Running log 30.12.2013

A similar but shorter route than yesterday,  but it was running all the way. The hill that got the better of me yesterday felt a lot easier today. I was determined I wasn't going to walk up it this time and thanks to my breathing feeling a lot  better today I managed to beat it. That's very satisfying psychologically since I won't be running this route for a couple of months now. I think the hill is a bit tougher than some of those I will face at home.
I have a route in mind for next time I am here - it will be challenging,  but it's something to aim for and will show me how far I have come.

Distance: 1.44km time:11m 18s

Running log 29.12.13

Today was my first run in two weeks,  and it showed.  As well as the loss of fitness in having not run for a while,  the other major cobtributing factor was the difference in weight - I reckon I am around 1 stone heavier than when I last ran.

The first hill was more difficult than it should have been - I was very short of breath so had go walk for a bit.

On the plus side,  I covered nearly 2K in total and got myself out first thing in the morning. I have also discovered the mapmyrun app, so I expect that will come in handy in the future to record my runs and also find new routes.

Distance:1.91k  time:16m10s

Running log - 15.12.2013

Today was the big day. I joined 350 santas in raising money for St Gemma's Hospice. After scoping out the course I was fairly confident of getting a decent time - by conserving some energy for the long hill near the end. That was until they announced at the start that the route was only 1/2 a mile, so there would be two laps - I'd have to deal with that hill twice! The actual running was tough - it was a fairly hilly course, and wearing the santa outfit made it harder. The atmosphere and experience was fantastic though. It must've been something special to see 350 santas warming up in unison before the race. I did 1 mile in 13m30s - 3 or 4 minutes slower than I'd hoped, but all things considered I was happy. Thanks to all of my supporters - thanks to them I raised over £150 for the charity. That will go along with everything raised by the other runners, which in total should cover the costs to care for 2 people referred to the hospice.

Running log 10.12.13

Really pleased with my run today. I got a lift to weigh in and ran home. There were a couple of long, shallow hills which were tricky, but I kept going and even managed to push myself for the final steep hill to my front door. I made the mistake of sitting down and chilling straight after the run - when I got up I could hardly walk! I've since managed to stretch my legs so hopefully I'll not suffer too much tomorrow. I tried my santa outfit on over my running gear and managed to get the trousers all the way on. Unfortunately they didn't last long when I tried moving in them, so I'm going to have to find some bigger ones before the run on Sunday! On the subject of which, I've now seen the route, so I'm going to walk it in the next couple of days to check out what I'm in for. If you're feeling generous or inspired then please think about sponsoring me - it's a really good cause! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndySantaDash Distance: 1.5 miles, time: 15.56

Back on track...

Most of this week has been on plan - I even minimised the syns when planning the menu for the murder mystery party on Saturday. The effort really paid off. I lost 3.5lb this week - I am very chuffed with that and it's given me a push to stick with it and try to lose a much as possible before the end of the year. It's taster night/Christmas party next week and I'm really looking forward to that - hopefully it'll give me more inspiration as we approach Christmas.

Running log 7.12.2013

Two days without a run due to tightness in my left calf, so today was a chance to blow the cobwebs away, or so I thought. I got quarter of a mile and just didn't have it in me to go further. I'm really frustrated - I got off to a good start, but for some reason my mind just couldn't get me to keep going. The worst part of all is that it was as I was going up the biggest hill on my route - I really hope it doesn't become some sort of psychological barrier to me. Distance travelled - 1/4 of a mile in 2.30. I need to make sure I keep getting out on the road though - I picked up my Santa outfit for next weekends Santa dash last night (if you want to sponsor me then see here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndySantaDash) but it's a little too small for me (I might need to make some alterations to it and will definitely have to wear my running gear under it to avoid the embarrassment (and cold!) if it falls apart during the run. Not sure how I'm going to cope breathing through the beard though!!

Fitter, faster, fatter...

