R1.6 Day6 - Total loss to date: 5kg!

Starting Weight: 159kg - 350lbs - 25st 0.5lbs

Day6 07:58 = 154kg - 339.51lbs - 24st 3.5lbs

 

I didn't post Day4 or Day5, but here are the weights on each morning:

Day4 ~08:30: 156.9kg - 345.911lbs - 24st 9.9bs
Day5 ~08:30: 155.7kg - 343.26bs - 24st 7.2lbs

08:45 = 500ml Coffee (Latte + instant coffee) + 75ml Milk & 8 Sucrolose Sweetners

I have got into a routine of eating nothing but fruit before 12. And only 2 pieces.
I think Tuesday I had a pear and a banana and Wednesday I had a Apple and a Banana.

Supper planned = 3rd Portion of Spicy Fried Mince
On Tuesday night I made some Spicy Fried Mince and split it into 3 portions:
500g x 25% Beef Mince + 10 new potatoes, 1.5 Carrots, 10 button mushrooms, 2 tomatoes, 2 small Onions, 1 Red pepper & My special spice mix 😎 
I ate the first portion Tuesday, second portion last night, and have the 3rd portion for tonight.

Side Effect Watch:
Nausea, Heartburn, Burping, Tiredness, Dizziness, Skin irritation at injection site, Gastritis, Indigestion, Adominal Pain, Bloating, Diarrhea or Constipation.
Vision Irregularities, Cold Sweats, Headaches, Nerves or Anxiety.
I'm still managing to avoid all the bad side effects with very strict portion control!

I'm averaged about 2.5ltr Lemon Squash & coffee of the last 2 days.

Exercise Tuesday was a 2 parter since my Battery died. I missed some due to Battery, I think this was at minimum 6km total but not sure.
Exercise yesterday was a strong 4.5km.

Feet pain is way better than it was when I first started walking ~5km! 

R1.3 Day 3

Starting Weight: 159kg - 350lbs - 25st 0.5lbs

~03:00am = Side Effect Watch: Woke up and had a little acid reflux/heartburn. Nothing serious.

08:40 = 157.3kg - 346.83lbs - 24st 10.4lbs
Actually feeling pretty good and looking forward to a walk when it stops PISSSSING Down with Rain!

09:00 = 750ml Coffee (Latte + instant coffee + 75ml Milk & 8 Sucrolose Sweetners

10:30 = Butter Minto
Heartrate: 75bpm

14:30 Lunch = Small Salmon Salad

21:00 Supper = Apple

Side Effect Watch:
Nausea, Heartburn, Burping, Tiredness, Dizziness, Skin irritation at injection site, Gastritis, Indigestion, Adominal Pain, Bloating, Diarrhea or Constipation.
Vision Irregularities, Cold Sweats, Headaches, Nerves or Anxiety.

~2.5ltr Lemon Squash throughout the day. I have 2 bottles of mixed Lemon or Orange Squash I keep in my fridge and refill. I used to drink 6 to 8 litres of liquids a day. Currently though, Im averaging about 2 to 2.5 litres a day...

R1.2 Day 2 Food, Stats & Side Effect watch

Starting Weight: 159kg - 350lbs - 25st 0.5lbs

Time 8:55 = 158kg - 348.33lbs - 24st 12lbs
"Breakfast" = Can of Bacon & Lentil Soup (literally just the soup)

Time 12:05 = Lots of Burping throughout the morning

Time 13:30 = Tomato, 2 slices of Salami

Time 14:00 = 500ml Latte sachet, 1tsp instant coffee, 75ml Milk & 8 x Sucrolose Sweetners

Time 18:19 = No Nausea, heartburn or burping currently.
No Tiredness or Dizziness
No Skin irritation at injection site.
No gastritis, indigestion, pain, bloating or digestion irregularities, except I might be constipated? :s
Heartrate: 78bpm
No changes to vision, No Cold Sweats, Headaches, Nerves or Anxiety.

Time 19:00 = Supper = Fishermans Pie

Time 21:30 = 2 x Butter Mintoes

~1.5lts Lemon Squash throughout the day.

R1.1 - Start of something new

 This isn't a guide! I'm not even sharing full details! 

This is record keeping, for myself. 

Maybe 1 day I spill the beans and tell it all! Maybe!

Time: 9:45 = Starting Weight: 159kg - 350lbs - 25st 0.5lbs

Time: 10:25 = 1.8km dog walk

Time: 11:00 = "Breakfast" = ~70g BBQ Lean Lamb + Picked Cabbage & Onion & Chilli Sauce & Mint Sauce

Time: 12:23 = R1

Time: 13:10 = Slight Nausea

Time: 17:48

<- No rash at all

Time: 18:50 = 400ml Milky Coffee + 8 sweetners

Time: 22:45 - 23:59 = 4 x Butter Mintoes

Through out the day = ~1.5lt Sparkling Water + Cloudy Lemon Squash.

First After Weigh-in update

 After Weigh-in update

Really happy with a 6 lbs loss this week! Bringing my total loss to 1st 0.5lbs lost! It's great to reach these little milestones like 1 stone lost. Gives you a sense of achievement as you go. It's great that my brain works in Kg and Slimming World work in Stones and Pounds, it just gives me extra milestones to aim for:
New Stone Bracket
1 stone lost
New 10Kg Bracket
10Kg Lost
Etc

I'm aiming to do these blog posts every week straight after weigh-in depending on life circumstances....or as soon after weigh-in as possible. I find its easier to post my thoughts and feelings about the week on weigh-in night, a night I am trying to set aside for myself and to be accountable for my progress!

Results so far

Starting Weight (28/07/2021): 28st 4.5lbs (179.8kg/396.5lbs)
Week1 (4/8/21): 28st (177.8kg/392lbs) = 4.5lbs loss (Total 4.5lbs)
Week2 (11/8/21): 27st 10lbs (176kg/388lbs) = 4lbs loss (Total 8.5lbs)
Week3 (18/8/21): 28st 0.5lbs (178kg/392.5lbs) = 4.5lbs gain (Total 4lbs)
Week4 (25/8/21): 27st 8.5lbs (175.3kg/386.5lbs) = 6lbs loss (Total 10lbs)
Week5 (1/9/21): 27st 10lbs (175.9kg/388lbs) = 1.5lbs gain (Total 8.5lbs)
Week6 (8/9/21): 27st 4lbs (173.2kg/382lbs) = 6lbs loss (Total 1st 0.5lbs)

I'm still a little confused and concerned with how erratic my weightloss is. Last week my gain was not a huge shock after both Take Away and a Carvary meal celebrating Damon and I's birthday that Friday and Saturday. I thought I SYNed it all, and was within my limit each day, but in hind sight, I probably didn't quantify my portions correctly so it was probably more SYNs. That first gain 2 weeks before I have no explanation for though...and Unfortunately, Ive set a Loss Gain Loss Gain Loss Pattern up suggesting I might Gain next week! I am doing all I can in my power to stop that.

