Blog 37

Well, let me just dust myself down.  I fear my chicka dees that I have crashed and burned just a little and am more than a little embarrassed to be writing this blog after being away for so long.  But after receiving a text message from a London clinic saying I can save £500 on a gastric band (remember week 1 blog 1?)  and a  letter  in the same week from my doctor asking me if I would like to take part in an obesity trial with Southampton University, I had another light bulb moment and realised it was time resume my journey.  Bit of a stupid time to refocus, I agree, but let’s aim for damage limitation over the next couple of weeks.

Anyway....here we go then, a couple of things to share with you since we last spoke;
It was  over a coffee with the girlies at the end of the summer holidays, when our dahlings had gone back to school.   We thought it would be a great idea to embark upon a trip to Thorpe Park, without our children.  Oh yes!  Nothing like a near death experience with the safety net of Tena Lady to clear the cobwebs and unleash our inner child.  Date in the diary and before we knew,  it we were off for a day of unbridled fun.

It was full on from the moment we arrived.  We rode every extreme ride, whilst screaming a variety of expletives above the skies of Surrey, followed thereafter with a community groan of relief as we re-connected with Terra Firma.  Or to bring the whole experience more to life for you we filled the air with YES!!!! WHOOOO! AAAGGHHHH .F****** AAAGHHHHH.... YEAHHH and oooooh......

Noises, quite frankly, that our husbands could only ever dream of hearing again.

Anyway, on a really fab and personal note, I am now a proud member of our fabulously wonderful NHS Team working at Chiddingfold Surgery.  Lapping up the learning in a medical environment with one of the hardest working, compassionate and professional groups of people that I have ever had the pleasure to work with.  A proper grown up team member with a real pigeon hole and a shiny Silver name badge and I am a very happy girl.

Clearly though, as much as I am relishing my new job and working the additional hours, there is a definite period of adjustment for the other members of the family.  Mummy’s extra time away has resulted in certain and significant changes in the family dynamics.  We have now, for example, introduced the family game of ‘laundry Jenga’. This is a new game, in our household, where each family member is given the opportunity to display their ability and skill in extracting items of clothing from the mountainous ironing pile, without toppling the lot to the floor. 

On the days that the laundry hasn’t quite made it into the washing machine, there is always the chance that one of us will need to go commando.  Sadly though, there is always one clear loser with this one as I have taught my girls that for every night you are away from home, you times your underwear requirement by 3 and have bought them enough pairs to cover for such eventualities.  So on a one week holiday it is necessary to take a minimum of 21 pairs of knickers each packed in the suitcase.  That is simply the law.   However, I have come to realise that boys do not adhere to such law and it is now that I offer my huge apologies in advance if you spot my hubby adjusting himself in public due to lack of undergarments.  Please do not report him to the police, just send him back to ours and I will do my level best to get an economy load in the washer or organise a little emergency run to M&S.

 

The other stressy thing to calculate, as a full on working mum (other than sodding toilet roll usage or in reserve, the bloody kitchen roll usage), is food.  For the love of god can somebody other than me contribute to the shopping list please with the essentials? Forget about can’t cook, wont cook, ready steady cook, or Nigellas 101 uses for cocaine flour cook book, just write the basics on the list please as I haven’t quite mastered the skill of telepathy in knowing what has been consumed during my absence.

 

Right then, grump over and moving on now... a few weeks ago in amongst all of the madness hubby and I embarked on a great child free weekend to Poland.  A fabulous hotel booked above a microbrewery and four days of not having to be a responsible grown up.  Hurrah! The only tinsy winsy down side was that we had to fly Ryan Air from Bristol. Anticipating the brawl for seats, I booked us into the front row, hoping to get a little extra leg room and a quick getaway.  Also, thinking in the back of my mind that if we needed to darn emergency rubber rings or inflate arm bands that the extra space could prove beneficial.

 

Occupying the front seats directly opposite the cabin crew also proved to be a bonus.  Not for the replenishment of refreshments but for the overhearing of the ups and downs of the stewards love life.  His boyfriend of 6 months had just confessed that he was married but still wanted to be with him. Oh my, I could have happily been held in a holding pattern for at least another hour.  Top marks for entertainment on the outbound flight Mr Ryan Air.