So in a week where I've finally made myself get out running regularly, and after being inspired to try out some new SW recipes I managed to put on 1.5lb to take me just 1.5lb short of the weight I was at the start of the year. It's a bit frustrating, but I know why I put the weight on - sticking to v low syns for meals was a good start, but I snacked on synful foods and overdid it on my HEs - having porridge, scan bran (cake) and hi-fi bars in the same day wasn't really going to help was it? Just a few more weeks left until the end of this year and I will do my best to lose as much weight as possible. The running will help - the good feeling of getting fitter and faster will pass on through the food I want. By making the conscious choice about running then hopefully I will make the same choices about food.

Running log 4.12.2013

Fifth run in five days and it felt pretty good. I felt strong going up the long incline and powered through the hill towards the end. A mile in 9.31 - 20 seconds faster than Monday's run and nearly a minute faster than Saturday's. Feeling really chuffed - maybe the enforced rest last night helped!

Running log 3.12.2013

On a positive note this was my fourth run in four days. The bit negative is that I had to abandon it after quarter of a mile.
My calf decided to start acting up, so rather than risk injury I felt the best course of action was to count today as a bit of a rest day.
When combined with this evening's weigh in (more of that in another post once I have been shopping) them I am frustrated to say the least.

Running log 2.12.2013

Another run under my belt today. My first under the new routine without my running partner to spur me on and set the pace. It was pretty late (9pm) when I went out but I'm really glad I did - hopefully it will spur me on to get out even when I do get back from work a bit late. My aim is to get into the habit of running so that it becomes easier to just get out and do it. 3 days in a row now - a run every day in December :-) Distance: 1 mile. Time: 9.51 - 10 seconds faster than yesterday!

Running log 1.12.2013

The same route as yesterday, except for a downhill finish. It was tougher, which I put down to having a full stomach from eating too much too close to the run. As it turns out, it was more to do with the quicker pace. 1 mile in 10.01 - 27 seconds faster than yesterday, which I'm very happy with. I hope to get out as much as possible in December - I'd like to end the year on a high and kick off the new one in fitness style.

Running log - 30.11.2013

Ran a mile in 10.28. V pleased with it - it was a lot more uphill than previous runs and at a quicker pace. At no point did I feel like giving in though - entirely because for the first time in years I was running with someone else. Thanks go to him for motivating me to go out and setting a challenging pace. I'm hoping to get out for more runs with him so hopefully that will help my fitness and boost my weight loss - like most things, if you're not the only one doing it then it's easier to keep pushing on and succeed.

Something's gotta give...

Another 1lb on this week. It feels like ages since I've actually lost any weight. Looking back through past weigh ins, I'm now just 2lb lighter than I was at the start of this year. I start each week with good intentions, and follow them through for a time, but then fall off the wagon. When a week looks clear it ends up being filled fairly quickly and the time for shopping for low syn ingredients to food optimise to the max seems to disappear first. Thus far I have resisted resorting to a very low calorie diet, but it could well be the only way I will shift the weight I need to.

Running log - 24.11.13

The weekend included another run - the furthest I've managed to go so far. I had hoped to go further, but I'm happy to have added a bit of distance and got past that magical 1 mile mark. Distance run: 1.11 miles Time taken: 13m 09s (for the run)

Recipe: cheese rolls

A sheet of frozen filo pastry, defrosted and cut into 6 squares 6 35g chunks of cheese Fry light Preheat the oven to 200C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper sprayed with fry light. Add a chunk of cheese to the edge of each of the filo squares, roll the filo pastry round the cheese then nip in the edges and spray with fry light. Put on baking tray, spray with fry light and cook for 10-15 minutes until crispy and golden. Enjoy - 1 syn each if using the cheese as HE.

Recipe: Sausage rolls

A sheet of frozen filo pastry, defrosted and cut into 6 squares 6 syn free or low syn chipolatas Fry light Preheat the oven to 200C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper sprayed with fry light. Fry or grill the chipolatas until cooked and leave to cool slightly. Add a chipolata to the edge of each of the filo squares, roll the filo pastry round the chipolata, nip in the edges and spray with fry light. Put on baking tray, spray with fry light and cook for 10-15 minutes until crispy and golden. Enjoy - 1 syn each.

