Vanishing act!

Oh my goodness. It's been way too long since I last blogged, or so it seems! Work is very busy at the minute, and I've been applying for my master's degree which took a fair bit of doing. Obviously Noah takes up all my spare time, and rightly so, therefore any "extras" I do are done when Noah's in bed... That's not leaving me much time to blog/work/write/exercise etc. I apologise if my blogging is weekly rather than daily; this will probably be the case until the end of exam season. Life has just passed me by!

I am currently blogging from the recumbent exercise bike at the gym... I have 11.5 minutes of time to write!

The diet is going well. I've found a steady weight loss of 1-2lbs a week, which I'm really pleased with. I want the weight to come off slowly and steadily so it stays off. Weight watchers' recipes are the way forward, and this plan is now second nature.

I found my measuring tapes from when I lost my 6 stone (2011; pre-Noah). My waist is the same size again, as is my bust, so I'm really happy about that. Where the differences seem to be, and therefore my problem areas, are my arms (bingo wings, anyone?) and my hips/bum/thighs area. I am still 5 inches bigger here (having lost 3 already) than I was in December 2011. My arms are 1.5inches bigger. I'm quite pleased I've discovered this as it's definitely re-focused my attention. I will take into account that for many women their body shapes change after having kids, but I'll try to get as much off here as I can. Do any of you lovely people have any top tips for shrinking these hard to shrink places?

I'm going to rant now... There is a girl in the gym wearing false eyelashes? Seriously?! You're in the gym, love! Surely falsies would sweat off your face? Bloody hell!

I'm down to my last minute on the bike. Going to go and do some weights, then get home to make tea! Meatballs in a tomato sauce with salad tonight! 7 Weight Watchers' points. Yum!

I'll catch up with my weight details tomorrow after weigh in!

Take care,

Ali xxx

Location:Workington,United Kingdom

Week 10!

Can you believe that I've been doing this for 10 weeks? I've lost 23lb in that time, so an average of 2.3lbs a week. To put that into perspective, that's:

23 guinea pigs
7 human brains
4.5 chihuahuas
2 bald eagles
1 Noah... Yes, I have lost what my child weighs!

Random equivalences, but amusing all the same!

I've been really good with my fitness lately. I feel great for it. I had a rest from the gym today so I went for a 3.5 mile walk instead. It really is the weather for it. Sunshine makes such a difference to my regime. Noah loved the walk in the sunshine too, or rather the ride in his pram.

I've had a lovely evening after a very busy day at work. After our walk, Noah and I watched Thomas and friends (quality Mother and son time while Andy was at work) and once he was in bed I made tea. Tonight I had homemade paprika beef, which I cooked in the slow cooker, with baked vegetables. It was delicious, and only 6 ProPoints in total. I then read my Weigh Watchers' magazine and got some inspiration and motivation. There are some fabulous recipes in this month's issue; I can't wait to try the homemade pizzas when I go to my friend's house on Friday!

I'm ending my night by watching Revenge (predictable but enjoyable easy watching). I'll watch Girls and fuel my Lena Dunham obsession and then go to bed. I also treat myself to a coffee, which I honestly began making on Saturday! It was worth the wait. Nice to get five minutes I guess!

Have a good week!

Ali xxx

Location:Workington,United Kingdom

Back in the zone!

This week, at long last, I have regained my focus! It's not as though I had undone all my work, but I had reached a slight plateau, and I needed a kick up the arse!

I've been really good with my eating this week, and it will be helped by my lent pledge: to give up junk food! In my mind this constitutes chocolate, crisps, biscuits, take aways, pop (Pepsi max inclusive, unfortunately), wine, cider, beer etc. Don't get me wrong, I don't eat an excessive amount of junk, but for someone who is trying to lose quite a considerable amount of weight, I eat too much! I would like to stick to this rule of thumb:




The other thing that I need in order to see weight loss is exercise. Since I came down with my sinus infection in half term, I've barely walked the dog, let alone anything more strenuous. I returned to the gym last night, and loved it! I did 35 minutes cycling and then ran for 10 minutes on the treadmill. I didn't think I'd see the day I would run continuously for 10 minutes, and I was very proud of myself. My plan was to do 10 minutes of "walk for one, run for one" but I didn't tire, so I kept going. I hope that this is an attitude I have mastered for good! I'll see how I get on tonight.

This week I lost 2lb! I'm over the moon to be back on track. I'd like to get to my 2 stone loss by the Easter holidays.

I'm just going to keep blogging and tweeting and hope that I don't go off track too many more times! The odd slip up is acceptable, but I need to remember my end goal.



Ali xxx

Location:Workington,United Kingdom

Standing still

Weigh day today, and I maintained for the first time since starting. I'm pleased actually. In all honesty, I weighed myself sneakily after the heavy weekend, and I had put on 3.5lbs, so to have got back to the weight I was pre-weekend of excess is quite an achievement.

