Things I'm Looking Forward To....

A post on the WW community got me thinking. I love a bit of goal setting so here's the list of things I'm looking forward to about losing weight:

* being comfortable enough to volunteer in a hot country. Fat+heat+physical work does not mix!
* hopefully being able to sleep without my CPAP machine
* being able to wear smaller clothes (size 14 sounds amazing)
* enjoying fashion again
* feeling confident in my own skin again
* being able to have my photo taken without the fear engulfing me
* feeling fitter and being able to walk up a particular hill without stopping
* my PCOS symptoms decreasing
* not being everyone's fat friend
* getting positive comments from others
* being able to wear a cute play suit in a reasonable size (<16)
* sending off my details for WW magazine
* walking through obstacles without first assessing whether I will fit
* completing the 30day shred
* my joints feeling less achy
* being able to buy bras from shops rather than online
* not having a fat line down my forehead
* wearing heels
* wearing swimwear with confidence
* telling people how much I've lost and seeing their reaction
* being lighter than my younger sister
* being obese, then over weight, then healthy

I may add to this list over my journey, but that's it for now!

Portion Control

I'm still going well on the WW plan. I'm doing Filling and Healthy plus my 49 points over the week. It feels a bit wrong not weighing and measuring food before I put them into my mouth and it's got me thinking about portion sizes and portion control. Apart from the fact I've spent the last two months having two takeaways per week, I do eat quite well. I cook meals from scratch, use mostly fresh, unprocessed ingredients and love vegetables. However, my portion control is completely lacking!

My dinner plates, used for everything, not just dinner, measure 28cm in diameter and don't have that little inner lip thing. I would fill that plate! My pasta bowls, used for everything 'saucy' measure 20cm in diameter and are deep. The temptation to fill them is just too much. I think it may be time to buy some new, healthy-living-friendly ones.

I like these!

Healthy Stuffed Mushrooms

I get so bored of eating sandwiches and salads for lunch! Here's a really easy recipe that can be adapted to contain whatever takes your fancy.

Ingredients:

2 large mushrooms
2 slices of low cal brown bread
1 spring onion
2 rashers of bacon medallions
Handful of fresh parsley
30g low fat cheese
Salt and pepper

Method:

1. In a food processor, add the mushroom stalks, bread, roughly chopped spring onion, parsley, chopped bacon and salt and pepper. Blitz until the consistency of stuffing.
2. Stuff the mushrooms with the mixture and place the cheese, grated, on top.
3. Grill under a medium grill for 10 mins.

Changes

Today has been all about changes. For nearly 5 days I've not left the house, spoken to another human being or gotten any fresh air. My apartment is a mess. No, 'mess' isn't the right word. I'm living in a self-destructing bubble that involves wearing my dirty PJs while super glued to the sofa. The filth has built up in my home and even the flies are trying to escape. Getting into my (unmade, dusty) bed is a feat only a hill climber would contemplate and the bathroom, well... Depression sucks. I've actually found myself wanting to be back at work, that should say it all. It should come as no surprise. I mean, if I can't look after my health and body, then why should I have looked after my home? Reading this story http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Vincent made me worry about people finding me in my filth!

Well, today I decided to change. I got up, showered and dressed in clean clothes (amazingly there were some). I faced the stinky bin head-on and left the apartment. I went for a walk down to the harbour where I live, breathed in fresh air and had coffee and fruit. Since then, I've felt motivated enough to get stuck in on the home of horrors! 

So far I've cleared all the washing up, cleaned the bathroom to within an inch of its life and done 2 loads of washing. By the time I go to bed, I will have a clean kitchen and tidy living space. There'll still be lots to do, so here's the plan:

Friday- Hoover living area, clean inside fridge, wash bedding, tidy 100 things in bedroom.

Sat - wash floors in kitchen, living room, hallway and bathroom, finish tidying bedroom, take all bags of rubbish out, Hoover bedroom.

Sun- Dust throughout, wash windows and glass, wash living room curtains, clean oven.

I'm feeling good, motivated and healthy! Still ticking to my WW plan and loving living in a clean(er) space.

Before Pictures

I always get very motivated by seeing people's before and after pictures, especially from those who have lost a lot of weight. I've taken all my measurements too and recording them on the FitJourney app. I'm also going to take photos every half stone - face, full front and full side. I'm not comfortable showing my face yet, so excuse the white blanks! Eeek, they're bad!

Getting Healthy

One of the major reasons I want to lose weight, is to get healthy. In the previous 3 months, I've become completely inactive, moving only from my sofa to my work place. I was eating at least 2 takeaways per week and wasn't cooking my meals properly. My health is becoming more of an issue. I have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and have very weak knees. I know I must be teetering on the edge of Type II Diabetes and I have a family history of heart problems and breast cancer.

At 34, it's time to sort myself out before I get really ill. At the moment my most hated ailments are the oily, acne ridden skin as a result of the PCOS and the Sleep Apnoea. There's no guarantee that weight loss will cure either of these conditions but I know they will make them better. 

I can't face exercise at the moment but I know from past experience that after a few losses on the scales, I'll be motivated to get fit! 

Had a positive day, food wise. Nothing special but healthy and on-plan.

Fat, frumpy, unhealthy and sad

So I've stepped back onto the scales at Weight Watchers today. In many ways it goes against everything I believe in but the truth is, I just can't seem to lose weight on my own. I'm horribly over weight and need to lose 7 stone 10lbs to be in my 'healthy' category. I have numerous health complaints that would be solved or at least minimised by losing weight and I just want to feel comfortable again. I'm setting my goal for 11 stone 10lbs which means I need to lose 6 stone. I can do this! I really, really want to spend next summer volunteering in Africa or India and a significant weight loss would make this soooo much easier. 

This blog will still be about food and recipes but will also document my weight loss. I'm doing the Simple Start programme at least for the first week. I don't think I'll be able to stick to it beyond a week as it's quite restrictive but it's very healthy and will do my body some good!