Anything they can do...

I had started writing a blog last week but I forgot to save the draft in order to edit it later. I also forgot to blog about my run at the weekend,  so you are getting three blog posts for the price of one this week!

At group last week, as I waited to get weighed I anticipated a gain. I knew I had been off plan for a large part of the week, although I did have a couple of days of really food optimising and keeping within my syns. A gain would've taken me back over a stone mark so I was giving some serious thought to how I planned to continue my slimming journey.  As it happened,  I lost 2lb which took me back to 1st 6.5lb lost in total. The loss, coupled with a fab taster night and fantastic group gave me a bit of inspiration and I was determined to come in with another loss this week.

A wine tasting and overdoing my syns on a few too many days threw this week off a bit so I ended up with a half pound gain. I am not overly disappointed with that, but did feel that overall I had had a better week than last week so had hoped for a similar result on the scales. I think that's part of my trouble though - I get luvky one week so think I can get away with it the next.

I bought the latest SW mag and bave had a read of it tonight. Seeing how much the blokes in there lost in such a relatively short time (one of them lost 12st in 10 months) has given me a bit of a kick up the behind.  There is no reason why I shouldn't be able to stick to plan - I can usually choose what I eat and i know when I am out an unable to choose entirely SW friendly foods.  I need to start making better decisions and start planning more. On that subject,  I have plans for a prawn, courgette,  chilli and lime pasta (which I have made before and which is fantastic! ) and a keema curry. I am also planning to practice a chicken recipe or two in preparation for a murder mystery dinner party I will be cooking for in a few weeks time. Watch this space for another experiment of mine - more details once I have given it a go!

One big positive this week was another run, on Sunday morning. I ran a little bit further than last time, in a time of 9m 31s, but it felt really difficult.  Whereas the previous run I felt full of energy, this one felt pretty lethargic. It took a lot of effort to keep going, so I had to push myself. 1km doesn't really sound that far, but it's another km under my belt and every little helps.

Not again...

3lb on this week. I was due a big gain after not making the right choices for quite a while. Life has been up and down recently, and is expected to be so for a while yet, but I need to take control back. I'm back to a weight that I have hovered around in the past and I really don't want to be there for long. It's taster night next week, so hopefully I can get inspired again. If I don't then I risk losing control.

Running log - 7.10.13

Finally got in my first training run! It was mostly downhill, during which I felt pretty good. Unfortunately when it turned uphill I struggled a bit. Still, it's my first run in ages, so I'm happy with how it went. I suspect I'll feel it in the morning, but plan to try again on Wednesday evening. Distance run: 0.86 miles (without stopping, followed by a walk of about the same distance) Time taken: 9m 24s (for the run)

Competition entries...

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

...but I am determined that I will not be joining him.

I am taking inspiration from my wife who has lost a whopping 4 stone since we started our slimming journey together. I am ridiculously proud of what she has achieved.

My hope now is to lose around a pound each week between now and Christmas.  That would be about a stone off and would take me back to the lowest I have weighed on this journey. Half a pound this week is at least a step in the right direction.

I've asked santa for too much for Christmas already, so this is entirely down to me. Wish me luck.

Whoop there it is (n't)...

At weigh in last night I lost 2lb. It surprised me at first because I had been expecting a gain since I remembered a few things I had eaten that were outside my syns allowance.

Sitting waiting for group to start I went back over the weeks food in my head and realised that I had actually been pretty good. I made a lot of meals SW style and made the right decisions most of the time.  If I hadn't been quite as naughty I expect I would've seen a greater loss, but I am happy with shedding the weight I put on last week.

I am now reinvigorated.  So much so, that following a pub lunch (steak sandwich with homemade chips that probably uses up a couple of days worth of syns, so low syn for rest of the week) with a couple of colleagues who are training for a marathon,  I have decided that I will train to run the Leeds half marathon next year. It tends to be around my birthday,  so what better way to celebrate turning 35 (!) than by being the fittest and healthiest I can be?

