Friday 24 April 2009

Into the 14's

Weigh In again last night. It was a nightmare! We have a new leader, and everything was different. I arrived at 5.20 for a 5.30 meeting and finally got weighed at 5.50! Queueing everywhere, 1 person weighing, and the leader running round like a headless chicken. Awful. Apparently it was something WW have decided to do - they reckon that people don't mind waiting to be weighed, but hate waiting to pay for the meeting. Well that may be, but when the queue is out of the hall, out of the door, and half way across the car park, do they REALLY think people are going to wait? I'll be interested to see if this really is a WW thing, or if it was just the new leader. I might have to find a new (quieter!) meeting.

Anyway, at least the result was good - 1.5lbs off. Which takes me (just) into the 14's for the first time in over 4 years. I haven't been this thin/light since Glenn got home from Iraq in 2005. So I'm feeling pretty good right now :o)

The cats are as mad as ever. Rosie keeps winding up next doors dog by sitting on the fence and hissing. Dawson keeps winding up Rosie by pouncing on her and stealing her bit of paper.

Rana is her usual self - she was very excited to come in on Wednesday. I was a bit late, so she had to demonstrate how upset she was by leaping around and showing her feet to her pony field companion. *sigh* She will grow up one day, won't she? She's also being a princess about her feed, and isn't eating much at the moment. I think the grass must be coming through!

Riding lesson this Sunday, so wish me luck. Will update on Monday so you all know I survived *grin*

Have a great WW week!
Kate x

Friday 17 April 2009

A mini goal reached

Well despite the Easter weekend over-indulgences, I lost 2.5lbs this week - taking my total to 56lbs! (For those who can't do maths, that's 4 stones!!!!) I am very pleased - to say the least. Only another 6 to go!

We went for our riding lesson, and it was brilliant. I rode a nice safe horse called Murphy - he's cool and I want to kidnap him. Did lots of walking and trotting, both with and without stirrups, then did a couple of short canters. Of course we had to go back the following week! I rode Murphy again - no cantering this time, but plenty of work without stirrups. My legs hurt!! Can't go this week, but we're having a 1 hour lesson next week. I will definitely ache after that!

Rana's fine - she jogged in from the field with me last night. Yes, you read that right, I jogged. Not very far admittedly, but still better than walking.

Rosie has been adventuring in the Great Outdoors. She loves it, but she's a total wimp and runs inside at the first sign of trouble.

Dawson is less happy that Rosie's coming out - it means she doesn't have "her space" away from Rosie. They seem to be muddling through though.

Went up to see the musical of Dirty Dancing at the weekend. It was brilliant - if you liked the film, it's well worth going.

So, here's to another good WW week and hoping I can get into the 14's next week - 1.5lbs to go!

Friday 3 April 2009

Back blogging!

Hi all

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while - been a hectic few weeks!

So, how's things?

Weight loss - I've now lost 54lbs! Got my 50lb certificate, and my 3.5 stones. I fell off the wagon a bit, but had a great week last week - weighed everything and ate every last little point. I lost 3.5lbs in a week! It really helped to go back to basics, and it's given my weight loss a great boost. So, only 2lbs to get my 4th stone - wish me luck for this week.

Rana - her usual self, showing off to the boys and enjoying the spring like weather. She was a bit upset because the air ambulance had to come to the yard 10 days ago, and it landed near her stable (don't worry, the girl who fell off has made a full recovery). Rana is one of only 3 horses who could see the helicopter land from her stable and she found it rather exciting.

Dawson - no change there, she's just pottering along, being Dawson. She's now eating the peanuts I put out for the birds. It's more to do with her pathetic ploy of trying to get the neighbours to rescue her, because obviously she's starving and I don't look after her. *sigh*

Rosie - she went in to be spayed a couple of weeks ago, and had her stitches out this week. She was very pleased to get the lampshade collar off her head (although she did have fun knocking things over with it...3 broken glasses later...). She's still as mad as ever, playing "fetch" with pieces of paper at 3am. She is more affectionate though (no longer a hormonal teenager) which is nice - she came up for cuddles 7 times yesterday evening, which is a record for her!

