12 Things for 2012

12 Things for 2012

Last year I set out in January with a list of things to do/achieve, the majority of which I achieved.  Unlike resolutions I haven’t set these in stone, they are just a list of things I want to get done at some point.

1.    To Finish 2012 at a lighter weight than I did 2011.  I have always been rather wary of setting myself unrealistic expectations in relation to my weight loss.  However after the spur my ‘Birthday Weight Loss Challenge’ gave me, I think that setting specific targets with dates attached will be motivating rather than disheartening.  I have set specific goals related to my weight loss over the year, but my main ambition is just to end he year lighter than I entered it.

2.    Wear a size 14 Bridesmaids dress.  I haven’t just said this for the hell of it.  I have been asked to be a bridesmaid for my lovely friend Sarah (who I met through Weight Watchers).  The wedding is planned for December, and having hovered around a 16 (sometimes bigger sometimes smaller) I would love to get in to a 14 in time for the nuptials.

3.    Run (not walk) a 10K.  To run a 5K was something I achieved last year.  This year I want a bit more of a challenge, so I think a 10K will offer me that.  Wish me luck, I think that this going to be hard!

4.    Go on a Date.  Last year I set a task of ‘developing a love life’.  This was a little ambitious, as I had no Idea of how to start.  This year I still want it on my list.  I have been single for such a long time it is quite frankly unhealthy (and a little bit sad).  So I have set my target low… 1 date, in the whole 12 months… I can do that… Can’t I?

5.    Drink More.  I feel that I am perpetually dehydrated; I do not drink enough, of anything, in the day.  I am not going to state the stupid figure of 8 glasses of water per day, totally unappetizing, but I want to make sure I have at least 3 drinks whilst at work.  I have previously got home to realize that I have not had a drink all day.  If I’m not careful my kidneys are going to start to protest.

6.    Get more involved online.  This one is borrowed from it sux to be fat.  I have been really lax in getting involved in the blogging community, commenting on blogs, discovering new blogs, posting in my facebook group and tweeting.  OK it’s not like I have a massive following, but what is the point in writing a blog if I don’t get involved.

7.    Drink less coffee.  Anyone who has seen my daily food posts may notice that I have a BIG love for Costa Skinny Cappuccinos.  The benefit of having a point’s card is that occasionally you get a free coffee.  I have been getting a lot of free coffees.  Instead of having my ‘once a week’ post weigh in coffee, I had been visiting 2/3 times a week.  This can’t go on! Drinking a double shot at 6pm generally means I am not getting to sleep until late.  I’m past 30 now; I need all of the beauty sleep I can get!  So bye bye mid week coffee.

8.    Write on my Blog.  This one is related to number 6.  I started this blog and then had a big gap when I failed to post anything.  I hate that when I am following a blog, so why on earth should I do that myself.? It may be a bit ambitious to say I will post every day (although if I am feeling super motivated I may well do) so I am going to aim to post at least once a week…Hopefully

9.    See my friends more.  Last year with family illnesses, I spent most of my time off at home with the parents looking after them.  Quite frankly I neglected my friends, both at home and far and wide.  I stopped texting, Facebooking, calling and I didn’t go visiting.  So I am determined to make more of an effort with texts, phone calls, letters and visits this year…weather they want to see me or not!

10.          Read more books.  I love books and reading, but I am so sporadic in doing so.  I’ll go through a phase when I will read a book a week for 2 months and then not pick one up for another 3.  I also tend to go for the familiar tomes I have on the shelf, even though I have a little stock of books I have not read.  So I will aim for a book a month, and make reading part of my routine.

11.          Carry on with all of the things I achieved in 2011:  Well why bother doing them if I’m not going to keep it up!

12.          Be happier at the end of 2012 than I was at the end of 2011.  2012 is looking bright, granted it is only the 5^th, but what the hell, start as you mean to go on!

 Happy New Year everyone!

Wednesday 4th January 2012 - The one where I look forward to the new year.

Breakfast:X 2 Sainsbury's Breakfast Biscuits: 6PP

Lunch:
X1 Wholemeal Bagel: 6PP
X1 Portion Chicken & Bacon Sandwich Filler: 3PP
X1 Apple: 0PP

Dinner:
Rocket Salad & Sesame Oil Dressing: 1PP
Pizza Express Gustosa Pizza: 11PP
Pepsi Max: 0PP

Snacks:
X 1 Portions of Cherries: 0 PP
X 1 Curlywurly: 3PP

Points Used: 33 PP
Points Earned: 5 PP - Pedometer strapped on!

