A change is as good as a rest

Ha, would you believe I had a post in draft since July?  Yes, I can believe it too.  But it was completely blank!  I think I was trying to blog from work but the browser is too old to work (we've just upgraded(!) to Explorer 9.  Whut.) - they're onto me I think!

So I've forgotten to post since then. Sorry about that folks. 

But the good news is I lost weight in Orlando! :D
4.6lbs to be exact. Isn't that amazing?! My friends all say I'm the only one they know who can go on holiday and actually lose weight. It's a gift I guess ;-)

There was lots of walking involved.  Around theme parks, around Aquatica water park - the stairs to the tops of the slides were NO joke! The first one we went on was 102 steps, I counted! The others were between 60-100 - and around the malls... lots of walking.
And I wasn't dieting either - there were trips to the Cheesecake Factory (blah.), P.F. Changs (my new favourite restaurant in the WORLD), burgers, fries, Cheetos, shrimp and a few Icees + churro snack breaks.

So clearly the plan is to walk everywhere now *lol*.  The weather in Scotland is sadly not as good for that as in Orlando, although today the sun is out but the temperature isn't even in double digits yet so no shorts and t-shirts for me!

Speaking of shorts - omg - my thighs rubbed together so badly the first day! I was shopping in the mall and had a maxi dress on and no protection underneath like shorts because it was so freakin' hot, and when I got back to the apartment my inner thighs had bright red circles on them that were actually raised like there were red velvet pancakes stuck on my legs! OH that was sore.  Thankfully I had bought some Compeed blister stick on a whim before we flew out - that stuff SAVED MY LIFE.  I'm not even remotely kidding. I rubbed it on every morning after that and it helped my legs from, well they still rubbed together but there wasn't as much friction because it created a barrier.  It took about a week before my legs started to look normal again but I used it for the rest of the holiday. I love that stuff. Worth the money (the actual plasters are expensive for what they are so I wasn't sure if I wanted to get both - *so* glad I decided to go for it). 

Long story short - I shouldn't try to dress cute. Yet.

I haven't updated the weigh-ins page yet because I'm still over the last weight that was on there, but as soon as I pass it we are starting again! I hope you can stick with me til then, it's going to be a long road.

Part of the reason I lost weight on holiday - I think - is because I was so much less stressed than I was before I left! I had news from home at the end of the first week that my boss had been moved teams at work (and we hadn't been getting along, shall we say), and as soon as I read the message I instantly felt lighter! It helped me to really let myself enjoy the holiday and not be worried or stressed about what I was going home to, which has been the case in the past. I felt so carefree that I wasn't starting to comfort eat like I had been the week before (I try not to but there's so much choice in the US it's really hard!) and the feeling of being 'free' really made all the difference in the world. I'm now back at work - which still sucks lol - but I'm not feeling the same as I did before I left. I had been feeling very stressed and run down, the vibe in the office was dark and heavy, but since I've been back it's like a physical fog has been lifted. Brilliant.

Here's one of my absolutely favourite photos from the holiday - me with Acai the dolphin! <3 I'm seriously in LOVE.

Also wanted to address a fear I had in a previous post that was the rollercoaster seats. Would I be able to fit in them without total body-slamming from the attractive staff members to get the harnesses to shut around me?
The answer was... not resounding, but still a faint croak of "yes".

I thought my tummy/waist would be the problem area, but when I went on the Hulk in Universal's Islands of Adventure I was dumfounded to find that it was the tops of my thighs that were the big problem! I went to sit down in the extremely hard and completely unforgiving seat and wedged myself at the top, and stopped! I thought, "Oh no, I'm not going all the way in, I'll have to go to row 3 or 6 with the adjusted seating!" :-O I was mortified. But I was determined that I was going to get into the 'normal' seats, so I just kinda jumped down into the seat and really stuck myself in there - at least I wasn't going to fall out! On the way out afterwards I almost couldn't stand up right away (omg the split second of panic!) but I twisted my pelvis slightly and popped out like a wine bottle cork. It was all good! :D
Our last day we went back to IOA and I decided I wanted to try the Hulk again to see if the walking had made any difference. The good news is that it did! I was still uncomfortable in the seat but I could tell it was easier than the first time I'd gone on, so all that walking and all those stairs really did make a difference in less than 2 weeks! If that's not proof I can do this if I put my mind to it, I don't know what is. Non-scale VICTORY! *\o/*

