Wednesday Words of Wisdom‏

My boyfriend said to me today “I don’t know how you do it” He was referring to me going sugar free and not eating after my dinner.

To which I replied “I just do” yes the withdrawals were awful and I had hunger pangs going to bed, but of course my body was going to react to the change in my habits.

Out with the old and in with the new. I didn't give into the hunger pangs and they disappeared after a few nights.

They say that the first few weeks are tough and the rest is habit and I am finding this to be very true. I’m nearing the end of week two back too it and I feel like things are starting to level off for me.

I don’t have the headaches or the constant tiredness. I’m keeping busy in the evenings rather than putting myself in a situation where I’ll give in and say yes to a biscuit with my tea.

I’m using my own tips and tricks if I am feeling weak and think that I might give in.(I shall share in the future)

I’m definitely feeling the benefit, eating less and moving more, this should see the scales moving in the right direction from now on for me.

My sides ache and breathing hurts and my legs feel like a dead weight from all the exercise, but walking eases and stretches these muscles and I've decided that it’s the “good” sort of aches and pains that I have, it shows I’m working hard and I will see the benefits of this kind of torture in the coming weeks (either that or I’m admitting myself to the Looney bin)

I’m drinking almost 3 Litres of water a day and my skin is reaping the benefits, its almost glowing and is spot free

I’m getting to bed a little earlier because I’m so knackered and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light J it used to take me up to an hour to fall asleep and I could wake 3 or 4 times in the night, so I would be going to work like a cranky zombie! Now I’m waking when my alarm goes off and I’m ready to face the day ahead.

My moods – I’m more positive. My days are work are far more productive, I’m in better form, more chatty, less grumpy and I’m trying to find the positive in everything that I possibly can, and I think that being in a good mood puts others in a good mood J Walking at lunch time definitely helps to improve my mood too, because when I sit down to my lunch I feel like I've accomplished something and its only lunch time. (**go me**)

Energy levels - I said that I’m tried from the exercise, which I am, but I still go and do more each evening and during the day my energy levels are soaring, the thoughts of going to spinning tonight (my third in a row) is a killer BUT I know that my body is up for the challenge and I’ll push through the tired/ heavy legs and the adrenaline will kick in and I’ll be thrilled that I made the effort and didn't slack off.

I know its still January and everyone and their mothers are on a health kick, hitting the gym and the roads and that’s fantastic, it really is.

I just hope that ye’ll stick with it once you start seeing the benefits and not hit the scales, see your down 7 lbs and treat yourself to a cake and give up. Or stop because everyone gives up on their new years resolutions after 3 weeks, don’t they?

No, they don’t. (and who’s everyone??)

See this as a learning opportunity, your learning a new way of life, learning new recipes and new ways to spend an hour of your day (the soaps can wait, trust me) learning not to eat after a certain time.

Yes its hard, but anything worth doing is. Stop thinking of it as too hard of a challenge and think of it as a new lifestyle. Trust me it will become habit and you’ll start to say” no thank you” to the offer of a biscuit because you’d rather the fruit and save the treat for when you really feel like you deserve and want it. Not just because its there.

Think before you eat, these are my Wednesday Words of Wisdom to you.

Final Weigh In of 2012

Hey Guys,
The last 6 weeks have flow by I must say and I know I've said that almost every week!! but its sooo true J


Well I had my last weigh in yesterday at lunch time and it wasn’t the best news, but I had a pretty rotten week. So not a total shock to be up 1lb..
but I’m still questioning it. This is why……


I wasn’t feeling great on Monday afternoon, ate very little that day,  it turned out to be a touch of the vomiting bug! I slept most of Tuesday and I managed to hold down 4 pieces of toast that evening.

Wednesday I was starting to come round but I was very careful about eating because I was afraid!!

So there were no walks all week and I had to cancel my two pre booked spinning classes.
I had hoped that because of my illness and lack of eating that I would at least be the same, if not down!!


