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

Day 81: Celebrations of Life = not as much weight loss

Morning everyone (or Afternoon, Evening if you are reading this later in the day. It was a chaotic day from one event to the next yesterday so this is the first chance I have had to Blog about weigh in....

.....And today it will be short and sweet, as I have lots of work to do.


After a week where it has been difficult to balance the diet with seeing friends and celebrating all week, I didn't really know where the weight loss would be going when I stepped on the scales.

Last Wednesday I ended up enjoying a bottle of wine with friends over a slimming world dinner (thanks Bridewells for the fantastic meal - a great Pork, Cider and Mustard Casserole from the all in one recipe book) - I wasn't driving for a change, so it was nice to relax with friends; Then Thursday the temptation was too great to not have a piece of the chocolate cake I made for the coffee and prayer morning - and I had a small slice; 

Friday was the great celebration of Graduation (I hope you may have seen the photos of me on Facebook - great day and great friends). The afternoon buffet was Beef Casserole and rice and a piece of cake. Jo and I had agreed we were going out for something to eat after the ceremony - which ended up at 9.30pm. So as a one off treat we went to the good old KFC in Christchurch, which I happen to know was there.... don't know how! LOL!

Then Tuesday evening was a fantastic Chicken Casserole with roast potatoes at our weekly Alpha dinner. Alas, these were not slimming world roasties, but were very nice.

So as you can guess, getting to the scales was a concern for me yesterday.

However, I weighed in and lost a pound! So I'm now 18st 12lbs and have lost 33lbs (2 stone 5 lbs!) - 9 lbs away from everyone paying out! Looks like that will be end of November, beginning of December. That was my 12th week at Slimming World - the end of my NHS freebie. I've decided to continue for now, but need to ensure I have the pennies to pay for it at £4.95 a session (or £4.13 if you pay for 12 sessions in advance)

In case you are worried...... KFC was fantastic for a treat, and it was good to be able to relax. It also shows that if you exercise and play fair with your self, your lifestyle and treat yourself on occasions, its ok!

Anyway, time to sign off. Thanks for reading my blog - I am always amazed and humbled by the stats to show how many people read it! 

God Bless

Day 73: 10% in 10 weeks.

10% in 10 weeks. Officially, that is the weight I have lost - 10% of my body weight in 10 weeks.

Apologies for the late blog this week. Was really busy yesterday following weigh in at Slimming World, so thought I'd blog early this morning (its 6.30am as I start to blog).

I think today is a bit of a review really. A chance to step back and look at what I have currently achieved.... So first of all - weigh in this week.

Well, I lost 3 pounds this week, which actually surprised me in a way because I've had meals out in the past 7 days (A very mean roast cooked by Jo's friend Pauline which was superb, but I could count the syns going on and then the Alpha meal on Tuesday night) - although didn't in others as I know its been a busy week. 

So that means that I have now lost 32lbs in weight, or 2 stones 4 lbs, or for those who like metric thats just over 14kg's. 

Or if you want it a bit easier thats 56 of these........

Or, interesting fact of the day... is actually is the same as this, the NHL Stanley Cup..... 

So here are some other stats to bore you over your cornflakes.....

My BMI has gone from 42.61 to 38.02! Over 4 and half points.

I'm now losing an average of 3.2llbs a week, or 1.4kg.

The other thing I am really chuffed about is that yesterday I weighed less that 19 stone.... at 18 stone 13! Must be about 6 or 7 years since I weighed anything like this. T-shirts are becoming baggier - and I can even fit in pairs of Jeans I have not worn for a while!

The area I'm stuggling with is the Gym! Just been too busy, and to be honest not motivated. My normal regime of footy on Monday and Badminton on a Tuesday are still in place, but not been on the machines in the gym for about 10 days. Hoping to get their on Friday.

Anyway, so the big title was 10% in 10 weeks. Its amazing to think how these last 10 weeks have flown by and actually have been ok to deal with. The mind set is there and focus that this is now my lifestyle. Yes, I have the odd treat which doesn't seem to be doing hard - and I can now even make food for other people and things and not worry (See my pic I took yesterday of 3 cakes for an event I'm going to today... 1 lemon drizzle, 1 victoria sponge and 1 chocolate fudge cake!). But the reason S/W have the 10% is because its the point you start to feel the benefit - and indeed I am. I'm not getting so breathless - and can run a bit faster too - and my reactions have quickened up!

But 10% of 21 stone 3lbs is a huge achievement - and its thanks to the people who follow my blog, who are encouraging me and, in my Christian circles, are praying for me. The sponsorship is still amazing and humbling (At near £1500 including gift aid has either been given or pledged!). Possible those who sponsored me on paper will be paying out by end of November, maybe even before!). A bigger thanks to my girlfriend Jo, who is more than supportive at me fading away - but thinking of my food choices as much as I am when we are out, or at friends.

But people have asked, does it stop with the 3 stone.... well, no is the answer to that - as my overall target will be 7 stone! Which as I said to the consultant at SW yesterday is a way off. However I have made this lifestyle change to prolong my life and health.

Anyway, its time to go and do some other things. Once again, thanks for your support... if you haven't sponsored me yet then please do. I even see John Glen (MP for Salisbury) has mentioned the charity I am raising funds for in today's Salisbury Journal!! They are doing great work and would love your sponsorship of me.

So please go and sponsor me here......    http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

Have a great day and week!

Blessings

Simon

Day 66: 2/3rds of the way there. 2 stone down, 1 to go!!!!!!!!

66 Days!! And tonight its official - I have now lost 2 stone (and 1 lb).

Really pleased tonight as I sit here and blog! In 9 weeks I have lost 2 stone and 1 lb - that is a really big achievement. 

I actually lost 2 and 1/2 pound this week, bring the total up to the magic to 29lbs! I'm actually a pound off of the Club 10 mark of 10% of weight being lost - which will be one now for this week. But I'm losing now about 2 and 1/2 lbs a  week - which seems to be the regular loss figure now!

So it now means that my initial goal of 3 stone by New Year is in sight! There are 11 weeks to that date - so should smash it with 4 or 5 weeks to spare if I keep going at the same rate.

Some people say.... do you notice the difference? Well the answer is yes. Whilst I played like a donkey at football on Monday evening I played like a more mobile donkey. My aches and pains in joints and muscles seem to have disappeared - so yes. People have also said they can see my face is thinner..... I guess its not something I notice... but appreciate the nice comments!

So if you agreed to sponsor me by the stone, then its now time to please give. Or if you haven't had a chance to sponsor me yet..... then here is the chance.

Here is my virgin giving page.....   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher


Thank you everyone for your support, encouragement, prayers - they are much appreciated. And the finish line of the first target is now over the hill!!! Lets see how this goes!

Blessings

Simon

Day 59: All quiet on the Western front.....

Hi everyone...

Its a quick blog today folks.... I've got a few deadlines to meet - including sorting a question pack out for the youth group's quiz night on Saturday (Quizaid).

Not been back long from Slimming World..... but for a change I came home empty handed. No Slimmer of the week, no raffle - quite relieved actually - only from the point of being the same person winning everything.

So this week was 2 and half pounds.... so that's 1 stone 12 and half pounds..... so hoping it will be a big blog next week as I may well make 2 stones and then also make club 10 in the same week.... we shall see. FOCUS Simon, FOCUS!!!

All else just really busy at present, although still keeping fitness up as well through Football, Gym and Badminton!

Anyway, thats it for now.... here is to a big week this week coming! ;-)