Thursday, 29 September 2011

Weigh-In Week 34

Happy Happy Happy! 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) Loss this week!!!

Awards this week:

9 stone Award! Thats 126 lbs / 57.15 kg! Massively impressed with this!


Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)

Currently 19 stone 12.5 pounds (278.5 lbs / 126.33 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
 
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 32: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 33: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 34: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)

I'm over the moon about my loss this week. Not so much for the fact it was 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg), which is amazing anyway, but it's all the goals I achieved this week. I listed them on a blog the other week nowing that they were so close...anticipating how amazing I would feel when I achieved them... I didn't expect to achieve them all in the same day!!! I can't explain how amazing I feel!

I showed up at at group knowing I had had a good week, but doubting that it was enough to achieve them all. I'd as usual, been weighing myself every day, but somehow the math didn't work out right in my head and I figured i would get on the scales and have lost 4 or 5 pounds and be just short of dropping below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127 kg) and my 9 stone award, but at least acheive my 30% starting body weight goal, which honestly, would have been enough for me today.

Then when I got ont he scales and saw 19 stone 12.5 lbs (278.5 lbs / 126.33 kg), I couldn't believe it!! Embarrassingly, all I wanted to do was cry! My heart was racing away with pride and my emotions got the better of me. I walked outside and couldn't stop myself crying. I had just dropped below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127 kg)!?! I havent weigh as little as that in about 15 or 16 years. I composed myself and went and sat in group, which was great! We really have 1 of the best groups I've attended! We had a good few laughs too which helped me keep my emotions under control.

Goals achieved this week:
1. Eventually dropped under 20 stone (280 lbs / 127 kg)!
2. Got my 9 stone (126 lbs / 57.15 kg) award!
3. Lost 30% of my starting body weight, which also means im now 60% of the way to my target!
4. Acheived my 3 month old cycling target of an average speed of 15 mph (24 km/h). Set on my usual 10 mile (16 km) route that I have been doing for the last 3 months, so its not like I went looking for a long downhill and set it on that!
5. Acheived my 1 month old running target of running 5 km (3.11 miles) in less than 35 minutes. Thats less than 7 min/km! :)

Goals for this week:
1. Firstly and most importantly....I really really REALLY, dont want to gain next week. A maintain would be awesome...A small loss would be better!
2. Need to set out some new short term goals for Weightloss, Cycling and Running since I have achieved everything on my short term list of goals!

Happy Slimming! I feel amazing this week...way more amazing than I have felt all the other weeks I have posted here! :D:D:D:D A maintain next week would be awesome!

Friday, 23 September 2011

Weigh-In Week 33

An unexplainable 2 lbs gain this week..... :(


No Awards this week.

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)

Currently 20 stone 7 pounds (287.0 lbs / 130.18 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011) This is also my Running weight target as suggested by the Podiatrist.
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
 
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 32: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 33: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN

Not really sure what to say about this weeks gain. It was unexpected, I have had a good week. Been eating well, kept within Syns. Exercise has been at a good high level. This week was due to be a "small loss/no loss" week, but not a gain! The only thing that changed was that we have been having more Carb heavy meals this week. Pasta and Sauce for lunch, paella, pasta, lasgne, etc for supper. It's the only thing I can think of.

Goals for this week:
1. High intensity training & add some new "shock my body" exercises.
2. Keep on the Slimming World healthy eating regime, just reduce the carbs.
3. Lose at least 1.59 kg (3.5 lbs) to get to 128.6 g (183.5 lbs). This will mean I have lost 30% of my start weight! Which will leave me 20% to go to be literally Half the man I was when I started! That's 60% of the way done!

Some very short term goals that are looming:
1. Get below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127.01 kg)! I have been dreaming of dropping below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127.01 kg) for 8 months now, and I am so excited to ALMOST be there! 7.5 lbs (3.40 kg) to go! 19 stone 13.5 lbs sounds SOOO much smaller than 20 stone 0.5 lbs! Stone weights that start with a 1! :D 2. 9 stone ( 126 lbs / 57.15 kg) award! 8 lbs (3.63 kg) to go.

Really just want to try and lose the 3.5 lbs this week to hit my 30% of start weight lost goal. That will be a good week!

Saturday, 17 September 2011

Slimming World "Share your story" questionnaire.

Hopefully I'm not breaking any confidentiality rules by posting these questions and my answers, but I have spent the better part of tonight filling in this online questionaire on the Slimming World website, and there is a very good chance that "My Story" / Answers probably won't even get published on the site, and there is no way I openly, honestly and emotionally answered all those questions over that many hours, that I was simply going to click submit, for it all to dissapear into the netherworld (Slimming World Online incoming submissions department) along with 6 million other similar questionaires!

