Motivation

Slimming World Update – Week 41

02/05/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hey you – how’ve you been?

I’ve been good thanks. Back into our routine this week, with all the same old groups. Only thing is I’m thinking perhaps the time is coming to shake things up a bit. He’s getting older and needing different things/timings etc. Hmm I’m thinking about it.

I’ve also been trying to shake things up for myself too. Keeping everything the same could be construed as a tiny bit boring, which as I’ve mentioned before is one of my worst enemies. This week has seen a couple of tweaks here and there – some big, some small. The biggest I guess is that I have stopped dithering about and have decided to nail my colours to the Haslemere branch permanently. Having weighed in with them over the last few weeks I’ve found the group to be much more dynamic and fun than I had previously experienced, which has obviously come with time (as I said I thought it would). Add that to the fact that I can walk to it, and don’t have to rely on anyone for a lift, well it just makes sense and the time feels right to make the switch. I’d like to say a massive thank you to Sara and the rest of the Haslemere group for welcoming me in. I’d also like to say a massive thank you to Liphook for making me feel so much a part of the group. I will be sorry not to see everyone every week, but I’ve made some wonderful friends over the last 9 months and can’t wait to follow your journeys via social media. It’s been a blast guys – keep on keeping on. Believe you can, and you will.

The smaller tweaks I’ve made have been much more around my motivation really. I promised to keep a food diary last week and do you know, I have. All week! First time in ages and it’s been great. It’s allowed me to focus not only on the number of syns I’m having in a day, as I usually do, but also how much other stuff, particularly superfree food (fruit and veg etc) I’m having. Knowing I was going to be writing it down sort of encouraged me to seek out more superfrees, even if that was so the list looked bigger. If it works for you who cares – right?

You may have noticed I didn’t set myself a mini goal last week like I usually do. I don’t know why I didn’t, I think Oscar woke up as I was writing my post and I just forgot. Anyway after I’d published my post I did sort of set myself a mini goal of losing 4lb and reaching my 5.5 Stone Award. Crazy I know, but there you go. As it happens I actually lost 3.5lb last night, sooooooooo close! The lady at the scales couldn’t understand why I laughed and cried noooooooooooooo! when I looked down. I don’t mind really. It’s just soo close. And before you ask Hels, yes I had been to the loo! Ah well never mind. Next week. All that aside the difference in my thinking and motivation clearly worked and for that I’m really pleased. So that’s the 2lb I gained last week, plus 1.5lb extra off. Total lost is now 5 Stone 6.5lb (76.5lb).

So, looking forward my goal for this week is clear. I want to lose 0.5lb to take me to my 5.5 stone Award. And another lb, to put me on the road to my 6 (eek!) Stone Award, wouldn’t go a miss either. Splendid. I’m seeing my wonderful friend Jo this weekend. I haven’t seen her since the week I got my 3.5 Stone Award. Do we think she’ll see a difference?

If you’re struggling with motivation at the moment why not try shaking things up a bit. Changing groups might be a little excessive 😉 but why not try keeping a diary for a week or trying a couple of new dishes. Hell, trying a new ingredient could be enough to pep you back up again. Anyone else got any motivational gems?

Have a great week xxxxx

Slimming World Update – Week 39

19/04/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hello!

How’s your week been? Mine could have been better but hey it could have been worse and I’m getting a bit sick of looking at the lows every week, when there’s also highs to talk about! I’ve really struggled to find the motivation to stay focussed this week, but on the other hand I’ve eaten some great ‘on plan’ meals and hung out with some top friends. So yeah the snacking’s been a bitch this week, but I’ve started this year’s tan off. This week could have practically been a Slimming World write off but I’ve helped out friends and discovered new local parks. I got told the gall stones I have really mean my gall bladder needs removing, but I’ve also watched my son play pee-po with a friend’s baby completely unprompted. Sometimes I think it’s about the setting of your emotional compass more than anything – which way do you want to view things? You have to make a choice.

And this week I choose to see the good.

I wasn’t hopefully for weigh in this Thursday – seriously. In fact I actually prep’d my entire speech as to why I’d had a gain – even started to plan this weeks post in my head. But I lost 0.5lb. Weird huh? That makes a total loss of 5 stone 5lb (75lb).

I was so surprised I barely knew what to say when it came to me in group. So I was asked how I felt now my consultant at Liphook had left. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this here before, partly because when it happened a few weeks ago, we all discussed how it was the members who make a group and not the consultant. And I was down with that concept. But the dynamic has changed, regardless of what anyone said. People have stopped staying to group, some faces have left altogether, new ones have joined. The consultant we have now is temporary cover. Regardless of what Zoe said before she left, it has made a difference. And it was nice to get that off my chest. I know that ultimately my motivation lies with me and I can’t use things like this as an excuse, but it was good to discuss it and I appreciated the space in which to do it. Cheers Sara for that. What this means for my choice of group moving forward I’m not sure. It’s really given me something to think about though.

Anyway!!!! Staying with the theme of choosing to see the good I have had several hints as to how well I’m doing in the last week. I’ve explained before that the numbers on the scales are invaluable, but its the physical signs that make the real difference to me.

