"Free Skinny Me!" - Week 5

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I have truly been wasting my money lately as I haven't been using Weight Watchers Online at all.  I haven't used it for tracking, for pointing nor for logging my weight for the last couple of weeks.

I haven't pointed any foods I have eaten.  I haven't kept an eye on what I have been eating.  It's all a waste of money, and I hate to do that.

I really think this is the wrong time of the year to be trying to lose weight.  All I do is think of the once a year treats I allow myself at Christmas time.  Things that wouldn't normally make it to the shopping basket every week because there is no room left in the budget.  I love evenings in late December, spreading brie and cranberry sauce on crackers.  Oh, and pate!  We can't forget the mince pies either!

I think I am slowly coming to the conclusion that Christmas time is not for dieting. So rather than backing myself into a corner, making myself feel bad for not sticking to the diet or not making as much of an effort as I should, I am going to give myself permission to relax for the next couple of weeks.

I am not going to point, or track.  I will weigh myself and I will keep myself aware of what I am eating.  I will try to stick to eating a little of what I fancy and not gorging for the sake of it and I will keep myself aware of the effects on the scales.  I will not deprive myself of having something as a once a year treat and I will not admonish myself if I gain weight, because let's face it, a way of eating "bad stuff" and not gaining weight hasn't been invented yet.

I can then get right back into it after the festive period is over.  By then I should be able to incorporate some exercise back in, hopefully having recovered enough after the caesarean.  I am still looking out for the best weight shifting exercise or dance games for the Wii.  Any recommendations?

Despite not tracking or pointing I have lost one and a half pounds this week which was a complete surprise.  A welcome surprise to have, I hasten to add.  This makes it a total of three pounds so far.

Here are my results:

Week 5's result: Lost 1½lb

Current weight: 12st 5lbs (173lbs)

Mini goal: To lose 19lbs by week 18

Starting weight: 12st 8lbs

Goal weight: 8st 11lbs (123lbs)

Total to lose: 50lbs

Total lost to date: 3lbs

Are any of you joining in?  How are you doing?

If you are trying to lose weight too why not join the quest to "Free Skinny Me!"? You don't need to be following Weight Watchers to do so and your weigh in day doesn't have to be a Monday. Just grab the button at the top of this post or in the right sidebar of this blog (the code to copy and paste on your blog is in the text box under the button) and put it on your blog, then come back each Monday to report each week's weigh in result. You can also write a post on your own blog and leave a link back to it in the comments below so we can visit and leave a message of encouragement or support. You can choose how much or little info to disclose.

You can follow my quest to "Free Skinny Me!" by subscribing to a full feed in your reader.  You can also chat with me throughout the week on Twitter  (click here or search for the handle "@largerfamily" and let me know if you are doing the quest so I can follow you back) and become a Facebook friend too.   Don't forget that we now have our very own Healthy Living board in our new LFL Family Forums.


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"Free Skinny Me!" - Week 3

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After last week's terrible result I was left feeling a little disheartened.  I really do want to lose this weight yet to have hit such a stumbling block so early on in the quest has made me feel really pessimistic about continuing.

This didn't help when I ended up tracking barely anything at all last week.  I know that the problem there is that I don't track as I go, tending to go back in the evening or the next morning to update.  The issue is that the Weight Watchers tracker does not save the information if you go back and complete it the following day.  Is this just an issue with my computer or does this affect everybody?  I then get frustrated at having spent time adding a days worth of foods, the info for which cannot be saved to the system and so tracking doesn't work anyway.  This then leaves me feeling unhappy about paying out my money for something I am not using.

Rather than pointing everything and making different meals for myself to everyone else in the family, which isn't always cost effective to do given that we have a budget we need to try and stick to, I am sticking to having a bowl of fruit for breakfast and a huge salad for lunch. I will then eat anything the rest of the family are having for dinner without any guilt or worry, knowing that most of my points have remained intact.

Now the days are getting colder I am settling down with a mug of low calorie hot chocolate once the children have gone to bed.  I have even added some low fat squirty cream to the top as a treat.

Anyway, to summarise, I managed to lose the weight I gained last week plus an extra half a pound so I'm happier!  I have now lost a huge 2lbs from my original starting weight.  Ok, so not fantastic considering I am on week three now but I would rather be 2lbs under my starting weight than half a pound above it, so I'll take the successes where I can.

Here are my results:

Week 3's result: Lost 4½lbs

Current weight: 12st 6lbs (174lbs)

Mini goal: To lose 19lbs by week 18

Starting weight: 12st 8lbs

Goal weight: 8st 11lbs (123lbs)

Total to lose: 51lbs

Total lost to date: 2lbs

Are any of you joining in?  How are you doing?