So I have copy pasted the lot of it and am about to spam it onto my blog! Sorry, but it's my blog and I'll spam if I want to! :) Hope you enjoy it! :)

PS. Sorry for any embarrassment caused by my open and honest answers. "No animals were harmed during the answering of this questionaire."

-------------------------------------------------------

How did you hear about Slimming World? (If you were a part of Slimming World on Referral please let us know)
My wife Karen had done well on slimming world, but I could never get into the meals she was eating (Red and Green). Then my Doctor refered me to you and I was happy to find out about Extra Easy! :)

Have you ever tried any other weight loss methods? If so, which ones and why do you think they did not work compared to Slimming World?
As a teen I tried a bit of Weight Watchers and hated it … for life!
I dabbled with fit for life about 8 years ago but that was awful!
I tried calorie counting and 3 days a week gym about 6 years ago which helped a bit, but lacked longevity.
I tried Slimming World Original days (without actually attending group) with my wife about 2 years ago, but I found it hard to eat so little carbs and it cost too much to have decent amounts of meat to have enough to eat.
Last year i tried forever living, and I lost 2 stone in 2 weeks, then nothing for the next 1.5 months! Also the cost was high!
I tried following the heart foundation guidelines, but without the regular weekly "Image Therapy" I lost focus easily.
Extra Easy and I are a match made in heaven! Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!

How long have you been overweight? At what point in your life did you start putting on weight?
I've always been "chubby" but as a child and teenager I played a lot of sport and was always active. In my late teens I played ridiculous amounts of sport (Rugby and Volleyball) and dropped to about 12 stone in the army.
At 23 and about 16 stone, life changed drastically. I got married, quit all my sport and started working…behind a desk! Earning money was great and it got spent lavishly on unhealthy food!
I spent the next 15 years swelling like a hot air balloon through poor diet, fatty foods, tons of bread and fast food, a sedentary job and computer games for a hobby!

What was the final straw that made you join Slimming World?
In January, my 72 year old father who had his first heart attack at 36 and  a triple bypass at 60 something (and more?), was hospitalised with pneumonia. I desperately wanted to fly to South Africa to see him, but had a rash on my left leg that I couldn't explain, and both legs were very swelled with water retention. So bad, I actually felt the stress on my skin as it felt like it was stretching to its limit. Fear of thrombosis or even a DVT during the long haul flight to SA convinced me to first seek medical advice. As expected my leg problems were weight related, and the doctor advised I DONT get on a  plane till I had lost some weight!
I'd say the fear of never seeing my dad, who himself can't travel to the UK due to health, was pretty much the last straw for me!

How have you adjusted to your weight loss? Is there anything you can do now that you have not been able to do for years?
Early on in my weight loss, a friend succeeded where my SW Consultant couldn't and convinced me to start exercising. Walking as little as 200 yards a day! Back then, I couldn't do the 1 km round trip walking my kids to school without breaking into a sweat and suffering back pains. with my friend and Body Magic guidance we increased the intensity slowly but surely…with brief reckless increases when I felt I had more to give. Eventually the exercise addiction kicked in and I increased to 5 to 8 mile walks! Then I tried some running and got a tendon/muscle injury, then the same troublesome leg. After various people suggesting (most vigorously by from my cycle crazy boss) I try cycling till the injury healed. That was life changing. In January I wouldn't have even given a second thought to getting on a bike, nevermind doing a couple miles on one! Now after 7.5 months of SW and about 4 months of intense exercise (and platinum Body Magic) later, I'm running a 5 km route once a week and almost weekly improving on my best time (currently 37min 22sec), cycling 80 to 100 km a week, again almost weekly improving on my Average Speed, and 2 weeks ago did 40 km at a cyclothon, and 2 days ago 65 km at a cyclothon! It's safe to say I'm adjusting well to my weight loss and that those are things I have not been able to do in years! Oh, and of course, I can walk my kids to school without any trouble too! :)

Now you have lost your weight, what is your main ambition in life? Have you got any new hobbies or interests?
Well I've not yet lost all my weight, only 60% of the way done, but I already have a number of new hobbies. Cycling for 1, and Running another. But my absolute favourite "FUN" exercise is about 2 or 3 hours of trail riding on my mountain bike in the Sherwood forests! Absolutely Love it!
I've set a few goals for next year that I want to achieve. I'd like to do a 100km cycling event and I'd like to run a Marathon. I know I have a fair amount of weight still to lose, and a lot of training still to do before either are possible, but I know I'm on the right track, and I know I can get fit enough for both. There is a long winter ahead where I don't intend to let up in the slightest on continuing to train and increase the intensity of that training, so that I'm ready to achieve both those goals next year! After that, I'll find something else to train for. One thing I know for sure is forget the Fat…..I never want to get UNFIT again!

