Lotions and potions

If you knew me as a ‘real person’ not just a nameless, faceless internet blogger you would know I have never been a real girly girl. I only learnt how to properly pluck my eyebrows in my late 30s. I had never waxed before my 39^th birthday. AND until the last few weeks I have never had long fingernails – I have always bitten them.

Well, around about the time I was turning 39 I started to get a bit paranoid about my looks and getting old. It really only started gently. At the time I was single and I had started at the gym. The gym changed my shape and that was pleasing to see but then I started on creams. First it was occasionally remembering to put my night cream before bed.

That soon moved on to every day, and then I added day cream. After the day cream came the special eye cream – apparently different chemicals for different areas of the body!

You would have thought that I would stop at that moment in time. I mean this is a girl who wears walking boots (not through choice) and jeans to work. But no, now I have added firming body lotion and cellulite cream. So one cream for my calves and arms another for my thighs and stomach.

To get my nails to grow I have had to feed them cream too so I have a specialist hand and nail cream on my desk and at home special nail varnish to strengthen them.

This is all the basic stuff, before the make-up, hair mousse and hair spray!

Just looking at my gym wash bag and doing a tot up:

Shower Gel £3
Shampoo £4
Toothpaste £2
Razor £10
Body Firming Cream £8
Cellulite Cream £10
Eye Cream £8
Day Cream £10
Straightening Gel £8
Mousse £7
Deodorant £5

Total £75

And then that is replaced on a monthly basis, and then duplicated at home with extra night creams and make up removers.

Doing some sums quickly means that I spend around £130 a month on trying to look younger! That is over £1560 a YEAR! How very scary!

Then a friend of mine had her first article in the Huffington Post - this is a cream too far... I am so with her on this one!

May 29th: So close to that stone

Weight: 11st 3lbs

Mood: Meh!

Enthusiasm: Low

I can't believe this week has just flown by without even a moment to update my diary. Where do I start... I think a quick round up post of what I have been up to and then a detailed bit later today pointing my finger at myself and laughing roundly!

Thursday 23rd: This was where it all started to go wrong. I got up atmy usual time, headed to the gym to discover Lovely Emma had been replaced with Tougher Tonya taking my spin class. 377 kCals later I was shattered but quickly off on a train up north for work. I tried my best to be good as the nibbles were handed round but my diet mainly consisted of canapes. A glass of wine on the 2.5 hour train journey home was a treat and as I put my key in my front door just before midnight I realised my Friday gym session was gone.

Friday 24th: Shattered but I stuck to my low fat diet until I got home, opened the wine and ordered the takeaway! Shock horror but it was the first in 7 weeks! But I didn't enjoy it. I love curry but it was greasy, heavy and oily. Not a taste sensation.

Saturday 25th: Now this always was going to be the point that things went wrong - I knew I would be separated from my beloved scales, my spreadsheet of control and sanity of the gym - it was my weekend at my boyfriends, and worth every second of the separation anxiety! What it did however show was even with my obsession with every morsel that I eat and every calorie that I burn I can still be sensible and survive. 

Now I did start the Saturday with an hour at the gym. 

Adaptive Motion Trainer: 333kCals, distance 2.4 in 20 min
100 Russian twists 5kg
100 crunches 5kg
50 reverse crunches
60 clams each side
40 chest 4kg each hand
40 triceps extensions 5kg
40 biceps 3kg each hand
Stretches

I crammed as much as I could into that hour but there is only so much you can do.

Then it was off for the start of separation.. Fortunately we do walk a lot along rivers and streets and he is an amazing cook so we had lovely fresh food and salads. (Thank god he does not read this - he would get a big head! And for those of you at work no letting on!)

Sunday 26th: Day out at the seaside! Yay! Sun!

Monday 27th: Walk along the river and home to my monsters (after a mediocre cooked breakfast - not our usual hangout!)

Tuesday 28th: Back to work, salad and gym. It was nice to eat salad again but I have to admit it was pretty boring, I need to find some more flavour to add to it. However last night I bought a salad from Tesco  - I was really surprised at how nice it was - I added extra prawns but it was simple low calorie and yummy!