If you are trying to lose weight too why not join the quest to "Free Skinny Me!"? You don't need to be following Weight Watchers to do so and your weigh in day doesn't have to be a Monday. Just grab the button at the top of this post or in the right sidebar of this blog (the code to copy and paste on your blog is in the text box under the button) and put it on your blog, then come back each Monday to report each week's weigh in result. You can also write a post on your own blog and leave a link back to it in the comments below so we can visit and leave a message of encouragement or support. You can choose how much or little info to disclose.

You can follow my quest to "Free Skinny Me!" by subscribing to a full feed in your reader.  You can also chat with me throughout the week on Twitter  (click here or search for the handle "@largerfamily" and let me know if you are doing the quest so I can follow you back) and become a Facebook friend too.   Don't forget that we now have our very own Healthy Living board in our new LFL Family Forums.


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"Free Skinny Me!" - Week 2

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I debated not bothering with this weeks "Free Skinny Me" update this morning.  I had prepared myself for a gain.  What I hadn't prepared myself for was how much of a gain I have had.

I have no excuse.  It is all my fault.  It turns out Haagen Dazs isn't fat free.  Neither is hot chocolate with whipped cream.  Who'd have thought it, eh?  Would any of you like to make a note of that for future reference?

Not only did I overeat the non-healthy stuff, I also failed to track anything at all.  This annoys me now because:

1) I am fatter than I was

and

2) I am paying for something I am not using properly.

Lb's and £'s.

Except I'm losing the £'s and gaining the Lb's when it really ought to be the other way around.

I logged onto the Weight Watchers tracker this morning to note my weight with a new determination to track and count every, single thing that jumps into my greedy mouth, when a message flashed up on the screen.  It stated something along the lines of Weight Watchers constantly doing their scientific studies and they have now realised that they can change the daily points allowance from the 29 point minimum to 28, 27 or even 26 points.  They said my daily points may have changed.

They did.

To 26.  

I immediately felt vindicated and promptly forgot my piggerish sessions with the ice cream tub and the lack of self control I possessed for the last week and blamed Weight Watchers for giving me the wrong points allowance.

Yes, it's all their fault. 

So now I have laid the blame firmly on their doorstep I can wipe the slate clean and start afresh.  Bigger, fatter, wobblier and kicking myself firmly for ending up heavier than I started and it's all my own Weight Watchers' fault.

I hope those of you joining the "Free Skinny Me" quest with me have had a better week.

Here is the damage in all its glory:


Week 2's result: Gained 4lbs

Current weight: 12st 10½lbs (178½lbs)

Mini goal:  To lose 19lbs by week 18

Goal weight:  8st 11lbs (123lbs)

Total to lose:  55½lbs

Total  lost to date: 0lbs  - gained 4lbs instead.

If you are trying to lose weight too why not join the quest to "Free Skinny Me!"?  You don't need to be following Weight Watchers to do so and your weigh in day doesn't have to be a Monday.  Just grab the button at the top of this post or in the right sidebar of this blog (the code to copy and paste on your blog is in the text box under the button) and put it on your blog, then come back each Monday to report each week's weigh in result.  You can also write a post on your own blog and leave a link back to it in the comments below so we can visit and leave a message of encouragement or support.  You can choose how much or little info to disclose.


You can follow my quest to "Free Skinny Me!" by subscribing to a full feed in your reader.  You can also chat with me throughout the week on Twitter  (click here or search for the handle "@largerfamily" and let me know if you are doing the quest so I can follow you back) and become a Facebook friend too.   Don't forget that we now have our very own Healthy Living board in our new LFL Family Forums.


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"Free Skinny Me" - Week 1

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The first week back on the Weight Watchers plan hasn't gone too badly at all.  I didn't actually begin my diet until last Wednesday, needing to get the shopping in (and to finish off the last of the ice cream in the freezer), but it went ok.

The thing I like about Weight Watchers is being able to save points through the day and still have a little of what I fancy.  I think everyone has their "nibbling time" where they develop a case of the munchies.  My time is normally in the evenings when the children are in bed.  In order to make sure I have some points left so I can still enjoy a treat or two I tend to stick to fruit and veg for breakfast and lunch and use as few points as possible.  I then have a normal meal in the evening and allow myself a pack of Snackajacks or (or even and) a couple of meringue nests with Greek yoghurt and grapes.

I didn't use all of my extra 49 weekly points this week but did dip into them.  Unfortunately the Weight Watchers tracker on their site won't save info that you enter for the previous day(s) even though the save button flashes.  This is a long time technical problem that I had the last time I was following the plan so I am disappointed it still hasn't been rectified.  I often don't track my evening snacks on the tracker until the following morning so it would be handy to be able to save this information.

I am still unable to take part in much activity at all so not able to exercise.  I am looking forward to dusting down the Wii again and resuming the Wii Active Sports challenges, and Caitlin can't wait for me to be able to compete against her on "Just Dance" (ooh, just noticed "Just Dance 3" is out!) .  I am looking for something else to add to my collection though as it can get a little repetitive doing the same things over and over.  I want something that will burn the fat but still be fun to do.  Can anyone recommend anything?

