Day 24: Slimming World - Better than doing a weeks shopping (Well Nearly)

Just come back from slimming world as I decided to go to the early session this week because I am going out with Jo (my girlfriend) this evening.

Its a much quieter group (less numbers) which means less time to get through everyone. 

Anyway down to business. Well this week saw me reach a 1/6th of my first target (which tied in with my sponsor target). I have now lost over half-a-stone. I lost 3 lbs this week (good in someways as I had a very late dinner because of holiday club!) which now means i have lost 9 llbs in 3 official weeks or just over 4kg in new money!!)

That is equivalent to just over what an average head weighs - their you go, you even learn things through this blog. Now please don't go and try and see if your head weights 9 lbs! - it could get messy. Its also equivalent to 16 blocks of butter!

But the other news, well - I was slimmer of the week again for the second time (which means I won the fruitbowl contents again) 

Here is a picture with my half stone and slimmer of the week awards!!!

So 3 awards (and I can see why the Kids work love stickers now! LOL) and to top it all... I won the raffle again - winning the ingredients for veg chilli and rice!

As the title said, it seems that being at Slimming World can be cheaper than going to do the weeks shopping! LOL

And so my appeal and plee. If you have not sponsored my yet... then please do - it will mean so much to me and the charity I am raising money more. Encouraging me to go that extra mile to lose this weight!

Please go to:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

And sponsor me. 

Thanks for reading, God Bless

Simon

Day 17: Don't know how but.......

Well, you probably thought from the title you are going to see that I've put weight on...... 

Well its ok! I didn't, but it really was a crazy session at the 'performing seals' club (AKA Slimming world. I was hopeful that I'd be writing tonight to that I'd lost another 5 lbs. After all I've kept to the diet and also been to the gym for 5 x 40min workouts AND a 45 min game of football - since the last weigh in.

However, this week was a 1 lb loss (6 lb in total from first weigh in). I guess I was a bit gutted that it wasn't more. But talking to the consultant there are several reasons - and I'm not doing anything wrong.

Firstly, if you've not really done any exercise for years and suddenly you start doing lots your body goes into a strange defensive mode - and stores water... a lot of water. This is to keep the un-used muscles safe and help them recover. Over a couple of weeks, as the muscles start to tone and build up they don't need the water - and release it out the body again. 

Secondly, if you are exercising you are burning off fat, but you are also putting weight on muscles. They have suggested actually putting a tape measure around myself weekly as it may well be I'm losing cm's, just not losing weight at the moment.

Finally, I need to ensure I keep to 2/3rds free food and 1/3 super free food to ensure the weight loss programme is 'optimised'. I am pretty much doing that, but need to be rigid!

In all 3 situations, the weight loss will come in quite a way once the body gets used to the exercise.

But then the unexpected bit.... I was actually.......

It was an encouragement I wasn't expecting, especially as I only lost a pound. I had to look on the internet afterwards to understand how i works, and pretty much its:

• You can't win on the first week
• Any loss has to be followed or preceded by a loss or maintain
• The largest who loses over these rules wins.

The prize... Sticker and Certificate (as above) and then a bag of fruit (everyone brings a piece of fruit with them every week for this)... put it this way, I don't need to buy much fruit over the remainder of the week!

So there we go, the ups and downs of Slimming world, diets, exercise and weight loss.

Thanks for all the encouragement that has been given in words or sponsorship. I'm near £800 - which is fantastic. But its not too late to sponsor me if you haven't. Please go to

 http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

Busy few days ahead, so I'll probably blog on Sunday evening at some stage.... holiday club approaches... don't think I'll need much gym! 

Every blessing

Simon

Day 16: Cravings and Urges

Who can believe its day 16..... and things are going well still - although it is still tough.

Apologies for the lack of blog. I think I said in my last one that I'm really busy at work at present, as I have a holiday club I am preparing for next week! All great fun, but lots to do!

Well, I went back to the gym yesterday for an hour, and actually pushed myself a bit harder with levels. In approximates yesterday I:

• Cycled 3km
• Ran (on the cross trainer) over 1km - and those who know me will know that this is the hardest part!
• Hill Climbed 100m
• Rowed 1.3km

Thats not bad! I'm trying to diarise an hour a day to go the gym around my schedule - time to relax a bit when things are busy - and also keep fit.

I also played my regular 5-a-side last night. Very hot in Chaffyn Grove sports hall last night and the sweat was pouring off of me. But after 3/4hr I felt a twinge in my ankle and decided to go in goal for the rest of the evening. Doesn't feel too bad this morning, and won't get in the way of Gym which is quite low impact on my body.