And I had no back trouble the entire trip!  A few clicks here and there as we were nearing the end of the holiday but there was nothing major (my mother was worried about the rollercoasters). The only thing that caused a problem was Space Mountain. It was dark (hello, it's meant to be space, where are the glow in the dark stars?!) and very jerky so I didn't know when to tense up and release, and when my friend and I came off we were both complaining of neck problems. I still have a stiffness there now that my chiropractor is sorting, which I hope will be soon because I've been having a lot of headaches since that day - including a migraine on the journey home which with all the screaming babies on the 8-hour flight you can imagine how wonderful an experience that was ;-)

The fund has been started to go again!

Be healthy, loves.
<3

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard...

... and they're like, "You're not Kelis."

Sigh.

So here's a recipe while I side-step that cringey attempt at humour. I made the best tasting milkshake/smoothie I've never had yesterday, and I want to share it with you!

This made about 3 glasses full (which I didn't realise at the time so I was rather stuffed afterwards! Will definitely reduce the numbers next time).

200g strawberries
50g white grapes
200ml 0.1% skimmed milk
20g banana flavoured protein powder (I use this one)
1tsp ground cinnamon
generous pinch of ground ginger

I'm serious, it was DELICIOUS. I think I found heaven in a milkshake. I'm actually glad it made so much because I savoured every. single. mouthful.

... my photography skills need work ;-)

Be healthy, loves.
<3

*grumble grumble*

Ugh. Being a woman is hard. *whimpers*
Ladies, you feel me.

PROTEIN!! Check.
WATER!! Check.
SLEEP!! ... err, when I get home (" ,)

Be healthy, loves.
<3

Progress, and finally coming good on a promise

Wow, is all I can say.
 
Not just because I'm actually blogging after I've been to my Supernatural convention (remember last year's promise? Oops.) but because of the convention itself and the following days.
 
The good news is that while I was away I managed to lose 4.2lbs (woohoo!)... the bad news is it's back on again (boooo.)
Since I've been back I've had my usual travelling sickness so haven't seen the inside of a gym or had a fast day and I'm starting to feel it.  I'm fasting today so good luck vibes please!

My favourite picture is this one of me and Misha Collins (who plays Castiel on Supernatural).

It was the first time in 5 conventions I'd asked anyone for a pose that wasn't a hug, and he was the first person that morning I had a photo with.  While I was in the queue I suddenly thought that I had to say something to him... so I said "Do your best model pose", and so this is the result.

I swear I'm never smiling in pictures again, I didn't even have to Photoshop it when I got home :P

But wowzers, when I gained weight it seemed to go to my boobs!

So! I promised last year I would post side-by-sides... and here they are.

Yes, they're all of me and Misha :P (he's adorable, funny, and not even my fave character but I always love getting a pic with him)

In 2012 I hated pretty much every picture I had at that convention, it was dark times (and as it turned out, 5 months before my major back relapse) but they've slowly been getting better ;-)

 

I think it goes bigger if you click on it.

One of my favourite actors is Ty Olsson (he plays the vampire Benny). Here are my pics from last year and this year:

*happy, happy sigh* ;-)


Eventually the plan is to get my photos onto my Flickr account, but jings, it's a lot of work!

For the Supernatural fans reading this (if any lol), if you know of Jason Manns - he's a friend of Jensen Ackles and one of his songs has featured on the show - you'll know that he comes over to do a small gig at the conventions on the Saturday night which is a welcome relaxing couple of hours after a hectic day of queues and more queues.
Well, this time I went to see him in a small gig in London after the convention with my friend Trudy - who kindly let me sleep on her couch.