What do you like best about Food Optimising? Do you prefer the Extra Easy, Original or Green choice?
I'm Extra Easy all the way! It literally is SOOO Easy! Most days I go a little light on the carbs, but I try get good amounts of fibre in every day. A little carbs with every meal. I steer clear of Bread 99% of the time but love my rice, potato and pasta. I eat my fair share of Chicken breasts, and may single handedly be responsible for the price increases and shortages in my local supermarkets! Sorry :) Choosing Low Fat, No Fat, No Sugar is No trouble! Lot's of fruit and veg super frees to compliment my free foods. Nothing to it! :)

What was a typical day's eating before you began Food Optimising (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks etc)?
Breakfast: avoided breakfast like the Plague! The 2 or 3 times a month that I actually had breakfast was 4 slices of toast, fatty eggs, fatty friend tomatoes and onions and sometimes a pack of fatty bacon. But I really most days didn't bother eating before midday.
Lunch: Bread bread and more bread. I could have eaten bread sandwiches. If I had a salad which I have always liked, it was eaten with bread. sometimes egg sandwiches, Chicken sandwiches, big curry baguettes, but 99% of the time, lunch included Bread!
Dinner: Generally a home cooked something. Various pastas, roasted meats, steak eggs and chips, pizza, lots of pizza. Home made Burgers were a favourite once a week. Slow cook casseroles.
Snacks: CRISPS! 3 or 4 bags at a time. A tube of Pringles in a single session. Big bag of kettle fried crisps possibly with dip for a single snack. Big bags of Doritoes! And toffees! Thorntons toffees. I loved them! Chocolates now and again and the odd hard boiled sweet binge.

What is a typical day's eating now (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks etc)?
I have 2 breakfasts now.
Breakfast 1 (before exercise): A Hi-Fi bar. Every day. I say, its not safe to cycle or run without having had your Hi-Fi bar first!
Breakfast 2 (after exercise): Melon, Banana and 1 "exotic" fruit (strawberries, mango or pineapple. Orange if none of those are available) with a fat free Activia/Muller-light. On a weekend I may mix it up a bit and have frylight eggs, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and beans, some lean bacon if we have some. But thats rare.
Lunch: Salads. Chicken salad, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad, new potato salad, just a green salad. Sometimes a salad Pita bread. Sometimes a Pasta and Sauce. Sometimes a Batchelors Rice. Sometimes Frylight Egg, Tomato, Onion, Mushrooms and Beans.
Dinner: Very varied SW Recipes. Some favourites are pretty much all the curries! :) Beef Stir-fry, Steak Peppercorn sauce SW Chips Salad and Egg, Pizza topped Chicken, Chicken Stir-fry, Chicken Rice and Veg, Bacon Pasta.
Snacks: Fruit most of the time. Piece of cheese if none will make it into the meals. Triangle Cheeseys. Mugshots. FatFree Yog. Boiled Eggs are great for snacks!  

Do you eat out regularly whilst losing weight? How have you managed this?
Well I wouldn't say I eat out regularly, but maybe once or twice a month. Some months a few more other months not at all. If I'm at a restaurant, I choose something that has lean meat..normally something grilled with salad or potato. I tend to save all my Syns for the day so that I can eat without too much concern for "Am I going over my Syns with the Chips?" If I do have a meal I consider to be very Syn heavy and over my day's allowance, I simple cut back on my Syns completely the rest of the week and sometimes the next.

Did you do any form of exercise before losing weight? Has it changed since joining Slimming World?
None at all. I work from home on my PC, 3, 4 or 5 days a week depending on the week, and my hobby was computer games, on my PC. There were weeks I never left the house till Sunday to go to Church! I truly am a different person now. I'm out the house, walking, running or cycling 6 days of the week, except maybe a rest week I may skip a day or 2's exercise to give my body a chance to repair the muscle. Some days I'm out doing 2 lots of exercise. I call those my "Fat Triathlon" days (Cycle, Run/Walk and finish it with a bath)!

What made you choose Slimming World? How did you feel about joining? Were you frightened/embarrassed? What do you think now?
My wife Karen had some success with Slimming World. Also a friend of ours had done well. But it was the doctors recommendation that actual got me to go.
I felt a little out of place at first, shy guy who knows nothing about whats going on, or what a taster evening is.
I was embarrassed by my size for sure. When I started with my group, I was by far the largest person there. In fact I may still be! But I have met some amazing supportive and inspirational people in both he groups I've attended. Lesley Fox inspired me from day 1! She was so motivated, focused and positive. Her amazing success losing 4.5 stone helped me believe it was possible for me to do the same…and I have! Thank You Lesley! My newest consultant is so genuine in her concern and interest in how IM doing. She re-motivated and focused me when I was starting to lose focus. Thank you Jeanette!
Now I love going. In 32 weeks I haven't missed a week. I went away on holiday to Devon and looked up the closest group to me and weighed in there. This week I missed weigh in because I was in Kent at a Cyclothon, that didn't stop me, I tracked down a Friday Morning group near me and weighed in there! NOTHING, will stop me from weighing in each week! I think I have stayed for every image therapy too! I think they great! I love being accountable to the group for what my weight has done this week. I also love to offer help and advice, hints and tips to anyone struggling or new. Pay it forward!

Were you discouraged at any time? If so, why and how did you cope?
I don't want to say the wrong things, but my last group seemed to have a lot of people that were unmotivated, lacked focus and almost seemed uninterested in losing weight. It was not only a curious situation to me, but it also began to take strain on my own motivation! A change in work situations and a friend's friend starting a group nearby gave me the opportunity to change groups. The new consultant, Jeanette was awesome, and she helped revitalise my enthusiasm.
As far as my own "coping" is concerned, the plan is engrained in me now…And I just throw myself into exercise to keep me focused and motivated. The more exercise I do, the more I want to eat healthy and the more weight I lose, which week on week, keeps my focused. It's all about the LOSSES! :)

What do you enjoy the most about your Slimming World group?
Currently, Above all Else, I love my Consultant! Jeanette is so genuine and caring, and amazing at asking the right questions to drag valuable information out of the members, so that she can best advise them on what to correct and improve. I always feel she sometimes enjoys the fact we have lost more than we do!
I also like the fact our group is fairly small at the moment, and that everyone seems motivated and focused.
Oh and Jeanettes Raffles are the BEST collection of veg EVER! I always buy 2 lots of tickets!

How has your Consultant helped or supported you?
I think I've answered this question already, but don't mind saying t again! Jeanette is awesome. I got home from a group the other day and was so inspired by our meeting and Jeanettes care and interest in our group that I HAD to send her a message on Facebook, thanking her for all her time and energy she puts into our meetings! She is so genuinely interested in helping us lose weight! She has impressed me since the first day i joined her group, and can't wait to do her proud by getting to target with a massive 14 or 15 stone loss, motivated, inspired, encouraged and enjoyed for at least half of the journey (probably the hardest part of the journey) by her! She irradiated about 2 months of laborious weight loss in the space of a week! Thank you Jeanette!

What do you like best about Image Therapy? How has it inspired or motivated you along your journey?
I like the fact I'm held accountable, good or bad, for my weight loss that week.
I like that I can share any great achievements I have had.
I like that I can share any low points I've had and that I can get some positive feedback to help overcome those low points.
I also like being able to help other people with suggestions to over come problems and cravings that I had to and still do experience.
I like getting good meal ideas!

Did being overweight affect your health in any way? If yes, how has your health improved since losing weight?
As mentioned this started with my legs being in bad shape. A "Rash"/Infection on my left leg, and both legs being very swollen all the time.
The obvious card issues of being 29 stone were a problem, but nothing imminently life threatening that I knew of at the time.
And obviously my fitness was at an all time low. Every day tasks (without going into detail) were difficult and required huge amounts of effort. I was in a  very very bad and dark place with very little hope of improvement after many failed attempts at dieting!
Now:
The "Rash"/Infection is gone! Only scar tissue remains!
My legs are not swollen.
My muscles are strong and healthy.
Blood circulation appears to not only be better, but GOOD!
Blood pressure is healthy and I can get a resting heart rate of 65!
Every day tasks are simple and require little effort!
Life is bright and cheerful and Happy!

What difficulties in day to day life have you now been able to overcome?
Walking my kids to school is a doddle! It's not even a warm up. I never used to go do any shopping, and although my wife still does most of the shopping due to me working all day, I don't mind and often find reasons to go to the supermarket, or even better the Sports or clothing store. Cooking  a dinner now and again…I used to get back pain if I tried. Now it's no problem. Washing the dishes…back pain before…now no problem.
Something as simple as tying my shoe laces! I used to buy slip ons to avoid it! Now I tie them without any trouble!

Have you received any publicity whilst or since losing weight? If yes, please give details.
Other than me still continuing my blog and Facebook posts to keep the "Big Brother Effect" in play…not really.
My first 5 km race I ran, my wife got chatting to the organisers when they were waiting for me to come in, and told them a bit about what I had done. I think I had lost 5 stone at the time. As I came running in to the finish line, I heard the announcer talking about it and I got a big round of applause! That felt pretty cool!