I did get to do 2 hours in the gym last night - that made me feel much better, as I arrived though it did feel like I had had more than a two day break!

Adaptive Motion Trainer: 434kCals, distance 3.4 in 30 min

120 Russian twists 5kg
100 crunches 5kg
50 reverse crunches
60 clams each side
40 chest 4kg each hand
40 triceps extensions 5kg
20 push-ups
2 x 30 sec planks on elbows

PowerPlate
3 times 30 seconds of each - squat, calf, wide squat and lunge

Stretches

Enough for now but tune in later for the point and laugh session!

May 22nd: The slog continues

Weight: 11st 4lb

Mood: Bemused

BMI 25.5 - must remember to rant about NHS weight app

Well the weight finally changed on the scales this morning! A pound down - it was a relief but I fear it will be short lived - I am feeling tired and sluggish but I am not giving up.

Not sure what my plans are for the long weekend yet, but a weekend away from the gym may be welcomed but that type of weekend involves cooked breakfast alongside the River Thames. Actually, this is the first weekend that I have been down to that part of the world since starting this mammoth task.

Last night a friend popped over so I broke my no mid week alcohol rule and enjoyed a couple of glasses of red wine. Lovely to sit and chill but waking this morning feeling dehydrated and sluggish was not pleasant. However I got up and went off to the gym. I was actually more successful than I was expecting on my visit this morning so details here then my NHS weight app rant!

Gym:

Adaptive motion trainer: 149 kCal, distance 1.1 in 10 minutes
Rowing: 129 kCal, distance 2,300 kCal in 10 min

100 crunches 5kg 
50 reverse crunches
100 Russian twists 5kg
60 triceps extensions 5kg
40 biceps extensions 3kg each
60 chest presses 4kg each
40 deltoid raises 2.5kg each

Stretches

Food: 1167 kCal

NHS Weight App Rant

Actually why put it into words - a picture is worth a 1000 words. Just read the nice well done message - maybe I am being sensitive but if I am I guarantee someone else is too!

Gym Etiquette and a Rant

I attend the gym a lot and there are several rules I try to follow which kind of run alongside the rules of the gym itself. The rules I have in my head are:

1. Wear appropriate clothes – bra and vest or jeans just make you look foolish
2. When you sweat on a machine wipe it off
3. Don’t hog the water fountain
4. Put equipment away after you have used it
5. If every other machine is empty don’t choose the one next to the only other person in the room
6. Don’t reserve machines
7. No snogging
8. Fine text, check your email but don’t chat on the phone
9. If it is busy 30 min not an hour… We all need to use the machines

I think these are all reasonable requests but my big bug bear at the moment is gossiping on the phone. We have one lady at the moment – god I would kill for her 'fit' frame – but what I would not kill for are her manners.

She seems from what she likes telling everyone, sorry the person she gossips to each morning, how hard her life is, what an awful divorce she is going through and how horrid her ex is. Well, I am sorry to tell her this but we all have had bad times but we didn't tell the whole gym about it.

We have complained to the management but she has said something along the lines of ‘get over it’ to them.

I however have decided that I will forget my headphones tomorrow – hope she likes Emili Sande to listen to (wicked smile crosses my face).

PS How many people do you know that are free at 7am for an hour long gossip (oh sorry I forgot that bit, it is not just a short call!!)

May 21st: Sore legs, shoulders but that won't stop me

Weight: 11st 5lbs

Mood: Cheerful

Work: Busy

Well the scales did not budge at all. I didn't mention in my tired and weary post last night my work outs on Sunday. Sunday, as regular readers know, is my do everything you can in the gym day. So, before doing my Body Pump class I did 20 min on the adaptive motion machine burning over 230 kCals and 10 min on a spin bike to burn another 101 kCals. This was a gentle warm up to what was quite a hard spin class.

I am a little sore today from yesterday's Circuits class but having seen what the instructor put us through I am not surprised. This morning I almost stayed in bed and went to the gym tonight but I didn't - I must NOT let the daily grind of being stuck at the same weight.