 

So to quickly summarise Gdansk; beerski, boobski’s, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang architecture and clock towers along the cobbled child catcher streets not understanding a word of the local language. Done. That's the bit I remember anyway.
 

And then just as we were beginning to adjust to our new blood alcohol levels, it was time to head home.....

Front row seats again on the return sector (how posh) and an equally entertaining flight but in a completely different way.  It transpired that a large group ‘in the middle section’ had decanted copious amounts of vodka into more innocent soft drink vessels and were consuming vast quantities with gusto. Nothing like a bit of a Polish sing-song on board to add to the atmosphere. Shortly afterwards though it wasn’t the singing that began to grate on me,  it was the distribution of child packs containing whistles. 

 

For the love of god.  Somebody up in the big corporate world, who gets paid lots of pennies, deemed it a good idea to entertain the children on board with child packs containing drawing tools, sugar fixes and whistles.  Once one got started they all started.  And then more singing and Just when I wished that I had brought my descant recorder to get my own back, the wheels were down followed by a rapturous applause with a whistle accompaniment. Surely people... a safe landing is part of a pilots job spec?

 

Oh alright... I suppose we should talk about the weight.  Now I know that this is a very silly time to refocus on the journey but to leave it all to the New Year could be very dangerous.  So as crazy as it might seem, I am going to bite the bullet and will be weighing in next Thursday morning. I know that at least half a stone has crept on and am dreading it. Embarrassed? Yes. Disappointed in myself? Yes.  Giving up? No.  And that is that. So a big deep breath in... let’s expand that balcony bra to its limits and forward we go again my little weight loss buddies.

 

.... A new job, a Bridget Jones mini break and a fabulous Christmas Fair achieved.....seventy pounds and counting...Sx

 

 

 

 

 

Blog 36

Hello my fabulous chicka dees!  Welcome back! No doubt about it, the summer holidays have presented a bit of a challenge in my weight loss journey and I will confess, just to you, that I really did struggle with my focus for just a little while.  It all started by having a ‘bad’ week and deciding not to weigh in.  Why on earth do we do that?  Who are we afraid to admit our ‘bad week’ to?  The only person that is going to feel disappointed is ourselves.  Anyway, in my mind, the trick is then not to leave it another week because then the damage can really set in. When I did bite the bullet to face the big scary scales, I had put on half a stone over 2 weeks.  Oh so easy to do.  A massive wake up call and a horrible feeling.

 

So, the first time I really started to slip was when we all went on a 5 day mini excursion on our boat.  It is a nautical phenomenon that the minute one embarks upon water fairing vessel, ones arm resumes the drinking position automatically and can remain in said state until boat is back on its permanent mooring.  I am quite proud that I have mastered the art of holding any glass, any shape, carrying any tipple on a perfect gimbal in all weathers.  Alas, despite the talent involved,  it is not a sport recognised in the Olympics and it only serves to hinder any weight loss...and it did.   

In fact, the only time I embarked on any exercise during the five days was when we left Port Solent and were heading back to Emsworth.  All was flat calm as I took up the tinkle challenge in our boats toilet - a similar size cubicle as you would find on any Ryan Air flight but with better toilet roll and the comfort of having ones lifejacket firmly secured before take off.  It all started so well.  Shortly after wedging myself in and assuming the release position, the tide changed and a tidal race occurred.  Or in non nautical terms, it basically began to get a little bit more bouncy. This coupled with joining the shipping channel and bobbing alongside the large Portsmouth ferries it all turned into an extreme sport.  Bum firmly wedged onto seat, left foot against left side of cubicle and right foot against right side of cubicle and hands flailing around trying to counter balance with anything.  By the time I emerged, I felt like I had been on one of the most challenging rides at Thorpe Park and thankful that my lifejacket hadn’t inflated and that I also hadn’t needed to be extracted by the RNLI.  Anyway, once things had settled down I returned and sea flushed only to find seaweed and a couple of tiny baby sea shrimp floating in a confusing and drunk state in the toilet bowl having also been on the ‘ride of their lives.’