And so I faced the scales on Thursday lunch time (3 hours later than usual and 2 days early) and I was up on those scales.


Now one pound doesn’t bother me, that’s just a good poo really. What I’m wondering is……


I was weighed in a different clinic and so on a different scales to normal. Does this make a difference?
They say you should pick one scales and stick to it, I believe this to be through (yes I’ve tested it out)


So that’s what’s putting me off… had I gotten to be weighed on my “usual” scales, I feel like I would have been reporting good news.


But there’ s feck all I can do about it.


So my total weight loss for the last 6 weeks is 8lbs.. I had hoped for 14!! But least I’m not up 8lbs!!


Onwards and upwards, its all still very positive and the new year will bring a new weigh loss challenge for me.


Thanks for reading.

Enjoy Christmas & The New year J xxx  


TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 8lbs

Weekly Weigh In Results #5‏

Hey hey hey, very tempted to put HoHoHo..

Yip, with one week to Christmas I definitely have the Christmas bug. The time is flying past and it was a very busy week for me work wise, I must admit.

But I did find time to hit the scales on Saturday and I’m happy to report that I was down 2lbs.

I was disappointed last week, when I was up on the scales and I must admit that hung over me was not a good girl last weekend at all!! I was tired and starving and I gave into temptation!!

Aren’t two day hangovers the devil??? I was a total write offL

But I was back to it on Monday, I had make a new vegetable soup on Sunday evening to try and redeem my sins!! And it was very tasty I must say and it kept me going for the week. I also did 2 spinning classes and got in 3 lunch times walks when it wasn’t raining!

As always I was expecting to be down a stone; after managing to avoid all the Roses and Biscuits at work all week (so tempting) I may have opened the biscuit tin and had a sniff of the choc to get my “fix” but sure there’s no calories in that!! So I had to settle for the 2lbs that I had put up the previous week. BUT at least the scales move and if they continue to move down rather than up, then I will hit my target eventually.

Given the time of year and the mental weather ( I think I may have that SAD thingy or it could be just another excuse) I was pleased with the result. I’m enjoying my mid week spins too, they make me feel like I’m moving my ass and doing something (I love writing it into my food diary, it looks better than an X and rain!)

I have one more weigh in this Thursday and then I have 2 weeks off. If I was down 2/3 lbs this week, I’ll be happy. Although I won’t hit my target of 14lbs before Christmas, I will still be down almost a stone and that’s not a bad thing, yes I’m disappointed that I “failed” but I won’t give up because although my progress is slow, its still progress.

Given it’s a short week for me, I’ll be cutting back on my soda bread (having 1 instead of 2) with my soup and I’ll be putting less potatoes into my soup and watching my dinner portions. There’s no harm in that. I have 2 spinning classes booked and I hope to get in at least 3 walks if the rain fecks off!!

So watch this space… I’ll report back on Friday.

How have you been getting on? Did you have a blow out for your Christmas party and decide to stay off the wagon till the new year? Or are you putting in the extra effort this week before the selection boxes are opened???

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 9lbs

Weekly Weigh In Results #5

Hey Guys,

Aren't the weeks flying past??? Christmas is coming J a few things happened me this week.

1. My soup was a disaster
2. I started a new spin class
3. My work Christmas party


I decided to make my soup last Sunday evening, so I’d be prepared for the week ahead, it as only when I got to the blending part that I thought the soup looked very watery! I was wracking my brain trying to think where had I go wrong  (this took me a while, trust me) I’d forgotten to add the two potatoes in, which thicken up the soup and makes it nice!! Oops!! So for the week  I stank out the kitchen at work with my mushroom and garlic soup!! It was just bits of mushroom and garlic in flavoured water!!! Silly Silly me!! 
I had such a busy week, that I didn’t have time to pour the lot down the sink and start a fresh batch, and so I was a trouper and just had it everyday to tide me over!!
Yip, I learn everything the hard way! But at least I’m learning!



