Battle Plan

So, I have reached my interim goal of 3 stone lighter for my friends wedding.....what can I set next?!  I know, it's my 30th birthday in March, I WANT my target for then!

I've never wanted it as badly as I do now that I've got my mind set.  To achieve my target I have devised a strategy.......

BATTLE PLAN TO UNLEASH THE SKINNY BIRD 💪

I set my PAT with my Slimming World consultant the other week and have worked out how many lbs I need to loose each week.  I've drawn up a sheet to document my weight loss and set myself some rules.  One being join the gym, which I did last Thursday.

The anxiety of joining a gym when you're a big girl is awful, toying with the idea for ages, I finally bit the bullet and do you know what, it's not as bad as I thought.  My friend is a fitness instructor there and she has set me off on a programme and I've been 3 times already this week and I pushed myself to go for a swim after.

A long term goal is just what I needed.  And to add to that goal, with it being the big 30 and I never do anything for my birthday, I decided on a BIG night out somewhere different than my local town 😀 

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

M x

A First....

So I share my journey constantly on my Instagram and decided to set up an account solely for my journey, didn't want to clog my personal followers with all my foodie pics, I know some people the that! 

It was this afternoon that I had an urge to post a recent before and after picture to my Facebook.  I'm always sceptical about doing it because I don't want people to think I'm blowing my own trumpet, but do you what, I don't care!!  I'm bloody proud of how far I've come.  I have never got this far on any of my attempts before.  Why not share and be proud 😁

I'm glad I did, the comments I have received have left me feeling overwhelmed and have really spurred me on to reach my goal (see my other post!) 

Weigh day tomorrow, hope the scales are kind, done way more exercise that normal!

M x

Getting back on track

While recovering from my operation last week I found that I had lost my appetite.  Eating on minimal food, which was mostly toast and soup, and the fact that I was still quite swollen, I knew that Thursday weigh day may have been a gain.  A 5lb gain! 

My appetite is back now but I'm finding that I can only eat little amounts.  With this in mind I knew snacky bits were needed.  I spent Saturday and Sunday making mini quiches, a quiche loaf, scotch eggs (recipe from my lovely friend) and soup.

The scotch eggs are to die for, and completely free!  To make you need 4 hard boiled eggs and 6 Linda McCartney Rosemary & Red Onion sausages.  Defrost the sausages and then squash them up.  You need approx. 1 and a 1/2 sausages to one egg.  Spray the wrapped eggs with fry light and bake in the oven.  They're a quick and easy snack to keep in the fridge and packed with protein.

Soup is always a good call, even with the lovely weather we've been having lately!  I had planned on making sprout soup but had a pack of leeks to use up.  I cheat and use a soup maker as it does everything for you.  I put in the leeks, sprouts, ham and a stock pot (a lot more flavoursome than a normal Oxo cube!).  Once it had cooked and pureed I added some extra ham to add a bit of bite.  Was really tasty :-)

Let's hope the scales will be kind to me this week, the swelling has gone down now, so I just need to concentrate on the Food Optimising then all will be good.

M x

Happiness is....

On our groups FB page our amazing consultant posted a thread asking people to finish of the sentence 'HAPPINESS IS...' with you SW journey in mind.

My response....'Knowing how far I've come and what my journey has in store'.

I love reading threads like this as people are natural with their answers and they come from the heart.  There are some wonderful replies that really put a smile on my face.

My response is not the only reason why my SW journey makes me happy, there are many reasons.

- 'knowing that my family and friends support me in 100% on my journey'
- 'seeing the reaction I get when I see people who I haven't seen in a long while, that reaction spurs me on to succeed'
- 'sharing my journey with people that maybe struggling.  I was that person struggling once and I love the fact that I maybe helping somebody realise the potential they have'
- 'my SW family.  Fair enough I go to get weighed but group is so much more than that.  It's a chance to get tips, ideas and most of all support other members.  I love my group'
- 'knowing I have the support from my consultant.  Any time of day or night, drop her a text and she will reply. Expressing words in the right way, whether it be a well done or them non-judgemental replies, she is that rock that holds our group together'

Honestly, the list could go on and on and on!!!

