So here it is, the final weigh in of 2012.
2012 was a
year in which I saw myself gradually eat my way into a size 18-20 in
clothes, fairly unnoticeably. Yes, my clothes were no longer fitting,
yes buttons were popping open on tops and blouses, and yes, a colleague
kindly pointed out (in my previous job) that I needed to go up a size.
The thing is, I didn't FEEL any different - that's the trouble with
gradual weight gain - you don't realise the tiny changes that are
building up.
In July I went on holiday to Cornwall -
one of my favourite places, and somewhere I've always felt comfortable. I
had a great time, don't get me wrong. It's just... the photos... When
Scott uploaded the photos there were so many of me looking really solid
around the middle, making me look OLD and just not looking like me.
You'll notice that the photos I've tended to put up are of me from the
shoulders up.
Goodwood in September was another time
when I saw photos and thought, "I don't want to be like that anymore"...
By this point I had already begun my weightwatchers journey, so I knew I
was headed in the right direction, but any kind of "goal" seemed a long
way off.
At the weekend, Scott, Flo and I went to
London for the day - a very rare family day away from home. We did a few
touristy bits (Natural History Museum, Hamleys, Carnaby Street) and
took Flo on the underground for the first time (well, the second, but
she was too tiny to remember the first). it was great to have the time
out. I wore heeled boots all day, carried bags and toddlers and had lots
of photos taken, and, wait for it, I FELT GREAT! I was wearing my
slimmer size 14 jeans, my size 14 coat, and felt like I deserved to wear
them. (You know how sometimes you can sneak into a smaller size due to
the brand being over-generous, the stretch being more than adequate, or
the cut being slightly irregular, but never actually feel like that's
your size...)
The day after London I was poorly, but I
recovered within 48 hours to be back full of energy and enthusiasm. My
eating habits have changed, so my energy levels have improved, and my
overall fitness is on the up. Walking is about all the exercise I'm
doing at the moment, but I'll be cycling in the spring, so perhaps 2013
will be even better. Work is going great, Flo is flourishing at
preschool, and Scott's photography business is coming on in leaps and
bounds. Oh, and I lost another pound this week, taking me to 12st12lb - a
total weight loss of 1st 12lb. Nearly 2stone!!!
Merry Christmas everyone! See you on the other side!
Showing posts with label career change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career change. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
No longer a baker's dozen!
It has been a week of "being good" food-wise. I've had the odd chocolate, the odd *cough* Toby Carvery, a teeny tiny takeaway and, oh yeah, a complete Finnish Christmas dinner! For the uninitiated, a Finnish Christmas dinner is a joy to behold, and a joy to consume - we had Christmas ham, herrings, smoked salmon, potato bake, swede bake, carrot bake, red cabbage, *covers Flo's ears* reindeer, mushroom pie, mushroom salad, beetroot and apple salad and COPIOUS amounts of red wine.
Throughout my time with Weightwatchers I've not felt like I was on a diet. I've cut down on the alcohol, stopped buying daily chocolate bars, stopped sitting with a bowl of kettle chips whilst watching a film, and just thought a little more about the choices I make on an hour-to-hour, day-to-day basis. I don't feel deprived, I don't stand out like a sore thumb when eating with friends and family (ie I don't have a huge plate of salad when I eat out) and I still keep losing weight. It really goes to show how just a few small changes can make all the difference.
Would I like to sit eating a big bar of Dairy Milk? Yes! Would I enjoy it at the time? Undoubtedly! Would I beat myself up afterwards for wasting a week's worth of bonus points on a moment of idiocy? Damn right! I know I can have a small amount of chocolate, enjoy it, and then carry on with my day guilt-free. Feeling guilty about food is so unhealthy, as you inevitably start to either resent the diet, resent the forbidden food, or worse, resent the people around you who are, perhaps unwittingly, tempting you to eat. Nobody forces me to eat chocolate, crisps or KFC - I choose to. I know I can balance my diet by easing off in other areas. That's just how it works for me.
So, here's the great bit of news for this week - I've lost 2.5lb this week, which brings my weight down to 12st 13lb - yes, that's right! I'm under 13stone! This was my goal by Christmas, so I feel I've really achieved something this week. My total weightloss is now 25lb (in-meeting is 22.5lb) which is the most I've ever lost with Weightwatchers. Before I got married I lost 21lb but that took me down to 10st 2lb and a size 12. This time I'm thinking I ought to aim for 11.5-12st which would be a loss of around 3stone.
