Football is my game!!!

I've not really spoken of my passion for football before but on the back of today's great result I thought that I would.

I was born in June 1976, 35 days after my home team had won the FA Cup for the first and only time in their history. I have supported Southampton ever seen and attended my first game with my father at the age of 3. I attended regularly from about the age of 6 and have had a season ticket since 1995. I have the most appalling track record of away visits to wins ratio but I have attended a fair few and enjoyed every moment of them.

The furthest I have travelled to watch Saints play in Bucharest in Romania. It was a freezing cold evening and poured with rain the whole time we were there. It was still amazing though, as was the cup final in 2003 at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff. If we had won, I think we would all still be celebrating now.

That would be my highlight as a Saints fan, the cup final. The low light, was getting relegated in 2005. It is hard watching the team you support Self disrupt. Another low light is a game at Fratton park in the same year which I cannot bear to talk about. Just never sing that Amarillo song around me please.

Today, we played Wolves. We had 8 senior first team players out and Wolves were on a roll so I did not think we stood a chance. However, we won 6-0. Yes that's 6-0. I still cannot believe it and I am looking forward to seeing the goals tomorrow.

Of course I want us to win promotion but I am worried about what would happen to us in the premiership. We should be doing better than we are, but that could be my "big team mentality" that just refuses to go away. What ever happens though, for me the future will always be bright and it will certainly always be red and white.

Vicky xxx

p.s. I've included some pictures that I have taken at various games, all involving Saints. The top one was taken at the cup final and is the best picture I have ever taken.

WI Results 29th March 2007

I'm so happy. I have to say I'm quite surprised too. This week I was convinced I had not had a great week (I've been just within points but not eaten that healthily) and yet I managed to lose 3.5lbs. How did that happen? I'm not complaining of course. It now means I have lost 84lbs in total, that's 6 stone and I now weigh 19 and a half stone. That sounds so much better than 25 and a half stone doesn't it? I'm so happy right now. I now have exactly ten stone to go until my personal goal but I'm not thinking about that for a long long time.

So that's my ultimate Easter Challenge reached and more. My next mini goal has to be my 100lb certificate which will be 16 lbs time. I hope I achieve this by my birthday which is the 4th June. In the meanwhile though, another 8lbs will take me to the weight I was when I started WW'ers for the second time in 1996 (Jan) so I'm going for that. Hopefully I can break that by the end of April. I really really want to lose 2 stone 3 lbs by my holiday at the end of June but that is a big target so I will not be disappointed if I do not make it.

Anyway, time for bed. Hope you all enjoy the weekend, whatever you are doing.

Vicky xxx

P.S. Today's picture is off the Bargate, the entrance to the old town of Southampton. Thanks Steve for the picture if you are reading this. I'll post more of his pictures over time because he takes amazing pictures of our fine city.

Half ton hospital

Have any of you lovely people reading this watched that? For those of you that have not seen it it is about an obesity clinic called Brookhaven in New York. It really scares me because one of the girls there weighs only 2 stone more than I did when I was over 25 stone. Did I really look like that? I don't need anyone to answer that really because I know I did. Well, not anymore. How much was I dangling with my life? Again I don't need anyone to answer that as I am getting there and although I still have 9.6stone to go to a healthy BMI, I'll get there one day.

One thing I have decided though is that somehow I would like to help people in the same or similiar situation as me. I don't know how I am going to do this and it may just be by becoming a Weightwatcher leader but I'll find a way and even if I just help one person , I'll be successful.

I'm off to work. Suddenly I'm very focused again on my WW'er lifestyle.

Vicky xxx

P.S. I've added another horrible photo of me for you to see. I'll get some updated ones taken over Easter and add them for you to see.

What I do for a living

I always said I would not talk about work on here really but I thought I would tell you what I do for a living.

I work for a taxi company as operations supervisor. I have worked there since December 1997, although I did leave for a few months in 2001/02 to go somewhere else, hated it and gladly went back when asked. I basically answer the phones, oversee the automatic dispatch of jobs to drivers via a computer program, deal with any driver inquiries/problems and watch over the telephonists. It can be very busy but most of the time, things just plod along and it is money for old rope. I am hoping to get promoted when my boss retires in two or three times but I am not sure I will be working there then as I feel the time might be right to move on soon. The problem with that is the money. I do work long hours but the money is good and I could not earn that anywhere else at the moment so who knows.