Family details - marital status, number of children, ages etc. How do they feel now about your weight loss? Have any of them lost weight?
Married for 15 years this year.
4 children: 13, 10, 9 and 3 years old.
My Eldest keeps showing all his friends my certificates on the fridge and asking there weight to see if I have lost more than they weigh! hehe He loves the fact I now take him Mountain biking Saturdays.
My daughter (youngest) tells me I'm not fat, but Im a bit chubby in the belly!
My youngest son thinks its amazing that I have lost 1 and a half of his weight.
My Middle son who also goes mountain biking sometimes has brought me to tears at least once with his enthusiasm about his new "skinny daddy" and I'm not even skinny yet!
My wife is "warming" to the fact that after 15 years of nagging me to do something, I'm eventually losing weight! ;) She loves the fact she can give me a proper hug again. She has also been very very supportive, buying the food I need, sometimes cooking a separate SW meal for me and keeping the crisps out and the fruit draw stocked!
I love them all and other than my health problems the other main motivation to stick to this has been my family!

Have you had support from your family or friends whilst Food Optimising? For example did you have to cook yourself separate meals, or did the whole family or friends Food Optimise with you?
Shhhh don't tell the kids, but they sometimes eat SW meals without knowing! :) 99% of the time my wife Karen eats my SW meals with me. My father in law says he always enjoys a SW meal when he eats with us. And all except my middle son has warmed to our new healthier Chicken meals on a  Sunday.
Most of my friends and colleagues at work are very supportive of me and help by keeping a Big Brother eye on me, but 1 of the best experiences of support from a friend though, was a week ago, showing up at his house on a Saturday morning to watch the rugby with a couple friends and I had prepared myself to count some Syns for a Bacon Bap during the game, only to be surprised by a beautiful SW Full English! Thank you Darryl!

Is there anything that you can now do as a family that previously you were unable to do? For example, run around with the children, go on holiday.
2 years ago we went to Bideford bay, and we parked at a Hotel and the rest of the family went for a walk down the beach and across the rocks while dad sat in the car waiting for them. This last July we went back to that same beach a number of times, and dad never waited in the car this year! I was out no the rocks, through the big hole in the big eroded rock.
Saturday's have become mountain bike days, the most recent bank holiday Monday turned into a family picnic in Sherwood forest. Normally not only would dad have opted out of the picnic, but there was certainly no way dad would be the 1 dragging the boys out on their bikes for a quick ride on the trail!
Yeah you could say there have been some changes! :P

What’s your occupation? Has your weight ever affected your occupation in terms of your promotional prospects or general work relationships? If so, how?
I'm a Telecoms Engineer. Sadly not 1 of the outdoorsy, up a pole, cabling Telecoms Engineers either. I do all my work from a PC/Laptop. There is the odd occasion to visit the datacenter and do some server moves/installs, I have been able to help the other engineer more than I would have before, but there isn't all that much call for physical ability at work.
That being said, I get a lot of positive, encouraging comments from EVERYONE at work! I can't go into the office these days without someone saying something. They all praise me practically daily! It gets a bit much sometimes, but I guess it must be weird for them to see such  drastic change, and it will take time for them to get used to the new me…especially since I'm still losing and my body shape is still adjusting!
The CEO and MD are obviously delighted that I have made such a drastic change to my health. I'm a valued employee of the company, and they are glad I've taken measures to get myself fit and healthy! They both enjoy cycling, so my new found addiction to cycling fits in well. :)

What did workmates/colleagues think about you joining Slimming World? What do they think now?
Of course they were all encouraging and hopeful for me right from the start. As they have been in the passed when I tried other diets. I don't think any of them HONESTLY expected this time to be any different and they are all very impressed. It's gone beyond the employees of my company now. Just today 1 of our customers was telling me he has shown his over weight accountant who is trying to lose weight himself, my blog. His accountants reply was "Inspirational!!!" or something to that effect. Another of our customers, inspired by my success is deciding if he wants to go to Slimming World or not, but in the mean time has looked up what information he can about it, and started following my Body Magic example. It feels good to be having that kind of effect on people, but at the same time, I enjoy the additional pressure I feel each time someone tells me how I have inspired them to get more active (Most of them thinner than me). There's no turning back now….far too many people to disappoint! :)