I really do not understand where I am going wrong though, I am beginning to wonder if I am not eating enough to burn the weight off but I am not going to fiddle for another week. 

Anyway back to the gym! This morning I did 

Adaptive motion trainer: 303 kCal, distance 2.22 in 20 min - that is up 30 kCals on last week - I must be getting fitter

60 crunches
30 reverse crunches
60 Russian twists
60 clams each side

PowerPlate
2 times 30 seconds of each - triceps dips, plank, squat, calf, wide squat and lunge

Stretches

Yesterdays food:

Breakfast: Yoghurt and Granola

Lunch: One egg mushroom omelette and salad

Snack: Apple and jelly tots

Dinner: Home-made Chicken liver pate and crispbreads and salad

Calories: 926

Thought for the day:

A quote from Oscar Wilde 'I can resist anything except temptation'

May 20th: The Static Week

Weight: 11st 5lbs

Mood: resigned

Resolve: strong

Monday is official weigh in day and although my calories in were lower than the weekly amount set and I have been to the gym my weekly weight loss was zero.

However I did lose 4 last week. It will even out. 

I do feel good but I was tempted by Doodlebug. Doodlebug is one of a number of friends I eat lunch with every day. A bit like a big family we all sit round the table and eat. 

We all eat similar things each day, working on a trading park we have little choice unless we bring it in from home to heat in the microwave. However Doodlebug today popped to two garages and returned with a McDonalds. As Little Miss B and I sat and ate our salads we salivated over the fries and burger. But we were strong! Salad for the win!

Having spent the morning in a circuits class where the instructor had obviously got out of the wrong side of bed. He determinedly punished us with push-ups bur-pees and  extra laps. So, as I try to shut down I remember that I am doing the best for me...

May 19th: Ending the week the way it started

Weight: 11st 5lb

Age: 41yrs 66 days

Mood: Sad

One of the reasons, and I am sure I have said this before, I started this blog is there are ups as well as downs. There are moments in time where you cannot explain, especially if you are female, what on earth your body is up to.

The way to lose weight is to reduce your calories below what your body needs to survive on. In my case as a woman that is about 2000 calories. I have reduced my calories to 1400 (on average over a week). To make the loss more certain I have added exercise to the mix and I burn 300-800 calories the gym each day. OK, most days it is around the 300 mark - it is only my mad Sundays when I do cardio then Body Pump that I reach anywhere near the 800.

I know that yesterday I ate 1250 calories, I burnt over 100 Powerwalking to the station and back, I rowed 2.2km in the gym and I burnt 230 kCals travelling a distance of 1.6 on the adaptive motion machine.

So the sum is I ate 1250 kCal and I burnt 450 kCal which means I gave my body 800kCal which should allow it to find the missing energy from the inches round my waist, on my thighs etc. Only it didn't! It rather frustratingly decided that I would stay exactly the same weight I was at the beginning of the week.

Looking at my weekly intake of food I still have 568 kCals spare - even with my bad wheat day! And it is hardly as if I have been lacklustre in gym attendance over 1400 kCals have been burnt (and that is ignoring the weight training!).

So, just to make me feel slightly better, I will scream: 

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

And now that I have moaned the morning away I will go hang out the gym kit, drink another coffee, listen to Broadcasting House and get on with my morning before the gym.

Thought for the day: Suck it up and someday you won't have to suck it in

Gym round up:

Adaptive motion trainer: 236 kCal, distance 1.6 in 20 min
Rowing machine: 2221m, 126 kCal in 10 min
Powerplate: 3 x 30secs - crunches, plank, squat, wide squat, lunge, calf, triceps

Powerwalked with this heavy laptop on my back to station and back 1.5miles

May 18th: You silly moo!

Weight: 11st 5lbs

Mood: Bugger

Day: Meetings

As I ate my dinner last night I knew – too much pasta! About 2/3rds of the way through I knew I should stop. My brain was screaming stop, yes STOP! But I cleared my plate and hoovered up the juices of the crab pasta whilst handing my empty wine glass to my youngest and saying ‘one more won’t hurt’!!!

