weekly weigh in :D

I don't have time for a video log this morning.
I kinda slept in and now have to rush off to uni.

Just wanted to say down another 2 lbs this week.
Takes me to 19 stone exactly.
2 stone three pounds gone. wohoo.

266 pounds currently.
33 pounds gone this year.

I guess being happy is paying off.

chit chatty chat!

I have video blogging fever.
And it is all your fault! You guys keep complimenting me! I likes the compliments, people!

I am actually excited about weigh in!

morning sleepy head here!

Sorry for the appearance :D just rolled out of bed! I think I say that enough.
Life is busy busy right now and I love it. I needed this. No time to slack off exercise because time is precious. Still making good efforts to eat properly. Need to up my water intake but apart from that is all well.

I finally feel my dissertation is going in a strong direction. That fills me with confidence and happiness. I do not need to stress over that.

Off to the gym.Then more graffiti hunting. Catch up on your blogs and then I am off to see the Fantastic Mr.Fox tonight (for free) with my film society thingy so yay!

ah, the weekend at home!

Friday was my Gran's birthday. As usual celebrations mean eating out. I went with the steak and (local) ale pie with chips. Yes. Obviously not the best option but as usual I rationalised that it was a one off celebration lunch and I have the week to work it off. So I just enjoyed the moment. I did NOT however wash it down with a usual pint of cider and ate light the rest of the day so hopefully it will work out.

That was the only bad decision of the weekend. I resisted the stocked fridge of chicken satay, biscuits, spring rolls, pain au chocolate and fizzy drinks. I realised I can make some good decisions.

I learnt that raking the leaves in the garden is hard bloody work. Also never do it when it is windy. It did make me sweat more chasing the leaves. I managed to fill four giant bags in two hours... before the rain ushered in me in doors. Woke up the next day and you'd think I'd never been out there raking my socks off in the first place. Bah.

I regret not taking the dog for long walks. I really miss my iccle puppy. I wanted to steal her and bring her back to Manchester with me.

There was some more family drama. But the least said about the better.
I am tired physically.
and emotionally.
I love being at home with the family.
But I am glad to be back on my own.

hot and sweaty visual!

Early weigh in due to me NOT taking the scales home for the weekend.
Another pound gone.

19 stones 2 pounds. Almost at the 18s. Almost.

Going home until Sunday so I don't when/if I will be able to post whilst there. So I thought I'd leave you with the positive.

a quickie,...about nothing!

hope you can hear it! I had to use my friends phone to do this because mine is still broken and my web cam is the worst in the history of all things digital!

sorry for swearing

BE POSITIVE.

misery guts monday

Things are not good here people.

Last night my Dad (in a drunken stupor) walked out on my Mam and brother. He went missing for several hours and didn't get in til 1am. Still drunk. It wasn't pretty. I was up making calls trying to coax him home and comforting my Mam and my brother. Bah. It is hard to help over the phone but I did my best. Needless to say today, coupled with mighty period pain, I am tired and grumpy and just plain all over the place.

I have slept on and off all day and haven't eaten anything sensible. Snack snack snack. I have zero energy and feel uber miserable. I am glad that I don't really have anything to binge on and that the local chinese doesn't deliver and I don't have the energy to walk there.

I don't know how the situation is at home right now. I know I can't afford to go up there but I can't stop thinking about them.

They were supposed to visit me today too.

BAH.

a mixed bag!

This is a view from a hill on our mini hike in the Derbyshire countryside. The walk almost killed me. It really showed how far I have to go. I seriously almost coughed up a lung. Some of the hills were practically vertical! It was worth it though. The views were spectacular :) I did feel embarrassed to having to keep stopping everyone to get my breath... my face was red and I was puffing like a steam engine. Not pretty!

We did end up in the pub after and I did succumb to a most delicious pint of local cider! m..mmm.

Since my flatmate hadn't seen her parents in like 6 months we all went out for a meal at our local Italians. I was a bit nervous, haven't eaten in a proper restaurant in a while and since I was on a losing streak I was tempted not to go. But Katie's parents are lovely and it was a great night. I stuck to what I knew. I had chicken with mushrooms and onions in a cream sauce. Probably really fatty but the only other thing I had eaten all day was breakfast so it will probably work out ok. Again, DELICIOUS. I did wash it down with two small glasses of wine :) It was a great night.

Got home. Period arrived. On time. Shock. It usually 2-3 weeks late, its almost like it misses one. But I hope it stays this way. Being irregular sucks. And I feel this counts for my emotional splurges....last night (got myself worked up into a right state) and after the sex the other day. My sex guy canceled on me for today and then told me not to text him on the weekend. Me thinks he has a g.f. So that is now officially over. I do not need extra drama. I have so much to do right now.

I hurt from the hike y.day and the cramps are starting in so Sunday is my designated catch up on blogs and be comfy in my bed day.