The first thing I noticed was that they didn't have either drink that I like... shocking... but the bartender suggested a butterscotch schnapps with pineapple juice.  I thought 'what the hell'... and it was so yummy! It was like alcoholic Butterbeer! I've found my new drink.  Bless you, unequipped bartender, bless you.
But then the weirdness started happening - Ty Olsson comes down the stairs to see his friend Jason play a gig - I was on a night out and Ty Olsson showed up! Surreal.
He enjoys a drink and a dance and a chat with the ladies, but I was so shy I could hardly say a word (talk about a wasted opportunity LOL) but he was like 10ft away at any one time, it was extremely thrilling.

And then - you won't believe this - JARED PADALECKI came in!!! Lordy I nearly passed out because I was NOT expecting that! I was on a night out and Jared Padalecki turns up with his wife Genevieve (who looked so pretty she made me smile)!!  Their bodyguard (who was a supporting character on Supernatural in season 2 I think) he looked a tad scary so I didn't say anything to Jared or Gen either. I completely fail, fellow fans! I fail. I was trying so hard to be cool and non-invasive and I must have come off as uninterested. Damnit!
But oh dear lord it was the most surreal night of my life. And it was the first time in a long time when I got in at 4.30am - dirty stopout! LOL. The sun was coming up!

In other news - I'm in a couple of June challenges on Facebook and I'm feeling good about it. I'm hoping to lose 5lbs this month, but to be honest I'll take whatever I can get ;-)

Day 11 of my plank challenge today and it was the hardest day yet - 40 seconds has never seemed so long!  

Are you in any weightloss challenges, or are you doing anything like the plank challenge? Let me know how you're getting on!

Be healthy, loves <3

Patience is a virtue!

Ah, patience.

In weightloss (it never happens as quickly as you'd like!)
In love (starting to think I'm terminally single)
In blogging (I'll get better I promise!).

So I was bored at work today for a few mins and put a start of a blog post together. It's a general ramble, and will include pics of my Supernatural convention - and possibly those side by sides I promised in 2013 - but as I didn't have the pics on my work computer I didn't finish the post.

However, I just wanted to let you know that I'm working on getting better at posting, and getting better at losing weight (we'll forget the failed fast day today LOL) and getting better at fitness.

You know, I can hold a (shaky) plank for 35 seconds now! Woot to me!  The extended arm one, not the one with the elbows on the ground.  I'm doing a 30 day plank challenge with a friend and we are extending it to 60 days because my core is suuuuuper flabby.

Planning on going to the gym tomorrow so if the blog post doesn't get posted from work (don't tell my boss!) then it'll be this weekend. But it's coming! :D

Be healthy, loves.
<3

Well, woo hoo to me!

:) Hello sweeties!

So, since last we spoke things have been moving - and rather surprisingly - in the right direction (weeee!). I'll update the weigh-in page later on as I'll need to figure out how to display it eg: do I keep the old weights and measurements or do I just start fresh from when I 'started over' again at the beginning of April?

Anywhoo... that's made me quite chirpy.

I've started a new plan called 5:2 - or intermittent fasting - where for two days a week you eat 500 calories in a day (600 for men) and for the other five days you just eat normally. Thankfully there's hardly any calories in vegetables! I had a very large salad the other day with tuna and a little cheese and it only came to 262 calories!
I'm finding it a lot easier when I fast at work which is odd as I used to eat out of boredom, but I can't do it at home as I live by myself so there's no one to distract me or tell me to put down those waffles! LOL. *sigh* One day I'll get the hang of weekend fasting, one day.

So far (I only started last week) I'm down 1.4lbs, so I'm pleasantly surprised by the change. Especially as even if I had started this last October I doubt it would have worked with that medication I was on so I'm feeling good that I'm on the right path now. It's been a long time coming and I intend to make the most of it!

I'll still be keeping up the gym after my few days away next week - and I'm going to start going to Yoga classes to help my back (I've been scared in the past that I would over stretch and completely do myself a disservice... I still have that fear a wee bit). I won't be going to the gym on a fast day - I don't know how people can do that!  If I'm burning 700+ calories I do not want to be passing out on the treadmill! LOL, not attractive.

Do you ever have moments where you just feel like your life is changing?
I'm starting to get that butterfly feeling and it's exciting! :D
This time in 4 months I will be in Orlando - let's do this thing!

Be healthy, loves. <3

Suitably embarrassed.

I realise it's been FAR too long since I posted.... it's almost that time of year again where I go to my Supernatural convention, and I haven't even posted the photos from last year! 
I suck. I'm sorry.

But I think posting them now would make me feel pretty bad as I've somehow managed to put back on 12lbs (was a bit more but I've lost a few!) and I'm feeling very shameful, as I should.

*TMI warning*
I started taking a new birth control pill last October (not for that reason) and it increased my appetite so much that from November to March I basically ate everything in sight. It was horrific, I can't believe I let it go on for so long but it made me slightly depressed. Okay, a lot depressed and last winter was the worst I've ever experienced. 
However now I am over my denial (I was still fitting in the same clothes... just) and I am finally on a different pill which has decreased my appetite somewhat so I am now able to go more than 2 hours without eating a kitchen.  It has given me the potential for losing weight and I am happy about that.

So stay tuned folks, let's see if this year I can finally get this chub OFF!  I'm going to Orlando in September for the new Harry Potter themepark expansion - DIAGON ALLEEEEYYYY!! - and I want to be able to fit into the rollercoaster seats and feel like I can fit in them comfortably without having the (usually super cute) staff have to force the bars or harnesses down... again.

LOL how's that for a non-scale goal ;-)

Be healthy my lovelies!  I'm slightly more active on my Twitter account, you can find me at @RunRaineyRun :)

p.s... maybe I'll post side-by-sides of my convention pictures from the past few years... depending on how they turn out this time lol!

Be careful - don't break your own heart!

So I'm finally getting round to what this blog was meant to be about; running.

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves, jogging. ;-)

After being sick last week, and losing a bit of weight in the process, I've started jogging this past weekend.  Nothing major, just a half hour walk/jog in the early morning whilst the sun was out and not many people around to see me. I really enjoyed it actually.  

The only thing that concerned me was my heart rate. They say that your maximum heart rate is 220 - your age, so for me my maximum heart rate is 189bpm, but my heart rate monitor was telling me that I was getting up to 99% of my heart rate quite a lot, and you're not meant to go above 90%.  

I wasn't even jogging fast or anything! Man, I am out of shape. It'll come down as I get better with my cardio and fitness, but it did make me think of how often I strain myself without even thinking about it, it's kinda scary. I don't want a heart attack before I'm 50! (or at all, if possible, kthnx)

But, good points this week: 
- I have a new heart rate monitor and I love it! I have the Polar FT7.  
- I actually went out jogging and didn't die
- I went out jogging twice!
- I gained weight this week (well, I *am* and athlete now! LOL.) but I did lose some inches which is awesome!
- I'm feeling chirpy, which always helps in whatever situation
- I can now fit into size UK16 trousers! And one recent top purchase was a (albeit stretchy) UK14!
- I won £5 on the Euromillions lottery, LMAO. Gotta start somewhere, right?

What are your good points for the week?

P.S... an off-topic post about the Supernatural weekend will be coming soon with some photos and side-by-side pics from last year and this year. It's quite the eye-opener (or at least it was for me!)

Sickety sick

Bleh. 
I hate being sick. Especially when I have 2 days to get better before I go to a Supernatural convention (it's a TV show - check it out!).

The only good thing about being sick is that's really the only time I lose a decent amount of weight. 5lbs so far this week. Woah.

It all started with a migraine on Saturday evening, and since then I've gone downhill. Fuzzy head, stuffy nose, swollen glands, piercing ears, scratchy throat (I'm talking like the late Barry White here, not sexy on a woman lol) and I've lost all will to eat. The last time I ate was 5.15am yesterday (it's now 9am today) and that was just a little pot of Activia fat free yoghurt.

No one likes it when they're sick, but if we can lose a bit of weight do we let it slide? On the upside, I'm back in one-derland! WOOHOO! :D

Be healthy, loves.  <3

x

Don't be a slave to the scale!

The scale is a liar.

It will tell you that you're a failure the second it gets a chance.

But you're smarter than that. You know you can always beat the scale.  Even when you've had a hard time keeping to your calorie goal, you can still beat the damn scale.

