21 Day Challenge Day 15

Day 15

Food

Breakfast - Belvita Biscuits

Lunch - Ham, Cheese & Pickle Roll, WW Crisps & Boots Shapers Bar

Tea - Steak Lattice & Oven Chips

Snacks - 1 Homemade Shortbread Biscuit & WW Hot Chocolate

Steps 10507

Mood - Great

Back on track today after a 4lb gain this morning.  Not surprised but just wish it didnt go back on so quickly.

I have stuck to plan, I have done the activities I planned and I have not given in to snacks.

Little reminders of how much I want this, That I can do it and that no-one else can do it for me.  I sometimes feel very alone on this journey, no one asking how its going, how I am feeling, no support network close to me so if I dont encourage myself who will.   

15 days into changing habits and I cant say it's making that much difference, but I m not sure if doing it with a trip away in the middle was the best idea. 

21 Day Challenge Day 14

Day 14

Food

Breakfast - Special K

Lunch - Chicken & Pasta

Tea - Ham, Cheese & Pickle Sandwich with Chips

Snack - Cookie

Steps 10642

Mood - Positive

Back to trying to be good, next week all planned and shopped for.  Exercise also planned, adding in a little more each day where I can.

Made myself go for a walk today to add to my steps or I am finding I don't hit my target, feeling quite please with myself.  Not looking forward to weigh in tomorrow but very rarely do I ever look forward to standing on the scales.

21 Day Challenge Day 13

Day 13

Simply rubbish !

I am feeling fed up and very annoyed with myself for choosing badly all day.

I have let myself lose the control I need to succeed and it has put me in quite a bad mood.

Sad times !

21 Day Challenge Day 12

Day 12

Food

Breakfast - Muller Bliss Corner Clusters with Raspberries - (Currently my fav)

Lunch - Chicken Tikka & Sweetcorn Pasta, Shapers Bar

Tea - Chicken Fajita's

Snacks - Picnic

Steps - 9552

Mood - Positive

Feeling good today, or at least better than yesterday.  I have realised that I can not ignore hormones, tiredness and emotions, I just have to learn how to deal with them.

I have struggled this afternoon with the want for chocolate and gave in to a picnic. I can't work out why I felt that I needed it.  I battled with the argument in my head for a few hours but gave in and decided it would be my one snack of today and move on from it.  Since I have eaten it I have been fine so I don't know if it is a myth or if I just want to believe it, but maybe sometimes our bodies just need sugar.  Either way it got me past the feeling of need and stopped me thinking about it or pigging out when I got home.

I am pleased I hit my 9k step target today, even made a point of going out at lunch time to add a few thousand to my total.  Note to myself - dont wear heals to go for lunchtime walks !!

I am feeling a little apprehensive about the weekend, I dont want to lose track of my goals before weigh in Monday but I am already worried about lunch tomorrow.  We are going to help our daughter with some work on her flat and she is promising to go and buy us fish n chips for lunch.  I don't want to offend her by refusing this lovely gesture and don't want to be awkward and say I want something else, BUT I dont want to be bad either.  I need to have an alternative plan so I can be in control but what ?????

21 Day Challenge Day 11

Day 11

Food

Breakfast - Belvita Biscuits

Lunch - Subway Chicken Tikka Flatbread

Tea - Sweet Chilli Cod Fillets, Wholewheat noodles, Stir Fry Veg & Chilli Sauce

Snacks - WW Wafer Biscuit, Yogurt Peanuts, Birthday Cake

Steps - 8661

Mood - Frustrated (still tired)

The current positives are that I am being more food conscious than usual, choosing better choices, avoiding the snacking from the vending machine and getting up earlier.  

Making the effort to cook instead of calling for take away seems like hard work but the end result is always worth it.

BUT I have side stepped from my progress with being away for a few days so felt the need to re-read my original post about changing habits.  I have gone back to staying up late, drinking Pepsi Max later at night and without even realizing I hadn't changed my steps target to 9,000 as I planned.

