Christmas

Slimming World Update – Week 76

31/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

So just a quicky from me today as I’m sure you all have stuff to do like drinking champers and seeing the new year in!

I had my first weigh in after Christmas last night and I knew it was going to make me wince. I could feel it in my clothes and see it in the mirror! We had a lovely Christmas just the three of us at home with our carefully chosen cheeses and chocolate and Baileys (so much Baileys) and wine. And then there was my nemesis, the bread. We basically sat on the sofa for a week and whilst we in no way gorged, we ate the kinds of things I haven’t eaten for a year! To begin with it felt wonderful. Relaxed and peaceful and decadent. By the end of the week I was miserable, visibly bloated and beyond tired. I should have known a whole week would be too much. And it was. I gained 10.5lb. Seriously. Wowsers.

So I’m not happy about it (of course I’m not) but I’m not too down and I don’t feel in any way guilty. I didn’t stick to my plans and I have to deal with the consequences. And I’m ok with that. How can I be anything else?

I’m back in the saddle now, despite it being New Years Eve. Being parents of a young child we’re not going out or doing anything exciting this evening, so that gives me plenty of control over what we eat and drink. I’ll have one glass of bubbles to welcome the New Year in, but that’ll be me. I’m cooking the most gorgeous looking Sirloin steaks for dinner, with syn free chips and roasted vegetables and I can’t wait.

I’m not looking to lose the whole 10.5lb in a week (it wouldn’t be realistic for me to say I was), but I do hope to have at least something of a loss this week. And going back to normal eating from Brie and Butter I would hope so! One thing I’m not going to try this week though is the Slimming World new boost plan, SP.

Slimming World have just reissued their member packs and I got mine last night. Not huge amounts have changed, red and green days have been phased out in favour of the Extra Easy I’ve been following since the beginning, so that doesn’t really bother me. Some syn values have been reassessed and updated which is great. The biggest change as far as I can see is the introduction of a boost plan, for the times when your weight loss is maybe at a standstill or you need a little extra help. SP has replaced Success Express, which I had a modicum of success following once or twice, and should not be followed for more than 7 days at a time. If you’re a member you’ll have all the info in your books, but basically it’s eating meals that are half protein and half vegetables. It removes the carb element entirely. I think I might give it a go once Ben is back at work and things have settled down a bit. Being something of a carb lover, I can see it being something of a challenge for me, but I have undone a lot of hard work this week and I don’t want it to take months to get back to where I was and beyond. So if this can help, all to the good.

As the new member packs came with new books, we were given the choice to get new stickers to replace the ones on our old books. I definitely wanted to, each award sticker means so much. Needless to say I was stood there covering my new book in stickers until everyone else had left. It was a nice feeling and reminded me just how far I’d come. And my new book looks fab!
The only sticker I couldn’t replace was my Greatest Loser from last year, but I know it’s there in spirit 😉

So here’s to a fab New Years Eve whatever you’re doing. I won’t start getting all philosophical about the new year on you. People do seem to use the coming of a new year to start projects and I’m not really sure why. If it needs doing, surely it needs doing any time of the year, right? That said however, if you do want to make some changes this coming year, I hope you find the strength to face the reality of the situation and take the first (and most important) step towards that goal, whatever it may be.

For me it’ll be situation normal. I’ve still got so far to go, but you know me. I just keep on, keeping on. Me and Slimming World will keep on losing this weight and I’d love to start doing more exercise this year. As my group and core stability now clash I’m looking for a new Pilates class, but that’s just to start. Who knows where this year will take my body!

Happy New Year you gorgeous people

Xxxxx

Christmas Wreath Workshop

30/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Ok, ok I know, this is waaaaay too late. I promised and I promised I’d get this out, but hey it’s been Christmas. Good will to all men n’est pas? Well men or bloggers who’ve been a bit slack

So about a month or so ago, I saw a question pop up in my newsfeed (Facebook, Twitter somewhere like that) asking whether anyone would be interested in a Christmas Wreath making workshop if Dylan’s Ice Cream held one. Ok two things; one I’ve wanted to learn to make my own Christmas wreath for years (I’m not great at following written instructions so was baffled by the tutorials I’d seen in books and online) and two, it was being held at our local ice cream cafe. Yes it’s December, yes when they opened everyone said they’d be lucky to make it past September, but boy oh boy do we love Dylan’s Ice Cream. So really it was a no brainer. Despite having no one to go with I signed up as soon as they confirmed they were going ahead with them.