Well today I got pay back! I know that wheat bloats me and it is a real treat to eat a wheat based product. But the scales and my body hate it! The scales ticked up one more pound to where I started the week! Bugger!

So, to make myself feel better I just power walked to the station, so much so my glasses were slipping down my noes as the beads of sweat formed. As they slowly slipped I thought about that pasta and that extra glass of wine – it really was not worth it.

Today I am heading in to central London to an all-day meeting that normally ends in a pint but today I am going to be antisocial and slip back on the train to make it back for a gym session. The bank holiday weekend is fast approaching and I want to look and feel amazing.

But just to make you realise I am not all bad – I did make it to the gym last night.. So my pasta was kind of deserved!

Thought for the day: A little of what you fancy does you good (sometimes)

Gym update: 

236kCals, distance 2.02 in 20 min on cross trainer
60 sit ups
40 reverse
60 Russian twists
60 clams
20 push-ups
40 biceps
40 triceps
40 chests

3 sets of 30 seconds on the PowerPlate
Squats, calves, lunges, wide squats

Gossip and weirdness

I just remembered I forgot to update you on the 'bad gym etiquette' and thought I would share a funny sight!

The woman with the phone wound up one of our fellow 7am gym goers enough that she (politely) requested that the lady on the phone, once she had finished her long call, read the gym rules on the way out. Not an unreasonable request I would have thought. Well, this caused an almighty fuss, she was f'ing and blinding and shouting the odds!

Since then there has been a quiet stand off between those of us quietly fuming about knowing the ins and outs of her divorce and her quietly taking up a machine for an hour whilst gossiping on the phone! I am sure this will not be the end of it! Further updates to follow...

And finally the funny sight - I watched a woman blow dry her toes! With the only hair-dryer in the ladies changing room!! (No she had not just painted her nails!)

May 17th: Tired - its been a long week!

Weight: 11st 4lb

Mood: OK - it is Friday - almost the end of the week

BMI: 25.5

Well, I was a very good girl last night - I left the office shattered after two 12-15 hour days - But I went straight to the gym! I got on my spin bike. I burnt 368 calories (15.3 distance) before going home for my healthy jacket potato and roasted vegetables.

The scales were not so kind this morning though, up a pound but I think that is not surprising. Yesterday's weight was a surprise and also my body over the last 6 weeks has been playing silly games... Now from here on down in this post may be TMI so if squeamish/you don't want to know stop reading now.

Bodily functions: Now I used to be a regular get up and go girl, even when I have previously dieted I get up and go. Now this time I have changed my habits a little more - for starters the glass of wine nearly every night has gone, I am not smoking at all. Not a nicotine patch or a sneaky one off in sight. But in the last 6 weeks I have struggled, I feel the need but I can't. I do end up going every 2 or 3 days but I would just like my body to settle into a routine, because when I don't go I feel bloated and yucky!

There are of course solutions in laxatives but having had friends get caught on the taking too many to lose weight. I don't want to even let that be a possibility so it is high fibre foods and increased water intake. Though I forgot my sliced lemons this morning, not sure what I am going to have as my afternoon drink in the office today.

Picture of the day: 

May 16th: Spoke too soon

Weight: 11st 3lbs

Mood: Sheepish

Energy levels: Very low

I got out of bed this morning feeling angry with myself, I never made it to the gym last night, by the time I got home from work it was gone 8pm. My boss was having a bit of a meltdown about passwords and I hit the wine! All really bad signs, I also had the dreaded request from my boss that he wanted me in before my spin class this morning :-(

Getting on the scales was actually the last thing I wanted to do. However, after getting on them 4 times - because I really could not believe them. I had, in one night, lost 3lbs! Even my 'tight' jeans slipped on easily this morning. My depression of yesterday was gone!

But I have not been to the gym now in 52 hours... My body feels like it is in meltdown! So, tonight, I am off to a Spin class to make up for my tardiness. And my normal Friday rest day is cancelled as I took that on Wednesday!

But wow - one more pound and in under 6 weeks I have lost a stone! 