For more information on where I work please visit www.radtax.co.uk.

Vicky xxx

P.S The picture here is of me and was taken in 2004. I was at my heaviest and had very short hair so you can see how much it has grown since then. We also have a new computer system and flatscreen monitors now.

One day in my life (and tips)

A few people have been asking for this recently so here goes.

I thought I would post up a day in my life. Because I work long hours during the week (7am-7pm) my days are long and I eat at irregular times. So here goes. I'll include everything I do in a typical day.

Monday:

5.15am - Get up, have a shower get dressed.
5.45am - Straighten hair, check websites etc
6.15am - Leave for work
7am - Start work, read papers
8.30am - Eat breakfast which is normally oats so simple with skimmed milk
12am - Lunch time, normally have a tuna or chicken salad roll and a yogurt or moose.
3pm - Feeling peckish, usually eat a piece of fruit
5pm - Peckish again, more fruit or a WW whip or rich toffee bar
7pm - Finish work
8pm Aqua Aerobics for 60 mins.
9pm Finish Aqua, go home and hope the timer came on for dinner.
9.30pm - Eat dinner, normally a WW'er meal because I have been out all day.
10pm - Have a shower, wash hair.
10-11pm Relax, go online, watch TV etc
11pm Bed.

So my food intake is normally

Oats so simple with skimmed milk = 2.5 points
Chicken salad roll = 5 points
WW Moose = 2 points
Banana = 2 points
Tinned peaches and pears = 2 points
WW Whip or rich toffee bar = 1.5 points
Water melon = 2 points
WW meal or similar with veg = 6 points
Total = 23 points

I have 3 points left over which I save for other snacks or bank for catch up.

One thing that I do want to work on is my dinners. On nights I do not go out to exercise, I do find I cook more but that is only Tuesday evenings. On Thursdays, I have WI straight after work so when I come home I have curry and poppadoms so my left over points often go towards that.

I do admit I do not always eat all my points every week but I do over the course of the week try to eat all of them as I find if I don't, I do struggle to lose weight.

As for my exercise regime. it is as follows.

Monday - Aqua aerobics
Tuesday - Nothing
Wednesday - Aqua aerobics
Thursday - Nothing
Friday - Swimming (I always do 32 lengths)
Saturday - The gym (30 minutes on treadmill, 10 on the cross trainer, 5km on bikes)
Sunday - Gym and swimming (same as Friday and Saturday)

Considering I could not walk 200 yards (probably less) in October 2006 without feeling like my break was going to crumble, I think I am doing very well.

As for tips and advice. The biggest advice I could give anyone is learn how to draw a line under bad days or weeks. Fiona, my old leader gave this advice to us. So many times in the past I would have given up after a small gain. Take Christmas for example. I didn't have WI for two weeks so the day after my last WI I had KFC , mince pies, chocolate etc but I was good for the two days before Christmas. Christmas day I ate so much, chocolates , snacky unhealthy food, Christmas dinners etc and drank so much wine and Malibu. After that, normally I would have given up and carried on eating but I drew a line on a piece of paper and moved on from it. Boxing day I was tracking again and have done ever since. Does it really matter if we have a small gain? WW'ers is for life and we can't be expected to be angels forever. There will be times when we put on weight but why give up because of it? Surely we are worth more than that.

Other tips I would give are to drink 2+ litres of water a day. It doesn't have to be pure water, you could include sugar free squash but I don't include anything else towards this. Also stay within points, eat healthily and try to do a little exercise most days. If you cheat the system, you will gain and why pay WW'ers to do that when we can all do that quite happily on our own? Finally, try not to look at the whole picture and set small targets instead. For example, I barely remember I have 10 stone left to lose and instead set mini goals. My next mini goal is a small one and it is to lose 3.5lbs so I have lost 6stone altogether. After that, I'll be chasing my 100lb certificate and I want that by my birthday on June 4th.

