Well, here I am again. And again I haven’t been successful in achieving my (possibly too ambitious) goal.
So, back on June 29th when I last posted, I weighed about 11st 4lbs. I started the 12 week countdown at Slimming World, but it really wasn’t going well. I lost 1.5lbs, but then I put it back on again. And, in fact, this has been the general trend! My 12 weeks isn’t over quite yet; the lowest I’ve reached was 11st 0.5lbs, though last week I was back up at 11st 02lbs.
I know where I went wrong with the 1.5lb increase because the in-laws were up and I scoffed cake and biscuits and such like. Never good.
But, the losses seem to have come from using “Red Days” from Slimming World. The concept is quite simple, you can eat as much lean meat, fresh fruit and veggies as you like, but you have to limit the amount of grains and potatoes that you eat.
On my loss weeks, here’s a sample of the sort of thing I’ve been eating:
Breakfast
Fresh fruit salad topped with 0% fat yoghurt
Snacks
One Alpen Light bar (½ healthy B), banana, Options hot chocolate (2 syns)
Lunch
2 eggs, 0% fat cottage cheese, salad
Snacks
Granny Smith apple, one Alpen Light bar (½ healthy B), Options hot chocolate (2 syns)
Dinner
Grilled pork chop (fat removed), broccoli, cauliflower, courgette and carrots
Not bad, really. I’ve also had cooked breakfasts – my favourite is scrambled eggs with smoked salmon!
Unfortunately, it’s hard to stick to any diet when you’re visiting other people, or they’re visiting you. The weekend just gone, I was at my sisters. Even though she used to do Slimming World, I’m sure I was pretty far off plan – even just from the drinks! Oh well.
Next weekend we’re at the inlaws’ house, so it’s going to be all cheese and pasta again. I don’t think there’s much I can do about that though. Then my folks are up the following weekend, but I can make SW food for them with no problems.
I went to be measured for the bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding at the weekend too. I was pretty happy with the numbers she was writing down, which is good, although the dressmaker said that I had a very thin chest compared to the rest of me. I’m not sure whether she was suggesting that I have big boobs or a big bum (or both) but I do seem to have a long torso! (like I didn’t know that, always having to knit longer for things to fit right!) Anyway, the fitting for that is in January, so there’s something to aim for!
I’ve also promised myself that when I get to my 1.5stone award (10st 13lbs) that I will buy myself a nice new skirt like this one from Next. for work. I’d like to treat myself to something casual too, but I’ll get a lot more wear out of something for work. If I decide that something casual is also in order, I’ll probably get something like this dress or this cute tunic
At least that’s an aim!
Well, so while I guess I’ve not made it to 10stone this 12 week countdown, I will keep trying. I just need to stick to it, I think, and that’s not going to be easy for the next couple of weeks, but I think I can do it. If I manage to stick to it on the days when I’m not visiting or being visited, then that’s well over half of the time.
So keep positive, a loss – no matter how small – is still going in the right direction.
Showing posts with label stats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stats. Show all posts
Monday, September 12, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
That first stone, and what to aim for.
So, to stay on target I need to make it to 1 stone lost by Wednesday.
According to my scales this morning, I'm on track for that - though weight difference between the morning and the evening could be a factor, so I need to weigh myself again this evening to see!
I have a little reward for myself if I have made it to the 1st mark, because I'm going to buy myself a new pair of work trousers. I have five pairs of trousers I wear for work. One needs a button sewing on, two pairs are too large for me now (like, falling down large) and two fit quite well. I'm pleased with this because it used to be that three pairs were too tight (hence the button) and two were just fine, so I actually have as many that fit me now as I did before, but I would like another pair.
Tops are a different matter. I don't expect to be much less than a 12 on top, though if my boobs keep decreasing as they are doing then that might happen! I'm pleased to be back into my 32" bras though, that means I'm also the right sort of size for my two expensive bikinis I bought last summer. All being well they'll still fit when we go away on honeymoon!