Sunday was the toughest day of the diet so far!! I had so many cravings during the day. We had roast chicken for dinner and the bit I always enjoyed is the skin (which I'm not allowed anymore because it has all the fat in it!)... oh, to be able to chomp on a bit of skin would have been heaven - but I had to throw it away for temptation caught the better of me. I actually love the Slimming World diet because roast is encouraged... with lean meat and as much veg and dry roast potatoes as you like - and then you can have a bouillon based gravy using water. Now the gravy isn't gravy really - its like veg broth, but it tastes ok.

Sunday evening.... I could have murdered for a packet of crisps..... McCoys to be precise! fortunately there were none in the house and I chomped on fruit to shut my cravings up.

Also seem to be drinking lots of water now... which is great... Good for my old wrinkly skin! LOL.

Anyway, I resisted the urges, and seem to be doing well! As I write, its 36 hours to the 3rd weigh in. If its a couple of pounds I'll be chuffed, but we shall see. Excercise and Diet should equal WIN - but the body is a funny old thing isn't it!

Thanks for all the donations and sponsorship monies that are coming in! If you still haven't had a chance - its not too late; go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher and add your support. 

It is so humbling and a real driver to see that support and know how much the Bridge can do.

Until tomorrow evening! God Bless

Simon 

Day 12: The aches and pains of being overweight

I'm sure a lot of people will have seen my tweet/facebook message yesterday, but in case you didn't......

"Missing: one pair of thighs last seen in the vicinity of the 5 rivers leisure centre at 9.00am today. Please contact me if you find them."

It got a few likes and one who said it made them laugh out loud in the dentists surgery (thanks Jan, that made me laugh too in return). 

Well, the first day at the gym did go well - even if my thighs thought that their nightmares had come. The fitness consultant, Nick, was brilliant and took me around each piece of equipment i was going to use and gave me a programme to follow when I am down there. At the moment it consists of:

10 mins bike

5 mins cross training

2 mins on the resister (which is like a hill climb)

500m rowing

2 mins on the resister again

500m rowing

10 mins on bike to finish

That will burn off about 300 calories a day. But also, speed up my metabolism to burn food off quicker - and aid what I'm losing (all being well). Takes about 40 mins to do, so not to bad. The only risk, so they were saying at slimming world, is that if you start exercising regularly the first couple of weeks may not see any weight loss because the body goes into shock and tries to hold on to water. Anyway, don't know if thats true - we shall see.

I did contemplate the sauna/steam room, but then thought - no... don't really know what to do. So I'll try that somewhen else when I'm a bit more confident!

I thought I'd hurt yesterday evening and this morning... actually I don't. My thighs felt a bit like they weren't there when I finished for about an hour, but seem fine now..... so may hit the Gym for a break from work in an hour or so! We'll I am paying this reduced rate so it makes sense to use it all. It will also allow me to catch up on Podcasts and albums I have been meaning to listen too more.

Jo, my girlfriend, also wants to start badmington with me.... haven't played in years, so we shall see what happens there. But thats included in my 'package' price on the NHS prescription.

As to swimming... will consider that all once summer holidays are over and there is no children about - and also when I feel a bit fitter. People have been talking about 'Aquablast' which is some kind of fitness in water - so we shall see. 

I have been out to restaurants with Jo and her parents twice now, and actually found stuff on the menu I could eat and enjoy. We went to Wagamama's last night (second time for me) and after doing some online research, found that Chicken Ramon (chicken, noodles in a vegetable broth) is absolutely fine as a part of my diet - except for the chicken being cooked in oil - which is 6 sins - which I allowed in my syn budget for!)

So all is well. This will be the last blog until Monday or Tuesday as I have lots to do this weekend work wise, and need to have concentration to do it. 

I know its repetitive... but thanks to everyone for their sponsorship, support, encouragement, tweets, re-tweets, Facebook messages, Facebook shares, views of this blog, etc, etc, etc. I am truly humbled by it all. The charity donations have nearly hit £800. If you still haven't sponsored me (and said you would) or have seen this for the first time... please sponsor me. Go to 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

for more details, or contact me at simon.futcher@btopenworld.com

With every blessing

Simon

Day 10: Lard, Lard and more Lard!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

Well, If that title doesn't get you interested then what will. Well tonight was the first official weigh in at slimming world.

