Tuesday Treat - Good Jeans

If you're anything like me, a good pair of jeans are hard to find, especially as it seems like as soon as I find a decent pair I'm shrinking out of them (not that I'm complaining!). So when I was asked by Daxon (you may have spotted the button in the sidebar) if I'd like to review an item from their new plus size range I jumped at the chance. I'd never heard of Daxon before, but apparently Daxon is part of Redcats, which is the 3rd largest home shopping organisation in the world. I'm all for a bit of home shopping! I chose this pair of indigo straight leg jeans by Celaia in a size 18 (they go from a 10 to a 24), which were £37 (more than I'd usually spend, but currently reduced to £22) and waited anxiously for them to come. I didn't have to wait long and was pleasantly surprised when they arrived.

The problem I have with jeans is that I have a small waist, big tummy and short legs. So to get jeans that fit in all these places is near on impossible. Most of my jeans are way too long, and this isn't helped by the fact that as I have to get a size that will be comfortable on my tummy they will then slip down because they're too big on the waist. These jeans are a perfect leg length for me, and I can wear them with heels or flat shoes without treading on the hem. If you are taller than 5'2" you might want to go for a longer length though. I went for straight leg, where I usually chose bootleg or similar because I can tuck them into boots that way too. Perfect. They are a little snug around the tummy and waist, which I was disappointed in. I almost ordered a size 16, since all my other size 18 jeans are almost too big for me now, but I'm glad I didn't. Going by the measurements on the Daxon website, I would be a 26 though! Another thing I like about these is that they don't have any elastic in the waistband. I'm not a fan of elasticated waists on jeans, but in plus sizes they seem to be the norm. 

I can tuck them into my Uggs...

I can wear them with flats...

 ...or with heels...

...although probably best that it's not at the same time...

They're made by Celaia, another brand I had no previous knowledge of, but a quick google tells me they're a French brand who also supplies to LaRedoute. I was impressed to discover that they guarantee their clothing for a year, which goes to show the quality. And also means that when I inevitably break the zip (I seem to be heavy on zips...) they'll replace it.

Daxon currently only deliver to the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and BFPO Germany, and charge £2.95 for standard delivery. If you spend over £60 at the moment you can get free delivery with the code 8024.

All in all, I would definitely recommend Daxon, and will be shopping with them again. I've got my eye on this swimsuit...now to just get some pennies from somewhere! Did I mention it's my birthday tomorrow...

Hx

Item provided for review consideration. Opinions 100% my own. Please see disclosure policy for more information.

Weekly Weigh In and SCC Update

Morning,

I had a good result on the scales this morning, but it's somewhat bittersweet as I have flu and have eaten very little since Friday. I don't think I've had more than 10 ProPoints any day the whole weekend, and yesterday my total was 6 (I'm usually allowed 29 a day plus a weekly allowance of 49) since I've just felt so sick. So although I weighed in at 2lbs less than last week, I'm pretty sure it's not a true representation. Although I have been drinking gallons of water (4 litres yesterday) so I know I'm not dehydrated, it's going to be interesting to see what happens this week once I am feeling better.

Previous weight: 13st 9 1/2lbs (191.5lbs)
Current weight: 13st 7 1/2lbs (189.5lbs)
+/-: -2lbs

I am hoping to at least maintain this week, as I've now entered the 180s!

Last weeks goals were:

Lose at least 1lb so that I enter my 30s at my lowest weight ever - Yep! 30 tomorrow....
3 workouts at least, including a swim and something new - nope :( I ordered myself a skipping rope though, and a little birdy told me that a Jillian Michaels surprise might be waiting for me in the morning...
Cheer the eff up! - Yes! A good night out really helped, even if I have been at deaths door ever since...

This weeks goals:

Maintain my weight at least, lose if I can.

Work out! Anything is better than nothing. Re-do week 3 of C25k minimum.

Continue to track and drink 2l of water.

Spring Chick Mini Challenge: Go caffeine free. Think I can do this. I barely drink any diet coke any more, and I'm sure if I want coffee I can cope with decaff. As it happens I've just run out of regular coffee and only have decaff in the cupboard, so if I do my usual trick of forgetting to buy more anyway it wont be hard!