So back into it with a bit more concentration :

• Steps goal has now been raised and I will need to make the effort to go out for those little extra walks to make sure i hit it.
• Bed as soon as I have finished writing this and alarm set for 6.15am
• Breakfast, lunch and tea already planned for tomorrow so no temptation to partake in fat Friday.
• Cut out the snacks, back to only one thing a day that is not my main meals, they soon add up and as much as I am avoiding the vending machine I am finding alternatives to fill in my day.

Focussed & determined !!!!!

21 Day Challenge Day 10

Day 10

Food

Breakfast - Muller Bliss Corner Yogurt and granola

Lunch - Cheese Snack pot, WW Crisps & Shapers Bar

Tea - Cheese & Bacon Pie with Garlic Thins

Snacks - Birthday Cake & Belvita Biscuits

Steps - 8888

Mood - Sleepy and unorganised

Getting back late last night has meant today wasnt planned in the way I would like it to be but I didnt eat too badly considering.

I am looking forward to being back in control, it's a feeling I like and it certainly helps keep you going for another day.  So tomorrow is all planned and that should be me 100% back on track hoping my few days away have not done too much damage and I can either stay the same this week or even a cheeky loss.

Still tired today and busy with a birthday tea for Jack, hence the birthday cake, so early night and back to early mornings.

21 Day Challenge Day 9

Day 9

Food

Breakfast - McDonalds Bacon & Egg Muffin

Lunch - Weatherspoons Panini & Chips

Tea - Greggs Corned Beef Pasty

Steps - 12556

Mood - Tired

Back home tonight, very tired but I have had an amazing few days with my important people.  As you can see eating today was definetly not recommended for losing weight but it could have been a whole lot worse.  

Very happy with my steps today considering we were travelling for over five hours I still managed to get in a few miles.  Walking around Windsor was a beautiful way to top up the steps.

21 Day Challenge Day 8

Day 8

Food
Breakfast - Cooked breakfast of scrambled egg, bacon, beans and toast
Lunch - Chicken burger and fries
Tea - Pizza Hut

Steps - 15920

Mood : Happy

Food not so good but I am on holiday and I cannot control all the situations I am in when away so instead of feeling guilty I am enjoying my time away and keeping the quantities in control and avoiding unnecessary snacks.  This in itself is progress.

Lots of Active Minutes tofay, walking around Legoland and going bowling tonight added up to a very active day.

Today has been non stop except for the time sitting in the sun enjoying the time together - Priceless moments like this are what I treasure most.

21 Day Challenge Day 7

Day 7

I am writing this post from my phone as I am away to Legoland Windsor for a few days so not sure how it will look when published.

Food
Breakfast - McDonald's bacon and egg muffin meal
Lunch - chicken sandwich and chips in the park
Tea - lasagne, chips and garlic bread
Snacks - mince pie, crisps, fruit crumble sweets

Steps - 13564

Mood - Annoyed

I have let myself get carried away and ate whatever was on offer

Easily tempted to eat McDonald's for breakfast and lunch was what I wanted not what I should have been having.

The only positive thing is I didn't eat all of what was put in front of me which is not normal, usually the plate is cleared and I am looking for dessert.

I also refused ice creams and hot sugared donuts and stuck to a diet coke instead.

I am happy with the steps I have done today, hoping tomorrow is even more as I was travelling for five hours today.

Food choices need to be better tomorrow too.

21 Day Challenge Day 6

Day 6

Food
Breakfast : Crunchy Nut Cornflakes
Lunch : Ham & Coleslaw Sandwich with WW Crisps
Tea : Chicken Burger in a Warburtons Thin with Fries
Snacks : Yum Yum

Moving More : 6191 Steps recorded but took it off to charge

Mood - Fantastic

Weighed in this morning as I will be away from home Monday morning and absolutely delighted that I have lost 8lb.  It has been so long since I have lost such a large amount which has kept me on a diet high all day.