Eating. Yeah, I'm finding the Slimming World plan okay actually. It's not like Slim Fast where you feel like you're starving to death, and all you want is to eat some solid food (I especially find this at breakfast time!). I'm also pleased with how little weighing and measuring there is with this "diet". I have to weigh cereal, although if I have weetabix it's just 2 biscuits (which is what I'd normally have!) and for minibix it's 14 minis! Porridge does need to be weighed though, but that's fine. Milk I also have to measure out, but my old Slim Fast shaker has a 250ml mark on it, so I tend to measure it out into that! I think that the thing I have been most pleased with is that I can basically eat what I normally eat, just that I have to be a little more picky. So I pick extra-lean mince, or virtually-fat-free cottage cheese. Easy peasy. The "syns" are also a good boost. I can have a cheeky glass of white wine (5 syns) or a gin and tonic (slimline, 2.5 syns), or even chocolate mousse (I make my own with a SW recipe, it even has Baileys in it, and it's just 3 syns per serving!) Love it.
But, To make this 3lbs loss this week, given that I had Chinese on Thursday (worked late, the boss was buying. Managed to have plain rice, and only ate half of the crispy beef in OK sauce), and we were out for dinner at a friends on Saturday (the food was mostly on-plan, the wine however...), well, I'm trying to be syn free for the next 3 days. Though I had about 13 syns (I have 15 to spend each day) yesterday. I'm aiming for zero for the next three days, and we'll see what the scales say.
I'm also trying some self-motivational tactics. I've put a photo of the dress which inspired the dress I'm having made onto the main screen of my iPhone. I may do the same on my laptop. The idea being that it reminds me what I'm doing this for.
That said, I hope that the weight loss will be a longer term thing than just for the wedding.
While I don't want to look back at the wedding photos and think that I should have tried harder, or dislike the photos because I'm unhappy with my size, I also don't want to look back on them (like I do some of my university photos) and think, oh how happy and thin I look there, and now how unhappy and fat I am.
So this has to be more than a once-in-a-lifetime weightloss, even if it's a once-in-a-lifetime wedding and honeymoon that I'm using to get me there.
Once I get to my target, I may try to keep going to SW.
But, that target is another stone (and those pesky 3lb) away from now, at least. I don't know whether I'll be happy with that when I get there, but when I get there I will know.
For my height, I should be between 8st3 and 11st - that's quite a range I know! I'm not sure I'd be happy at 11st mind you, but I'm also not sure that 8st 3lb is something I could maintain (and that is just above the underweight band)
Of course, the middle of that is around 9st 8lb - that's another 8lbs from my aim for the end of April.
We will see.
According to my scales this morning, I'm on track for that - though weight difference between the morning and the evening could be a factor, so I need to weigh myself again this evening to see!
I have a little reward for myself if I have made it to the 1st mark, because I'm going to buy myself a new pair of work trousers. I have five pairs of trousers I wear for work. One needs a button sewing on, two pairs are too large for me now (like, falling down large) and two fit quite well. I'm pleased with this because it used to be that three pairs were too tight (hence the button) and two were just fine, so I actually have as many that fit me now as I did before, but I would like another pair.
Tops are a different matter. I don't expect to be much less than a 12 on top, though if my boobs keep decreasing as they are doing then that might happen! I'm pleased to be back into my 32" bras though, that means I'm also the right sort of size for my two expensive bikinis I bought last summer. All being well they'll still fit when we go away on honeymoon!
Eating. Yeah, I'm finding the Slimming World plan okay actually. It's not like Slim Fast where you feel like you're starving to death, and all you want is to eat some solid food (I especially find this at breakfast time!). I'm also pleased with how little weighing and measuring there is with this "diet". I have to weigh cereal, although if I have weetabix it's just 2 biscuits (which is what I'd normally have!) and for minibix it's 14 minis! Porridge does need to be weighed though, but that's fine. Milk I also have to measure out, but my old Slim Fast shaker has a 250ml mark on it, so I tend to measure it out into that! I think that the thing I have been most pleased with is that I can basically eat what I normally eat, just that I have to be a little more picky. So I pick extra-lean mince, or virtually-fat-free cottage cheese. Easy peasy. The "syns" are also a good boost. I can have a cheeky glass of white wine (5 syns) or a gin and tonic (slimline, 2.5 syns), or even chocolate mousse (I make my own with a SW recipe, it even has Baileys in it, and it's just 3 syns per serving!) Love it.