My losses currently are not as fast or regular as they were in 2011/2012, but I happy with the progress either way. The trend is still DOWN with a total of 6.4Kg Lost so far.

Inspirational thoughts this week

I had an opportunity to share something in the group tonight that I remember from when I did Slimming World in 2011/2012 that I have constantly reflected on over the last 6 weeks, which honestly works for me, is the motivation and empowerment from saying NO! 

It's so easy in moments of weakness or stress or temptation to allow yourself to eat your "trigger foods". For me, it is Bread and Crisps. My whole life I have binged on both with reckless abandon! I have never been able to eat 1 slice of bread.... the minimum is 4 slices. Never 1 small bag of crisps, the minimum is 2, often 3, or just eat a BIG Bag! 

However, since restarting Slimming World again, I have had none of either. Better than that, I empower myself with pride, focus, and motivation each and every time I see crisps or bread, and I think of having some, then literally in my head say "NO!". There is a strength that comes from that word consciously in my head. There are normally some motivational thoughts that follow along the lines of "You can do this". "Saying No to "that", improves your chances of saying Yes on the scales." or just proud mental pats on my own back congratulating myself for being strong and strict!

Fitness and Exercise

I am noticing a difference this week! I'm less tired at the end of my 2.5/3km walks and trying to find time to walk further...Unfortunately, it probably means I need to get up and start earlier! :P But I am also trying to walk a little faster. I noticed this week that when Karen wasn't thinking of keeping pace with me, she quickly left me behind. I NEED to speed up and get to a more normal pace, which will also improve my cardio workout, and allow me to increase my distance in the same amount of time. I don't want to push too fast too soon though, so just need to listen to my body and keep pushing it faster and further when I can.

This week's Goals

I've targeted a 4.5lbs loss this week which would drop my weight to 26 stone 13.5lbs. It's a new stone bracket, leaving that 27st bracket behind me! But it also would be great to have 2 decent losses in back-to-back weeks!
I also want to try to go for a walk EVERY day this week! Often I am taking 1 or 2 or even 3 days off from a planned exercise walk. Normally this is due to work, or being busy with other things, or sleeping in because I didn't sleep well the night before. I really think exercising has a major effect on the fuel my body craves! When I exercise, I seem to crave fruits and veg, rather than fiber bars or carbs!
I also want to try to do a 10km walk this weekend. It would be a good milestone to tick off, and I'm really feeling like my body is ready for at least 1 good long walk a week too!

Lastly, I just want to say thank you to all my friends and family that are encouraging me every day! Especially, Karen! She helps plan a lot of our meals, cooks the majority of them, shops for all the ingredients, and motivates me DAILY to keep at it! I literally couldn't keep doing this without her!

Back at it again!

Back at it again!

Well, it has been some time and that time has been full of many ups and downs! Although these were not the GOOD KIND! Mostly it was my weight going up and my motivation going down!

Bullet points of what has happened since I last posted here:

• I not only went back to my starting weight of 184kg (405lbs/29st) but surpassed it to nearly 200kg (440lbs/31.5st)!
• In January 2021, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes!
• I became as sedentary as I ever was and started getting issues with my knees, ankles, and tendons in my feet.
• I have also in that time tried various different types of diets "on my own". Sometimes with good 20kg losses, and other times with little to no losses or other negative physical effects!
  Some examples are Banting or Keto Diets and I even spent a couple months on a CRAZY Carnivore diet with a great 20kg loss, but a few negative Mental/Emotional results, as well as some unexplainable issues with my feet...It literally felt like I was constantly walking on nails!?
• In 2018 we bought a van and converted it to a campervan, and it started getting me out of the house and a little less sedentary!

However, I'm back at it again! At the beginning of August with my doctor's approval, I went back to Slimming World to do their Extra Easy "Diet", despite my heavy reliance on a lot of their "Healthy Carb" Free Foods.

It's taken me a month to find the confidence to share this journey again. Partly, because I wanted to make sure I found my determination to see this through again. It's embarrassing planning to start this journey, sharing it with friends and the rest of the world...and then Failing spectacularly...
But, I found a lot of determination and motivation in sharing my weight loss journey in the past, and now confident enough to share and look for the support I enjoyed the last time! So thank you in advance to anyone reading and willing to support me on this journey again! I almost feel like I can't do this without you!

Results so far

Starting Weight (04/08/2021): 28st 4.5lbs (179.8kg/396.5lbs)

Week1: 28st (177.8kg/392lbs) = 4.5lbs loss

Week2: 27st 10lbs (176kg/388lbs) = 4lbs loss

Week3: 28st 0.5lbs (178kg/392.5lbs) = 4.5lbs gain

Week4: 27st 8.5lbs (175.3kg/386.5lbs) = 6lbs loss

I'm listing my results in Stones and Pounds because this is the measurement Slimming World uses by default.

Slimming World

A very brief and simplified description of what I understand about Slimming Worlds Extra Easy "diet" is there are essentially 4 types of food:

Free Food
- Everything sugar free with less than 2% Fat. That is a dangerous over simplification, but some examples of Free Food are Potatoes, Lean Meats, Rice, Pasta, Veg, Eggs, Fruit, etc
- This needs to make up at least 2/3 of your plate for Breakfast, Lunch & Supper

Speed Free Food

- These are Lower Calorie foods like Veg and Fruits, although not ALL are Speed. Example Bananas, Corn, Potatoes, etc

- This needs to make up at least 1/3 of your plate for Breakfast, Lunch & Supper

Healthy Extras

- These are Calcium and Fibre option foods. Mostly I get my Calcium from Dairy products and my fibre from grains.

- These foods are weighed/measured to both ensure that you are getting enough Calcium and fibre, and also that you are not getting TOO MUCH!

- You need to have 2 A serves (Calcium) and 1 B serve (Fibre) EVERY DAY! And any more than that you have to count as SYNs!

SYNs

- These are anything that doesn't fall into Free Food/Speed Free Food and Healthy Extras, counts as SYNs!
- A "normal" sized person on the diet should aim to not have more than 15 SYNs a day. But as a male and at my size, the website calculates I could have up to 37 SYNs a day...Although 95% of the days I never have more than 15 SYNs anyway!

- Slimming Worlds app and reference material has SYN values for almost every product from most Brands or even Take Aways listed for you to help calculate and track your SYN count every day!

Due to the reference material, it is important to actually be a registered member of a Slimming World Group. However, I find it VITAL to be a member purely for the weekly weighing and accountability at the group for what your weekly result is. Yes, there is a little pressure and stress when you have not lost, but there is also great support and encouragement to fuel your motivation and determination to stay strict to the plan!

