The One With the Cliche New Years Resolution

Happy New Year Everyone... it's been a while since we last spoke. I was doing so well through the Summer - running at least 3 times a week and running my first ever official races - one of them around the Olympic Parks and finishing in the Olympic Stadium!! But then it got cold, it got wet, I lost motivation and decided to just eat instead. So guess what... I piled on the weight again. Whoops. It hasn't really bothered me to be honest - Ive had fun not calorie counting and.. well just slobbing chilling out.

Today though is the start of  New Year and with that brings a hundred cliched pledges... mine is to run at least 3 times a week and cycle at least once a week.

I've decided to post my progress (as usual! Let's see how many days I last this time before the blog is abandoned!!)

Tonight I donned my new hi-vis running top and set out on my first run jog fast walk of the year in a bid to rid myself of the giant food baby that has accumulated in my tummy.

It was so wet and windy but I managed a very slow 7.5k!! Still that's 500 calories that I wouldn't have burned sitting watching TV.

The Food Diary isn't great but it is New Years Day so you'll have to let me off!!

Breakfast
2 x Bacon
Mushrooms
Egg
2 x Toast (white bread)

Lunch
Ko-Lee Noodles
Milky Bar

Dinner
A delicious Chilli Prawn Stir Fry after my run.

So that's my resolution to be fit & healthy again - and stick to it!! Wish me luck.... again!!!

Day 1 #SmashItSept

So today I was supposed to be starting my first 20 minutes a day in September but I'm absolutely full of cold and I'm just not feeling it at all. The only thing running today is my big red nose unfortunately - no fitness for me :(

Weightloss Update

I'm really naughty for not updating on my progress, I just don't seem to have a minute to blog at the moment. But I am pleased to say that I am still doing Weight Watchers and I am still following it properly.

Since I joined WW on 11th April I have lost 16 and a half pounds - that's only half a pound off having lost 10% of my body weight!!! I am so pleased and very proud of myself. I hadn't really noticed  difference when looking in the mirror but I've just been looking at pictures of myself from last night's Take That concert and I saw that my shape is starting to transform...

Me and Mum x

I was naughty at the concert and drank a bottle of wine so I've gone over my points limit for the week but I'm back on the strict regime now and fingers crossed the 1/2 pound will still come off so I can get my 10% key ring. Eeeek, I'll let you know Monday x

Say hello to my new cross trainer - I'm hoping it's going to help me lose weight in the run up to my holiday.

As you know, I'm doing WeightWatchers, but I feel like I need to do more now I'm passed the first 4 weeks.

So I have set myself a goal - 2 months to lose AT LEAST a stone.

I did 10lbs last month so this can only help. Wish me luck!

Weight Watchers Week 4 (sssh dont mention the pizza and chips)

Gosh, I've been so rubbish at updating you on my progress, I bet you thought I'd fallen off the wagon again didn't you? Well, I have been good... sort of... I have had a chippy tea and a Dominoes over the past couple of weeks but it's all been accounted for.

I was slightly worried when I walked in because there was no meeting last week and I do struggle if no ones checking up on me. I think everyone gets nervous before they get on the scales - even when they know they've been good.

I stepped on the scales and watched the numbers scrambling through on the digital screen before beeping to a halt. "You've lost 4 and a half pounds, well done." I could have punched the sky, I managed to get through Easter without gaining!

Therefore I am pleased to announce that 1 month in to my Weight Watchers journey I have lost 10lbs!!! Tonight I recieved my silver 7 for losing half a stone and also my 5% badge. Can you believe it? Little old me managing to lose over 5% of my body weight in just 4 weeks.

I'm loving this new ProPoints plan. I think the reason I'm doing so well is because you get 'spare' points. so if I go over my daily allowance thn I know I don't have to worry because I have an extra 49 to use per week for when 'things go wrong'.

I'm just sitting down to plan some lovely meals for the week ahead so I'm going - but I just want you to know that I'm sooooooooo happy!!!!

Week 1 - The first weigh in

I know what you thought - I'd done it again - given up before I'd even started but I haven't, I've just been too busy to post.

On Monday I headed back to Weight Watchers to see if week one of the diet had been successful. Admittedly I had, had a couple of slip ups but I was confident that I'd been a good girl really and that I'd at least lose a couple of pounds. I think I know all about ProPoints now and I'm starting to learn what's what's what.

I stepped on the scales to reveal that I had lost 4lbs - YES!

I don't feel hungry because I'm filling up on zero point fruit and veg - brilliance - but I still can't manage to cut out chocolate yet : (

I've had WW Pizza for dinner with salad but I have had chocs in work and I will NEED wine tomorrow night! Hopefully, I can get back on track but i'll see you Monday for the week 2 weigh in!

