By the end of February...

I intend to have a healthy BMI. It's a very bold statement to make but I've decided to do this.

Now, I've not been great since WI last Sunday. Infact, I've been quite bad and before today was feeling bloated and yuk so this is a good statement to make as it will make me climb back on the wagon.

I've realised over the past few days how easy it would be to get back into old eating habits but I never want to do that because I much prefer this person I am these days to the person I used to be.

So, today I've stepped back onto the wagon and I am staying firmly on it now. It's been nice to have a bit of a break but the feeling of a healthy BMI will be even better. I have 21lbs to get there and in that time I'll also get my 200lb certificate. When I achieve these goals, you'll hear the screams from wherever you are.

Vicky xx

Merry Christmas!

I hope each and everyone of you reading this has had the most fantastic Christmas and managed to spend time with family and loved ones. I've been at work for a 12 hour shift but the £25 an hour makes it all worthwhile, especially when I can go and buy some more clothes next week (pay day).

I did manage to spend a couple of hours with my family this evening and work was not actually that bad. It was very quiet and Gary and Sam, the two people I worked with were good company and made the time go quickly which is always good. I am working 12 hours tomorrow too. No rest for the wicked eh?

Anyway, here are some pictures taken today. I've included one from last year too so you can see what a difference a year makes.

Vicky xxx

WI Result

We just had a WI only this week and a day early so that people could make the most of their monthly passes and I managed to lose 3lbs!!!

I am very happy with that as it gave me another silver seven , have lost 190lbs (13 stone 8lbs) in total and am into the 11 stones for the first time since 1991. I also now only have 21lbs to go to get to the top end of my healthy BMI range.

What a great Christmas present. I wonder what the New Year will bring.

Vicky xx

Brown haired girl

Well these pictures are a lot more flattering of me and show my hair off better. I wore this top out on a last night with some leggings and flat shoes which was a shock as I have been trying to get used to walking in high heels.

My new hair colour

Not the greatest picture as I am getting over a cold and sore throat and don't have a scrap of make up on but here is a picture of my new hair colour. Will get some more later when I am dolled up ready to go out.

Let me know what you think. It took a while but I love it now and everyone else seems to share that opinion too.

Vicky xx

WI Result (17th Dec 2007)

Well I managed another 2.5lbs off this week. I am again surprised because I was out drinking on Friday and Saturday evening and had a big meal yesterday but when I sit and think about it, I realise that automatically in my head I am thinking about what I need to cut down during the week when I had things like this weekend coming up and that can only be a good thing surely?

Anyway, I now weigh 12 stone 2 and I am going to try to get into those 11s for the New Year. I have lost 187lbs in total so that 200lb certificate is also within my sights. Wish me luck getting there.

This week I have our works Xmas do on Thursday evening and am going out with some work colleagues and clients of ours for a night of drink and high antics. It should be a good night.

Vicky x

P.S. This picture was taken because I can't believe how my legs look. Are they really my legs?

Some new pictures of me

Not much to say really but here are some pictures taking today. I am wearing a size 16 top and size 14 trousers. I could not tell you the last time I did that.

Vicky xxx

Meeting up with old friends

Today I went for lunch with some friends from school. It was great to see them as we've been a bit hopeless at all keeping in touch. Now, I was always the frumpy one at school so I thought I'd share these pictures with you so you can see how things change. I'm sure you know which one is me by now.

Vicky xxx

WI Result (10th December 2007)

So many good things come out of my good loss this week. I lost 6.5lbs amazingly which I put down to a combination of end of TOTM and not eating enough at the weekend (naughty me but it was hangover related).

