Slimming world: week 5

I started the week very shaky. I was off from work and well bordem set in. On Tuesday and Wednesday I did not track my days at all. I ate not necessailry badly but not great either. Come Thursday I was like right what are you doing? Get a grip and sort this out.

I went for a long walk with my friend, prepared my lunch and just ate better. Simple things that clearly made a difference. I made sure I had more speed on my plate. On Friday I knew I was going out for a meal, so I ate wisely that day and well I didn't hold back in the evening. We had a starter of sausages, main course of a buttermilk burger and fries (loads of mayo) and for pudding a chocolate bomb with toffee sauce. It was so good though and worth it all. I didn't drink as one I didn't want the added calories and two I had work the next day. HA!

The weekend consisted of work. Which means I tend to eat better anyway, I am always busy averaging around 15,000 steps a day at work. I also have breakfast lunch and dinner which doesn't always happen. I found myself not very hungry at work this week, so had mugshots for lunch with ham, fruit and a yogurt. On both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday I went straight to Oxford so didn't eat dinner. Naughty me but I wasn't really hungry.

On Monday, I wasn't feeling very well, and stuck to not so healthy foods. I grabbed a sandwich from M&S (Carnation chicken) which is my favourite and two milk chocolate bars. I then had a healthier dinner of rice, chicken and speed veg in the evening which I felt balanced it out nicely.

So, today is weigh day, and I honestly didn't know what to expect. It's been a weird old week....

First week I lost 2.5lbs
Second week I lost 3.5lb
Third week I lost: 0.5lb
Fourth week I lost: 1.5lb
Fifth week I lost: 3lb
Total: 11b

That's right this week I lost 3lb, my weight is now 19st 11.5lb.. I did not think I'd get to this weight as quickly as I have. I'm so happy with myself.

Love yah
IsThataRedHerring

August 19th 2016

Currently loving...
Band: Scouting for Girls
Film: We bought a Zoo
Book: The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
Product: Dove, Summer Revived
Game: Pokemon (obvs)
Drink: Almond Dark Chocolate milk (Alpro)
Food: Couscous

This month I have been revisiting old loves of mine, and the biggest one is the band Scouting for Girls. I honestly forgot how much I loved them, and quickly found myself singing, if not a little out of tune (okay a lot out of tune) to the songs. It took me right back to when I was in year 10, (some 7 if not 8 years ago), Elvis isn't dead, the heartbeat song and of course She's so lovely. And yes I ended up watching Angus, Things and Perfect Snogging. I also found out that they are touring!!! So, I might have to get me some tickets.

Little update. 
As you guys know I am on a health kick. Out with the old and in with the new and all that jazz. This week I have thoroughly enjoyed trying new healthy foods and found my love for couscous, this stuff is a life saver, some boiling water is all you need and boom healthy meal, I add chicken and loads of veg to mine. I can never finish it all which is great, because when I undoubtedly get a little hungry later on I can finish off my lunch. In my first week I lost a total of 6lb which I was over the moon about, and the second week a total of 9lb. So, as you can imagine I am a very happy girlie right now.

I also purchased a new bike and I love it. It is so pretty and beautiful. (see below) I was lucky my local Halfords have a deal at the moment on bikes and accessories 20% off all bicycles and 3 for 2 on accessories. I couldn't resist, it is beautiful :).  I am of course going to get matching basket and saddle bag, I'd be silly not to.

Also, this month I got a new tattoo, by the wonderfully talented Sophie of Skin Wizard in Thatcham. I am beyond happy with the tattoo, it means a lot to me. The photo does not do this beauty justice. 

That has been my month so far, I hope you liked my little update. Until next time..

