Sunday, November 30, 2008

Fun out and about day and night

A while ago on Facebook I had noticed there was a Vintage Flea Market happening in Falmouth, and as a few friends were going that I went to Uni with, I was thinking it might be worth a visit. Then my friend Lise who lives near me, in Bodmin, also put it in her diary on Facebook, so a plan was coming together. We could travel down together, share petrol, and spending time with a friend always makes days out extra special. My daughter Megs was also wanting to be dropped at Bodmin train station to go to Plymouth with friends, so it all worked out really well as I could drop her and then go on to pick Lise up.

The only downside to the day was that Friday night I had checked my bank balance and discovered I probably didn’t even have enough money in there to cover my direct debits going out on Monday, so I couldn’t spend any money. I had quite an emotionally low Friday evening, but Saturday woke up thinking ‘Am I going to let superficial money worries put out my sparkle?’ and firmly answered NO! I realised I was sabotaging myself, by letting these worries affect my mood, and my sparkle returned. I’ve still got the money problems but what’s the point of getting depressed about them, I am less likely to be able to do anything about them then, and besides nothing can be done about it till Monday anyway.

So I got to Lise’s a little early, but time to have a leisurely cuppa and catch up before setting off. With petrol cheaper in Bodmin (by about 5p a litre) I put a bit of petrol in and off we drove. The journey was smooth, and we didn’t even really get caught up in any traffic jams at Truro. When we got to Falmouth I turned towards town, asked someone where the WI hall was and found we were on the right road to take us to the nearest car park, which we found right away. We didn’t have change but someone at the car park had 5 pound coins in exchange for a note, and then we walked down and found the hall right away. Everything just seemed to be going just right.

We went into the market and the first stall was a stall my friend Frea was running, and she seemed to be doing quite a good business. I looked at a gorgeous Monsoon dress on her stall, but reminded myself I was just there for a jolly and couldn’t spend any money. Lise on the other hand was there to buy and in the first 5 minutes had grabbed a skirt and a gorgeous purple furry jacket. It was jam packed and looking around I saw some more friends; Emily, Christina and Joe, all of whom I hadn’t seen for over a year. As it was so crowded it we didn’t really have much of a chat but it was really lovely to see them all.

I then saw an outfit I quite liked and as it was an absolute bargain so I tried it on. It did look amazing but I don’t think I would have worn it, however it started me off on a trying clothes on frenzy, and I must have tried on about 5 outfits when I returned to the Monsoon dress on Frea’s stall. I tried it on and it fitted perfectly, looked amazing, was just my colour, what more can I say Frea did me a good deal. I was going out for the night so what could be better than having a new dress to wear out.

After the Flea market, we found a lovely Health food shop, which sold yummy wheat free veggy pasties and then walked up the hill and along overlooking the town and the sea back to the car park. I stayed for a cuppa while Lise transferred photos, of me she had taken, from her phone onto her laptop and uploaded them onto facebook. I’ve also put it on my ‘my space’ so click on the link on the right, and see the outfit I didn’t buy and the dress I did.

I had a lovely day out and about with great company and I didn’t get back till about 4.30. I tried to have a bit of a rest before heading out again, but was too excited, I must stop eating all those butterflies, they keep fluttering away in my tummy. I was going to see Glass Shark who I have travelled to see in the past, but Saturday night they were playing at the Oyster Catcher at Polzeath which is a local pub I go to quite a bit. As I had discovered my bank balance was so low I had cancelled a taxi back and decided to drive, so I would save the money and not spend so much just buying soft drinks.

I have to tell you, I am up for being a driver again as it was one of the most fun nights I’ve had. I went along with my daughter Tamsin, Bisto (her boyfriend) and her friend Vicki. It took a while for the band to start and I was flagging a bit especially as I wasn’t drinking, but I had a red bull and a coffee and soon perked up. When the band started I really wanted to dance but there was a bloke dancing on his own who was doing things like gyrating against a pillar, and he looked like he would make a bee line for any female who got up on the dance floor, so I waited till there were a few more people and then I got up. I had a great dance and after they’d finished playing, they also DJ, and they played some great old disco tunes that I carried on dancing away to.

While I was sober you could see that people were getting drunk around me, Tamisn Vicki and Bisto certainly were, but at the Oyster Catcher the drunkenness wasn’t in your face. Although I could have stayed, and really was not bothered about having a drink at all, it was suggested we could get back to Wadebridge, park the car and I could have a drink. Drunkeness was totally in your face in Wadebridge. I parked the car and had a glass of wine, and around me people were wobbling around, singing loudly together, taking their trousers down!!!, and trying to pick fights. Not everyone was like that but it was very amusing. It reinforced the reasons why I’m really not that bothered about going out in Wadebridge. It was a great night, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and getting in just after one in the morning proves you don’t need a drink to keep you going either.

Monday, November 24, 2008

I've done it!!!

I’ve done it!!! I’ve swum 22 miles (1416 lengths) the length of the Channel, with over a week to spare. The last few times I’ve been to the swimming pool it’s been very busy, maybe it’s something to do with the evenings drawing in or Christmas coming up, but whatever it is more people seem to be coming swimming at the moment. The first half hour today it was only me and one other swimmer, but after school finished the pool filled up. Luckily I only had a few more lengths to do the 44 I had left to swim, and I was able to finish those without dodging too many people. I am really really chuffed.

