The dreaded 'FRESH START' pics!!!!!

Here you go folks! I told you I'd be brave (Thanks for your encouragement everyone!)Please excuse the mess in my apartment! Hahaha Just realised you can see our washing drying - how lovely! Also, please excuse how sweaty I am - I had just got in from last night's gym sesh. GOOD GRIEF running was tough! I could only do 20 minutes and then I felt like I was going to collapse! I know 20 mins is a good enough run, and it was at 9.5kph BUT even so, I was getting used to being able to do over 30 minutes and now I'm sooooo unfit again! GRRRRRR! But I did do some cycling and rowing and all my weights and core/resistance work on the programme soooooo I guess it's ok. I have that pleasant buzz this morning where you're aware of your body and muscles because you've worked them out! I also bit the bullet and texted Chris for an appointment so I have personal training tomorrow at 9am...on my day off. Glutton for punishment anyone?! It'll be worth it. I guess. No it will be. Positivity!

So there you have it, me in all my BigFatPie glory.....166lbs, 5'7" tall, aged (almost) 31 *sob*. Don't get used to seeing me like this! It won't be like this for long!!!!!! BYE BYE FAT!!!!!!!

Eating wise I was a SAINT yesterday. Day 2 = BIG SUCCESS! I got in from the gym and my calf muscles were caning me so I watched a few episodes of The Hills (I know, I know!) and did some of my fave pilates/yoga stretches to wind down. It was great. By this time, however, it was 9:30pm and I still had not eaten dinner. Could not be bothered with cooking or eating a large meal at such a late hour (I am old now, I cannot sleep if I eat too big a meal before bed!), so you know what I realised I was TOTALLY craving? (Bear in mind that as the clock struck midnight on August 31st, the UK apparently skipped Autumn altogether and went straight to bloody winter...it was blowing a gale and raining cats and dogs outside) PORRIDGE! That's what! Now, 30g of porridge oats is 1.5points but I was starvin like marvin so doubled up and had 60g for 3 points and skimmed milk all microwaved together with an apple. Nice dinner hey!! Still it filled me up and was most delicious!

So now onto Day 3. This evening is a RED ALERT as my cousin Andy has his Birthday and Rich and I are headed over to theirs for dinner, or 'Birthday Tea' as the invitation said. DANGER! DANGER! I cannot plan or control the point intake tonight so I need to stick to minimal pointage today so I can spare a few tonight. I have decided I will not have any alcohol - after my drunken antics on Sunday I need to give my body a rest, so strictly soft drinks for me! My family know about my WW following so they're usually pretty accommodating in that area, so I'm not too worried. I have had 40g branflakes for breakfast with skimmed milk so that's 2 points plus 1 for milk through the day, I've got grapes and a yoghurt for 11am and then lunch will be the leftover salad plus cherry tomatoes, carrotts and hummus and 2 crispbread for lunch. I also have an apple if I get desperate! So with the points I saved yesterday, plus those I earned exercising I should be ok. Also, it's Thursday which means the boys play football at 9pm which means we will be home by 8pm which means if I am organised I can get in a workout tonight- I'm thinking yoga - whch, again, is a good reason to say 'No thanks, I won't have cake because I've got a class in an hour and I dont want to vom in the studio!' Good hey!?

So that is the plan. I feel ok about my day. Now to start thinking ahead to tomorrow....no work=less structure but I HAVE got PT tomorrow early so I'll be up and won't waste the day, there's no bread in the house so I can't eat my own body weight in hot buttered toast, I will have paid £30 for my training session so won't want to 'undo' the good work by eating crap in the day AND I am gonna hang out with lovely Rachel, friend and WW leader and we;re going to do some organising and planning!

My focus this weekend is to PLAN TRACK EXERCISE. Weekends are soooooo easy to sack off, so I need to stick to it.

I WANT TO BE AT GOAL BY CHRISTMAS! Yikes!

That's all for now - get commenting my lovelies!!!!!

lovelove BFP xoxo

My all new fave TV obsession....oh and there's some stuff about food in here too!

Morning all! Happy Wednesday! I sat down this morning to write a post and couldn’t think of anything worth saying! But then I read some of your blogs and suddenly I am full of things to talk about…I love how that happens. But first things first let me get one extremely important thing out of the way..


Oh-emm-actual-gee….what the DICKENS is ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ all about!!?? GOOD GRIEF!! Are those women REAL??!!! Bloody HELL! Total nutjobs!!!! Oh it was HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the first episode here in the UK last night.