Hope you're all having an amazing day

M x

For and Against

Last week while at group we were given a piece of paper about writing a for and against list for loosing weight.  Never really bothering with anything like that before, I did the usual and put it in my member pack to get lost in the abyss of other information and books! 

I realised this afternoon that it was about time I started a for and against list.  I am focused but I think that this would help me along the way and keep me focused if I loose track.

There were more FOR points but one AGAINST point was going over and over in head.

'SAFE CLOTHES'

We all have them items in our wardrobes, the ones that we used to wear which are now too big.  the ones that 'I'll keep just in case I put the weight back on'.  Why the heck am I keeping them?  This journey is for the long haul.  It's not something I'm going to grow tired of.  I NEEDED to rectify this.

So two hours I spent this afternoon trying on every single piece of clothing I own.  There were many items with tags still on, just shows how much I need them!

I now have three bags for the charity shop.  The FOR points for me sorting through my clothes are:
- the temptation to loose focus is gone as now the only clothes I own are the ones that currently fit me
- my three bags will go on to be sold to raise money for a worthy cause

I'm pleased with my productive afternoon. Now, how long is it going to be before I have some more bags for the charity shop?!

M x

Pain free life (well not just yet!!)

Living with the pain of gallstones has been a long slog.  I'm one of them people that don't like to bother the doctors, but being forced to go and see my GP by my mother last May was the best thing I have ever done.  Three years of abdominal pains and leaving it became too much to handle and thanks to my mum pushing, I was found to have a gallstone, just one but it was an inch big!

I got referred quite quickly and once I'd seen my consultant I was told I would have to loose weight to make the surgery safer.  This was the kick I needed to go back to Slimming World.  

I ended up getting admitted to hospital a couple of times over the next few months while I was loosing weight.  The pain is horrendous and I wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy (even though I don't have a worst enemy!!)

After the second hospital admission I was given a new consultant as my original one had left, my next clinic appointment was a week after getting admitted.  It was like music to my ears when I walked in.  'Well Melanie, after looking through your file I'm really impressed how much weight you've lost since coming to clinic and I'm going to put you on the list for surgery'. I couldn't contain my excitement and sat there with a huge grin on my face when she was explaining the procedure.  Once my letter came through I only had about a month before I was due surgery.

Yesterday was the day.  Knowing that I don't have to live with the pain from a flair up ever again is the best feeling.  I'm in pain now but I'd rather have this pain than the other pain.  

My eating habits won't change and I will still be food optimising, I do have a size 14 bridesmaid dress to get into by September!!  So my journey to a new me will continue.

M x

First gain in 10 weeks 🙁

So I got weighed last Thursday, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting though.  I put on 1.5lbs but I know where I went wrong.  That's the first step of accepting a gain is to draw a line under that week which I did as soon as I stepped off the scales.

Going to try for a maintain this week as I had my operation yesterday and knew my appetite would not be up to much.

M x

Sabotage....why do I do it to myself?!

Every now and then self-sabotage sets in and I loose all focus.  This is one of those weeks 😕

The initial intentions were good, meal planning, food shopping for what I'd planned (nothing extra added to the trolley) and writing down the daily food intake.  So where did I go wrong?

A number of reasons for why I'm drawing a line already under this week.
- not making the meals I'd planned
- not drinking enough water
- not walking/exercising enough
- eating naughty things, mainly ruddy crisps **hangs head in shame**

But I know where I've gone and I AM going to rectify the damage.  The first is complete, I've admitted my mistakes, the second step is getting back on plan.  I have 2 days of clean eating to help.  Extra Easy SP days are being followed.  I won't be upset if it'll be a gain on Thursday at group, I'll be focused to change it around.

I can do this, the last 9 weeks are proof of that!  Not one single gain or maintain over that 9 week period.

Come on Meli, that bridesmaid dress is calling 😄

M x

Weigh day......good or bad?!

Weigh day blues always get me!  Thursday's tend to be the same eating wise, I'll have breakfast and then I usually save myself for a good dinner after I've stepped on the scales.  I know it's bad not to eat through the day and I need to stop it but psychologically I think to myself that whatever I eat will lay heavy and weigh more!

Anyway, got weighed this afternoon and I lost 2lbs 😀. Really happy with that as my water intake could have been better and I had a couple of social evening this week.

So the new week begins and meal planning will be taking place this evening.  The key to my journey, other than something to focus on for a goal is to PLAN PLAN PLAN.  I keep a food diary every day and at the opposite end of the notebook I plan 21 meals and write a shopping list for that week.

Here's to a great week

M x

Before.......

From an early age I had struggled with my weight.  I had an amazing childhood, the usual, I spent most of the holidays outside playing but as I got older and would rather sit inside and watch films, the weight piled on.  I wasn't aware of how much weight I had put on until I started secondary school, I was a size 14 at age 11!  The more I felt down about my size the more I comfort ate.  I slipped into a vicious cycle that became my norm. 

As my school years went by, I learnt to put my problem to the back of my mind.  I had my circle of friends and the fact I was overweight never came up.  I was never bullied or teased because of my size and I was accepted for who I was.  I know this isn't the case for many teenagers and children.

It was only when my year 11 prom was approaching that I finally became aware of what I was doing to myself.  I was scared of getting a dress, just like my friends, so I wore a fancy floaty top and black trousers to hide myself.  I was ashamed of myself.  Baggy clothes were to become my choice of clothes for the next few years.

My self-confidence was low and I tried to diet but nothing every came off.  Were now around the time when The Atkins' Diet was popular, my sister bought the book and I thought I'd give it a try. I only read to page 3.  I slipped back into that vicious cycle again.

Years I spent like this and I had a new circle of friends and was working full-time so I never really again about my weight.

Back in 2011 my sister asked me if she could have a word with me.  She's seen an advert for Slimming World and asked if I wanted to go with her and join and we could loose weight together.  I was scared.  Scared of standing on the scales for the 1st time in so many years.  But I went and decided to join, I thought after listening to the new member talk that this might be the help I needed and if I had my sister to do it with, maybe I would be able to succeed. 

I quit before reaching my 2 stone!

Lots of things were happening in my life, my family was moving to another country and I was moving in with another relative.  I took the opportunity to slim on my own.  It worked for while.

I decided going back to Slimming World was my option.  I enjoyed food optimising last time.  So I re-joined.  I managed about 3 months.  What is wrong me I thought!  I wanted to be slim but why do I keep sabotaging myself.

Fast forward to September 2015.  I had just been diagnosed with a gallstone.  This was the 1st time I had any health problems.  It was the wake up call I needed.  My consultant at the hospital advised me that I would need to loose weight before surgery.  So attempt number 3 at Slimming World began. 

This was the focus I needed.  And to add to the extra focus and motivation, one of my lovely friends had asked me to be one of her bridesmaids.

Now, April 2016, I'm 2 stone 8lbs lighter.  The most I have ever lost.  And better still, I'm having my surgery in less than 2 weeks!

I believe that it I need something to focus on to help me succeed.  With one of my focus points gone now I can focus on getting into a smaller bridesmaid dress :-)

M x

November 2004, I was at my biggest here

May 2003, year 11 prom

Reasons why I LOVE Slimming World!

I've tried all sorts of diets in the past and never got anywhere.  Slimming World isn't a diet, it's a plan to learn how to eat healthy.

These are the reasons why SW works for me:

- the variety of food I can eat
- the amount of food I can eat
- the way that it's taught me how to make simple switches better for me
- the recipes
- the ease of following the plan
- the support from my consultant
- the support from my fellow groupies
- the knowledge that I know I don't have to deny myself treats
- that it's made me love exercise!

And most of all........

That I have gained more confidence since I started my journey.  My whole outlook is more positive.

M x

Welcome!

Hello,

I'm Mel and I'm using this to document my journey with Slimming World to reach target.

I've had two failed attempts food optimising before, but this time I'm focused and determined to get my goals!

I'm a tad late starting this.  I re-joined October 2015 and to date I have lost 2st 8lbs.  This is the most I have ever lost with Slimming World.  This time my mind has been on it 100% and I have even incorporated Body Magic into my lifestyle.

I hope you enjoy reading my posts :-)

M x