pair of steel toe cap boots. For going out to posh places I have one smart pair of navy blue court shoes...they are all I have in this category, so I use my imagination when wearing them with things they don't match. They are a size too small, and have me crippled with pain within an hour of wearing them...coming home from formal functions will *ALWAYS* find me bare foot and in agony. For slopping around the house, when I don't have my steel toe caps on I've got an ancient pair of Guinness slippers...and for hot days I have a functional pair of flip flops...none of these shoes/boots are very practical for leaping around to an exercise video...so I picked up my purse and bravely headed into town, wearing my favourite steelies and looking all feminine *LOL*.

I walked into my local sport shop (a large national if not international chain) and promptly got ignored. After all...look at the size of me, I surely can't be in there to actually BUY anything, so why bother to serve me? I found a couple of styles of trainer that I liked, picked them up and looked around me for a sales person....they all suddenly looked really busy (I was the only customer in there). I waited patiently for one of them to finish counting laces...and then finally I walked up to one of them. "May I try on these in sizes 7 and 8 (technically I'm a UK7 but I have very wide feet, so size 7 often doesn't fit...and in 'narrow' Ladies styles, forget it...go for the 8 to 9). Anyway, the staff member I spoke to pointed out that they had sold out of both sizes in one of the styles I'd chosen, and only had an 8 in the other...at this point, she turned away from me and resumed inspecting her fingernails...very busy work for a girl. I turned towards one of the lads working there, and to be fair to him he chose instead to attend to a customer who literally walked in the door at that point. I took a deep breath, forced a smile on my face and approached the third and final member of staff...I held out the second pair towards him and politely demanded the UK8 in that style. He couldn't really back out of that, and duly brought a pair of trainers out of the stock room for me, whereupon he put them down on the bench seat, said "there you are" and walked off, to straighten the t-shirt rail no doubt. Feeling a little humiliated at this point I sat down on the bench and put them on. I wasn't quite sure how they should fit, I wasn't quite sure on the laces arrangement..I haven't owned a pair of runners since I was about 12...I looked around for one the staff to help me, they seemed frightfully busy in the till area discussing last night's television offerings. I collared the same lad to help me...but he looked a bit displeased at being taken away from his riveting conversation. He begrudgingly advised me on fit, and how tight to have the laces etc...and so I bought them. But I don't think I'll buy form there again...the sniggering form the other staff as he asked me how strenuous I was planning to work out was almost too much to bear...I knew if I lost it with them I'd lose it big time...and so it was much more dignified (I think) to just swallow it down, pay up and walk out...

Weigh Day 3 - 309.5 (149.5 lbs to lose)

2006-07-31T19:40:00.000Z

Weighed in at:22 stone 10½ lbs = 309½ lbs
10% goal = 20 stone 8 lbs (loss required 21½ lbs)
long term goal BMI of 25 at 11 stone 6 lbs =160 lbs (loss required 149½ lbs)

Yes, blink, rub your eyes, refresh the page, turn your pc off and reboot it...it won't change a thing! In fact K the clerk was so surprised when she read the screen by the scales that she hesitated, mumbled to herself, asked me to step off and step on again, and then beamed the widest smile as she confirmed to me what I could read on the screen for myself...a whole 10½ pounds down this week! Woo Fucking Hoo!!!!! How mad is that...and I was so apprehensive in going to the meeting tonight, after eating so badly yesterday...ending the day with a 10" pizza all to myself...but, boy am I glad I went! I was floating on air all the way through the meeting and all the way home...in fact I'm still floating on air now...I feel so incredibly motivated and thrilled, especially after putting a brave face on things last week and pretending I wasn't sad about not losing...well, just WOW couldn't wait to show my leader M my weigh-in card after she'd finished her coffee break...and she was just so genuinely pleased for me...she's a real rock of support and encouragement. rightly pointed out to me that not only have I earned my first Silver Seven sticker, for losing 7lbs, I'm also half way towards my next Silver Seven, which will also be my first stone loss...mind boggling!

I don't like to set weekly goals for myself, as I feel you're just setting yourself up for disappointment half the time...and that is more damaging in the long run than any small victories are encouraging....but it'd be magical to knock 3½ more pounds off to reach my first stone next Monday...not a goal, but just a dream to work for...does that make sense?