Anyway, as you may recall I needed to lost 1/2lb to be able to say I've lost 50% of my body weight and 1lb to say I've lost more than I weigh. Those were my two aims for this year and obviously I have achieved them but I am also happy because I've smashed all my other mini goals for the next few weeks. I got my 26th silver seven (13 stone, 2.5lbs lost in total), I've not weighed this little since 1992 when I was 16 years of age, I have less than 2 stone to go to a healthy BMI and , most importantly of all I AM NO LONGER OBESE!!! That means more to me than anything else as I am not just overweight and I can live with that for the time being. I am sure you will agree these are a great set of mini goals and I am very happy to have achieved them all.

Now, two more WI's until Christmas, can I get into those 11's? Mind you, with two Christmas dinners coming up I won't be disappointed if I don't but I shall give it a try. Wish me luck.

Vicky xxx

WI Result (3rd December 2007)

I am very pleased to report a 2lb loss this week. I am very very happy with that. It means I have lost 178lbs in total now (12 stone, 10lbs) and am 33lbs away from achieving a healthy BMI.

This week I am going to try and lose anything. 1/2lb will mean I have lost 50% of my bodyweight and 1lb will mean I have lost more than I weigh. What an achievement that will be.

Hope everyone is well and getting sorted for Christmas. Only 3 weeks to go and Santa Claus will be on his way to the UK.

Vicky xxx

Bring on Christmas...

Before yesterday I was not looking forward to Christmas one bit. I did not have 1 single present or card. Now, after two very successful shopping trips I have everything I need (and a lot more).

Sometime this week I am going to wrap up my presents and write out my cards. Then I'll really be scared as I am never this organised so early.

I'm working Christmas and Boxing day but I do not mind. I get paid well and I've not worked for the past few years. I'll enjoy the shopping trip on pay day that is for certain although I'll have mum's birthday presents to buy then too. Have absolutely no idea what to get her but I'm not worrying about that until nearer the time.

Vicky xxx

December's here...

which means only 25 days until Christmas. Wonderful! I really have no idea where it went but didn't November go quickly? It flew by.

I can't believe that 11 months into 2007 and I'm still sticking to my New Year resolutions. In the past, I'd be lucky to have stuck to them for 11 minutes.

Giving up smoking on 3rd January was one of the best things I ever did. It is almost as good as losing weight. It's hard to believe I put it off for so long because I thought I could not do it. If only I knew what a difference it would make. I've not really noticed a difference financially but I have the noticed the smell on my clothes even when I've been around someone who smokes just for a few minutes so I must have smelt like that the whole time. Disgusting.

My Weightloss slowed down a little in November but that is to be expected as I creep closer to goal. I lost 7.5lbs in total so I am very happy. I'm out of the teens now and with 35lbs to go until I reach the top end of my goal weight, I'm beginning to feel good and judging by all the lovely comments I got last weekend when I wore my frock, I must be looking good too.

My fitness levels continue to improve despite me having been a bit lazy this week. I think everyone deserves a break now and again though. I've started going to circuits twice a week and that is really making a difference to my shape. Need to work a bit harder to shape up my tummy and other problem areas now though.

For December my mini goals will be to get to 12 stone 7lbs. That will not only mean I've lost 10 stone this year but will be the least I have weighed since 1992. Other goals will be be to not gain weight over Christmas and also to try and do some exercise. Work will be very busy now until Christmas and I'll be tired after work so it'll be a struggle to get to the gym. I'll try and maintain my fitness though to keep it ticking over and in January, the running begins.

Until next time.

Vicky xx

WI Result (26th November)

I'm so so happy. As you all by no doubt know I've felt plagued by the 13s for ages and without realising it, they have been battling the demons in my head.

Well I am very pleased to announce that the only thing I have to worry about now is not going back into them EVER because I lost a whopping 5lbs this week.

I'm delighted because it means that not only am I out the 13s but it means I have lost 12 stone 8lbs (176lbs) in total and got my 25th silver seven. I've also completed my seasons challenge of getting to 27lbs with a couple of weeks spare.

So onwards (and downwards) I go and now I'm going to set another mini goal for 2.5lbs time as that will mean I've lost 50% of my bodyweight and really will be half the woman I used to be. Wish me luck.

