Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Weight loss:    0.5lb

Current weight:    11st 12.5lb

Weight loss since start:    8lb

Lbs to go to reach next target:    1lb

What’s gone well?

My fear this week was that after getting back under the 12st mark last week, I’d end up back in the 12st bracket this week which is what I did the last time I got under 12st despite vowing to never end up there again. So I’m delighted that this week I’ve actually managed to lose a little bit more.

I went to an unexpected party on Friday night but I’m really pleased with how I dealt with it.  I still went to my spinning class beforehand to get some activity points in the bag.  Then I ate my planned F&H dinner before we went.  I knew there’d be some kind of food there but I didn’t know what so I thought it best to play it safe.  I also bought a jar of peanut butter so that I could have a breakfast (peanut butter & banana on toast) the following day that I knew would hit the spot in terms of ‘the morning after the night before’ but without breaking the bank points-wise.

What’s been difficult?

I haven’t found anything to be particularly challenging this week.  If I’m really looking for something I suppose I’m not enjoying my spinning class as much as I used to due to a change of instructor.  I might go to the Body Balance class that is on after it instead as I think this will also help me to de-stress at the end of the working week.

The week ahead

Although I’m following the F&H plan at the moment, I’m not tracking what I spend my weekly points on.  I’ve been doing it mentally but I’m going to aim to track them properly this week.  I’ve also set my next goal which is to reach my 5% target by next week so tracking properly will really help me with this.

Thanks for reading.

PS Thanks for your suggestions about rewards, I’ll be writing a post based on these later in the week.

I realise that I’ve seemingly jumped straight from week 8 to week 10.  Unfortunately, this is not because I’ve invented time travel.  I was late posting my week 8 results and was unable to attend my weigh in last week.  Anyway, here’s how I’m doing at the moment…

Weight loss:    2.5lb

Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Current weight:    11st 13lb

Weight loss since start:    7lb

Lbs to go to reach next target:    0lb

What’s gone well?

After feeling pretty unmotivated and rubbish for the past couple of weeks, I was glad to get back on track this week.  I was even more pleased with my result as I’ve now into the next stone bracket and need to set my next mini-goal.

What I think has really helped me this week is getting back to my blog and social media and listening to the support from people on the same journey as I am.  It has also helped to not beat myself up about having set myself back on my weight loss journey and instead free myself to concentrate on moving forwards.

What’s been difficult?

I still haven’t had time to have a look at my new app yet! I will definitely explore and make use of it this week.

The week ahead

I’m going to make more time for writing my blog and reading other people’s.  I also need to think about what to how to reward myself for reaching my mini-goal of getting into the next stone bracket.  I’m also going to have a think about how to reward myself for reaching my next target which will take me to my 5% goal.

As part of looking at my blog, I’m going to review my targets as they’ve already become a bit out of sync with reality – but hey, as someone wise once said, life’s what happens when you’re busy making other plans!

Thanks for reading.

PS If anyone’s got any ideas for cheap-as-chips rewards, please share as I’m trying to tighten my belt money-wise as well as waist-wise at the moment.

Weight loss:    +0.5lb

This is how I felt before my weigh in this week!
Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Current weight:    12st 1.5lb

Weight loss since start:    4.5lb

Lbs to go to reach next target:    2lb

I’ve had a pretty disappointing week on the whole.   I think this is mainly down to being back at work and I’ve also not been feeling great with a cold/sore throat/bad chest which means I haven’t done any exercise this weekend.

What’s gone well?

Being back at work has helped me stay on track with my eating during the day.

Whilst shopping this weekend, I was very tempted to buy myself a bar of chocolate.  As I’d already had a few chocolate treats over the course of the week, I decided I didn’t really need it.

What’s been difficult?

I’ve found it really hard to stay motivated over the past couple of weeks.  I feel like I’m falling back into my age-old pattern yo-yoing.  I need to find a way to stay focused.

The week ahead

I’ve planned out all my meals for the week (which I’ve not done for  the past couple of weeks) so hopefully that will help me to stay focused food-wise.

