Day 115: A little wait for the weight

Its been eleven days since I've updated my Slim-a-thon blog.... amazing what can happen in that short time!

I'm not sure really what to say that hasn't already been said by good friends in their wisdom about all my facebook changes and tweet updates, so I'll press on with why you are reading this - my diet - not to hear about what else is happening in my wild and wonderful life. All I will say here is Jellytots and I mean that!

My diet has been interesting in the past few weeks, as much as slimming world has been interesting.

Over the past 2 weeks I have lost 3 lbs - however that been done the hard way (he chuckles). The week before last I decided to have a mega blow out week and boy it was good! KFC (which I wrote about before)... a couple of lunches and dinners out... and I managed to put on 2 lbs. The consultant and slimming world was concerned until I said it was fairly deliberate! 

Then tonight at weigh in I had lost 5 lbs. I think its great to show that actually I have the discipline now to have a bad week and enjoy myself a bit.. and then go back to focus. Think that shows I have made the lifestyle changes. I am seeing more difference in my trousers.... my recent new jeans (the mistake from a couple years ago) are actually becoming looser! January sales may be a calling I think.

I won Slimmer of the month for November with a 9lb loss - thats 3 out of the last 4 monthly awards.

However, over the past couple of weeks at slimming world we were told there has been a problem with the scales that has been identified and has been weighing people lighter than they should have (by about 2 lbs) - and this has been going on since the group began (Jan 2011). Now, your wondering what that means... well in simple:-

*My original weight should have been 21stone 5 lbs

*My correct weight now is 18 stone 1 lb

*So i've still lost 3 stone 4lbs (nearly 21KG)

I'm back in exercise routine now that the ankle is better. I've been to the gym once, played 5-a-side twice, played badminton 1 (thanks Toby for letting me win again). So all good.

The only issue, I guess, is that my appetite has disappeared in past couple of days, but I expect it will return soon!

I had a nice feeling today... that I am so looking forward to going to Thorpe park and Alton towers early next year... who's up for coming?

Well thats it for now. Thank you for your support. The bridge is nearly £2000 better off with Gift Aid recovered - and I'm feeling much better health wise.

Be Blessed and be a blessing.

Simon

Day 104: The week after the week before

Hi Everyone. I haven't dropped off the planet. I am here. 

In honesty - this is the first chance I have had to sit down and blog since this weeks weigh in.  So apologies. Work life is really busy as we approach the 'reason for the season' as they say! Jesus and Christmas!

Firstly - Thanks for all your kind comments on achieving my charity goal of 3 stone and also for the additional money you have given. The total I have raised now is nearly £2000 including gift aid. I just can't believe how kind you have all been. At an exec meeting of the charity I am raising which took place on Wednesday I said to them I couldn't believe how much has come in. I thought I'd do well to raise a few hundred quid, but then realised I could raise that target to £1000.... and you have all surpassed it! Thank you - and thank you on behalf of the charity too!

Also, thanks to those who missed the blog this week and messaged me - Emma, thanks for your words of support!

So whats been happening the past 10 days. Well, I admit, I have been a little less focused on the diet, I must confess. This week I only lost 1 lb. It was a relief in someways.... after losing 7 lbs the previous week I was hoping I didn't put any weight on...and suddenly realise the scales were wrong.... and thank goodness I didn't.

However, this 10 days has been a bit of relax of everything. Yes, on the whole I'm still going for it... I want to lose another 4 stone. But it has been nice to take things a bit easier without the pressure of the charity work. Thursday lunch time I had a burger, chips and salad at Harvester. Last night we went bowling with the youth group and then ended up in KFC afterwards for a supercharger and fries! Today at our Alpha course day, I had a piece of quiche and a cocktail sausage. But I now what I have to deliver the rest of the week to lose a pound or two... so it will be total focus again. 

My ankle is feeling better and I managed to find time to beat my old pal Toby at Badminton again.... I'm going to give football a miss again this week, as it still feels sore, but I am hoping to do a couple of shifts back at the gym.

A couple of people have asked, 'Am I doing the next 4 stone for sponsorship'. Well the answer at the moment is... no. I think I'd feel a bit guilty taking more money. I will have another think later this week. If I do, I think it will probably be for my youth group who have just been given a brand new youth lounge - but need to kit it out, so we can open it up to the community... But as I said, maybe watch this space. Or if you would like to sponsor me a bit more for this charity, let me know and I will then confirm once I decide.

Anyway, thats it for now! Hope to blog next week again.

Take care, blessings and prayers.

Simon

Day 94: IMPORTANT - Shock, horror and lots more

Has that got you looking.... oh good. Well here is the weekly blog and I think its a monster one this week.

A monster one... "why's that" I hear you cry. Well, the bets are all off! "What he's so close and he's lost the plot?"