Another really positive note for the week - I've bumped into a few people I know who I've not seen for a while, and they've noticed a change in me. For some it's purely a size thing, but others have noticed a greater vitality, and more of the "old" Jeanie back. This is a combination of the weight loss and my new job, both of which are giving me the confidence to face the world with a smile.
Once again, thank you all for your support and encouragement. Hopefully will have some photos for you soon x
Throughout my time with Weightwatchers I've not felt like I was on a diet. I've cut down on the alcohol, stopped buying daily chocolate bars, stopped sitting with a bowl of kettle chips whilst watching a film, and just thought a little more about the choices I make on an hour-to-hour, day-to-day basis. I don't feel deprived, I don't stand out like a sore thumb when eating with friends and family (ie I don't have a huge plate of salad when I eat out) and I still keep losing weight. It really goes to show how just a few small changes can make all the difference.
Would I like to sit eating a big bar of Dairy Milk? Yes! Would I enjoy it at the time? Undoubtedly! Would I beat myself up afterwards for wasting a week's worth of bonus points on a moment of idiocy? Damn right! I know I can have a small amount of chocolate, enjoy it, and then carry on with my day guilt-free. Feeling guilty about food is so unhealthy, as you inevitably start to either resent the diet, resent the forbidden food, or worse, resent the people around you who are, perhaps unwittingly, tempting you to eat. Nobody forces me to eat chocolate, crisps or KFC - I choose to. I know I can balance my diet by easing off in other areas. That's just how it works for me.
So, here's the great bit of news for this week - I've lost 2.5lb this week, which brings my weight down to 12st 13lb - yes, that's right! I'm under 13stone! This was my goal by Christmas, so I feel I've really achieved something this week. My total weightloss is now 25lb (in-meeting is 22.5lb) which is the most I've ever lost with Weightwatchers. Before I got married I lost 21lb but that took me down to 10st 2lb and a size 12. This time I'm thinking I ought to aim for 11.5-12st which would be a loss of around 3stone.
Another really positive note for the week - I've bumped into a few people I know who I've not seen for a while, and they've noticed a change in me. For some it's purely a size thing, but others have noticed a greater vitality, and more of the "old" Jeanie back. This is a combination of the weight loss and my new job, both of which are giving me the confidence to face the world with a smile.
Once again, thank you all for your support and encouragement. Hopefully will have some photos for you soon x
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
It's the final countdown! (diddle-ee-dee, diddle ee dee deee)
As the title suggests, we are in the final countdown of the year, so yes this post is about the run-up to Christmas, but sung in a very cheesy American karaoke voice with optional (compulsory?) air guitar...
Last week I did not blog. "Boo hiss!" I hear you cry... Well, I was feeling pretty let down (by myself) as I put on a pound last week. A well-earned pound, but a pound all the same. I knew it before getting on the scales, and short of turning up to Weightwatchers in a bikini and flip flops, nothing was going to tell the scales otherwise. And yes, before you ask, I HAD shaved my legs and cut my toenails - all to no avail! So no, I didn't blog, and yes, I did feel guilty about it all week.
Failure at the scales did not affect my mood, however, and I had a stonkingly good week at work, hit the shops at the weekend (being paid does make that a better experience!) and did still more Christmas shopping yesterday. I've even started wrapping (yes, wrapping) in November - ME! I've bought lovely crafty bits for Flo and I to make - going for full-on Kirsty Allsop status this year. I bought real meat from a real butchers, and have been eating sensibly, even going for the jacket potato with tuna yesterday rather than the all day breakfast (which was definitely calling to me with its cholesterol-laden voice).
You will, then, forgive me for being rather smug tonight. As not only did I lose the pound I'd put on last week, but an extra 2lb into the bargain, taking my weight to 13st 1lb. I'm nearly there!!! I've officially lost 10% of my body weight based on my WW start weight, which is an official 20.5lb. With the extra 2.5lb I lost between first getting on mum's scales and my first weigh-in, that's 23lb. One and a half stone (and a bit)!!! Tonight I received my 10% keyring at the meeting, and it made me feel even more motivated to keep this going.