So I’ve done my bit. Now all I need is for people to sponsor me, even if it’s only a couple of quid, every little bit counts. I think I’ve managed to raise almost £70. It would be great to manage to get to the 100 mark. All money raised goes to Aspire Britain’s leading spinal injury charity. You can sponsor me here:
(or by clicking on the widget on my 'my space' (link on the right) ) Any donations will be very gratefully received.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

I should not have said about not getting any of the colds going around.

I should not have written about not getting any of the bugs and colds that had been going round, as I then promptly got a cold. Saturday morning I woke up with a dripping nose. It was so bad I had to have a tissue in hand at all times and by Sunday my nose was red raw. I’m now not well ahead of schedule. Luckily it didn’t last too long, and I was feeling much better by the Wednesday. To be on the safe side I waited until Friday to go swimming again. It was such a beautiful day, and with sunny days being quite rare at the moment I felt the urge to get to the sea, which I did, but it meant I missed the afternoon swimming session. I was so determined still to go, so I turned up at the pool at 8.30 in the evening. It was only an hour session but I still managed to do 50 lengths bringing my total up to 800 lengths.

Anyway I’m still optimistic I will complete the challenge.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Please sponsor me. I'm halfway through the challenge.

Its week 5 of the Aspire Channel swim, and I’ve just got back from swimming a mile, which I did in 1hour 5minutes (a personal best). I’m now half way through, as I’ve swum 11 and a half miles in all of the 22miles I need to do. I’m well ahead of schedule so I’m really chuffed. I’ve been swimming a lot at my local pool and have been lucky in mostly finding quiet times. I was a little worried a couple of weeks ago, that I may not be able to complete the challenge. I had helped out at a friends wedding, and I think I must have moved suddenly the wrong way and my shoulder started really hurting. A friend gave it a bit of a massage and said it was really swollen. As I don’t actually remember doing anything specific that may have caused it, I wondered whether it might have been swimming a lot more that had caused it. I swam half a mile the Monday after and it was ok, but after swimming a mile on the Tuesday it really hurt and was swollen again. I didn’t swim again till the Friday and then I took it really easy and swam half a mile really slowly. Luckily the next week it was more or less back to normal and I was able to pick up the swimming again. So it was probably was something I did at the wedding, and not the swimming that had caused it. I’ve also been very lucky (touch wood) in not getting any of the array of bugs and colds that have been going around, as that also would put me out of action.

I would also really recommend swimming for stress relief. Firstly I find getting in to the water melts away stresses and tensions. Secondly with the crappy year I’ve had, I am finding swimming, gives me a good amount of thinking time, when I can really reflect and deal with things that have happened, and formulate plans of action. Its almost like going to counselling except nothing is said out loud, and I’m the counsellor and the one being counselled.

Anyway as you can see I’m doing well, and I’m confident I will complete the challenge. All I need now is for people to sponsor me, and you can do this by clicking on the link (on the right) which says ‘Sponsor me here’.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Update on swim

I went swimming yesterday at a time which for the past few months has been really quiet, so quiet in fact occasionally I’ve been the only swimmer in the pool. However although it wasn’t too busy when I got there as time went on it got busier and busier. Having to weave around so many people, some swimming widths, some just bobbing around, and others doing lengths like me, did make my swim yesterday a bit more of a challenge. Anyway as it is generally a quiet time to swim, I had set myself the target of swimming a mile and I wasn’t going to let a busy pool stop me achieving my target for the day. So after an hour and 15 minutes I finished swimming 66 lengths (64 is a mile but I did 2 for luck). This makes my grand total 154 lengths this week, which I am really pleased with.

I have also had a thought: why don’t I add a link to the page where you can sponsor me on my blog? So you should now be able to click on Sponsor me on the right of this page. I also got my fundraising pack through today, with sponsor forms, record card, a swimming hat and some information about what Aspire do (the charity I am raising money for). Aspire work with people with spinal injuries. There are around 40,000 people with a spinal cord injury and every day another 4 people are told they may never walk again. Aspire raise money for specialist equipment (£350 will pay for Smartnav technology for a PC to enable someone with a spinal injury to use a computer), adapted housing, and independent living officers to provide support and help to people who have been recently injured and are leaving hospital. As you can see it is a very worthwhile cause.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Swimming the Channel

You’ll never believe what I’ve gone and done. I say that because it’s taken a week for what I’ve signed up to, to sink in. Last Friday, while just browsing the internet, I signed up to swim 22 miles which is the length of the channel in 12 weeks (the time scale is from this Monday 15th September to December 7th). That’s 1416 lengths in all! As I signed up I thought am I mad, or actually is it a really good idea to set myself a challenge? It will give me something to work towards, give me a tremendous sense of achievement if I do it, and will keep me exercising which will help with the release of feel good endorphins which I really need at the moment to get me through a low patch.

It is all in aid of Aspire who are the UK’s leading spinal injury charity and of course I also need to get sponsored. If any of you lovely readers would like to sponsor me then click on my ‘my space’ link on the right of this page, and on it I have a widget which will take you to my fundraising page where you can donate money.

I feel I can achieve this, as some weeks I have managed 96 lengths (a mile and a half). In order to complete the challenge I need to swim 118 lengths a week, which means I maybe have to go swimming three times a week instead of two times. This week I swam on Monday and Tuesday and did 44 lengths both times making 88 in all and I’m also going swimming today. I am going to aim to do more than 118 if I can as many weeks as I can, as if I get a cold, or injure myself and have to miss some sessions, then the likelihood of me completing the challenge will be lessened.
Anyway I’m off for a swim now I will keep you informed how I get on.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

It takes around 21 days for new activities to become a habit, and 6 months for them to become part of a lifestyle.