Vicky xxx

A few more pictures from last night

Not that different from the ones I have already posted but there is a couple from the back and I thought you might like to see them. I really do look "normal" from the back don't I?

Thank you for all your lovely comments on this blog, via email and also on the boards. They do all really mean a lot to me and I could not have done this without all the support I get from all of you.

Vicky xx

Me in my frock

OK I know you are all waiting for these so here they are. I have posted up a few pictures of me in my dress last night. As I've previously stated it is is the first time I have worn a dress in over 11 years and that was only for a few hours to my grandmothers funeral so it was lovely to put my glad rags on and make an effort to look nice last night.

I got lots of lovely compliments last night. There were people that I have not seen in over a year, in cases a lot longer so it was a surprise for many of them. I also got told how much confident and happy I am now, which is probably very true. I certainly found that walking in high heels was actually quite easy (I was always scared I would fall over when I was heavier) and also that I was able to do the moves more easier on the dance floor.

One other thing that was really nice (in a strange way) for me was that in the past, I've always been the biggest person at these presentations. Last night, I was by no means the biggest and I felt like "one of the crowd". Stupid I know but it truly felt like an achievement.

I hope you all enjoy the pictures. When I look in the mirror at the moment I still see this "fat" person (I'm still classed as obese remember) but when I look at these pictures, I think I look almost "normal", little things please little minds eh?

Vicky xxx

p.s. I will try to add more later.

The Village idiots

Well as you know, last night was Mum's dart presentation. To present the trophies she managed to persuade some friends to dress up as the Village People. It was fantastic. I did the make up and we had bras and knickers to chuck at them as they were doing the YMCA. All of them were such good sports. Mum introduced them as the Village idiots and I have never heard people cheer and join in as much as they did last night.

Anyway, I thought you might like to see some pictures of them. I am sure you will agree that Pete, Gary, Simon, Gary (another Gary) and Trev were brilliant and deserve all the praise they got.

Vicky xxx

Previous presentation pictures

Tonight is mum's dart presentation. If you have been following my blog you will know that these are twice yearly events and that I used to play for and be captain of a side until giving up a couple of years ago to concentrate on my Open University studies.

Tonight, I'll be wearing a dress for the first time in 11 years and that was open to my grandmothers funeral, before that I last wore a dress when I was about 6 or 7. It's a very bold move for me and if you check back here tomorrow there will be pictures for you to see.

Anyhow, since the last presentation in very early June I have lost just under 5 stone (wow is it really that much) and since the one this time last year I have lost just over 10 stone. There will be a lot of people there tonight who have not seen me since then so imagine the surprise they are going to have.

What I've done is included here some pictures of me taking at the presentation last June (2006), which also acted as my 30th birthday party and the presentation this June (2007). I don't like them but when you see the ones taken of me tonight you will see why I no longer mind showing off old pictures as they show how far I have come.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow.

Vicky xxx

As much as I love it:

I'm giving up all things chocolate. I have been thinking about doing this for ages but I do enjoy the odd rich toffee bar or a bite of someone else's chocolate now and again. I have however been craving the best food in the world ever a lot recently and Christmas will be hard with chocolate everywhere. You know how it is, I work for a taxi company and I can guarantee that someone will buy me a 1kg tin of chocolates for Christmas and you know who will eat them all! Well, it won't be me. I am going to donate them to the old folks home across the road (did you know a whole tin of chocolates works out at about 89 points?)

So I have a few toffee bars left but when they are gone, I'm giving up chocolate. This will help with the problems I'll face over Christmas and it will give me a sense of achievement and hopefully get me back on the straight and narrow.

I'm having a good week this week. The scales are showing a move downwards (yes I had a sneak) and I am feeling good. My boss is on holiday at work and we are getting busy in the run up to Christmas so I don't think I'll be around much until after that but if you are reading this, I hope you are well and you can always leave me a message here. I'll try and reply if I get time.