Glenn - he's plodding on with his weight loss, but I'm catching him up quickly! He needs 1 more lb to get his 5th stone. He's been working late a lot recently, so too many takeaways. He's started swimming every day though, so that should help him a bit.

News - well the big news of the week is that I've now lost enough weight to be able to start riding again! Not on Rana, as she's retired, but I've booked in for a lesson at a nearby riding school. I can't wait! Fingers crossed for Sunday afternoon please - for nice weather, and for the horse I'm riding to behave.

Clothes - well I'm firmly in my 18 jeans now, although they are starting to flap around the legs a bit, so might need a pair of 16's soon. Here's hoping! Most of my tops are getting too big too, and I've lost yet another bra size. That's 2 bra sizes in just over a month. This is getting expensive...

Exercise - well, riding definitely counts as exercise (2 points for a half hour lesson but I think that's an under-estimate!), so I'm increasing my activity levels with that. I'm also walking home for my lunch every day (instead of working through to finish early). It's only 5 mins each way, but every little helps, and I try to do it just a bit quicker every day.

Also found out I'm 2 inches shorter than I thought I was, which isn't really a problem, but it does mean I've had to adjust my goal weight slightly. Only by 7lbs, but still, it seems further away than ever.

Hope you're all well!
Kate x

Friday 6 March 2009

Back on track

Went to WI last night, feeling hopeful, and lost 2lbs!! I'm really pleased - lost what I'd put on during my break, and a little more. So, 48lbs gone. 1lb to get my 3.5 stone, and 2lb to get my 50lb certificate. Getting there!

Also pleased because I've lost 2 inches from my bra size - a bit frustrating, as I only got measured 2 weeks ago, so my new bra's are already too big. That seems to happen to me - I don't lose inches gradually, I don't lose anything for ages, then all of a sudden I'll lose 2 or 3 inches altogether. How strange. Now, if only my hips would catch up with the rest of me lol.

Animals - well, they're as mad as ever.

Rosie joined me in the bath the other night - literally. She was messing about and fell in. Fortunately she fell on top of me, so she only got soggy paws.

Dawson was trying to eat my miniature daffs this morning. She hasn't been out much as we're in another cold snap, so she thought it was great fun to munch the flowers.

Rana is being Rana - she likes her new feed again (went off it for a couple of days). She's in love with Democrat now, and has a complete tantrum if he comes in from the field before her.

Glenn's in the bad books at the moment. I asked him to sort out his laundry, which he duly did. I put it in the machine. 5 minutes later, the washing machine is making all sorts of grinding and clunking noises. Turn it off and investigate - and what do we find?? A large screw. Obviously from Glenn's pocket. Fortunately no lasting damage done, but that could have been expensive!!

Friday 27 February 2009

WI result

Stayed the same last night. That's ok. It was my birthday, and I overindulged a LOT. Firmly back on track now, so hoping for a good loss next week.

Am fairly chuffed though, as I bought a new top from Tesco's last weekend - in a size 18. That means I've lost 4 dress sizes from my top, and nearly 4 from my bottom (can get into a size 18 jeans, but it's a bit of a squeeze). Nearly there though!

Animals - well normal really.

Dawson is spending more time outside now it's warmer. She especially likes it if I'm pottering in the garden and she can run up and bash me, then run away again.

Rosie is being mental kitten. She crashed into the door last night with a huge bang, then did a wall of death round the sofa and used my head a launch pad for a flying leap on top of Dawson. As I said, mental.

Rana is being a princess. I've started her on a new feed. She has it in her dinner and loves it. But when I put it in her breakfast, she hates it. So now I have to chop carrots into her breakfast so she'll eat it. Spoilt brat.

Hopefully I'll be able to get in the garden this weekend, even if I just tidy up my sheds so I can find things. Earn some bonus points and get the place neat and tidy again! Then I can go and spend more money in the garden centre getting lots of pretty plants...

Friday 20 February 2009

My first gain

Sorry for not posting for ages. Been completely demotivated and off plan for the last 3 weeks.

So went back to WI last night, and I'd only gained 1.5lbs. Now for having been eating complete crap for 3 weeks, I'm quite pleased with that.