Yep - Me Again - But This Time It's For Real!

Ok, so I know what you're thinking. Yes, way back in December I made a promise to start the diet and... well... that's the last you heard from me. The thing is I wasn't trying to lose weight for me, I was trying to lose weight to conform. I knew I was going back to work and thought I better make some effort not to be the stereotypical 'still carrying the baby weight' colleague. Yes, I wanted to be skinny, I just didn't want to make the effort. Despite trying to convince myself, I just wasn't ready mentally - physically - YES -mentally NO. So the diet got forgotten about, pushed to the back of my mind. Then Christmas came and all the lovelies that come with it. Before I knew it the dreaded first day at work had arrived and there was nothing I could do about it.

And that was 2 months ago and nothing had changed until something happened... something that I've been waiting for, for months... the Sun...the Sun came out and it reminded me of short sleeved tops and bikinis. That was when I realised that I wanted to get in shape, not for anyone else, just for me. The only trouble is, I've been here before and I know I don't have the strongest will power, I need something to keep me in check. The only time I have ever lost weight is through Weight Watchers so I'm signing up again.

When I was 18, medication made me pile on the pounds and I started an online only plan. That was fab, I was living at home with my parents and I didn't need to worry about cooking for anyone else. I knew that I could still have a Rich Tea biscuit on my break for half a point or even a McDonalds if I exercised. I managed to lose over 2 stone and ended up weighing 8 stone 10lbs

Then, after Mister A was born I decided to go to my local meeting and it worked again. I would cook from scratch every night using my WW cookery books. Chris loved it. I lost 10% of my body weight and it felt good.

This time though, time is scarce. With a full time job and 2 children... Will I have time to cook from scratch every night, if I opt for the frozen meals will it cost me a fortune - or drive Chris nuts!? Who knows? Well, I guess you're about  to find out!

I'm Back and I'm Feeling Motivated!

Ok, so the last time I was here I was on a mission to get my old body back... Chris and I had planned a massive diet and we were going to use the Wii to help us on our way.

Unfortunately when you're lacking motivation, something like the batteries going on the Wii fit board, can mean that you have an excuse to stop. And that's what happened - we had no means of weighing ourselves so we just kind of stopped. The Dominoes opening down the road hasn't been great for us either - we've had Two for Tuesdays for the past two weeks running.

But now the eating really does have to stop! It would be so easy now to just leave it 'til the New Year but NO!!! I will start my diet properly. I haven't been pigging out exactly - I have sort of been remembering that I'm still supposed to be eating better but those big bags of Minstrels are only £1 at Spar at the moment so....

...I had to buy 2. Diet starts again tomorrow. PROMISE!!

CSN Stores...

I just had an email from a lovely lady at CSN Stores offering me the chance to review a product from one of their UK sites. 

I have to be honest, I'd never really heard of CSN before but they have some great sites selling everything from wardrobes and chic lighting pieces to small kitchen appliances. 

I thought that as I am trying to eat healthier, I should probably choose something from their massive selection of cookware so watch this space to see my review!

http://www.csnstores.co.uk

http://www.allmodern.co.uk/

http://www.cookwarebycsn.co.uk/

http://www.furniturebycsn.co.uk/

http://www.lightingbycsn.co.uk/

http://www.tvstands.co.uk/

Spicy Vegeteble Soup Recipe

This week, we've been mostly eating a huuuuuge pan of spicy vegetable soup. It's something I used to make a lot when I was doing Weight Watchers because veg was 0 points so I thought I'd give it a go.

Here's the ingredients...

6 Large Carrots
6 Parsnips
2 Large leeks
1 Cauliflower
2 Large Potatoes
1 Beef Stock Cube
1 Pint of Water
Salt & Pepper to season


Bang it all in a pan and simmer for an hour. Then grab your blender and do your worst....

Simple but delicious! Enjoy!

The Big Weigh In: WEEK 1

I'm going to make this short and sweet. Sweet being the 'evil' word that got us in to this mess to start with!

We got weighed last night...

I have lost 1lb (not much but it's a start) and Chris has gained 1lb (naughty boy).

Not a great start. I know where I went wrong...

...yes it's my love for chocolate. We have been eating healthier - cooking from scratch - but I just can't get rid of that little voice inside my head that says "You've finished your dinner Leanne, reward yourself, go eat something sweet."

Yes I know this is ridiculous, I'm 28 for God's sake, I should be able to have some kind of control! But the thing is.. at this moment in time... I just don't! And it's National Chocolate week now - which is not a great help!

