“Next weeks weight loss begins the second you step off the scales.” Wise words from my consultant – and probably the best and worst thing I could have heard this week! For the first time in a long while I stepped on the scales and didn’t see the numbers change…I stayed the same weight this week. Now, if I’m being entirely honest my 6.5lbs loss last week was a shock; I’d been really poorly with a cold and chest infection, and had stopped taking my hormone medication – which I took to stop ovulation for a medical condition – and so was experiencing my first ‘lady time’ in three years. I had been warned by the gynaecologist that my pains could be at the same level as contractions, and boy were they bloody painful – and lasted for just over nine days! So these things made me feel a bit out of sorts…last weeks loss was incredible and had me doing a double take.
When I walked into group this morning, I really had no clue as to how I would do. I have been on plan – drinking my water, not over my syns etc – but the only thing I know I’ve done out of the ordinary was to eat more pasta than normal one night, and then have a meal that probably would have served two the following night! So despite people saying, “don’t worry, it’s all on plan”, it kind of proves my point – and the point that Slimming World make on page 7 of your weigh in book – ‘everything in moderation’…and two plates of pasta and a meal to feed two isn’t moderation. Really, I could sit here and tell you that I had been on plan 100% – because if you play by the black and white rules, I have been – but realistically I know that I ate too much…regardless of whether it was healthy or not. But, I wanted the food, I ate the food, and I didn’t put weight on – so I am okay-ish with it.
I really do need to learn to take my own advice though, and focus on my own journey! I got a tiny bit miffed and felt like throwing my toys out of the pram when someone sat talking about how they’d been really naughty and ate loads of chips from the chip shop…yet lost 2.5lbs. But how easy would it be if we could just all eat the same as a successful slimmer and have weight losses? Life, and our bodies, just don’t work like that! My consultant says she knows she could bring us all a bag of food, with a weeks worth of meals in for us, and that some would lose, some would gain, and some would stay the same…we are all designed differently! This is why, despite being a Slimming World cheerleader and devotee, that I don’t get bothered by people trying different diets – as long as they are healthy – as I don’t believe that one size fits all…although I do try and convert as many as I can! 
The challenge now for me is to start learning to deal with the downs as well as the ups! It’s all well and good for me to sit and write this blog when I’m feeling happy, and to tweet positive messages, and to post ‘inspirational’ stuff on Facebook when all is going well. I need to learn how to deal with those times – such as today – when things haven’t gone how I would have liked them too…and I need to learn that heading to McDonalds or KFC isn’t the answer…it’s part of the bloody reason I am where I am! This is why I said that those words from my consultant were the best and worst thing I could have heard; on one hand, I wanted to head straight to the shops and eat all of the crap I have been craving all week, yet on the other, I want so desperately to keep losing weight and to have a really good weight loss next week!
Anyway, group was interesting as usual. My chap who was thrilled last week, was downcast this week as he’d had a little gain. He had mentioned on Facebook a couple of roast dinners…definitely not of the Slimming World variety…but was not happy that he and his wife ate the same yet he put on and she lost! Goes back to the point I made earlier about our bodies responding in different ways to things. I hope he sticks with it as he’s doing so well – just ultra competitive with himself! My wonderful witty lady was over the moon – she lost 7.5lbs and got her 4st award and I was so, so pleased for her! She is such a nice lady and we share some similar struggles…I hope she heads home and makes another soup like she did last week. She has been having a big mug of Superfree soup before dinner and said it filled her up well, which meant she wasn’t eating as much rice, potatoes, pasta etc – so eating more of the lower calories stuff. I can’t tell you how pleased I was – she came in late and I heard the words “four stone” mentioned and couldn’t wait to hear how she’d done! I sat and had a chat with her at the end of the group and said how proud I was and that I would love to see her come back next week with a loss too. And we had a lovely lady rejoin who used to come to group – it was great to see her back and we had a chat about the group Facebook page…I’ve encouraged her to join it so we can catch up midweek! She used to secretly ask how I was doing if she couldn’t make group and so I thought it would be nice to offer the support if she needed it. My consultant is truly fabulous, and I couldn’t wish for a better person to help me, and I almost feel as passionate as she does about some of the members! Some of them though – goodness me – asking the same questions every week…I’m going to write the answers down for them so they don’t have to keep asking, and just want to shout “read your effin book!” We have wonderful resources in our joining packs, access to a fantastic website, extra support via Facebook, yet they still cannot manage unless they are spoon fed…I think consultants do a marvellous job, but my patience levels are not there. I know people need help, and I will always offer assistance if I can, but sometimes you just know it’s sheer can’t be arsed-ness and it really does annoy me! In some cases though I think there may be a significant screw loose, so I try and keep my poker face and refrain from saying what spills into my mouth from my brain…but it’s hard…
There we go then, the halo isn’t as straight as it was last week – but really, I can’t complain…I’ve lost 150.5lbs and gained my 8.5st, 9st, 9.5st, 10st and 10.5st awards so far this year…and we’re only in mid-March! I’ve lost 32.5lbs so far this year, which works out at a loss of 0.46lbs per day – sad for working that out, aren’t I?! At that rate, I’ll be on for a 12st loss this year…so sod McDonalds; I am going to be a bit naughty today, but nothing major, and I’ll see what the scales have to report next week!
Onto the usuals then…
Up, showered – nearly fainted, dressed, grabbed breakfast and then headed off to see the horses. They had the wind up their tails this morning and were on their toes…but the ground was so hard from the frost that they had to behave. My Welsh Cob is very sure-footed…he can race around on mud, pick his way over stones, and find a decent path in a rutted frozen field; but our big mare walks like she’s broken her legs over hard, rutted ground, and I always end up panicking that she’s lame! I watched them all like a hawk this morning until I was sure they were all okay – she was just being a drama queen! We then headed off to class and once we’d finished there it was off to Asda for food and PC World for a new broadband cable as the dog had eaten the last one. Then it was into my PJs with the Cheltenham Festival on TV…I must admit that I am not at all keen on flat racing with young horses, but don’t mind a bit of racing with older horses at times…I just don’t like the ex-racers getting thrown on the scrap heap – so many arguments about this subject that I don’t even want to get into…I’ve had enough scraps this week! I did pick the winner and third placed horses in the opening race…but only because I liked Champagne Fever as he looks like my grey horse – I’m no race horse picker!!
Breakfast: Banana.
Lunch: Beef, horseradish and salad rolls.
Dinner: Syn free chips and mushy peas.
Snacks: Squares crisps (5 syns per pack) and chicken shish kebab!
I have been having the worst cravings this week since starting Slimming World. I’ve wanted crisps, chocolate, burgers, milk shakes – and nothing that could be satisfied within my syn allowance…so I have resisted all week! My little Slimming World devil sat on one shoulder, telling me to go straight to McDonalds, whilst my Slimming World angel sat on the other, telling me to enjoy myself within reason…so that’s the option I’ve gone for today. I could have eaten more of the beef rolls but stopped myself making more, I enjoyed my crisps, planned my chips and mushy peas – and have been craving kebabs all week, so decided to choose a chicken breast chunk grilled version…positively saintly compared to the damage I felt like doing…although I haven’t even ordered it yet as the other half is out at the football – will probably fall asleep instead!
Exercise: None…again!
Loads of squishy hugs and happiness!
Weight Loss Bitch xxx
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