I have kept on track and even thought we are going away for a few days I feel mentally strong to keep to being as good as my location will let me.

21 Day Challenge Day 5

Day 5

Food
Breakfast : Strawberry & Banana Smoothie
Lunch : Chicken & Stuffing Sandwich, WW Crisps & Muller Corner Goodies Yogurt
Tea : Chicken Fajita's
Snacks : Peach, WW Crisps

Moving More : 11003 Steps 

Mood - Feeling better - battle of wills again but happy with my day

Still a struggle to get up early but did it anyway.  I am thinking it is going to take the 21 days to get this right but then that is why I set it for that long. 

My motivation has been really good today, I didnt give in to "fat friday" at work and stuck with the sandwiches I made.  Even bought some WW crisps to swap for the ones I had with me to save a few calories / points.

Made a point of walking to the shop when I got home instead of the usual jumping into the car for ease.  Measured it on my fitbit and it was just over a mile but gained me active minutes and nearly 3000 steps.

Going to weigh in early this week as we are going away Sunday so wont be able to weigh in Monday.  Fingers crossed for a loss to keep me motivated while we are away and for coming back.

21 Day Challenge Day 4

Day 4

Food
Breakfast : Belvita Biscuits
Lunch : Chicken Tikka & Sweetcorn Pasta
Tea : Ham & Egg Salad with Baked Potato
Snacks : Peach, Boots Shapers Strawberry Nougat Bar, Chicken Satay Sticks, Malteser Cake

Moving More : 8974 Steps 

Mood - Feeling tired

First day this week where I have had to really argue with my willpower, like the devil and angel are sitting on each shoulder.  

Wanted to stay in bed this morning but made myself get up earlier than usual but not as early as I wanted.

I made homemade Malteser Cake and happily managed to leave it alone except for the smallest piece in the box, usually I would have had 5 or 6 pieces

Got home and was tired and hungry, wanted to sit down and do nothing but didn't  Did give in to snacking a little while waiting on tea but usually it would be slices of toast or crisps, so not too disappointed with myself.

Exercise has been less today too, was busy at lunchtime so I couldn't go out for a walk and just couldn't be bothered to go tonight.  A little annoyed with myself for not going tonight but still hit my 8k step goal.

Overall, it has been an okay day, could have been better but could have been so much worse.  Time for some sleep and re-focus tomorrow as weigh in this week will be early before a few days away on Sunday.

21 Day Challenge Day 3

Day 3

Food
Breakfast : Muller Bliss Corner & Raspberries
Lunch : Pitta Pizza
Tea : Pasta Bolognese & Garlic Thins
Snacks : Peach, Belvita Cocoa Biscuits

Moving More : 15545 Steps 

Mood - Feeling really proud today.

Talked myself out of having chocolate from the vending machine,  said no to chocolate biscuits when offered at work and most importantly I didn't call for a "Secret" McDonalds on the way home today.  I finish early on a Wednesday, the one day of the week I get to be a school run mum and I have created myself a really bad habit of going through the drive through for something to eat, but not telling anyone.  Today I didn't even consider it - Result

Also been out for a 3 mile walk tonight, had to convince myself it was a good idea as really didn't feel like it but told myself I would walk til I was 1 1/2 miles then turn around and come back.  Reminded myself all the way there that I am allowed an hour to be about me, still felt guilty but feels good now I have done it.  (slightly achy legs tho)

21 Day Challenge Day 2

Day 2

Food
Breakfast : Raspberry Smoothie
Lunch : Chicken Tikka Salad & Pitta, Mullerlight Yogurt
Tea : Pitta Pizza, Homemade Wedges & Salad
Snacks : Minstrels

Moving More : 11148 Steps 

Mood - Good, positive and still motivated.