1) I’ve had to tighten my Birkenstocks.

I love my Birkenstocks and spend my summers in them every year. Last years pair are starting to look a bit battered and I could really do with a new pair, but I realised this week that they’re too wide now. I’ve had to take them down a notch. Did you know you could loose weight off your feet?

2) I’ve had to have my glasses adjusted.

I had to get my eyes tested last Saturday – it’d been two years and actually my prescription has really changed, for the first time in years. Anyway while I was there I asked if they could take a look at my glasses as they were constantly slipping forward and sitting in the bridge of my nose – so much so that I was getting a line! They did and said they were far too big. They readjusted the arms and also had to put new, bigger pads (is that what they’re called) in the nose rest. Did you know you could loose weight from your nose?

3) I’ve had to get more bras

Despite forking out a fortune in November for some beautiful undergarments with the structural capacity to hold up the Empire State Building, I have found myself feeling less and less comfortable in the past few weeks so decided to get refitted. I chose Bravissimo this time, for two reasons. 1) they are a hide sight cheaper that the wonderful but cripplingly expensive Rigby & Peller and 2) I’ve never found bras to fits my back size in there before and wondered if I might now. I did – up to two back sizes down from the Rigby bras! Same cup size though – these ladies would appear to be with me for the duration!

The lovely Guildford branch of Bravissimo

4) I bought a new pair of jeans

I love my relaxed skinny Next jeans. In fact they are probably one of the things I am most proud of about this journey. And last week I bought the next size down – a size 16. They are snug don’t get me wrong, but they fit (Ben agrees no embarrassing “hoofage” to be seen). I continue to be especially proud of them and I actually don’t know when I last owned size 16 jeans – seriously.

In a week, 0.5lb can seem like such a small number. Had I had a better week and lost 0.5lb I might have been annoyed or downhearted. As it happens I was thrilled, but I have been there before. The numbers in isolation can seem so important yet can sometimes give us so little satisfaction. So I try to focus on other things, tangible things to keep me going. Moving the belt (or a sandal 😉 ) up a notch, catching a glimpse of myself and having to do a double take, noticing my collar bone. It’s not an easy journey, but these are the things that will get me through.

So the plan for the coming week? This is not the easiest of weeks. Easter, well it’s like Christmas isn’t it? So yes we’ve done what we did at Christmas and bought one beautiful egg between us. I can’t wait for Sunday! But I’ve really thought about it. I’ve chosen to do this and I intend to enjoy it. I know I said I wanted to lose 7lb by the beginning of May, but at the moment if I can keep going at all, then I’m happy. This week I’m going for a maintain. That’s my choice and I’m happy with that.

Have an amazing Easter people.

xxx

Slimming World Update – Week 30

12/02/2014 by MrsSavageAngel Leave a Comment

Hi there

As I guessed this week has been really hard for me. And when I say hard I don’t mean unpleasant just, well, hard.

We had my mum visit with us this weekend for her birthday, which resulted in cake and fizz and lunches out. It also resulted in a babysitter, allowing Ben and I to have a night out for an early Valentine’s celebration. I ate out three times in two days! And the wine, let’s not forget the wine 😉 .

I did try to make healthy choices where possible. Alright, excluding the cake and the chocolate tart and the wine! And yeah I had a nice time, but I have to admit it left me feeling sluggish and a bit grim. Monday, I went straight back to normal eating, with a gorgeous vegetable and lentil curry. I needed it after such indulgence.

And despite managing expectations and going for a more realistic maintain this week, I was a little bit disappointed (if not wholly surprised) to find out I’d gained 0.5lb last night. The 0.5lb I bemoaned losing last week! That’s weight loss karma if ever I saw it. I wont ever moan about a loss again, regardless of how tiny!

So my total loss is back to 4 Stone 5lb (61lb).

And I’m starting to get annoyed with myself. I’ve been dithering around this weight for what seems like ages. I just want to get my 4 1/2 Stone award. So this week I’m going to try a Success Express week. Usually SW recommend one third of your meal comprises of “SuperFree” foods (read fruit and veg). With Success Express it changes to two thirds. I’m looking forward to it for two reasons. 1) I feel like I need extra fruit and veg. I’ve been so tired since the weekend and I think this will set my system straight again and 2) it’s a small challenge. I think I’ve become a little complacent and this will make me think more closely about what I’m doing. Who knows I may even discover some new favourite recipes!

So this is my plan for the coming week and I intend to lose 2lb and reach my 4 1/2 stone award. Got that? Good!

So boot camp talk over – I wanted to share with you something that blew my mind this week. I follow the blog of a fellow SW member MidlifeMummy. A week ago I read this post in which she listed reasons her journey had stalled and asked for a “kick up the bottom”. I commented and didn’t really think much more of it. A few days later another post of hers popped up in my inbox. It was entirely dedicated to me! ME! I was stunned. Her next post then went on to explain what her AND her family had done with the motivation she’d gained. I was STUNNED! Honestly. It blew me away that such a small input from a stranger could impact on an entire family and beyond!

So – be careful what you say to people, they could be listening!!! 😉

Have a great week!