I have run  a couple of half marathons before, but that was 14 and 15 years ago. Much like slimming,  I know I am capable of it if I stick to it.  Hopefully now I have a target I will get out and run more - I need to if I am not to let myself and any supporters down next May.

I will try to share my progress as often as I can :-)

Here we go again...

At weigh in tonight I put on 2lb. It's to be expected given the 2 takeaways and 2 meals out this week, but it could (and possibly should) have been a different story. [] Takeaway curry - could've made one myself, which would've been a lot less spicy (so possibly slightly more enjoyable), and syn free. [] Meals out - could've chosen far less synful meals and so been closer to plan. [] Takeaway pizza/moroccan - could've had less bread and gone for something less synful [] Lunchtime - could've steered clear of syns entirely to enable me to have indulged a bit in the evenings. Instead I synned on both occasions! I'm back to hovering around a weight that I thought I'd finally broken free of. I need to get organised, get motivated and get creative if I'm to stop myself becoming involved in that vicious circle again. I hope that I can get back on track, because I really do want to live a healthy life (I would say happy and healthy, but I've got the happy bit already!), and I want to be able to walk into a shop and buy clothes that I feel comfortable and look good in. I've still got a very long way to go, but I've not given up just yet.

The verdict is in...

Slightly disappointed with my loss this week.  I had hoped for more, but a 3lb loss is a step in the right direction.  I reckon I will take on the scan bran challenge again this week - perhaps its a delayed loss.

Seven shades of scan bran...

I managed to complete the scan bran challenge having polished off everything in the pictures below.

The key to getting through 35 scan bran slices over 7 days has been variety. That, along with strong flavours and different textures has meant that I didn't get bored.

Roll on weigh in tonight!

So far so good...

Feeling pretty good about this week. OK, it's only 2 days old, but I'm (finally!) back on plan. Hopeful of a decent loss next week, but will take it a day at a time. Two days of the scan bran challenge done, and it's actually been fairly tasty each time. I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes to help me get through all 35 slices this week!

Challenge accepted...

So that's what a very stressful time at work followed by a very indulgent holiday does...

After my last weigh in (a loss which took me back to my lowest weight this year) I set myself a target of coming back to group after my holiday with a maintain. I was going to make the right choices and food optimise where possible.

That went well and truly out the window with the most stressful period I have ever had at work (if it continued for much longer I was ready to call it a day and get as far away as possible without looking back) which meant late nights, no chance to shop for SW friendly foods and feeding myself with whatever was available.  The week's holiday that followed was a time of de-stressing and indulging in very synful food, but I feel it was needed and despite the 5lb gain tonight I am now in a good frame of mind.

It's back to basics now, and an attempt at "the scan bran challenge".  That will involve me eating 5 slices of scan bran each day for a week, as well as getting right back on plan, starting tomorrow. For those of you not acquainted with the wonder that is scan bran, picture the remnants of a bowl of all bran that have been left to adhere themselves to the bowl so long that only a pneumatic drill could shift them and you're pretty close. Sound appetising?  Maybe not, but it gets results, so provided I stick with it I should get a decent result on the scales next week.

I will try to give updates on my progress and hope to try out some new recipes to help me get my scan bran fix. I might even come up with one good enough to take to taster night on Tuesday!

There may be weight gains ahead...

A couple of things struck me whilst queuing for weigh in (at a different group to that I usually attend) today: [] Whenever I think I've put on weight I have the same song going through my head - "Let's face the music and dance" (in the past this has been outnumbered by the Imperial march from Star Wars, but since I've got my slimming head back on track it has become prevalent). [] An overheard comment from the consultant to the new members pretty much summed up my attitude going into weigh in -"a gain is all part of the journey" Both of those sum up my feeling towards slimming at the moment - I have regained a sufficient amount of control that if I do put on weight it's largely through choice, and I know I can shift it again. With that attitude in mind, I queued for weigh in knowing that I deserved a gain given the excess syns I had consumed since the last weigh in. I steeled myself for a 3 or 4lb gain, which I felt would be fair. Imagine my surprise when the scales showed I'd only put on 1/2 lb! Relieved, chuffed, surprised - all of which has motivated me to get right back on track ahead of my next weigh in on Tuesday. Having thought about it, I think that it was only a small gain because: [] I had 3 training sessions in 3 days. I'm becoming fitter and reckon my metabolism must be a bit quicker as a result; [] A lot of the food that I have eaten has been superspeed, which seems to be couteracting the syns to some extent; [] When given a choice, most of the time I've made the right one, and have opted for more syns knowing that it will have an impact on the scales; and [] My body has become used to following plan most of the time, so (provided I get back on plan from now on) it's not trying to hold on to the extra syns I've taken on board. The alternative is that regardless of how well I do this week my body is storing up a massive gain. If that does turn out to be the case, then I will take it on the chin and get it shifted as soon as possible. Nothing will stand in the way of my slimming journey now.