 

 

Oh I know, in my last blog, I declared that I wanted to lose 10lbs these holidays.  Well, that was stupid wasn’t it? Anyway, in summary, last time we had a chat I had lost thirty six and a half pound of fat after a couple of uppy downy weeks.  I weighed in this week and my total weight loss is 35.5lbs.  So during the holidays I have put on one fat pound and lost nothing.  The negative is I could have been nearly a stone lighter...the positive is...I had a fantastic 7 weeks with my girls and I am now ready to chase the 3 stone marker....again.  Oh lordy, I feel like I have been on this plateau forever. 

So after the mini panic and overwhelming certainty that I was not going to slip backwards with my weight loss I found myself trying to keep an eye on the ball at all times. I have kept up my swimming but realsie that, as mentioned before, I need to embark on a new fitness challenge to step it up. Gloria, bless her, has also struggled to maintain her fitness levels over the last few weeks so we have decided to put together a little joint regime to help us both get things back in focus.

In summary, of course I am slightly disappointed in myself.  I really am but I cannot afford to dwell on what might have been.  My Daddy said three magical words to me at a little family gathering recently.  It was said in passing and I doubt that he will have thought it significant but he said “just keep going” and that is exactly what I am going to do.

So a quick blog to get back into the game.  SW group has moved to a Thursday so all future blogs on a Thursday or Friday.  Back in the arena and 3lbs off this week. Please keep sending your support...I need you so much to help me hit that three stone mark.

Thirty five and a half a pound of fat gone, thirty four and a half a pound to go. Sx

Week 35

 

Hello my little chicka dees!  Here we go then, back on track and a big fat 4lbs off since we last spoke.  No point in thinking of where I might have been.  Just time to reflect, regroup and roll forwards.  Whichever way you look at it, I am thirty six and a half a pound lighter since starting my weight loss in October and boy, am I thankful for that with our current heat wave.

So, Gloria and I have had a little cheek to cheek action over the last couple of weeks and I even took her swimming the other day for a bit of variety.  No, for goodness sake, not into the swimming pool, just to the cycle bay while I went for a swim.  I normally drive to the pool but thought it would do us both good if we went together and it did. Smashed the hill back from the pool with no problem at all.  The training for the LiDBA charity ride did me some good after all and it has made me realise that I really do need to complete another sporting challenge to help me with the weight loss.  Harrison’s daddy is doing an average man to Iron Man challenge and Brenchie (who was my LiDBA wing man) is cycling from London to Paris.  Well, clearly my boobs are too big to embark on any Iron ‘Man’ challenge and neither Gloria nor I can speak French so that one is out of the question also.  If you have any ideas which are clean and involve wearing all of my clothes then I would greatly appreciate your input. Just let me know and I shall add it to the bucket list. Any other suggestions and I shall name and shame you in the blog next week.  Ooh, talking of which it has been a while since we had a peek.

 

14lbs Treatment at Old Thorns Mum & Sister spa night away Completed with synchronised swimming.	21lbs Walk from Hayling Island to Emsworth 5 Miles (without oxygen) Completed!	28lbs 5 Mile Cycle Challenge Completed!	34lbs First Horse Riding Lesson Completed!	39lbs 25 mile LIDBA Bike Ride Sunday 9th June Completed!	42lbs Drop down the highest red slide at play zone Portsmouth Bra fitting completed.	48lbs Western Horse Riding Day in the New Forest
52lbs Top to toe beauty day.	60lbs Flight on Warbird at Goodwood (Have wanted to do this forever!)	62lbs Sporting Challenge?	65lbs Weekend in Barcelona	68lbs Family & Friends  Go-Karting session at Farnborough	70lbs  The Holiday Clothes Shopping Slimming World Magazine

 