Did I mention going shopping? Ooh, yes... shopping when you're losing weight - herein lies the problem. Do you buy clothes as you lose weight (because everything's getting a bit baggy and shapeless) or do you wait it out, see if you can drop another dress size? I'm split on this. I bought a size 16 coat early on in the autumn, and it was a snug but not tight fit. Seeing my reflection whilst wearing it the other day I felt (and looked) older than I am. Much older. Scott reckons it would be better if I put the fake fur hood trim back on, but the shapeless nature of the coat will never make me feel anything other than frumpy in it. Yesterday I found the solution - a gorgeous navy blue (work colour!) fitted hip-length duffle coat with furry hood trim and twiddly toggles. I loved it immediately, bought it as an early Christmas present to myself, and have since shown anyone who'll listen (and many who won't) that it is a size 14! Yippeeeeeeeeeee!
Definitely one of my smuggest blogs yet, but, hell, I think I deserve it! *smug face*
Yet again, thanks for the awesome support, the encouraging comments, and the recipe requests - it makes this process seem even easier knowing you're all behind me :D
Last week I did not blog. "Boo hiss!" I hear you cry... Well, I was feeling pretty let down (by myself) as I put on a pound last week. A well-earned pound, but a pound all the same. I knew it before getting on the scales, and short of turning up to Weightwatchers in a bikini and flip flops, nothing was going to tell the scales otherwise. And yes, before you ask, I HAD shaved my legs and cut my toenails - all to no avail! So no, I didn't blog, and yes, I did feel guilty about it all week.
Failure at the scales did not affect my mood, however, and I had a stonkingly good week at work, hit the shops at the weekend (being paid does make that a better experience!) and did still more Christmas shopping yesterday. I've even started wrapping (yes, wrapping) in November - ME! I've bought lovely crafty bits for Flo and I to make - going for full-on Kirsty Allsop status this year. I bought real meat from a real butchers, and have been eating sensibly, even going for the jacket potato with tuna yesterday rather than the all day breakfast (which was definitely calling to me with its cholesterol-laden voice).
You will, then, forgive me for being rather smug tonight. As not only did I lose the pound I'd put on last week, but an extra 2lb into the bargain, taking my weight to 13st 1lb. I'm nearly there!!! I've officially lost 10% of my body weight based on my WW start weight, which is an official 20.5lb. With the extra 2.5lb I lost between first getting on mum's scales and my first weigh-in, that's 23lb. One and a half stone (and a bit)!!! Tonight I received my 10% keyring at the meeting, and it made me feel even more motivated to keep this going.
Did I mention going shopping? Ooh, yes... shopping when you're losing weight - herein lies the problem. Do you buy clothes as you lose weight (because everything's getting a bit baggy and shapeless) or do you wait it out, see if you can drop another dress size? I'm split on this. I bought a size 16 coat early on in the autumn, and it was a snug but not tight fit. Seeing my reflection whilst wearing it the other day I felt (and looked) older than I am. Much older. Scott reckons it would be better if I put the fake fur hood trim back on, but the shapeless nature of the coat will never make me feel anything other than frumpy in it. Yesterday I found the solution - a gorgeous navy blue (work colour!) fitted hip-length duffle coat with furry hood trim and twiddly toggles. I loved it immediately, bought it as an early Christmas present to myself, and have since shown anyone who'll listen (and many who won't) that it is a size 14! Yippeeeeeeeeeee!
Definitely one of my smuggest blogs yet, but, hell, I think I deserve it! *smug face*
Yet again, thanks for the awesome support, the encouraging comments, and the recipe requests - it makes this process seem even easier knowing you're all behind me :D
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
New job, new dress size, new goals!
It would appear I had a rather good end to September/start to October. Last Friday I completed my final shift as a bra fitter and this week I've been training for my new job. It's strange. Over the years I've had many different jobs, and have left for all sorts of different reasons - end of contract, move to permanent role elsewhere, to go and do something "worthwhile", to have a baby etc. This time was different again.
Working in retail is fairly straight-forward. I'll never say it's easy, as you're on your feet most of the day, face to face with the public who often have a very set (and perhaps not terribly accurate) idea of the sort of person they are going to be served by, all the while smiling, staying positive and making the best of what you do. It is not a job I disliked by any means, but it was certainly not fulfilling all that I seek from a career.
The key objective for me in leaving was to move into a business where working part-time hours doesn't automatically put you on the back foot. Banking seems to match this objective really well. I'm not allowed to say where I work (some of you may know already), as we've been told emphatically that we cannot publicise this in case someone uses the information to make us commit fraud, or to blackmail or bribe us. Sounds pretty drastic, but I can see their point. Anyway, suffice to say, I now work for one of the UK's leading financial institutions, and will be seeking to progress from a cashier to an adviser as soon as I am qualified. Because I can progress. The phrase used in my interview was "part-time hours, full-time mentality".
