movin' on up!

I have moved...

http://kitmcf.wordpress.com/

my life is just a slow train crawlling up a hill...

So my first weigh in last night and I lost half a pound at weigh in which I was ok about...right before weigh in I got on the scales in the house which showed I had put on 3 and a half! Apparently I had them in the wrong place where the floor is not even because on my return they did match the meetings ones.

I'm exhausted from commuting to London every day to teach. I'm very thankful to have work but it is a very long day, getting up at 5.30am or a bit later to get train after train. So far I haven't got lost at least! The earliest I get home is 5pm so a very long day traveling and commuting for me. It should be worth it though to have some money!!

There's always gonna be another mountain...

I am a bit down today, mostly over money and jobs. I'm thrilled to have a job for September, but in the mean time I need things to start happening for us.

I don't know when we will hear about Daniel's interview or how to proceed next if he doesn't get it.

I know we will never go hungry and will always have a roof over our heads but we still need to pay some bills. We both feel a bit stifled right now. We can't really do much, go out and have fun or be as free as we would like.

I am really hoping my agency gets me work all week which would be enough to keep us going. If they don't I may have to sign up with another agency.


This is all.

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing...

Good morning all. In good news I got a job for September! It was quite a crazy day, as I was on the train going to my interview at one school, my agency called and asked me to go straight to another one when I was finished. To say I got a bit flustered would be an understatement! However I went, and it turned out to be the better option for me. I liked the first school but they offered me a maternity cover, the second was for the full year with a view to being permanent in the future.

I will be teaching in the Early Years unit, with a mixed Nursery/Reception class but only as my focus group, it is operating as an Early Years Unit and so a lot of free flow going on between rooms and outdoor areas. I'm excited but need to get some income for the immediate time, hopefully some supply next week.

Daniel has an interview also but we won't know for a few days on that one.

Onto ww and I must admit I'm finding it a struggle to get back in the zone. Especially as I'm not working and the kitchen is so close by! I will keep going though.

I hear

Don't Stop Believing...

Weight watchers scales weighed me at 16 st 4 1/2 which is good by me, especially as I usually weigh in the morning.

Day one today. All I have had so far is 2 cups of tea and wholemeal toast and spread.

The meeting was ok, interesting to be in a little church hall again after the official weigh watchers centre in the US. Leader was nice, pretty down to earth.

I'm so nervous about our job interviews tomorrow I already feel sick - I know I am a great teacher but I get really worked up about interviews....

London Rain

Well I wish there had been rain in London but no such luck. I am, however, enjoying the breeze.

Bryher, my fan base of one, this is for you...

So, yes, here we are. Back in the UK. In Petts Wood, Kent to be precise. My parents are kindly looking after us while we hunt for jobs. We both have interviews on Thursday so I'm really hoping they amount to good things. I haven't been paid since May so....we need income!

Our flight was a little crazy - being the money savers that we are, we went Charlotte to Boston, to Reykjavik to London. Spent all night in an Icelandic airport. I ate TUNA FISH. First animal I have eaten since August. Since then I ate it a few more times, now I've gone off it again. The photo above is us in Iceland.

My Mum has really kindly got me a monthly pass until I can afford it myself. She has a few pounds to lose for their imminent fly - drive to Florida at the end of the month. So tonight I go to my first meeting here.

My Mum's scales are weighing me at 16st 5. I am pleasantly surprised by this. When I weighed after Seattle I was 228lbs (16st4) and that was morning time when my body was empty. My meeting is tonight so I am not used to weighing in the evening which is bothering me a bit. But hey ho just get on with it I guess!

Us in Vancouver

Will let you know how it goes later....

down, but not out.

Hi all. Yes, 2 posts in one day. What HAS come over me?

After weigh in and posting I was planning my 'no one will know about this - it's Saturday - I will make up for it later chocolate.' However you will all be pleased to know this never happened.

I went to my favorite food inspiration - Trader Joes - which is a partly organic, whole food store with many many good meatless products and awesome stuff in general. It was time for a change from Aldi - my routine of meals from there had become a bore to me. I was inspired. I did not buy any chocolate. I may not have long left of the journey here in the states but it WILL continue in the UK. Probably on the US plan. I can't figure out why they are different. Why is is sat fat in the UK and total fat grams here? Why does fiber have a positive effect on points here but not in the UK? I don't know.

Anyway here is what I bought...