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

I am well and truly on a roll now - 6 weeks in a row without putting so much as 1/2lb on (5 of those were losses and 1 maintain). Only once have I gone for more weeks without a gain and that was my very first few months as a Slimming World member.

It really feels like I'm heading in the right direction now. I've not been shooting out any stars with my losses - an average of about 1lb per week in this spell, but it's staying off and that's the main thing.

The question of a SW friendly restaurant was brought up again at IMAGE therapy, and I have to admit the idea really does appeal to my (semi-creative) foodie side. The big stumbling block, however, is the cost - unfortunately I don't have a spare £0.5- £1M (amounts a Google search suggests are needed to launch such a project) in my back pocket. If I did I might decide that it would be enough to retire and live off the interest, until my wife gave me a kick up the backside and told me to stop lazing around!

The other possibility is a recipe book. As much as I love the food I cook, and others seem to like it at taster night, I don't think I could compete with the fantastic recipe books that SW produce, and nor would I want to.

However, to make life a little easier for those of you who do like to pick up the recipes on this page, I am thinking about producing a document that you will be able to download FOR FREE and peruse offline at your leisure. I'll need some time to pull it together though, since I'd like to have come up with a few more recipes first, and I've got some thoughts about some things I'd like to include in there other than recipes.

Recipe: Crispy wontons

Serve with sweet and sour sauce from “The little book of sauces” for a starter as good as any takeaway at a fraction of the syns.

Unfortunately these went so quickly once I opened them up at taster night that I didn't get the chance to take a photo!

Two sheets of frozen filo pastry, defrosted and cut into 6 squares each
300g cooked prawns
2 tsp chinese five spice
Fry light

Preheat the oven to 200C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper sprayed with fry light.

Blitz the prawns in a mixer with the five spice until it becomes like a paste.

Add a spoonful of the prawn to the middle of each of the filo squares, spray with fry light and fold in the corners to form parcels.

Put on baking tray, spray with fry light and cook for 10-15 minutes until crispy and golden.

Enjoy - 1 syn per wonton.

Fantastic five!

Having expected a gain this week,  it seems that I am actually really back in the swing of things.

This week saw me not putting on weight for 5 weigh ins in a row!! In that time I've lost half a stone. Add the previous 4 weigh ins (2 gains and 2 losses) and it's the best part of a stone in 9 weigh ins.

That's the best I've done in ages - I rarely avoid putting on weight for 2 weeks, let alone 5! There have only been two occasions when I've kept weight off for longer, and those were right at the start of my weight loss journey.

It feels like I am back on track, but I'm not taking anything for granted. I've still got a very long way to go to reach my target, but with the support of my amazing wife (who by the way has lost 12lb recently), it feels like some day I will get there.

Weight loss chart - to 11 June 2013

Check out the upward slope at the end!

Wow!

Last night was a good night for me SW wise. I lost 1lb (so half stone off in last seven weeks - feels like I am back on track), I got my silver body magic and I was fortunate enough to be made my group's man of the year.

It goes without saying that I am very pleased with all of the above.

Being the only man in a woman's world could be intimidating, but my group has made it nothing of the sort.  They have supported me all the time (over 2 years) I have been on this journey,  even when I decided to try to go it alone or when I didn't stay to group, for which I will be eternally grateful.