Thought for the day: It always feels like the 6 weeks will last forever - but looking back I barely blinked!

May 15th: Quietly fuming

Weight: 11st 6lbs

Mood: Annoyed

Weather: Grey

I took my eye off the ball! I stupidly did not take the time out in the mornings to write my blog and guess what… I put on a pound. It is not like I have not been working hard – ok my diet has been a little less strict but I have been averaging 1400 calories. Take a look at last week’s chart…

And here is this week’s so far…

I also have been to the gym every day, and on Sunday rather than JUST doing my Body Pump class I also did an extra 30 minutes on the adaptive motion trainer burning in excess of 400 calories (I was a little pleased with this!!!).

So my weight today has made me a little more than annoyed, and grumpy!

Unfortunately work is also very busy so the time to write this is short.. more tomorrow!

Exercise and Food Round-up

Saturday

377kCal, distance  2.72 in 25 minutes

100 Russian twits 5kg

100 crunches 5kg

50 reverse crunches

60 clams

40 leg raises 2kg

45 sec side plank

20 push ups

60 triceps overhead 5

40 biceps 3 each

60 chest 4

36 deltoid 2.5

Then 3 sets of 30 seconds of each of these on the PowerPlate

Squats, wide squat, lunge, calf

Food 1900 kCal – I did have a few weekly calories to spare!

Sunday

405kCal, distance  2.99 in 30 minutes

Followed by BodyPump

Warmup 7.5kg

Squats 15kg

Chest 7.5kg

Back 12.5kg

Triceps 10kg

Biceps 5kg

Lunges 10kg

Shoulders 5kg

Abs 5kg

Stretches

Food 1450kCal

Monday

Ouch my legs hurt this morning so another slow start to the week!

Adaptive Motion Trainer 140kCal, Distance 1.05 in 10 min

Rowing Machine 111kCal, distance 2055m in 10 min

60 Russian twits 5kg

60 crunches 5kg

30 reverse crunches

60 clams

Then 3 sets of 30 seconds of each of these on the PowerPlate

Squats, wide squat, lunge, calf

Food 1400 kCal

Tuesday

No adaptive motion machine free this morning L so a cross trainer it was!

CrossTrainer 207kCal, distance 1.9 in 20 min

100 Russian twits 5kg

100 crunches 5kg

50 reverse crunches

60 clams

20 push ups

40 squats on Bosu ball
30 lunges on Bosu ball

Then 3 sets of 30 seconds of each of these on the PowerPlate

Squats, wide squat, lunge, calf

Food: 1290kCal

Wednesday

Woke up – frozen – got on scales – got depressed -  went back to bed… The plan I will go to the gym tonight! 

May 13th: A very quiet weekend from me

Weight: 11st 5lbs

Mood: Happy

BMI: 25.7 (getting there!)

A quick update this morning! Had a very quiet weekend that consisted mainly of the gym, housework and sleeping!

Busy morning at work so maybe a fuller update later on today along with a really useful weightloss resource I found on Friday...

May 10th: Hitting the big 10!

Weight: Shhhhhh 11st 6lbs (That is 10lbs lost!!!!)

BMI: 25.8 - getting there

Mood: relieved - it is Friday!

Well, we made it to Friday again! Yay! This week, although just four days has felt like an amazingly long week. I have been enormously grumpy in the early evening and I have got to find a solution. I don't think work this week has helped, well I know it hasn't! Tonight on the way home I am going to do breathing exercises and try to let the day go before I walk in the door!! 

My challenge to myself this week has been to increase the healthiness of my diet etc. I am trying, as part of my change the way you eat plan, to try to make my diet as healthy as possible. So, what makes up a healthy diet...