I was welcomed by Ben, the owner proprietor, when I arrived. He asked if I’d like a mulled wine. Only I wasn’t expecting the beaker full of warming deliciousness I was handed. I didn’t mean to be feeling quite so full of Christmas cheer before we got started but there you go. I’m sure it helped the creativity to flow!

The biggest mulled wine I've ever had. And so nice I had two! — The biggest mulled wine I’ve ever had. And so nice I had two!

The chap leading the workshop was Peter Clarke of local company Cracking Gardens. Peter has been a gardener for most of his career and when he told us he used to work as Head Gardener for various National Trust properties and made wreaths for the doors of stately homes, well I knew we were in good hands. He started by explaining the different wreath bases available. The foam oasis, the metal ring and the branch ring made for something bendy, like Hazel. Peter likes all three but for us he’d decided metal rings were the way ahead.

We started by filling our rings with moss and bracken, securing it with florists wire. Then began the most enjoyable process of attaching foliage, in small ‘bouquets’, all provided by Peter (some I later found out from my friend Louise’s garden – with her permission of course!!!) I chose to make mine completely out of ewe branches, with fruits and various pieces of foliage added for decoration. At the time it looked wonderfully neat, however as time (and the weather’s) worn on I wish I’d made it more full, more diverse. The Ewe’s gotten pretty flattened by our British winter, as have the delicate pieces of fruit.

None the less I found the whole process completely absorbing. It was so much easier than I had previously imagined, although what I had imagined Im not really sure! The rings and wire are easy to get hold of both at florists and online and from there you can (if you so wanted) make the rest for free. It’s made me look at my garden in a completely different way (it’s also made me think about my friends gardens too – Claire Dennis I might come a knocking next year!) because thats the other beauty of the metal ring, once the season is over, the filling can be removed and the ring used again next year. Winner!

As it goes I was fairly thrilled with my first attempt at wreath making and am so glad I chose to do it with some guidance. Ben and Peter also ran a children’s workshop the following week. This would be a wonderful activity to share with a child, although probably one older than my boy! The sense of achievement at creating something so unquie and festive is wonderful as is evident in the smiles in this photo!

Slimming World Update – Week 75

24/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hellllloooooo!

I promised I’d update you this week. And here I go!

So last night was the final group before Christmas – Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday and despite it being so close to the big day, it was important for me to weigh in. Partly to know where I am right now and partly so I can know exactly how I do over the next week or so. As last Friday saw me drinking my own body weight in wine and eating an entire bag of Metcalfe’s Salt n Sweet popcorn when I got home, not to mention “recovery toast” the next day, I knew this weeks result might be a bit of a shock. And was it ever.

I lost 3.5lb!

I can’t tell you how shocked I was. I can only put it down to all the dancing we did on Friday night (it was fantastic and I feel the need to go dancing again soon!) It means I have lost 6 stone 9.5lb (93.5lb), 2 stone 9.5lb since last Christmas! Get in! It was so unexpected and it’s MADE my Christmas. Already. And it’s not even the big day yet!

So the next few days I will be going fairly easy on myself syn wise and that’s my choice. Obviously there’s the main meal, but alongside that I have a BOX of cheese in my fridge (we plumped for Gorgonzola, Yarg and a Port flavoured one with a Stilton core I don’t even know the name of, this year) as well as two boxes of Hotel Chocolat chocolates (we decided to go for a small box of Christmas and a small box of boozy flavours). These next few days will be decadent for sure. But I also have the wherewithal to make proper meals. Casseroles, soups, proper wintry fare. Gone are the days when the Christmas holidays saw me existing on a succession of one snack food after another, all washed down with vast quantities of Quality Street. I mean what’s the point? Seriously? What kind of a gift is that to give myself? Heartburn, nausea, stomach cramps, not to mention the weight gain. No thanks – you can keep them for me.

It’s not all about the food for me. I’m excited about so many other things this Christmas. I’m excited for Ben to be at home with us for 11 days, the longest he’s had off work in bloody ages! I’m excited to see my baby open his gifts on Christmas morning and for all of us to play with them together. I’m excited to go for walks with my family, watching Oscar grow in confidence and understanding of his surroundings. I’m excited to catch up with friends, be that in person, or digitally (Skype soon Michelle?). I’m just excited for Christmas. A little peace and a lot of love.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge ‘Thank you so much’ for all your support this past year. I know lately things have been a bit hit and miss here on the blog (bloody life getting the way hey?!) and for that I’m sorry. But whether you’ve stuck by me from the beginning or are new to my ramblings, you have all been more of a blessing than you could ever realise. If I could give you all a gift it would be to have the Christmas you want. as full or as peaceful as you would want it. To taste every mouthful you choose to eat and to mindfully and thoroughly enjoy it.