I have taken out a couple of things and put in some fresh dangly carrots just to keep it fresh.  You will also notice ‘drop down the highest red slide at play zone’ with the need for a bra fitting underneath. Well, bra fitting completed courtesy of M&S Guildford and it really shouldn’t take them long to get over the experience.  Anyway, it was necessary, it really was. Ladies, if the time has arrived when your bust is suddenly playing pitty pat with your knees or resembling two tennis balls in socks and you have to have a fitting, then take my advice, take a friend who also needs a fitting.  Preferably one that is female, is patient and who comes with a wicked sense of humour.  In between the embarrassment of revealing yourself to a complete stranger (should be a female, if not a female then, you might be in the wrong place) and trying to hold your breath in to make your tummy look smaller in a state of half nakedness you realise there is no escape from looking at your topless reflection in a variety of mirrors while sharing a small space with a stranger. So just when you think your embarrassment is over and you have hastily adorned your clothing you then hear your 'so called' friend laughing from outside the cubicle declaring “Christ, even I didn’t think they were that big!” Well, that is that for another few pounds. 

Undeniably, one of the hardest times to lose weight, in my opinion, is during the summer holidays.  Asking my friends universally how they get through the weeks, we reveal one common denominator,alcohol.  Clearly this is going to present me with a challenge especially as I want to lose another 10lbs by the end of the 7 weeks.  Last year I remember I actually put on 9lbs.  Bad, bad habits with the only upside presenting itself at the last innings by confirming that I still housed the same number of children at the end of the holidays that I started with.  Not quite sure how this works for my teaching friends and family.  Do you start drinking at the beginning of the holidays with the euphoria and knowledge that you have a whole 6 weeks plus before you discipline other people’s children again?  Does it then escalate as you get towards September, looking at the inset days as a last ditch attempt to let your hair down or save your liver? I did think about not drinking any alcohol for the whole of the holidays but then realised it might put me in a catatonic state and/or therapy.

So in amongst all of the difficult stuff that we have experienced as a family over the last few weeks, I want to share something lovely with you.  Whilst bobbing around on the Solent last week, we had the most beautiful seal spotting experience.  Just off Hayling Island, a seal family made up of 6 large adults who were basking on a mud flat with two playful pups rolling and swimming in the shallows chasing the fish. Simply magical.  Is it me or do all seals really look like podgy, beautiful Labradors with oversized whiskers and flippers?

Here we go again then….thirty six and a half a pound of temperamental fat gone…..thirty three and a half a pound of fat to go. Sx

 

Week 34

Well, there is no denying that the last couple of weeks have been difficult.  Following the sudden death of my friend which I have already shared with you, exactly a week later we lost, after a very quick illness and diagnosis, a very special member of our family. A beautiful uncle.  Two funeral services on two consecutive Wednesdays and the hardest part of it all was seeing all those that I love so much in pain and tears.  Cancer.  Bloody cancer.

I wish I was the type of person to drop half of my bodyweight in stressful and upsetting situations but actually I am the complete opposite.  I decided to book two weeks ‘holiday’ time with my Slimming World Consultant in a bid to try and hold on to a bit of control.  The last thing I needed was to stand on the scales and see a weight gain - it wouldn’t have taken much for me to shove the scan bran where the sun don’t shine.

So, yesterday morning (as scheduled) I bit the bullet and I returned to class. 2.5lbs on.  A minor miracle if you ask me considering I nearly drowned on more than one occasion in a bath of Shiraz and mini cheddars.

Of course I am really disappointed. The first weigh in after Pete died and I put on 3lb and now I have another gain of 2.5lbs.  I was so close to the 3 stone weight loss marker and now I am closer to 2.5 stones.

You know something? When I started my weight loss journey I never viewed it as one of those perfect race scenarios where I could weather all storms and still lose weight at a rate of 2lbs a week and write the perfect diet book, I just wanted to share my real ups and downs and have a bit of fun along the way with a bucket list.  So, as much as I have taken a few steps backwards and believe me it is a bitter pill to swallow, this is real life.  It is time to stop, change gear and get moving forwards again.