Take measurements. Yeah, the scale will never suspect that.
Take measurements and log them like you do with your weigh ins. 

I may be showing a pound and a half gain since the start of the year (boo, hiss) but if you check my weigh ins page you can see I've logged two sets of measurements.

I may have started the year lighter than I am now, but since I started the gym at the beginning of the month I have lost an inch under my bust, a quarter inch on my waist and half an inch round my ever-determined-to-stick-out-like-Princess-Leia's-hair-buns-hips.  I can't believe it!

The scale lied to me. 
It told me I was failing on my journey.
Well, if it was wearing pants they'd be on fire.

Though I may not be losing the fat like I'd hoped, I'm showing myself that I am improving on my shape even now. My work trousers are still tight but they're a size smaller than they were a couple of weeks ago! My gym programme incorporates resistance training along with cardio which is helping me tone up - even slightly (I've only been a couple of handfuls of times) and when I put my mind to it I am going to show that scale - and the world - what I'm made of.

When you're feeling down about not getting a certain number on the scales, I hope you remember this post - and I hope you take your own measurements to back you up. You CAN do this, sometimes the world is slow to pick up ;) 

Want to tone up? Start lifting!
Ladies, you won't get all bulky like Mr Universe - regular lifting improves muscle definition (and building more muscle helps burn fat faster) - you only 'bulk up' when eating at a massive surplus and taking 'supplements'... if you catch my drift.  Seriously, resistance training and lifting will get you into a smaller size before you can say "Hey, these trousers need a belt."

I may not be there yet - but I'm closer than I was yesterday!

Finally waking up

Having the sun finally make an appearance has had a dramatic effect on me. I feel like I'm actually 'waking up'. It sounds crazy, but after the winter and supposed 'spring' we've been having, being able to feel the sun on my skin feels amazing. Scotland may be green and pretty, but only because it rains so much lol.

Can you believe I was so early for the gym this morning it wasn't even open yet? LOL! I was like a proper little gym bunny standing outside with a few other people waiting for the doors to open. And the London Marathon was warming up on the TV screens so I thought I'd have a go on the treadmill (it's not on my usual programme). 

Man I'm sore now BUT I walk/jogged for 35mins and made it 3.46km by intervals of walking 2mins at 6km/h, jogging 1min at 7km/h at a 1% incline and even jogged for a full 3 mins at the end at 7.5km/h! 

I'm so fracking proud of myself! 

And there was a guy in there who was checking me out (LOLz, I think he was actually just looking for attention) - he started doing pull ups every now and again on the TRX machine inbetween the other weights bench while I was running. He went back over when I changed to the TRX but only left just as I made a point of looking over at him to save him from having to come back over, because his arms must have started to hurt by then. HA! I almost LOLed right there on the mat but I held it together. 

Also, there were two people on treadmills behind me and when I heard them talking I had a teeeeeeenie voice in my head whispering not to do it, but I only slightly hesitated to start jogging, I still did it! That's actually almost as big an achievement than the walk/jog itself. I love this gym.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in forever... part of me got lazy... part of me was in some kind of dragged-out winter rut. But if you've seen the weigh-ins page I have still been logging weight for the better or worse! But let's hope this weather holds out til I can become obsessed with running!  Fingers crossed my back decides to play ball!
 
I 'only' have 6 months until the Backstreet Boys cruise, I need to get my shit together!  60lbs to go!  GAME ON.

ONEderland!

I can't believe the time is here already - I'm in ONEderland!

Over at myfitnesspal.com it's a phrase that sums up when someone passes the milestone of 200lbs and get to have a '1' at the start of their weight number.  It's a cute play on words that for a long time I didn't think I'd get to use.

But now I can!

Last weigh in came up as 199.4lbs and I was over the moon! Given that I haven't been eating the best or done as much exercise as I could have (should have), I was most surprised to see that number.  I think I stared at it for a full two minutes! What a great pick-me-up before work on a dreary Tuesday morning. 
Of course I've done a sneaky mid-week weigh in and the number is down again (yay!) so let's hope I don't sabotage myself and can get a good edit on the weigh in page next week :)

Considering TOM came a week early, I'm so surprised I lost a pound. I always gain or at least stay the same, I don't think I've ever lost anything this time of the month - I mean, surely it's not possible?! Hey, I'll take it! ;-)  I put it down to extra protein; I've had fish, meat, eggs and cheese this week and it's obviously helping. 

