Hi - what a beautiful sunny and hot Bank Holiday Monday we have had here in London........Alex went off with 3 friends to Notting Hill Carnival - had a great time and was barely home but I dropped her up to Plaistow for a sleepover!!  

Robert and I set out in the car today and I had to turn around because he took unwell - shivering and shaking.  Fortunately he is okay now - well not 100% but much better.

So what happened to my steps?......I have to say I was tempted to abandon them and make up for it in the week - but the first day of the week is a bad time to have a rest because it puts me under pressure on the week-end, and next week-end I am busy and won't have much time to Step.

I did nearly all of today's steps indoors....so by the time I had finished I was red and hot but boy it did feel good to complete them.  Think I will do Monday to Friday steps this week - it is far easier to fit them into my working week than on week-ends at present.  

So what can I do differently this week to speed up my weight loss plan?  I am going to try most days to have only 1000 calories....and more water.  Of course I am slightly less fat but I am still too big - I am still in my size 16s - albeit they are a bit looser - but I need to be size 14 very soon.  OK I may not be properly into a size 14 for 12th September but I will get there soon!!

So I start my 5th week - and I mean business - feel free to join me - I need all the moral support I can get!  Bye for now.........

 

Well what an interesting day.....strange when you plan and look forward to a shopping day and then it turns out so different to what you expected.

We started this morning without breakfast because I knew we would eat out and I wanted to save my calories......so we had a lovely orange juice each with a toasted fried egg sandwich at Covent Garden and I had a cup of tea.......

At lunch time - we were in Camden by then - Alex had food from a stall and I didn't know what to have so I had one tiny fork full of rice - hardly enough to taste ......then I had a black coffee - NIL CALORIES.........

Before we came home - 7ish I think......I had 100 calories in a Boots shape bar.

So I had loads of calories to use this evening and just as well because I was hungry by then.....so we had chips and although Alex and Rob both had large cod I had a battered sausage - not the most healthy but I did enjoy it.

I am certainly enjoying my food when I do eat these days - normally I would really find it difficult to pass a fudge stall as at Camden and all those lovely sweets and chocolates up in London but I do feel I have things under control now.   

Now if my body can get that message that'd really help as I go into my 5th week.  I have done my part - all of my planned walking and all of my daily calorie control......so BODY - get shedding this horrible excess weight - NOW!!!!

Talk again soon.  Bye.

Hi again - can't believe it is Wednesday of my 4th week already - and that it is September next week!

Well I did enjoy today as a rest day - I did 14,500 steps yesterday and my feet were so sore - but of course I still have 3 more days to walk this week which means that I am on the hoof again tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.  

I am feeling good - more balanced in mood and think I am looking a bit better (less all round) so I will keep going.  I am not changing shape very quickly but hopefully it is slow and sure.

I still have a bit of time to get to size 14 although I am still in a size 16 today!!  I can actually fasten my size 14 clothes but they look terrible - with bumps and lumps all over!

So here goes to much more effort.  See ya!

Hi - so how have I been doing.  I had a lovely day yesterday but did most of my steps indoors - we were at Canary Wharf for a coffee in the morning and then went a run to Epping Forest in the afternoon where we walked a bit but that didn't even dent my 10000 - however after jumping around, wobbling and dancing I did it - so again my 5 days are complete for this past week.

I think my calorie count is in order but since I stopped writing things down I find it is so easy to go over......I need to be strict on this or I won't lose the weight I need to lose - stepping alone will not do it for me.  I will however this week try to power walk a bit to speed things up!

So I am not fading away yet....my skirts seem to be feeling a bit looser but I want more than that......going into my fourth week.  Talk again soon.

Hi - Friday and a week-end away from work to look forward to.

Having 'stepped' my way through 4 days this week at work I had today off AND I followed that Grazzia Magazine advice and had a lovely big Indian meal this evening at home with Rob and Alex......without worrying about calories - so hopefully my body now is totally confused and my metabolism will stop slowing down!!!!

So tomorrow I step again which is fine because I will be shopping and that uses a fair amount of steps - I will also return to counting calories - but having a bit of what I like too!

Only 3 weeks now until I will be going to the special event I want to be slimmer for so I will work hard in these weeks since it would be absolutely wonderful to get into a smaller size!

Bye for now.

Well what a lovely day I have had - Alex is working with us in the NHS this week - not in my department but another corporate department and she is having a good time!!  Today she treated me to lunch at the Unusual Coffee Shop next to our offices.

Alex ordered a cray fish sandwich and I have one quarter with half a small bar of green and black dark chocolate........now that was good for me - low calorie and very satisfying.  So I am learning to stay in control by eating when I am hungry - this evening I cooked chunky haddock fingers and whilst Robert had chips with his I only added peas - and that was lovely - just right.

I read an interesting thing about calorie control today in Grazzia magazine - seemingly - because we slow down our metabolism by cutting down cals and our bodies slow down to match reduction, we should confuse our metabolism by ONCE A WEEK having a full meal of whatever we want to eat and this will speed it up again - sounds appealing.......

