Operation Butterfly

Recently at Slimming World Kate our consultant asked us to take 5 minutes and think about where we wanted to be by the end of the summer holidays (see told you I listen Kate !!)

Little did she realise it reminded me of something I'd always wished for and hoped for way back when I was in school.

I have always struggled with my weight, and every summer holidays, I dreamt about coming back after the 6 weeks holiday looking fab and gorgeous, like a butterly emerging from a cocoon, but then time went on, and the weeks past, start of new term and I was still in the same position.

Something has been stirred again, and this year as the summer holidays are fast approaching Operation Butterfly has been born.

I have my food plan in place, I have my exercise plan in place, and even have 5 free exercise classes & gym sessions at Fitness First to fit in.

Goals are:

lose 1 stone,

get my 10% award

gold fitness award

7 weeks from now - the butterfly will finally emerge :)

Because you're Amazing !!!

I have been going great guns over the past year with my weight loss, I have been tracking my calories on my fitness pal and if I do say so myself have been doing brilliantly and have lost 4.5 stone but now am finding myself struggling to lose any more (I have about another 3 to lose )

The thing with calories is that they are in everything, and everything you pick up has the calorific value on the side so that they are easily checked and recorded, the issue I have found with that is, you are allocated a certain amount of calories per day, and it doesnt matter if you eat X amount of calories in fruit and veg or solid chocolate as long as you record the calories, it is up to you to make the right decisions on what is best way to use your calories to maximum results and if you havent been 'taught' the right choices then you arent going to get the correct nutritional needs, especially with the training side coming in.

So I've found myself floundering a bit and feel like im going to need the support of a group or run the risk of going off the rails. I looked at all of the usual suspects and found Slimming World to be the best to fit in with 'real life', it teaches all of the fundemental food rules (which are the standard, fresh fruit and veg and lean protein).

The beauty of this is that Slimming World have the 3 plans to choose from and can be adapted depending on your daily needs and requirements.

The Green Plan - higher level of carbohydrates, limited protein

The Original Plan - Higher level of protein, limited carbohydrates

The Extra Easy - Mixture of both protein and Carbs

For the majority of the time I stick to the Extra Easy and find that this fits in REALLY easy with family life and I dont eat anything different to the rest of the family (to look at anyway- I have quorn sausages instead of 'normal' ones) - I have 3 children - 2 of which are girls and I have a real problem with them having any future body issues and dont want them going through what I have been going through, I really dont want them to see mummy eating something different to the rest of the family.

But its great in that as time goes on and I get closer to the marathon and up my long runs Im going to have to 'up' the amount of protein for muscle repair, which is where the Original plan comes in and closer still when I'm carbo loading is where the Green plan comes in, so in theory I can get to the marathon, still losing weight, and sticking to the plan.

It also helps that the group I've found is great with a really friendly consultant - Kate - who is always at the end of a text to talk you down from a (Non Quorn) sausage butty ! - Im really lucky to have found the group and each week come home really fired up full of hints and tips

Looking forward to sharing this journey with you as well as my training schedule - all part of the big picture, weight loss and training all ready to come together - yipeeeee cant wait so excited x

Make the most of every day x

Many apologies Ive been ill for a while - nasty illness bug that i couldnt seem to shake but We (not me !) have been keeping up with our training I PROMISE YOU !! and we have some great items coming up - one of which is a guest post from one of our followers doing the Komen 3 day Challenge- Amazing- but for now I have a lovely passage for you reminds us to make the most of every day and to live it to the maximum x x

Time Waits for no-one

See the Second Hands move swiftly

And the minutes speeding on

Then the hours passing quickly

All too soon the day has gone

Always moving, sure and strady

Certain as the endless tide

Father time is not your master

Let him always be your guide

Think of those whose days go slowly

Those whose moments creep along

Think of all the lost and lonely

Offer hope to make them strong

Watch the minute hand still moving

As the hours slip away

Use each precious moment wiselyMake the most of every day

confession time....

I love the companionship and the motivation that I have and share with my two other team mates but along side the 5k training I also have my own personal challenge.

Confession time...

I am the most overweight of the team, and my personal challenge is to lose 50lbs t(o start off with ) from August 09- August 10- I picked August because that was the last time I had my picture taken before I started healthy eating, pretty attainable you would think..

