Boom It's In The Bag!!

This week has been really good I managed to get 3 sessions in at the gym completed and my food and diet had gone really well too. I found that I was full with what I had been eating without any snacks or cheats here and there. So I went along to group feeling quite confident all I needed was 2 and half pound to get that magical five and half stone award. I stepped on the scales and saw the number appear back at me, I knew I had done it and that is all I was bothered about the fact I got my five and half stone award I felt fantastic.

I sat back down waiting for group to start and people were asking how I had done but I couldn't remember what I had lost all I knew was that I had got my award. Once group started and Mandy went round telling everyone how we had all done did I learn I actually lost 3 and half pound this week, I was over the moon!

Not only did I get my five and half stone award I was also named Slimmer of the Week, wow what a night I had I was really chuffed. I am now aiming towards my 6 stone award and chasing down a fellow member and my mate who is also chasing after her 6 stone award, she is a real inspiration to me and I know she will get hers this week which is just awesome. I am not going to say how much I want to loose this week as anything off towards that next award is a bonus in my eyes, the weight I am currently at is just amazing to me as I really can not remember the last time the scales showed me this number. Bring on another good week and hopefully a week where my good mate gets her 6 stone award, fingers crossed for her this week people!! Here is a picture of my latest award towards my collection!

                                     

Self Destruct and Catch Up!

I suppose this post is better late than never so let's have a catch up shall we?
My last post on my blog was all about how i had managed to step up my fitness levels and on some weeks step up the amount of workout time i am doing now to before i started this new lifestyle.
I went to weigh in that week quite optimistic that i had done more fitness and my diet had gone quite well, no cheats or sneaky treats therefore my weight loss should reflect my hardwork. IT DID NOT!! I was fuming i only lost 1lb i really thought i had done far better than this but eventually i realised that 1lb off is still a loss and i should be proud of weight losses no matter how big or small.
The week following this weight loss my head was all over i could not seem to get my head in gear like i normally do after group so i seemed to eat anything i wanted including alot of naughty things which included takeaway, meals out and yes i found the Ben and Jerry's stash in the freezer so a tub of that fell in my face too. However illness also hit me i have felt under the weather nearly all week so i thought my indulgence could easily be justified with my illness. I did no workouts, not a single thing, i truly just could not be bothered to get myself to the gym, i was ill and had no energy again me thinking it would all be fine and i can write this week off. I have had these Self Destruction weeks in the past and sometimes i think i need them to keep me on track, after all if i am going to see this as a new way of life and not just a diet then throughout my life i am surely going to have good and bad weeks right?
Anyway i went to group on Tuesday still feeling pretty rubbish but knowing i needed to go and face the scales so that i could get my head back in the game and get back on track this week. I got on the scales and showed a loss, yes you read right, a weigh loss of 1/2 lb. Again i was quite mad i didn't deserve a loss and this time i was beating myself up for getting a loss at all after all i had eaten and severe lack of gym attendance. Group really cheered me up though, as they always do, and i love everyone of my "fat family" we had such a good laugh and i left feeling "on it" i was ready to get back on track with everything i had.
Normally a Wednesday night is in the gym with Charlotte however i was still suffering with my chest so i decided to skip it however i have not written off this week i have planned to get back to the gym on Friday and then i will go again on Sunday plus i have Swimming on Monday. I now need 2.5lb to get my 5 and half stone award if i stay on track this week, now im feeling better especially, i think i could pull that number, well heres hoping anyway.

Weigh in results!

Yes it's that time again I know they come round really quick!
This week has not really been a memorable one in terms of its neither been a great week or a bad week. One thing that I did do was go to the gym on my own. I can hear people saying yeah so what? Big deal. However for me this is a huge step at one time I would never go anywhere alone apart from getting in the car to work or to a friends house. Now I do not know if it has anything to do with my weight loss but something has changed and off I went to the gym alone and I must say I did well! I did what I had to do and never gave up so I am rather proud of myself for doing it!
So onto the scales at Slimming World this week, again I went alone this was because Charlotte's little boy wasn't very well so she couldn't make it.
I got on the scales and was happy to see a weight loss of 2.5lb I was really happy with this. I am now boasting a total weight loss of 5 stone 3 pounds and I still can't believe this is happening to me! As it was the last weigh in of January it was time to announce Slimmer of the Month. We were told that this person had lost 10lb in this month! It was ME i didn't even realise i had lost this amount since christmas. I left group very happy and very proud of myself plus I was full of enthusiasm for the coming week.
I think I am going to go for a 2lb weight loss this week and next week meaning in 2 week time I should be blogging about my 5 and half stone award! Keep an eye out

Weigh in.....I DID IT!!