Anyway, my first week back on the plan has resulted in a small but effective one and a half pound loss so it's moving in the right direction.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for the usual big(ger) weight drop that normally happens the first week but then again I am bearing in mind that that is due to water loss rather than fat.  I am hoping that I'm getting straight to the fat of things!

Here is my breakdown:

Starting Weight:  12st 8lbs (176lbs)

Week 1's result: Lost 1½lbs

Current weight: 12st 6½lbs (174½lbs)

Mini goal:  To lose 19lbs by week 18

Goal weight:  8st 11lbs (123lbs)

Total to lose:  53lbs

Total  lost to date: 1½lbs


If you are trying to lose weight too why not join the quest to "Free Skinny Me!"?  You don't need to be following Weight Watchers to do so and your weigh in day doesn't have to be a Monday.  Just grab the button at the top of this post or in the right sidebar of this blog (the code to copy and paste on your blog is in the text box under the button) and put it on your blog, then come back each Monday to report each week's weigh in result.  You can also write a post on your own blog and leave a link back to it in the comments below so we can visit and leave a message of encouragement or support.  You can choose how much or little info to disclose.

You can follow my quest to "Free Skinny Me!" by subscribing to a full feed in your reader.  You can also chat with me throughout the week on Twitter  (click here or search for the handle "@largerfamily" and let me know if you are doing the quest so I can follow you back) and become a Facebook friend too.   

Don't forget that our story on how and why we came to be parents of 11 children is available worldwide now.  Click for details on where you can buy your copy of "Larger Family Life", the book.



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Monday Weigh-In: Week 14

Yes, I know it's Tuesday again.

I missed my Monday.

Again.

I'm sorry.

Again.

I'm another pound down here! Not a huge amount, but a good amount and it is said that the weight is more likely to stay off if you lose it slowly rather than losing vast amounts at once.

Having said that, I'd love to be able to lose vast amounts at once and for it to stay off. Yes, unlikely I know.

Nevertheless, a pound loss is a pound loss. It's still in the right direction. I can't help but feel a little put out that I'm not going to get to my self imposed mini goal of getting to 10st 7 by the end of the month. That would be a nine pound loss needed in the next two weeks. Not going to happen. But I guess that's the problem with self imposed mini goals. Sometimes, as much as you try, you're just not going to hit them.

I think setting a more likely goal of getting below 11 stones is a good one. That would mean I need to lose three pounds in two weeks. What are the chances, do you think?

This week I've hit the mark for a total 30lb loss. I guess when I think about it a 30lb loss in 14 weeks isn't too shabby! The thing is it's often easier to think about the things you haven't done and the goals you've missed rather than crediting yourself for the things you've achieved.

Or is that just me?

My aim for this week is to get back into exercising now that my feet are better. Note to self: "Put proper trainers on before exercising.".

Onwards and upwards we go. Or downwards on the scale, preferably.

Monday Weigh-In: Week 13

Another pound off this week!

I'm pleased, considering I'm still unable to exercise at all and made (and consequently ate) a huge batch of breakfast muffins over the weekend.

I'm finding myself swinging between two extremes lately.

One moment I'm determined that I'm going to get to my goal. Nothing is going to stop me so bring it on because I can do it. The next moment I wonder if it's all worth it because it seems like it's going to take forever and I'm getting nowhere fast. Is this common?

I've never been a dieter. I've never been one of those girls growing up trying out faddy diet after faddy diet. So this whole dieting concept is new to me really, which shows as if I had made a stand a few years back after having Harry, my fourth child, and then the following three children, I would have got to the weight I was by the time I had Oliver three months ago.

Having said that, I'm pleased with the Weight Watchers plan that I'm following as it really isn't feeling like I'm dieting at all. The word "diet" seems to conjure up images of deprivation. This isn't like that at all. I could have anything I wanted if I really wanted it. I'm just able to make more informed decisions because I know how it will affect me simply by working out the Point value of each food. Then I can decided whether 7 points out of my allocated 22 on one chocolate bar is really worth it, when those Points could cover an entire meal and still leave some spare.

My sporting injury (Ha!, who'd have thought I'd say that. It's a Wii Fit injury, Tania. Come on!) is still with me albeit only slightly now. I'm hobbling and limping less now and can feel a definite improvement. This is almost two weeks later you'll note. I've been out of action nearly as long as I was in it. Not very good.

I'm hoping I can ease back into the exercise by next week. And of course I'll be wearing my trainers this time!

So, my progress so far is as follows:

Starting weight: 13st 5lbs

Weight to date: 11st 4lbs

Goal: 8st 7lbs (yes, I knocked another stone off my original goal to get back to the weight I once was. *Sigh*, those were the days...)

Weight loss to date: 29lbs

I'd be interested to know if anyone else is currently trying to lose weight too. Are you following any plans and how are you getting on?