Protein - I may not eat enough of this but time will tell
Carbs - now I have cut wheat almost totally out of my diet. I am trying to use rice, couscous and oats 
Fruit and Veg - although I don't always reach my 5 a day I do over the course of a week reach 35 potrtions
Dairy - I have never been a fan but I am now eating a yoghurt a day and increased my cheese intake a little (calcium, healthy fats and protein all ticked with cheese!)
Fish - I am trying to eat fish three times a week and at least one of those is oily
Vitamins and mineral - I am doing a vitamin drink and cod liver oil tablets every day
Alcohol - very little (under 10 units a week!)
Caffeine - too much

Guess what my latest challenge is?! To get down to one cup of coffee a day (maybe even none for a while!). To help myself achieve that I have already cut out my afternoon coffee in the office. Today I had a coffee at home and one in the office and at the weekend I am going to try to get down to just the one coffee. I have replaced the coffee with hot water and lemon juice which I am really enjoying! Could explain my short temper though!

As it is Friday there is no gym - just the weekly measure - I know I have had a great week on the scales so it is not surprising that I have lost some inches... 

Bust: 36.5"  -2"
Waist: 30.5" -1.5"
Hips: 36.5" -0.75"
Thighs: 22.5" -0.5"


Thought for the day: Enjoy the success, it will slow down

May 9th: Unexplained speed of weight loss

Mood: Happy

Energy levels: moderate to high

Weight: woohoo 11st 7lbs

9 days ago I started a blog because I was frustrated I had only lost 4lbs in 23 days - since starting the blog I have lost 5lbs.

Average weight loss before blog 0.17lbs a day, after blog 0.55lbs. 

Please explain? Or maybe that is the new diet the write it down and get committed diet. Whatever it is I am not knocking it, I am enjoying the gentle loss of weight with the feeling of changing shape.

One thing that I have started this time, rather than just smothering my face in anti-wrinkle cream - morning and night, I am smothering myself in firming body lotion every morning after the shower. Now I am not sure if these magic creams work but I do know that my boobs and stomach certainly feel firmer and less wobbly. That could be the chest presses or the crunches but it could also be the cream!

It could also be the lack of wine! Although over the last two nights I have been sorely tempted to stop and buy a bottle of wine to help me through the stressful work days, instead I have been a horrid snappy mum who is not impressed with stupidity and who has the lowest tolerance levels ever! Kids when you read this - I am sorry - I will try to be better tonight.

I am looking forward to my rest day tomorrow. A nice lie in (7am) and actually seeing my children out of bed before work!!!

Thought for the day: Everyday is a new day, you can't change yesterday all you can do is learn from it!

Round up:

Gym:
Spin class: 45 min, 368 kCal and distance 14.9

Food:
Breakfast: Yoghurt and Granola

Lunch: Spanish omelette and salad

Afternoon snack: 6 Pringles foraged off a colleagues desk

Dinner: Mackerel and poached egg salad

May 8th: A month in

Weight: 11st 8lb

Age: 41 yrs 54 days

Mood: Quiet

After being cross with myself most of yesterday today I am calm and collected. Normally when I am that angry I will eat, and eat, and eat! But I managed to stay on track, yes I added a few calories to my diet - not least in the form of chocolate but I stayed pretty much on target. I am not sure what is keeping me going at the moment. It may be writing this blog, which I don't think anyone reads (well my children do!), the sun having returned from its very long holiday or just fear of getting old!

As for food, I missed writing out my diary over the weekend, it was balanced but yummy and included home-made burgers but all under 1200 calories. I even had a glass of wine or two which was a real treat! Yesterday I was much stricter with myself and I wrote down every mouthful - though had to guess at the calorie content of my chocolate intake - my Easter egg is getting smaller :-)

Breakfast:
Yoghurt and Granola

Lunch:
Half a Spanish omelette and salad

Afternoon snack:
Cup-a-soup

Company meeting snack:
4 mini scotch eggs and a 10 dry roasted peanuts (I hope no one saw me counting)

Dinner:
Pork loin chop, new potatoes and green beans

After dinner:
Left over Easter Egg

I have noticed since starting this more serious log of food I am spending less in the supermarket, the children are eating more vegetables and we have not had a takeaway in over a month... Not just waist trimming but bank balance friendly!

Enough of food back on to the exercise. I was much better at the gym this morning, the muscles hurt less and the session started all of 4 minutes early but I felt that I was not running late! I know I am doing spin tomorrow so my legs were a little ignored apart from cardio and the power plate this morning.

Gym:
Motion Adaptive Trainer: 20 min, 275 kCal and 2 miles
60 crunches with 5kg weight
30 bicylce crunches
60 Russian twists
60 chest presses on exercise ball
40 biceps curls on exercise ball
36 overhead triceps extensions on exercise ball
3 x 30 sec squats on power plate
3 x 30 sec calf extension on power plate
1 x 30 second lunge on power plate (each leg!)

Going to shut up now apart from the thought for the day. Enjoy!

May 7th - Where did the weekend go?

Weight: 11st 8lb

Mood: Cross

Weather: Glorious

That weekend sped past! I always feel it is so unfair when you start a glorious weekend, then you blink and you are back at your desk. And, today, I am at my desk in a foul mood.

The reason for the foul mood is my own fault, I decided to force myself out the door to go to the gym this morning even though my quads and hamstrings were singing a painful tune. I got to the gym and, once warm, I was okay but I was never going to push myself but I ended up doing so little that I am now cross with myself. I have promised myself I will make it up by going in early tomorrow.

Gym:

Motion Adaptive Trainer: 10 min, 1 mile and 133 kCal
100 crunches
100 Russian Twists
50 reverse crunches
40 leg raises
40 overhead triceps extensions
40 Donkey Kicks
Stretches on Powerplate

Actually now I see the list it is not horrific - not great but maybe I should not beat myself up too much!

As to the tale of my quads and hamstrings... Before April, and before starting this slog (sorry blog), I was a gym addict - I would do classes, rather than gym visits, every morning. I had got to the stage that I was doing Spin and Body Pump on both Saturday and Sunday! Mad, I know, but I enjoyed it.

On Sunday I went back to Body Pump for the first time in a while, I knew I would hurt BUT it is not as bad as thought it would be. I took it fairly easy on the weights but know where near beginners weights but it has caused a little pain. Yesterday I was not too sore so I went to the gym... You can draw your own conclusions as to whether that was wise!

Body Pump Weights:

Warm up 7.5kg

Squats 12.5kg

Chest 7.5kg

Back 10kg

Triceps 5kg

Biceps 5kg

Lunges 7.5kg

Shoulders 5 then 2.5kg

Abs 5 then 2.5kg

Stretches

Gym Session Monday:

Motion Adaptive Trainer: 20 min, 295 kCal and 2.1 miles

80 crunches

80 reverse crunches

80 clams each side

40 deltoid raises

60 squats on bosu ball

30 lunges each side

80 Russian twists

Stretches

Thought for the day: When the going gets tough the tough get going

Sight of the day: The woman who distracted me in the gym this morning, she was doing yoga in jeans and a t-shirt on the matt next to me... 

May 5th - Time to Pump

Before I gave up going to the gym just before Christmas in 2012 I was obsessive about attending my Body Pump class. The instructor is 10 years older than me and looks 10 years younger, she is unbelievably inspirational. This morning, after what is now a 5 month break, I am going back. I am ready for the lovely to see you and where have you been quiz but dreading the lunge track! 

This slog, sorry blog, was started 5 days ago because I was struggling with my painfully slow weight loss. I thought my age had caught up with me but the blog seems to have kick started my weight loss, I suspect it is a blip but it is almost in an apologetic way I post the start of my blog much further down the page!

Weight: 11st 8lbs (how!!!???!!!)

Mood: Surprised but content

BMI: 26.1

After having had a very difficult Friday with my off spring, Saturday was lovely. Eldest harumphed a little at the lack of gadgets in his life, the girls tidied their room and hung around. Doctor Who had us giggling at a Victorian age TomTom and I achieved everything on my to do list!

My gym visit was very successful. I used the Motion Adaptive Trainer for 20 min and was really pleased at the increase in calorie burn that I took a rather blurry picture of it.