You may have noticed I haven’t posted a blog for a long time; unfortunately I’ve not been in a good place. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s actually not surprising with what has happened in the space of a few months. I was saying to my lovely bestest buddy yesterday that I had a feeling 2008 would be a good year for me, but instead it has thrown challenges at me left right and centre. She pointed out that by my thinking it would be a positive year has probably helped me through it. So I’m going to focus on positives! One really positive aspect of 2008 is, of course, my bid to be healthier. I am eating really well, I am a weight I am happy with, and with all the swimming and exercising I am also fitter. I’ve swum a mile (which had always been an ambition of mine) a fair few times now, and I’m able to work so much harder with the exercise/dance DVD’s.

Also as I haven’t posted a blog for a long time, you may not be aware I am still not smoking (It’s been about 2 ½ months now). I started on patches at the beginning of July, as I was slipping up once or twice a day without them. With patches I didn’t crave cigarettes at all. About five weeks ago I went down to 5mg patches, and then a couple of weeks ago I forgot to put one on one day and I haven’t used them since. If you really want to give up smoking I really would recommend trying the patches. I can also congratulate myself for staying strong and not grabbing for the cigarettes through quite a traumatic time.

Anyway with what I’ve achieved I think it’s about time I ease up on the ‘New Year new me’ diary, and I went back to writing about whatever springs to mind. However I may have to throw in a few updates just to keep myself on track. It takes around 21 days for new activities to become a habit, and 6 months for them to become part of a lifestyle, and apart from the smoking, I would say healthy living is now part of my lifestyle.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

I haven't smoked a ciggy for 4 days

I haven’t posted a blog, as I hadn’t had much success with the non smoking. I waited in the end till the 4th week after my Dad’s funeral, and the first week I slipped up quite a bit and then on the 4th day I brought tobacco. I didn’t however listen to the Paul Mckenna CD much. So I decided to try again on the following Monday.

I listened to the Paul Mckenna CD 2 to 3 times a day, and it does help. I slipped up and had about 1 roll up a day until the Friday. Even though I had slipped up I was pleased with my progress. On the Thursday I went to a smoking cessation appointment, and decided I needed a bit extra to support my will power, and to help with the withdrawal symptoms, as I was beginning to get very tearful, so I said yes to patches.

The woman I saw said the doctor had to do the prescription, and it would be available to pick up at the chemist next day. However it wasn’t, and I slipped up a bit more on the Friday night. On the Saturday the prescription still wasn’t in, and I was fine during the day, but in the evening as friends had come down to stay for the weekend, we went out got a bit drunk and I started smoking again.

So on the Monday I had to start again. This time the prescription was in and although I couldn’t use one that day, I managed to only slip up once that day. I started with a patch on Tuesday the 1st of July and I haven’t smoked one cigarette since. I opted for the 10ml patches instead of the 15ml as I had done very well without them, and they are brilliant. I haven’t had any cravings and none of the tearful irritable emotional crap I’ve had for the past two weeks.

I now have more hope of a smoke free future. The patches enable you to deal with the habit and the psychological addiction before slowly cutting out the nicotine. I am so determined and I recognised will power wasn’t quite enough on its own.

I am seeing the benefits already. I don’t smell of smoke, my sense of smell is much much better, and I do not have yellow fingers. After not smoking for two days I did a Fitness DVD and was surprised how much more breath I had. I was able to go quite high impact. They say 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months are the most difficult times with giving up and I’ve got over the 3 day barrier. I will keep you posted how I progress through the weeks.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

I'm back

I’m back again! I haven’t been keeping up with my blog, as my Dad was admitted to hospital where unfortunately he died. It all still seems unreal, but I’m finally getting my focus back, after all we are the living and need to make the most of life. My Dad only had one functioning lung most of his life due to curvature of the spine, and it was pneumonia along with kidney and heart failure that got him in the end. Due to this I am now more determined than ever to give up smoking for my Dad, as well as for me.

I have brought a Paul Mckenna book with a hypnosis CD which I have to listen to every day. My brother’s girlfriend, Bridget, used the same book and CD and hasn’t smoked since the 1st of May, so I hope it will help me too. I’ve set the date for 3 weeks after the funeral which is the Wednesday after next.

With everything that’s been going on, I’ve not been watching what I eat or taking exercise until this week. So I was really surprised when I weighed myself yesterday and found I had lost 5lbs since last the last time I’d weighed I am now 9st 6lbs. I was really expecting to have put on weight. As I am now underweight my first thought was I could treat myself to a fried breakfast. However if I am successful with not smoking again I will probably put on these few pounds. I don’t want to get too thin.

I started doing exercise DVD’s again and have also got back to swimming with my friend Rach. Yesterday we swam a quarter of a mile (48lengths) in 50 minutes. Starting off swimming after a bit of a break it seemed like hard work, but as I carried on it got easier and easier.

Anyway it’s only a quick update as I’m off to enjoy a Roast dinner at friends. I will keep you posted with how the no smoking goes.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

New me, An over due update

Ok Ok I know its been a while since my last blog, however I haven’t managed to keep up with not smoking, and have avoided admitting that to you all. I managed a week and a half, and then found myself in an emotional mess, I was mega sensitive and spent the Thursday crying all day, and then I had a ciggy. Since then I have smoked a few cigarettes every day, but have not got back to smoking as many as I did.