But, To make this 3lbs loss this week, given that I had Chinese on Thursday (worked late, the boss was buying. Managed to have plain rice, and only ate half of the crispy beef in OK sauce), and we were out for dinner at a friends on Saturday (the food was mostly on-plan, the wine however...), well, I'm trying to be syn free for the next 3 days. Though I had about 13 syns (I have 15 to spend each day) yesterday. I'm aiming for zero for the next three days, and we'll see what the scales say.
I'm also trying some self-motivational tactics. I've put a photo of the dress which inspired the dress I'm having made onto the main screen of my iPhone. I may do the same on my laptop. The idea being that it reminds me what I'm doing this for.
That said, I hope that the weight loss will be a longer term thing than just for the wedding.
While I don't want to look back at the wedding photos and think that I should have tried harder, or dislike the photos because I'm unhappy with my size, I also don't want to look back on them (like I do some of my university photos) and think, oh how happy and thin I look there, and now how unhappy and fat I am.
So this has to be more than a once-in-a-lifetime weightloss, even if it's a once-in-a-lifetime wedding and honeymoon that I'm using to get me there.
Once I get to my target, I may try to keep going to SW.
But, that target is another stone (and those pesky 3lb) away from now, at least. I don't know whether I'll be happy with that when I get there, but when I get there I will know.
For my height, I should be between 8st3 and 11st - that's quite a range I know! I'm not sure I'd be happy at 11st mind you, but I'm also not sure that 8st 3lb is something I could maintain (and that is just above the underweight band)
Of course, the middle of that is around 9st 8lb - that's another 8lbs from my aim for the end of April.
We will see.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Late Weigh In
I meant to post this when I got weighed and measured, but didn't.
Frankly, I'm a bit demoralised, nothing seems to be going in the right direction.
Weight: 12st 6lb (up 2lb)
Body Fat: 26.2% (up 0.3%)
Bust: 38” (~)
Chest: 32” (~)
Waist: 29.5” / 34” (down 0.5" / up 0.5”)
Hips: 44” (~)
Thighs (L/R): 26” / 26” (down 1” each leg!)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5” / 11.5” (~)
Though I don't really think that my thigh measurements are changing that much, I confess I suspect that there's some wonky measuring going on in places! I'm getting my fiancé to measure me, because I know I'll pull the tape tight, or cheat somehow (silly I know) so I'm hoping to average out the measurements over a couple of weeks.
Still, I think I'm not following the diet as strictly as I could be, and also we're not going to the gym anywhere near often enough. We went once last week.
We plan to go three times this week, but things don't always go to plan.
I'm sticking with it, but due to the slowdown last week I may give this phase an extra week before I move on.
Frankly, I'm a bit demoralised, nothing seems to be going in the right direction.
Weight: 12st 6lb (up 2lb)
Body Fat: 26.2% (up 0.3%)
Bust: 38” (~)
Chest: 32” (~)
Waist: 29.5” / 34” (down 0.5" / up 0.5”)
Hips: 44” (~)
Thighs (L/R): 26” / 26” (down 1” each leg!)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5” / 11.5” (~)
Though I don't really think that my thigh measurements are changing that much, I confess I suspect that there's some wonky measuring going on in places! I'm getting my fiancé to measure me, because I know I'll pull the tape tight, or cheat somehow (silly I know) so I'm hoping to average out the measurements over a couple of weeks.
Still, I think I'm not following the diet as strictly as I could be, and also we're not going to the gym anywhere near often enough. We went once last week.
We plan to go three times this week, but things don't always go to plan.