As well as that rather productive 20 min I managed:

100 crunches with 5kg
50 reverse crunches
100 Russian twists with 5kg
100 clams each side
20 full push ups
40 sec side plank twice
60 triceps extension with 5kg
40 biceps curls with 3kg each hand
36 chest presses with 5kg each hand

PowerPlate - 30 sec x 4 of

• Squat
• Wide squat
• Lunges each side
• Calves

Stretching

So a successful visit that may have helped with the daily weigh in! Today will be a quieter day, no cardio and a hearty beef stew for lunch... Suspect that surprise pound weight loss will soon be back with a flourish!

Thought for the day: Don't count the chickens

May 4th - 'May the force be with you'

Weight: Jubilant 11st 9lb 

Mood: Tired (even though I slept 11 hours!)

Stress level: High

I never managed my late night post last night, mind you it would just have been a list of food and a lot of anger. Got home from work last night to stress central - instead of eating at a sensible 7 it was almost 8 by the time we all tucked into our yummy jacket potatoes. Finally I got to the bottom of how the stupidity had occurred at 9.30pm. The night was a right off; two glasses of wine had been consumed and I had started on the chocolate.

However I should be grateful there were only two glasses of wine left in the house as having just tracked my food intake for the day I somehow managed to stay under 1200! By 5 kCals but still under!

Breakfast: Usual yoghurt and 3 teaspoons of Granola 

Lunch: Heinz Scotch Broth
Pickled Onion Space Raiders
Can of diet coke

Snack: An apple (managed to stay away from the sweetie machine today)

Dinner: Jacket potato
Roasted vegetables
Butter
Parmesan Cheese

Stress eating: 2 glasses of wine
2 squares of chocolate

Today, however, is a new day and although cross words have already been muttered in this house we will have a good first day of our three day weekend. I am very determined that this will be the case.

The plan: 
Write 'slog'
Finish stove top brewed coffee
Fix light in girls room
Tidy all kitchen cupboards
Have fashion show with pre teen (she is growing out of everything!)
Walk in the woods
90 min in the gym

Then time for the Doctor!

Wish me luck!

Thought for the day: 'Strong, you shall be'

May 3rd - A time to rest and measure

Weight: Pleasing 11st 10lb

Mood: Relaxed

It was lovely this morning as my teenagers and pre teen clambered on my bed after the usual 6.15am alarm went off. They are so good to put up with me getting up and abandoning them before breakfast so I can go burn calories. We caught up on bits that I have missed out on all week and I had a chance to congratulate them on the reduction in use of electricity - it is not just my waist line that needs slimming!

I am told by all the magazines and articles I read that my body needs at least (note: get out clause) one day a week to rest and for me it is a Friday. This meant coffee in bed with a good dose of LBC* and some family time. It also allowed for some measuring to take place - I keep being told muscle weighs more than fat so I could be losing inches not pounds.

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised. I had thought some of the numbers may start with a 4 but they amazingly didn't! Here goes:

Bust: 38.5"
Waist: 32"
Hips: 37.25"
Thighs: 23"

The pleasing factor was the waist - it is a clear indicator for risk of heart attacks and diabetes and articles say a waist size of 32" and under is healthy - see here for a little more on this.

Thought for the morning: As I measured the different bits of my body I was reminded of measuring the children on the same door frames to show their growth. I almost reached for the permanent marker to mark the points of measurement on my body for an accurate result but decided that may be a step too far!

*London's Biggest Conversation radio station for non London readers

May 2nd Round-up

Picked up my new glasses this afternoon, is this more of age catching up with me? 

Suddenly everything is sharp, clear and blissful! On the positive side of this it should stop the wrinkles round my eyes getting worse, hopefully more effective than the expensive ointments I smear on my face every night!

Food:
Water at gym: 1 litre
Water at work: 1 litre

Breakfast
Yoghurt (0% fat, fruit) with 3 teaspoons of Granola sat at my desk
Coffee two pots before lunch (little ones)

Lunch
Heinz Chicken Noodle Soup
Baked crisps (64 kCals)Can diet lemonade

Afternoon snack
Mini Jelly Babies

Dinner
Mackerel and poached egg salad
3 squares of my Mother's Day chocolate bar (that was 50 days ago and I still have chocolate)

Thought for the afternoon: Willpower is not eating all your chocolate at once! I still have Easter Egg left too!