This weeks plan is to reduce our portions (I haven't told Chris yet) maybe he won't notice the tiny plates?!

I'll let you know how we got on!

Stay tuned for a tasty low calorie spicy vegetable soup recipe!

Why do I keep winning sweet things??

So the day I started my diet I got an email to tell me I had won a Betty Crocker cake mix from Mummy Reviews. It made me laugh out loud. I thought "That's the diet out the window."

Now I just had a message from OK! Magazine to tell me that out of 442 people, I'm one of 10 that has won a Divine Chocolate Hamper!

WTF? Someone obviously does not want me to lose weight! (Clearly this is me, for I shouldn't have entered in the first place!)

You do know I'll HAVE to eat all this stuff though don't you - it would be completely rude not to!

Anyway, despite these wins, Chris and I have decided to try and cut out snacks to see what effect that will have on our weightloss. (We're starting slow!) Don't tell Chris but I've had 3 biscuits today - ooops.

I went to Tesco last night and bought loads of veg so that we can make a hearty but healthy soup. I never use recipes for soups by the way - I just buy the veg that is on offer and bang it all in a pan with some stock - Nigella I am not! If it turns out well I'll post the ingredients!

Last night we had spaghetti bolognese with extra lean mince cooked with fresh ingredients. Delicious.

We haven't managed to do any exercise yet - but we will, I'm sure!? Well we'll have to if we eat all this chocolate and cake!

Tonight we are having a healthy chicken stirfry - so we are making the effort although I'm not sure it's really enough? We'll find out on Sunday I suppose!

The "BIG" Weigh In

I've always kept very quiet about my actual weight in the past, choosing never to tell a soul what I weighed at any point in my life. I have always been embarrased, even when I was skinny! This is a massive step for me revealing my weight to the masses - especially only 6 weeks after giving birth. I have to do this though, I know it will help me and I'm hoping it will help other people get motivated too.

Last night, in true dieter style, Chris and I tucked in to our 'last supper' - a delicious but huge lamb roast followed by lots of chocolate! It was like I was an an 'all you can eat' dinner as I stuffed myself to the brink - knowing that it wouldn't be allowed once we started this thing. We've all done it - I can see your smiling because you've done the same!


Anyway, I did promise you all that I would post our weigh in results last night but quite frankly I was too shocked to.

When I hopped on to the Wii Fit I have to say, I was hoping for an "Oh wow, I didn't put that much weight on whilst I was pregnant" moment! Unfortunately this was not the case!

So here we go... the results are in...

 Leanne

Age:          28
Height:      5ft 4ins
Weight:     12 stone 4lbs
BMI:         29.3 - Overweight

Chris

Age:          35
Height:      6ft 0ins
Weight:     14 stone 3lbs
BMI:         27.0 - Overweight




I am now the heaviest I have ever been, in my whole life - ever - Eeek! Even my Wii Mii held her head in shame....

I am determined now to reach a healthy BMI and being the supporting other half that he is, Chris is joining me on the journey.

Today is THE day. Wish us luck peeps - it's going to be tough! x

Just to let you know...

In true 'avoiding the issue' style. Me and the man have decided to start our new healthy eating and exercise routine from Monday. Good job really, I've been eating like a beast today!

See you on Sunday for the big weigh in. Eeek!

Today is the day!

This morning I woke up and looked in the mirror and I didn't like what I saw - love handles of massive proportion, a flabby 'baby pocket' and a huge bum..

It may only be 5 weeks since I gave birth, but something's got to give. I am falling in to the same pattern of chocolate snacking that I suffered with after my first pregnancy and it needs to stop.

For I, Second Time Mummy, have decided that this is the day I start my "get back in to shape 'Big Mum > Little Mum' blog" and I want you all to join me for the ride.

It is sure to be a funny journey and I'm not quite sure how long it will take, but I will do it - I will go from big mummy to small mummy.

How you might ask?

We'll that's something I am not quite sure of yet. I may try a weight loss programme eventually and I might try and do some exercise, in all honesty I don't know what to do- but I am open to ideas.

First things first, I need to start eating healthier and stop snacking, so that is my goal for the week. The only problem is - do I eat all of the snacks I have left in the house, so that there's no temptation?! I couldn't waste food could I? And there's a cream cake in the fridge? See I'm distracted already!

I'm off now to plan for my healthier, skinnier, new body - no sniggering! But please, join me - I think this is going to be lots of fun - not for me obviously, but I'm pretty sure you'll all get a good laugh out of it!

Wish me luck!