I'm sticking with it, but due to the slowdown last week I may give this phase an extra week before I move on.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Weigh in Day
Stats
Weight: 12st 4lb (~)
Body Fat: 25.9% (up 0.1%)
Bust: 38” (~)
Chest: 32” (Up 1”)
Waist: 30” / 33.5” (~ / down 0.5”)
Hips: 44” (up 0.5”)
Thighs (L/R): 27” / 27” (up 1” each leg!)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5” / 11.5” (~)
(~) = no change
That’s quite a lot of no change there. Partly it’s because I’ve not been sticking to the diet as well as I could, having more than 10% of my meals off plan.
My chest has increased by 1” (as measured by Fiancé, directly under my bust where my bra band would go)
I think this is probably because of the back exercises I’ve been doing, notably the fly and row types. While my back is not strong enough to allow me to do a chin-up (yet) it’s stronger than ever. To be honest, 32” chest is a pretty reasonable measurement anyway! So, I’m feeling okay about that one.
My waist (as decreed by clothiers, as opposed to my natural waist which is quite high on me) has also decreased a little. As this is where I store much of my fat, this can only be a good thing. I’d like to get this number down to somewhere in the same range as my natural waist is now.
My hips are up, and I think this is probably for the same reason as my thighs being up by an inch each! (wonky measuring notwithstanding!) I’ve been doing some pretty serious squats, dead lifts and such. I hope that the fat I store in my legs and ass can be reduced over the course of the next four weeks, but we’ll see.
Weight: 12st 4lb (~)
Body Fat: 25.9% (up 0.1%)
Bust: 38” (~)
Chest: 32” (Up 1”)
Waist: 30” / 33.5” (~ / down 0.5”)
Hips: 44” (up 0.5”)
Thighs (L/R): 27” / 27” (up 1” each leg!)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5” / 11.5” (~)
(~) = no change
That’s quite a lot of no change there. Partly it’s because I’ve not been sticking to the diet as well as I could, having more than 10% of my meals off plan.
My chest has increased by 1” (as measured by Fiancé, directly under my bust where my bra band would go)
I think this is probably because of the back exercises I’ve been doing, notably the fly and row types. While my back is not strong enough to allow me to do a chin-up (yet) it’s stronger than ever. To be honest, 32” chest is a pretty reasonable measurement anyway! So, I’m feeling okay about that one.
My waist (as decreed by clothiers, as opposed to my natural waist which is quite high on me) has also decreased a little. As this is where I store much of my fat, this can only be a good thing. I’d like to get this number down to somewhere in the same range as my natural waist is now.
My hips are up, and I think this is probably for the same reason as my thighs being up by an inch each! (wonky measuring notwithstanding!) I’ve been doing some pretty serious squats, dead lifts and such. I hope that the fat I store in my legs and ass can be reduced over the course of the next four weeks, but we’ll see.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Weigh in Day
So, last Sunday I was out of town, which means that this Sunday is two weeks after the previous measurements.
Weight: 12st 4lb (up 1lb)
Body Fat: 25.8% (up 0.3%)
Bust: 38 inches (no change)
Chest: 31 inches (down 3 inches!)
Waist: 30inches / 34inches (down 1 inch / down 2 inches)
Hips: 43.5 inches (down 0.5 inches)
Thighs (L/R): 26 inches / 26 inches (Left thigh up 0.5 inches)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5 inches / 11.5 inches (down 0.5 inches both arms)
I've recorded both my natural waist (the first number) and my waist around my bellybutton, which is where most clothes manufacturers think my waist should be!
The workouts are going pretty well, although I had an awful week last week. I wasn't well on Thursday, so my Thursday workout wasn't as good as I would have liked, and then I spent the day in bed! Then we were away at the weekend, so the diet took a bit of a hammering. Only 72% on plan.
This week has been a bit better, though I substituted one of my workouts for a swim, as my Fiancé was unwell, and I go to the gym with him. Food's not been bad, though I had a craving for a snickers which I caved in to, and we've had pizza this week. However, looking at the numbers above, I'm not doing too badly.
For those who are interested in that sort of thing, here are the weights I'm doing. I'm working through Rachel Cosgrove's book "The Female Body Breakthrough" and so far I'm finding it tough but good. At the moment I do two sets of everything, and I'm only listing those which require weights to help me remember!