I could go on and on but I'm sure you have read enough. If you want to chat more, please contact me at vicky@weightlosschallenges.co.uk . We can all do this if we really want to.

It might be a mountain we are climbing, but the small hills along the way will break the journey. Goodluck to all of you.

Vicky xxxx

I've got a challenge on my hands

Last week I brought a top from Evans in a size 26 in the hope that it would fit me by my holiday (25th June). I tried it on when it came (I ordered it online) and it is too small. I say small but if I was slim, it would fit but you know how it is, clothes have to be loose when you are big.

Anyway, I made mum try it on yesterday and it fits here nicely. She is the same height as me, give or take half an inch but weighs 17 stone 4. I weigh 19 10.5 so I've decided that that is is my goal for holiday. It means losing 2 stone 6.5lbs before June 25th (last WI will be 21st June) which is a tough tough challenge but I'm going to give it a good go. That gives me 13 WI's to lose 34.5lbs so I need to do 2.6lbs a week. Again this is very very tough so wish me luck as I think I'll need it.

So for the next 13 weeks I am going to go right back to basics. This has worked for me when I have done it before. If anyone wants to join me in back to basics, you can contact me at vicky@weightlosschallenges.co.uk . The only rules of back to basics are:

1, Stay within points
2, Eat healthily
3, Drink 2+ litres of water a day
4, Exercise a little every day

I'm so looking forward to my holiday. My family have decided that this year will be the last year at Beverley as it is becoming very expensive and we only use it as a base for days out really. Sometimes we use the pool (I expect I'll use it more this year) , the shop and the bar/restaurant but we prefer going out during the day and exploring places such as Paignton, Brixham, Dartmoor etc (as well as always finding a castle to visit for my stepfather). The picture here today was taken on holiday last year at Dartsmeet on the Moor.

That's it from me for now. No doubt you'll hear more from me soon.

Vicky xxx

The Mid Summers Day Challenge

I just wanted to bring your attention to this challenge. It is going to be great and the beauty is, you can set your own targets.

I'm not setting a limit on the number of people who can enter this challenge so entry will not close until 7th April. However, if you would like to get in now, you can find out all about it at www.weightlosschallenges.co.uk/midsummersdaychallenge.html .

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Vicky xxxx

MY AMAZING WI RESULT

So tonight I needed 1.5lbs to get out of the 20s. I LOST 5.5 :D. Obviously, I am feeling very good about that. I'll post more later when I can keep my eyes open.

Vicky xxx

Latest picture

I got Trevor (my stepfather) to take this yesterday when he popped over to fix my taps and ended up staying for dinner with me. I don't look great as I had not even done my hair after swimming but this is my 75lb picture. I have added another as comparison and the beauty of this is I was wearing exactly the same top. I am sure you will agree you can certainly tell the difference.

Vicky xx

WI Result 15th March 2007

Another 1lb off this week so I have now lost 76lbs in total. I must admit to being a bit disappointed until I remembered that this is for life so what is another week in getting out of the 20s when WW'ers is for life? I'll do it next week that's for sure.

Tomorrow I have the day off and I am going to get up early and go to the gym/swimming. I love the gym which surprises me and my swimming improves everytime I go. Hopefully one day I'll get back to the standard I know I can.

Hope you are all well.

Vicky xxx

My gym induction

I really enjoyed my first ever trip to the gym today. The trainer was very helpful and talked me through everything. I did a bit of a workout afterwards and then I went and swam my 32 lengths in record time so I'm feeling good for it. However, I am very tired so I'm going to bed. I have a hectic week this week and so doubt I'll post again until my WI result. I hope all of you reading this have a good week.

Vicky xxx

Shopping yesterday

I'm so happy. Yesterday I brought a pair of bottoms for the gym in a 28. It is the first item of clothes I have brought in a 28 in 4 years. I'm actually going to get another pair because they are so comfy and seeing as I can wear anything I like to work, they will probably get worn a fair bit.

I also brought 4 long t -shirts in a size 26-28 thinking I would put them away for my holiday in June. However, they fit me now!! I am delighted with that. Hopefully I'll be down another size by my holiday.

I went to the shops with £80 to spend and came back having spent every last penny. Mind you I had to buy 3 birthday cards, an anniversary card and some hair care products. Boots do a range of swim protection shampoo and conditioner and I am going to try that as my hair is getting ever so dry and dull since I have been swimming. If anyone else has any ideas what I can to prevent this (bearing in mind my hair is heavily highlighted) then all suggestions are welcome.

I have my gym induction today so I'll post more about that later.

Vicky xxx

MY WI Result (8th March 2007)

Well after my 0.5lb gain last week I'm pleased to report a 4lb loss this week. I worked so hard for this but I never thought I would manage 4lbs. Still, I'll gladly take it of course.

So, what does this do for me now? Well, it means I have lost 75lbs. Marie (my leader) did not have a 75lb certificate with her but she promised she'll have one for next week. More important to me though it means I am past the point I gave up on last time (in 2003) which was 20 stone 4lbs as I am now 20stone 2lbs. It also means I weigh the least I have done since the later part of 1998.

This week I am going to stay back to basics and keep the exercise and water drinking up. I really want to get out of the 20s forever and now it is in sight, I want it more than ever.

Anyway I'll sign off now and write more soon.

Vicky xxx

Another month gone

Yep February ended last week and I thought it was time for a monthly update.

At the start of the year I set myself 3 targets

1: TO GIVE UP SMOKING - Not had a ciggie since the 3rd January.

2. TO CARRY ON LOSING WEIGHT - Lost 2 stone 1.5lbs since January 1st.

3. TO GET FIT - This is the long bit. When I first discovered I could walk again, I started walking into town to get the bus home. There is a very steep hill and a bench at the top. I used to get to the top and have to sit down for a while. Now I can carry on walking without really being out of breath. I think that is a good gauge that my fitness has improved more than I could imagine it would and I am actively doing things to keep the improvement going. I have been going to aqua aerobics for 4 weeks, I have started going swimming on a Friday evening after work, I have just signed up for my first week at hydrafit this Wednesday coming and yesterday I joined the local Leisure Centre, which means I get all those activities, plus loads more as well as unlimited use of a gym for £35 a month. I would have been spending much more than that each month doing the activities I listed. I must admit I am a bit nervous about the gym. It has been years since I set foot in one. I have my induction next Sunday and so I will take it from there.

So despite my small gain on Thursday evening (Which was in March anyway), it was a good February and I still have 5 WI's to get out of the 20's. 6lbs to go.

I have enclosed a really horrible picture today of me and my grandfather. I hate it. It was taken in the middle of last July, on the hottest day when my family where over visiting from Sydney. They do not know I am dieting so when I go and visit them in 2 years time, they will get the biggest surprise. If you look a couple of posts down, there is a picture of me and my cousins baby taken just yesterday. I think you can see how far I have come since last summer.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Vicky xxx

The total Eclipse of the Moon

As I type, the earth is still totalling eclipsing the moon in Southern England. I have about 30 pictures. I am now going to post up a few of them for you to enjoy.

Pictures

I thought I would share some pictures of my cousin's 9 month baby who I am now looking after for the weekend. She is so good. She was 21.5inches long when she was born and has got got bigger and taller ever since.

I like the one of Amber (that's her name) and me as I think that although it shows my many chins, it shows my weightloss too. I have included one of me holding her when she was 4 days old. You really can tell the difference.

I'll be posting more later. I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Vicky xx

My WI result

Ok it's done. My first gain out of the way.

I gained 0.5lb this week. I wish I could say I am not disappointed but I am really. I can put it down to losing 4.5lbs last week at a different meeting because I know that was alot but I am devastated deep down. I so want to get out of the 20's and now I'm stuck in the middle of the final stone. Last time, I gave up at 20 stone 4 lbs so I need to get past that.

So this week, it's back to basics and anyone is welcome to join. It will just be a little email support group and the challenges will be:

1. To drink 2+ litres of water a day
2. To do some exercise every day
3. To stay within points
4. To only eat healthy "snacks

If you wish to join, email me at vicky@weightlosschallenges.co.uk

Hopefully next week I'll have some better news. It's been very busy here but I really will try to post over the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend

Vicky xxx