Detail any incident which could be of interest to the press which relates to before you lost the weight or since you have lost the weight. This could be an amusing story or an embarrassing experience.
WOW…hmmm…some of this was done before while attempting to answer the previous answers. Each suggestion below can be embellished on, or all the stories together telling in different ways the full effect the change has made on my life.
The contrasting family holidays of 2009 and 2011, Where in 2009 I waited int he car while the kids walked and played no the beach and rocks, then in 2011 at the same beach I was able to join in is a special 1 to me. Or the Forest picnic and mountain biking in contrast to previously simply not even going to the picnic and instead staying home to play a computer game. These tell the story of how this change has effected my family relationships.
Or the massive difference of in January not being able to even get on a  bike to September riding 65 km in a day in a Cyclothon.
Id love to be able to tell the story of how this journey which started which a health problem preventing me from flying to South Africa to see my poorly Father, has seen me reverse that problem and I've been to see him. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to save for my flight yet.

Summary @ 32 Weeks


For the last 15 years of my life since getting married, I practically abandoned all forms of exercise, and swelled from 15 stone to 29 stone.

In January, considering flying to South Africa to visit my ageing, ill father, but concerned about the swelling and rash on my left leg and the risk it posed on a long haul flight, I went to see my doctor.

Advised that it was due to poor blood circulation caused by my weight and sedentary job, the doctor suggested I try Slimming World and if that didn't work, that we consider a gastric band.
Initially skeptical of "yet another diet" I showed up at my nearest group expecting this not to work.

After week 2 with reasonable losses with out starving or sacrificing taste (Thanks to my wife’s amazing ability to cook SW recipes!), my hopes and confidence in Slimming World increased. I could actually see myself eating like this the rest of my life, and if the weight loss continued, I could reach my target weight in at least 2 years!

Week 3 saw a complete change of attitude and I decided that the only way to lose all this extra weight was to change my attitude, priorities and become a little more determined to do this. This included a life changing decision to "Go public"! I started up a little blog: http://duanesdietdiary.blogspot.com, and started posting my progress in my personal Facebook profile for Family, Friends, Work Colleagues, Church friends and old School Friends to see! My idea wasn't to get attention or support, but was more for the pressure brought on by the "Big Brother Effect". If everyone I know, meet, speak to or haven’t spoken to in years, is "looking over my shoulder" There is NO WAY I could give up!

Week 4 one of my closest friends started paying attention and suggested I start walking. Initially I laughed him off saying, "Not yet", the same as I did to my Slimming World Consultant who suggested Body Magic. But he was way more stubborn and insisted I entertain him with as little as 200 yards a day, 6 days a week. So I gave in and did it, reluctantly, thinking, what’s the point?

By Week 7, I was knocking on the door of 2 stone lost and had been walking 400 yards a day. This is when things got interesting. Suddenly the 300 and 400 yards a day didn't seem enough, and I was actually starting to enjoy the early morning walk. I felt a desire to get out there longer and walk further!

It suddenly hit me that I had replaced some of my unhealthy addictions (Fatty foods, sugary foods and computer games) with healthy addictions (tasty low fat sugar free meals, walking). I also noticed that there was a direct relation between the energy the healthy food was giving me and my desire to USE that energy doing exercise, and a complimentary relationship between how the exercise made me feel and my desire to eat healthy. A nice little cycle A->B->A. A match made in heaven.....literally!

From that point in my journey till today, it's all been a bit of a blur!
1. The intensity of my exercise grew till I was walking 5 to 8 miles a day, 6 days a week. Eventually my heart and lungs wanted something more intense than walking was giving me. So I tried my hand (Legs) at running. Unfortunately, that brought on a tendon/muscle injury in my left leg. Which got me to switch to cycling. I went from cycling 3.5 miles in a day to regularly doing 9 to 18 miles. 2 days ago in my most recent Cyclothon I did 40 miles in a day! I even do some mountain biking on the weekends, which I absolutely LOVE!
2. Extra Easy has become a habit. I don't have to think about what I'm eating anymore. I don't have to convince myself to choose a healthy on the go snack anymore. It's automatic! I'm sub consciously visiting the fiber bar sections or fruit aisle or looking for some easy open cans of Baked Beans/Spaghetti for a Big fix! I've discovered some of the fast food places serve a mean salad! And supermarkets have some great Salad lunch options if I'm away from home and forgot to pack a SW Lunch. I recently visited a KFC after 2 days of about 5 hours cycling, with an intense need for PROTEIN, and what would have been a burger/pieces meal in days gone by, naturally became a slightly healthier choice of boneless pieces (less fat, less bread).

I love the reaction I get from people who seem unable to stop themselves asking that seemingly rhetorical question: "You must feel like a completely different man?" then realize the answer lies before them as plain to see as daylight. I am a different man, I stand different, I look different, I move different and I smile different!