<3

that friday feeling...

Despite having lots of really good sex yesterday. (Feels good to say that). I felt like utter crap last night. The tears just kept coming. It was for no reason, well none that I could really pin point, it just felt like everything was crap. Which is sooooooooooo not true. Things are great for me right now so I don't know if the sex just hit some emotional button but wah it was there and not fun. I did not go see Frost/Nixon...

However it is a new day and all that jazz. I have put it behind me and am moving on :D the smile is back. My flat mates parents are coming up for the weekend and we all plan to go on a massive walk in the hills. So that should be great, fresh fresh fresh air. The sun is actually shining right now too so woot.

Fridays (as I promised big_mummy... the whiney wench) are my new weigh in day.
Good numbers people.

19 stones and 3 pounds. That is another pound since Monday.
Another pound gone.
Two stone over all. 28 pounds gone.
(doesn't seem like a lot for 10 months)

This is my lowest weight so far. I got to this number back before my exams and then gained it all back.

Murky Thursday!

I just bought the third season of Grey's Anatomy (don't know if you guys watch it) but I tend to then watch it in huge six or seven episode chunks at time. I call it 'Grey's Lethargy'. That is not good. I just mooch on the couch for several hours and never get back my energy. Well not this time people. I am stepping and watching. I am using my kettle bell and watching. I am not sitting on my fat arse and watching. It has just gone 9am and I am already over 3 thousand steps. I was going to go for my morning outside walk but its raining and I don't feel like getting a cold anytime soon, especially since I just got rid of the last one so it is indoor exercise.

Plus today I really have to study. But then again I don't want to be on my bum all day. So I was thinking maybe something like three hours studying( half an hour wii fit) is that a good or bad ratio? Let me know what you think...

Tonight I am off to our local film institute night. Frost/Nixon is on the agenda. It looks really good. Quite excited actually, it is screened in a beautiful church just down the street. Last night was the film social film, I saw my first Hitchcock film. Dark and intense!

Is all shook up.. aha!

Last night me and flat mate went out to an Elvis night at our local art gallery! Katie managed to get free tickets through work and it was pretty cool. This is the guy on our table! He owns an Elvis museum in Oldham. Pretty crazy, he kept us laughing all night, infact I got face ache from smiling too much and at one point he reduced us to tears of laughter. We were rubbish at the quiz but loved the impersonater. Who at one point swung his hips in my direction and serenaded me. lol. the joys!

The reason I'm talking about it is they were giving out free 'Elvis' food. Which was glazed krispy kreme doughnuts, large hotdogs and southern comfort shots! I caved and allowed myself a doughnut. It took me 120 calories over for the day but I had been to the gym (that was my rationale). It was absolutely delicious. I avoided the southern comfort and the hotdogs. And kept it to ONE doughnut even though every one else was stuffing their faces. But when I added the doughnut to my weightloss recording thing it said it had 13 grams of fat. THIRTEEN GRAMS OF FAT. Just reading me feels sick. However it only took me 4% over my fat percentage target for the day.

So I am not feeling guilty for eating one doughnut. Take that weight loss.

chugging along...

On request here are some of the best pieces of graffiti I managed to uncover 'round Manchester...

What I am finding, that is helping immensely, is the sleep thing. I was trying to get eight solid hours a night but it wasn't enough. Seriously, I'd wake up and feel like I needed another 8 hours. But now I am having 10 hours lol. Seems greedy but it is keeping my energy levels up and me feeling like I bloody well should. I never ever thought I'd say this but I puffy heart early nights and early mornings. Last year I was going to bed at 2am and rising after lunch, clearly not working. Now I feel like it IS DEFINITELY working.

Yesterday, instead of splashing out on a subway sandwich, I made my own version. Grilled bacon, roast chicken, peppers, onions and mushrooms with a splash of extra light mayo and it didn't cost me three fricking pounds and it was delicious. Instead of eating out I am making my own packed lunches, that is new and I like it. I am making good decisions. Good decisions people.

I made a big batch of chilli last night. See? More good decisions. I am preparing for the week ahead. I feel so happy writing these kinds of posts. Seems the penny has finally dropped.

smiling... :)

how cool is that? lol the other week when Karen made one for Carlos I whined on that I wanted one and the lovely lady went and bloody made me one! I must say it has cheered me up immensely because a.) it was a great thing for her to do for me b.) I am actually rocking it right now. I feel so on track it is unreal. I finally feel like its going ok, that things are working, starting to click. There is movement on the scale and for once it is in the right direction. Maybe saying that has jinxed things but whatever. I am moving forward. I was really worried about how much extra studying I have to do that my exercise would suffer but I am balancing things very well, even if I do say so myself. In the name of my dissertation I walked for 4 hours yesterday and rocked out a massive 23 thousand steps. Got some awesome pictures of some graffiti.