I am a typical yo-yo dieter and would love one day to wake up a size 10 (uk size) but it aint gonna happen,

I dont know what it is but I feel 'ready' for it now, in the past I have tried both weight watchers and slimming world with varying - limited sucess, whether it being, willpower, or not fitting into family meals ( I cant expect the whole family to have red/green days - Slimming World peeps will know all about them !!) or having to take a calculator around with me on the weekly shop to work out how many Weight Watchers 'points' are in each item.

So I am doing it the old fashioned way and calories in v's calories out - and to be honest I am not even counting calories I am aware of them and know roughly my intake but I really dont want to be one of those people with a photographic memory who can recite the exact number of calories per ounce of every single food item -

I also dont want my daughters to see mummy constantly dieting and counting calories and eating seperate 'diet' food - I personally think that kids these days have enough pressure on them through the media without the comfort and safety of family to fall back on.

Admitidly it is coming off slower but I have noticed that with the exercise I actually look better because it is toning up

BUT it REALLY gets me when a friend of mine ( and yes there is a small part of me that is jealous!) has gone on a really restrictive diet of 500 calories per day (food replacement) and has lost 11lbs in her first week - I am pleased for her though although she knows what I think of the diet !!

I'll keep you all posted on how Im getting on - whether or not you are interested !!! lol and of course also let you know about my Race for Life training - 1st post coming tomorrow

I just have to remember the old Aesops fable about the tortoise and the hare and in true 'Lets Fight This' tradition -

Its not the winning - its the taking part that counts !

Where do we go from here??

So the big event has come and gone, tweets & texts have been flying back & forth checking if we are all ok and comparing ailments - none of us seemed to have faired to badly - aches and pains but recovering well.

I figured that walking/running a marathon must be like childbirth you forget how painful it was as soon as it is over and start planning the next one ......

Which is exactly were we are at now - We have already committed ourselves to doing next years moonlit marathon (albeit with a few tweeks in tactics/training) but we loved it so much we are looking to ways that:

1. We can keep our fitness up

2. Still keep meeting up as a team for fun (along with the promise of lunch afterwards !)

3. Still keep raising awareness/funds for causes that are close to us.

So at the moment we are gearing up as a team to do the Race for Life 5k in Sefton Park, Liverpool July 18th a womens only fun run in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness.But before that @joesgirl74 is doing a 5k in London in June supporting the Lupus charity which I know is a cause close to her, so for the time being @joesgirl74 will be multi-tasking in true women fashion and using her training for the Lupus 5k to start and continuing on to the Race for Life.

Never let it be said that blockhead are lightweights !!

19 days to go

Had a bit of a reality check the other day, got so wrapped up in kids finishing school for Easter, baby finishing playgroup, letter home re-opening playgroup on 13th April.... oh ok then no problem

BUT.... WAIT....THE 13th ..... BUT THATS THE WEEK OF THE MARATHON.......But it can't have crept up that quick surely...but yep here we are 19 days to go including today..

starting to feel a bit nervous/excited about it now.... t shirts are ordered, and despatched...Diet is good .. due to giving up Chocolate for Lent... (that was another good idea at the time!) ..

*note to self* - dont give up chocolate if you do the marathon next year - because it has now in fact been promoted to one of the main food groups...

training has been stepped up..now up to 13miles which includes 2 rounds of the couch to 5k (week 2) running programme (thanks to ktsummer and the running blockheads) to increase the intensity, and have now included core stability excercises and rowing machine...wow I could even pass for actually knowing what Im taking about - but alas no for my training I have my long suffering supportive husband who has worked most of it out for me - I LOVE YA MATEY x x x

yeay go me !

I know its not Friday, but thought i'd do a round up before hitting the training, I went back - with apprehension I must admit ! - to the gym, first time since before Christmas, and I must admit I was dreading the scales, and tadahhhhhhh I have actually lost 8lbs since my last weigh in and that is over Christmas and no exercise so YEAY - GO ME !!! so came home and celebrated with ........ a doughnut lol !

Ive also start at the gym on 1st February a 30 day challenge, and the yummy mummy with no tummy challenge on my other blog, so for me there is NO ESCAPE !

But we have now turned into 2010 and am on a countdown until the moonlit marathon so onwards and upwards, the tv adverts have also started for the Race for Life so that is my next challenge to run a race , which I think I should be ok in a few months, because technically running is only walking - but a bit faster !!! try telling that to joesgirl73 who hasnt been able to run recently

will start posting more often now, and still to come I will - when I am feeling brave post a picture so that you can hopefully start seeing a before and after difference

keep safe

ddubsgirl4life x x

Friday update

AAAGGGGHHHHHHH WE'VE GOT A MAN DOWN !!!!!!!!!!

Joesgirl74 is out of action for a week or so - but will let her keep you up to date on whats happended - all I will say is work isnt good for you and get better soon chicco x xx

on happier notes,

Had my weekly weigh in and lost 3lb so guess who's a happy chappie this week so to date that is 14lb Woo!

And Tadahhh we are officially entered into the shine marathon so will soon let you know on ways to sponsor us if you dont mind

AND........

Coming up soon we will have some NKOTB stuff up for sale to add to the contributions - calendars, etc so will let you know when they are available

Until next time - take care ......... and be careful in work !!!!!

UPDATES ......

So weigh in last week, stayed the same - but in my defense it was halloween and all those sweets are bad for the kids, and I DO always tell them to share !! so I am back to the grindstone this week with a vengence - I did however have my first measurements taken ( since being measured at the start)and have lost a total of 10.25 inches overall - my Gym instructor says that is is a better indication sometimes because as you are working out muscle weighs heaveier than fat so you may be staying the same but toning up more - So maybe it wasn't all those Halloween Sweets - hmmmm does that mean that I can use that excuse another week ??? dont think it will work in the new year - months after Haloween - but you never know !!

I may even be brave enough to post some pictures soon - if any of you know Donnie though I have the same interpretation of 'soon' lol

Until next time, take care x x x

Missing in Action !

I know I havent been here for a while I have been working out - I promise - The kids and hubby have been off school this week so Ive had to try and fit it in around all sorts plus had an injury, - my first !! so to bring you all up to date, 2 weeks ago maintained weight, Friday 30th October lost 3 lbs, so still going in the right direction, x

Went on my long walk/job on Sunday last week did well then went supermarket shopping and twisted my knee turning the trolly - so not exactly a sporting injury, but sounds better than 'I did it shopping' - thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it !! so for last week I could only do upperbody exercises at the gym and no long walks - not very exciting im afraid.

One thing I did discover though was one night my calves were REALLY, REALLY painful, apparently it was a build up of lactic acid in my muscles because I hadn't been exercising but for one night it was so painful, so if ever I needed an excuse to carry on exercising that is it just so I dont have to experience that again.

On a positive note though, because me knee still isn't right yet I have invested in a treadmill, so I can still walk/jog at home until it is better because I dont want to set out on a long walk/jog and my knee be too sore and Im in the middle of nowhere, so until then Im tied to the treadmill.

Kids are back in school tomorrow so I'll be able to step it up a gear between now and the Christmas Holidays

to lose......... 70
Lost .............11

To go ...........59

Till next time, be careful x x x

Weight loss Friday

Well it's Monday couple of days late but weigh in at Gym on Friday was ...... (Drum Roll) ........

Lost 2 lbs - woo !!!

So to date

Weight to lose 70

Weight lost 8

To Go 62

How do I feel? I feel pretty good even though I am aching ALL OVER today, Hubby said I should be on 45 minutes walk/jog on Sunday, he didnt tell me the first part was up the side of a mountain - he said (as a seasoned runner) it was an incline not from my point of view matey, it was a vertical climb - must remember grappling hooks next time, and to top it all off I must have done what felt like 42 miles turned out to be 3.7 !!!! - so Im not speaking to hubby today because he was making fun of me all night - ho hum onwards and upwards !! new week

Weight loss Friday

This posting will be every Friday but I forgot to do it last friday so from now on it will be on a Friday after I have been to the gym last week lost 6lb

I want to lose about 70 lbs overall - Im a big girl - hence no piccies yet - and why it makes the marathon an even bigger (pardon the pun) challenge

The way I am looking at it - if I can get through the next 6 months training that will be beneficial for my long term health then it will be a precious gift to continue with and for my family to benefit from, I will still be here for them and also be able to join in rather than sit on the sidelines, and not forgetting the struggle that I will be going through in order to get fit for the race is nothing compared to the fight that many, many women go through daily, they are the ones that have the courage, fight and grace- my heart goes out to you all x

to lose --------70

lost ---------- 6

to go ---------64

woooo - go me !!