Please note my description of Slimming World's diet is extremely simplified and personal to me and is in no way meant to serve as a guide or template to anyone to try to do this diet without access to Slimming Worlds' amazing and detailed reference material or the vital support of attending weekly group meetings!

Exercise

Aside from Slimming World, I am also stepping up my Physical activity to get myself fit. My intention was to start slow like I did in 2011! But what started as short gentle 10 minute walks, have quickly become intense 30 to 50-minute walks. I'm a sweaty, panting mess when I'm done, but I'm really enjoying it and although have achy muscles most of the rest of every day, I actually feel energized by the exercise and will continue to push these to longer and longer walks till I can start running and have lost enough weight that I feel confident enough to get on a bicycle again. 

Part of the problem at my size being on a bike is that I feel way too top-heavy and the simplest of corners make me feel like I will topple over, So I have set a goal to start cycling when I reach 162kg (157lbs/25.5st), which is a 10% weight loss and is also the weight I was when I started cycling in 2011!

My Goals this time round

Weight

I have set my target at 120kg (264lbs/18.9st). A 60kg (132lbs/9.4st) total Loss!
I feel like this is when I was happiest and fittest and was the most sustainable weight I was at last time. Although I did drop down to 109kg (240lbs/17.1st) as my lowest weight in 2011. I didn't feel comfortable then! I struggled with energy and fitness, and struggled to maintain that weight! At 120kg I ran a half Marathon and did a LOT of cycling which was definitely sustainable!

Fitness
I want to be able to do long hikes around the world. Up and down Mountains! The First 1 I have set as a Celebratory hike/van trip: Walking the West Highland Way in Scotland!

I want to be able to get on my bike and cycle for 40 odd miles as a daily exercise routine.
I want to be able to run 5km a couple times a week....especially when it rains! I recall the amazing "highs" I had running in the rain. I literally had a "mantra" and emotional reaction to seeing it raining outside: "It's raining! Time for a run!" ...ok...weak as far as a mantra is concerned...but it had an amazing power to get me out of the house with my running shoes on! :P

How long will it take?

Honestly, I have no idea! 

Last time I lost on average 6.35kg (14lbs/1st) per month.

But, I'm 10 years older and have diabetes...I'm not sure which one of those is responsible...But I am losing weight slower this time around!
Also, I know it is almost cliche to say this, but this time around, I honestly want this to be a lifelong change and not just a time-based target!

How you can help me

If you had read this far, I thank you and ask you as a show of support and encouragement to me, that you:

1. Like my blog posts and/or Facebook posts every time I share them. I will try to post updates at least every week and share my activities via Strava on Facebook.
2. Follow my Blog.
3. Share it if you like, or if you think it may help someone else
4. Comment some encouragement or share your own success stories
5. Fellow Strava users can follow me on Strava via this link: https://www.strava.com/athletes/198477

New Year, New motivation/determination

I feel like I dodged a bullet, no wait, Scud Missile today on the scales! The home scales battery has been flat, so haven't weighed myself at home for over a month and last weigh-in in group was 4/12/2013 when I put on 10 lbs after being away for 2 weeks!

Since then I lost the plot completely and have avoided going to group taking the month off mentally and physically, committing to get back on plan today (again)!

In that month "away", I ploughed "mouth first" into:
- COPIOUS amounts of bread/toast, baguettes and crumpets
- VARIOUS lazy McD meals with the kids
- VARIOUS lazy Subway lunches with Karen Pienaar Dalldorf
- VARIOUS South African sweets, chocolates and crisps
- VARIOUS helpings of trifle, cake and cream, ice-cream, chocolates, dry roasted peanuts, crisps and sweets
- 2 x Christmas Parties
- 2 x Chinese Take aways
- 2 x Christmas dinners (1 with friends and 1 at home)
- 2 x bags of Thornton Toffees
- a treat with my teenage boys to Red Hot Buffet
- a lazy KFC night last night
- an anniversary weekend away
- and pretty much anything else that was going.

To say I didn't know the meaning of NO this last month the moment anything popped into my mind or was offered, is no exaggeration, and if I did say no, it was only because I was already stuffed full of NON-FREE foods, and that eating any more be have been nothing short of attempted suicide!!

HONESTLY, without any hyperbole, I was expected to get on the scales today and gain 1.5 or 2 stone in that month! The conversation in the car enroute to weigh-in with my friend Estelle went something like this:
If I have gained more than 2.5 stone I'm going to cry.
If I have gained 2 stone I wont be surprised.
If I have gained less than 1.5 stone I'll be SHOCKED!

I got on the scales to a 4 lbs gain! WHAT!? How is that even possible?!?!

But I'll take it with thanks and a massive sigh of relief and focus forward with motivation and determination!

Update

Still going strong, but need to get out and exercise if I want to get my fitness level back to were it was!

Friday Breakfast was the usual Fruit and Fat Free Yogurt (1 for Cherry Underlay) for Breakfast. I had Salad for lunch and 2 Mugshot Thai (1 Syn) for a snack. Supper was Slimming world burgers from extra lean mince (A serve Cheddar, B serve slice of bread, 6 Syns 2nd slice of bread, 2 Syns SaladCream).
Syns =  10 Syns

Saturday Breakfast I had A huge Omelette with Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms and Tomatoes with Ketchup (2 Syns). Lunch I had 2 Thai Mugshots (1 Syn). Supper I had Steak, Peppercorn Sauce (2 Syns), SW Chips and Salad. Some salted Popcorn as a Cinema Snack (12 Syns).
Syns = 17 Syns

Sunday Breakfast was Fruit and Cherry Yog (1 Syn). Lunch was Cheese and Broccoli Pasta (1 Syn) and Sauce and Salad with Croutons and Dressing (8 Syns). Supper was So Juicy Chicken (2 Syns) with Rice, Gravy (2 Syns), Cauliflower LowLow Cheese (3 Syns).
Syns = 17 Syns

Managed to get a short walk in this morning. Need to just get into the habit of doing it EVERY morning!

Weighin and update

So first day back on the official scales at Slimming World on Wednesday night and I got a little surprise...I weighed myself at home before going and posted on here that I was weighing in at 26st dead, but when i got on the scales at Slimming World, it recorded my:

Current Official start weight 25st 9lbs.

So 5lbs lighter than my home scales are saying, which is good, since that means its 5lbs less to lose, but sucks since previous my home scales and Slimming World scales agreed exactly. Oh well, not that it matters.