Also I had Chinese food Thursday night. We tried our local place down the road and it was delicious. Wickedly they have a loyalty scheme... after five meals you get a free one. They give you a pretty card with a stamps. Draws you in... However, I surprised myself and only had a starter and some spring rolls. That was super controlled for me, usually its a starter, chips, spring rolls, plus a mean mail and maybe some fried onions.

Anyways so when I weighed in Friday (which is now my official weigh in day) the scales had me at the same. 19 stones 7 pounds. But the fraction that came after it changed. But I'd never counted the fraction bit before so I took it as a stay the same. I weighed in this morning and HELLO 19 STONE 4 POUNDS. A loss of three pounds. woot.

Still smiling :)

the big 150!

no no nooooo. I have NOT miraculously lost a 120 pounds! i bloody well wish. It is my 150th post. 10 months in to this diet/healthy living/new future. I am definitely not where I want to be. I wanted to have lost more. I have been up and down and up and down. But no miserable dwelling here...

Feels like I haven't blogged in ages.... I know I definitely need to catch up on some blogs!

Things are going good. In fact great. I don't you know if you read my guest post on Carlos's blog a while back. I mentioned I found it hard to get naked or generally be with another person of the opposite sex. Well, conquered that fear a little bit yesterday and got me some sex. sex. lol. Yes, at times I felt fat and seriously self conscious but he clearly didn't care so I ended up not caring too. Which is a big deal for me. A huge deal. *clears throat* enough about that...

Today I spent my time walking all over town! Several hours scouting for graffiti. (I am doing my final dissertation on graffiti...art outside the gallery or just a crime/bane of society? interesting huh?) anyways I walked my fat arse off. wohoo. working and walking so it is all good. Tomorrow I will be doing the same because I didn't get it all done today because there was a mass protest in town which I got caught up in.... scary!

When I stayed with big_mummy she made me some pasta and bacon and mushroom and peas with a creamy white sauce which was super delicious and today I made my own. In fact I just wolfed it down. It wasn't as good as Sarah's but it was mighty yummy so my cooking is getting better. Right I will end on that positive.

:D still smiling!

well hello there :)

i am a bundle of positivity right now. i hope it stays :D my new best friend is lemsip max. it has totally turned this cold on its head and i am feeling soooooooooooo much better it is scary. was feeling so good that last night after the film society film (let the right one in----such a bizaare film, good though) i did a little quick stop at the gym. did 45 minutes on the cross trainer. didn't stay longer because i hadn't eaten since lunch and i didn't get home til 9.45ish. i hate eating that late but *shrugs*

it felt good at the gym. felt like my body was purging the bad toxins so when i left i felt completely refreshed. also it was full of hotties. that's right return of the gym pervert. everywhere i looked it was hot guys. i was in heaven. i didn't even care about my back fat wobbling. at one point i was surrounded by a whole basketball team. omg. really had to steady myself on the cross trainer... i feel wednesday night might become a regular gym session.....

exercise hasn't been the best this week with feeling shitty but i did put some effort in so we'll see what the scale has to say tomorrow. i am stuck in the flat til 1pm because i am waiting for the electric man to make a visit so no walk outside but maybe some wii fit.

:)

still dullsville here...

torrential tuesday. that is what i am calling yesterday. it was horrid.
and today i am feeling alot worse. bah

i didnt make it to the book club or the gym. :( i went to the computer place and got my laptop fixed. i was there three hours though and by the time i came out and got dreanched in the rain. also a big truck splashed a giant puddle right over me i literally looked like a drowned rat. so i just went home and got warm. there was no way i was going back out into that down pour. on the plus side my laptop is fixed. and walking to and from there... and uni... got me my ten thousand steps so it wasn't all bad. food was still good though even though i didn't eat til after 3pm but it was ok, managed to avoid eating out and just ate when i got home.

didn't sleep well either and am feeling like a bag of crap. but i am gonna try and to do some wii fit. and call at shop for lemsip. that usually sorts me out.

you are all bad people! naughty! out of all the answers you chose to focus on the fact i was naked!

bah boring

the shitty weather has arrived. my cold is full blown now. bleurgh. still not feeling too crap though its a minor annoyance to be constantly sneezing and blowing my nose. didn't manage to get any exercise in yesterday. i had a full day at uni and then my flatmate broke up with her boyfriend so it was drama central!! still managed my ten thousand steps so its all good.

today it is pissing it down and with feeling all coldy i am not going on my usual morning walk! it makes no sense. i don't want to get worse when i am coping so well. i do have a meeting with my tutor about my dissertation and in another attempt to be social i joined the book club :) and thats on tonight. other wise everything is going a-ok if not a little dull. i am going to call at the gym after the book club so today isnt going to be a bust because of the weather. no excuses.

hope the weather sorts itself out.

the lovely fitcetera gave me the over top award.
i will answer the questions but im not passing it on lol i never do. boooooooo. i know but everyone i would have given it to will already have one.