It includes sour dough bread (oh San Francisco how I miss you - great sour dough bakery there), meatless chicken strips, meatless meatballs, kettle chips (sweet and salt mix, yet to try them), organic apple slices, quinoa , wholewheat pizza dough, some fruit and organic cereal bars, wholewheat pasta and vodka pasta sauce. I feel refreshed and renewed and no longer bored. Yay. I will keep going.

stuck. in. a. rut.

I am so tired of being stuck in this rut. I have hovered around the 12/13lbs loss mark for....let me see..well April 3rd I hit 13lbs loss and today I am at 12.6 loss. I feel like I am going nowhere. I have, really, one official weigh in left and I feel like giving up. Almost like what will one more week help me to achieve?

This week I don't know what I did wrong. I really don't. I only went to the gym once but stuck to my points. I just don't know what I have to do anymore to lose this weight and I'm sick and tired of it. I lost 0.2lbs. Really? I mean, what's the point?

I did get my 16 week charm - here you get a kind of 'staying power' charm. This almost made me feel worse. 16 weeks and only 12.6lbs loss. I'm bitterly disapointed. This is not where I expected to be, and with a little over 3 weeks until we fly home, it has hit me. This isn't what I wanted.

Sigh,

Went to WI this week and put on 0.6lbs. To be honest I probably deserved worse after last weekend drinking 9 million full fat cokes and eating like 11 pound cake slices. Add that together with a couple of days without tracking - one because I went straight from school to see Wicked the musical, and was out of the house from 6am to 11pm straight.

I know, I know, I can't expect results when being half assed. I'm so over being stuck around the 12 - 13lb loss. I feel like I'm failing all over again.

All I can do is keep trying. Busy week this week with my Kindergarten classes graduation plus getting cleaned up for the end of school. I have 2 official weigh ins left, until my monthly pass runs out and no point really renewing it as we will be in Seattle and then have only one week before we fly home.

Here is a pic of me at a Baby Shower this week, I thought I actually looked thinner. Disappointing when the scales don't match but I have no one to blame but me.



Also looking for some new vegetarian recipes as I am BORED of my current routine. And preferably cheap as possible. Any ideas?

First things first. I did not go to weigh in this week. I know, shame on me. We went to watch Cardiff City attempt (and sadly fail) to get into the premier league. What? I hear you say? Not good enough? Well if you knew my husband it was a good enough reason. I am so very sad and disappointed for him and for me too, I had got really into it and will continue to support the bluebirds.

I did weigh on my own scales and they showed a loss of 1lb. There are 3 more weigh ins for me, as one week we are in Seattle. It could be 4 if i weigh on June 26th, 2 days before we go back to the UK for good. Well, nothing is for good - for a while! I want to continue in the UK - probably with the US plan because the calculator I have is for the US plan. Don't think I can afford to join a meeting in the UK as I won't have a job though I hope to get some summer supply work in nurseries or something. I am really condireing posting my scales home as I like that they weigh to .1 of a lb.

Immediately following the match was Daniel's leaving party with his colleagues and friends from hi work, and I have to say food galore. There were pizzas (homemade by Daniel) pastas, veggie burgers (they did a veggie theme just for us) pineapple pudding, and cherry pound cake. I also drank a lot of cans of coke (3 points each here!) and ate my heart out so to speak. It was a lovely event but I must now get on track and I have been baaaad. And also they gave us the cokes as they don't drink them and they are all sitting in my fridge! ARGH!

I have so much to do, both at home and at school. Its about 5 weeks to go and much to get done with the apartment and so on.

Here are some pics from the leaving do.

pound cake

Keep running up that road, keep running up that hill

This week I Lost 2lbs, taking me to 228.2lbs (16st 4.2lbs) and my joint lowest weigh since I began. I was secretly hoping I would get my lowest weigh and usurp my previous one but it was not to be.

My week...

1. I have tracked every day except one, but in my head I was pretty sure I was ok...

2. I went to the gym once - I have been unwell all week with either a cold/allergies which have really taken to my chest. It was a struggle at the gym because my chest really hurt.

3. Went out for dinner once to Jason's deli. At first I was thinking..mmm the portobella mushroom pasta...but being the smart cookie that I am, I checked the nutritional values and at 945 calories, 64g fat and 13g or fiber it was 23 points. Ummmm no. So I had the salad bar, mostly 0 point veg, no dressing, couple of table spoons of potato salad and pasta salad, a few nuts/dried fruit etc. I'm glad I checked first!