Back on track now, although have a "food heavy" weekend, so will be 100% back on track from Monday.

Glenn and I have started doing challenges between us. This week, we've challenged ourselves to walk round a nearby park every evening. It's a very small park, takes about 10 minutes, but that's 10 minutes more than we would do otherwise.

Next week, I think the challenge will be to stick exactly to our points every day (instead of saving 4 for meals out etc).

If anyone has any further ideas/suggestions for mini challenges, please leave a comment - all ideas welcomed!

Animals...well...

Dawson is her usual self. She's going out more often now, as the weather has warmed up again. She keeps coming in late and missing her supper, so she's starving at breakfast time. I expect she'll learn to come home earlier...

Rosie is mad. The other day, she took the toilet roll off the holder, left the loose end in the bathroom, and rolled the rest of it......onto the landing, into the bedroom, under the bed, back out from the bed, round the bed leg, back under the bed, across to another leg, round that leg, under the bed again, and out the other side. You have no idea how long it took me to clear up after her.

Rana frightened the life out of me last week. I arrived at the stables at my normal time. Now, she knows the sound of my car, and usually calls for her breakfast as soon as she hears it. She wasn't calling. So I walked onto the yard and fed her next door neighbour (I always feed in the same order - closest first). Still no sign of Rana. Called her, no answer (usually I say "Rana, you awake?" and she whinneys back to me). Peeked over her door, couldn't see her. Turned the light on in a panic, and opened her door.

What did I find?
.
.
.
.
.
.
A very sleepy Rana, curled up in her bed, still half asleep, bottom lip drooping, and blinking in the light. So I quietly put her bucket in and left her to wake up.

In 13 years of owning Rana, I think I've found her lying down 5 times, and not once in the morning. She was obviously having a lie in. Scared me for a couple of minutes though!

Bought a couple of new tops from Tesco last week - in a size 18. Still nowhere near a size 18 jeans yet, but will try some in Evans on Sunday, as they seem to fit me the best. I think I have strange measurements, and some jeans just will not fit.

Oh well, enough contemplating dress sizes and how different they can be. Back to work!!

Friday 6 February 2009

No WI

Didn't make it to weigh in this week. Horrid weather and hormones just do not mix well, and I just want to hibernate. Still, these things happen and I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I've bought myself another week to get back on track and pull back for an STS next week. Here's hoping!

Ocado cancelled my delivery on Monday, which didn't help with the food situation - I had no food! Now I know I could have popped to Asda to get something, but it just didn't quite fit with my theory of hibernation. So takeaways here we come. Oh well, line drawn, time to move on. (Ocado did turn up last night, with a free bottle of wine to apologise....nice gesture, but I don't drink red wine!)

So, the topic of the week, the weather. Well I don't think it's been that bad. The roads are still passable at 5.30am when I go to see Rana. Ok, so they've been a bit slippy, but they could be worse. I did manage to hit the neighbours car on Monday, but only doing 5mph, so no harm done. I skidded into the work car park sideways yesterday - that was fun! And drifted sideways round a roundabout this morning (didn't hit anything and stayed within the white lines).

Poor Rana hasn't left her stable since Sunday, and she's now getting very bored. Hopefully the rain will melt the snow and she'll be able to go out tomorrow. That could be fun - 5 days cooped up indoors, she's going to go loopy! Hard hat and gloves will be needed I think.

Dawson refuses to go out in this weather, so she's been snuggled up on the bed for the week. Rosie is just being an evil, demanding, little shit. She scratched my face this morning, so she is NOT in my good books.

Back to the weather (sorry, I'm rambling now), we actually had a proper snow storm this morning. I was driving through a blizzard, saw a blue flash (immediate thought was "oh shit, speed camera" before I realised I was doing well under 30mph), then my car shook and there was a huge BOOM! Thunder and lightning. Very exciting, never seen that before. I was a bit scared getting out of my car at the yard though, as it seemed very close and I just don't like being outside in thunder storms.

Oh well, an exciting week, if not a good WW week.

Hope everyone else is doing better than I am! And if anyone has any motivational tips for me, please post a comment. I need all the help I can get at the moment.

Now, where's that chocolate....

Friday 30 January 2009

Excuse me...