Though I'm only about 60% of the way to my target, I feel absolutely amazing. I have gained so much more enjoyment out of life and out of my body! I'm out in the fresh morning air and on weekends out in the beautiful Sherwood Forests! I'm already Happy! What the heck am I going to do and feel like at target?! Give me a few more months and I'll let you know!

Friday, 16 September 2011

Weigh-In Week 32

I'm going to sound greedy, but slightly dissapointed with only losing 4 lbs (1.81 kg) this week.

Awards this week:

8.5 Stone Award (119 lbs / 53.98 kg). (I'm getting to the rare awards, made evident by the fact consultants don't seem to carry these certificates! :P
Slimmer of the Week again. 16/32 weeks! 50%, not bad going! :)



Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 20 stone 5 pounds (285.0 lbs / 129.27 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011) This is also my Running weight target as suggested by the Podiatrist.
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
 
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 32: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)

I know it sounds terrible to say this after a 4 lbs (1.81 kg) loss, but I am truely dissapointed. I felt I tried extra hard this week, did loads of exercise, stomach slimmed down some more, and all was looking good upto my Thursday massive cycle. Pushed extra hard yesterday, perhaps with the pointless expectation that I would lose more weight for weigh in. Anyway, my weight loss greed aside, I'm still fairly happy with a 4 lbs (1.81 kg) loss!

Goals achieved this week:
1. Eventually dropped under 130 kg (286.6 lbs)
2. New personal best 5 km time of 37min 22 sec! 1 step closer to gettig under 35 min.
3. Cycled 65 km in 1 day!

Goals for this week:
1. Same old Slimming World Extra Easy plan 100% optimisation. It's not so much a goal to set each week anymore as it is simple a way of life now. But I feel like it needs to stay up here as tribute to how I eat and the influence it has been in my life.
2. Need to try beat my cycling Average Pace record over more than 16 km. Currently it is 2:32 which is a average speed of 23.68 km/h. I need to get under 2:30 to hit 24 km/h which is a target my boss set me a month or 2 ago. It is roughly the equivelant of 15 mph or 4 min/mile.
3. Lose at least 0.68 kg (1.5 lbs) to get to 128.6 g (183.5 lbs). This will mean I have lost 30% of my start weight! Which will leave me 20% to go to be literally Half the man I was when I started! That's 60% of the way done!

Some very short term goals that I don't feel comfortable targeting just for this week, but that I'll be very happy to achieve this week! :
1. Get below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127.01 kg)! I have been dreaming of dropping below 20 stone (280 lbs / 127.01 kg) for 8 months now, and I am so excited to ALMOST be there! 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) to go! 19 stone 13.5 lbs sounds SOOO much smaller than 20 stone 0.5 lbs! Stone weights that start with a 1! :D It's possible to lose 5.5 lbs in a week....I did it a few weeks back, but it can take as many as 3 weeks for me to shift that much.
2. 9 stone ( 126 lbs / 57.15 kg) award! 6 lbs (2.72 kg) to go, again, possible in a week, but can take as many as 3 weeks to shift it.

I chickened out of setting my mini target to 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg), but was brave enough to set it at 4 lbs (1.81 kg). which will set me up very nicely to target both my sub 20 stone and 9 stone loss goals the next week, before the end of September!

Thursday, 8 September 2011

Weigh-In Week 31

An awesome surprise this week with a 5 lbs (2.27 kg) loss! Woohoo!

Awards this week:

Slimmer of the Month for August! I missed July, but have been slimmer of th emonth every other month.

That brings the total to 8 stone 4 lbs (116 lbs / 52.62 kg).

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 20 stone 9 pounds (289.0 lbs / 131.09 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011) This is also my Running weight target as suggested by the Podiatrist.
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 31: 5 lbs (2.27 kg)

Seriously surprised by this as my week hadn't been going all that well. I had burnt my body out with exercise, feeling sick on the weekend, lost my apetite, had a "binge" KFC meal Saturday, etc...very poor week! Because I felt like my body was cursing me for over doing the exercise, I decided to make this week a "rest" exercise week. Only ran on Monday, skipped exercise Tuesday, only cycled Wednesday and skipped exercise today. The scales werent very encouraging through the week either, but somehow today it all fell in to place and I was very happily surprised with an awesome 5 lbs (2.27 kg) loss!