To any man thinking about joining a group, stop thinking and just get along and give it a go. At the end of the day everyone in group is there for the same reason and they have all been through the same struggles.  Just be prepared for some gentle ribbing because men apparently lose more each week (as was my experience for the first 6 months - the last 18 or so have been a different story!).

I truly believe that this can be a man's (and woman's) Slimming World.

A word of thanks...

Tonight our consultant let us know that next week will be the last time she runs our group. It marks the end of an era.

The support I have had on my slimming journey from my consultant and the group is second only to that I've had from my wife.

So, thanks to a great consultant - the journey would've been a lot harder without the non-judgemental, supportive and informal way you run group. You will be missed.

Could it be magic?

Two weeks in a row I lost 3.5lb per week, then the following two weeks I have put on 1lb per week.
It's a bit disappointing given the good work I did, but it was to be expected as I am at the time of year when I am helping celebrate several birthdays. That means losing control a bit, and when added to stresses at work and personally it all adds up.

It's not all bad though. One of the things I have been doing to relieve the stress has been to do a lot more exercise. As I think I have mentioned before,  my wife are currently having personal training sessions twice a week.  It's going great so far and I can feel myself getting fitter with each session. Its been five weeks now so I got my bronze body magic award - it's only taken 2 years for me to get any sort of consistency with exercise from week to week and I feel great because of it.

I am back on it now and hoping for a loss next week. :-)

Finding my muse...

When I was younger I used to write poetry (for school work, to get my feelings out or, most memoranly, to win a competition about mammoths!) so I decided to hav a go at some poetry to sum up or help with my slimming journey.  The problem so far has been that nothing I have come up with has been particularly original. Extracts so far:

When I was good I was very very good, but when I synned I went for it...

I think I can I know I can because I am a slimming man...

Food glorious food, at least that's how the song goes...

If I get any further or create anything vaguely decent I will post it later

Fit again...

Since my last post I have been getting loads of exercise having started with a personal trainer. It has also coincided with a loss oc half a stone and I am beginning to feel really good again about my slimming journey.
I have even taking to exercising outside PT sessions. Why it took so long to do this I have no idea, but long may it continue!

Weight loss chart - to 9 April 2013

Sticky satay chicken

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
Fry lite
Ground chillis to taste

Method
Put everything except the chicken into a small pan and cook over a low heat until it melts and mixes.
Add the chicken and coat thoroughly in the sauce.
Cook until the chicken is cooked - break it up to get mre flavour into it.
Enjoy!

6.5 syns for all of it on extra easy

Here's hoping...

In an unusual step, I'm blogging before weigh in today. I figure it gives me a chance to be honest about the week, rather than trying to justify the result from the scales.

Wednesday - Friday were great - food optimising all the way, getting my HEs, at least 1/3 superfree food and keeping my syns within acceptable tolerance (i.e. 15-45 over the 3 days).

Saturday - pretty synful since I didn't hold back at a birthday party - I was driving, so no alcohol, but had more than my fair share of party food! That after starting the day pretty well with porridge, a banana and an egg for breakfast before a session with a personal trainer, then following that up with grilled fish ramen (which I figured was probably the lowest syn food at Wagamama).

Sunday - big breakfast, some of which was good on SW, lots of which was not. Onto lunch - a lamb roast, complete with non SW roasties and a giant yorkshire. Sufficiently filling not to need another meal, but made up for that with half a pack of Revels.

Monday and Tuesday have been better, mostly on plan, but did succomb to the charity bake sale.

So what do I expect this week?

I'm hoping that I've not gone too far on Saturday and Sunday and can still get a loss or maintain, but would not be surprised with a gain.

The big positive has been that when I've been responsible for what's available to eat I've made pretty good choices, and in the coming weeks I will have pretty much full responsibility.

I'm also hoping that my wife and I can regularly get to the personal trainer - it'll kick start my exercise and hopefully help me shed some weight/get fit at the same time. We've asked for 2 sessions per week, so with a bit of luck I will finally get a body magic award in the not too distant future!