Tomorrow is my birthday, so I will be hibernating. Not looking forward to it for a variety of reasons so plan to mope about and act like a sulky teenager all day. Then Thursday I'm going to put on my big girl panties and get over it! Onwards and upwards!

Now I need bed and a box of tissues...

Hx

Unexpected Motivation

I haven't been running in a long while. I think the last time I went was sometime in the week between Christmas and New Year and work schedules, the weather and lame excuses have prevented me from going since. I say lame excuses because they are just that, lame. I have a new phone which runs on Windows 7 instead of Android and the Couch to 5k app wasn't available. I could have just used my old phone which Mr FGS is now using though... And now that a free Couch to 5k app for Windows phones is available I haven't had the time to sort out my running playlist on my new phone, and I can't run without music. Lame right? Anyway, I went out last night for a girly meal and a boogie with some friends who are also doing Weight Watchers and a particular song came on that I always run to. A friend and I both jumped up and said at the same time "I always run to this!" before shaking our thang like drunken idiots...

So, while I was there, throwing some shapes, I realised how much I miss running. It always seems like such an effort to wrestle myself into my sports bra, put on my trainers and go out in the cold and dark and run, but once I'm out there I enjoy it, and I feel good when I get back. Just hearing that song again has motivated me to get back into running. Tomorrow though, running with a hangover probably isn't a good idea...

I had gotten up to week 5 on Couch to 5K, but I am going to go back to week 3 and see how I get on. Maybe I can go straight back to week 4 or 5, maybe I'll have to start again, we'll see. But as long as I'm pounding the pavements with my favourite songs in my ears, I don't think I'll care :)

Moo-oo-ooo-oo-ooo-ooo-oo-ooo-oooves like Jagger!

In case anyone's interested, I updated the measurements in my "Stats" page (click the tab along the top). I'm only 2 1/2 lbs lighter now than when I last did it, but a few cm have been shed from my waist, arms and bust. I said I would post a pic once a month, and it has been a little longer than that, but here's a pic of me all dolled up last night.

Cheeky chops had to get in the picture!

6 months ago I wouldn't have dreamed of even trying to get my fat legs into calf high boots, let alone over the knee ones.  AND I spent the night pulling them up as they kept slipping down. Small NSV there, I think, in just having the confidence to try them, and then actually wear them out!

I had a GREAT night last night. This morning I have no voice, the nail polish rubbed off my big toes from dancing so much, my handbag reeks of vodka, we ended up in a gay bar and I dropped my phone in the toilet at 4am when I got home. I think all in all that adds up to a success!

Have you ever had any unexpected motivation?

Hx

Menu plans

I'm slowly getting into the habit of menu planning although this week's one is incomplete so far. I'm going out on Friday night and I don't know what food choices there will be at the place I'm going to. So because I undoubtably wont be able to restrain myself, and will be drinking alcohol (which I rarely do now) I'm trimming my points for the rest of the week. Weight Watchers say this isn't the way to follow the plan, and give you a weekly points allowance for times like these, but it has worked for me in the past and seems like "damage limitation" to me. I will be having a good old dance to burn some of the calories off though!

There also isn't a planned meal for Monday evening either. I weigh in on a Tuesday morning, so I usually have something very light such as fish and salad or chicken and steamed veg on a Monday night, and Mr FGS has something different - so I don't have a "meal" to plan as such. I have some quorn fillets in the freezer and there is always fresh veg in the fridge, so I know that's there and I don't have to "plan" it as such.

Snacks are the same. I have plenty of fresh fruit and veg - celery, carrots, apples, bananas, grapes, mango - and things like plain fat free yoghurt and cottage cheese, as well as low-fat crisps and Weight Watchers snack bars.

Getting my mojo back this week! For my new exercise I ordered a skipping rope! Once it comes I plan to do 5-10 minutes of skipping a day and I think this is manageable. I'm restricted to doing exercise in the evenings once the children are in bed which means my time with Mr FGS is cut into, but 5 minutes of skipping I can fit in while DS1 is at pre-school and DS2 is safely strapped into his highchair eating lunch or whatever. I can't wait for Spring when I can rely a bit more on the weather being better.

