Last week I made a promise to myself - that for seven days I would get my head down and actually start losing weight and really see what I was capable of.
So every day I got my behind on the wii fit, and did between 20 - 30 minutes (almost) every day, a combination of yoga and just simply stepping up and down on the balance board for 10 minutes. The one day I didn't go on the wii, I was actually away at the in-laws, so instead took the dogs for a very nice long walk.
My diet has been a combination of food replacement bars & milkshakes, and small portioned dinners (by small I mean half the size I 'usually' have).
I haven't touched a packet of crisps, or drunk a single drop of alcohol (despite an over night stay at the in-laws which would normally mean plenty of both), and monitored quite closely what 'additional extras' I have with my food (i.e. table sauces, butter on bread etc).
So the result then - well, I am very pleased to report that this week I have lost a total of 7lbs!!!!!!! A definite whoop whoop me thinks!
Very pleased, and quite amazed that it didn't take as much effort on my part to achieve than previously perceived.
This week I will of course be following the same routine as I haven't felt deprived, or hungry at all. So fingers are well and truly crossed for another weight loss for next week! :D
Monday 30 May 2011
Thursday 26 May 2011
Desperate Plea from a Desperate Dieter
It's a fact that whilst you are dieting / trying to lose weight, every day will bring forth a new challenge for you to over come.
Today, mine comes in the form of my other half. In short, the bread supply has run out, so he decided to make some himself using a sun-dried mediterranean tomato flour mix. Usually I wouldn't fault the logic. We used to make our own bread a lot before we moved house and fell out of the habit, so like I said, usually this would be normal sound thinking.
However: I am at present trying to follow quite a strict eating regime, which I am hoping will see me (finally!) losing quite a decent amount of weight.
Bread is one of those things I can't seem resist, I love it whether toasted or not. Whilst I find the taste quite heavenly, the effects on my digestive system can sometimes be hell. Not all the time - that's the kicker, just 'sometimes'. On a bad day, it can set off anything from bloating to stomach pains. Because of this, bread is one of the items on the 'naughty list' and must be avoided at all costs.
Now baring all of the above in mind, on a scale of 1-10 how cruel do you think it was that my other half decided to bake bread today (as opposed to actually going down to the local shops and buying some). No, not 10. The way I'm feeling right now it's shot up to 20, and that's only because I was the one who had to check on them and take them out of the oven when they were done whilst he was upstairs in the office working!!
You thought that was bad, I have the insult to add to the injury. Now my fella, he is a practical man, and to save on the electrics (or something), he always believes that whilst the 'oven is already on', he should take advantage and bake something else - sort of a two for one thing I imagine. That's all very well and good, but when he decides to make chocolate muffins, which I also have to not only smell, but check on and remove from the oven when done, isn't very helpful to the cause.
I've been sitting here over an hour, and I think I have just about got the urge to go eat under control. The urge to have a bread roll is much much stronger than the muffin, so am thinking I will need to do a bit of reconditioning 'tapping' to try and get this under control.
My point is this - those of us who are in need of and are trying to lose weight, got here for a reason. Namely we link a certain amount of pleasure in consuming certain things (we all know our weaknesses, mine is bread, cheese, crisps (pringles!) and alcohol - all of which are now firmly on my no no list). We want to lose weight, and unfortunately a change in attitude towards our 'favourite things' isn't going to happen over night.
To all those living with a serial dieter (shouldn't have mentioned cereal, that's another thing on my no no list), please remember that we are trying to change deep ingrained habits and to be perfectly frank, the most unhelpful thing you can do is (metaphorically) rub our faces in it by flaunting the 'good stuff'. It's like drinking alcohol in front of an alcoholic trying to get and stay sober - genuinely!
Whilst we are 'making the change' please be respectful and supportive of our needs and our weaknesses. Have your takeaways, chocolate, crisps, sweets etc by all means but please don't have them in front of us and especially don't keep going on about how good it tastes!
I promise it wont take too long for us to become empowered enough to be able to choose the right things, and not be bothered by 'the bad', or at least have the ability to consume sensibly and in moderation. But we must be given that chance in order to make the change - which is why not only support and understanding from the home front is so important, but also respect and appreciation for what we are trying to achieve.
Today, mine comes in the form of my other half. In short, the bread supply has run out, so he decided to make some himself using a sun-dried mediterranean tomato flour mix. Usually I wouldn't fault the logic. We used to make our own bread a lot before we moved house and fell out of the habit, so like I said, usually this would be normal sound thinking.
However: I am at present trying to follow quite a strict eating regime, which I am hoping will see me (finally!) losing quite a decent amount of weight.
Bread is one of those things I can't seem resist, I love it whether toasted or not. Whilst I find the taste quite heavenly, the effects on my digestive system can sometimes be hell. Not all the time - that's the kicker, just 'sometimes'. On a bad day, it can set off anything from bloating to stomach pains. Because of this, bread is one of the items on the 'naughty list' and must be avoided at all costs.
Now baring all of the above in mind, on a scale of 1-10 how cruel do you think it was that my other half decided to bake bread today (as opposed to actually going down to the local shops and buying some). No, not 10. The way I'm feeling right now it's shot up to 20, and that's only because I was the one who had to check on them and take them out of the oven when they were done whilst he was upstairs in the office working!!
You thought that was bad, I have the insult to add to the injury. Now my fella, he is a practical man, and to save on the electrics (or something), he always believes that whilst the 'oven is already on', he should take advantage and bake something else - sort of a two for one thing I imagine. That's all very well and good, but when he decides to make chocolate muffins, which I also have to not only smell, but check on and remove from the oven when done, isn't very helpful to the cause.
