June is over (well almost)

I thought I'd write this now as I'm away for the last few days of June.

Just a recap then of my mine goals for 2007:

1) T0 give up smoking
2) To get fit
3) To carry on losing weight

How are things going?

I gave up smoking on 2rd January 2007 so in a few days it will be 6 months since I stopped. I now class myself as a non smoker rather than having "given up". I have to admit it now annoys me at work when people get 5 minutes every two hours to have a smoke. I never used to mind but they come back in, stinking of smoke and I cannot wait until the "smoking area" becomes unlawful because of the smoking ban so I can go and eat my lunch without people smoking around me.

I do confess to having not been to the gym as much as I would normally in the first two weeks of June. I put this down to laziness and the fact I had lots on that meant I did not really have the time or the energy. However I have rectified this from the 16th and feel loads better for it. I really do notice a difference now in my fitness especially as I have started rowing and a running programme that promises to get me fit.

My weightloss is still going great guns and I'm happy that I'm now nearly at the weight I was when I started Weightwatchers for the first time back in 1991. I've had some fantastic NSVs this month which include weighing less than mum for the first time in years, getting loads of comments from people I've not seen for 6 months or more and buying clothes in a size 22.

My aim for July is to get to the weight (16 stone 8lbs) and continue with the running programme. I'll never be able to run a marathon but if I could one day manage 5k and run race for life I'll be very happy.

Vicky xxx

Going on holiday

On Monday (25th) my family are all going on holiday for a week to Devon. We are staying at a complex called Beverley Park in one of their luxury lodges. It is in a place called Goodrington, just between Paignton and Brixham in the Torbay area of Devon.

I'm really looking forward to going away for many reasons. First of all I have been to Beverley Park many times before and I love it there. We do lots of things such as visit Torquay, Dawlish, Paignton and Brixham. We also spend a day travelling over Dartmoor to Tavistock where there is a pannier market. This year we are also going to take a trek to St Michael's Mount and Lands End as we have not been there for a few years. We will also take the Stream Train from Paignton to Kingswear (Dartmouth) and a boat back up to Totnes before catching the bus back to Paignton.

There will be plenty of time for relaxing though. Beverley has both an indoor and outdoor pool which is heated as well as a sauna and steamroom so I'll be spending lots of time in them. There is also a gym which I intend to make use of whilst there.

In the evenings there is a choice of entertainment at either Beverley or it's sister complex Ashvale. I'm sure we shall also squeeze in a game or two of bingo. I do confess though that we don't go out every night. There is a nice decking area at the front of each lodge that overlook Torbay so some evenings it is nice to relax with a few drinks and watch the world go by.

My holiday this year will be so much better than the previous years. I always have a good time but the hills are steep and I've struggled with them and walking around because of my weight. This year I'll have no problems and may even be leading the way. There are some truly horrible pictures taken of me in the past two years, some of which I've included here. I'll get more taken of me this year to compare when I get back.

Some of these pictures taken last year inspired me to join Weightwatchers. I said whilst there last year that I wanted to lose 7 stone before going back this year. I've lost 8 stone 6lbs and that was leaving it 3 months before joining. You can imagine how good I feel about that.

One thing I will admit is I'm pretty petrified about giving myself a "passport to eat" during the week away. I'm determined not to let this happen. Whilst I will not stick to points as such I will wherever possible trying to stick to healthy options and go for damage limitation.

Whilst I am away I'll try to write a daily diary and post it when I get back.

Enjoy the rest of June. I know I will

Vicky xxx

My WI result (21st June)

At Easter I set myself the task of losing 2 stone or reaching mums weight (whichever was lower) by tonight as this is my last WI before holiday. After my WI I had 26lbs to get to her weight of 17 stone 4lbs and ten WIs to get there.

This week I had 1.5lbs to lose to complete this. However, I set myself another challenge this week to have a perfect week and lose as much as possible. I lost 4,5lbs!!!

Obviously I am very happy with that. I've now lost 8 stone 6lbs (118lbs) and another 8lbs will take me to the weight I was when I started Weightwatchers originally in 1991.

I'll post more before I go on holiday.

Vicky xxx

A little bit of competition does you good!!!

For the past two weeks, Tasha one of the other helpers at my meeting has set out to beat me at WI and she has done so. She was struggling a bit before so I am pleased for her. However, a little bit of competition is good because I've become a bit slack with my exercise over the past few weeks and this has made me get back into the swing of things.

I told Tasha at meeting last Thursday that there is "no way you are beating me this week!!!" Of course this has now turned into a challenge because she said she will. On top of that, Brian one of our taxi drivers at work is doing incredibly well on slimming world and she he is going to beat me too. Well that's enough to get me back on track, especially as far as exercise is concerned.

I'm determined to have a perfect week this week. On Friday evening I had my hair done so was unable to swimming with Trev (my stepdad) like we usually do. We went on Sunday instead. I also went to the gym on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and tonight and...get this....I'VE STARTED TO RUN!!!

Yes you heard right! This is Vicky who back in October could barely walk 200 yards. I found a beginners programme online which gives you a plan and promises to get you fit within 9 weeks. At the moment I am doing 60 seconds jogging followed by 90 seconds walking for twenty minutes. I cannot jog very fast but I'm going fast enough for me until I build up my fitness.

On Saturday afternoon I also moved all the furniture in my bedroom to clean and so this was surely worth a bonus point or two?

I mentioned to Brian yesterday that I hop he had a good weekend because I had been excellent (within points, lots of water, gym twice and swimming once). His answer was "right that does it, I'm going to go out on my bike and go running tomorrow and Wednesday. That's good because it spurred me into going to the gym last night and tonight. Tomorrow night I'm going to aquafit and as I have 30 minutes spare before hand, I'll fit a short session in the gym in.

As for eating, I've been excellent so far this week. I've banked a couple of points every day and have eaten very healthily. I have also been drinking plenty. I do this anyway because of my job which basically involves talking on the phone or radio all day but I've made an effort to drink 2 litres of plain water a day on top of anything else. Judging by the amount I've been going to the toilet, this must be doing some good.

So, so far it has been a perfect week. Let's hope this continues and come Thursday, the hard work pays dividends on the scales.

Vicky xxx

My WI result (14th June 2007)

Lost another 1.5lbs this week. That means I am now 17 stone 5.5lbs and have lost 113.5lbs in totol. I have also just overtaken my mum for the first time since I can remember.

Another 1.5lbs next week will take me to my target of 17 stone 4lbs for my holiday. However, I'm going for it this week and will aim high. Anything above 1.5lbs will be a bonus but I'm going to be exercising at every spare moment and eating very healthily (says she just about to eat a WW'er icecream pot for 1.5 points).

I'm going to be posting more over the weekend but for now I'll bid you goodbye. I've got exercise to do.

Vicky xxx

I've been playing this evening

This is how I want to look at goal.




Vicky xxx

WI Result (7th June 2007)

Managed a 3lb loss this week. I am very happy with this especially when you consider I had a night out on Saturday (there was a buffet but I was very good) and it was my birthday on Monday and I went out for dinner with my parents. I have now achieved 112lbs, exactly 8 stone and I have just realised I am half way to my goal weight so although I still have a long way to go but 112lbs sounds better than 224lbs eh?

I have to share this NSV with you all. I decided to walk to WI this evening (was only home for a few minutes before having to go out again) and a lady who lives over the road in the end house came out of her side door and stopped me. She has lived there ever since I can remember but I have never spoken to her before. She asked me if I had lost weight. As usual, my reply was "oh just a few pounds" but I did admit I had lost nearly 8 stone!!! She was very nice and how lovely of her to actually go out of her way to talk to me eh? She did say something like "I used to watch you and think oh that poor girl!". She is so right, I was a mess and am never going to get like that again. I already have so much more confidence (as one of the members at WW'ers said tonight at my first meeting I sat with my head down and now I chat to everyone) and I can actually feel my collar bone which may sound like a small thing but it's the first time I have felt it in years.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. I am going to town shopping on Saturday as I have money to spend and I'm going to buy clothes. I'll also be doing plenty of swimming and exercise. 3 more pounds will take me to 17 stone 4 and the lowest I have weighed since 1996 so I am going for it. Wish me luck.

Vicky xxx

Another month over

And another successful month. As you will know, my 3 main aims for 2007 were:

1/ To keep losing weight
2/ To get fit
3/ To give up smoking.

Well, so far so good. I've not had a cigarette since January 3rd and I am actually really looking forward to the smoking ban coming into force on the 1st July. At least I'll be able to stand on the concourse at football at half time and not come home smelling of smoke. I never thought I would see the day when I became part of the anti smoking brigade.

In May I lost 14lbs which brought along lots of Non Scale Victories (NSV's) and milestones such as getting my 100lb certificate, and wearing a Saints shirt for the first time in over 9 years. I am sure you will agree from the pictures taken recently that it is really starting to seriously show now.

In the past two weeks I have not exercised as much as I should but I think that is partly because I am no countdown to my holiday. I will make an effort to get back into it soon.

My aims for June then are to carry on the good work and to reach my holiday target of 17 stone 4lbs by WI on 21st June. Last June on holiday I said I wanted to lose 7 stone by the time we went back this year. I will have lost over 8 stone and I rejoined WW'ers 3 months later than planned.

Vicky xxx

Latest pictures and evening out

My mum runs a dart league. I used to play and captain a team as well as being a results secretary/committee member until 2 or so years ago when I gave up to concentrate on my Open University studies. Anyway last night was their bi-annual dart presentation (there are two seasons a year) and I always help with these (i.e. check trophies, sell the card and or raffle plus other bits and pieces that need doing) as she puts a lot of time and effort into it for very little reward and a lot of hassle.

Last night was a very good night. One of the teams had contacted every other team and brought mum and the other two committee members (one of them does very little and was not even there) some beautiful flowers as well as an engraved glass for Trev (my stepdad) and they presented them to them after the actual presentation.

When I was selling the card I had the opportunity to chat to lots of people who I have not seen for 6 months and some for longer than that. I've lost 6 stone since then so you can imagine all the shocked faces and comments I got!!! There were lots of NSV's for me which was fantastic. I have enclosed a couple of pictures taken of me last night as well as one taken at the last presentation in November so you can see the difference. There were not that many taken of me on my camera but other people are emailing all their pictures today so when I get them, if there are anymore I shall post them on here. I really like the close up picture of me although I do think it makes me look slimmer than I actually am.

We were lucky in that Alice Cooper and Mark Bolan came along to present the trophies. If you want to see pictures of them and other things please visit here

Again I'll add more pictures there when people send them to me. I rather suspect they are all in bed with hangovers still. I was the only one not drinking.

Vicky xxx