How is your menu shaping up for the week? Link me to it if you've posted one!

Hx

Weekly Weigh in and SCC Update

Morning lovelies

This week, by some kind of miracle, I lost 1 1/2lbs meaning I am only 1/2lb more than I was before Christmas. I say by some kind of miracle because it really hasn't been a good week. It's been quite stressful, I have made poor choices food wise, done no exercise and had no motivation what so ever. All this has lead me to eat very little over the last two days in an effort to undo the damage. Not the right way to do things and lesson learned.

Previous weigh in: 13st 11 (193lbs)
Current weight: 13st 9 1/2 (191 1/2lbs)
+/-?: -1 1/2

This weeks Spring Chick Challenge mini goal was to eat no sweets. And I failed. In a usual week it wouldn't bother me, and to be honest I managed on most days to avoid them. My downfall has been cookies this week, I need to find a recipe for some diet-friendly cookies.

I've done ok with my water though, and am finding it easier and easier to get 2l in a day. I've barely had any diet coke and restricted coffee to one a day (or less) and I'm not missing it any more.

This weeks mini challenge is to find a new exercise, and this is something I need to do anyway. I'm bored with Zumba and it doesn't "fit" at the moment because of home circumstances. I am going to try and get a swim in this week - perhaps with a run to the leisure centre. The weather hasn't been very conductive for running at the moment either, so my exercise routine needs a shake up. Any (cost free) suggestions gratefully received!

My own goals for this week:

Lose at least 1lb so that I enter my 30s at my lowest weight ever (it is my 30th birthday next Wednesday eeek).
3 workouts at least, including a swim and something new.
Cheer the eff up!

How did you do? What exercise will you be trying?

Hx

This week's menu plan...

Morning!

I've managed a menu plan again, but am doing it a little different this week. I decided that planning my snacks wasn't working - I rarely ate what I had planned and swapped the planned things for other days when I wanted them, so instead I have left the snack area blank and just written how many points I have left for the day after my main meals have been taken into consideration. On some of the days I've left more points for snacks than I have included for meals! But, in reality, it probably wont work out like that, and I'm not intending to use all my points every day. Once again, if there are any specific recipes you'd like to see please ask!

I have had to repeat meals and lunches more this week, for reasons I'll go into in a later post, but I don't mind and it means less cooking!

For snacks, as well as fresh fruit and veg and a huge batch of 0pp veg soup and fruit smoothies I will have the following options available:

WW rich toffee bar 2         Ryvita 1

WW crisps 2                     60g cottage cheese 1

150g lf plain yogurt 2         Tbsp lf hummus 2

Rich tea biscuit 1               Boiled egg 2

6 mini breadsticks 1           Cooked veggie sausage 2

I struggle for snack ideas, so if you have any suggestions please share! I am a big snacker and while I know I shouldn't be reaching for the crisps I can't help it! But as long as my choices are measured and accounted for, I'm not too worried. I'm trying to include more protein in my choices too.

Have you planned this week? I found it really helpful last week, knowing what to have and when, and it helped me spend less too.

Hx

Weekly Weigh In and SCC Update!

Evening all

Well, after a week of actually doing it properly (sticking to 29 ProPoints a day, tracking every morsel, exercising most days, weighing and measuring portion sizes, drinking 2-3l of water a day, generally feeling miserable...you get the picture) I lost a grand total of....half a pound. To say I am disappointed is an understatement, although I kind of knew I hadn't achieved a big loss. I could feel it. I have followed my WW plan to the letter this week, no cheating. Exercised every single day. Resisted the cravings. No bueno. But I am confident that if I keep going it will show on the scale eventually...it has to.

Spring Chick Challenge update-

Last weeks goals:

• TRACK. Yep.
• Menu plan. Yep.
• Exercise. Yep.
• Support. Haven't done as much as I could - need to find a way to categorise the blogs I follow - anyone know if there is a way to do this?
• Blog. Yep.

The mini challenge was to eat with your non-dominant hand and I failed! I just kept forgetting, and the one meal I did remember for I made such a huge mess LOL. Definitely food for thought though.