I have now got a nicotine replacement inhalator, to help me try to quit again on Monday. I was really shocked how violent the withdrawal symptoms were, especially as I actually managed to get nicotine completely out of my system. I am very disappointed, but I’m not beating myself up.

The exercise and the healthy eating are going great though. In the Easter holidays, with extended swimming sessions, I managed to swim a mile twice. The second time it only took me an hour and fifteen minutes to swim the 64 lengths. When I first started swimming in January it took an hour to swim half a mile.

I had, as you may know, reached a plateau with weight loss and have remained about 10st for a few months. I am very happy with this weight, but I didn’t want to put on weight when I gave up smoking so I started taking Kelp in the mornings (which can boost the metabolism). I don’t know whether it is down to the Kelp, because I can’t think of anything different I have done this week, but I am now 9st11lbs meaning I have lost 4lbs in a week. I will be quite happy to put that back on again when I give up smoking.

Anyway it’s a mixture of good news and bad news. Hopefully next time I post an update I will be smoke free again. I am determined; I loved not smelling of smoke, and not having yellow fingers. I was breathing much easier, my skin looked great, and my eyes were much clearer. I will get there again.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

New 'non smoking' me

This is an extra posting, as on Friday I went to the cash point and it wouldn’t let me have any money. So by Sunday my tobacco had run out, and I decided it was therefore a good time to bite the bullet, and give up smoking.

On Sunday I did have a ciggy in the morning as I was finishing off my tobacco, and the day wasn’t too bad. I felt on edge and restless and couldn’t relax, but it was nothing like what would hit me on Monday.

Yesterday (Monday) was a real trial, I never realised how bad nicotine withdrawal is. I had given up for 11 years before, but when I gave up I was really ill with pleurisy, and this had obviously masked the withdrawal. As it was a quick decision due to lack of money I couldn’t get to a chemist to get patches, and I really wanted to try without, as nicotine is out of your system in 2 days. In preparation I finished my book, and wrote out notes which I’ve posted around the flat.

Today I am pleased I didn’t get patches as nicotine is now out of my system, but after yesterday I can completely understand why so many people opt for them. So how can I explain yesterday? Like ‘a cat on a hot tin roof’ would be a good comparison. I couldn’t stay still, and I couldn’t focus or concentrate on anything. If anyone talked to me, I would look at them as if I was listening, but their words literally went over my head. I went from having an extremely overwhelming urge to cry, which I did uncontrollably quite a lot during the day, to running around the house not actually getting anything together, and feeling really angry (which is quite unlike me).

I would not recommend driving while withdrawing from nicotine! I never get road rage, but I wanted to run my car into somebody yesterday, it didn’t matter who it was. There was a woman walking along beside her friend, but she was walking on the road, and I was thinking ‘how dare she walk on the road’ and had an overwhelming urge to run into her. Funny thing is along that road I don’t often walk on the pavement either. My anger and rage was completely irrational and all consuming.

Everything I had mislaid came into my mind yesterday, and I spent hours looking for lost items. I did find my hairbrush, but by the time I found it everyone knew that is would cost about £20 to replace it. I had so much nervous energy I could have really cleaned the place up if it wasn’t for the fact I couldn’t focus or concentrate on anything. All in all it wasn’t a nice day. I felt like there was something really missing, although I had previously not smoked for 11 years, so I knew I didn’t miss smoking for most of that period. I yo-yoed between hysterical tears, irrational anger and being completely manic and hyper.

In the evening I met Rach for a swim, and as I swam, although I still had lots of nervous energy, I started to feel slightly less stressed. I was able to talk and listen (which I hadn’t been able to do during the day), and did not feel like killing any swimmers who got in my way. Swimming is definitely a great stress reliever. I swam 42 lengths. I was pleased we had met up, as I could weigh myself at the start of my quitting smoking attempt. I lost a 1lb and am now 10st. As I’ve said before I like the weight I am now, and I’m going to try my hardest not to put any weight on.

In the book ‘Free yourself from smoking’ it says most people put on between 5lbs and 10lbs when they stop smoking, which is down to a number of factors. One is that the metabolic rate does slow a bit, which hopefully I am counteracting with my increased exercising. The other reasons are your appetite does increase and that people often replace ciggies with snacks. As I’m still calorie counting I can make sure if I snack, I am snacking on low calorie foods and keeping within my daily limit.

It has been difficult losing the weight I have lost. I have been exercising almost every day, and eating on average 1500 calories a day, but still only losing weight very gradually. I still think my thyroid isn’t working as well as it should be, and my metabolic rate is slower than it should be. My ideal scenario would be to stay the weight I am and not put any weight on, but this does seem unlikely. Only time will tell if I can achieve this. Watch this space!

Friday, March 14, 2008

New me, Week 9/10

It’s just a quick posting today. On Friday last week, Rach wasn’t very well, so I went swimming on Saturday instead, and as it was quiet I kept swimming after I had done half a mile, and managed to swim ¾ of a mile. I was very chuffed with myself. As I said in the last posting, I hadn’t been exercising as much as I thought I should be, and the past couple of weeks I’ve rectified that. I’m now doing an exercise DVD 3 times a week.