I went to weigh in tonight feeling neither good nor bad. I hadn't had a terrible week but I somehow felt I hadn't done the greatest either. All day I have felt very bloated and basically fat (yes as unbelievable at it sounds even fat people have fat and thin days) plus i feel like am starting with a dreaded cold.
I got on the scales and looked down to see a weight loss of 1lb!!! I knew I had done it I have finally got that magical 5 stone award and I feel on top of the world never did I ever believe I would hit a weight loss of 5 stone half a pound!
I always seem to say its all down to the support of my group and Mandy my consultant but this time I am going to say that my biggest ever thanks goes 2 very special people and they are Charlotte and Joanne! My group and consultant are still fab and really have helped me on my journey but without the 2 people above I wouldn't be enjoying this award right how!
Firstly Joanne... After all without her own hard work with her own Slimming World journey I would have never been inspired to walk into that group!
And secondly my best mate Charlotte... She is my constant rock all week every week she picks me up and boosts me to do the best I can. She is my workout buddy and I have to say without her I probably wouldn't be attending a gym let alone enjoying it!
So a massive thank you to Joanne and Charlotte plus thanks to Mandy and group for your constant support every Tuesday night.
This week I would like a loss of anything 1lb or over as I will then drop into my new number!

It's Tuesday Night Once Again!

Tuesday nights come round really quickly and this means back to group for catch up with all my Slimming World family and time to face the scales!
This week I have had a really good week I have been food optimising all the way and made some really healthy choices. I has been to the gym twice and even managed 50 lengths at the local swimming baths so I was quite hopeful when I got on the scales.
I got on and watched the numbers jump up and down until they finally settled and revealed a weight loss of 4lb. I was over the moon and slightly disappointed all at once. Firstly i felt great i had pulled a brilliant weight loss and my hard work all week was finally showing on the scales however my second feeling of disappointment was in the back of mind. I had really wanted just another half a pound loss which would have taken me to the magical 5 stone award! My disappointment soon vanished and pride took its place, i had got a fantastic result and 4lb in one week is a brilliant acheivement how could i let myself be disappointed. Plus in image therapy afterwards i was named Slimmer of the Week i truly was chuffed to bits. This week also saw a couple of our new members step on the scales for their first week, and there was some fantastic results too, keep it up guys and you will see the results of your hard work in no time!
The aim for this week then is getting a loss off just half a pound, however you all know me better than that and know i like to push myself for decent numbers. So my actual target loss for this week is 3lb not only will acheive my 5 stone award i will drop into a new number on the scales, this means a hell of alot to me as the number i will drop into is one i have not seen for many a year.
Here's to a good week and pray i drop into the number!

First Weigh in for 2013!

The above quote really sums up how i have been feeling this week. I have put everything into my Weight Loss and i was quite excited to step on those scales this week knowing i had really give it my all. 

 Before my weigh in though i will need to start back on the 2nd January when i got back to my Slimming World lifestyle. I decided enough was enough and got on the scales to finally see what the damage had been and draw a line well and truly under the festivities. As you have read in my previous blog post, Post Christmas Weigh In, i had a gain of 5.5lbs. When i got on my own scales on the 2nd January i had gained another 3.5lbs. So all throughout the Christmas period i had gained 9lbs which i wasn't too bothered about, i knew what i had done and knew i had to get back on it.

 So back to Tuesday and trying to remember that i had to get rid of that extra 3.5lbs before a loss would even register at group. When i got on the scales and were told i had lost 2.5lbs i was fuming, i had really tried this week and felt like i deserved more out of my efforts. When i sat down and got talking to Charlotte (my sensible support) she informed me i should be over the moon after all i had actually lost 6lbs this week. When the realization hit i was chuffed to bits with my loss and it has really pushed me on to have another outstanding week. I am going to try and go for 4.5lbs this week to hit my 5 stone however any loss i would be happy with after all a loss is better than a gain no matter how small or large it is.