Goals achieved this week:
1. Back on Slimmer of the Month this month! :)

Goals for this week:
1. 100% Food Optimise this week, with lots of Super Speeds too!
2. Monday I want to try improve on both my Running and Cycling targets. I need to beat 39min 22sec on my 5 km run, and need to beat 2min32sec per km average pace on my 16.6 km route! Been resting this week, so no good reason not to be fresh and able!
3. I have another charity track cycle next week Thursday. This time its a 8 hour cycle where I can stop and rest as much as I like. Setting my targets on achieving 24 km/h over 30 km as a speed target and I want to try hit a total of 80 km in the day!

Only Thursday to worry about where Lunch is catered at the cyclothon. Rest of the week should be good slimming meals! I set a 3 lbs (1.36 kg) loss as my mini target for the week to achieve my 8.5 stone (119 lbs / 53.98 kg) Award.

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Weigh-In Week 30


Only slightly dissapointed with a 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) Gain.

No awards this week.

That brings the total to 7 stone 13 lbs (111 lbs / 50.35 kg).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 20 stone 12.5 pounds (292.5 lbs / 132.68 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Achieved this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Achieved this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (hope to reach this by 04/12/2011) This is also my Running weight target as suggested by the Podiatrist.
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 01/02/2013)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs (2.27 kg)
Week 2: 3 lbs (1.14 kg)
Week 3: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 4: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 5: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 6: 2 lbs (0.9 kg)
Week 7: 2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Week 8: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 9: Maintain
Week 10: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Week 11: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)
Week 12: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 13: 3 lbs (1.36 kg)
Week 14: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 15: Maintain
Week 16: 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 17: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 18: 4 lbs (1.81 kg)
Week 19: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
Week 20: Maintain
Week 21: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)
Week 22: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 23: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN
Week 24: 9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Week 25: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 26: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Week 27: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 28: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
Week 29: 11.5 lbs (5.22 kg)
Week 30: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN

Slight dissapointment with the gain this week, but (here come the excuses! :P):
 1. it was my birthday, and whiel I don't necessairly celebrate my birthday in a big way at all, I do "treat myself" with food (ate out on the night and a slice of cake after.
2. Saturday and Monday were Sherwoods Pines days. Saturday with Mike and the boys, Karen packed sandwiches for lunch. 3 slices of bread later..... :( Monday was with the family, Karen packed sandwiches. 4 slices of bread later..... :( Bread and I are not friends!
3. The week after a big loss is often a difficult 1 to have a good loss on, so with points 1 and 2 added to this weeks pressure, I was almost fighting a losig battle!
It could have been soooo much worse though, but My awesome exercise routine and all the riding in the forest probably limited the damage! :)

Goals achieved this week:
1. On Tuesday morning I set a new personal best 5 km time of 39 min 22 seconds, not only beating my last PB by over a minute, but eventually dropping below the 40 min mark (average pace of < 8 min / sec)! I was sooo happy to achieve it! Literally punched my fists in the air! I have been chasing a time of sub 40 min for about 3 or 4 months now, although I was held back by a very long bout of tendonitis!
2. I have passed the 100,000 Calories burned mark! Since starting my exercise in February walking a mere 200m a day, I have burned a massive total of 100k calories! :o That is the equivalent of 34 lbs of fat! :) Yay me!

Goals for this week:
1. Back to normal 100% Food optimization. No Holidays and no birthdays in the way to distract me! YAY Back to normal life again!
2. I have a charity track cycle tomorrow night and I have set my self a target of averaging 24 km/h over the 2 hours that I am allowed on the track. While that may seem slow, it is faster than my fastest average speed which I only improved today from 23.3 km/h to 23.7 km/h. I do however have the benefit of what should be a nice smooth surface, no traffic or pedestrians, and no intersections to navigate/wait at, so fairly confident my target is attainable. :)
3. Saturday will see me out at Sherwood Pines again, burning up the Red Route. I have set a target to do it 4 times Saturday which will be a total of about 52 km of single track mountain biking! :D Saturday will also be my first recording of "Mountain Biking" stats on Runkeeper as I've been realising how the Trail riding has been ruining my average weekly stats! It will cause a drop in my weekly cycling distance, but should give a more true reflection of my weekly cycling stats and at the same time allow me to track my Trail riding stats. :)
4. Monday I am planning on to recording "Running" stats on Runkeeper again. I have been keeping my unofficial runs on Mondays recorded as walks so they counted as part of my walking targets (distance), however from Monday, due to my improved pace an the comfort I have been experiencing while running, I've decided to record it as an official run so I can start setting some running targets. The first "long term" target is to get my time below 35 minutes which is an average pace of 7 min / km.

Looking forward to what should be a good week week. I set a mini target of 4 lbs. Initially I wanted to set it at 1.5 lbs to lose at least what I gained this week, but I think 4 lbs is achievable considering my gain, and how well / uncomplicated this week is looking! Happy Slimming!