....while I keel over in shock. I have lost another 2lbs! I'm not entirely sure how, as I was over by 26 points this week (don't ask, bad week). I was fully expecting a gain, at best an STS, but I lost. Mind you, I'm still nervous about next week, in case it catches up with me a week later.

Going clothes shopping at Asda this weekend. Thank God for Asda clothes - so cheap!! Believe me, when you're buying a whole new "keep you going" wardrobe every couple of months, you need cheap supermarket clothes. Hopefully have lost a dress size, I'll keep you posted.

Animals are as mad as ever (why doesn't this surprise anyone?!).

Rana is still going loopy when coming in from the field. I thought we'd cracked it by putting hay in the field for them, but she was very very silly coming in last night. Still, at least it means I know the Devils Claw is helping her arthritis.

Rosie is finding worse and worse times to play "fetch". Like when I'm trying to get ready for work, or when I'm trying to get out of the door to get to work. Or when we're trying to sleep. More amusingly, she wants Glenn to play just after I've got up (5.30am).

Dawson is still refusing to go out - it's far too cold for her. Yesterday, I let her out as I went out first thing (just before 6am). She went out of the door, and in the time it took me to fully open the door, step out, and turn round, she'd scampered back in.

Off to see a comedian at the Town Hall tonight. I'll report back if he's any good. Out for a chinese on Sunday, for a friends birthday. It won't be a good WW week!

Friday 23 January 2009

WI result

Went to WI last night, feeling rather nervous. I had 2 take aways last week. I pointed them, and cut back on the other days accordingly, and earned some bonus points, but I was worried anyway.

I needn't have been - I lost 1.5lbs. I was very pleased with that! 45.5lbs in total now, so on track to get my 50lb certificate by my birthday (end Feb).

Strangely, it's looking like I might have dropped ANOTHER dress size. Not sure how or why, but my new clothes (bought 3lbs ago, just after Christmas) are definitely getting too big. Looks like another shopping trip could be in order...after pay day that is.

Rana seems quite happy on her new bedding, which is good, and she's definitely coughing less than she was. I'm enjoying it as there's less of it to move about and sort through! She's been acting like a 3 year old again. If any horsey people are reading this, I strongly recommend Devils Claw. Rana was 2/10 lame with her arthritis, but is now completely sound and normal, fly bucking her way around the field and generally throwing tantrums if I'm "late" getting her in.

Rosie excelled herself this morning. I left my car keys on the table as normal. While I was de-horsifying myself in the bathroom, she stole my keys and hid them in her cat igloo. It took me half an hour of searching before I could find them. She is not popular.

Dawson isn't enjoying this wet weather, and has resorted to sitting on the door step looking at the rain, and sulking. No watching the ivy mice in this weather! I think she just does it to see if someone will call the RSPCA to come and rescue her. You can almost see her little mind working "Hmm, if I sit here, and get a bit wet, and look hungry, maybe I'll be rescued and I won't have to cope with That Kitten any more". I don't think her plot is working....

Congrats to Bryher who reached her goal weight this week! We're all proud of you!

Kate x

Friday 16 January 2009

Lost another...

1lb last night! Woohoo! Takes me into the next stone bracket. Unfortunately it also means I lose a point *sulk*. Still, it's all good really.

Didn't have a great week, so not too sure how I lost 1lb. I was hormotional (thanks to Shrinking Mel for that phrase!). So I just wanted all the wrong foods. Still, I'm over that now, and hoping for a couple of good weeks to meet the 50lb by Feb 09 challenge. 6lbs left to go.

Those jeans I bought just after Christmas, in a size 20....already feeling too big. I've only lost 2lbs since then though, so I don't think I've lost a dress size yet! Nice that they're feeling too big, but I do like my jeans to be quite fitted, and I feel like a scruff bag in these ones now :o(

Animal news -

Rana's getting new bedding tomorrow. She's not getting on with the straw and has started coughing. So we're changing to wood shavings on top of rubber matting. Unfortunately I don't have any rubber matting, so we're having to buy that too. Bank balance says Ouch.

Rosie is still insisting on playing fetch. Usually with a receipt she's found from somewhere. Does anyone know of a kitten who plays fetch??? I really should video her and put her on YouTube.