 This week in group also saw a lot of new faces walk in to start their own Slimming World journey, it was great to see so many people so eager to get going and next week will be brillaint to see how they have done. So from me i will say a very warm welcome to Goole's Tuesday Evening Slimming World meeting you are sure to find everyone very friendly and welcoming.

Post Christmas Weigh In!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas filled with fun, laughter, food and drink I know that's exactly what mine has been filled with!
Sunday night and it was the biggest weigh in I have ever had to face literally! I knew that I had been bad and my fate was left to the scales all I could do was pray!
I stepped on nervously to find out I had gained 5 n half pounds, yes it's quite a big gain but I was over the moon, I was filled with relief that it wasn't worse. Now weigh in was done it is seriously onwards and upwards I will soon have that back off and more I hope. The next weigh in for my group isn't while 8th jan now so I have plenty of time to get a decent loss.
Finally I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year and here's to a brilliant 2013 for all. I am also going to say that 2012 has been a brilliant year for me and I hope it continues. The support and inspiration of every person at my slimming world group has been immense I love everyone of them, I actually look forward to going to group just to see them. So a massive thank you to you all because without you I would not be here with a 4 and a half stone weight loss and a new healthier, happier life!!
Now all the festivities are over I can't wait to get back in the gym and start eating properly again.

Pre Christmas Weigh In!

Due to the Christmas period the weigh in's for group are all slightly different. Today was our choice head to group Christmas Eve morning and see how we had done before the Christmas "treats" appeared.
Well I got on the scales hoping for a loss, yea I would have loved to tell you I had really done well this week but in truth I knew it hadn't been one of the best. Especially when last night I went out to Toby Carvery for a meal which included a pudding oopsie! So I was really pleased when I lost 2.5lb this week I am now only 1.5lb away from getting my 5 stone award which won't be this week!!
To end I would like to say a huge Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog and all your families I hope you all have a fab time and I will up date my "Post Christmas Weigh In" on Sunday after group!

Bad week turned excellent!

Well what a truly horrendous week for my diet it has been. I had some time off work which meant that there was places to go and people to see. The first glitch was after weigh in last Tuesday when we all went out for a lovely xmas meal. Moving on to Thursday it was our annual trip to London for the day where I basically lost all control of my diet and ate whatever I wanted this included a chicken and mushroom pasty at 01:30am at the service station! Friday came around and it was a Xmas meal out with work so off to the all you can eat Chinese I went and again didn't even think about slimming world. Then finally Saturday a Xmas shopping day in York where once again I had a meal out with family and friends and once again it wasn't slimming world friendly!
Tuesday night and it was truly time to face my fate! I stepped on the scales hoping it wasn't going to be too bad but when the figure jumped up by 4 stone I practically fainted however thanks to my slimming world consultant Mandy winding me up and stepping on the back of them it wasn't true phew!!! So in the end I came away with a 1 and half gain which I was very pleased with.
This week in group it was Christmas party week which is where members took in some low syn treats for the table and also the big Christmas raffle. The raffle came round and it was time to see who had won the main prize of a tefal actifry. So a bad week came good when it was my number that got shouted out, I was so over the moon I couldn't believe it!! Merry Christmas me and thanks to Mandy for my prize!
This week is last week before Christmas and next weeks weigh in is on Christmas Eve morning so my socks have been pulled up and I am set for a good week hopefully I can pull off a nice 4lb weight loss to hit my 5 stone award before Christmas that really would be an amazing Christmas present.

Motivation is the Key to Success!