This weeks goals:

• TRACK. Everything. Again.
• Menu plan. Already done, just need to finalise. And stick to it!
• Exercise .As much as possible. Twice a day if I can.
• DON'T eat the kids leftovers! Put it all IN THE BIN.
• Support. Read all the challengers blogs as much as I can.
• Blog.

This week's mini challenge is NO SWEETS! I am a sweetie addict but don't eat too many at the moment (apart from the odd few I nick from the kids...shhh....). I am allowing myself one Weight Watchers chocolate bar (2PP value) per day if I want it, but other than that no sweets for the week.

I hope every one is well and that you had better results than I did! I'll try and catch up on all your blogs soon.


Hx

Now and then...

I took a picture last night and when I looked at it I was actually quite shocked. Not shocked at how fat I looked for once, but how slim my face looks now. Lots of people have commented about how they can see my weight loss around my face much more now, but I never truly believed it. have a look for yourself:

This is me last Christmas, with a 5 month old baby Jake

And this is me yesterday with an 18 month old not-so baby Jake and 4 year old definitely not-so baby Ollie

Wow!

Now, who can recommend a good botox clinic...

Hx

Lunch Of The Day - Spinach and Red Pepper Fritatta

I thought I'd show you a recipe from my menu planner. I made two servings on Wednesday, had one for lunch and will have the other tomorrow. It tastes great hot or cold, so it's great picnic or packed lunch food too.

Spinach and Red Pepper Fritatta

Makes 2 servings, 4 ProPoints per serving

Ingredients
3 mediums eggs, beaten
1/2 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 onion, sliced
1/2 courgette, chopped
100g potatoes
Handful washed spinach

Chop the potato into chunks - I cut it in half then sliced about 1/2cm thick. Heat a frying pan with a heatproof handle, add a few table spoons of cold water and the potatoes, onion, courgette and pepper. Cover and cook for around 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are cooked but still firm. You will need to stir occasionally and add more water if it starts to stick. Add the spinach and stir until it's wilted. Season well. Add the beaten eggs and make sure the filling is evenly distributed. Cook for a few minutes and the finish under a hot grill to set the top.

I served mine with a side salad and it was really nice. I like to make it with roasted veg too, and if you have left over boiled potatoes (waxy ones work best) you can just warm them with the veg in the pan before adding the eggs. Or throw it all in an oven proof dish and bake it like a crustless quiche/flan. If you've got some points/calories spare add some cottage cheese to make it even yummier!

What are you having for lunch today?

Hx

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance...

Hi loves, hope you're having a good week!

After last week's disaster I took some time on Tuesday afternoon after my weigh in working out to what I was going to eat for the week, down to the last snack. I've planned my menu to around 20-25 ProPoints per day as I'm allowed 29 and this will give me some leeway! Already yesterday I found it so much easier to stick to, and didn't even eat 2 of the planned snacks. I've included more variety in there too, which I think now it's getting harder I'm going to need. Having mostly the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day is repetitive and makes me not look forward to eating it. Today I was really excited about my bagel and enjoyed it, and as a result I feel satisfied. What has my life come to, that I enjoy looking forward to a bagel?! There are still some repeats of meals, but it is a lot more varied than what I was eating before.

Anyway, if you're interested here is my menu plan for the week. If the pic comes out really tiny, click it to look a bit closer. I plan on posting about some of the recipes but if there's any you specifically want to know, leave a message in the comments. I'm also planning to make this a regular thing, so have added a Menu Plan tab to the top. At the moment it just contains a link to this post, but I'll hopefully build it up with recipe links and menu plans as the weeks pass. It is time consuming planning this way, so I might not do it every week, but will definitely try and plan more!

Once I'd planned out everything, yesterday morning I walked to a farm shop to buy veg for the week. I spent £11.20 on this little lot:

Grapes, peppers, butternut squash, red onions, kiwis, courgettes, cucumber, tomatoes, lemon, spring onions, broccoli 

When I went to the supermarket after for a few more bits I had a quick wander round the veg aisles and looked at the prices to compare the farm shop prices, and found out that some things cost a few pence more, while some things cost a few pence less, so all in all I think I probably broke even. I will definitely walk to the farm shop more often (it's a 2 mile round trip) as most of the produce is British if not local (obviously not all of it!), and it means I get a nice walk in too. I was nice and warm by the time I got back yesterday, so plenty of calories burned.