The first day back on it went fairly well to start...with some Melon, Grapes, Banana and Pear with Fat Free Muller Light Yogurt for breakfast and Tomato, Lettuce, Croutons, Dressing and Peppered Smoked Mackerel for Lunch and Pork Chops, SW Chips and SW Peppercorn Sauce. Unfortunately thats when it went wrong. The kids got home from Trick or Treating and Dylan was "kind" enough to give me the Curly Wurlys he got because he doesnt like them and he knows how much I LOVE them! However, they were the little ones, so not too bad and at least thats Halloween behind me! :)

Total syns for the day: 17.5
Croutons: 6.5
Dressing: 2
Peppercorn Sauce: 2
Curly Wurly: 7 (3.5 each)

I did miss my walk yesterday and not yet been out today, but I will take Kaydee out for a walk for lunch today!

And I'm back again!

Ok, so I've been a bit more off than on the last year, and as a result I've put a lot more on than off!

I originally started this at 28st 13lbs
I'm currently weighing 26st dead (on my scales at home)

I'm sat here waiting for the time to pass before going back to Slimming World for the first time in 3 months. It's been a crazy 3 months! I know work has actually got in the way a lot and I always feel bad blaming work for not looking after my health, but the last 2 months have been the worst ever because I decided I was going to leave my job and work for myself so that I could STEAL my life back and focus on the things that are important to me: Family, Health, Cycling! I have been working nights and weekends setting things up, and on 18 October I eventually made the break!

It's been a busy first week working for myself, but I have eventually got control of things and been getting out walking as a start to my fitness and ready to commit to this for good.

In the last 3 months I put on another 2.5 stone, which has further trashed any fitness I had! I am even getting the back pains I used to get at 29st when walking as little as 1km! :(

LUCKILY.... I know a guy ....
He lost almost 12 stone in 12 months.
He went from not being able to walk 1km without pain to completing the Leeds Half Marathon (23.1km) in 2 hours 3 minutes.
He also did a Duathlon Classic, 10km run, 40km cycle, 5km run.
He did 131km around Brands Hatch as part of a Charity ride.
This guy KNEW how to eat healthy, think healthy and exercise healthy!
.....he said he would give me some tips and pointers....so it shouldn't be a problem.

As my first goal I'm setting to give me something to focus on, I'm going to join a Charity Trek up Machu Picchu in July 2014.
http://mptrek.weebly.com/index.html
I'll see what other physical challenges I can throw in my way as I regain some fitness.

I'll update my Official current weight after my Slimming World weigh in in a couple hours.

Another good week

Short post tonight as I'm sat in group, and will probably be busy when I get home and forget to post!

Very happy with a good 4lbs loss this week! Total of 10lbs lost since going back to group and getting on my bike again!

Current weight is 23st 8lbs

The bad stuff:
Didn't eat much on the weekend
Snacked a bit the last 2 days
Missed 2 rides due to broken chain

The good stuff:
Completed a full Food Diary
Rode every day I had a working bike!
Made some good choices even when heavily tempted
Lost 4lbs!

Very happy and still very motivated! Got to get to 20st and get on that road bike!!

Sheepish Hello

It's been my 1st real week at it again after some time! I never really consciously stopped going to Slimming World. Life/work kinda just kept getting in the way, but more so, I was letting it get int he way because I knew I wasn't focussed and committed to eating healthily or getting out on my bike!

2 weeks ago I started getting real depressed about the state of my health again, but knew I was taking Karen away for her birthday to the seaside, so I put off making a change till we got home. First thing I did when I got home was climb on the scales! 24st 13lbs! WHATTTTT!!! :(

At my lightest after starting at Slimming World I weighed 17st 4lbs. Last year this time I was 17st 12.5. So 7st on in a year! More frightening than that though is the fact that over the winter I did hardly any exercise and my fitness has plummeted! Last year this time I was doing 100km rides. Now Im struggling to finish a 16km ride!

So, Sunday with the seaside trip behind me I resolved to get back on it and put my health first again! I could have waited till my first weigh-in to stick to plan, but I decided Id probably only put on another 10lbs in the 3 days, so I cracked on straight away.

Step 1, stop snacking!
Step 2, Healthy food choices!
Step 3, STOP snacking!
Step 4, back on my bike!
Step 5, SERIOUSLY DUDE...STOP SNACKING!

By the time weigh-in rolled round Wednesday night I had shed an unofficial 9 lbs weighin in at 24st 4lbs. Good start! Now keep it up for a week!

It wasn't the greatest week to be honest!
THE BAD STUFF:
I had the odd bit of Synable chocolate, but Friday night with guests I also had some Chocolate cake and cream. Then after Karen's "ladies night" ladies went home....someone left a bunch of mini sausage rolls! NOOO..I should have thrown them in the bin! Instead, I snacked on them all through Saturday! Saturday night, date night, Karen and I went to movies and I ended up scoffing a 2 scoop ice cream with fudge sauce! :( The odd day I even had some crisps! ("I thought I said stop snacking!")
Then yesterday I had a weird day. I had to go to London for work, so I had loads of fruit in the morning, skipped my packed salad and had a packet of crisps for lunch!? Huh? Supper was a couple pieces of tikka chicken breast and about a quater small bowl of Tikka Pasta and couldn't eat any more. That's it!?
THE GOOD STUFF:
Although I did lots of snacking this week, by comparison to the last month or 2, I avoided a lot more snacking than it would have been! *pat on my own back* --- but I still got to reign it in if I want the weightloss not only to continue, but continue hard and fast to get to 20stone and get on my Road Bike again! (That's the goal by the way...20stone = Road Bike...til then it's slogging away on the mountain bike!)
I managed to get out on my bike 4 days this week, aiming for 6 next week.

I really wasn't expecting to lose much today at my 2nd weigh-in due to all the bad stuff and the scales telling a sad story last I weighed myself on Sunday, but I weighed in at 23st 12lbs tonight giving me a very lucky official 6lbs loss, but also add to that the unofficial 9lbs loss before first weigh-in and that's an unofficial 1st 1lbs in 10 days! Exactly the motivation and confidence I needed to spur myself on.

I knew I would get back to blogging once I felt confident this was a real honest return to plan, but I didn't think I would manage 1st 1lbs in 10 days, and has convinced me I'm back.

Someone told me this morning (paraphrased): "You've done it before and you have the tools, you can do it again!" and that is exactly how I feel. I know exactly what to do, and how to do it, and know that if I put my mind to it, I can do it again! Especially since I'm already 5st lighter than I was when I first started this!

NOW KEEP IT UP FOR ANOTHER WEEK!

FYI: in the past I spent a lot of time writing my blogs to a format, tracking my progress in detail in each post. I don't intend to do that again this time. I just want to speak my mind, mention my weekly and over all loss since starting again and perhaps since the very start and mention the highs and lows of the week. But I'm a sucker for detail, so it may stray in from time to time.