Next week, my little chicka dees,  is time to visit the bucket list again and get some more positivity and fun back in the mix. For now though, this is really  going to hurt as I am under the half-way point again but so be it, the deed is done……thirty three and a half a pound of fat lost..... thirty six and a half a pound and counting. Sx

Week 33

Following a very euphoric last week, this week I am on the floor. 3lb on.  An unhealthy relationship with wine and food and the sudden death of my friend over the weekend. I am actually sitting here with a very heavy heart, in tears and feeling pathetically sorry for myself, drinking a very large glass of wine. The cheddars are in a bowl to my right and as much as I know I shouldn’t be eating them, in some ridiculous way they are helping. I know that this is going to be the beginning of a fridge raid of some description and the wine bottle will be empty before I go to bed.  I wish I could be a grown up in these situations but I simply fall to pieces.

To fuel the sympathy fire, I am remembering all of the beautiful people that have been part of my life and the people who still are and who mean so much to me. I am on a doughy roller coaster of emotions and deliberately wallowing to try and understand it all.  I lost somebody.  A whole somebody who didn’t figure in my day to day routine but who was, for 8 years, a part of my life.

He was the Woolworth’s in my John Lewis circle and my dodgy diamond in the set.  He was also the single parent who spent every penny he earned on his 14 year old son.  He fought for and won sole custody despite a brief holiday, courtesy of Her Majesties Service. Oh yes, he turned it all around.

So, the bottle is now empty, the fridge raid is over and my eyes look like puffy mascara stained Yorkshire Puddings. Knowing that I have added to my 3lb weight gain this week makes me feel even worse and I realise that this could be the one situation that could seriously unravel my focus.

Through watery eyes, I take my Slimming World Book out of my handbag and place it on the kitchen work surface.  One day at a time.

Goodnight my friend.

Sx 

Weeks 31 & 32

One fat juicy pound of fat lost.  Yes, I know I am possibly a little bit enthusiastic about losing one pound of fat but the scales now show that I have dropped into the next stone down and that does make me feel so good. Chip, chip chipping away and 39lbs gone already. Now, in contrast, if I had joined my beautiful svelte sister this week in the Ofsted weight loss challenge she would have won hands down. Really Mr Ofsted. Pick on my sister will you? I’ll have YOU in the playground after school. 

So a fantastic big tick on the bucket list for our charity bike ride.  What a brilliant experience and we raised £375 for harrisonsfund.com.  How clever do we all feel? Oh yes epic!

 

Over 1000 cyclists and more Lycra than a girl should ever be blessed with experiencing in her life. Clearly, some people still believe that one size fits all.  Unfortunately this leads to the over stretch of fabric and a rather more graphic vision of uppy downy bum.  Thank the lord that my brother in law (Brenchie) wore good quality shorts as for the first time in approximately 20 years, I spent 2 hours 26 minutes staring at his buttocks. My trance only once interrupted briefly by looking above the parapet as Alex and Charlotte (Harrison’s Daddy and Aunty) greeted and departed like a pair of meerkats on speed.

 

 

 Annie got home first, followed swiftly by Albert and then our gorgeous Claire.  Brenchie’s Bottom guided us two in followed by Val who felt it necessary to have a couple of banana stops on the way and no, that is not a euphemism for anything.   

According to Brenchie’s super duper tracking device, I only burned 1076 calories in total.  Clearly the equipment has an intermittent fault as my body cried out to be replenished with at least 3000 calories including fizzy wine.

Oh yes, and moving on…. last week, following an unscheduled trip to the quacks, it transpires that after a brief consultation and minimum medication that my BMI still puts me firmly in the clinically obese category. Hmm.  Thanks for all the death threats directed at my doctor via Facebook, I found them all very funny. Anyway this whole BMI thing prompted me to look into it a little further and to find out where I am on the global fat scale.  Well, in Tonga I would fall well into below average weight and in Bangladesh I could probably be a source of food intake for an entire village for 12 months.  Go on, Look up your own BMI.  This is a BBC website so must be true.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18770328

Next week let’s revisit the bucket list and again and have a little shake-up.  I love changing it around, it keeps it fresh and keeps me motivated. I hope you are not getting bored my chicka dees…we are nearly at the 3 stone marker! Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun?

Rock and roll, here we go….thirty nine pounds of fat pedalled away….thirty one pounds and counting. Sx