April 2nd 2013

Dear Blog

Finally lost my stone

Taken almost a year, but thanks to rosemary Conley we got there.

Nic xx

Post Espagna

Well I’ve been back from Spain a week now and have to say that I have been eating (and drinking!) pretty normally.

 

I have managed to stay pretty well the same weight (my lower weight) which I’m delighted with. I have still kept off half a stone!!

 

In addition I chatted to Anne from FRAME to see if they had received the money I raised from Just Giving. I am delighted to report that they have now got around £130 which includes Gift Aid money. I am so pleased, thank you everyone. Anne said I should do a before and after picture and whilst I had done the before I hadn’t done the after.

 

But you know because I never was that vast beforehand, from the before and after pictures it is not necessarily that obvious I’ve lost weight!! Hey ho and here we go!

 

BEFORE

 

 

AFTER

 

Hmm... not sure it definitely shows a half stone weight loss!! Anyway.....when you first register with Rosemary Conley at a class they get you to measure all sorts of areas. I have lost the greatest amount around my waist and both thighs (and put 2cm on my right arm??!) as follows:

	BEFORE	AFTER
Waist	77cm	72cm
Bust	92cm	88cm
Hips	87cm	85cm
Widest part!! (butt!!)	89cm	88cm
Right arm	25cm	27cm
Left arm	28cm	27cm
Right thigh	57cm	52cm
Left thigh	54cm	49cm
Right knee	36cm	36cm
Left knee	36cm	35cm

 

So there we have it. I feel great and I want to continue feeling great by going back to Rosemary classes this week and back onto the Week 5+ plan of 1400 calories incl one treat a day!!

AND most importantly FRAME have an extra few quid to help them achieve their aims.....Thank you FRAME for all you do 

Back in a couple of weeks:-))

 

Days 34 - 39

Day 34

Bank holiday Monday.

Well now. I'm writing my blog almost a week later  and trying to remember what i did on Monday.

Neil went to Nottinghill Carnival in the rain and i stayed at home with Mum. All the cleaning carpets and sculling had taken it's toll on my back and now can hardly move. Laid down on the sofa all evening drinking wine to dull the pain (yeah right!! any excuse) and eating throw in the oven past bake and not very much of it.

Day 35

So all the plans for my final week to keep fit, run around and diet sort of gone to pot as my back was acutely uncomfortable and had to go to the chiropractor 3 times this week. First visit poor chiropractor (he was one of the rowing Olympian chiropractors) couldn't even adjust (click!) my back as muscles spasming and so acupuncture helped them a little. Damn it hurts when he gives them a little flick in the muscle.

So that afternoon it was all i could do to go for a mini walk along the river front with Mum. I so wanted to go along to Bournemouth with Neil and the girls but just couldn't. Back achey - bad news couldn't exercise - good news - didn't feel like eating much as pain was all consuming!!!

Day 36

Wednesday my birthday -21 again!! After a light lunch of toast and marmite i had my lovely presents. The girls gave me a bronze horse and her foal. Mum gave me membership to National Trust. Neil's mum and dad the most splendid food blender you've ever seen and Neil a trendy Roberts radio that we got in John Lewis later that afternoon.

After traipsing around Reading later in the afternoon, i was given a treat dinner at Valentino's in Valpy Street in Reading. Quite a dim place, however the waiters very quiet, attentive and the food was wonderful. I had well done rib-eyed steak and a few chipped potatoes. I really thought that the cakes we were going to have were the cup-cakes Leah had made that day but in came a splendid chocolate cake, carried by the waiters with candles and everything. What a wonderful suprise. They were all in on the secret and kept it wonderfully.

I am a lucky girl and have a wonderful family. Fabulous presents and great birthdayx

Day 37

I weighed myself this morning and was pleased to see that my day's indulgence yesterday didn't make me put on any weight. It's all in the portion sizes amongst other things!!. Mum went home and i went to the chiropractor in the morning and he was able to do some back adjustments this time thankfully, although needed some more acupuncture. Took the girls to the park and bought them an ice cream (none for me!) while Chloe and Neil went to take Neil's dad to the hospital for a check up.

My friend Caroline came round for the afternoon with her 2 young children, Alex 4 and Lucy 18months. the girls loved playing with the little ones and kept them entertained whilst i made them all high tea, sausage, mash and gravy (Alex's favourite)....oh yes and experimented with strawberry and raspberry smoothies with new blender. Caroline and i had tea and cupcakes (yup not going to miss the extra large one made for me by Leah) and by the time Neil and Chloe came home it was almost time for the girls to go back to their Mum and the younger ones to go to bed.

Watched some kid's tv before they all went. Can't stand in the night garden. Think it insults children all that squeaking adn making funny noises. Sure the makers aren't on drugs like they were for the Magic Roundabout?? Freaky!

Anyway washed up the massive mess and ate remainders of sausage and mash with Neil once he'd dropped the girls off.