Also, in the past I spent a lot of time converting stones, pounds and kilograms....I cant be bothered this time. Either google or calculate the figures! :P Slimming World works in Stones and pounds, so thats what Im going to mention!
However, here are some markers for anyone that doesn't work in Stones and pounds to use for some mental arithmetic:
1lbs = 0.45kg
7lbs = half a stone = 3.175kg
1st = 14 lbs = 6.35

And some of my weights, past, present and targeted that will get mentioned:
Start = 28st 13.5lbs = 405lbs = 184kg
Previous Low = 17st 4lbs = 242lbs = 109.7kg

Current = 23st 12lbs = 334lbs = 151.5kg

First target = 20st = 280lbs = 127kg
Goal = 14st = 196lbs = 89kg

Weigh-In Week 77

Week 77 - 6 lbs (2.72 kg)

No Awards this week.

Started at 28 stone 13 lbs (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 17 stone 12.5 lbs (250.5 lbs / 113.63 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Acheived this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Acheived this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (Acheived this 08/12/2011)
4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/09/2012)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 31/12/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:
2011 (47 wks): 10st 3lbs (143 lbs / 64.86 kg)
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18kg GAIN
Mar12 (5wks): 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Apr12 (4wks): 6 lbs (2.72 kg) GAIN
May12 (5wks): 9 lbs (4.08 kg) GAIN
Jun12 (4wks): 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Week 74: Missed (Working)
Week 75: Missed (Cheating)
Week 76: 9.5 lbs (4.31 kg) GAIN
Week 77: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
It's been a weird week. I can't quite remember how Friday went, but imagine it wasn't great. Then Saturday I had a really long MTB session, got how and the 3.25 hrs on the MTB really motivated me and I committed to going back to basics with a food diary which I have been keeping on my Slimming World groups Facebook page. Well when I started totalling up the Syns I have for months been consuming and JUSTIFYING due to my exercise regime, I was Shocked to say the least! 30 Syns! It had me stewing the rest of the day! So I headed into the rest of the week committing to cut back on my Syns to make up for Saturday, and really didn't manage to accomplish that. I have my little vices like Nutella spread on my Peanut HiFi bar (tastes like snickers), my croutons and dressings on my salads, and sauce with my meals, which I can't seem to do without that end up totalling 10 odd Syns most days! So I went to weigh-in without weighing myself before due to being in a rush, expecting to have a the small loss I was hoping for, and felt I was lucky, and had to work much harder for than I thought I had to....then almost fell off the scales when I realised I'd lost a whopping 6 lbs! How did that happen?

This is going to sound silly, but I was actually a little upset I had lost so much, because it went against my new plan of losing "Slow and Steady". I've just been in a rutt lately where I'm either losing big or gaining, and it's doing my head in! I want to get back to consistent losses and feel like regular small losses is the way back into that!

However, I'm very happy it was a loss, and am determined to keep myself on track this week, and try get another loss. I've actually really enjoyed being back on plan 100% most of this week, mentally and physically.

Goals achieved this week:
1. "100% Food Optimising" at least most of the week.
2. Think I cycled every day...?
3. Stayed positive most of the week! :D

Keeping the mostly same goals for this week with one extra:
1. 100% Food Optimising. Count those syns and don't skip them, it will help avoid cravings!
2. Keep cycling every day, even if it is on the Mountain Bike.
3. Keep positive. Don't let the stress and depression creep in! I can do this by exercising regularly!
4. Keep posting my Food Diaries

Keeping with my slow and steady plan and targeted only 2 lbs (0.91 kg) loss this week!

Weigh-In Weeks 74 - 76

Week 74 - Missed (Working)
Week 75 - Missed (Shamefully avoided weigh-in due to not being on plan!) :(
Week 76 - 9.5 lbs (4.31kg) GAIN

No Awards this week. (Except the Mickey Mouse badge for actually going to weigh-in! :P)

Started at 28 stone 13 lbs (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 18 stone 4.5 lbs (256.5 lbs / 116.35 kg)
1st Short Term Target 26 stone (364 lbs / 165.11 kg) (Acheived this 18/04/2011)
2nd Short Term Target 22 stone (308 lbs / 139.71 kg) (Acheived this 04/08/2011)
3rd Short Term Target 18 stone (252 lbs / 114.31 kg) (Acheived this 08/12/2011)
4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/09/2012)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 31/12/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:
2011 (47 wks): 10st 3lbs (143 lbs / 64.86 kg)
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18kg GAIN
Mar12 (5wks): 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Apr12 (4wks): 6 lbs (2.72 kg) GAIN
May12 (5wks): 9 lbs (4.08 kg) GAIN
Jun12 (4wks): 10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Week 74: Missed (Working)
Week 75: Missed (Cheating)
Week 76: 9.5 lbs (4.31 kg) GAIN

It's been another bad 3 weeks. Hit an all time mental low last week that even caused me to avoid going to weigh-in. Work has been busy and stressful. Road bike has been in the bike shop getting repaired, and sad as it is to say, it's made me depressed. (ACHTUNG! "This is an excuse"! - more on this later, hehe) The depression had me comfort eating! Meals have mostly been Slimming World meals, but I had KFC once. My problem has been snacks! I seem to have been too weak to avoid the crisps, chocolates and ice creams over the last 3 weeks!
So, if I must be completely honest, the 9.5 lbs (4.31 kg) gain over the 3 weeks is "low" compared to what it should have been, largely thanks to what has been a fairly good week. I've eventually got myself out regularly on the Mountain Bike as a replacement for the Road Cycling while my Road bikes getting fixed. To be honest I have quite enjoyed it and got gloriously MUDDY! :)

I've proved this to myself over and over again over the last 18 months:
Bad Eating -> Bad Exercising
AND
Bad Exercising -> Bad Eating
.....when 1 of them wobbles, I simply need to focus on the other to make sure I push myself to STRICTLY stick to plan and the wobble quickly corrects itself! Sometimes it's so hard to keep playing the mentally strong, solid steel will power game though....just have to keep myself positive and motivated. I hate that I lose control. I hate even more that I currently weigh more than I did in December last year! :S

On the up side though, on Wednesday the August issue of Cycling Active hit the shops and there was an article on me, my weight loss, and my cycling efforts and how the 2 have helped each other. This was good for a couple reasons:
A) hopefully it will inspire someone to make the change in their life they need to make to head down the path I'm travelling,
B) knowing my blog was mentioned in there has me imagining that there are now thousands of people watching me struggle, which ups the pressure I put on myself to be strong and not FAIL!
C) Reading the article, my comments, thoughts and reflecting on my journey has come just in time to refocus me. Thinking about how far I have come, how close I am, and how I've been hesitating and slipping has changed my attitude. I have been remembering how unhappy that "Jan2011 Duane" was, and how good the "Aug-Dec2011 Duane" was feeling and I seem to have lost him along the way in early 2012 and I am very lucky that I am only revisiting the mental side of "Jan2011 Duane"!