1. Where is your cell phone? *shrugs*
2. Your hair? birdsnest
3. Your mother? lovely
4. Your father? charming
5. Your favorite food? pizza
6. Your dream last night? unrepeatable
7. Your favorite drink? orange juice
8. Your dream/goal? 165
9. What room are you in? bedroom

10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? drowning
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. Something that you aren't? selfless

15. Muffins? yucky
16. Wish list item? skinny jeans
17. Where did you grow up? durham
18. Last thing you did? ate breakfast
19. What are you wearing? birthday suit
20. Your TV? huge
21. Your pets? invisible
22. Friends? away!
23. Your life? on track
24. Your mood? chilly
25. Missing someone? family
26. Vehicle? non-existant
27. Something you’re not wearing? jewellery
28. Your favorite store? bookstore
29. Your favorite color? all
30. When was the last time you laughed? 30 seconds ago

31. Last time you cried? a week
32. Your best friend? working
33. One place that I go to over and over? bed
34. One person who emails me regularly? katie
35. Favorite place to eat? the pub

sunday snotty sunday!!

it's sunday. its 8am that is far too early on any given day but on a sunday that is just wrong. and to top it off my cold has developed in to full blown runny nose and a sharpfully painful sore throat. lol it seems being ill is going round the blogosphere. and now its my turn.

however everyone seems to be mentioning a loss of appetite and that never happens to me. infact my appetite increases. which is sucky but, peoeple, i am on a roll and this shitty little cold ain't stopping me. no no no nooooooooo. so i am taking care of it. sleeping well, not over exerting myself but not not exercising, drinking hot drinks, staying positive and getting rid of all phlegm appropriately.

i am still going for my morning walk. lol lets hope i dont get lost again!!!
i am doing it.

get lost! yeah you heard!!

that's right people. i got lost in the woods. i went for my usual walk in the morning but decided to try a new route. got completely lost. lol at one point scared lost. there was like no people! i thought i was going the right way... ended up walking in completely the opposite direction and did a massive u-turn. lol. i have zero sense of direction. however i managed four thousand more steps than my usual walk and got my ten thousand steps before lunch!!

i am feeling good. super super super super good. very happy people.

hope all is well for you.

i have even factored in some calories to have a gin and tonic later when we go watch the football :D

<3

(for some reason caplock isn't working)

that friday feeling

New weigh-in day. Today. Since I haven't been weighing in much since the six pound gain. Didn't really want to face the music but today I did, since I have been back on track that is. The number was good. I have a THREE POUND LOSS to report. Which feels good. I had forgotten what it feels like to lose. AND IT FEELS FRICKIN' GOOD. I guess sometimes just plodding along does pull some good results.

I am feeling it though. Exercise is coming easier. Once I cracked the first time back at the gym I felt like why the hell did I stop going? I love the feeling of coming out of the gym red faced an sweating like no ones business!! Back on the wii is feeling good too. In general, I don't know if you picked up on this, I AM FEELING GOOD.

Also big_mummy incited a competitiveness in me! Not so long a go I weighed less than she did and now in the past spirit of my not caring she's almost a stone lighter! A stone! This doesn't sit well with me. So I must get my arse into gear and catch her up! Hopefully a little bit of healthy competition might keep me motivated :D the smack talk has already started... I don't know if every one remembers the missouri 60 challenge? well here is my 3 month after pic. unfortunately i dont have the shirt I was originally wearing but i do have one the same size and horrid clingy material...THE TOP ONE IS THE CURRENT ONE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE.

Finally feeling it...

I am finally feeling it.

Just got back from a long walk in the rare Manchester sun!! It was really lovely to walk by the river. Lots of people running and walking their doggies. Very smiley people, which made me feel good. New shoes still good, no blisters or pain from them. WOOT. I am covered in sweat. I also did a wii fit work out before I left. Food is bang on, if not a little dull. Definitely need to mix it up a bit before I get bored and stray.

Went to the film thing last night. We watched In The Loop. A political comedy. Quite funny in places. But I wouldn't rush out to buy it on dvd. I saved up some calories to have a drink in the pub afterwards. Plan sociable a go go. It was weird. I still couldn't get over my shyness. Ended up making friends with a Greek couple who didn't speak English too well so there was a lot of gestering :D and not so much chatting. Worked for me. On the way to the pub I had to detour to the cash machine and one of the guys who organised the night offered to walk me there. I think he could sense my shyness and was trying to get me to open up because he chatted nineteen to the dozen. Maybe next will be better.... well I'm sticking with it.

That's it. Off to have a bath and catch up on some blogs.