Week 22

It was all systems go this week to nail the half way weight loss mark. Guns blazing, I worked my way through the week only to manage a half a pound off on the scales. Now, I know that you are all shouting out to me that it is a loss, muscle weighs more than fat, it could be hormones, maybe if you had another wee or even a poo it would all have been a different story.  But here is the truth, I am so disappointed in the result because when I stepped on those scales, I felt lighter, I felt fitter, my pants were baggier and I was convinced I had lost at least three pounds.    

Bloody scales rule our lives.  Do you know something?;  I felt so disappointed after looking at the numbers on the scales this week that if it hadn’t have been for the very best mates in the world, I fear I may have been found unconscious somewhere with my head in a chocolate fountain.

Look, I know I have done well but I still maintain it is important to have the bit between ones teeth and push forward.  You wouldn’t expect a marathon runner to stop at 13 miles and say "Blimey, haven't I done so well?,..might as well wait here for a while and then just poodle along for the next bit." It’s like painting half a wall or mowing half the lawn or heaven forbid, even eating half a Twix bar.  Half the job is just not an option.

And my poor darling Gloria.  She has been stuck in the shed all week.  She hates cycling in the cold and so do I. If this arctic weather continues, I wonder if Amazon can direct me to a bicycle Onsie reseller with colour co-ordinated snow chains.  Come on spring, we are both hoping to get out a little bit more this week, as soon as our padded shorts arrive.

I so wanted to be crossing the half way marker by now my chicka dees but it looks like it may take a little longer.  Nothing for it... head down, buy smaller pants and charge the mountain. Thirty eight pounds and counting. Sx

Week 21

1lb on and getting a bit bored of sitting the wrong side of the half way mark.  I now realise that it is time to stop admiring ones success to date which, in truth, has led to a little complacency.  Oh yes, there is the excuse of going away with my Mummy and sister this weekend for a spa retreat but with the additional exercise on land and in the pool, I felt sure it would have ‘off set’ any calories consumed.  Anyway, this time I really do feel like I am struggling and have reached a little plateau.  Time to really focus again and try and get that ‘week one’ feeling back. 

So, off we went to the Old Thorns Country Club for a day and a night girly sleepover.  Treatments first, followed by lunch and then the spa. Perfick. I plumped for the neck, shoulder and back massage. As comfortable as it was to align my neck by placing my head in the hole for my face, where on earth was I supposed to put my boobs?  Surely there should be three holes in the bed for women (one head and two boobs) and two for men (one head plus one for bits).  I think that this makes a whole heap of sense and is a very reasonable suggestion providing nobody has to retrieve anything midway through the session from underneath the treatment table.

Well, all credit goes to my sister for the first round of belly laughs following her emergence from the bathroom in her allocated hotel bath robe and slippers looking like one of the 7 dwarfs in outsize clothing.   Another clear example of ‘one XL size does not fit all’.

Into the pool and our first opportunity to practise our synchronised swimming routine.  Once we managed to get a handle on what was our left leg and what was our right leg, it all became just a little bit easier. If you look a little closer in this picture you can see at this stage, we hadn’t quite grasped which was which.

So champagne followed the synchronised swimming although we realised that we may have executed our routine more accurately if we had drunk it first.  Except then, I guess, we may have run the risk of drowning.

All three of us harbour a little bit of insomnia and come Sunday morning we found ourselves as the first guests in the pool and spa area.  For some reason, having the whole area to ourselves made us feel just a little bit naughty.  The wet floor in the steam room lent itself to a little tap dancing with great acoustics, the sauna provided a slatted stage to walk backwards and forwards on singing ‘Keep spreading the news...I’m leaving today...I Wanna be a part of it New York! New York!’...And the relaxation chairs with wet feet rubbing up and down them made the most amazing farty duck noises.  Oh but we did behave ourselves when others were around, honest we did. 

A brilliant weekend which we need to book again very soon or as my sister suggested, we could all take live in jobs and commute to our families when we felt the need.

It is time to stop basking in my total weight loss and time to look forward towards the next part of my weight loss challenge with fresh eyes.  Here we go my little chicka dees...thirty eight and a half a pound and counting . Sx

 

Week 20

Steady as she goes captain.....2lbs off!  That means that in total I have lost 32½lbs or in real money 2 stone 4½lbs or to put it another way, 2 x average armadillos or 4 x gallons of water or 5 x average rock hopper penguins.

Blimey it all seems a little unreal except....do you remember those suitcases I filled with clothes that were too small for me back in week 4?  Well, following the impromptu collapse of my wardrobe rail and a massive sorting out session for the charity box, I decided to open them up and.... happy days my little chicka dees as they all fitted!   

Oh, my beautiful Gloria surpassed herself this week.  In between the extreme weather conditions, we grasped a clear day opportunity and headed out for an 8 mile ride together.  Around the ranges and beyond we rode. For the main part of our adventure we were sheltered by the trees until we started on our slight descent which incurred a parallel run with the A3.  Now fully exposed to the elements and enjoying a good speed with the bitter wind whipping across our faces I finally understood what pleasure people derive from cycling.  For visionary purposes, at this point, I would like to say that I lifted my feet from the pedals and stuck them out in front to relish the moment.  But no, Gloria and I hung on to each other for dear life as we continued to reach dizzy record breaking speeds (for us that is) in our descent. Finally we slowed, caught our breath and came to a rest at the bottom of a large hill, with my frozen face now resembling the ‘Joker’ from Batman.

I apologise.  So sorry about the extreme snow and weather conditions over the last few days.  This is clearly my fault as I got Beano clipped to within an inch of his life last week, in preparation for spring.  His recent behaviour in the cold weather has prompted me check the Guinness World Record speed for a dog leaving the sofa, going out for a wee and returning to the sofa.  In normal conditions and more fur coverage, he doesn’t move very fast at all but since last week he is completing his circuit in just the blink of an eye.

So, off with Mum and Sister for our ‘Bucket List’ spa day this weekend.  Hurrah! As long as I counteract all the fizzy stuff with the swimmy stuff then hopefully I will still get a weight loss next week.  Might be in the pool for a long....long...time.  

Here we go then.  Two average armadillos gone, thirty seven and a half a pound and counting. Sx

Week 19

Don’t panic Mr Mannering! 1lb on. Ok... honestly? Surprised and a little disappointed but not throwing myself into the fridge just yet. Ate lots of the healthy variety and did have alcohol on two separate occasions but nothing more than last week when I lost 3lbs or in the week preceding that with a 2lb weight loss. We even had 26 people over for an impromptu lunch on Sunday with the Spanish exchange families and I didn’t break from the plan at all despite having an overflowing table of international goodies. To be honest the 16 children pretty much moved across the buffet table in locust formation and devoured the lot with military precision which thankfully alleviated me of the temptation of any leftovers.

But we have been here before with an unexpected weight gain my little chicka dees, haven't we? No rhyme or reason to it.  This is so the scenario that has broken me many times before and as a consequence I have spectacularly fallen off the diet wagon, put on all the weight again, and some, and then tried to find another diet ‘that works’. Not this time though. My exercise levels this week were roughly the same and I even got seat to seat with Gloria which, incidentally, has made me realise that one of us is going to need to invest in a pair of padded pants if we wish to continue such a harmonious relationship.  

For some reason this week I just needed to look over my journey so far. Not really a wobble just a slight refocus....and boy what a difference 19 weeks can make.

Looking to hit that 35lb half way target..thirty and a half a pound lost..........thirty nine and a half a pound and counting Sx