Nope.........

The bets are off because its time to pay up. It is official! As of weigh in today (5.43pm) I have lost 3 stones in weight in 14 weeks of diet and exercise.  I have to say it was a complete shock today. I've been really busy this week with lots of work things going on: we took handover for our new hall which has taken up a lot of time in sorting intruder alarm stuff, helping with keys, codes, etc (back to my old world again and enjoyed being able to use my JS skills for something worthwhile).

Also, because of my ankle injury (which is getting better - just still a bit sore) I have not been able to exercise much (although I still managed to just about beat my girlfriend Jo at a little game of Table Tennis on Saturday evening at a friends house :-) Sorry love, had to put that in!!). No exercise is usually not helpful in achieving a bit more loss.

So, off to SW today.... and I popped onto the scales - and I have lost 7 lbs this week - Taking me to 18 stone 3 lbs. I was in shock. I misread it to start with..... I thought it said 18 stone 13, and I was thinking... oh! no - whats gone wrong. 

I think as I sit here now, it is just sinking in.  I have gone from 21 stone 3 lbs to 18 stone 3 lbs. I am also in a new pair of trousers which are a size smaller than I had....and are already getting loose (I didn't buy the trousers in the past couple of weeks... they have been sitting in the cupboard for 3 years as I bought the wrong size and didn't take them back.

I feel fitter, quicker, less lethargic and loving life. People can see the difference and are telling me, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

Its a lifestyle change and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about it that if you're not prepared to make that lifestyle change, you will never win. Its about will power, having good supporting friends, enjoying treats, prayer (well I would include Jesus in this), exercise - but ultimately if you keep the same lifestyle and expect to lose lots of weight... forget it.

I am now the lightest I have been for about 7 or 8 years - and its great!

Tonight, I know that I have raised £1700 in money (including gift aid) for The Bridge Project (See my Virgin Money site for details). If you were one of those who don't pay up until someone has done something, or promised extra monies when I succeeded - well this is the time to act. I won't chase anyone, I'm not like that. But I thank each and everyone of you for your support.

Here is the link to the Virgin Money site! Please go there to give, or see me in person. The Bridge Project really value your support as much as I do.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

And so to the future, what now? Well this is the beginning? Jo said to me on the phone tonight in an ecstatic way.... well what could you lose up to Christmas now? Well personally I think I could lose another stone. At 2 lbs a week that is possible. I think the key time will be after Christmas... and getting through the hardest time of the year! But we shall see.

I'm a bit more relaxed about this now... with the 3 stone done the pressure is a bit off. But ultimately I want to lose another 4 stone minimum, 5 as a possible in 2013. I'm not going to pick your pockets anymore. But I am learning how to treat myself as well as be determined. Sunday evening was our Youth group bonfire and I had a couple of sausages, but kept within my bread allowance and ignored the crisps, hot chocolate... and Lynn Taylor made a great Slimming lentil soup! 

Anyway, I will continue to blog. Who knows, it may be useful if I stay in SW and end up going for slimmer of the year LOL! (He chuckles!)

Thank you to everyone again. 

Blessings

Simon

PS. If Keith Barnes reads this...... I've done it mate - lets see if you can keep going!!!!!

Day 88: Pow! Bam! Superheroes & Super weight loss

Hi everyone. Well the Title of the post is because I'm still in Superhero mode from last night, where we held a party for 30 kids in our church as an alternative to Halloween! (And if you want a laugh here's the photo of me - I trained hard for this LOL!)

But yesterday was also weigh in day, and in a mad rush I did make the weigh in - but didn't stay for image 'chuck me a sardine' therapy.

But all I can say that my first mini target is very much on the horizon - the 3 stone by New Year! Yesterday's weigh in was a 2lb loss which is now........

......2 and half stone lost (or 35lbs, or nearly 16kg's to anyone in metric). I now weigh 18 stone 10 lbs and its just 7 pounds until I achieve the target.

That 2 lbs could have been more, however I was tempted to IKEA on Saturday (see Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for more details of that) and had a nice plate of meatballs and chips, followed by a strawberry tart ! A nice treat from my lovely girlfriend (NB. The tart is no reference to Jo in anyway, shape or form before anyone tries to make a manufactured comment!)

Things will be a bit harder exercise wise as on Monday evening I popped/tore my ligaments in my left ankle (old war wound from Highbury School that hasn't played up in a couple of years!). 

This is a picture of my ankle at present, and its the same on both sides and also on the front at the top! Typical that it was the best game I was having in ages, and typically after I'd done a little trick that even left me surprised!


Anyway, enough of my injury woes! Here's to the couple 7 lbs to get to the first 3 stone loss.

Have a great week! Thanks for your support. 

Blessings

SImon