Now with the week-end coming up I may just follow that advice!!  I am now comfortable on 10000 steps each day for 5 days and that is good - I am used to exercising now.  Just a speed up required now.

I can see myself in a size 14 but it's still a dream - my 14's go around me but still show too many bulges!  So another 3 weeks??? Hope so!  Bye for now.

Well, what a hot day - although I only felt the sunshine and heat after 4:30 when our Health and Wellbeing Conference ended and I walked quickly along Park Lane to Bond Street Station.

Interesting day - this morning there were so many goodies on offer with our coffee and I didn't even want them - then this afternoon again huge muffins on offer and I didn't want any - now for me that is wonderful.  Lunch was nice - salad and little bits so it was easy to have a decent meal but reasonable within calorie count.

Now to top my lunch time experience in that lovely 5 star hotel in Park Lane I sat and talked with 2 girls - one was telling us how she lost 7 stone and her hubbie lost 10 stone on the Lighter Life plan.....wow!  The other is a fitness instructor and had some good advice too.

On my way home I checked my pedometer and wanting to avoid going out this evening to walk (Alex is going to Cinema with Rudy and I will be out later to pick up and take Rudy home), I got off the train at Canning Town and walked home.  So by the time I walked home in the heat I was relieved to have walked 10500 steps - YES!!

Although I envy the quick weight loss via Lighter Life and similar plans I know that I need a lifestyle change and this way of steps and calories is right for me.  I just need to be consistent and patient until the weight that took years to go on comes off again!!!

Talk again soon - bye.

Hi - well Tuesday of my 3rd week and I hope I can remain patient - I keep looking for a miracle shape-up and this weight that took a long time to build in layers is stubborn and wants to stay......Robert and Alex have commented on a difference but I know I am not yet near to a size 14!!  

Still I need to be consistent....and I have to admit that this plan is quite easy now....maybe next week I will add in some real stretching to speed things along.

For me half the challenge was getting started - your get to the stage where you know all the theory around weight loss but getting started is tough......I have often thought 'tomorrow I could stick to liquid only' or 'just have fruit and water' and then next day before I know it a Mars Bar is in my hand!!!  Familiar?  Well this time 'no way' - I have had enough of carrying extra rolls around with me and feeling ugly because I am too heavy.

Bye for now.

It's the week-end again and that's week 2 of my plan complete.  Mostly I have felt it easy to follow the 10000 steps over 5 days and 1250 calories - although realistically it is easier to keep within 1500 calories daily.  I have managed the odd treat too - just counted it in so as to maintain my plan.

The good thing about this approach is that it is work-able long term and I am allowed any foods as long as I note them and count calories.  The other positive thing is that if I go over one day on food intake I can peel back next day.

So how am I doing on changing my shape?  Well I notice some small changes but not significant yet.......I have to use 'visualisation' to keep imagining what I will look like and feel like once the weight is off!!  So I will be careful this week-end to enjoy my food but not over indulge and I need to step 10,000 steps today.

Relationships are so important in life.....Robert and Alex are back from Scotland and I am spending some quality time with both this week-end.  Bye for now.

Hi - I am surprised that I am sleeping so well these days - especially with Robert and Alex in Scotland.  This is helpful of course since I need my energy to be tip top for work.

I have done well - a whole week now on calorie control alongside 5 days steps.......

so what next?  I do need to increase water intake which hopefully can help me lose weight.

I have been trying on my size 14 clothes and they are very tight - with a wee gap before they will fasten!!  I still have just under 5 weeks to get to that size 14 so any suggestions welcome.

I'll keep going....probably need to consider increasing exercise later this week even if stretching etc indoors.

Talk again soon!

Well - after a good Sunday (missing Rob and Alex but happy they are enjoying Scotland) I am just soooooooo pleased that I seem to have food under control now........now it may be that I am under control but whatever...I am pleased.

This means that I have succeeded in my first full week of calorie control coupled with 5 days of stepping.

I am thinking differently.....yesterday I was shopping and didn't even go into a coffee shop - now I did plan to but it was better I didn't so that a cake didn't become an issue.

I did some shopping for food and have bought some treats - with reasonable calorie counts - I am trying to be positive - I can have whatever I want - there are no forbidden foods but my maximum count daily must be 1500 and I am averaging 1250.  

The weight is not yet dropping off but I am visualising my new shape and I still have 5 weeks to get into a size 14!!

I can do it and I will.......see ya!

Back again....I am relaxing after having my total calories - except 100 which I can have later and having completed 1o100 steps.

Wonder if Alex and Dean have climbed the hills tonight close to Edinburgh - now that is some stepping!!!

Well - how do I feel after my first working week of 'turn around' - quite pleased that at least I have lasted.  Tomorrow I need to do another 10000 steps - but that should be quite easy - shopping, cleaning and walking generally since I don't have the car.  Then Sunday I can have a rest!!

I hope that by the end of next week I begin to notice a real difference in my shape and clothes - maybe not a big difference but already I can see where my waist should be so hopefully.......