Day 38

Rushing around this morning. Going to Spain next week (yippeee) and busy getting everything done. Chiropractor again and quick stop as a guest to the Revive gymn with a jacuzzi. Have to pay as a guest obviously but hydrotherapy does the world of good for bad backs. Rushed to the weigh-in at a Rosemary class in some difficult to get to hall. Lovely ladies there and i explained i couldn't join in a class but could i weigh myself? So i did and guess what (she allowed me to take my shoes off bit cheaty!) I HAVE LOST 7 LBS OR HALF A STONE.

Am so bloody pleased with myself. Not always perfect especially with the wine but i have increased my exercise and fitness, eat better and general have a better attitude to food and drink. i.e i can cook meals and not rely on microwave meals even if from M&S and there is drink other that wine i.e yummie smoothies.

GOOD GIRL. Please be encouraged anyone who reads this. If i can, you can do it with a bit of help i.e Rosemary Conley classes etc....

I also found out that the £110 raised (£10 above my target) for FRAME is given to them every week as it is donated. So FRAME should have received everything by now. Just Giving close the particular page after 3 months but I would just like to confirm that FRAME got the money so will do that when i get back off hols. Sent a final reminder to friends and family that it's not too late to sponsor me and thanked everyone who had. I won't pursue sponsorship anymore for this challenge.

Some cleaning house in afternoon and washing with Kneel. Caroline's son asked if Neil was called Neil because he 'kneeled'down all the time! priceless. So he now has a new name. Drink of wine in the pub followed by salmon, new potatoes and peas with a dash of lemon.

Day 39 & 40

Well not much more to say but seem to have developed a liking for fried eggs on toast at the local cafe on my days off. Yum!! What more can i say. Day 40 not quite there yet we're off to Spain for a week and i can't wait. Hopefully lots of fresh food and fish. Adios for now as i end this blog and sail off into the sunset. My neighbour said today gosh 'you've lost a lot of weight' ...it's made it all worth it.

I will probably try and loose another 7lbs with 'Rosemary' when back off hols and up-date my blog on occasion. Adios amigos. It's been fun x

Days 31, 32 &33

Day 31

Well last day at work for a while. Lovely cafe stilton soup & summt else and i took the smallest peice of homedade bread and a piece of butter.

We had pork chop alla Rosemary and low fat curried yoghurt sauce with a few veg. 'Twas good

Day 32

Lots of house cleaning, gardening and drink in the pub. We had haddock for supper. Mum around. Haddock accompanied by runner beans and chipped potatoes from Co-op.

Day 33

Well don't refer any more to Rosemary's diet book so feel a bit like I have been educated in the art of eathing the correct things and have now been realeased into the wilderness!! We had roast pork, gray and veg for dinner after a hard days rowing (how beautiful on the river today just me the scull and the herons), and cleaning carpets. Had one potato and yoghurt. Not a lot. Not a lot. To bed.

PS Hopefully on Wednesday's weigh in i will have lost the half stone (half of my goal) and will aim to loose the half when get back from Spain -renewed strength and resolve!! Was very happy because on day 34 (day in advance) Mum's accountant (who came round to the cottage for a finance meeting) said he thought i'd lost a 'lot' of weight - his words! His wife and he have too a healthy 5 stone between them. Go fellow weight loosers go!!

PPS A week today will be my last blog for a whileand then catch -ups only :-))

Days 29 & 30

Days 29  

 

Oh er missus I need a break and it’s possible the thought of being on leave for 2 weeks in a couple of days is exacerbating this thought. Particularly as I am not really following the diet plan anymore ( I have finished weeks 3 & 4 1400 fortnight Fat Attack Booster Diet) and really just guessing the fat content and calories per day!! (being a bit bored and lazy!!) I do feel though I have adjusted my way of life to eating food with less fat and sugar and am to the most part sticking to the Rosemary diet.

 

To date I feel the overall ‘Rosemary’ experience has helped me to reduce both my food and wine intake (the latter by half even though not perfect!!) and increase my exercise! And I truly think I will stick to that forever. The Week 5 onwards FAB plan should also help (will read that over the weekend and apply it until we go to Spain). The diet does not feel punitive any more (used to feel quite hungry during the day) but just makes sense and I feel loads better. I hope that when I go to the next Wednesday mornings weigh-in I will have reduced my weight by 7lbs (am I becoming repetitive? This all seems vaguely familiar!!).

 

I am mulling over the idea (which means this is my full intention) that when I come back from Spain I will go on the Weeks 2,3,4&5 diet again and be a wee bit stricter to try and get the weight down still further and to get as close as possible to my goal of loosing a stone (more repetition??)

 

Well today I had a small salad from the canteen and some fruit and went swimming after work. Got home and had low fat small pizza with the girls (whilst they had the nicer and yummier looking full fat version!!).

 

Two more days and I’m on holiday and one more week until we’re off to Spain yipppeeee!! (from when I shall stop this blog  -Sunday 2^nd Sept and pick it up again less frequently when I come back).

 

Day 30

 

Thursday and a nice bowl of carrot and coriander soup and a piece of homemade bread and real butter from the café at work(what did I say yesterday about being good and having low fat food!!??).