As I’ve said before it takes 6 weeks for something to become a habit, and I think exercise is definitely a habit now. It takes 6 months however for it to become part of your lifestyle, and I need to keep going for another 3 ½ months before I get to that stage. It does seem more likely now that I will stick with this healthy lifestyle.

As Rach is now without a car, I’m not meeting her for swimming today, so I’m swimming in Wadebridge instead. The only problem with Wadebridge is there is no weighing machine, so I’m unable to know if I’ve managed to get past 10 stone 1. Hopefully next week I will be able to check on my weight.

I’ve also just finished a great book, and have consciously decided not to start another novel until I have finished my ‘Free yourself from smoking’ book. So I’ve now read another couple of chapters, and will be setting a date soon. I can’t keep putting it off, and I know I need the psychological support the book can give me.

Although I don’t know if I’ve lost any weight, I’m still on track and its been another successful couple of weeks.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

New me, Week 7/8

Well it seems like I’ve reached a plateau; I’m still 10st 1, which I’ve been for a few weeks now. I believe it’s normal to reach a weight you can’t seem to get past, however I have also had a few not so good days calorie wise, mainly due to socialising with friends and drinking wine. Again alcohol is what adds the calories, as I am eating really healthily within my calorie limit. Also the past few weeks, either Rach or I haven’t been able to make a Monday swimming, so I’ve only been swimming once a week.

On a positive note I brought myself a pair of jeans this week as there was a sale on (they were a bargain at £7). I picked out 3 pairs to try, 2 size 12s, and 1 size 10. The 12’s were too big, and the size 10s were a good fit around the legs, with a bit of spare space for growth around the waist. I was so chuffed. As the jeans I wear a lot, still have a bit of overhang above the waist, I didn’t think I’d gone down a dress size. After buying the size 10s I dug out some jeans I was wearing a year and a bit ago, that I had put away because I couldn’t fit into them, and they fit me again.

I am very happy with the weight I am now, and would say it’s my ideal weight. However I want to lose more so I can afford to put on some pounds when I give up smoking. On the smoking front I have consciously cut down, and one night last week I had my last cigarette at 7.45.

I’ve had a busy few weeks, and the exercising has suffered a bit. I have been doing an exercise DVD twice a week, which is less than I was doing. I am going to try to up this, to at least 3 sessions a week, even if one of those sessions is only 20 minutes. I do think the reason I feel happy with my body at the moment is not only due to the weight loss, but also due to feeling more toned because of the exercise. This would explain why I am feeling better about my body now, than I was a couple of weeks ago, when I was the same weight.

Feeling healthier, on the whole I feel is having an effect on my state of mind, and I am feeling more positive and less likely to feel down about how I look.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

New me. Week 6 review.

Well I’ve made it for 6 weeks! I weighed myself on Friday and I’m 10.1 stone, which means a loss of 13lbs in 6 weeks. I am really chuffed. But what I want to know is; why if I’ve lost almost a stone, have I not gone down a dress size? I didn’t initially think I needed to lose more than half a stone, however I am purely interested in how my clothes fit, and I am still not satisfied. I wanted to get back to when my jeans etc were a comfortable fit, which was a year and a half ago, and I had estimated half a stone would do it. I am still a few pounds off getting to that point, which suggests I had put on more weight than I thought.

In comparison my daughter Megs, who is 15, has not watched what she’s been eating, but has started going out more and doing a lot of walking, and has clothes she brought new at Christmas time that are now too big for her. She’s eaten different meals than me for many years, as we have different tastes. Her favourite meal is Jacket potatoes and tuna and sweet-corn, and she eats fairly healthily, but when she stays in she eats more and will snack a lot. Reflecting on Megan’s weight loss, reinforces the idea that a healthy weight can be maintained with a combination of diet and exercise.

I am so chuffed for Megan, as she’s been bigger than her friends for many years, and it’s definitely affected her self esteem. Even though she’s only been a size 16, she wasn’t happy with her weight, and as an emotional eater the more she felt bad about it the more she would eat. Since buying her jeans and finding them too big after six weeks, she knows managing her weight is achievable.

Anyway I am still wearing the same jeans. I have also had success with my vital measurements. Back at the beginning my measurements were:
Boobs 37inches, Waist 32½inches and Hips 40inches.
Now they are:
Boobs 37inches, Waist 31½inches and Hips 38 inches.

I’ve lost 2 inches off my hips, which is amazing, and 1 inch around my waist. I’m quite happy with not losing inches around the top.

What I wanted to achieve was:
Lose at least half a stone
Exercise at least twice a week
Give up smoking

I have achieved the first goal, and as I’ve said I will carry on till my jeans are comfortable. On the whole I have achieved the second goal too. I wasn’t able to exercise when I was ill for a week and a bit, and don’t feel exercise has become a habit yet. Apart from being ill and missing a couple of sessions, I have been swimming a mile most weeks. I love it, I can have a really awful day and then I get into the water and my stresses melt away for a while. I would recommend it to anyone. I’ve also been doing exercising DVD’s, and have alternated between aerobics and conditioning exercises. I have been able to feel the exercises working, and feel fitter.

I have not achieved the third goal. It probably is an excuse but when I was ill for a week, it set me back, as I wasn’t able to do the full 4 weeks, without having to stop exercise. The exercise is important as it should get my metabolism working faster, before I stop smoking. But then that’s what the book I’m reading says, that we make excuses not to give up. I’m not going to beat myself up, but I know I need to pull my finger out. I will make a conscious effort to make my way through my book until I get to chapter 12 on how to quit. I’ve just worked out I’ve read 4 novels, while I’ve also had the ‘Free yourself from smoking’ book on the go.