Check back on Sunday if you want to see a photo of me in a dress, it'll be a shock to the system I can tell you.

Vicky xxx

The week ahead

After my initial disappointment at a stay the same during my "good week" I've realised that this was probably related to the week before. I was not great that week and amazingly lost 1lb so I think it just caught up with me. Also, I went to an extra circuits class which involved a fair bit of work with weights so maybe some of it was muscle and toning related.

However, I really do want a good loss this week as I desperately want to get into the 12s. I don't know why but 12 stone to me sounds so much less than 13 stone and I feel like I have been stuck in them forever.

I've been trying to think of ways I can ensure that I do have a good week and to be honest I've concluded that I simply need to carry on as I did last week. Having said that, I shall not be doing quite as much exercise as I did last week as last night I needed a break and on Thursday I am going to aqua aerobics instead of the gym.

On Saturday evening It's mums dart presentation and I'm wearing that dress so I've decided that on Friday and Saturday I'm going to try and eat core foods and drink only water so that I don't look and feel bloated. I'm driving on Saturday evening so it will be easy for me to not drink and to resist temptation. Let's hope that this week my hard work really is repaid.

Vicky xxx

Meeting up with old friends

On Saturday I met up with an old friend from school. We went to play, infant, junior and senior school together. I have only seen her once since we were 18 because she started to go out with a man who was very controlling and did not like her having friends. We fell out in the end over him and the only time I've seen her since was in the supermarket a few years ago and I went back to hers for a cuppa. It was really strange though and I had to leave before "Wayne" got back from from a friends.

Anyhow, we've got back in touch recently and have been talking via email and text for a while. It turns out that her and Wayne split up around 4 years ago (he now has a relationship with her mother, NICE!) and she has two children. Wayne had the children this weekend so we decided to meet to have a catch up.

I picked Marie up around 1745 and after going to the cash point we went to a little village called Hamble to a pub there called King and Queen. It was very quiet but that was good as it meant we had a chance to natter and get all each others news.

I would not normally be mentioning something like this on my blog but the reason I am is that Marie was always the skinny one at school and if she did gain a few pounds she would very quickly lose it again. I was shocked on Saturday that she weighs about 5 stone more than me. It is strange through because it looked like someone had just got a pump and blown her up. I don't think I ever looked like that.

This may sound a but horrible but as great as it was to see her, put our differences to bed and be friends again I do remember her making a big thing about my weight when we were younger. However, as satisfying as it may be for me that she is a lot bigger than me, i'm not being nasty because she is my friend and it is so good to be in touch with her again. I've even promised her that she can borrow my WW books and that I'll help her as she wants to lose weight and can't afford to join a slimming club. I hope she can do it and I'll never let a man or anything else ever come between us again.

Vicky xxx

WI Result (19th November)

Well I stayed the same this week. I was at first a bit disappointed at this as I've been very good this week but then I remembered I went to an extra circuits class so maybe toned a little more and added more muscle and also, I had a loss last week when I really did not deserve it. So I'll be grateful and move on, knowing that with 4 more WI's until Christmas that if I am good, I can still lose enough to at least get me into those 12s.

Hope everyone is having a good week. I am a bit busy at the moment but hopefully soon I'll have more time to post both here and on the 5+ forum.

Vicky xxx

So far so good

I'm having a good week so far. If you've been following my blog over the past week or so you will know that I was determined to lose a good few pounds before next Saturday (24th) so that my stomach did not feel and look so bloated in my new dress.

Tasha, my friend, Weightwatcher and circuits buddy decided at WI on Monday that she was going to beat me this week. That's an incentive if ever I needed one because I know how good Tasha can be when she puts her mind to it so I've had to be extra good.

I'm having a snack fast up until my works Christmas party on the 20th December and although I am still following points, I'm trying to eat mainly core foods and am finding it fairly easy. This has to help with my quest surely.