Love yah

IsThataRedHerring 

UPDATE on everything. Fitness, books, goals and more

This is a much needed update (sorry). As the title suggests it is time for a big update on well my life. I know a lot of people are going to be doing New Years resolutions but this year I only have one big goal, which is being broken down to the following:

Fitness
Back in November I pledged to get fit and with every pound I lose I will donate to charity. Since then I have lost 14 pound so yes that is £14 towards a charity. In December I joined the gym and hired a personal trainer. When I sat down and talked to her (personal trainer, thank you Carrie) she reminded me that muscle weighs more than fat, so although it's a good idea in theory I will be losing fat and gaining muscle and my routine consists of a lot of weight lifting to shift the fat. So, I have decided with every dress size I drop I will donate £50 to a chosen charity (still need to be chosen) and when I get to my target dress size of a size 12 I will donate a further £100.

This year 2016! I want to do a few charity runs, particularly Cancer Research Race for Life and a few others which I need I to research more into. If you have any suggestions for charity runs then please let me know... also any suggestions you have for the charity in which the money I raise with my weight-loss, then please let me know.

Work
I started a new job in October, quitting my job as a care assistant in a care home due to a few reasons, but the main issue is that I didn't see myself furthering my career there which at the age of 21 is very important to me. So, I got a new job at a school for autistic children, it's an amazing job, very rewarding and I am part of a great team. Unlike my old job the hours are consistent and the money is a lot better, and the best thing is there are many opportunities to further myself. At some point this year I will be starting my health and social diploma. Exciting times, this also means a pay rise!

Books
Well its 2016 so there are many amazing books being released but I already have a ton of books I need to read. So after my last Waterstones voucher is spent I am going to STOP buying new books! It's going to be so hard, but my To Be Read list is so big is frightening!
The books I am looking forward to reading most this year are :-

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman 
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 
• The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 
• The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner 

I know a lot of these books are old (not really but so last year ;) ) but I really wanted to read them and this year I will be getting to them. I am particularly excited about the Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae. I have heard a lot of good things about these books so I am very excited to pick them up and give them a read. 

I also aim to reread a couple of my favourite books, for defiant I will be rereading Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky because it is one of my favourites and I love it. I need to reread it so badly. I think it will be my first book of 2016. Also, at some point this year I will read Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer, the reverse version of Twilight. I have heard very mixed things about this book so I need to give it a go myself. 

Blog
The main aim for my blog this year is to blog regularly, pre-write blog posts and post twice a week. It's not that hard really but I have become very lazy with my blog and well a lot of things to be honest (sorry). So, I have started a fresh notebook full of ideas for posts and I am going to start writing them as soon as I've finished this one. I want to get regular views which would be nice and hopefully make a little name for myself. But that is an ongoing goal. I hope my writing will develop.

LIFE
Just the small topic of life. But to be honest I just want to be happy and healthy and I will achieve this. I am making positive changes to my life. I am determined not to give up on anything.
A few other little things is:

• travel more
• even if it's to the next town over, or to London more. Just to discover new places... I am also going to Thailand for 10 days which is AMAZINGLY EXCITING. 
• Use my time wisely- not to waste my precious time. Because if 2015 has taught me anything it's that time does not wait around for you. 
• Appreciate the little things. 
• LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

Sorry for such a long blog post but I felt that it was needed. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring 

Fuck it, I'm going to prove myself wrong!

I’m terrified.

I’m terrified of never being truly happy with the way I look. I want to change I do, I try so hard but then something happens or I make up an excuse and I’m back to square one again. I self-sabotage all the time. I know this but yet I keep doing it.

Today I had the day off work, I could have gone for a walk, run or a jog. I could have got my bike out of the shed and gone for a bike ride. Even if it was for half an hour it would have been better than what I actually did. But surprise, surprise I didn’t instead, I got up at noon, ate some cake and proceeded to watch T.V. all afternoon. I did a marathon… of a T.V. series. I’m so lazy and I know that, I really do. I keep trying to lose weight and get healthier but after 3 weeks I get bored, annoyed and angry because I haven’t lost the amount of weight I wanted to. Of course I know that it is a long process but let’s face it, if we could all just press a button to make us look the way we want to we’d all press it. But life is a bitch and that’s not how it works.