I got in late from counselling clients and made a weird but nice concoction of stir fried veggies in a thai green curry sauce, for 2 points, with 2 points of cous cous because it’s lower than rice and mixed it all together and halved it so I can have the rest for lunch today, shunned the bottle of wine that called to me from the fridge (yay me!) and instead made peppermint tea. At 10:35pm I couldn’t go to bed because I’d eaten so late and I couldn’t not eat because I wouldn’t have been able to sleep because I would have been famished, so there was nothing for it but to settle down and watch THE REAL HOUSEWIVES !! OMG I full on LOL’d all the way through. My friends and I were all in our respective houses watching it and facebooking all the way through which added to the enjoyment! My personal fave things are the way they say ‘bubbies’ instead of ‘boobs’ and how they all look so freakin’ PLASTIC!! It’s horrendous! Oh dear me how I LAUGHED! So that’s my new fave telly prog!! HILARIOUS!

Ahem.

Now onto more serious matters….

Didn’t make it to exercise land yesterday – started counselling straight after work so no time annoyingly. I guess I could have gone for a run at about 9:30pm but it’s dark and rainy and windy and generally being very ‘English’ outside en ce moment so I could not be arsed! Today will be different however. The kit is packed, and as you can see, is currently hanging out with my work bag and brolley for company until six pm whereupon I shall hightail it to the gym!!

Isn’t it weird how just one day of good eats can make you feel so much……healthier? Thinner? Better? I dunno, I just know that after my crazed weekend of excess, one day on plan makes me feel pretty damn good about myself. So often when I do a ‘fresh start’ I make a heinous error on the first day and then end up sacking the rest of it off! But yesterday I didn’t. Wanna know why? Because I felt like I was part of this massive posse in Blogland that was all gunning together to have a fresh start for Sept 1st…..so when I happened to think ‘ooh I could just eat some chocolate now’ and remembered that in the admin room there was a big mahoosive tin full of chocolate biscuits (and Jaffa Cakes, Jen!!), and actually went into their office and took the lid off the tin, a big waft of delicious smelling chocolate hit me but then I thought of my little blogalog friends and thought ‘No, I don’t want to do this’. So that lid went firmly back on and I walked away.

It’s mad how food plays with your mind….well, with mine anyways…. makes me behave like a crazy person....

I stuck to my 20 points yesterday, and will again today. Below are some of the yummy things I scoffed.

This salad I bought at lunch time from M&S, how yummy and massive does that look? And all for no points. Instead of dressing I added a dollop of low fat hummus and some salmon, I also had 2 crispbreads so I was perfectly full and satisfied throughout the afternoon.

Oh, I may have had a skinny latte from Nero too J Some things are worth the points! Here it is with my Tuesday ritual - lunch at my desk with Heat Magazine! I know, I am a saddo.

Today I have had branflakes and skim milk with a good cuppa (Cannot start the day without one - judge if you will!) and as I upload this I am consuming some red grapes with a strawberry WW yoghurt.

Also, check out this pic of my lovely hubby – awwwwwwww, all smart for his first day back at school…he doesn’t look too happy does he!? Mind you, neither would I if I’d had six weeks off and had to go back today!! HAHAHA. (Cute though !)

In other news, I’ve been reading the lovely Kerry’s blog (Skinny Me…Coming Soon…I still dunno how to do those linky things!!) and what she wrote about today really spoke to me. She posted a pic of herself today as she begins her FRESH START for September, in recognition of the fact that this is as far as she goes, from here on out down not up weight-wise! So I think I’ll do the same thing so I can start seeing the difference! (Sorry to nick your idea Kerry!!) My Saturday weigh in just gone was 166lbs. Not good. I don’t wanna go up instead of down. And I’ve been staying the same for a little while due to bugger all effort on my part, so NO MORE. It’s time to STEP IT UP!!!

So I’m feeling positive right now. I’ll be even happier once I’ve exercised. Got a bit in a rut with the running. I found I was caning it for 2 days flat out and then doing weights and resistance every day on top of running which is just knackering and means I spend more time having to rest because I have over done it. This is a pattern I recognise from the good ol’ obsessive days so I am being super strict with myself and only letting myself to day 1 and Day 2 of my training programme that Chris designed for me – that’s what I am bloody paying him for after all!!! Speaking of Mr Motivator himself, I think the Gods are sending me messages that I need to book a session because I keep bumping into him everywhere! Usually when I’m stuffing my face! Bugger!