Admitting defeat...

Having tried to go it alone, I've failed massively in sticking to plan, my clothes are starting to feel a bit tight again and when trying on new clothes I've had to try a bigger size than before.

I admit it - I was wrog to stop getting weighed at group. I think I need that check every week just to keep me on track, so I've decided to go back to group, starting tomorrow.

I'm hoping that I've not done too much damage, but know that with the help of my wife and my fab SW group I can repair it pretty quickly.

I'd been umming and ahhing for a wile, thinking "I'll get back on track soon", but the final prod came in two forms

• Firstly, I've won the SW readers' recipe competition (see here for my winning entry: http://group.slimmingworld.com/recipes/peri-peri-potatoes.aspx and here for when it first appeared on this blog: http://slimmingman.blogspot.com/2012/01/recipe-peri-potatoes.html - I wish mine looked as good as the one made by the SW chefs!), which means that I'm going to be the proud owner of a shiny new slow cooker (we've got one already, but I think this one will be bigger, and sears too :-)). Inspired by that, I've picked up the extra easy all in one cookbook and look forward to trying out some of the recipes - if my group are lucky then I might bring some to taster nights!
• Secondly, my mum has recently started SW online and we were discussing it at the weekend. She told me I should start back at group, and since it was her birthday and mothers' day weekend, I'm not going to argue!

To my group, I look forward to coming back, but please take it easy on me if I've been really bad an piled on the pounds!

Off target...

When I started SW I had a specific goal in mind - to lose as much weight as possible before my wedding. It worked. Although I fell short of my overall target of losing 4 stones I did manage to lose 2.5 stones.

I subsequently put back on half of the weight I lost and over the last year or so have fluctuated between 1 and 1.5 stone off my original weight.

I still have a target to get to that original 4 stones off, but I don't seem to have the motivation any more. I've got no reason to get there other than to be at a healthier weight, so it's not happening.

I know that SW works, and I know the plan. I even know when I'm making decisions about what food I have which would be best for food optimising, but I just don't make the right choices.

It's getting to the point where I'm thinking about having a break from the whole thing - I've maintained this weight for long enough now that perhaps it's what I'm destined to be, and I suspect that given the eating habits I've developed I'd probably maintain the weight wthout getting weighed every week.

I'm a slim man

Comin' to ya from a slimming group
I'm losin' with super speed soup
And when you lose weight you got something
So don't worry cause I'm losing
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
Got where I got the hard way
Counting my syns each and every day
So honey don't you fret
Cause I ain't giving up yet
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
Superspeed!
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
Listen

Took a third of super free food
Added two thirds free that tasted so good
I make my soup from free stock
When I start slimmin' I just can't stop
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
Well grab the scales I'll weigh you in
Give you hope and be your Slimming World friend
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
You're a slimmer
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man
I'm a slim man

The long and winding road...

5 weeks into 2013 and I've somehow managed to lose 5lb, with only one week showing a gain.

So far so good you say? Maybe, but it hasn't felt like that until today. There have been times when I've been ready to throw in the towel, stop worrying about trying to stick to the plan and just eat whatever I want.

Over the last year my weight has tended to yo-yo around the same level and it's got me down in the past, but it's time to draw a line. 2013 has started well in terms of weight loss - at the same rate of loss then I'd lose another 3 stone by the end of the year and therefore achieve my interim target.

I've discovered the wonders of our slow cooker and used it for a few meals this week. Preparing or planning meals in advance seems to be a big factor in achieving a loss, so I'm hoping to do more of that in future.

Another thing that helped was having such a supportive group - when I felt like giving up they played a part in persuading me not to and made me feel so welcome when I went to weigh in.

The other person who takes a lot of the credit is my amazing wife - without her I could often fall into a pit of despair and self loathing. She is my strength when I am down; my support when I cannot stand; my hope when I have none; and I love her more than words could ever say.

As an aside, I've not added to this blog since November, but still had over 300 hits in January (the second highest hit rate since I kicked the blog off just over a year ago. Thanks to all those who read this blog - I hope it helps you some way on your journeys.