Challenges: Forgot to pick up my lunch and forgot to take my purse to work. So by the time I had the opportunity to get my lunch from home I was starving and could of made some bad choices.  However I stuck to my guns, hence bang on points.  Yay for me.

Achievements: 
Today is the first time in ages that I have actually hit my points bang on. I wasn't hungry at all either, I guess it is a sign I am getting back in to the swing of things.

Tomorrow: 
Should be OK,  lunch sorted, dinner kind of sorted and feeling in control!

Verdict: Good day, best day of 2012 food wise so far!

First blog post of 2012!

I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted a 'proper' blog.

Gone went my resolution to post every day, and in came depression and illness. Thinking about it now I think my depression was related to my illness, my doctor had previously told me that viruses can cause it. Since I have been feeling better, I am feeling far more positive and I am no longer worried I might be heading for a prolonged period of depression.

I'm feeling great about 2012, loads of things to look forward to. I am feeling so positive about this year I have even fond the effort to calculate how far I need to go until I get to goal and calculated how much I would need to lose each week to get there!

Christmas Day:  My Little Bro and I

I am already back on track and didn't need the shock of my post Christmas weigh in to get me back there. I even weighed between Christmas and New Year (something I have never done before) and I lost half a pound! If must be a sign that I am ready for 'proper' weight less this year not just treading water.

The one where I reflect on 2011

11 Things for 2011?

I set out in 2011 with a to-do list for 2011 so before heading in 2012 I thought I would see how well or not I did.  2011 has been a rollercoaster year, especially with the illnesses of both my Mum and Dad.  However I am looking forward

1.    Take a photo of myself at every weigh in.  I have not really tracked my progress and this should be an easy way to do it. – This one I failed miserably at, I’ll probably give it another go, but I am not making any promises!

2.    Cook at least 3 meals during the working week.  I have a terrible tendency to use ready meals or rely on cereal when I get home from work; I am determined to cook more. – This I have managed to do, up until I became ill in September

3.    Run (not walk) a 5K.  This was one of the things on my list for last year and for various reasons (mainly laziness) I didn’t achieve it.  I am determined to do it this year. – Yay I did this.  OK I did it slowly but I did it.  This was one of my major achievements this year, I remember when I started I could barely run 50 yards

4.    Develop a Love Life.  Last year I wanted to find some friends in Colchester, and I think I have done that (hopefully).  Next stop love life, I have no idea how to start with this point but it’s on the list so I will at least try.  Possibly sorting out numbers 5 and 7 may help! – Another epic fail.  Possibly a little bit ambitious, because I have no idea where to start!  Another

5.    Wear more make up.  It may seem stupid but I think for my self esteem and confidence I need to spend a bit more time making myself look good (better) even if I don’t necessarily feel it inside. – This has happened!  Saturdays and Sundays I prettify even if I am just popping to Tesco.  Also unusually I have been putting on make up to go to work… just a little bit.

6.    Buy less packaged fruit.  I spend a fortune on it, it is quite obscene really, obviously a better choice than a chocolate bar but I buy it too often.  More whole fruits for me. – Although still a part of my diet, I have eaten loads of whole fruits.  Figs, persimmons, grapes and Satsuma’s have been the go-to fruits this year.

7.    Go to bed earlier.  I am quite naughty and often stay up late (Ssshhh even on a school night) but not enough sleep is prematurely aging and I don’t want to hit 30 looking like I am 45. – Actually much to my surprise I have been setting my alarm to make sure I am in bed for 10.30.

8.    Spend some time on me.  With work and life it sometimes does not give me enough time to live, I am going to try and set aside 30 mins a day to spend on me not distracted by anything/anyone else. – I have kind of done this; I have been spending at least 30 mins reading (also improving my brain).  I had also aimed to try to blog every day (for a bit).  So this is a tick!

9.    Aim to eat Vegetarian for at least one day a week.  Not only do I want to lose weight I want to be healthier and I don’t think eating huge amounts of meat is all that healthy – I’ve done well with this, veggie stir-fry’s, goats cheese pies, roasted vegetable quiches, all great meal alternatives.

10.          (Purposely) Exercise at least once a week.  OK I walk all of the time, and the bonus points do rack up, yes they help but I want to do more.  I don’t think I will ever be one of those people who are addicted to the gym, but I would like to be one of those people who enjoy exercise when they do it (I think this one might be a bit of a stretch) – Thank god for Zumba! I have been pretty active over the last year.  I have jogged more and I have developed a love for Zumba.  Such a pity my class isn’t running in 2012, going to have to find a new one because I certainly don’t want to give it up.

