50lbs Down!

Whoopeeeeeeeee! Yeehaw! Hoo-bloody-ray!

I just updated my ticker (in the sidebar thataway -> ) and a 3lb loss today means that my total weight loss has hit 50 whole pounds! That's as much as a small bale of hay, 2 average two year olds, 4 and a half cats or 50 guinea pigs! 50 guinea pigs! I can't imagine carrying any of those things around with me, all day, every day, but at some point I did (and more when I was pregnant). I wont say I'm not struggling at the moment, but it's really motivated me to stay on track and keep seeing that number fall. Hopefully I'll see another loss next week :)

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

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

Tuesday Treat - Looking after the tatas

Yeah it's Wednesday....oops

Apologies to my male followers, this post is one for the ladies! Well, there will be pictures of breasticles (not mine!) so you may want to keep reading...

One thing that doesn't seem to have shrunk like the rest of me are my boobs. When I last did my measurements around a month ago (I will be doing them again some time this week) the only place where I hadn't lost inches was around the bust. Although my back size is now smaller, and they need more support now...boobs are after all mostly just fat. I have always been, ahem, rather busty, and got my first proper bra at the tender age of 9. Yes, 9 ladies and gents, you can thank my Grandmother for that apparently. Before I started this weight loss journey I wore a bra around a 40F-FF, and now, realistically I'm about a 36-38E-F. Why so vague, Helly, I hear you cry. Well, because I desperately need to get the girls measured. I know that ALL of my current bras are the wrong size, the straps slide down, the wires dig in, the clasps are done up as tight as they'll go and things still aren't right. I also need a decent sports bra, as my current combination of normal bra plus super tight compression sports top isn't going to cut it much longer. So, with a boob in each hand (er, wut?) after Chrimbo I'll be marching down to a department store near you (or near me...) and getting these bad boys accounted for. Here are some of the over the shoulder boulder holders I've got my eye on...

Tango by Panache from Bravissimo £20, down from £25, 28-38 DD-H

Limited Edition Padded Spot Bra from Marks and Spencer £16, 30-36 DD-GG, Thong £6 Size 6-18

(Sorry about the teeny pic, click the link to see it better)

Showgirl Tempt Me Bra by Curvy Kate from Brastop.com £18.95 28-38 DD-GG

Tease me Bra by Curvy Kate from Brastop.com £14.20 28-38 DD-GG

Lola Luxe Basque from Bravissimo £50 28-38 DD-K

Rawr.

And a couple of sports bras. Your funbags need support while you're working out, or, in the words of Bangs and a Bun, they'll turn into sandbags. Click the link for an awesome post about sports bras!

Shock Absorber Max Support Level 4 Bra from Brastop.com £30 28-40 D-HH

Max Sports Bra Top by Shock Absorber from Bravissimo £24 down from £30 28-40 D-HH

All of the sites linked to ship internationally, and even better, have sales at the moment :) I can particularly recommend Bravissimo as they're just so helpful. Whenever I've asked them a question about absolutely anything, they've been really prompt with their answer, friendly and I just feel comfortable talking to them about my hooters.

So, will you be treating your tatas this Christmas? After all, they are your breast friends....

Hx

Weekly Weigh In - 15% less Helly!

Morning!

Another 1 1/2lbs down this morning, taking me to a grand total of 32 1/2lbs lost since I started Weight Watchers at the end of June. This also means I have lost 15% of my starting weight :) I was hoping for a little bit more (3lbs would have meant another half stone gone, but there's always next week). I have been exercising lots, and I am feeling leaner, even if the scales aren't going down as much as I'd like. But, muscle is heavier than fat after all. A loss is a loss, I'll happily take it :)

It also means that for the first time (that I can remember anyway, certainly since I was a teenager) I weigh less than 14 stone (a stone is 14lbs for my international friends!). Ok, so it's only by 1/2 a pound, but I am not going back over that 14 stone mark EVER AGAIN. I will not allow it. Even if I get pregnant with triplets and they discover that obesity is good for you, I will never weigh more than I do now. Exciting!

Another positive, this morning I found my collarbones! Seems they've been hiding right where they should be under a load of disgusting fat! Who'da thunk it?

How have you all done?

Hx

Weekly Update! 2 stone down...

Hi lovelies :)

Weigh in day this morning, and another pound gone :) Which equals two stone in total since I started Weight Watchers on the 28 June! I'm pleased, and I can really see a difference now, especially in odd places like my shoulders and back. Lots of people are complimenting me, which feels great, and not only do my old clothes fit me, but they're starting to get too big! Shame I'm utterly broke and can't afford new ones just yet...

I still have 4 1/2 stone to lose to get within the healthy BMI range for my height, which seems like a huge mountain to climb. but I know I can do it. In the almost 4 months I've been on the Weight Watchers plan I've only put on weight one week, and that was only half a pound. But if I keep losing a pound a week and carry on going in the right direction I'll get there eventually! Maybe this time next year I'll be reaching goal...

In the meantime, I only have 4 pounds to lose to have lost 15% of my starting weight, so I am going to put in a huge effort over the next two weeks and hopefully reach that. 1 pound a week seems like slow going, but I know there's more I can do to speed that up. So I am going to track everything I eat, stick religously to 30 points a day and up the exercise - wish me luck!

How have you done this week?

Hx

Weekly Weigh In - a HUGE milestone :)

Hi!

Yesterday as usual I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and stepped on the scales of dread...over the last few weeks I have struggled a little, losing half a pound, putting it back on again and then even when I tried really hard I didn't do as well as I had hoped. Well, this week I stepped up and had lost two pounds. Not a huge amount, but slow and steady wins the race and about 2lbs a week is what Weight Watchers say you should aim to lose.

This brings my total weight loss since I joined Weight Watchers to 23 1/2lbs - which is more than 10% of my starting weight! I'm quite astounded by this, and feeling quite chuffed :) I was presented with a little keyring, which I am keeping on my handbag so it is a visible reminder that I never want to back to how I was before, even if I still have a long long way to go.

Hx

Fitting into old jeans :)

Feels good, doesn't it! A few weeks ago I managed to fit into a pair of post-old-weightloss, pre-baby jeans. BUT I had to lay down to do them up and would have burst the button off if I'd had so much as a sip of water. Today I tried them again and they're still tighter than I'd like, but I did them up without too much of a struggle and I can breathe! Long top to disguise the over-hang (ew lol) and I'm feeling very proud of myself! We're going out for the afternoon in a minute and although I know I'll be dying to get them off by the time we get home I'll be wearing my "skinny jeans" with pride! Now I can't wait for the day they're too big and I get the next size down :)

It's the small things you have to relish when you're on a big weight loss journey like I am and I'm going to take every single small thing I can get!

Hx