So...I know I have said this a couple times this year, and I seriously hope this is the last time I'm saying this. It may be still a tough road ahead from here, but I'm back on plan at the moment and this time instead of going too crazy and attempting to lose 14 lbs (6.35 kg) a week. Slow and Steady. Back on plan of 100% Food optimising, including 5 to 15 Syns / day and concentrating on keeping my exercise steady. I have some exercise goals in September that are going to require a healthy and fit and thinner than now Duane:

Firstly I have am going back to Brands Hatch for VU Limiteds Cyclothon UK. upto 8 hours of cycling to see how many laps you can do. I expect to do a lot more this year than last. I'm much stronger, fitter and faster than last year. I have a much lighter bike. Climb hills much better, and have managed to put in some much longer rides since then than the amount of time I was able to ride in September 2011. Last year I did 65 km an it took about 3hrs of riding. I have to beat that, convincingly!

Secondly I have my 2nd Half Marathon (Robin Hood/Nottingham) at the end of September. Initially I wanted to break the 2 hr mark for this marathon, but I'm not so sure this is possible anymore. Something has happened to my running fitness. Left leg is constantly playing up and don't have anywhere near the fitness I had in May when I did the Leeds Half Marathon, but I will stick to my training program and see how it goes. I peaked perfectly for Leeds and if I keep focused, can peak perfectly again for Nottingham! Leeds I did in 02:03:41.

Goals achieved this week:
1. Go to Weigh-in ...... NO MATTER WHAT!

Goals for this week:
1. 100% Food Optimising. Count those syns and don't skip them, it will help avoid cravings!
2. Keep cycling every day, even if it is on the Mountain Bike.
3. Keep positive. Don't let the stress and depression creep in! I can do this by exercising regularly!

I'm keeping it simple this week. I've targeted only 2 lbs (0.91 kg) loss this week. Keeping it slow and steady is my current game plan!

Weigh-In Weeks 69 to 73

Week 69 - 9 lbs (4.08 kg) GAIN!

Week 70 - Missed (Scotland Mountain Biking)

Week 71 - 12.5 lbs (5.67 kg) GAIN!

Week 72 - Missed (London for Work)

Week 73 - 22.5 lbs (10.21 kg)

Awards:

Slimmer of the Month for June with my 22.5 lbs loss (Feels like cheating since I actually weigh about the same as I did at the start of the month before I had the GAINS!)

Started at 28 stone 13 lbs (405 lbs / 183.71 g)

Currently 17 stone 9 lbs (247 lbs / 112.04 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)

4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 26/07/2012)

Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach thsi by 27/08/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:

2011 (47wks): 10st 3lbs (143 lbs / 64.86 kg)

Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)

Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18 kg) GAIN

Mar12 (5wks): 8 lbs (3.63 kg)

Week 61: Missed (At theme park for Sons Birthday)

Week 62: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN

Week 63: 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!

Week 64: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg) GAIN!

Week 65: 6.0 lbs (1.13 kg)

Week 66: 4.0 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!

Week 67: 6.0 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!

Week 68: 4.0 lbs (1.13 kg)

Week 69: 9 lbs (4.08 kg) GAIN!

Week 70: Missed (Scotland Mountain Biking)

Week 71: 12.5 lbs (5.67 kg) GAIN!

Week 72: Missed (London for Work)

Week 73: 22.5 lbs (10.21 kg)

Another 5 week posting gap in my blog! I really need to get back on top of this and post at least once a week. There is no doubt that the blogging kept a constant pressure and focus on keeping to plan all of last year and since slacking on it this year things have been difficult.

It's been a frightening 5 weeks in more ways than 1! I put on 9 lbs (4.08 kg) before my Scotland Mountain Biking Holiday, and put on a further 12.5 lbs while away! Thats a 21.5 lbs GAIN! However, I think that shock snapped me out of it! I've been back on the Slimming World track for 2 weeks now, and its felt great! It feels like it did last year when things were going so well, and things have gone well! Unfortunately I was stuck down in London longer than I expected last Thursday and missed Weigh In, so this week I got on the scales with a 2 week loss of 22.5 lbs (10.21 kg)! 

I have always said, if you put it on fast on a holiday, you can lose it and more just as fast! I'd actually hoped to lose more over the 2 weeks, but I'm very relieved to have lost all I put on recently, now just 5 lbs (2.27 kg) more to lose to get back to my lowest and hopefully forge ahead to my next short term target of 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) and then on to 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg)!

Positives and Negatives of the last five weeks:

+ Feels great being back in the zone!

+ New record weight losses

- Some crazy GAINS, so glad I got rid of them straight away!

Goals for this week:

1) Set a crazy goal of 1 lbs a day, so 7 lbs this week. Which will be tough with a weekend in London for Karen's Birthday, but will give it a shot!

2) Keep Optimising for healthier choices in the difficult "Out of the house" meals. Salads and Fruit are so easily available in shops/petrol stations etc these days which makes things a lot easier.

3) Keep saying NO to excuses to go "Off Plan"!

Mini target for the week is 7 lbs! Really want to achieve that despite this being a tough week to do so with Karen's birthday, including a weekend away in London!

Weigh-In Weeks 63 - 68

Week 63 - 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!
Week 64 - 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg) GAIN!
Week 65 - 6.0 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 66 - 4.0 lbs (1.81 kg) GAIN
Week 67 - 6.0 lbs (2.72 kg) GAIN
Week 68 - 4.0 lbs (1.81 kg)

Awards:
Week 67 My Group voted me Group Man of the Year

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

Currently 17 stone 10 lbs (248 lbs / 112.49 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)
4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 26/07/2012)
Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 27/08/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:
2011 (47wks): 10st 3 lbs (143 lbs / 64.86 kg)
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18 kg) GAIN
Mar12 (5wks): 8 lbs (3.63 kg)
Week 61: Missed (At theme park for Sons Birthday)
Week 62: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Week 63: 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!

Week 64: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg) GAIN!
Week 65: 6.0 lbs (1.13 kg)
Week 66: 4.0 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!
Week 67: 6.0 lbs (1.13 kg) GAIN!
Week 68: 4.0 lbs (1.13 kg)

It's been 6 weeks since I posted any Photos or a blog. Partly it's been disappointment at how stagnant things have become. Partly it's that I have not really been focussing on losing weight. I have been settling into a "end of the journey" phase where I live life, enjoy exercise and eat healthy most of the time. Well, at least thats how I see MY "end of the journey" life being.
So now I've kind of gone back to basics. Focusing on eating healthy ALL the time, Being far more structured with my exercise regime. And letting that fitness drive, drive my eating habits! So far so good.....and feeling much better physically and mentally for it.

Positives and Negatives of the last six weeks:
+ Ran my first Half Marathon in an awesome 2hrs 3min. Far better than I had hoped for when I decided to do one in May, but even faster than I was hoping for 2 months ago. Not quite the agressive target I set before the race, but I'm not at all disappointed with that. Very Very happy with my time!
+ It's kind of a week "positive" to slip in, but I'm really happy that I'm still about the same weight that I was 7 weeks ago. I've had some gains and losses, and even been as low as my lowest ever in the middle of these 6 weeks. So it's not got completely out of hand.
- Not been focussed and been very weak at saying NO to a lot of the sugary or fatty "nice" things that I have avoided for the last 15 months. Really need to get over that and get back on track with the will power to say no...that I know I have!

Goals for this week:
1) Keep at 100% Food Optimising!
2) Make a habit of saying NO to excuses to go "Off Plan"
3) Complete my 6 day cycling week for the first time in Months! and repeat next week!

No official mini target set this week, I'd like to lose 6 to be at my lowest again, 7 to set a new low would be better, but I'll settle for a 3 or 4 lbs (1.36 or 1.81 kg) loss!

Weigh-In Week 61/62

Week 61 - Missed Weigh-In (At a theme park for my Son's Birthday)
Week 62 - 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN! :(

No awards this week.

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 17 stone 7 pounds (245 lbs / 111.13 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)

4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 17/05/2012)

Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/06/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:

Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Oct11 (5wks): 6.50 lbs (2.95 kg)
Nov11 (4wks): 13 lbs (5.90 kg)
Dec11 (5wks): 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18 kg) GAIN
Week 56: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Week 57: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)
Week 58: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)

Week 59: 7.5 lbs (3.40 kg) GAIN

Week 60: 13.5 lbs (6.12 kg)
Week 61: Missed (At theme park for Sons Birthday)
Week 62: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN

To be quite honest, I'm over the moon about only gaining 3 lbs this week. Most of the Easter weekend I was off plan food wise. To have pulled it all back between Tuesday and today and have only gained 3 lbs is a Miracle! I am however now sick of the constant up and down I'm experiencing and pretty upset that over the last 2 months I've not really lost anything! It's time to break out the secret weapons of "mass" distruction on my fat butt and get some regular losses! I know what needs to be done, and I know it's all down to me. I need to stop giving in to the stupid excuses that keep creeping in and taking me off plan. For a year I managed to avoid those stupid reasons fairly well, and the last 2 months I think I have given in to over confidence. "Look how well you have done Duane, Look how much exercise you have done Duane, You can afford to have a slive or 2 of Pizza, and maybe that doughnut, and pfft that Chocolate isn't going to do much damage!" Enough is enough! I know I have commited to be getting back on track a couple times over the last 2 months, but I seriously hope this is it and I really am back on track for good! I can let "life's little treats" get int he way now and again when i reach my end goal. Till then, I'll simply have to be stubborn and determined again like I was last year!

Positives and Negatives of the last two weeks:
+ Honestly a 3 lbs (1.36 kg) Gain is a MASSIVE Positive this week! Phew!
+ Spent 3 amazing days at a Theme Park (Alton Towers) with my family! This is something I used to love doing with Karen, but since putting on as much weight as I have, The safety Braces/harnesses havn't fitted over my belly, nevermind the fact I couldn't do the amount of walking involved in visiting a Theme Park. Over the last 3 or 4 years I have missed at least 3 family trips to Theme parks, but this year I got to go, and fitted on to all the rides and hand an AWESOME time!
+ I think I have eventually slapped myself in the face and am recognising the Stupid excuses I have been giving in to each time I have allowed myself to eat "Off Plan". Now I just have to get into the habit of saying NO again, and refocus that belief that I CAN lose all this weight!

Goals for this week:
1) Keep at 100% Food Optimising!
2) 2/3 Super Frees on as many meals as possible.
3) Eat More to make up for the amount of exercise I'm doing.
4) Full week of posting Food and Exercise on http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.
5) Make a habit of saying NO to excuses to go "Off Plan"

I got brave at Weigh-In tonight and commited myself to losing 6 lbs this week!

Weigh-In Week 59/60

Week 59 - GAINED 7.5 lbs
Week 60 - Lost 13.5 lbs

No awards this week.

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 17 stone 4 pounds (242 lbs / 109.77 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)

4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 29/03/2012)

Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/06/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:

Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Oct11 (5wks): 6.50 lbs (2.95 kg)
Nov11 (4wks): 13 lbs (5.90 kg)
Dec11 (5wks): 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18 kg) GAIN
Week 56: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Week 57: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)
Week 58: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)

Week 59: 7.5 lbs (3.40 kg) GAIN

Week 60: 13.5 lbs (6.12 kg)

Yip it really was a 13.5lbs (6.12 kg) loss this week! But, I did put on 7.5 lbs (3.40 kg) last week which was caused by Water Retention, Congestion (from my cold), Constipation and very little exercise last week. In stark contrast to this week where there is No Water Retention, Constipation, I'm over my cold and not only have I been exercising, but I did do a Duathlon on Saturday which must have nuked a good few lbs/kg! :)

Speaking of my Duathlon, ;) I rocked! I commited to this Duathlon about 4 or 5 months ago and have never done anything like it before. I knew I would be able to run 10km and cycle 40km, but never tried both as part of the same activity. Initially I set a simple goal to just FINISH. Then I thought about the last event I entered, a 5km run and remembered how I was not only last but the person in front of me finished in about 30 min and I came rolling in at 46 min! :s It was so embarrassing! So I set myself a secondary goal to NOT BE LAST! Then closer to the date I started thinking about times, and figured at my fast pace I should be able to finish the entire thing in 3 hours so set it as my Third Goal. So I looked up the previous years results and saw that the last people to get in were finishing in about 3 hours. :S It was going to be a struggle to achieve the second goal and I may have to do better than the 3rd goal to achieve it!
Goal1: Finish = Check!
Goal2: Not Last = Check!
Goal3: < 3hrs = Check! (2:56:06)

Positives and Negatives of the last two weeks:
+ Amazed at the 13.5 lbs Loss, my biggest loss in a week yet!
+ Finished my first Celebration event (Duathlon) achieving all 3 Goals I set for it.
- Silly Big Gain which despite the valid reasons for them was still a big gain! :(

Goals for this week:
1) Keep at 100% Food Optimising!
2) 2/3 Super Frees on as many meals as possible.
3) Eat More to make up for the exercise I'm doing.
4) Full week of posting Food and Exercise on http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.

I'm not sure what to exepect this week so I joined the 2 lbs club and will hope to hit that.

Weigh-In Week 57/58

Week 57 - Lost 2.5 lbs
Week 58 - Lost 2.5 lbs

No awards this week.

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 17 stone 10 pounds (248 lbs / 112.49 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)

4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 29/03/2012)

Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/06/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:

Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Oct11 (5wks): 6.50 lbs (2.95 kg)
Nov11 (4wks): 13 lbs (5.90 kg)
Dec11 (5wks): 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Jan12 (4wks): 19 lbs (8.62 kg)
Feb12 (4wks): 7 lbs (3.18 kg) GAIN
Week 56: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN
Week 57: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)
Week 58: 2.5 lbs (1.23 kg)

Well, I'm not quite back to my lowest of 17st 5 lbs on 26/01/2012, but I'm only 5 lbs up, and heading int he right direction! It's been a tough month and a half coping with 2 weeks holiday, 2 weeks home alone with the kids and cravings for all things non-Slimming World! This weekend was another stumbling block. I blew out after mountain biking Saturday with a pasty and crisps. Then Sunday bought on Choclate Cake and Ice Cream for dessert and snacked on some crisps in the day. Monday night was Chinese for Keenen's birthday. Tuesday was a good day food wise, but a low point confidence wise. I was really upset that I have been....well, FAILING so much lately. I had a brief chat with Steve on the phone Tuesday night, and I guess he didn't really know what to tell me other than "You an idiot!", but it was a turning point for me. I eventually gave myself the kick int he butt I needed and put my mind straight again. Since then it's been much easier to SAY NO to the cheats/crisps/chocs.
I was extremely happy with the 2.5 lbs loss this week. I was hoping for a maintain and thought I probably deserved a small gain. But Tuesday's mind switch seems to have paid off. I have been pushing hard at the exercise for about 2 weks now. A lot of the sessions have been tough due to the junk I been "fuelling" on, but still been knuckling downa nd getting it done!

Positives and Negatives of the last two weeks:
+ 2 losses (although small) back to back has me feeling much more positive again.
+ Been hammering away at cycling and running the last 2 weeks which has felt good.
- Still been ruining some of my days with junk snacks.

Goals for this week:
1) Back on 100% Food Optimising!
2) 2/3 Super Frees on as many meals as possible.
3) Keep check on my carbs. Might be lacking on carbs (exercise fuel).
4) Full week of posting Food and Exercise on http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.
5) Keep up the exercise but rest the end of next week to be Super Fit for my Duathlon on 24th!

I set a mini target thsi week again for 5 lbs. If I can stick to Food Optimising 100% this week, 5 lbs is definitely possible...maybe more!

Weigh-In Week 53/54/55/56

Week 53 - No Weigh-in (South Africa)
Week 54 - No Weigh-in (South Africa)
Week 55 - 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) GAIN!
Week 56 - 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN!

Awards this week:

 

Greatest Loser 2012 for my Group.
This is a pretty cool award! I'm a massive L O S E R !

Started at 28 stone 13 pounds (405 lbs / 183.71 kg)
Currently 18 stone 1 pound (253 lbs / 114.76 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) (Achieved this 08/12/2011)

4th Short Term Target 16 stone (224 lbs / 101.6 kg) (hope to reach this by 29/03/2012)

Long Term Target 14 stone (196 lbs / 88.9 kg) (hope to reach this by 30/06/2012)

The losses have gone as follows:

Feb11 (4wks): 17.50 lbs (7.94 kg)
Mar11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
Apr11 (4wks): 15.50 lbs (7.03 kg)
May11 (5wks): 18.00 lbs (8.16 kg)
Jun11 (4wks): 17.00 lbs (7.71 kg)
Jul11 (4wks): 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg)
Aug11 (4wks): 19.00 lbs (8.62 kg)
Sept11 (5wks): 14.00 lbs (6.35 kg)
Oct11 (5wks): 6.50 lbs (2.95 kg)
Nov11 (4wks): 13 lbs (5.90 kg)
Week 43: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 44: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
Week 45: Maintain
Week 46: 2 lbs (0.91 kg) GAIN Various Celebrations
Week 47: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) GAIN Christmas
Week 48: 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg)
Week 49: 7.5 lbs (3.40 kg)
Week 50: 1 lbs (0.45 kg) GAIN
Week 51: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Week 52: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg) GAIN
Week 53: Holiday in South Africa
Week 54: Holiday in South Africa

Week 55: 5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) GAIN

Week 56: 3 lbs (1.36 kg) GAIN

Really dissapointed with myself and my current weigh-ins. Obviously they due to me not sticking to plan, and there are some "excuses" (Karen is away and I'm an over worked, tired mommy and daddy trying to eat sensibly, cook 2 meals a night, feed all of kids and me, get everyone in and out the door for various activities, trying to stay sane while missing my wife, who has been 1 of my biggest suports over the last year while still suffering cravings for heavy SYN foods that I induldged in in South Africa), BUT I really do know better than to shove that junk food into my face and simply need to get over this, keep focussing on my exercise and how much better and easier it is when I'm not shoving junk down my throat! It's so frustrating to KNOW this, and I kick my butt mentally every time I go out running and cycling, thinking: "YOU IDIOT! WHY OH WHY DID YOU EAT THAT HOT CROSS BUN, OR CHOCOLATE, OR CRISPS, OR BREAD, OR PIZZA!!???" Yip I even ate 3/4 of a Large Dominoes Pizza!!??! WHAT HE HELL!? WHY?

So the gains are deserved, and I can't make any empty promises that this week without Karen (who is now in South Africa at a family wedding), is going to be any better! And I know Steve doesn't want to hear me say this, but I am trying! He thinks trying is unacceptable, I must simply DO! But If it's Do or Fail and no Trying, then I'm currently FAILING, and if I'm failing, I might FAIL every meal all day, at least when I am trying, I am only failing 2 or 3 meals in the week, or snacking wrong! So I refuse to just FAIL...instead i choose TRYING!

Positives and Negatives of the last four weeks:
+ I had an amazing holiday! As many probably know, not being able to fly home to see my Dad is what sparked this weight-loss and the sense of accomplishment of getting on a plane and spending 2 weeks in South Africa with him and my Mom and the rest of my family, was an amazingly emotional HIGH!
- Ive had 2 bad weeks since getting home, but at least I'm spending lots of quality time with the kids! :)
+ Winning our groups Greatest Loser 2012 is awesome. About 3 or 4 weeks in to my Slimming World Journey I met and read about a guy, Ian Hutchinson, who was 5th or 6th? in the National Greatest Loser Finals 2011. He was very good at journalling his journey which was very similar to the journey that I was hoping to travel at that time. I was inspired by him into BELIEVING that this was possible! Now a little more than a year later, and about 3/4 of the way to my goal, to win even just my local Groups Greatest Loser 2012, reminds me how similar my journey has already been to Ian's, and how if I simply hold on to that belief and keep my focus, how close I am to achieving that Goal weight!

Goal for this week (Only 1):
1) Survive with my sanity in tact, and hopefully with either a maintain or a small loss so that when Karen is back I can get back on track, find my MOJO and lose all that I have recently gained, and move forward and closer to that final goal!