I've been sitting here over an hour, and I think I have just about got the urge to go eat under control. The urge to have a bread roll is much much stronger than the muffin, so am thinking I will need to do a bit of reconditioning 'tapping' to try and get this under control.
My point is this - those of us who are in need of and are trying to lose weight, got here for a reason. Namely we link a certain amount of pleasure in consuming certain things (we all know our weaknesses, mine is bread, cheese, crisps (pringles!) and alcohol - all of which are now firmly on my no no list). We want to lose weight, and unfortunately a change in attitude towards our 'favourite things' isn't going to happen over night.
To all those living with a serial dieter (shouldn't have mentioned cereal, that's another thing on my no no list), please remember that we are trying to change deep ingrained habits and to be perfectly frank, the most unhelpful thing you can do is (metaphorically) rub our faces in it by flaunting the 'good stuff'. It's like drinking alcohol in front of an alcoholic trying to get and stay sober - genuinely!
Whilst we are 'making the change' please be respectful and supportive of our needs and our weaknesses. Have your takeaways, chocolate, crisps, sweets etc by all means but please don't have them in front of us and especially don't keep going on about how good it tastes!
I promise it wont take too long for us to become empowered enough to be able to choose the right things, and not be bothered by 'the bad', or at least have the ability to consume sensibly and in moderation. But we must be given that chance in order to make the change - which is why not only support and understanding from the home front is so important, but also respect and appreciation for what we are trying to achieve.
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Weight Loss Forum
In the beginning Helly created a forum, where all those needing support, motivation, and education regarding all things weight loss, could gather and become empowered to achieve their weight loss goals, and Helly saw that it was good!
Seriously though, as you may have now gathered, I have started a forum which is specifically designed to help anybody who wants / needs help and support with their weight loss goals.
Whether you have 2lbs to lose or 200lbs, it doesn't matter how big or small the weight loss goal, the aim of the forum is to help you achieve that goal by offering support, advice / opinions, and even a little light 'coaching' from me should it be required!
Simply click on the link below to view the forum
http://www.helen-barber.co.uk/forum
Seriously though, as you may have now gathered, I have started a forum which is specifically designed to help anybody who wants / needs help and support with their weight loss goals.
Whether you have 2lbs to lose or 200lbs, it doesn't matter how big or small the weight loss goal, the aim of the forum is to help you achieve that goal by offering support, advice / opinions, and even a little light 'coaching' from me should it be required!
Simply click on the link below to view the forum
http://www.helen-barber.co.uk/forum
Tuesday 17 May 2011
Tick tock, tick tock
To some it flies, to others it crawls. Some have too much, while others not enough. Despite this, one thing is certain, and that is time is constant - no matter your perception, it is the same for everybody. The only difference is what you choose to do with it.
Have you ever sat back and thought about what you want out of life? I mean really want, not what you think other people might think you should want, but what YOU really want. For example:
I could say that I want my own swimming pool & spa, music recording studio and a little red sporty convertible out the front of my million pound house. I could also say that this weekend I am planning on flying myself, partner and pooches over to Monaco in our private jet where our private yacht is moored, the Champaign is on ice, the canapes are awaiting our arrival, and well soon be basking in the glorious sunshine whilst the formula 1 cars go whizzing by!
A far fetched dream, or a goal now set in motion?
Donald Trump once said "you will think more than 50,000 thoughts today - so you might as well make them big ones". I couldn't agree more! Life shouldn't be about settling, it should be about striving and achieving your very best.
'If you can dream it, you can do it!' - Walt Disney. Honestly you really can!!
'We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.' - JFK
I have included this last quote because it gives a very clear indication of my mind set. I choose to do what I do not because it is easy, but because it is hard. It's a challenge I am willing to accept and one I am unwilling to postpone.
Your focus becomes your reality - Tony Robbins.
If you focus on all the negative stuff, that will be the sum total of your life. I have plenty of people in my circle where this is abundantly true! So by focusing on all the good stuff, the car, the house, the yacht etc, then this will in turn become reality.
And why not!
Have you ever sat back and thought about what you want out of life? I mean really want, not what you think other people might think you should want, but what YOU really want. For example:
I could say that I want my own swimming pool & spa, music recording studio and a little red sporty convertible out the front of my million pound house. I could also say that this weekend I am planning on flying myself, partner and pooches over to Monaco in our private jet where our private yacht is moored, the Champaign is on ice, the canapes are awaiting our arrival, and well soon be basking in the glorious sunshine whilst the formula 1 cars go whizzing by!
A far fetched dream, or a goal now set in motion?
Donald Trump once said "you will think more than 50,000 thoughts today - so you might as well make them big ones". I couldn't agree more! Life shouldn't be about settling, it should be about striving and achieving your very best.
'If you can dream it, you can do it!' - Walt Disney. Honestly you really can!!
'We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.' - JFK
I have included this last quote because it gives a very clear indication of my mind set. I choose to do what I do not because it is easy, but because it is hard. It's a challenge I am willing to accept and one I am unwilling to postpone.
Your focus becomes your reality - Tony Robbins.
If you focus on all the negative stuff, that will be the sum total of your life. I have plenty of people in my circle where this is abundantly true! So by focusing on all the good stuff, the car, the house, the yacht etc, then this will in turn become reality.
And why not!
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