I’m also going to hunt out some positivity and motivation from somewhere, so if you’ve any ideas about where I can find some, please let me know.

Weight loss:    0lb

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Current weight:    12st 1lb

Weight loss since start:    5lb

Lbs to go to reach next target:    1.5lb

 I was pretty pleased with staying the same this week as Id had a lazy week off work

What’s gone well?

I went to a new fitness class this week, a Zumba class that is on straight before the Body Pump class I normally go to on a Tuesday with Mr FFF.  I enjoyed the class and I went on to complete the Body Pump class afterwards without too much difficulty.  I’m planning on making this a part of my exercise routine from now on.

I went to my second parkrun on Saturday and managed to complete it 36 seconds faster than the previous week.  I know it’s not a huge improvement but I wasn’t actively trying for a faster time this week as I was running with a friend who was taking part for the first time.

On Saturday night I faced a weight loss dilemma: whether to cook a nice, plan-friendly meal (which I couldn’t be bothered to do) or to order a takeaway.  In the end, due to thinking carefully about where I want to be and the choices I need to make to get there, I decided I didn’t want to eat rubbish and opted for cooking.

What’s been difficult?

I’ve found it really hard to stay on track and not comfort eat this week.  There were a number of factors involved in this such as being off work for half-term and eating out at an amazing restaurant for a friend’s birthday.  But I’ve reminded myself not to use these factors as excuses – mainly I’ve wanted to relax a little, which is fine, I just have to accept that I’ve put achieving my goal back a little.  The fact that I’d been off-track most off the week was also a big factor in helping me resolve my Saturday’s dilemma (see above).

The week ahead

I’m back at work so that should help me to stay on track in the day.

I’m aiming to do my double exercise class again on Tuesday night although I won’t be able to attend my normal Friday night Spinning class as I’m taking my mum out for her birthday.  I’m looking forwarding to doing parkrun again at the weekend and I’m going to actively try for a quicker time.

Thanks for reading.

PS  How do you stay on track when you are out of your normal routine?

Weight loss:    +1lb

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Current weight:    12st 1lb

Weight loss since start:    5lb

Lbs to go to reach next target:    1.5lb

So I have small gain this week but I’m not disheartened by it as I’ve had a lovely weekend of being wined and dined (or more accurately beered & takeaway-ed) and eating delicious chocolates for Valentine’s day; then I enjoyed a meal and drinks with my work colleagues on Saturday to celebrate surviving the Half-Term From Hell.  So it could’ve been much worse.

What’s gone well?

I took part in my first parkrun event this week and I really enjoyed it.  I was thoroughly impressed that, despite not running further than a mile in several years, I managed to run for the whole course and completed it in a respectable time.

What’s been difficult?

Loosening the Control Freak reigns was a little difficult this weekend.  While I wanted to have a successful week weight-wise, I also wanted to let my hair down a bit with my colleagues.  Although I don’t like to drink lots (I can’t cope with the hangovers these days), I find that, if I have a few drinks on a Saturday night, even if I stay within my points budget, I usually stay the same or have a slight gain at my Monday weigh in.  In the end, I went out, ate a sensible meal, had a few drinks and really enjoyed myself.  I reasoned that it was a one-off, and I’m in the right frame of mind at the moment not to let it completely throw me off track.

The week ahead

This week could be a tough one as I’m on holiday from school.  I’ll be meeting up with a friend who is also a teacher so we always get together for lunch and a catch-up in the holidays. I’m also going to a really fancy restaurant on Thursday evening for a Friend’s birthday.

To help deal with this I’ll make sure I stay completely on plan for the lunch with a friend.  At the meal I’ll probably go a little off plan but I will look at the menu beforehand so that I can make as wise a choice as possible.  I’ll also make sure I stay completely on track for the rest of the week and I’m going to do an extra exercise class tomorrow to get some activity points in the bank.

I’m also really looking forward to taking part in parkrun again on Saturday.  Who knows – I might even get a bit faster!

Thanks for reading.

PS  How do you stay/get back on track following a slip up?