A little...

2006-07-28T13:30:00.000Z

Heard this the other day, and it tickled me...

A little bit of this, and little bit of that...all ends up in a big bit of fat

So, next time you think you'll just try a little bit, it won't hurt...think of this

Too busy to blog...

2006-07-28T10:02:00.000Z

Had a busy couple of days

Helped put the gearbox back into my camper, after replacing the vital missing bearing. Guiltily enjoyed the buttered ham sandwiches fed me by my hosts. Marveled at the improvment in driving my beloved vehicle all the way home. Did smell hot oil a few times...but dismissed it as spilled oil burning off my engine block. Got home to discover my rocker cover gasket, which should have been replaced a while ago but wasn't, had finally given up the ghost and as such engine oil had been spraying all around my engine bay during the drive home. My previously white tailgate, now has black measles...and next time I smell hot engine oil, remind me to bloody well stop!

Worked yesterday. Surprised to find *all* the critters totally out of water (again)...they were either very thirsty over night or didn't have their waters topped up the day before. I know which I'd put my money on...
Didn't do much very exciting. Cleaned out the gerbils, found some day old baby gerbils...so we clearly have to sex that group again, unless one's a hermaphrodite (unlikely). Cleaned out the largest group of hamsters too...I don't think cleaning out gets done as often as it should either. Made a conscious decision to clean them out myself once a week...so at least I know they've been done.

On Tues the diet was a little difficult with being fed by my hosts...its rude, whingey and irritating to refuse and moan about the food that's been prepared for you...so just tried to cut down the volume ingested instead...whilst mentally totting up the points for thick spread butter *LOL*. At work its not so difficult as I can pack a HUGE lunchbox and graze on point-friendly goodies all day. I prefer to do that.

Came up with a small business idea whilst chatting with my chauffeur last weekend...rang up a couple of relevant wholesalers yesterday, so should have some catalogues and price lists winging my way...now need to find some more suppliers of specific things these wholesalers are unlikely to have...

Weigh Day 2 - 320 lbs (160 lbs to lose)

2006-07-25T07:38:00.000Z

Weighed in at:22 stone 12 lbs = 320 lbs
10% goal = 20 stone 8 lbs (loss required 32 lbs)
long term goal BMI of 25 at 11 stone 6 lbs =160 lbs (loss required 160 lbs)

Better than it looks, or so I'm told...only time to post a quick one right now, as off out to help rebuild my gearbox.

Considering my lack of control with the menu whilst cmaping, and water retention from 'time of the month' (TOTM) my leader M said I should be very pleased with myself...I had every right to a gain this week, and instead I held my own.

Got to go, will come back and edit/add to this post later

[returned to Edit as promised]
The meeting this week was all about making friends with complex carbs...how they fill you up and keep you feeling full for longer than other type of carbohydrate.
M discussed keeping sweet foods and alcohol to just 14 points worth a week. I've found no mention of this anywhere else though, no in the book or online...so may ask her to clarify this next week.

J took me to the meeting as my camper was still without its gearbox. As a thank you to him we stayed on at the hotel where the meetings are held, andI bought him a beer. I was quite shocked at the price of a 330ml bottle of Bulmers Light (1 point)...€4.50!!! The full pint of Guinness was only €3.70...what a total rip off!

See ya x

awnings, gypsies and BBQs - wot diet?

2006-07-24T11:17:00.000Z

Had a glorious weekend end away with friends, albeit without my beloved camper. In the end I didn't even need to pitch my tent, as I was offered sleeping space in a friend's awning...perfect!
It was a weekend to just get away from everything, and just enjoy good company. The weather wasn't as good as it might have been, but it didn't change my plans in any way.

Saturday night was a little edgy as a group of travellers spent the day trying to gain access to the campsite. The campsite owner was vigilant all day, and the Gardai cruised past in unmarked carts very regularly to check on us all. In the end the travellers parked up on some public land just above the campsite, and were given 24 hours grace. I did feel a little worried not be sleeping in the relative safety of my lockable camper that night. But the campsite owner pulled a 24 hour shift, and with the help of his family and friends he had the campsite under supervision all night long. The only slight agro were some of the younger lads trying to kick things off and living up to their stereotypes, but the older ones were little or no bother at all. There was a bit of noise and fuss at around 4am, but I wasn't brave enough to pull up the zip and have a look around, I just pulled up my sleeping bag and went back to sleep....and on the dot of 11am the next morning they were all on their way. As a group we were all parked close together, and as such felt much more safe and secure. I don't think I'd have slept so well if I'd been on my own, or even if it had just been J and I...

As for the diet...well, it kind of went out of the window... My lift had agreed that we would shop for grub on the way up, so I didn't pack any food other than a couple of small single-serving cereal boxes for brekkie. Well I was fed royally all weekend by everyone...but I wasn't brave enough to count points (YIKES!) Its weigh-in day today, and I'm swallowing down all the water, fruit and veg that I can...I'm hoping that all my good food behaviour all week will make up for a weekend of beer and BBQ debauchery ...I'm looking forward to stepping on the scales this evening with a kind of curious anticipation...its a need to know

Poorly van...change of plan

2006-07-20T22:43:00.000Z

Took my beloved camper van to hospital today to drop the gearbox out, replace the clutch and look at some leaking seal between the engine and the gearbox...seems whoever did the engine conversion left out a vital bearing associated with the gearbox, so its a miracle my van has been driven about at all...let alone the however many thousands of miles I've done in it.

Ordered a replacement bearing, which should arrive Monday...but it means I have no camper for camping in this weekend...and no transport to get me there (my camper doubles up as a large car...its just a large car with a bed and a cooker *LOL*). Fortunately a friend will be passing my way, on his way to the same camping event...and so I have dug my old tent out of the cobwebby depths, and tried to remember how to camp with a tent, primus stove, air bed, air pump, no fridge , no cupboards, no electrics and no seats...bring it on!

Oh yes...the diet...well my host today put butter in our lunchtime sandwiches, which was ultra yummy, but a little naughty, however I certainly wasn't complaining, the fresh bread was truly to die for! ....I didn't eat at all during the day, other than lunch. Ate loads of crap on the way home (hour and half journey) because I was hungry [amazing how quick your body gets used to eating small amounts every few hours or so] and J and I indulged in sausage butties when we got home famished...but counted up points and I'm only 3 over my daily allowance...I can easily make that up...or sweat it off tomorrow

Might or might not get chance to post on here tomorrow..if not, catch up with you all on Monday...have fun kids

Yoghurts and Mirrors...

2006-07-19T19:45:00.000Z

and the importance of checking your appearance in one after eating the other...

I packed a huge lunch box to take to work with me today...full of loads of low point and zero point goodies so I could graze all day. All this was carefully planned last night once I remembered that when at work, during the (very numerous) quiet periods I tend to eat...not because I'm hungry, but because there's nothing to do and I'm bored...in the past I'd have lit a cigarette, but since I've given up (oct 05) I don't even think about this option any more...instead I usually reach for the bag of snacks I've picked up at the garage on my way in to work in the morning (See, even when over eating it was all planned out!). So back to my enormous packed lunch...low fat yoghurt, one ultra tasty muller light vanilla yog, carrot sticks, celery sticks, lots of pieces of fruit, a ww choc crisp snack, crispbreads I could go on and on...all good stuff, and perfect for all-day grazing. Now I LOVE those Muller Lights...if I mention them enough times do you think they'll send me some freebies? So, out of undying love, I decided to leave the MULLER LIGHT yoghurt until last. About an hour before going home time I smugly took out my MULLER LIGHT yoghurt, and went to open it...whereupon, having warmed up by being out of the fridge all day, it splurted as I pealed the foil back. I looked with a little dismay at the small blobs of vanilla yoghurt on my t-shirt, removed a bit that had splashed on my lip, took out the spoon and took my time in getting on the outside of it, simply scrummy...with perfect timing my next customer waited until it was totally finished and disposed of...what the next customer chose not to point out, oh, and the next 5 or 6 customers too, was the big dollop of yellow yoghurt slowly drying on my nose...tomorrow I'm going to go all girly and buy a handmirror for my handbag! My mum will be so proud

Slight trauma with the food journal this evening, in that I threw away the packaging yesterday for the haddock we've eaten this evening...so need to be suspicious in the supermarket while I check out kcals and sat.fats in the freezer department tomorrow. I remember checking it all last night and being surprised at how low they were...but I can't remember what points they were...so finally point count for today will have to wait...but other stuff I ate today include:

Tea milk - 1½
30g Special K & ¼ pint semi-skimmed cow juice - 2½
Apple - ½
Ryvita x 6 - 3
Laughing Cow Extra Light triangles x 3 - 1½
Cucumber - 0
Carrots - 0
Celery - 0
WW Choc Crispy snack - 1½
WW Citrus Yoghurt - ½
Banana - 1½
Muller Light vanilla yoghurt - 1½ [actually I should reduce that, since I wore most of it! *LOL* ]
1½ haddock fillets - ?
peas - 1
sweetcorn - ½
boiled spuds - 2
mayonnaise - 2
tartare sauce - 1½

So...without counting the haddock, I'm up to 21 points...but without knowing the points value of the haddock I'll stop there for today

Thanks to Janey for posting a comment today...this is still a very new blog, but it gave me the warm and fuzzies when I checked my emails this evening and saw your post. Welcome to my humble blog!

Food Journal - 18Jul06

2006-07-18T19:32:00.000Z

Milk (for tea) - 4

Lunch:
sandwiches for lunch (white bread, ham, mayo, marg & cheese) - 7½
prawn cocktail crisps - 3
galaxy caramel - 2½

Supper:
Pork chops, potatoes, french beans, dab of flora, and a dab of mayo - 11½

Snacks:
Yoghurt - 1½
2 apples - 1

Total Points = 31

Sun Sun Sun...and solitary camping

2006-07-18T11:43:00.000Z

Still extremely hot...on breakfast news this morning they were speculating whether tomorrow might break any existing records for high temperatures...not looking forward to it.

Faffed around a little on here, tweaking little bits here and there.

Eaten an apple so far today, I'm really not a breakfasty person. Starting to get a bit hungry now though. J will be home for lunch soon, so will have a look at what scrummy sandwiches I can whip together...and then the fun of working out the points.
Came up with a plan for getting more water in to me. I'm a tea queen, and whilst working on my ps I'll drink gallons of the stuff...so, with a little self discipline I can drink a small glass of water while I wait for the kettle to boil each time. Easy as that!

Meant to be off camping this weekend, but struggling to find the motivation at the moment. We can't get kennelling for the dogs [left it too late to book], so J will have to stay at home. We've too many dogs to happily camp with all of them in attendance. So camping on my own is not something I'm looking forward to, I like to share the experiences...but as I have organised the weekend for a club I'm kind of duty bound to attend. Next time volunteers are sought for things like this I will ask J to strap my arms to my sides...

Know what you want

2006-07-17T21:07:00.001Z

Please...do me a favour! If you come in to the shop where I occasionally work could you kindly do me the service of actually knowing what you want. Telling me you want John Ganfey's dog nuts isn't helpful...we stock over 30 different brands of dog food, and serve many, many customers - not all of them share their names with us! So, please, if your neighbour, friend, lover or mother asks you to shop on his behalf make sure you know what you're buying, and don't expect the shop staff to be on first name terms with someone who might visit the shop all of once a month...

That is today's rant over and I thank you!

Today's weather was hot hot hot...too hot to function, really need to look into emigrating to Alaska. I'm serious!

Other News: Mum phoned and seemed concerned about finding her house on an estate agent's website! Seems her landlord has forgotten to mention this minor thing!!! I implored her to seek advice...but I don't think she will. Dad is still same old same old, and the care he is receiving leaves a lot to be desired...at some point the hospital stopped being a hospital with doctors and diagnosis equipment etc, and seems to have turned into a bogstandard nursing home instead. The nurses don't seem to nurse anymore, and the doctors don't appear to exist. He's currently in hospital due to complications with the various cancers he has...he's been there 9 weeks or so now, it's not looking good...he's complaining of pain the last few days and no doctor has been near him. Mum has addressed this to various nurses and the ward sister, and she just gets pacified, meanwhile my dad is in pain! I don't live in the same country as them...and at times like this that sux!