So this week, training has well and truly begun. I'm working Mon-Fri for the first time in 3 years, which has been a culture shock to say the least! Granted, I've not had to travel too far, as my training is in Southampton, whereas my fellow trainees have traveled from South Cornwall, South Wales, West Sussex and Hertfordshire. Unfortunately temptations are many when you are training, particularly with a chap delivering sandwiches, crisps, hot food, chocolate and other tasty treats every lunchtime. I've averted diet disaster by taking in a flask of hot soup, purchasing a salad, and today taking in more soup, this time for microwaving in the training department.
So, what is the outcome of this tumultuous week in terms of my Weight Watchers diet? A loss of 2.5lb, taking my total loss to 11.5lb and my official WW lost to 9lb. I also wore my size 16 smart trousers today for the first time this year (couldn't do them up before!) so I'm definitely heading in the right direction. My current weight stands at 13st 12.5lb. My 5% goal is 13st 12lb, so I'm now looking at my new goal of 13st 3lb, which would be a 10% drop from my start weight of 14st 10.5. Not bad, eh?
I'm feeling pretty good about how quickly this is happening. I'm not hungry, I don't feel deprived, as I'm still eating occasional chocolate and snacks, and tonight I've had one of my favourite meals as a real (high in points!) treat - home made lasagne with garlic bread. Yum! So, onwards and upwards (or downwards might be more apt!). Thanks once again for all the support. I love to hear that you've read my blog, and even more when you comment. It really means a lot and makes the whole journey much easier.
Working in retail is fairly straight-forward. I'll never say it's easy, as you're on your feet most of the day, face to face with the public who often have a very set (and perhaps not terribly accurate) idea of the sort of person they are going to be served by, all the while smiling, staying positive and making the best of what you do. It is not a job I disliked by any means, but it was certainly not fulfilling all that I seek from a career.
The key objective for me in leaving was to move into a business where working part-time hours doesn't automatically put you on the back foot. Banking seems to match this objective really well. I'm not allowed to say where I work (some of you may know already), as we've been told emphatically that we cannot publicise this in case someone uses the information to make us commit fraud, or to blackmail or bribe us. Sounds pretty drastic, but I can see their point. Anyway, suffice to say, I now work for one of the UK's leading financial institutions, and will be seeking to progress from a cashier to an adviser as soon as I am qualified. Because I can progress. The phrase used in my interview was "part-time hours, full-time mentality".
So this week, training has well and truly begun. I'm working Mon-Fri for the first time in 3 years, which has been a culture shock to say the least! Granted, I've not had to travel too far, as my training is in Southampton, whereas my fellow trainees have traveled from South Cornwall, South Wales, West Sussex and Hertfordshire. Unfortunately temptations are many when you are training, particularly with a chap delivering sandwiches, crisps, hot food, chocolate and other tasty treats every lunchtime. I've averted diet disaster by taking in a flask of hot soup, purchasing a salad, and today taking in more soup, this time for microwaving in the training department.
So, what is the outcome of this tumultuous week in terms of my Weight Watchers diet? A loss of 2.5lb, taking my total loss to 11.5lb and my official WW lost to 9lb. I also wore my size 16 smart trousers today for the first time this year (couldn't do them up before!) so I'm definitely heading in the right direction. My current weight stands at 13st 12.5lb. My 5% goal is 13st 12lb, so I'm now looking at my new goal of 13st 3lb, which would be a 10% drop from my start weight of 14st 10.5. Not bad, eh?
I'm feeling pretty good about how quickly this is happening. I'm not hungry, I don't feel deprived, as I'm still eating occasional chocolate and snacks, and tonight I've had one of my favourite meals as a real (high in points!) treat - home made lasagne with garlic bread. Yum! So, onwards and upwards (or downwards might be more apt!). Thanks once again for all the support. I love to hear that you've read my blog, and even more when you comment. It really means a lot and makes the whole journey much easier.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Big changes in the Chalmers household
Ok, so I'll get to the point straight away today - I lost 1/2lb... I'm a bit dejected about this, but I'm realising this shouldn't feel like a failure in any way - it's still a loss, and I had an exceptional week last week. It takes my total loss to 9lb and my official Weight Watchers loss to 6.5lb. I'll try to explain why this may not have been such a great week in terms of weight loss...