On the whole I’m really pleased with my progress. I am eating really well. I am getting my 5 fruit and vegetables a day. I am drinking a couple of pints of water a day, and generally feel much healthier.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

New me, Week 4/5

I don’t really know how successful I was in week 4, as I’ve not been able to weigh myself due to the sports centre scales being out of order. I kept on track with keeping under the calorie count and managed to exercise 4 days.

I wasn’t able to exercise on the Thursday and Friday as I had a bad back, and thought it would be counter productive.

My daughter Tamsin came to stay at the weekend and brought a Joanna Hall exercise DVD she no longer wanted. On the Saturday, as my back was feeling better, I gave it a go. The aerobics and exercises were slightly different than Rosemary Conley’s, and good fun to do, and definitely designed to produce results.

I am feeling fitter and able to do more exercising than I could at the beginning of this new healthy living regime.

However I’ve taken a backward step this week, as I’ve had a cold and chesty bug. I’ve not been able to do any exercise as I’ve been feeling so ill. I’m so annoyed, as I said before it takes 6 weeks for something to become a habit, and I’ve done 4 weeks of exercise and then had to stop. I’m wondering if I will have to start again when I’m feeling better, will I find my fitness levels are back where I started? Whatever happens, I know there is nothing I can do about it, I couldn’t help getting ill so I just have to make the most of it and get back on track as soon as I can.

I’ve just written an article on Body Image for my Jax writers spot blog, where I wrote about exercise compulsion, and I can see how easy it is to fall into this trap. I feel guilty for not being able to exercise, although I know I shouldn’t. I’ve also imagined my stomach has got bigger, and I’m feeling sure I haven’t managed to lose any weight this week. To counteract this I’m challenging myself, by telling myself I managed to lose weight the past few weeks, so even if I’ve had this setback I can still do it again.

I’m still full of cold, and I think I’m at the stage where I’m sweating it out, although I think the chestiness of the bug will stay with me for longer. I hope to get back to my plan as soon as possible, but I’m not going to exercise until I feel better. As long as I don’t put weight on, I’ll be happy.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

New me, Week four, part one.

My month review is postponed till next week (when it will become a five week review), for two reasons:

1/ the scales at the sports centre were out of order.
2/ I went swimming last night, and as I was driving back I felt my nose tickle, and this morning I had a full on head cold.

When I’m feeling better I’ll write a review of week 4, and next week I’ll review any progress so far.

But for now I’m off to bed with a hot lemon and honey. Hope to be back to health soon.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

New me Week three.

After saying last week how much more confident and happy I was feeling, I found myself having a low week last week. As I seem to be feeling better now, I’ve put it down to being my time of the month, and the full moon. I still managed to keep on track and lost another 2lbs. I’m now 10st 6lbs. The weight is coming off steadily which I am pleased about.

I’m enjoying the exercise especially the swimming, and on Monday I swam 32 lengths (half a mile) and on Friday I did 34 lengths. I did the Rosemary Conley DVD a couple of times in the week and I’m finding it’s getting easier and easier.

Another aspect of my healthy lifestyle which is getting easier is creating nutritious meals which are fairly low calorie. As I’m getting into the swing of calorie counting, I am concentrating on ensuring my diet is balanced and nutritious. For example, for breakfast instead of having toast every day, I’m trying to have something different on alternate days. One breakfast I’m enjoying is Oats and Yogurt to which I add a handful of summer fruit berries (which can be brought frozen and taken out of freezer the night before) and a tsp of hemp seeds.

In the first few weeks as I was getting used to calorie counting, for dinners and lunches, I was eating lots of soups and salads. Now I’m experimenting more, I have been eating a variety of meals from stir-fries to Quorn mince bolognaise. Quorn is a great filler, and is low in fat and calories, it can bulk out any meal and help you feel fuller for longer. As I’m becoming more experimental, I am finding I am eating lots, but still coming in under 1500 calories a day.

I’ve also read a couple of chapters of my stop smoking book. I am already smoking a lot less than I was. As I said last week, it takes 6 weeks for something to become a habit, so I’ve decided when I’ve done six weeks I will give up smoking. I think this will be a good time to tackle the smoking, as hopefully I would have lost enough weight to be able to put a little bit of weight back on, and the healthy eating will be established enough not to overeat instead of grabbing a ciggy.

So it’s been another successful week. Next week I will do the first months review, and see if I’ve lost any inches off my vital measurements.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

New me, Week 2.

It’s been another successful week. I weighed myself, after swimming half a mile, on the sports centre scales last night and I’d lost another 2lbs. It’s not coming off as quickly as the first week, but I expected it to slow down.

After getting my Rosemary Conley DVD in the post on Monday, I’ve done 30 minutes of exercise every other day, and on Saturday I did the whole hour workout. I know I had said I wouldn’t start exercise until I was a few weeks in, however this was mainly because I thought I wouldn’t manage it. I have actually enjoyed the exercise and can feel the results. I do realise this exercise may affect my weigh ins, as exercise can build muscle which weighs more than fat.

However my jeans are not tight any more, and that is what I wanted to achieve. The differences in myself, since starting this healthy living regime, are probably more significant than my weight loss. I am feeling so much happier; and in the two weeks I have only had one low day. I have felt happier with my body and have become more confident as a result.