I've already done extra exercise this week. I normally have a rest on a Tuesday evening but this week I went to the gym. On Wednesday I went to a circuits class when normally I would try and get to the gym and tonight (Thursday) I've been to the gym. I've also been going for walks during my lunch break and am drinking as much water as I can.

So, for the rest of the week I'm going to continue in the same manner. Tomorrow night I am going swimming and on Saturday and Sunday I will go to the gym as well as to my normal circuits class on Sunday evening. I'm also going to keep up the eating mainly core food and being positive. Let's hope my hard work is rewarded with a good result on Monday night eh?

Vicky xxx

I think I am obsessed...

With all things Weightwatchers. Mind you, that is probably not a bad thing because in the past I would have lost motivation and will power and given up a long long time ago.

Everything I do now though is based around Weightwatchers or has in some way incorporated Weightwatchers into it. For example, I'd never have considered going to a circuits class or to the gym before. Now I'm well that this aids my weightloss and if I don't go, I get "cabin fever" and "withdrawal symptoms!" Also, before I joined Weightwatchers I used to sit at work and eat crisps, chocolates, pies etc from the vending machine and shop on top of my lunch. Now I take my breakfast and lunch to work with me and don't eat anything else so I've incorporated Weightwachers into my life that way.

I've noticed a fair bit recently how much my outlook to eating and food in general has changed since I joined Weightwatchers this time. When I have been out to various places or on holiday with others I have noted that everything stops at or revolves around lunch and/or dinnertime and this has began to annoy me. There was a time when I'd be one of the first asking what was for / when is lunch / dinner, now I'm one of the last.

I think that all these things together, along with other changes I have made to my life all combine to keep me on track and focused. Weightwatchers has not completely taken over my life but it is a very big part of it and I know this is my way of doing it. The way I see it now is I have a weight problem. At the moment I am in control of this problem but at anytime that could change and I need to be prepared for that. Right now I know that when I get to goal I'm going to stay there FOREVER!!!

I've got quite a few mini goals coming up:

So I thought I would share them with you.

4 more pounds will not only take me to 13 stone exactly but it will also mean I have lost 12.5 stone (175lbs) and bring along my 25th silver 7. Wonderful mini goals all in one go. I'm hoping I can achieve this within the next couple of weeks.

After that, another 1lb will take me into the 12s. The last time I was in the 12s was in 1996 and then I gave up so this will be a good little barrier passed for me.

Then getting to 12 stone 10.5lbs will be my next aim as that means I have lost 50% of my body weight. To say I have lost half of what I used to weigh will be incredible.

Another 3.5lbs after that will take me to 12 stone 7lbs, 13 stone lost (182lbs) and will bring about my 26th silver 7. How amazing!

My biggest mini goal yet will come at 12 stone 3lbs. My BMI will be 29! When I started Weightwatchers it was 61 so not only is this great in itself but also, as you probably know a BMI of over 30 is obese, 29-25 is just overweight. Sounds so much better than being obese doesn't it?

I'm hoping these mini goals keep me focused up to, over and after Christmas and into the New Year. Of course I will let you know how they go and I will set some more once I met them but a major one will be getting into the 11 stones. I have not weighed 11 stone anything since 1992 when I was 16 years of age so you can imagine how amazing that mini goal will be.

Vicky xxx

WI Result (12th November 2007)

It has been a hectic week this week with birthdays, people staying over, dinner (and lunch) out so despite my frantic trips to the gym and to circuits this weekend I was expecting a gain. For that reason I am very very pleased to announce that I have lost 1lb this week!!! That now takes me to 13 stone 4lbs and 171lbs (12 stone 3lbs) lost in total.

This week I am going to have a super duper good week. As I mentioned in my previous post I feel that the dress I brought would be better after a few pounds have been lost so this week I am going to try my hardest.