Do you know what? It's ONEderful! :D

Honesty is the best policy

I've got to be honest.
In the past when things have gotten hard usually I would just quit.
But this time it has to be different, or I'll just stay the same. (wow, that's deep.)

Logging my weight on this blog is hard - last week it took me 3 days to update the post because I was so ashamed of the number.  But it's going to keep me honest.  I wrote in an earlier post about using this blog to keep me accountable no matter what the scale says, and this week it's especially true - and real - as yet again there is a gain on the scales.

I'm upset about it, sure, time of the month is always rough, but I left it a day before logging so I could have a sneaky weigh this morning and sure enough it's gone down again.  So while logging another gain is really denting my confidence (and ego!), I'm not going to let it get to me too much because I know if I can continue to eat well this week and get some exercise in, the number on next week's log will be green.

And that's really what it's all about - knowing your goal, knowing your plan, and knowing your weaknesses.

That's my mini-epiphany this week, have you had one lately or had a reminder of what your end goal is?

Be healthy. x

*sigh* Being a woman is HARD.

Especially when it comes to losing weight.
I mean, men have it so easy - they drop weight faster, they can do heavier workouts, and they don't have to contend with monster hormones that make you want to eat the whole world.

Ladies, you know what I mean.

So this week I gained 2lbs... I almost didn't log it because I was so ashamed.  My grand total so far is a positive number, not a negative! This is NOT the way to lose 60lbs (well, 63.4 now but let's not get picky).

But in my defence there's not really a lot you can do when TOM (time of month) comes to visit.  I weighed on Tuesday, which was just before it started, so I guess I should be grateful it wasn't more - I've been known to gain 8lbs during TOM - but I've been too scared to do a sneaky mid-week weigh in like I usually do, because I've done nothing but eat this whole week and if I saw another gain I may shoot myself wth pretzel sticks. 

Mmmm... pretzel sticks.

Wait, focus.

I need to up my water intake to help with bloating and water weight, and up my protein to help with cravings/not eating so damn much/lessening the cramp pain.  Yes, protein does all that! At least it does for me.  Eggs and bacon for lunch I think (dry-fried, without oil) and a vegetable smoothie because I've been wasting good food in favour of crappy snacks.

To the exercise bike! :)

What do you do to keep your motivation going when you have TOM visiting? Do you just give up for a few days, knowing you'll get back to it soon?

The first (pound) of many...

Well, that's the hope anyway!

So over Christmas I gained around 2.4lbs.  Today I weighed in and I'd lost 1lb :D
Happy days.
Having not done as much exercise as usual I'm quite surprised but I'll take it!  

Over Christmas I was doing a lot of walking, even though afterwards my hip was in a lot of pain and the nerve going down my leg pinched a lot.  I didn't go walking one day and noticed that I felt better, so it told me that my measly attempt at exercise was still too much for my injury.  So... I've been a bit lazy lately.  I should feel guilty but hey I'm getting better, that's all I'm fussed about.

I went back to work yesterday - just for half my hours as I'm on what we call a 'step up plan' to ease me back into things.  I was so scared in the morning before going in, I was shaking my hands to calm myself down.  It felt so strange to be back there after 12 weeks away!  Now it almost feels like I was never away, I'm almost bored LOL.  It was good to see my teammates again (I'd started to talk to myself!) and they seemed pretty happy to have me back so it was quite nice.

Focus now is to keep up with the walking (though for less than the 30 minutes I was doing... may test a theory that I could do it if it was spaced out) and continue to use my exercise bike at home.  I'd like to get back to the gym soon but it's about a 10 minute walk from the bus stop so right now I'm getting my workout before I even set foot in the place - that's out for at least a month I'd say.

But when I'm back you'll be the first to know! :D

How are your New Year's Resolutions coming along?

2013: New Year - New Life!