Tuesday night once again and as you all know last week i was a little bit down in the dumps. I thought i had lost all my motivation and felt like i was giving up on myself. Well after that bump in the road i re-read my Slimming World book and really got my focus back. Not only did i give it 100% with my Food Optimising i really pushed myself with the Body Magic aspect, and i am very proud to say it worked!!
I got on the scales at group last night and was praying that my hard work would pay off and it would reflect on the scales and show me a decent weight loss. I had told myself that i deserved a least 2 or 3 pounds off. Imagine my shock, pride and utter suprise when my best mates in group, who do the weigh in's, Sarah and Adele told me i had lost 4lb this week!!!!!
You seriously could have knocked me over with a feather. What a fab weight loss, and all because i got my motivation and focus into gear and really pushed myself. Its a great feeling when you know you have acheieved something. In image therapy i was also given the Slimmer of the Week title, another proud moment for me. The support of the group and all the new friends i have there is just brilliant, they really helped me last week to boost my confidence and basically push me forward, so i just want to say a massive thank you to everyone in my group without you lot i would not be writing this now!!!!
I now need just 2.5lb to hit my 5 stone award which i know and will be truly honest to everyone i will not get next week. This week is a really hectic and syn filled week for me.
Today sees the start of some time off work and if you read the blog of my best mate Charlotte you will have already seen how action packed it is. Basically after weigh in it was our groups night out which was a beautiful 3 course meal at The Viking in Goole. The night was brilliant, such a good laugh with all our new "Fat Fighters" friends. This also signifies the start of things to come, Thursday is a day out and meal in London, Friday night is Chinese Meal out with work and Saturday is a meal out in York. However, as Mandy, Our consultant says, if i take out those bad days i can really try and work some magic for the rest of the time. I am so focused now that i am going to be extra good on the other days and go to the gym 4 times plus swimming next Monday to see if i can at least maintain or come in with a small gain. If its a loss at all next week i will be exstatic so watch this space everyone.

Can do attitude!

I know this update is a little late seeing as it is now Thursday and weigh in was on Tuesday night but here goes.
Tuesday night once again came round very quickly and i knew that it wouldnt be an outstanding one. The weekend before had consisted of 2 very naughty and syn filled days. Saturday night i went out for an Italian meal with Charlotte and Joanne and even though i knew it was wrong and very high in syns i just couldnt say no. So off we went to Bella Italia and i must say it was beautiful however even that did not help the guilty feeling i got afterwards. However i still did not help myself anymore and on Sunday i caved once again and off i went to Toby Carvery with Joanne. Ok so maybe it was not as syn filled as the previous night but it was still quite high in syn values.
It was safe to say i was on self destruct mode, my motivation had vanished and i really was not in the mood to even think about Slimming World let alone what i was eating.
Tuesday night and it was time to face facts and see what damage i had done to myself. I was quite shocked to find that i had actually lost half a pound. However even seeing a loss on the scales i could tell in myself that my motivation and drive just wasnt there. So in image therapy i told the group about my mood and my lack of enthusiasm. My group were fantastic as always and really boosted my mood and gave me some handy hints and tips to try and get myself back on track. I must say, it worked, i now feel a different person i have decided, with the help and "slight push" of group to really try and hit my 5 stone award before Christmas so i have 3 weeks to loose 6.5lb, i really do need to knuckle down and go back to basics to see if i can pull a really good number next week. I have a weekend off work this week too ,so instead of dwelling on places that i want to eat or tempting takeaways i could snaffle in front of the tv, i have decided i will try out some new Slimming World recipes, yes i will post my efforts on here so keep those eyes peeled and you never know you may spot something you would like to try yourself.

4 Awards in One Night!!

Tuesday night's come round so fast, and its back to those dreaded scales to see how my weight has changed in the past week. This week i went off to Slimming World feeling ok, i didn't think my week had gone too bad but i had slipped up a couple of times, 2 meals out with friends and family and a very naughty Cafe Latte whilst sat in the cinema on Sunday Night oooopppss, plus i had not really done any Body Magic this week. However, despite all this i still felt like i could be cheeky and pull some kind of loss.

My turn quickly came round and it was my turn to step on the scales and face the facts. Imagine my shock when i was told: " Well Done Gareth, you have lost 3lb this week!!", i have never been so shocked in all my life!!!!

Not only have i had an amazing weight loss this week i hit my 4 and half stone award, which was my Christmas Wish, so with 4 week till Christmas i had already hit it! The shocks kept coming throughout image therapy though. I was awarded my 4 and half stone award, then i was given Slimmer of the Week and then to top it all off i was announced as Slimmer of the Month for November. WOW! What a night and one i will not forget in a hurry and on top of everything it was my mates birthday in group so i think i will dedicate all my awards to Sarah, she is my biggest inspiration in group and is a brilliant mate!