I am also having a snack fast from now until Christmas. I will not snack between meals (except on my orange) and I will eat core foods as much as possible and I am giving up alcohol until the 20th December (works Christmas party) so all this could help in my quest to get into the 12s within the next two weeks.

Vicky xxx

2 weeks until the presentation....

and I have an outfit.

Today we went to Winchester. Whilst we were there I went shopping for something to wear to Mum's dart presentation and for our works Christmas party as the top I had in mind is never going to fit by then (If it is a 16 I am a 32 still).

Anyway, being brave I bypassed Evans and went to Debenhams. I found "THE THING" almost as soon as we walked in the door and (here comes the shock) IT IS A DRESS!!! So, two things there to be proud of. 1 - I brought something in a "normal" shop and 2 - I brought a dress. I have never brought a dress before. The last dress I had my Mum actually brought for me.

I did have to buy something to cover my arms though as due to my weightloss, as well as an accident with a twin tub when I was young I have bad arms. The staff in Debenhams were very helpful though and went out of their way to help me find something suitable. The two pictures with this entry are ones I have found online of what I brought today. Of course I shall post some pictures when I wear the said items. I also brought some silver shoes, a silver hand bag and some silver jewellery to accessorize my outfit.

I can't wait to wear the outfit. However, after buying it we all went for dinner and when we got back I tried on the dress to show everyone. I noticed my tummy was a bit bloated and sticking out ever so slightly so for the next two weeks I am going to be perfect in the hope that losing a few pounds may help solve the problem.

I shall of course let you know how the evening goes. There will be a lot of people there I have not seen since I have lost weight so I am going for the WOW factor in a big way!!! Wish me luck.

Vicky xx

WI Result - 5th November 2007

I am very pleased to report a 1.5lb loss this week. That means I have lost 170lbs in total (12 stone 2 lbs) and have less than 3 stone to go to goal. Saying "I only need to lose a couple of stone" sounds great doesn't it? It also means that in 6lbs I will have completed my Autumn seasons challenge and also be in the 12 stones. It has been a very very long time since I said that believe me.

So this week I aim to do a little more exercise than last week and beat Tasha, my WW and circuits buddy as she beat me this week. I also need to buy something nice to wear to Mums dart presentation as what I was planning to wear is now too big.

Can I also tag on that on the way from work to WW this evening I stopped and brought a pair of black trousers for work in Bon Marche, IN A SIZE 14 and they fit!!! How cool is that?

Vicky xxx

Last night...

We went to see a Beatles tribute band and they were bad!!! About the only good thing about them was that at least we knew all the songs and could sing along!!! It is a shame because I'd heard good things about them and was looking forward to seeing them but never mind, we still had a good night out. You can look the tribute band up by going to the Beetles one website.

Anyway, someone took this picture of me and I thought I'd share it with you. The top I had on was really expensive. £3.50 from Sainsburys and is great because I'll be able to wear it with loads of things. I look skinny in this picture lol!!!

I was in the local paper.

Marie and I both contacted the Daily Echo, Southampton's local paper last week to tell them about our meeting having a Halloween themed meeting and also to tell them about me. On Monday I had a call at work from Melanie, a reporter and a photographer turned up at our meeting on Monday evening to take photos of me and the group.

I was a bit disappointed as Halloween came and went and our meeting was not featured, despite the photographer taking a group picture which I was sure they would use. Then on Friday morning one of our taxi drivers at work called over on the radio and told me he had just seen a sign outside a shop on an A board with the Daily Echo headline "How I lost 12 stone in a year!" That person was me. It turns out I had not only made the paper but there was a link to me on the front page and my story was on page 3!!! Who thought I would ever be a page 3 girl eh? LOL!!!!

I've included the link here for you to see the article yourself. I have had nothing but positive feed back about it and I cannot tell you how much that means to me. I also had a call from a national paper but we have agreed to talk again when I get to goal. It will give me the incentive that I need to get there.

Let me know what you think of the article.

Vicky xx