I bought myself one of those online bargain deals last week , 6 spinning classes for 25 euro (usually 10 euro per class) Sure I couldn’t NOT buy it J
My first class was last Wednesday night, it turned out to be 40 minutes of spinning and 20 minutes of ab work, which I thought was very goo, to be honest it was a relief to get off the bike after such an intense work out, so to be told to lie on the floor was just lovely, that was until I had to do all the floor exercises!! Needless to say it gave my body a right old shock!! I haven’t attempted a sit up or a plank in over 6 months, but I managed, the following day I felt every minute of the “crunches” even breathing hurt!
BUT its nice to know that there are abs in my jelly belly somewhere, after that class they were screaming hello out at me!!
I was still sore on Saturday. So I’m doing two classes next week… No Pain No Gain eh..
Being sore means its working, my “muscles” are waking up.. eeeek!  (Thats what I tell myself)



I knew that my Christmas part was at the end of the week ,and so I made sure that my food  right up to it was good (hence the watery soup) and the  torture spin class plus 3 lunch time walks.
I was being prepared and not writing off the week just because I’d be going out for dinner and a few drinks. (I’m trying to be sensible in my old age)
So we got ready to go out from work. Had a drink before dinner, I picked a chicken dish over the lovely looking steak.
I didn’t have starter or dessert. I didn’t focus on the food for once, I was out, I got a few compliments on my appearance in my new dress, I had a few drinks, I chatted with my colleagues and had a laugh and I DID NOT feel deprived that I only had one course instead of three.
That’s definite progress for me J it was a good fun night out, just how Christmas parties are meant to be J




The following morning was weigh day! I was a little delicate to say the least!! But I hopped on the scales and hoped for the best.


I was up 2lbs on the scales and up 3lbs in muscle. The muscle gain is good and probably down to my spin and abs class, the weight gain she put down to the booze still being in my system and said that the reading wasn’t accurate because I had been out the night previous!!



So I don’t know what to make of this weeks result. The weigh in is essentially null and void because of the booze still being in my system. So I don’t know if I am up, down or wrong this week.


To be honest I was too hung over to give it much thought on the day!! But I guess the muscle gain is a good thing and it could be possible to gain 2lbs from having a big chicken dinner and a whole lotta vodka!! Then so be it. It won’t put me off!!


I’m back on the wagon and the water, I’ve made a new batch of soup for the week (yes I remembered the spuds) and I’ve 2 spinning classes booked.


I’ve 2 weigh in’s left to Christmas and 7lbs to get rid of.


Have any of ye had yer Christmas parties yet? Are ye getting into the Christmas mood? I definitely am.

Stay Strong and keep going xxxx


TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS TO DATE: 7lbs

Weekly Weigh In Results #3

Hey Guys,

Well I had my weigh in on Saturday morning and I'm kinda upset to report that I was the same on the scales

The past week has been tough for me. I found that I was hungry a lot and cold all the time. (I think the cold makes me extra hungry; not sure if that’s just in my head tho!)

I didn’t eat anything extra (so I thought) and I had a lot of walks and a spinning class. So I was hoping that I would be down on the scales this week!

Everything however was the same!! Weight, muscle, fat… nothing had moved at all L

So the only thing for it was to go through my weeks food diary with a fine tooth comb and see where I had gone wrong.

It turns out I didn’t have one perfect day food wise in the week! There  I was thinking I was being so good and going to bed hungry most nights! Not a happy camper I can tell you.

BUT I’m now aware of the “extras”

·         For instance for my lunch I bought the three pack of weightwatchers tuna &  sweet corn in mayo, 70g tin.

Sweet corn is a sweet veg and hinders weight loss. I did not know that.

·         I had some cheese for my lunch two days. Dairy is not my friend!! It has to go.