Bye for now....

Now listen up - today was day 3 of my 5x10,000 steps for this week and I am pleased to report on 10,512 steps - and the day is not yet over!!

I am waiting for Alex to make and exciting vegetable curry with will be a treat tonight - have only had 500 calories so far today (despite having been in E1 and passing lovely curry places!!) so I am safe to have a curry.......

Main challenge today was avoiding sweets at work - Amanda filled up the sweet bucket and presented me with a bag of fudge - I made her take it away but had one square and it was delicious (yes I did count it).

Bye for now......

Tuesday late and the end of day 4 of my Turnaround programme........

Success again I am glad to report - i.e. 10437 steps and only 930 calories......

Have to admit though that when I completed over 7000 steps to work and back and had almost 3k to do this evening I did them all indoors and that was a challenge.....I was on the trampet; the stairs and dancing in front of Alex's mirror....only hope that there is a lot less flesh to move and shake within a few short weeks - I can see the potential shape coming but it's kinda in the shade at present!!

More tomorrow......byeeeee.  

Hello again - Monday today and day 3 of my TURNAROUND...........

I feel soooo gooooood today because after coping yesterday even with loads of goodies in to eat, I have again managed my steps and calories.

I walked to work today and back again which ensured that my steps would be easier to complete.

Robert and I walked around the park this evening and so I completed 10927 steps.  I also consumed 1150 calories which is encouraging.

I went for a coffee with Kathryn today and just had a black coffee with no Green and Black's chocolate bar - this is a miracle!  I then delayed my lunch (forgot it really because the office was so busy) and this evening I enjoyed oatcakes, banana and orange juice.  After my walk I treated myself to crisps at 131 calories and a breakaway at 99 calories.  That was a nice treat but of course empty calories so maybe tomorrow I will swap crisps for an egg and apple!!!

I am aware that although I have been positive and able to contain my eating today, I hvae had a lovely 3 weeks holiday and a good first day back at work.  I need to be consistent now and keep control even if tomorrow is more stressful!

Later this week Robert and Alex are going to Scotland so even more important then that I don't comfort eat when I am at home alone....I will be busy de-cluttering the house so maybe I will be okay.

Hi again.....well another week-end almost over and I am nicely relaxed.......

it has helped that work friends have assured me that no disasters have happened whilst I have been away.  It's great to get a decent break from work but quite an effort too to ensure that everything is in place before we go - and then of course before we know it we are back - all good though.

Have had a lovely refreshing day today - Greg and Alison and 4 kids came for the afternoon and evening and the children are delightful.....so naturally kids and we had a lovely time at the park.

Well how have I done so far on my new regime?  I have resisted after eights, ferrora rochet(??) chocs, a lovely chocolate cake and carrot cake - but I did have a 'wee' bit of the bannoffee pie Alison made with her own fair hands......and I have counted it in and still come within 1400 calories so far today......

I started the day well by doing housework and getting the dinner on BEFORE I had breakfast - this is normally hard for me......then Alex boiled eggs and that is what I had for my breakfast - one biled egg at 80 calories with 1 oatcake and hummous.......then the next time I ate was at 3pm with the roast chicken dinner.......I did have 3 roast potatoes as well as 2 yorkies on my plate but did not eat them - YES YES YES!!!  The yorkies did not go to waste!! 

So a good day so far -  and it is getting late so don't expect to do much damage now.....am I in control??  I'll be back daily this week with a report!!

Hey not a bad start after my 3 week holiday....I remembered my password!!

Well how have I been doing in Spain on my 'Shapeup' Programme?  Emmm.....okay...I have been swimming almost every day....water treading (and kicking like mad!); breast stroke, kicking about in the sea.......and it felt soooo good!  Then of course there were the shopping trips with Alex and I managed to walk the full length of Torrevieja Pier ONCE with Robert and Alex....when Dean joined us I left him to accompany Robert on the Pier walk - I had shopping to do!!

Now I have come back to our lovely predictable UK summer weather.....it started raining as we arrived outside of Stansted at mid day and has not stopped since.......I am not complaining though - it is quite refreshing now that I have enjoyed a lovely summer holiday - how do people keep going without a sun break?  Imagine summer camping in the UK this week.........what do you do all day long???

Anyway - not to be distracted from my programme - I am 'stepping it up' now......5 days out of every 7 I need to step out 10,000 steps and every day I need to aim to eat only 1250 calories...... 

Now - the 5 days stepping should allow for a couple of long working days when I could be too tired or lacking motivation to keep going........and the 1250 calories means that over a week I want to save approx. 7000 calories of my normal 'diet' and that should equate to 2lbs weight loss each week.......however, on the difficult days (visitors; parties etc) I need to adjust calories in the days after (but all within the 7 day cycle)!!  

So?  Make sense?  Do you believe in me to know that I can do this?  I do and that is really what matters (have to admit that my two cynical family members who know me best don't believe in me but maybe Dean does!!!)

Talk later....take care!!