 

After work went to a body balance class which was very stretchy and I’m not good at balancing on one hand and arm on the floor –hurts! Zumba afterwards, and lots of hip shaking and shimmying. It’s such good fun and builds up a real sweat.

 

Got home and Neil and I went for a quick half (or large glass of wine) to the local ale house and back home for shared weight watchers throw in the oven –sausage and mash and lasagne. The mixture of the 2 and a bit of salad was quite tasty. Just about managed the low fat chocolate yoghurt and complete with new developing cold lurgy dragged myself to bed exhausted.

 

Days 27 & 28

Days 27 & 28

 

As I write these on every 3^rd day I forget what happened 2 days ago.

 

Day pretty unremarkable I remember. Work as usual, spinning in evening (ye gads that hurts) and then diet lasagne put in the oven. Very nice, very tired and good night.

 

Day 28

 

Little more remarkable. So didn’t want to go to Rosemary’s (Sedges class) but glad I did. Without even trying madly in the last week because of going away I’ve lost half a pound (don’t knock it). I’ve officially lost 5 lbs. I’ve decided to go back next Wednesday am in the morning when I’m off to the original class to have a final weigh-in before the holidays. That should mean I’m 2 lbs lighter still , it being in the morning and if I work very hard in the next week at the diet may loose even a bit more. So I will have lost the target weight originally set 4/5 weeks ago – 7 lbs and maybe more!!! May not have been 7lbs in 2 weeks but because I’m slimmer than some it’s more difficult to loose –apparently!!. So if this can be sustained then however slow the loss 7 lbs is 7lbs. Presuming and hoping I don’t add any over my weeks holiday to Spain I can concentrate on the other half stone when I get back.

 

Oh boy there is nothing soft about these exercise classes, end up puffing, sweating, red faced and bleary eyed- but well exercised. Loads of ladies about 50 of us in this hall shimmying, kicking, star jumping and groaning. Got home hungry and happy.

 

Must look at ending my sponsor page or at least maybe one more email shot to folks and wrap up my Just Giving page. I’m delighted with the £110 that will go to FRAME. A win win experience

 

 

Days 24, 25 & 26

Days 24

I have that Friday feeling. More Philadelphia & Ryvita for lunch preceded by a swim –another 50 lengths despite feeling incredibly tired. Is it possible to overdo exercise?

In the evening ate the rice and prawn sort of risotto (low fat) made by Neil for the girls before they went home. Made with extra flavour to include garlic and onions. Was most impressed as it was something he came up with himself.

Prepared to go and see Neil’s family friends in Wigan.

Day 25.

Off we went to Wigan stopping off a service station on the way where Neil had croissant, his Mum & Dad hash browns (yum) and I a spot or 2 of muesli.

We got to Wigan and I was fascinated by Auntie Rose (Irish with gypsy blood) and Uncle Shiv’s (originated from Calcutta) house. Lots of dark colours, artex purple walls, mahogany window frames and largish (sort of not my taste) ornaments. I was also quite taken with Auntie Rose and studied her closely with her gold looped earrings (about 5 per ear) and array of gold necklaces. Complete with 5 chihuahua’s (yes loved them all as have felt starved of dogs company) and massive fish pond with the largest carp you’ve ever seen at a grand old age of 28 years and only one eye.

We had freshly baked vegetable samosas for lunch and boy were they good. I only had one and a half and felt quite constrained as could have eaten the lot (all 12 of them!!).

Lovely chats and quite a long snooze for me in the afternoon. A brief walk around their area was followed by the start of a long evening of drinking and eating. I could resist the 8% alcohol fruity white wine that went with dinner, however not the Chardonnay which followed. Even Chardonnay tastes good when the alternative is a bit watered down. I think we had ‘tea’ at 5pm really very early with curried chicken and vegetables and rice (all the while feeling worried that by 9pm I’d eat the whole lot all over again!!). More family came round and there was a lot of chat and merriment that lasted quite late into the evening with more samosas, sausage rolls and peanuts. I felt very content if not a little bit naughty with my overall consumption. What the heck it was a good day, especially the evening.

Day 26

Copious amounts of coffee and one fried egg on toast (with butter) for breakfast. Well it would be rude to say no!! A lot of sitting around and chatting and another mid morning snooze (gosh I feel rested – just what I needed after running around all week). For lunch we had pork chops, roast potatoes and beans. Despite Auntie Rose’s upset at the chops being a bit overdone we all tucked in. Chopped and fried marrow can be quite nice with a little cinnamon –you know. My neighbours had given me a massive marrow before going away and I was eager to pass it on or save it for the village show and pass it off as my own grown and hopefully get a ‘first’ rosette for being the firmest and plumpest marrow in Upper Baz. Well needless to say it ended up in Wigan with me being one of its consumers. Was nicely surprised as never one for courgettes or any of its derivatives. After a cup of tea and fond farewell we set off home. Home not too late (after 4 hour journey) and after a peace of toast and cheese (not too fussy about fat content) went to bed and slept oh so peacefully.