Right dudes, have a great day and see you tomorrow.

Big love xoxo

Ah September, how I love thee……

Hello comrades! It’s ME!!! Back (again) from something of a summer hiatus! I really didn’t mean to skive off from blogging so much over the summer, but it just ended up happening that way, y’know?

But today is a new day, a new month, a new season. I blinking well LOVE Autumn! It is quite my favourite season. I love the whole vibe of it. The pace picks up, the weather gets a bit chillier, the nights start to draw in and, of course, the Christmas countdown begins. For me there’s something magical about this time of year. Partly, it’s that ‘back to school’ feeling, new shoes, new uniform, bag and pencil case vibes. Of course, I am no longer at school but for me this time of year retains that level of significance. The promise of new challenges on the horizon, a new routine, the lazy days of summer are over for another year and it’s time to knuckle down and get with the programme.

I feel as if I’ve been waiting for Sept 1st for a good while now…..in many areas of my life, but mostly that old chestnut of the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle (I’m not saying diet and exercise anymore…..)

To be honest, I’ve been ‘winging it’ for a while now, which has had its pitfalls as well as its successes. For example, I have been fitting exercise in here and there but not going all out, I have been counting points here and there but not massively paying attention. So today is of significance because I am cranking it up a notch…….one day at a time!! PLAN TRACK EXERCISE PLAN TRACK EXERCISE PLAN TRACK EXERCISE…….repeat ad infinitum!

Since Rich got back we have been eating out all over the show, and this past weekend was a non-stop whirl of social activity including a day spent in Liverpool at the Annual Mathew Street Festival, which is a big Beatles festival in the city,and also the Annual Food and Drink Festival at local Farm – both fab events but ones that centre around eating and drinking! Oops. We’ve had people over for dinner (takeaway and Articulate night), and got caught up with our ‘down south’ friends who were up over the weekend. And I just enjoyed myself, didn’t go too mad with the eats (though the alcohol is another story entirely - good GRIEF!) and now……..I’m done.

I’m done with messing about
I’m done with lack of routine
I’m done with being half-hearted

It’s time to get with the programme. Which of course, means blogging regularly and being accountable here. So keep me accountable, ok?!


It’s good to be back! Happy September 1st one and all!!

Lovelove xoxo

Not at all to do with diet and/or exercise...

On this day, I sincerely hope that those Brits and North Americans and all those of us who live in our safe, Western world who are too lazy to vote or who don't care that they even have a vote or who don't think it'll make a difference, take heed of what's happening in Afghanistan today, right this very instant. The Afghan people are voting for only the second time to elect their leader, and all this under the sincere and very real threat of the Taliban "we will not think twice about killing anyone involved in this election". The very least threat is having your finger cut off having dipped it indelible ink to prove you've voted. Such brave people that are voting. Really made me think today.....we should pray protection over the elections today. Or if you're not someone who prays, think good vibes!

That is all...
BFP xo xo
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Injuries, NSV's, Returning Husbands and other such nonsense...

Hello children. Bloody hell I am crap at blogging of late aren't I!? This is somewhat indicative of my current attitude I fear.....*holds out wrist to be slapped*. I am sllll-o-wwww-ly getting my mojo back, but nowhere near like I was doing, so frustrating. And all the carefully honed and toned muscles are now, well, fat, which is sooooooooooo pants it's untrue. So this weekend I had a free schedule and decided after weigh in (stayed the same OMG MIRACLE!) to spend the day pretty much in the gymnasium.





ERROR!





I awoke Saturday am unable to move my head due to a ruddy great pain down the left side of my neck into my shoulder blade and arm! YIKES!!!!!! I felt about 103 years old!





After the meeting I took 2 Cocodamol (codeine) (Thank you Rachel, you star!) and fell asleep by one pm, and awoke at SIX PM!!!! Bloody hell! What's in those pills!!??!! I felt absolutely hammered when I woke up, so switched drugs to Ibuprofen!





It's now Tuesday and it's easing off somewhat, which is typical since the docs could only fit me in tomorrow morning...but let's not knock the NHS - it's brilliant (bugger off Barack!!!).





So, special needs neck = bugger all exercise. AGAIN!





OH WHY OH WHY DO I DO THIS????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Bugger all exercise leads to 'ah well, jack in the healthy eating' which leads to BIGFATPIE!