13 - unlucky for some!  But not for me. 
Not this year.
Not ever.

I weighed in this morning and I've put on a couple of pounds over Christmas, but honestly, it's not that bad.
After getting down on myself a little when I saw the scale, I realised that it's not as much as it could have been - don't sweat it!

At Christmas I didn't stuff myself with food like usual, I ate a decent sized lunch and then had some Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce later in the evening, and it was just nice. I didn't feel bloated or anything.  But maybe the extra pigs in blankets weren't a good idea; bacon = sodium = short term weight gain!

Still, I went on my exercise bike today for 20 minutes at the highest level I've gotten to in a few months so that was good! I'm getting stronger every day and if it's the last thing I do this weight is coming OFF! I'm getting far too annoyed with it interfering with my life, it's gotta GO!

I do hope you had a great Christmas, and celebrated New Year with gusto - hopefully the hangovers aren't too bad ;)

My God, has it been that long?

Ah, I love a good Back To The Future reference ;)

Five months. Five whole months (and 10 days, but who's counting?) since I last blogged. It's a travesty.  But also, a result of events outwith my control.

I should have blogged in August, when I joined a gym... but I didn't.
I should have gone to said gym more than 3 times... but I didn't.
I should have worked on my core strength and abs... but I didn't.

And that last point was my undoing. In October the worst thing that ever happened to me last year, happened again. I put my back out. There are no words in the English language that can fully explain the amount of pain I was in, but know this, it was a complete BITCH.
I couldn't do more than get out of bed to go to the bathroom for two weeks, and even then that was tough.
For about three weeks after that I was hobbling around at a 45-degree angle (imagine an 80-year-old woman with a hump).
Around week 6 I started getting pain in my hip and down my left leg - again. The nerve was trapped again! Brilliant! Not.

 So I've been off work since October, as my job consists of sitting on my butt at a computer for 7+ hours a day and that's really not conducive to a healthy back.  I've been walking, stretching, doing what I can to get better but it's been the slowest recovery in history.

There was a good thing to come out of it of course, if we're looking for silver linings. 
After I hurt myself I lost my appetite - almost completely.  For a month I was eating anywhere between 250-900 calories. Which, of course, is in no way healthy, but I was 200+lbs at this point, so the chances of starvation was pretty slim to none.

I lost 15lbs in a month!  I was so happy I could have cried.  After that first month my appetite started to come back and now I've pretty much maintained my weight since November. Which is great, but now my body will only lose weight when I don't eat =/ Not good.
I have to figure out my calorie goal and exercise goal and find a balance that means I can eat and still lose weight.

So, last time I checked the scale I was 200lbs.  Starting on January 1st I'll be doing weekly weigh-ins (as long as I remember!) and even if it's a gain, I'll be logging it because I really need a kick up the backside to get this weight off.

Two important goal dates for me next year: May 17th and October 25th.  I'm just going to go all out, no particular goal before each date, just taking it one pound at a time, and see how I go.

WHEW!! Wow, essay.

Have you been keeping up with your goals lately, especially over Christmas?

*tap tap* Is this thing on?

Hello!
If you have stumbled upon this blog and are wondering what I'm going to do with it, basically it's going to be a log of my weightloss journey.

I know, enthralling. ;-)

But if you stick with me, I hope to eventually get the hang of blogging, writing for the web, and losing some pounds along the way! (and I don't mean money. Oh, British humour.)

Here's a pic of me from the office Christmas party 2011, with my friend Lianne:

Current stats:
Height: 5ft6in
Weight: 214lbs
SizeUK: 18 (16 on a VERY good day)

Target stats:
Weight: 140lbs
SizeUK: 10
Anything else is a bonus, I'll see when I get there.

I have recently acquired a Heart Rate Monitor to track calories, and it is insane how many calories I burn just by *existing*.  I've been eating 2/3rds of what I burn a day without realising it and may even be eating too little.  It's over what a normal person would eat so I'm not starving myself, but, I can't help but wonder if even with the high number of calories I consume daily I might still be sending my body into a kind of faux-starvation mode.

It's an interesting theory... we'll see how this pans out.