Week 26 at Slimming World

I can't believe it has been 26 week since I first walked into my first ever Slimming World meeting, all those nerves and unknowing what was going to happen. Now the group is like my second family they are a brilliant group!
This week was a brilliant weigh in I lost 2.5lb which I am so happy with I feel amazing and I am now at a total loss of 4 stone 4 pounds! Only 3 more pound to go to hit my Christmas wish of 4 and a half stone before the festivities begin. My Slimming World consultant, Mandy, also told me that my average weekly weight loss over 24 weigh in's ( missed 2 due to holiday) is 2.5lb a week which I'm chuffed with.
So tonight it was back to the gym with Charlotte and building up the body magic points, only 3 more week need to get my gold award!! I really pushed myself tonight and now I'm aching slightly but hopefully it will be worth it. I am aiming for 2lb this week, fingers crossed!

Little Book of Sauces....Watch This Space!

I know i have not posted on here in a while but it is simply because i have been pushing myself at the gym, last week i went on Wednesday,Friday and Sunday plus on Monday night i went swimming with Charlotte, so loads of body magic this week.
 Last night was weigh in again, it comes round really quickly, and i was quite pleased with the result on the scales. I lost 1.5lb meaning i dropped into a new number, literally just dropped in, but i am really pleased. I am now boasting a 4 stone 1.5lb weight loss in 6 months. Whilst in group i decided to buy Slimming World's Little Book of Sauces, mainly because i am looking for new things to try and new sauces that will go well with my meals. So watch this space... there will be some new recipes soon.

4 stone award WooHoo

After a full week of really pushing myself and putting all my effort into my Slimming World journey I am very proud to say I did it!!!

4lb lost this week and finally hit my 4 stone award all within 6 months of first walking through them doors into my first ever Slimming World meeting. I still can't believe that I have done it, I mean a 4 stone weight loss is something you read about in a magazine it doesn't happy to me but It has and I'm over the moon.

I also want to say a massive well done to my best mate and fellow blogger Charlotte who hit her 3 stone award tonight. I'm also very proud to say that as 2 best friends we have lost a massive 7 stone between us.

Onwards and upwards now my next target is my Christmas Wish if hitting 4.5 stone by Christmas I know I can do it when my head is in it!

The dreaded weigh in

Well it's safe to say this week has been a total write off and tonight the scales certainly showed it. So I gained 1lb and to be honest I'm actually ok with it after all I have had a decent excuse!
I do want to say a massive well done to my best friend and fellow blogger Charlotte for losing 6lb this week am so proud of her and chuffed to bits for her.
Onto a new week now and I am determined not to fail I will food optimise 100% and try and get back in the gym and carry on towards my gold body magic award plus a weight loss next! I now need just 4lb hit that magic 4 stone award will I be able to pull that next week? Watch this space!!

Illness Strikes!

Well i can truly say it has not been the best week of my journey so far. Illness has well and truly struck, i have felt lethargic, sick and basically had no energy at all. Plus i have been full of cold which has not helped at all. Then we get to Sunday night where my illness hit its peak (i hope) when all of a sudden i went really dizzy and then passed out on the kitchen floor and began to shake like i was having some kind of fit. Luckily i was with my mum who managed to bring me round and look after me, bless her, however since then i could not sleep all night. Monday morning came round and i still felt horrific so i had to ring in sick at work, not something i ever do, but i felt like i could not drive or manage a day at work. So a day in bed it was trying to get myself better again.Luckily after a day of rest and a decent ish night sleep last night i am feeling slightly better still feel a little lethargic but far better than Sunday night,
 So that brings me to Tuesday and the dreaded weigh in, whilst i have been ill i have fallen off the wagon, not only i have been picking at food but its been the wrong food and when my mum presented me with a scone filled with fresh cream and jam and a nice cup of tea i couldn't say no, after all it was bought to "cheer me up and make me feel better". I can honestly say it was delish but now i have to face the scales and pray the damage is minimal.
 I will keep you informed how it goes!

Weigh in!

What a mixed bag it was at group tonight! I lost 1.5lb which I did find a little bit disappointing as I really thought that I had done better. I know I can hear you all saying at least you lost and didn't maintain or even gain, so im trying some positive thinking and my total weight loss is now at 3st 11lb which I am really proud of!
Some members of the group have had fantastic weight losses so well done to those members and they will be my inspiration this week to try and loose 3lb this week to finally hit my 4 stone award!