So I need to STOP, and recognise this RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT and do something about it before I gain back the bloomin' lbs I've lost (and worked damn hard to lose, I might add!)





Ahem.





So, the NSV to which I refer in the title of this eloquent post is as follows:






Here is my desk. On it, apart from a load of junk, you will notice that there is a tub of hummus (low fat, organic, Marks & Spencers) to the left of the dreaded pink weightloss file, and atop said tub sits......carrotts! Yep indeedy do!

What would I usually choose to go with hummus? CRISPS! What did I do instead? Picked raw carrotts! Hence the NSV. I had a hankering for something fresh and these precut, washed, raw carrotts (again from M&S - how lazy ARE these people?!) which is a little signal that there may well be light at the end of the carb/processed food tunnel.....on verra!

In other news, the hubby returns on Saturday and I CANNOT wait! 3 weeks seems like an AGE!
I am off again this Thurs/Fri so am determined to actually make it to the gym, I need my neck to be better for then.

You know what I think it is? I'm in holiday mood! I am actually thinking 'Sept 1st is D-Day' - most stupid.

Anyway, I think I'll leave it there because some youths are currently sitting in their car outseide my office window playing reeeeeeeeeeeeally loud 'Bounce Anthems' which are REAAAALLLY crap so I need to go and bollock them.

Laters!

Moving, excuses, lies and the single life!

Hey dudes, blimey it's been AGES! So much to catch up on. Haven't really felt like blogging for a bit after everything that poor Jen is going through - seemed a bit daft to blather on about food and diet and exercise and whatnot when my friend was and is going through so much pain. However, I feel like Jen would tell me to keep on blogging so I am going to......and thus a catch up post is necessary!

So, we moved....... we live here now! The top floor is ours - the window you can see to the left of the picture is the living room. Isn't it pretty!

This is the route I take to work each day - like living in 'Pleasantville' or 'Wisteria Lane'

It's the view down the Causeway through the Village towards the War memorial. Picturesque.

So, yes. I am having a lovely time living there so far. It's been a little bit weird without Rich, ye olde ball and chain. Yes folks my husband has scarpered! He's currently in Canada with the boys climbing a mountain on a Young Life trip called 'Beyond Malibu' which we did once before when we were 18 but the guys wanted to try it again now they're all 31! Nutters. Rather him than me. so yeah, I feel a bit as if I have moved and Rich hasn't - bless him, his clothes are all in random places and a lot of his stuff is still in boxes waiting for him to return. He gets back August 22nd so I CANNOT WAIT!

Moving is a complete pain in the arse and we have vowed never to move ourselves ever again. EVER. The first week I did bugger all exercise and ate complete crap - convenience food eating. And I lost 4lbs - all that bloody lifting of couches and boxes and whatnot obviously worked! That took me down to 160lbs - lowest weight ever since 2006! WAHOOP! However this week i gained 1.5lbs back so it serves me right, and if I'm not careful it'll be another 3lbs this week. I just cannot get back into it. Haven't been the gym at all in 3 weeks. I suck. I lied to my PT and said I had to work when in fact I was off and just did not want to go to see him and have him tell me my body fat's back up. Pathetic aren't I!

Thing is, life is pretty hectic right now! Who knew I'd have such fun with my dear hubby away?! I was in London all weekend, visitng a friend - we did manage to run along the riverbank in sunny Richmond though on Sunday morning, then Monday I spent the day learning how to put up bookshelves with my dad, last night I ate dinner with the folks as they have flown to Italy today, tonight my friend Karen is cooking for me and another friend Louise, then Thursday I have the girls coming over for drinks and then Friday I am FINALLY off. So I am mentally prepping myself for a gain again this week and then getting into the gym on Friday.

No more excuses. I need to get back in the zone - I need a week. Just a week. To get me back on track. A week of no distractions, no social plans. A week of routine and leaving the office at 6 getting in the gym and half past and not leaving until 9 kinda week. Also planning foodwise - I need to stop eating out and start bloody well cooking again. And blogging. I feel like blogging is defo part of the routine and sanity!

So, there you have it pals. I AM BACK.

Love y'all

Lizzie xxxxx

Stunned

Guys please keep lovely, amazing, wonderful Jen aka priorfatgirl, and her family in your thoughts and prayers right now. Such an awful shocking tragedy to happen. :(

Head on over to her blog for an update, show her your support. She and her family need support and love right now.

www.priorfatgirl.com

Liz x
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