I treated myself this week by buying some new clothes. One of my local charity shops was having a clear out and all the clothes were a pound. I tried on a pair of pink cords, which were too tight, but I brought them anyway, knowing in a couple of weeks they should be a comfortable fit. I also brought a jumper dress, in the sale at Tesco’s, which is quite figure hugging. I wouldn’t have been seen dead in a dress that showed off my figure a few weeks earlier, as my body was a constant source of distress for me. I was more likely to hide behind baggy clothes.

I also have lots more energy. Instead of staying in bed with a coffee in the morning, I have woken up and got up right away. I’ve managed to get more done in a day. Before the idea of fitting in exercise seemed an impossibility, due to feeling so low and having little energy. Another significant change has been my bowel movements (which you may not want to hear about but I feel is an important change). Previously they were often quite loose, which I put down to anxiety, however now they are normal. Overall I just feel so much healthier than I did before.

Calorie wise I have stayed under 1400 calories most days, apart from Wednesday when I went to the Open Mic and had some drinks at the pub, and Saturday when I opened a bottle of wine. Both days I still kept under 1800 calories. This goes to show how much alcohol adds calories to your daily allowance.

I haven’t read any of my stop smoking book, as I’ve been reading a Joanne Harris book instead. As I finished Joanne Harris last night I aim to pick up the stop smoking book this week. However without thinking about it I have cut down on smoking. My tobacco is lasting me longer, and I think as I’m feeling healthier I’m not reaching for the ciggies as much.

So overall it’s been another successful week, and probably more importantly I’m enjoying my new healthy way of life. I just need to keep it going. It takes around 21 days for new activities to become a habit, and 6 months for them to become part of a lifestyle. I need to keep going, so the changes do become part of my lifestyle. Stopping exercising and calorie counting now would probably see me gain everything I’ve lost and more.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

New me Week one

The first week has gone great. I knew I was right to throw myself into it. Previously, when I have just calorie counted, I haven’t had the results, but this time around I’m seeing results already.

After my swimming on Monday, my muscles didn’t ache the next day. However Tuesday was a really stressful day, and I ended up drinking some wine in the evening bringing my calorie count to around 1800, 800 calories up on Monday. I am determined not to give up altogether if I have a bad day, so I started Wednesday feeling positive.

Wednesday I consumed around 1000 calories, and learnt the Lambrini. I had seen the Lambrini dance on an advertisement on the television, and found a step by step guide of how to dance it on www.dothelambrini.co.uk. I probably danced around 30 minutes in all, and felt quite breathless. I did drive to Tesco’s though, which I could have walked, as its only 10 minutes away and I wasn’t getting much shopping.

In the evening as I looked at my diary I noticed I hadn’t eaten breakfast which is an easy trap for dieters to fall into. Much research has been done which suggests skipping breakfast can starve the body of nutrients, and prompt it to store more of lunches and dinners as fat. A study done by the University of Massachusetts concluded you are 450% more likely to be overweight by not eating breakfast.

Thursday my legs ached from the Lambrini the day before, which showed a fun dance was a good exercise. I also found I had lots of energy, and was feeling really enthusiastic about getting fit. I couldn’t wait to write things in my book. I realised I hadn’t been adding in coffee in my calorie count, which I rectified. Reviewing the week I realised apart from Tuesday, I was only consuming around 1000 calories, and decided I ought to be eating between 1200 and 1600 calories if I didn’t want to fall into the Yo Yo dieting trap, so I had 1300 calories that day.

I’ve been eating well all week. I start off with Rye bread (wheat free) toast and reduced fat houmous, as I believe carbohydrates are important first thing. So many diets suggest fruit for breakfast, however this can send blood sugar levels rising, and the energy from it is used quickly, often leading to feeling tired and hungry again mid morning. Complex carbohydrates release their energy slowly and will keep you going for longer.

For lunch I have had anything from salads to soups or oats and yogurt and fruit. Similarly for dinner I’ve had chicken salads, soups or something home-cooked such as roasted vegetables, or bolognaise with salad. I have kept all my portions small. Within my calorie count, I have eaten fruit as between meal snacks or ½ a 9bar which is a mixed seed bar (again good for slow energy release). I’ve felt quite satisfied and eaten when I’ve been hungry, and as the weeks gone on it’s got easier.

Feeling so enthusiastic on Thursday I searched for a calories burnt calculator and found a good one at www.ivillage.com. To get to it click on ‘diet’ top of the home page, and then click on ‘Calories burnt Calculator’ on the right. You put in your weight, the duration of the activity and what it was and they calculate how many calories you have burned.

Friday I was at my laptop most of the day, but met up with my friend, Rach for swimming in the evening. On the Monday I had done 24 lengths (which is 2 over a third of a mile), and I decided I would do 26 this time. However when I had done 26 I thought I’d do a couple more, and then realised it was only 6 more and I would have swam half a mile. So in the end I swam 32 lengths (half a mile) and I was so chuffed. I was even more chuffed when I weighed myself on the scales at the sports centre again, (which I wasn’t going to do till Monday), and found I was 10st 11lbs, which means in 5days I have lost 3lbs in weight. Wow!

I do appreciate I probably won’t keep up this level of weight loss and it will probably start coming off slower, especially as I’ve decided on a minimum calorie intake as well as a maximum.