Weigh Day 1 - 320 lbs (160 lbs to lose)

2006-07-17T20:48:00.000Z

Weighed in at:
22 stone 12 lbs = 320 lbs
10% goal = 20 stone 8 lbs (loss required 32 lbs)
long term goal BMI of 25 at 11 stone 6 lbs =160 lbs (loss required 160 lbs)

Bitter sweet experience going back. Slightly ashamed to finally discover my *actual* weight and embarrassed to be there in some ways...but delightful to greet my former leader M and her clerk K again. she was so welcoming and friendly, and seemed genuinely pleased to see me having a second go at it.

This evenings talk was based around camels, and their fat storage, and why they store it. There's a method to this madness, honestly! We discussed reasons why some feel impelled to clear their plates, despite already feeling full and M impressed upon us not to go without food for longer than 4 hours at a time during our waking hours.

She talked me through the two current programs, and we agreed initially to start on the points-based method as I was happy and familiar with this from my last attempt at WW. I would like to settle into this psychologically first before I explore the non counting method. Eating with little or no restrictions seems a little daunting for now, so we start with counting points.

Stats

I want to try and keep up with my stats on a weekly basis (on weigh day), and measurements done the first week of each month. Measurements given today just as a first day record.

Age: 32

Height: 5'7"

Start Weight: 320 lbs

10% Goal Weight: 288 lbs

Overall Goal Weight: 160 lbs

Total Loss: 0 lbs

Left to Lose (overall): 160 lbs

Left to Lose (10%): 32 lbs

Starting BMI: 50.2

Current BMI: 50.2

BMI Lost: 0

Measurements: Bust 52½" / Waist 47½" / Hips 59"

My points allocation for this week is 31

Who's amazing

2006-07-16T15:41:00.000Z

The Who of course! Saw them live last weekend as they headlined the Oxegen Festival on the Saturday. For J it was a life's ambition realised, and for me it was a new dawn...truly awesome and in a class of their own. Made other main stage bands look pretty inferior.

Got to start somewhere

2006-07-16T14:25:00.000Z

...Well, hello there...thanks for stopping by.
This is my first entry here, and will serve as my intro I guess...
I'm double the size I should be, and living half the life I want to. I aim to slim down to half the size I currently am, and live twice the life.

A recent weekend away, and the subsequent publishing of photos of me and J [partner] on a website forum by someone else has made me face facts and decide enough is enough. I don't want to ask P to remove the photos...I'd be too embarrassed to have to explain why, so i'll let the photos stay, and force myself to look at them online to remind myself why I'm doing this.
Quick Biography:
I'm female, born in 1974. I'm 5'7 and approximately 21 stones (294 lbs)! Eeek! I'm currently unemployed, but looking for exciting ways to be self-employed and work from home. If you have any ideas I'd be thrilled to hear them. I help out in a pet shop occasionally.
I tried Weight Watchers a few years ago, and it was working well, I lost my first stone easily and happily. No hunger, no hardship...just lots of yummy food, and the joys of the successful weekly weigh-ins. The Points scheme was VERY easy to follow...but then I was made redundant, and by a quirk of this government's legislation I am not entitled to any state unemployment benefits...therefore with no income whatsoever I had to stop going to Weight Watchers...and I'm sad to say with out the support of the weekly meetings and talks my motivation went away and I stopped living the WW way...the weight went back on, and has plateauxed (spelling?) at 294. I've been at 294 for over a year now, and in a state of self denial over my physical size...I can often be heard asking J, "Do I look as big as that?, I don't look as big as that, do I?, Surely not?". I honestly seem to have this idea in my head that I'm NOT as big as I am...which is why photos seem so shocking to me I suppose...
OK< so I'm not sure where I'm going to go with all this current motivation buzzing through me...signing up for this is done me a lot of good...just getting some stuff out in the open has been very therapeutic for me already...

I'm going back to Weight Watchers tomorrow evening, head hanging low and praying I don't recognise anyone...I'll be back here to post my stats, and work out where I go from there

I might get J to take some photos either this evening or tomorrow...so you can see how I currently look from the neck down.If I'm going to bare my soul on here, and feel able to discuss my deepest worries, fears and problems...then I need the reassurance of anonimity...I hope you understand. When I can jump on the scales at 140lbs (hell, I'd be happy enough at 168 lbs!)...then I may reconsider the 'anonymous' thing...I'll want to shout it from the rooftops that day!

So, if you're up for the ride, you can join me on my journey...who knows where we'll end up...just hold on tight!