Bruiser Cat proved that she is in fact Wimpish Cat. Last night, an Interloper Cat came in through the cat flap. While we were in bed. Normally this would provoke much yowling from Dawson, but she hid under the bed and growled. As she often growls at Rosie, we didn't think anything of it. Until I went down this morning and found a large tabby cat hiding under the heater. I don't think it was impressed at having been trapped in our house all night! (Cat flap is set to "in only" so Rosie doesn't escape.) Wimpish Cat hasn't been persuaded downstairs yet. She even had to have her breakfast upstairs on the landing.

By contrast, Rosie bounced down after a few minutes and demanded I play fetch. No Rosie, I do not play fetch at 5.30am. So she got bored and climbed up the back of the stairs for fun (open plan staircase, she climbs up the back of each stair instead of running up like normal cats).

Will I ever find a normal animal?????

Friday 9 January 2009

New Year WI

I braved going to WI last night, telling myself that I'd be happy with anything up to a 3lb gain.

So I was pleasantly surprised to step on the scales and see a 1lb loss. I still can't quite believe it, as I was definitely not sticking to the plan over Christmas!

Glenn put on 2lbs, so he's sulking a bit at the moment. I'm sure he'll lose it soon though - he loses and gains more easily than I do.

Made baked prawn risotto last night, for 6.5 points. It was very nice, and the cats had some leftover prawns which they were pleased about.

Our new bedroom furniture has arrived. It looks lovely, although slightly bigger than I thought it would be. Bed is wonderfully comfy, so no more sore neck or back for me!

Hope you're all having a good WW week!
Kate x

Monday 5 January 2009

A belated Happy New Year

Ok, so I'm a few days late, but only just got back to work and the computer (I use a PC so much at work, that when I'm at home, I tend to avoid it like the plague!).

Hope everyone had a fab Christmas and New Year.

We certainly did. Fell off the wagon rather badly over the festive period, but straight back on it (strangely) on New Years Eve. Glenn was on call, so no drinking for him, and it seemed a bit sad to be drinking by myself, so I stuck to the orange squash too.

Sneak preview on home scales is hovering between 1 and 2lb gain. I'm on kickstart though, and hoping to lose it all in time for a stay-the-same on Thursday. Fingers crossed please!

Got some great Christmas presents - loads of box sets of ER and Third Watch, some games for my DS, couple of books, an electronic photo frame (been after one for a while) and some spending money (bought a handbag and another game for my DS).

Animal wise, they're all mad. Rana's been a lunatic since being on joint supplements. It's great that she's feeling well, but does it HAVE to involve leaping around like an idiot and narrowly missing my head?? She's been an indoor horse for 2 days now. I put her out yesterday morning, and in an hour, she'd only moved 6 feet from the gate and was standing there looking miserable, so I got her in again. Then it snowed last night, so she couldn't go out today (she doesn't cope well with snow).

Dawson is currently being a wimp. She's only going out for 2 minutes at a time, sometimes less if something scares her (yesterday it was some perfectly normal well behaved children walking past, today it was a cat fight way off on the other side of the estate). I helped her chase off a large tabby cat last week, so she felt brave for a couple of days.

Rosie is being amusing. She got a flying chicken for Christmas (don't ask - it's like a catapult thingy and it makes a noise when it hits the ground). She likes to play with it during the night, so we get woken up by a cock-a-doodle-do noise. I've put it away now. She's also got a new game - fetch. I've never known a kitten play fetch. It has to be with a piece of paper, and has to be played on the bed. Throw paper, Rosie runs off to catch it, then brings it back onto the bed. Cute eh? Not at 3am it's not. But if you don't play, she tries to stuff the paper in your mouth or ear. Boxing Day night, Glenn was away, so I had this for the entire night. Scrumple, rustle, miaow, purr, scrumple, rustle.

Got my new cooker yesterday, which I'll be christening tonight with a 6.5 point smoked haddock risotto. Yum! New bedroom furniture arriving tomorrow - very exciting, we've been waiting for almost 3 months now!!!!

Best stop now, and go and do some work/eat lunch....

Kate x