Saturday, however I felt quite hungry, and with wine in the evening my calorie count was 1739. I was disappointed, but I know I shouldn’t beat myself up if I have a slip up. Also I realised if I have a drink of wine in the evening I am more likely to have a snack. On a more positive note I did 20minutes of the Lambrini.

Sunday I did better. My count was 1452 calories which I was surprised about, as I had a roast dinner and had some wine.

Monday I got a Rosemary Conley fitness DVD through in the post and did 20 minutes fat burning in the morning. I like Rosemary Conley, and have used her DVD’s in the past. The moves are not too complicated and are easy to follow, and you definitely feel like you’ve had a workout, however slow you take it. In the evening I met Rach for swimming again, and at the beginning I didn’t think I would be able to swim as far this time, however before I knew it I had done half a mile again.

On weighing myself I had lost another pound. So after my first week I lost a quarter of a stone (4lbs). I now weigh 10st 10lbs. It was a very successful week. I didn’t however read any of my ‘Giving up smoking’ book, but I have been working hard on everything else, and won’t beat myself up for that. Once my healthy lifestyle is more established I can tackle the smoking then.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

New Year New Me

Every year I’ve said to myself; “this is the year I’ll get fit and healthy”. This year I mean it. After the Christmas period, and moving house I have put on around ½ a stone and my jeans, which were tight before, are now uncomfortable.

My want list is to:
Lose at least half a stone
Exercise at least twice a week
Give up smoking

It’s a lot to take on board, and goes against advice which suggests you should tackle one thing at a time. However knowing me, by throwing myself into this new way of life, I will stay motivated. Writing a diary to record my progress will keep me on track, and I will feel accountable to anyone who might read it. I know I have to set realistic goals, so I’ve started by getting myself an exercise book, in which I can record my efforts.

To lose weight, as well as exercising, I aim to calorie count. When I went to University I put on a lot of weight and after leaving I lost 3½ stone with calorie counting. One of the main disadvantages of this method is that initially it is very time consuming. When preparing meals all ingredients needs to be weighed, and the overall calorie content calculated. This is where the exercise book comes in, as at one end of the book I can write down the calories in meals I prepare, and at the other end I can record my daily food and calorie intake. After a while, this does become easier as I memorise the calorie content of the meals I eat regularly.

One advantage of the calorie counting method is that no food groups need to be cut out. Having been interested in, and built up quite an extensive knowledge of nutrition, I appreciate the importance of eating a balanced diet which ensures we get the vitamins and minerals we need to help our bodies work effectively. We need to include all the food groups in our diets including fats, carbohydrates, and protein. We need essential fatty acids, for example, to help maintain healthy weight levels as they help move stored fats from our adipose tissues, and carbohydrates are important for energy production. Any diet that cuts out any particular food group can be detrimental to our health.

Another advantage with calorie counting is that I will be cutting down my alcohol intake, which did increase over the Christmas period. By counting the calories of every drink, I am unlikely to allow myself to drink a whole bottle of wine, which supplies a wasted 510 calories.

Exercising regularly is also important for my new healthy way of living. I’ve decided to take up swimming again, and have hooked up with a friend who goes swimming twice a week. I met her for a swim on Monday, and swam 24 lengths which is just over a third of a mile. I would like to add a couple of lengths every week and eventually work up to swimming a mile. I recognise as I have been quite sedentary for quite a long time, I should build up the exercise slowly, and will add in an aerobics type exercise, as I start to feel fitter, hopefully in a month’s time.

Another way to build up my fitness is to ditch the car and walk more. I live 10 minutes from town, and because I have a big hill to climb, I often take the car. If I don’t have lots of shopping to carry, and its not pouring with rain, I now aim to walk it. I walked it yesterday, and when I got back my legs felt wobbly, which is an indication of how unfit I have got.

Giving up smoking is the scariest of my goals for many reasons. I like smoking and feel it will be the most difficult goal to achieve. I also don’t want to put on weight when I stop. Losing weight and exercising are both important preparations for the inevitable stop date. By getting used to a healthy eating plan, I hope I won’t be so inclined to overeat when I do give up smoking. By exercising, as well as getting fitter, I hope to raise my metabolic rate, so I am burning calories more efficiently when I stop.

I know I need to stop. I have asthma, have had recurring pleurisy, and my doctor says I’m a classic emphysema case waiting to happen. Even though I’ve given up before, (I didn’t smoke for eleven years), I know I need all the help I can get so I’ve started reading a self help book. ‘Free Yourself from Smoking’ by Dr Kristina Ivings takes a three pronged approach, addressing the physical addiction, psychological dependence and the habit of smoking. The majority of the book deals with the way we think about smoking, why we smoke, the pitfalls we come across when trying to stop, understanding withdrawal, and doesn’t get to How to quit till chapter 12. When I am there I will set a date. Hopefully as I get fitter the urge to give up will also increase.

Anyway, I’ve now set my goals and I’ve committed myself to getting and staying fit and healthy. I will write weekly to record my progress which will include my successes and failures, what worked for me and what didn’t, and a summary of weight loss and fitness levels. In order to see measurable results I have recorded vital measurements below. It will be interesting to see if I can achieve any loss on any of these.

At the start of my new healthy lifestyle Monday the 7th of January
I weigh 11 stone
My BMI is 24.80 (approximated by scales at Sports centre)
Vital measurements Boobs 37inches, Waist 32½inches and Hips 40inches.