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! ;-)

Day 52: Repeat Champ! Feeling Good, looking great!

Hi everyone! Thanks for all your support after last weeks blog. I think I made it over that wall I hit and today I feel really good!

After last week I think I managed to look at myself a bit differently - and this change in lifestyle is becoming a permanent feature in my life. 

I  haven't been to the gym since last Wednesday... I felt I just needed to have a break from it. However on Monday I enjoyed a good kick around with the guys i play with at 5-a-side football - and for the first time I could notice a difference in my fitness - and could run alongside some of the younger lads! 

Then Tuesday I started playing badminton with Toby - as a part of him giving me a bit of a fun, competitive run around (instead of being in the gym) and also to give us a bit of team bonding time together for an hour, before we go off and do a serious meeting. I know he reads this, so thanks for your support Toby. I know he would also not like me to tell you how the 1 hour match turned out. But being the humble and not proud in anyway, shape or form Christian that I am...... I won 4-0 (first time I have played in 8 years!) - there is life in the old dog yet! LOL - well I'm sure you'll get some revenge when you start playing Toby and I know, you let me win! ;-)

Today of course, is weigh in day. I was back to the 5.30pm group which is much bigger - many more claps from the performing seals (couple of fish tossed my way this week). I hope that none of them read this or I may get chucked out LOL!

And so to the scales.... well I lost 3 lbs this week! Very happy. I also won slimmer of the week and picked up 24 pieces of fruit in the process including 2 pears, 3 oranges, 2 miniolas, 3 satsumas, 2 kiwis (my offering), a pink grapefruit, a nectarine, 2 bananas and 8 apples.

I also, as in the picture above,  picked up slimmer of the month again (hence the title of repeat champ - August and September now)..... (can feel a new title of most unpopular slimming world member being awarded soon! LOL)

So here is some stats..... 

Firstly, heres my progress chart from the start of 21 stone 3 lbs in August to now!

The red line is my weight loss, the blue line is predicted (a prediction of 2 weeks time until Club 10, which is 10% of my body weight lost - which is the green line).

Some other stats...... 

• In 7 weeks I have lost 24 lbs
• I now weigh 19 stone 7 lbs.
• In the past month I have lost 15lbs (which was why I won slimmer of the month)
• On average at the moment I am losing 3 1/2 lbs a week
• My body mass index has gone from 42.5 to 39.1
• I am now just 4lbs away from the 2nd stone loss and....
• just 18 lbs from my first target of 3 stone.

I have 4 weigh in's left of my NHS referral at slimming world before I have to decide whether I will stay and pay weekly. I would like to stay, but need to check the pennies really as at £5 a week it is quite expensive... but I do enjoy the proper weigh in! So we shall see!

Well thats all for this week - except to say (as I haven't put the links in the past couple of weeks), I'd love to have a few more sponsors if you haven't already given. I'm nearly at £1500 including gift aid, which will help the Bridge so much.

So here is the link........... http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

God bless. Thanks for all your words, support and prayers.

Simon

Day 45: A tough week.... but as Bon Jovi said 'Wooooooo we're half way there'

Well, I should be really happy....... but actually I've been feeling a bit down the last few days. Its been a tough week in one way or another.....

Probably my tweets have shown it, and also I've been quite quiet... well, quieter than usual! I felt it on Monday night after moaning at the Governments new education plan for eBacc's (which, as a youth worker I just don't agree with....but thats for another blog)... I felt depressed and quite miserable (Some would say 'so whats new' LOL!) and still feel it a bit now.

I think it stemmed from a weekend of seeing my old faithful friend... good food, and thinking 'I just can't do it any more'. 

Sunday's youth work was the best I've ever been involved in at St Francis (my workplace) - but both involved food. The morning group had a tea and toast morning with toppings. The evening group made their own pizza's. Then l went to a meeting last night where one of the group had made a fantastic looking fruit cake...... AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Inside I was screaming a bit as they munch... it smelt soooooo good.

Then I went to the gym this morning, and really didn't feel motivated to go. I really didn't enjoy it. Felt quite lethargic...short of energy, tired. 

I even went to Slimming World late this afternoon...... and found out I'd lost 2 lbs! Now most the woman there are like... 'WOW, wish I could lose 2lbs', where as I just didn't feel excited. 

It did mean I have now hit 1 1/2 stone....... half way there - and if I lose a pound a week up to Christmas I will hit the 3 stone on Christmas week! Which will be pretty impressive - although it doesn't feel like it tonight!

Now I think this is whats called 'the wall' - that time where the body is thinking, 'ok - this is now for good.... its just you don't have fun anymore SImon'.

And I guess I don't now with Food. This is where the change in diet becomes more than a fad...... but a lifestyle for good!!!!

But got to get myself out of this rutt....... so would value your encouragement and prayers. I'm still losing weight which is a real positive... just all the other stuff!

Thats it for today, I'm off to see Jo (my girlfriend) in a little while who is having a day in day surgery on her knee.... I'm sure that will take my mind off of feeling sorry for myself.

Life is full of temptations, but its how we get through them that makes us better people!!!

Take care, thanks for reading - and you know the usual.... please sponsor me if you can and haven't already done so.

Day 38: Just so much good news!

Well its a week of good news.... and I know I put on Twitter earlier that it was a good news day..... Well it is weigh in Day of course.

Yes, whilst some of my friends think I'm happy because Apple are about to launch the iPhone 5 at 6.00pm tonight..... there are more things than that to make me happy. Although I'd love someone to text me all the details tonight as I'm out at a meeting!

Just come back from Slimming World after the latest weigh in....

So is the good news that I won.........

No! Its not that (although I was pretty chuffed, as much as the others in the group I think are a bit fed up of me winning things LOL!..... I even won the 3.30pm session raffle again (only 3rd time in 5 weeks))

So is it that I lost 3 and 1/2 pounds this week?.....

Well, no - although I am so chuffed by it. I have now lost 19 lbs in 5 weeks (1 stone 4 pounds!). 19lbs is equivalent to 8.6kg, or 34 packets of 250g lard/butter!! 

I can notice the difference (I need a new belt as my trousers and shorts keep slipping and I'm on the last notch!) and other people have said they can notice the difference. One quote to my girlfriend Jo was 'He's fading away before my eyes'. Well I wouldn't go that far... but I'm greatful for the comments.

So what is that has made me so chuffed..... Well I am now under 20 stones... 19 stone 12llbs. Probably the lightest I've been in about 4 years. To me its a significant goal past... quite a psychological figure for me!

With 14 weeks of the challenge left I have 23lbs to lose (so about 1lb and half a week to lose!). If you haven't sponsored me yet, then you know where to go to by now I expect.....

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonFutcher

I'm now up to £1200!!! But I know the charity I'm collecting for would love more.... more information on my just giving page about them!

Well thats it for now... have a good few days! 

Blessings

Simon