Being organised, planning ahead and taking the time to prepare meals in advance is proving the key to staying in control.  Really pleased with myself tonight, got in from work and sat down, it then took all my will power to get back up again and go out for a walk.  Tea was amazing, forgot how much i enjoy Pitta Pizza.  (Even made one for tomorrow's lunch)

21 Day Challenge Day 1

Day 1

Food
Breakfast : Bliss Corner Yogurt & Raspberries
Lunch : Tuna & Sweetcorn Pasta
Tea : Chicken Lattice, Oven Chips & Sweetcorn
Snacks : Peach & Pink Wafer Biscuit

Moving More : 9771 Steps 

Mood - Feeling in control and feeling good.  Full of motivation and optimism for the next few days. 

Creating New Habits

I have spent the last week or so thinking too much.  I have been watching a serious of The Biggest Loser on catch up and it has got me thinking (and motivated.)

Why do I do it, what is it in my head that makes me eat so much.  Is it something from my past that has made me an emotional eater, was food a reward for good behavior, I eat it then its like a punishment because I gain weight, so why do it !!

Why do I eat in secret so much, is it if no one sees it then I never ate it ?  I do this a lot, a very very bad habit

Why do I have an excuse for everything ?  Too Tired, No Time, My Family Comes First, I don't do mornings, and the list goes on.

I 100% believe in a positive mind and a positive approach to life so why is it I find myself dwelling on the negative's without even realizing it.  And the Law of Attraction is quite clear, what you feel and think about most is what you bring to yourself.

So after much deliberating and questioning I have decided to stop trying to work out why I do what I do, does it really matter, is it going to make it better, No I don't think it will.  I spend more time thinking about being fat then actually trying to become skinny, so if I think about being fat, then its more likely I will stay like this and get bigger along the way. 

No more why's and what for's, Time for change.

So here I am at day one of creating new habits.  According to Google, somebody somewhere decided a new habit is created in 21 days, so I am going to record my new habits for the next 21 days and see if they stick.  I have decided to keep to achievable goals so I don't set myself up to fail.

Earlier mornings - currently I drag my slightly over-sized rear out of bed at the latest possible moment then rush around like a nutter getting everything ready to get out the door for 8am.

No Diet drinks after 9pm (unless I am out) - sounds a weird one but I struggle to fall asleep at night and I believe a good amount of this is due to the huge amounts of caffeine I am drinking through the day.  Then the tiredness kicks in as the week goes on and then I eat more and don't have any energy

Hit my daily steps targets - currently set at 8k on my Fitbit, to increase to 9k next week and 10k the week after.  

Put myself first - realising I am worth it is a hard one the get my head around, realising that sometimes being a little selfish is ok.  This is going to be the hardest one for me but I am going to try.

I am excited to be heading into my mini challenge for the next 21 days.  Watch out for my daily updates.

Dolittle x

Staying Determined

I am seriously struggling tonight but I know it's mostly to do with being tired.  It always seems to be one of the common factors when I want to reach for snacks on an evening.  So I decided to come on here and write, if I am typing I can't be eating.

I have been really good this week I am still on a vending machine strike and even managing to avoid the free rolo's this week at work, Amazing I know LOL  Snacks are being kept to a minimum, more water is being consumed and walking in my lunchtime is back on the agenda.

But I am finding it hard, especially when I am tired, to motivate myself to come home and cook.  That said I have still been making myself do it and it really does give me sense of achievement knowing I have not given in to the easy options.  I have also reminded myself how much I enjoy cooking, once I get started that is.  I enjoying making something out of nothing last night : Wholemeal Pasta, Peppers, Mushrooms, Chicken and Sweet Chilli Soft Cheese

Now tonight was the worst night so far but I stuck it out and threw together a pitta pizza, OMG it was amazing.  It was very tasty and felt really naughty all at the same time.  I forgot how much I liked them.  (Even made one for tomorrow's lunch)

As hard as it sometimes is to stay on track I am finding the feeling of staying in control more than enough to keep me going.  I know I will have bad days where I will want to give in but today is a good day, tomorrow is already planned and then I am half way through the second week.

After my 3lb loss last week I am determined to have another good week this week, and next week, and the week after.