Step-up 10e/s 5kg each hand
3 point dumbell row 8kg
Bent over reverse fly 3kg each hand
Russian twist 3kg
Prone cobra 45secs
Overhead squat 2kg each hand
Lateral raise with rotation 4kg each hand
SLSA Romanian deadlift 4kg
Single arm pullover 3.25 / 6.25
Cable row 8.75
There's one more challenge in the book which I think is great. It's the jeans challenge. Everyone has a pair of jeans that they look great in, right? Perhaps they're stashed away. Mine were in my holiday drawer, and I didn't take them on my more recent holiday because I couldn't fit into them. I wore them in Florida a few years ago, but haven't got into them since. I know they look good on, but they just don't fasten (well, I can get the hooks done, but that ain't pretty!)
So, here's where I am on my jeans challenge:
I'm going to be wearing these this summer. I don't really need to lose that much girth to get into them either.
I think the important thing for me, today, is that I have lost inches in the past three weeks, yet I'm heavier! It's odd really, not something I'm used to.
Good luck in your diets, your workouts and your general health.
Weight: 12st 4lb (up 1lb)
Body Fat: 25.8% (up 0.3%)
Bust: 38 inches (no change)
Chest: 31 inches (down 3 inches!)
Waist: 30inches / 34inches (down 1 inch / down 2 inches)
Hips: 43.5 inches (down 0.5 inches)
Thighs (L/R): 26 inches / 26 inches (Left thigh up 0.5 inches)
Biceps (L/R): 11.5 inches / 11.5 inches (down 0.5 inches both arms)
I've recorded both my natural waist (the first number) and my waist around my bellybutton, which is where most clothes manufacturers think my waist should be!
The workouts are going pretty well, although I had an awful week last week. I wasn't well on Thursday, so my Thursday workout wasn't as good as I would have liked, and then I spent the day in bed! Then we were away at the weekend, so the diet took a bit of a hammering. Only 72% on plan.
This week has been a bit better, though I substituted one of my workouts for a swim, as my Fiancé was unwell, and I go to the gym with him. Food's not been bad, though I had a craving for a snickers which I caved in to, and we've had pizza this week. However, looking at the numbers above, I'm not doing too badly.
For those who are interested in that sort of thing, here are the weights I'm doing. I'm working through Rachel Cosgrove's book "The Female Body Breakthrough" and so far I'm finding it tough but good. At the moment I do two sets of everything, and I'm only listing those which require weights to help me remember!
Step-up 10e/s 5kg each hand
3 point dumbell row 8kg
Bent over reverse fly 3kg each hand
Russian twist 3kg
Prone cobra 45secs
Overhead squat 2kg each hand
Lateral raise with rotation 4kg each hand
SLSA Romanian deadlift 4kg
Single arm pullover 3.25 / 6.25
Cable row 8.75
There's one more challenge in the book which I think is great. It's the jeans challenge. Everyone has a pair of jeans that they look great in, right? Perhaps they're stashed away. Mine were in my holiday drawer, and I didn't take them on my more recent holiday because I couldn't fit into them. I wore them in Florida a few years ago, but haven't got into them since. I know they look good on, but they just don't fasten (well, I can get the hooks done, but that ain't pretty!)
So, here's where I am on my jeans challenge:
I'm going to be wearing these this summer. I don't really need to lose that much girth to get into them either.I think the important thing for me, today, is that I have lost inches in the past three weeks, yet I'm heavier! It's odd really, not something I'm used to.
Good luck in your diets, your workouts and your general health.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Same time, different year...
Okay, this seems to be a pattern.
But in an effort to keep it up, Sundays (which are measuring days when I'm at home) I will try to blog my measurements, and a quick update of how the week has gone.
I want to start with a quick compare of my "stats" from this time last year, and now, as I've been doing a more weights based program since about last July
Jan 2009 - Jan 2010
Weight: 11 st 11 - 12st 3
Fat %: 34.8 - 25.5
Bust: 38.5 - 38
Chest: 32 - 34
Waist: 33.5 - 31
Hips: 43 - 44
Thigh L: 25 - 25.5
Thigh R: 25 - 26
Bicep L: 12 - 12
Bicep R: 12 - 12
I don't know how accurate the 2009 numbers are because I measured myself, and I have a tendency to pull the tape tight, so I dare say that the waist (around skinniest bit) mightn't be. I've put my natural waist rather than the bit around my belly-button (which is 36 now, for the {unhappy} record) but I plan to have abs you can see by this time next year!