The antibiotics seem to be kicking in today, three days in! My "face ache" isn't as bad as it was, and I'm feeling less blocked up. I plan to start back at the gym or swimming on Saturday morning, if the medication for my sinus infection is still making my symptoms improve. I am hoping to be back onto a losing streak next week. I want to lose 6lbs (taking me to a two stone loss) between now me the start of the Easter holidays on April 9th. I think that this is reasonable and achievable. I don't feel so good after almost two weeks of not being in an exercise regime. I feel a bit sluggish.

Work has been atrociously busy this week, and tomorrow doesn't look like it will be any different. I get all my PPA on a Friday but I'm tied up in GCSE Drama moderation stuff, which I always get anxious about (you'd think it was me performing). Needless to say I will be enjoying a glass of Grey Goose after work tomorrow (with slimline tonic, to stick to the diet!)...



Ok, onto the other part of my recovery, the Hopi Ear Candling. I went to Solo, in Workington, for this done. My therapist was Amanda, and she was fantastic.



I was naturally a bit apprehensive, but I was calmed and put at ease as soon as I went in. She talked me through every step and did a great job. It was oddly relaxing, and I did enjoy the experience. The process, which is typical of most therapists was simple. I was shown into a darkened room, which was relaxing with an appealing atmosphere. I lay down on my side, and was made more comfortable with blankets and pillows.





The lit candle was inserted into my outer ear (note in the photo I am holding the candle, but this was so Amanda could take a photo for my blog). The flame burnt for about 5 minutes. The sensation was odd, but not unpleasant. My hearing came and went during the time, but I could almost instantly tell the difference. When the candle was removed and extinguished, my ear was massaged and draining movements were used down my neck. Remember that the goal here was to sort my sinus problems. This process was repeated in both ears, then the sinus pressure points on my face was manipulated to help with recovery, as part of a drainage massage. Amanda let me see what had came out of my ear, and it was intriguingly disgusting! I stopped at posting a photo of the results on here! I'm going back for it done in three weeks as I am prone to colds and feeling blocked up, although the sinus infection has been a new experience!

I'm off to bed now, trying to rest as much as possible to fight this infection, as time off work as not an option.

Ali xxx

Location:Workington,United Kingdom

Taking it easy...

It's only Tuesday and work has pretty much wiped me out! I gave in yesterday and went to the doctors for my sinus infection and I've been given antibiotics. I just feel really run down, so I'm going to really take it easy for this week. I'm eating well- where I want to eat at all- but doing nothing more strenuous than gentle walks. I have limited energy, so I need to keep whatever I do have for getting better. This is a little frustrating as I am desperate to get to the gym and to go swimming, but I also need to be sensible and rest up as much as I can.

I made myself a vegetable tartlet using filo pastry for tea tonight. It was nice, but I couldn't eat it all. For the first time in history, I seem to lack an appetite with this infection. I always want to eat so this must be serious!

With any luck, the tablets will kick in soon. I'm trying the Hopi Ear Candling tomorrow too so I'll let you know how I get on. The sooner I'm well again, the better! My blogs will be more exciting when I'm back to full health!

Ali xxx

Off the wagon

Well, what a wonderful week with Andy and Noah! I love being off work with them, and we've had a wonderful time. I wish that the holidays could last longer!




If there's one thing that I need from work, it's the routine and the stability of the working day. I knew half term would be hard for me diet wise, but I have totally slid off the Weight Watchers' way of life, and only have myself to blame! I started so well at the beginning of the week, going to the gym and trying to make healthy choices. I even managed when the Weight Watchers' app wasn't working. I lost 1lb on Weigh Day, then it went downhill!

I had pizza on Thursday, a burger on Friday, and Nando's yesterday! Oh the shame! I really enjoyed being away with the lads, seeing family and having fun, but I'm left today feeling bloated, unhealthy and a bit unhappy really. Other than walking and running around after Noah, my exercise has been virtually non-existent, and that doesn't feel too good either! Ordinarily I wouldn't care, but this time I do and I just want to get back on track. I need a bit of motivation too! Can you guys help?

I quite like this picture that I found on Pinterest:





I need to set myself some little
goals this week to get back on track. I'm thinking that I should aim to go to the gym/class/swimming four times this week, and do something at home on the other days. I'm also going to make sure that I record everything on my Weight Watchers' app to keep things clear. I need to be fairly strict with myself this week after my week off!

I'm going to try Hopi Ear Candling on Wednesday to help me to shift my sinus infection. I really don't want antibiotics so will try anything before I resort to going to the doctors. The pain isn't quite as bad as it was on Friday, but still causing me aggravation all the same. Has anyone tried the candling treatment, and did it work?

Have a good week, tomorrow's another day!



Ali xxx

Location:Edinburgh Avenue,Workington,United Kingdom

Third time lucky

This is the third attempt at this blog, and rest assured I'm getting annoyed with my iPad crashing now.

The Weight Watchers' app has crashed this week, and I have lost the plot a bit without it. Still lost 1lb, so onto a 22lb loss now. That's more than Noah weighs, scarily! I've also been ill so I've done ok really!

Off to Thomas Land with Noah and Andy this week. I'll be back to blogging properly on Sunday. Have a great weekend everyone!

Ali xxx