11.          Be happier at the end of 2011 than I was at the end of 2010. Nuff Said really – Was feeling rather depressed this time last year.  OK I have had a few low points in 2011, and quite frankly I can’t wait to see the back of this year and start 2012.  But I am feeling so positive about the coming year and this is a definite tick.

So bring on 2012!  And my 12 things to do in 2012…

Happy New Year everyone!

The one where I discuss a 'Positive Attitude'

OK I am now officially back at WeightWatchers. OK I was never really officially gone, but I am now refocusing on the count down to Christmas.

Today's meeting was on a topic which is surprisingly apt considering I have been in the process of devising a little project with the idea go get me back on track and my weight going in the right direction i.e. down.  But before I unveil, The Meeting!

The Art of Positive Thinking

Oh how I have missed my weekly WW Meeting. Not having the accountability of weighing in each week for me is a tad dicey. It's the 'F*#k it' moment I get when faced with temptation (usually a takeaway or cake) when I think 'I'm not weighing in this week, I'll be extra good next week to make up for it'. Unfortunately the extra goodness often doesn't come and when I do finally weigh in I am 3 lbs heavier than the last time I weighed in ( and on this occasion, after 3 weeks of no weigh in it's 3 1/2!).

So today's meeting topic came at a great time for me, ‘Developing a positive attitude toward your own weight loss journey’ and not letting a lapse (or even a relapse) lead to a Collapse.
 
I am a dedicated WeightWatchers member; however I do often describe myself as 'The Worst WeightWatcher in the world'. This isn't 100% true, but I am very prone to lapses, and have often found myself drifting back towards old unhealthy eating habits. Despite the odd (quite frequent) lapse I have always returned and got back on plan and I have never found my weight creeping back up to where I once was.  In my 3 years (yes 3!) of being a part of WeightWatchers I have never 'left', the longest I have ever gone without going to a meeting is 3 weeks.  And in the terms used in today’s meeting though I have had lapses (and relapses) I have never had a collapse.

Despite my ups and downs, although I may have lost faith in myself I have never lost faith in the plan (no matter what form it may appear).

I think (and this is probably for others to judge rather than me) I have had a positive and healthy attitude to weight loss.  I am doing this for myself and it is for the long term. It not just a quick fix.

I think many other people who may be in a similar situation to myself would have probably given up or ‘Collapsed’ by now, but a big part of why I am still going is down to my 'Positive Attitude'. So below I have put some of the tips for staying positive and how to bounce back from a lapse we discussed today in class.

1.  Remember why you are doing this:  Sometimes when you have been working your butt off to get those pounds moving it is easy to forget why you started you weight loss journey in the first place.  Phyisically and emotionally we change so much that the initial spur that prompted us to head to our first WeightWatchers meeting has been lost. Revisit it. As part of my blog I have written down my motivation. I am not suggesting everyone start a blog (but is it really such a daft idea?) but get those before pictures out, write it in a note book, stick it on a post it note on your vanity mirror! Anything that can help you re-focus on you.

2. Be realistic:  I know perfectly well that if I was a very good girl I could lose 104 lbs in a year. I would be at gold.

However I also know that losing 104  lbs in one year, is for me completely unrealistic. I have a life, I eat out, drink beer, eat cake, love pizza, love chocolate.  Yes I do know that you can do all of these things and say within points, but there are occasions when you may not know the PV’s in all that you are eating and on those occasions I prepare my self for small losses/SS/or a gain.  I don’t want to be that person who everyone avoids because they are the diet bore; some times you need to be realistic and manage your own expectations.

3.  Use others as thinspiration:  I love my class, and one of the things that I love about it is that there are so many people who are role models.  Just today 2 people reached their 50 lbs!  Some people may seem de-motivated by how well others may be doing in a “I can never do that” way.  But surely if they can do it why can’t you?  Are these successes proof that the plan works?

4. Be kind to yourself:  No one is perfect.  Not matter how much you try you cannot be a ‘perfect Weightwatcher’ all of the time.  It can be easy to beat yourself up about ‘falling off the WW Wagon’.  It happens; it doesn’t make you a failure it makes you human.  Pick yourself up dust yourself off and start over again.

Attitude is a key part of anyone achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.  It doesn’t always come straight away, often the motivation to head to your first meeting comes from a negative place.  But by transforming your attitude you can aid your transformation on the outside and make sure that it lasts.

And now to my Plan to get back on track to Christmas.  Keeping on the themes of accountability and positivity I have come up with a plan… which I will post in due course and hopefully some of you will join me.

My final point, I have finally let my WW friends know about this blog… Hi guys!