Continuing with the planning theme, 3 of the meals I have planned for the week involve roasted veg, so this morning I baked a huge tray of it of which I had some for lunch today and the rest will go in the fridge for tomorrow's dinner and another lunch later in the week. Lessening the load! I just chopped 3 courgettes, 2 peppers, and two red onions, slung them in a tray sprayed with low-cal cooking spray with seasoning, balsamic vinegar and some dried orgeano and roasted it for about 45 minutes. So yum!

Now I just have to stop myself from eating it all and running out when I need it...

How do you plan? I would love to see links to menu plans if you have them!

Hx

Fat So Sarah's Gillian Michaels Torture Pack Giveaway

Quick post to let you know that Fat So Sarah is holding an awesome giveaway! For the chance to win a Gillian Michaels 2 DVD set click here and head to Sarah's blog!

I would love love love to give this a try, although I am a leetle bit scared :P

Hx

Weekly Weigh In and Spring Chick Challenge Update

Morning guys and gals :)

So after my self sabotage last week I managed to lose 1/2 a pound. I got back on track over the weekend, and didn't eat anything I shouldn't and tracked it all meaning I was well below my ProPoints every day. Didn't get much exercise in, but that is going to change this week. I am having a tough time in my personal life at the moment, but I am not going to let it get in my way.

My plan for this week:

• TRACK. Everything. I have a habit of not writing down 'free' foods but even these are going in the tracker this week. I also get halfway through the day and stop tracking, which is dangerous as my snacky time is in the evening.
• Menu plan. To go along with the tracking I am going to write a menu plan, which will include 3 meals + snacks for every day Weds-Mon this week. This should also keep my budget in check.
• Exercise. Rest day today, and then get back on it tomorrow.
• Support. Read all the challengers blogs as much as I can, and ask for help if I need it.
• Blog. I have a couple of posts up my sleeve for this week :)

Exercise plan for the week:

Wednesday: Walk to farm shop and back with buggy (2 miles)

Thursday: 40 mins Zumba

Friday: 30 mins Wii Fit

Saturday: 40 mins Zumba

Sunday: Walk with family and/or run in the evening

Monday: 40 mins Zumba

I am going to add these to a side bar so I can tick them off each day, and continue with the Starter exercise plan I showed you in my last post. Another thing I am going to do is wear my sports bra under my normal clothes, and that way I can fit in a few star jumps or step ups on the bottom stair when the urge takes me!

The Spring Chick Mini Challenge this week is to eat with your non-dominant hand. At first, I thought that as I eat with a knife and fork, I don't have a non-dominant hand for eating! But actually, as I usually have cereal for breakfast and soup for lunch I can hold my spoon with my left hand and try it! I think I will need a bib though... The theory behind it is by changing hands when eating it will disrupt your normal patterns and break the habit of over-eating. We'll see!

Just a final thought from me, last week when I was feeling down, as I often do, I took to Twitter. If any of you are on Twitter, please leave your user names in the comments and I will follow you. It is a great support network and we can keep each other going! My user name is @HellBellUk :)

How have you done this week? I hope the new year is treating you well :)

Hx

January Blues...

I haz them. I can't get going with this at all. The amount of food I ate yesterday was ridiculous and I have exercised a total of once this week. Can you say fail?

Lots of things are making me feel this way, and there's not a lot I can do about them. Financially, we are struggling to say the least. Mr F-G-S spent a few months in 2011 unemployed, and just over a year ago the company he was working for then went bankrupt, owing him about £4k. So although he now has a steady job, it's bringing in less money than we're used to and we're still catching up from the time he wasn't working. He's actually working two jobs at the moment - his regular one during the day and as a delivery driver a couple of evenings a week. He's asked for more shifts at his second job which means that while he's earning more money he's also not around in the evenings to help with the kids and so that I can go running. I am not going to make my goal of completing Couch to 5k by my birthday, which makes me want to give up altogether. It also means I don't get to see him in the evenings. Which actually isn't a bad thing because we are getting on each others nerves.... But having no money means I can't get the kids to their activities and see my friends too - so a lack of adult company is driving me mad! The only time I get out of the house is to take Ollie to school, and when he's not at school he and his brother are constantly fighting. Seriously yesterday I felt like just looking myself in the bathroom and just letting them fight to the death.