I’m scared that if I don’t make the changes now I never will. My weight is already causing problems for me. I was 14 when I was told I have an 80% chance of not having children. I was told then, that if I lost weight that statistic would go down. But did I listen, did I fuck! I carried on the way I was. And my weight has piled on. I’ve tried a lot of things but as soon as small excuse appeared I’d grab it and make it massive. I got ill, I had 3 operations. Now what’s my excuse? I’m tired after work… well Gemma MAN UP!

I need to stop thinking of excuses. I work 4/5 days a week. Always have at least 2 days off work. Work is great, I am more active at work. Running after the kids and eating reasonable meals. But it’s the snacking and picking.

I always have plenty of time to do exercise after or before work but I never do. I either start work at 7am and finish at 3:45pm or start at 3:15pm to 10:30pm… I have plenty of time before or after to do something. I know that if I did 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day I will see a massive difference but once again I can’t be bothered.

But the difference this time is that, I have my family, my friends, a personal trainer and my boyfriend rooting for me. I lack motivation but with each of them supporting me I know I can do it. One step at a time. One pound at a time, with every step I will get there and be healthier. I’ve said it so SOOOO many times that I will change but this time I NEED to do it. I can’t keep slacking. I have a future to prepare for. I have a full time job, a loving partner and the only thing holding me back is my weight! It’s one thing I can control and change so here goes!

I promise… for every pound I lose over the next year I will donate a pound for pound to charity. On the 13^th of November 2016 I will update you all. With weekly updates (every Friday) I will let you know how I go. What I’ve eaten, how I’ve exercised. My highs and lows. Everything.

I hope you can all join me on my journey

Love yah

IsThataRedHerring 

I am never going to be a size 8! And I am fine with that.

My dream/ideal size is a UK 14! Many of you may be shocked that I want to be that size, a lot of people think that is massive and not a healthy weight. But the fact is in the UK, the average size is 14/16. It is a healthy size and the size I aim to be. 

I have always been a larger girl, and like I've said in previous posts it only bothers me because of how unfit and unhealthy I am. 

The point of this post is to explain what I am doing to make myself healthy and happy. For my height my BMI is shockingly high, and it scares me. I turn 21 in a month and I am obese. I am overweight, unhealthy and scared that if I don't change now I won't have a long future. I want to get married, have children, travel and most importantly I want to get old and wrinkly with white hair. I do not want to die young and have wasted my life eating and being 'fat'. It is time to change, I am finally in the right mind set to do it and take action. 

What have I done?

1. I joined my local Weight Watchers group. I felt that if I had to pay each week to attend and get weighed, it will motivate me more to lose weight and it really has. In 5 days I have already seen a difference in myself. And sticking to a plan that I have made is so much better. I still enjoy the little naughty things, but I'm learning to do it all in moderation. 
2. I got a new bicycle (and helmet, safety first kids). Myself, my dad and brother used to cycle everywhere up until I was about 15/16. Every Sunday we would go for a 3 hour bike ride and although I moaned a lot then, I did really enjoy it. I'm very lucky to live near a town but also in the countryside which means there are plenty of places to cycle. I've managed to rope my brother into it as well and now we are going to try and cycle for 30/40 mins 3 times a week and slowly build it up and have less breaks.
3. I am doing this for me. Time and time again I have tried to lose weight but for the wrong reason. If I lose weight boys will like me more and that is the sad truth but now I say sod it, I am doing this for me and myself only. And that's why it is so important to me to remember that in order to be happy I do not need to be a size 6 I can be perfectly happy and healthy as a 14. 

I want everyone to know that if you are happy with yourself, no matter your size, stay like it. But if you aren't do something about it but take the healthy route! Don;t go trying to lose or put on weight too fast. It may takes years to get to how you want to be, but that is a fight we must all take. And for me mine started on the 10th of Junes 2015, and I am determined to carry on and prove to myself (not anyone else) that I am worthy of being happy and healthy and still be myself. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring