Operation SkinnieMinnie Progress Report #2‏

Hey Guys,

Its February already, so here I am with my progress photos. Its been a month since I last took photos of me and my wobbly bits in Lycra and I know your dying to see some more, lol.

I’m not proud of these pics but as my mother says “photo’s don’t lie” and she’s right *sob sob*

I’m hoping that by showing these photos every month, they will spur me on and keep me on the right path… the road to a slimmer and trimmer me, rather than the road to cake and chocolate and an even bigger muffin top (mmmmmm muffins)

I am starting to feel better in myself, its been 4 weeks good eating and regular exercise and I’m feeling good, I had to bin my black work pants last week as it was hanging off me (result J) so even though the scales are moving slowly, its my clothes that I’m feeling the difference, not so much that I need to go buy a whole new wardrobe right now, but I’m finding that when I look in the mirror, my clothes are sitting a little better on me and that is a confidence boost for me.

It definitely the little things, the waist band of my clothes feeling a little bit looser, not panting like I've walked through the dessert for 5 days when I climb the 3 flights of stairs to get to work every morning, increasing the distance I go on my spinning bike (this went from 13km to 16.8km last week) Saying no when offered food that doesn't fit in with my plan or is offered after 7pm and feeling proud of myself (yes this does get easier) Going for a quick walk when all I really want is to sit and watch Home & Away.

You get the idea, all these little things are adding up to the bigger picture and will stand to me in the coming months as I continue on my journey to loose 60lbs (before September)

Yes I’ve decided that by setting myself an end date, I’ll be more focused for now. This date may change, but I’m hoping it won’t, its 7 months away and I've 4 stone to loose, that definitely not setting my goals too high. Well I don’t think it is anyways.

So my goal for February is to complete the Operation Transformation 5k Fun Run in Cork on 23^rd February. I’m not a runner, but I’d like to be and I think that training for this event will be tough on my body, but good for my mind and it’s achievable. I haven’t attempted a run yet, but that will change in the coming weeks. My fast power walks will become slow jogs and I’ll build it up from there, eeeeek. I CAN DO THIS!!

Have you set yourself some goal for this month to keep you on the good path rather than the road to cake? I’d love to hear what they are. What’s keeping your motivated?

Week 2 Weigh-in 2013‏

Hey Guys,

I’m happy to report that the scales moved and in the right direction too for me . I was down 4lbs.

I must admit it was a tough week for me, as I booked myself in for three consecutive spinning classes! Good idea at the time ya see! AND I went to all three…

But I think it was what I needed to wake my body up and to get me moving!!

So last week, apart from the 3 spinning classes (2 of which included 20 minutes of toning) I managed 3 walks, which is good considering the crazy weather we’re having! (we’d snow this morning, rain at lunch time, and now the sun is beaming in, even tho its freeeezing cold)

My food was good although towards the end of the week I was feeling weak!! See last weeks post here about that.

I found my mushroom soup that I made for last week to be a little watery, edible, but I've had nicer.

So this week I've made a thicker more wintery soup for myself (Tomato, carrots, potato & garlic) Its not bad if I do say so myself, ha-ha

This week I’m going to carry on as I have been doing and just be careful with my portion sizes at dinner. I hadn't realised that my chicken fillets should be 200g! I assumed all chicken fillets were the same! Silly me, I know! But I’m learning as I go, so things like that could be the difference to the scales. I don’t want to be over eating without realising it!

I’m working on a picture diary of my daily food, I’ll have it up during the week, if anyone’s interested to see what I eat in the day. Its more or less repeated through out the week then.

My tip for the week is track, track track

I must say that tracking everything that goes into my mouth is a big help! I’ll be less likely to have “a tayto” when offered if I’ve to write it in my food diary. It just makes you aware of what your putting into your body everyday. Sometimes without even realising it. But by having to write it down, it makes saying “no thank you” and whole lot easierJ

I know that weight watchers are big for the trackers, I’m not a member of ww. But with every weight loss club/group/ cult I've joined logging everything that goes into your mouth is a key element. The other would be water. I keep my little food book diary in my desk drawer during the week and in my handbag at the weekends.

I also use an app on my phone called “My Fitness Pal” Although I’m not a calorie counter, I really like this app, I like that you can log your activity point too and when you hit log at the end, it tells you what you’d weigh in 5 weeks if you continued to eat what you ate on that particular day. It keeps me on the right track.

I hope that you've planned for the week ahead and that your off to a good start. Have a good oneJ

4lbs  lost, 56lbs to go.... 

#ThinThursday‏

Hello Hello

#ThinThursday is the brainchild of Sarah @RaraGiggles Check it out on twitter (#ThinThursday), it started with the usual talk of weigh loss for new years resolutions and a lot of the girls seemed to have the same sort of questions/ issues/ post xmas bloat going on, its good to know we’re all in the same boat and we can help, advise and motivate each other to stick with it and stay strong. Truth be known I happened to be online when the tweets were flying and asked could I be involved. Of course the girls welcomed me in and its nice to know I have their support to help me alongJ

Even if its just resisting having a biscuit with your tea or the extra push to get up of the couch in the evening and go for a brisk walk, all those little things add up to the bigger things.

And even if you aim to loose 1lb a week, all those one pounds add up with time (and god knows the time is flying by) you could be down a dress size by St. Patrick’s Day by just making wiser choices with food and exercise, this doesn’t mean that you have to starve or live the life of a social recluse, it just means that you have to be aware of what your eating and WHY your eating.

Why have I chosen to do#ThinThursday?

Well you all know my story at this stage! If not, check it out here.

I’m joining the girls with #ThinThursday because we all need the extra help and support and I’ll be watching Operation Transformation for tips and recipe’s also, aswell as sticking with my weekly Saturday weigh in’s, walking on my lunch break, going to at least 2 spinning classes a week, drinking 2 Litres of water, as much Pu-erh tea (zero calories) as I want, and not eating after 7pm.

I’ve also cut sugar completely from my diet as of Monday (07.01.13) I’m an all or nothing kinda girl, if I allow myself a treat at the moment, I’ll fail. I know that’s not for everyone but I’m at this long enough to know that this is how it must be for me.

You can check out some of the other bloggers involved or use #ThinThursday on twitter to check out the tips and chat.

@RaraGiggles              http://raragiggle.blogspot.ie/          

@Audrey_OReilly             http://nail-affair.blogspot.ie/         

@Adoreabubbles            http://adoreabubbles.blogspot.ie/   

@Shannairl                  http://miss-greeneyes.blogspot.ie/ 

@madamesmadeup             http://www.madamesmadeup.blogspot.ie/          

@Lisa_san                                  http://scatterbrainedblogging.blogspot.ie/ 

@girlfriday_bb                            http://girlfridaysbeautyblog.wordpress.com

@TarMarz                               http://tarmartales.com/    

@Lorrrrrrrrraine

@scarie

Count your blessings as we say ByeBye 2012

Photo courtsey of Google Images

Hey Guys,

I couldn't let the year end pass without saying a few words. I'm not a fan of new years eve if I'm being honest. But I do find its a good time to reflect back on the year that is about to end.

i also feel that we (as a whole) tend to focus on the negatives rather than the positives and as i think back over the last 12 months, there have been more high's than lows, which is great :)

2012 was a good year for me mostly. Besides hurting my back and being in bits for nearly 4 months.


I've struggled weight wise, but I feel that now I've gone public with my battle that 2013 will see me slimmer and trimmer, I will not loose and gain back the same stone 3 more times!! That stone has haunted my 2012 and so I'm promising that I WILL loose that stone (and keep it off) plus the 3 others that I could do with dropping. its not a resolution as such, more like a present to myself and my health.
I will continue with my weekly weigh in's and I will try some exercise classes and see which I want to take up as a hobby for 2013, that will keep me going on the day to day, having something to keep me busy in the evenings.


The support and feedback I've received since I started this blog back in September has been over whelming, it has also put me back in contact with pals that I hadn't spoken too in a while and for that I am very thankful, my friends and family have been a huge support to me also, my mum being my personal chef and my boyfriend walking me when I really didn't want too. Having a support network is definately a big help. they remind me of my achievements when I'm having a bad day and feeling negative. Its good to know that they're only a text away.


My Nail Art attempts/ hobby is the reason that I started this blog and I do enjoy thinking up and trying new ideas, it has been a life saver when I've been starving with the hunger of an evening also (lol)
I've received lots of really cool and pretty polishes for Christmas, which I will no doubt be showing  off in the new year...

So I hope as you read this your smiling and thinking back over your 2012 I hope it was filled with good health, happy times and that you've made some fantastic memories that will always stay with you always.


2012 for me was great, I fell in love with an amazing guy, I discovered a gra for nail polish and nail art, I went to Westlifes Last Ever Concert (sob, sob), I started this blog, I went on holidays, I welcomed my lil niece into our family and I got the all clear on my back from the Chiropractor.
My best friend bought a house, got engaged and set her date for next november, eeek and my other best friend is expecting baby number 3, wooo hooo

So here's to a fab and busy 2013 :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR xxx