I had one and a half "X" on the plan - I'm counting Thai at a restaurant as a half an X because I had more than I should have, though no wine, no wheat, nothing I'm not allowed. I love Thai food!
So 94% on plan this week, including post workout shakes. And lots of eggs. I like eggs :)
But in an effort to keep it up, Sundays (which are measuring days when I'm at home) I will try to blog my measurements, and a quick update of how the week has gone.
I want to start with a quick compare of my "stats" from this time last year, and now, as I've been doing a more weights based program since about last July
Jan 2009 - Jan 2010
Weight: 11 st 11 - 12st 3
Fat %: 34.8 - 25.5
Bust: 38.5 - 38
Chest: 32 - 34
Waist: 33.5 - 31
Hips: 43 - 44
Thigh L: 25 - 25.5
Thigh R: 25 - 26
Bicep L: 12 - 12
Bicep R: 12 - 12
I don't know how accurate the 2009 numbers are because I measured myself, and I have a tendency to pull the tape tight, so I dare say that the waist (around skinniest bit) mightn't be. I've put my natural waist rather than the bit around my belly-button (which is 36 now, for the {unhappy} record) but I plan to have abs you can see by this time next year!
I had one and a half "X" on the plan - I'm counting Thai at a restaurant as a half an X because I had more than I should have, though no wine, no wheat, nothing I'm not allowed. I love Thai food!
So 94% on plan this week, including post workout shakes. And lots of eggs. I like eggs :)
Friday, January 09, 2009
Revitalised
Yeah, I know, I haven't posted here in a while.
It probably will not end up being a regular thing, but as one of my 2009 goals is to lose at least an inch around my waist, I'm going to aim to keep a track of my progress (or lack thereof) here.
Wish me luck!
Stats
Weight: 11 st 11
Fat %: 34.8
Water %: 48.6
Bone %: 3.7
Muscle %: 36
Bust: 38.5
Chest: 32
Waist: 33.5
Hips: 43
Thigh L: 25
Thigh R: 25
Bicep L: 12
Bicep R: 12
Hopefully this will become less of a rant and whinge about how awful I feel about myself (depression feeds depression) and more about ways in which I'm trying to lose those few inches and the like.
I will be doing some before-and-after photos, but I'm currently in my PJs, so that wouldn't really be sensible. Next gym visit, I promise.
Interestingly, when I started this diet blog (when I really felt at my fattest, my measurements were Not as bad as now, I wonder how much tighter I was pulling the tape than now...
Also, though it was entertaining to read my "what I ate today" posts, I'll not be bringing them back either. I might talk about the exercise I'm doing, or motivational things I've found, but that's all.
It probably will not end up being a regular thing, but as one of my 2009 goals is to lose at least an inch around my waist, I'm going to aim to keep a track of my progress (or lack thereof) here.
Wish me luck!
Stats
Weight: 11 st 11
Fat %: 34.8
Water %: 48.6
Bone %: 3.7
Muscle %: 36
Bust: 38.5
Chest: 32
Waist: 33.5
Hips: 43
Thigh L: 25
Thigh R: 25
Bicep L: 12
Bicep R: 12
Hopefully this will become less of a rant and whinge about how awful I feel about myself (depression feeds depression) and more about ways in which I'm trying to lose those few inches and the like.
I will be doing some before-and-after photos, but I'm currently in my PJs, so that wouldn't really be sensible. Next gym visit, I promise.
Interestingly, when I started this diet blog (when I really felt at my fattest, my measurements were Not as bad as now, I wonder how much tighter I was pulling the tape than now...
Also, though it was entertaining to read my "what I ate today" posts, I'll not be bringing them back either. I might talk about the exercise I'm doing, or motivational things I've found, but that's all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