Firstly, Scott and I have rediscovered fajitas. These seemingly innocent little wraps filled with spicy goodness are sneaky little buggers! The wraps alone are 5pts each (unless you buy the tiny WW ones for 3pts) and I always have 2 (before it would have been 3 easily!). I used lots of peppers, onions and mushrooms plus a small amount of chicken (I kept this separate so Scott could lean his towards chicken and I could lean mine towards veggies). Add a dollop of sour cream for 1pt and some salsa and it's not difficult to have a 20 point meal - 2/3 of the points for the day. And we did this two days in a row!
We also ate out Saturday, having a notoriously dangerous Chinese buffet for lunch. I tried to stick with the vegetarian options or the non-battered meat, but the sauces are very high in fat and sugar, so to be honest, I probably used most of my bonus points for the week in that one meal :(
So, all things considered, I did well to lose at all really - I didn't deserve to! lol!
On a more personal, non-weight-loss related matter, there are some Big changes in the Chalmers household from next week - this Friday is my final shift at Marks and Spencer, so no more bra fitting for me (and no more slightly-too-tight uniform either, for that matter!). On Monday I start working for the Halifax, and will be embarking on two weeks of training full-time. The job itself starts on 17th October, and I will be working Weds-Sat each week. I start work at 8.45 now, so will be sending Flo off to nursery two mornings a week, along with her regular one-day preschool session. She gets breakfast, a snack and a cooked lunch each day there, and will then be with my mum for the afternoons, prior to my collecting her after work.
This new working pattern also means that I will be home for family dinner time and Flo's bedtime EVERY DAY for the first time in two years! The effect this should have on both our diet and our sleep patterns I can only guess at, but I am definitely looking forward to being a mummy in the evenings again. My Mum heard for herself the sort of things people think about working mums sending their children to nursery this week, and I actually feel that the way I'm working things now will be better for Flo, better for mum and better for Scott and I as a couple. Scott will no longer need to schedule his photoshoots around my shifts, as I'll be home before him every day. Hell, we might even have some time to ourselves in the evening occasionally!
It really feels like the right time for me to be making such a drastic change. I'm very grateful for the support from my colleagues and friends in getting to where I am today, and look to the future with an eager sense of trepidation and excitement.
Firstly, Scott and I have rediscovered fajitas. These seemingly innocent little wraps filled with spicy goodness are sneaky little buggers! The wraps alone are 5pts each (unless you buy the tiny WW ones for 3pts) and I always have 2 (before it would have been 3 easily!). I used lots of peppers, onions and mushrooms plus a small amount of chicken (I kept this separate so Scott could lean his towards chicken and I could lean mine towards veggies). Add a dollop of sour cream for 1pt and some salsa and it's not difficult to have a 20 point meal - 2/3 of the points for the day. And we did this two days in a row!
We also ate out Saturday, having a notoriously dangerous Chinese buffet for lunch. I tried to stick with the vegetarian options or the non-battered meat, but the sauces are very high in fat and sugar, so to be honest, I probably used most of my bonus points for the week in that one meal :(
So, all things considered, I did well to lose at all really - I didn't deserve to! lol!
On a more personal, non-weight-loss related matter, there are some Big changes in the Chalmers household from next week - this Friday is my final shift at Marks and Spencer, so no more bra fitting for me (and no more slightly-too-tight uniform either, for that matter!). On Monday I start working for the Halifax, and will be embarking on two weeks of training full-time. The job itself starts on 17th October, and I will be working Weds-Sat each week. I start work at 8.45 now, so will be sending Flo off to nursery two mornings a week, along with her regular one-day preschool session. She gets breakfast, a snack and a cooked lunch each day there, and will then be with my mum for the afternoons, prior to my collecting her after work.
This new working pattern also means that I will be home for family dinner time and Flo's bedtime EVERY DAY for the first time in two years! The effect this should have on both our diet and our sleep patterns I can only guess at, but I am definitely looking forward to being a mummy in the evenings again. My Mum heard for herself the sort of things people think about working mums sending their children to nursery this week, and I actually feel that the way I'm working things now will be better for Flo, better for mum and better for Scott and I as a couple. Scott will no longer need to schedule his photoshoots around my shifts, as I'll be home before him every day. Hell, we might even have some time to ourselves in the evening occasionally!
It really feels like the right time for me to be making such a drastic change. I'm very grateful for the support from my colleagues and friends in getting to where I am today, and look to the future with an eager sense of trepidation and excitement.
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