Food wise, I'm generally making good choices. Porridge made with water for breakfast, soup for lunch and a dinner of under 10pp, plus my 2l of water means I have leeway to have a few sensible snacks during the day. But sensible doesn't mean two pork pies and a packet of crisps... I don't even know why I'm stuffing my face like this. I got a pack of crisps from the cupboard the other day, then said to myself that I didn't need them and that I was better than that and put them back. Only to grab them an hour later and have them anyway. Urgh.

Also, for some reason my birthday is a source of impending gloom. I'm turning 30 on Feb 1st and for some reason I am dreading it. I really don't know why, I've never been one to worry about birthdays or getting old but I'm really not looking forward to it. I'm sure part of it is the fact that we wont be doing anything to celebrate it, again due to the money issue. A night out plus babysitter is just too expensive, and we don't have any family close enough to help out.

I need to shake up my workout, I'm bored of Zumba, much as I love it, and I feel like Wii fit isn't doing as much as it could do. It just isn't inspiring me to get on with it. Ideally I would love to get to the gym or a class, but again childcare and cost is an issue. I have a couple of DVDs that I would like to get into again, but we don't have a remote for our DVD player and I can't get past the first menu LOL. I've tried following some videos online but my screen is too small and my eyesight is not up to squinting while I jump around!

Solutions:

• Stalk Freecycle for a DVD player/exercise DVDs
• Walk with the buggy while Ollie is at school
• Stop eating like a greedy dog and being a whiny little bitch!
• Use the time I have in the evenings to do something for myself.
• Get out of the house more, although to what I don't know...

I feel like I need a good slap to get me out of this mood. Someone needs to take me by the shoulders and shake me! I went on Pinterest last night and found some workouts I can do at home, and am going to try this one in addition to whatever else I can manage.

I also have pinned the next 3 levels, join me on Pinterest here. If you want to join just ask and I'll send you an invite.

 This weekend I am going to stick to a very simple diet - fruit, veggies, low fat dairy and fish - avoid carbs as much as possible and generally eat cleaner in the hopes that a detox of sorts will make me feel better. And knock off the pounds... Now I just need some motivation....

Hx

Recipe of the week - Bacon and Butterbean hotpot

Morning!

I wanted to share with you what I had for dinner last night as it was so good! Filling, packed with veg and low ProPoint/calorie/carb - can't go wrong! It was adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe that uses sausages instead, and different veg.

Serves 3, 6 ProPoints per serving.

Ingredients

A few sprays calorie controlled cooking spray such as FryLight
250g bacon medallions, or back bacon with all visible fat removed (9PP)
1 can (420g) butterbeans, drained (9PP)
1 can chopped tomatoes
400ml hot chicken stock (1PP if made with 1 stock cube)
1 onion
1 clove garlic
2 carrots
1 yellow pepper
handful mushrooms
1/2 tsp mustard powder
2 tsp dried parsley

Cut the bacon into approx inch square pieces. Coat a pan with cooking spray and cook for a few minutes. Add the chopped onion, carrots, pepper and crushed garlic and cook for around 5-8 minutes, adding a splash of water if it starts to stick. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to the boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes until veg is cooked but still crunchy.

Instead of the bacon you could use 350g chicken breast, 100g chorizo, 4 reduced fat sausages for the same ProPoint value, or leave out the meat altogether, replace the chicken stock with veg stock and the mustard with smoked paprika and you have a tasty veg hot pot for only 3PP.

The veg can be variable too. As long as you have onion and garlic you can replace the carrots, pepper and mushrooms with courgettes, celery, swede, green beans or anything you have!

I'll be having the leftovers tonight, and I'm sure it'll taste even better having sat for a day. Yum!

Hx

What was the damage then...

Over Christmas I gained...3lbs! LeGasp! Am I gasping because OMG I gained 3lbs, or OMG I only gained 3lbs? Well, I think it's a bit of both! I went into Christmas thinking I'd like to maintain my weight, then quickly realised I didn't think that was going to happen realistically. I didn't over eat (or drink) but I didn't make great food choices either, so 3lbs is acceptable to me. When I stepped on the scales this morning I was praying that I wouldn't gain more than 5lbs to put me back over the 14 stone (196lbs) mark, and I was far from it so that was a relief.

As far as setting goals now, I would like to reach 13 stone 4lbs (186lbs) by my birthday as that will mean I've lost 20% of my starting weight. This means I have 4 weeks to lose 8lbs. I've done it before, so I know I can do it again! I would like to lost the 3lbs I put on over the festive period this week. And for my Spring Chick Challenge I would like to be under 13st (182lbs) by the end of it. The challenge ends on 18th March, which just seems like such a long time away, so hopefully this will just be an interim target and I can reassess it when I get there!

How did you all do over Christmas? What was the damage?

Hx

10 years of living with diabetes

In December 2001, a week before Christmas I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was 19, a student living in a shared house 300 miles from my recently estranged parents, and completely petrified. I started taking insulin injections twice a day and testing my blood sugar regularly, watching my diet (as much as a student does, anyway) and my weight ballooned (a side effect of the insulin). Since then it has been a major part of my life, and it always will be. My treatments have changed, sometimes requiring 4+ injections a day and even insulin/glucose IV infusions during my two pregnancies. It has been hard, physically and emotionally. When I get sick, it seems to last twice as long as it does for anyone else, and on a couple of occasions has had serious complications. Both of my pregnancies were hard work, and I was hospitalised 3 times with the first (remind me why I'm considering doing it again?). But I am relatively healthy for someone who has lived with type 1 diabetes for 10 years - and possibly longer. I have no problems with my circulation, my kidneys are functioning well and my eyes are just starting to show signs of diabetic retinopathy, which is being closely monitored and is treatable.

So, does my weight have any impact on this? It isn't what caused me to become diabetic, as most cases of diabetes linked with obesity are type 2, which is a completely different disease. But, it sure as hell doesn't help! When I lost weight in between having the two children I found I could significantly reduce my insulin doses to keep my blood sugar in control, and I'm finding the same now. Being more active now also makes a huge impact on my blood sugar levels. I know diabetes is a chronic condition and that I will live with it for the rest of my life, but it feels good that I am finally taking some control over it.

Hx

Spring Chick Challenge

I've signed up for the Spring Chick Challenge, started by Stormy at Big Butt Theory as a way to get myself motivated for the New Year and get off to a good start. The challenge starts on Monday 2nd Jan and ends Monday 19th March, and here is what I am committing to in that time...

1. Non-Scale Victory

• Complete couch to 5k (hopefully by 1st Feb, my 30th birthday :eek:)
• Comfortably run 20 minutes without stopping
• Comfortable size 16

2. Nutrition

• Water 2l per day
• 29 PP
• Tracked on WW esource
• NO Tuesday post-weigh in blow outs...

3. Exercise

• 3 hours per week - either 3 hours or 6 half hours - running, zumba, wii fit, swimming

4. Blog at least twice a week, with one of these being a challenge update.

5. Give (and receive) support to other people taking up the challenge!

Hello to any new followers reading my ramblings from the challenge! Stormy has asked us to introduce ourselves, so here I am...

Name: Helly/Helen/H
Blog URL: www.f-g-s.blogspot.com
Email: helen_louise_is at yahoo dot co dot uk

Facebook: Helen England (if you add me tell me it's for the challenge!)
Twitter: @HellBellUk
Age: 29 (soon to be 30 :/)
Location: Bedfordshire, UK (about 50 miles north of London, which is my hometown)

I will update with a starting weight and weight loss goal on Tuesday after my weigh in...


UPDATE: Starting weight 13st12lbs (194lbs)
Goal: 13st (182lbs)

So, there we go! Good luck everyone!

Hx