·         For one of my dinners I jazzed up my chicken fillet by wrapping it in bacon! This meant I over loaded on protein!! Oops!

·         Another dinner I cooked the chicken fillet in the over in a spice in the bag thingy. Apparently they’re really bad for you. Calorific???

So there was something “wrong” every single day in my food diary last week, and I thought I had been sooooo good and that I’d had a great week.

So I only have myself to blame for being the same on the scales unfortunately!

She told me that in her experience the people that loose the most weight are the ones that stick to the same eating routine, day after day after day!

There was a guy from the clinic that has lost 12 stone since January, so she knows what she’s talking about!

So I’m going to try the plain and same eating routine for this week and hope that I can stick too it (hate having the same dinner every single day, but if that’s what it takes then so be it)

Here’s what I’ll be eating and drinking this week:

8.30am          2 x Weetabix (hot with semi skimmed milk)

9.00am          fill 1 litre bottle of water

                   Make tea (Pu-erh)

11.00am        Pear & Pu-erh Tea

01.30pm        2 x McCambridge Soda bread (toasting optional)

                   Tiny scrap of butter

                   Smoked Turkey (wafer slices)

02.00pm        fill 1 litre bottle of water again

Pu-erh Tea

03.00pm        Pear

05.30pm        Chicken Fillet

                   2 x scoops of mashed potatoes

                   Veg – Cauliflower, Broccoli, Peas & Carrots

                   Gravy (low cal and watery)

Hope ye had a better result on the scales than me this week xxx

Weekly Weigh In Results #2

Hey Guys,

Well I had my second weigh in on Saturday morning and I'm sorry and sad to report that I was up 1lb!!

The past week has been a half and half week for me. Half bad but also half good.

I was away last Sat, Sun and Mon, so that was 3 days of me eating out and “treating myself” to “nice food”
My belly did not thank me for my indulging I can tell you!!

But I made sure that I was extra good and careful with my dinner portion sizes Tues – Fri!!
Unfortunately the damage had been done, so I spent my good days trying to burn off what I ate on my bad days!!
I had hoped that I would break even on the scales on Saturday morning, but it wasn’t meant to be for me!!

I know its only one pound  (I’ve done bigger poo’s to be honest) BUT I promised myself that my days of being up were gone,
especially now that I have to share my results with the world and its mother!

I was a bit sick with myself after such a fab result last week that I have to come and tell you that I’m up.
But I was away for a few days and we all know how hard eating out can be on a good day, don’t mind when your away and your travelling and your hungry and cold!!!
See the excuses come like breathing to me!! Not good!!
I did come back from my few days and get straight back into my good ways again, so I’m hoping that if I carry on with a week of good eating and exercise this week that I will see a result on the scales come next Saturday.

I have been told that they expect me to be down 5lbs next week  and I’ll be back on track for my Christmas goal once again.
I do like having a weekly target as it keeps my mind focused and there’s no better feeling than being told that your down on the scales J
So I’m aiming for 5lbs this week and I’m feeling pretty positive for a Monday.

My plan for this week is to increase my exercise because my food is under control for the most part. For the last 2 weeks I’ve been going for a 20 minute walk on my lunch break (weather permitting); it breaks the day and gets my bum moving. I’m finding the long dark evenings tough. The urge to put on my pjs at 6.30pm because its pitch black and watch my ass grow is very appealing and it’ll be a loooong winter if I allow this to be my new routine. This is my first winter that I’ve not been joined a gym you see, so at the moment the dark and the bad weather are hindering my ability to go out in the evenings for a walk.


So I’ve decided that I need a hobby that involves leaving the house at least twice a week. I’ve been checking out what’s on offer in my local gyms for non members and there are a good few options available. So this week I’m going to try out Spinning. I used to love spinning and do it 2/3 times a week until I put my back out last July. So I’m going to give it a go this week and see if my back is up to going back to it. I will also continue with my lunch time walks.

I hope you had a good week and the scales are going your way J