I'd had a good day - met Jo's parents for the first time and we all went to Lacock for the day....  (and they are really nice people!) 

We found a good pub and lunch was really easy... Ham, Eggs and New Potatoes (instead of chips)... No Syns! Really good day!

Then it was time for the performing seals club. Ok, I'll stop calling it that somewhen but it really is like 'toss me a sardine!'

So I signed in and went hesitantly to the scales. Part of me thought that I could end up having put weight on with the amount I've eaten this week.

However you will be pleased to know that I have put on..... na, not really... I've lost 5 pounds in my first week.

To put that into perspective, that is equivalent to nearly 8 and 1/4 of these...........

It also means: 

• I'm now under 21 stone!
• By BMI has moved from 43 to 42!

To celebrate even more I won the raffle tonight... a basket of herbs, chillies and the strangest of Garlic bulbs which is just one clove!

It was a really good day!

Tomorrow see's my Gym induction! Pain is a coming... but hopefully even more weightless.

Now if this doesn't make you want to sponsor me and see that I am deadly serious about this whole thing....... then nothing will! Get along to 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher 

and sponsor me... its never too late.

Thanks for all your support and reading this blog!

Simon

Day 8: Not fallen off the waggon - just been a bit busy!

It's ok... I'm still alive and things seem to be going well!

Its now day 8 of the diet! Yes, I've done a full week! I feel good and seem to have more energy than I did... so its already doing good.

I've not blogged for a few days as I've been really busy with work.... its two weeks to our holiday club and I'm beavering away to get stuff done. 

On Sunday, the slimming world consultant, Jenny, rang and asked if I was ok... well I'd just had a slimming world roast and was stuffed - so I was fine. 

Syns are under control it seems.....so lets hope the scales agree on Wednesday.

I ended up at football this evening - haven't been for 6 weeks and boy was it tough, but the old knees stayed up - but after 20 mins I was shattered! Hopefully the challenges of Thursday morning won't be too hard at the Gym induction! 

I have a couple of tough days ahead, as I'm out for meals with people over the coming days. Always difficult when you're on a strict diet as you never want to turn food down, but also I need to keep the good work going. 

Not long to weigh in! That will be the next blog with the information to celebrate the first week at slimming world, or commiserate and understand what went wrong! 

Until then, thanks for your support, your sponsorship - and if you haven't sponsored me yet.... please go to my sponsor page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher and help encourage me more :-)/

Day 5: I am an Anorak on Syns, Free, Superfree and Healthy options!

Day 5: Well its been a good and interesting couple of days on the slimathon! 

However, I feel I have become a walking encyclopaedia of Syns, Free, Superfree, healthy option. I get the feeling that actually you lose weight because of the amount of time it takes you to look up in the 'Syn' dictionary what you want to eat - which means you either don't have time to eat it, or you end up burning it!

Did you know that on the Slimming World Plan you can eat as much Free and super free food as you want.... Superfree is everything that is Fruit and Veg, and free is lean chicken, very lean meet, pasta, non-fried potato's (yes Toby - carbs!!!). There is even a syn-free chip thats available. I even get a daily allowance of dairy and fibre to ensure its a 'balanced' diet. Pretty much its about no sugar that isn't natural sugar, no fat and no simple carbs.

See, I'm becoming an anorak! But all I seem to do is spend my time finding out how many 'syn's I'm yearning to have LOL! Willpower Simon! Willpower! 

I have to fill in a diet sheet for a few weeks to show I'm doing ok. Its actually quite interesting to see what you are eating. But its also encouraging that the 'syns' column isn't too bad! :-)

The ladies at the Youth camp yesterday were a real blessing - balanced lunch and pasta in low fat sauce with a small handful of cheese! And plenty of fruit! I think thats (hashtag) #BOOM!!!!

I have decided I'm not going to put myself on any scales during the week, although it does just worry me that I'm eating loads from free and superfree (which I was told I could do by the consultant) and worried that I won't lose anything in weight.

Today was top-up shop day - and much easier than Tuesday, partly because of my newly-acquired anorak skills for knowing what to eat! (but also because Sainsburys Salisbury's range and availabilty is never the best!). Nothing like wondering around Sainsburys thinking... oh, what can I have and what can't I have!

Anyway, all going well. 5 days to weigh in! 6 days to Gym induction. 7 days to pain, I expect!

Thanks for all your continued support and reading. Don't forget - if you haven't sponsored me yet go do it at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher - please it will help.

Back tomorrow!

Blessings

SImon