I’m not even going to pretend I’ll be blogging over Christmas – I wont (although if you follow me on any social media I’ll be sure to make you sick of the sight of me – links are in the side bar!) My next weigh in is on 30th so I promise to check in after that!

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Big loves

Lisa

xxxxx

Slimming World Update Week 73/74

19/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

HI guys

Yes it’s me, remember me? I’ve been so busy these past couple of weeks that I barely remember who I am. Blogging has taken a bit of a back seat of late and for that I apologise. Only when I start to think about it, have I really been that busy? Well I guess I have been out and about in the evenings a lot more than I usually am, but really the thing that’s changed is that Oscar is edging closer and closer to dropping his daytime nap. I know – abandon hope all ye who enter here!! I find it so hard to write, or at least write anything of any value, when he’s around, that it’s just easier not to try. But actually the thing I’m finding the hardest is the lack of ‘down time’ I get these days. I’ve said it before and I don’t mind repeating that I know I have only been able to stay at home with Oscar as long as I have because he has, until recently, been a good, consistent napper. I wish I could say I revelled in his company 24/7 and wish it didn’t bother me quite as much not to have time to myself, but it does. Something has had to give and of late it’s been this.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never felt quite so much like I’m dragging myself towards the end of the year as I do this year. We’re all exhausted. The past few months in particular have been draining for all the family. Whereas last year I was excited to see what 2014 held, this year I can’t wait to get 2015 going, to make some changes. In some respects I feel nothing is still, nothing is constant and in other respects I feel like I’m static and somewhat stuck in a rut. Its the most bizarre feeling – like standing stock still in the middle of a storm.

I know my weight loss journey isn’t really a journey at the moment, more of a stop off. Like I’m taking a break at the motorway services of me. I don’t know, I think I’ve lost my mojo somewhere along the way. Don’t get me wrong I haven’t slipped into old eating habits, I’m just not moving forward anymore. I’ve maintained for the last few weeks and last week I gained 1lb (total lost 6 Stone 6 lb (90lb) ). And do you know what? I was fine with that. It’s not that I don’t care so much, just that I was fine with it.

I weigh in tomorrow for the last time before Christmas and I promise to update you on that on Wednesday, in between taking delivery of our Christmas food shop (Yay for Ocado and yay for me booking my Christmas Eve slot back in November!) and cooking our Christmas Ham. Oh and visiting friends and generally getting ready for the big day. Yeah, it might not be a long one on Wednesday 😉

Anyway, I’ll let you go – you probably have a tonne to be getting on with. I’ll just leave you with this picture. It was our Slimming World group party last Friday and boy did we let our hair down. Well, you know me, I don’t get out much, poor old thing!! We had a ~~right old piss up~~ riot and it was great to meet people from the other groups and to hear how they’re getting on. It was especially nice to have people who read my blog come and introduce themselves and tell me how much they enjoy my writing. It’s always slightly baffling but very flattering to think actual people are reading my actual words. And big thanks to the lady who couldn’t get over how I looked. She kept saying I was slimmer in real life than she’d thought I was from my pictures. How sweet!!! The dress I wore was gifted to me by our Miss Slinky, Sarah Jane, who wasn’t able to join us for family reasons on Friday. She was really missed. I wasn’t sure about wearing it, but I’m so glad I did. I felt fab all night. It wasn’t a size I’d have ever picked off the rail and it just goes to show, sizes differ so wildly that it’s not about a number but about what fits. So anyway that picture

Last year’s Christmas party outfit, size 22. This year’s, size 12!

Have a great few days and we’ll speak on Wednesday. Promise!

Xxx

Wicked Wednesdays – December 17th

17/12/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Apparently we shouldn’t have spent any money on presents this year. Clearly fresh produce is the play thing all toddlers are desperate to get their sticky little hands on this Christmas. From the cupboard. When you weren’t looking.

Le sigh

I’m joining in the wonderfully wicked brummymummyof2‘s link up #WickedWednesdays