4. I had some lovely encouragement this week. Firstly, my husband Daniel sent me a sweet email, telling me how pretty I am and how much I deserve success at this. Also a colleague said to me 'How much weight have you lost?' Not even 'have you lost weight?' But HOW MUCH HAVE you lost? So both compliments really touched me.

How has your week been?

Since you've been gone...

I managed a loss this week of 1.4lbs. I was excited midweek because my scales were showing an awesome loss to be proud of. I guess I shouldn't weigh mid week. I can only think that as we went out last night too much diet coke was still in my system, and usually Friday night I am in bed so early which may have thrown me off.

My magic loss number to feel really happy is 2lbs...I don't know why, it just sounds good to me.

At least I'm back in double figures with an 11lb loss, but not up to my 5% again (12lbs) or my highest loss (13lbs). I have 6/7 weigh ins left and I would love it if I could get my 10% of 24lbs before we fly home to the UK. Might be a tall order though considering the way things have gone for me. I'm trying not to focus too hard on where I wish I was by now. It's depressing.

I am feeling awful suffering badly with allergies which are in turn giving me sinus problems. I feel really crappy.

Here are some inlaw visit photos for you...

weigh in

so i gained 2lbs. I'll take it. On track with a vengeance.

thanks Jack...

something you said really struck a chord...I can't do this half assed and expect good results. I have to be all ass. Lol.

So simple as it seems, here is how I plan to do it. I am probably boring you all but hey it's my blog and it helps to get my thoughts out.

1. Use my resources. I am a very lucky Kit. I can afford a gym which has a pool and classes. I have not made the most of this. I haven't even used the pool or the jacuzzi. What am I thinking?
2. Count points and DON"T LIE TO MYSELF! That's easy enough right?

3. WATER speaks for itself.

So I will face the music tomorrow at weigh in

Anything I have missed?

jeans

Guess I should add I got new jeans today in a size down. That's the only positive thing I have tosay right now.

kind of bummed

ok I know I know it's all my fault. I don't need to be reminded of that so if you only have a negative comment to make I'm going to ask that you hold it back please. Right now I need support and not negativity and this blog does not seem to be the kind of source of support I had hoped for. I do appreciate those of you that pause to make an encouraging comment. To be honest yet again I'm considering whether to bother with this blog anymore. I mostly write it for myself to get my thoughts out.

This week has not been a good week. I mean, there is a reason I got to be this way, and chocolate is def one of them. So when someone puts a box of Thorntons Chocolates (and I mean a huge box) in your house and tells you they need to be eaten by the end of the week as they have been saving them for you...my mental strength cracked. I think I must have eaten 3 or 4 or more each day until yesterday. Now they are gone which is something I guess. Also of course the afore mentioned pizza, left over pizza for lunch and meal out for Daniel's belated birthday celebration.

I know we have to live a little etc but a peek on the scales tells me of course that it wasn't worth it. Right now I feel discouraged. I seem to do well for a while and then slip up. I feel like I will never have the body I want.

So, if you're not impressed, please keep it to yourself. Constructive comments only.

hmmm

Started off with take out (pizza) and a HUGE box of Thornton's Chocs!!

oops.

10 days with the In Laws

So I weighed in today lost 0.8lbs. I'm kinda OK with it, I only really thought about WW from Wednesday when I rejoined. I do feel like I need to step it up, my weight loss isn't moving quite as fast as I would like it to. I know 'slow and steady wins the race but I currently have an overall loss of 11.6lbs and I'm not quite at my 5% of 12lbs and also my highest loss point was 13lbs.

I guess I will have to analyze my behaviors and work to improve them.

Hmm. What to change? This week my inlaws SHOULD arrive Monday. I believe they come bearing Easter Eggs. This will be hard to resist especially as Chocolate is just not the same in the USA (sorry USA readers). Plus with their visit will come, I'm sure Eating Out. So this will be a huge challenge. They will be here for 10 days.

Here are some thoughts for how I can stay on plan.

1. Go back to eating oatmeal and blueberries for breakfast. I have been eating cereal which, if I am honest, I never measure. If I'm even more honest I like cereal as a snack in a big old bowl, and I count it as 3 points. Um NO!

2. Keep taking salad for lunch. I have been taking salad for lunch lately, chopping up peppers, cucumbers, carrots and whatever else I have. I have a 0 point spray dressing so it is great to spend 0 points on lunch. I usually take a 2 point yogurt, an apple, and some kind of cereal bar (2) so spend around 5 points on lunch.

3. Gym I will have to try to sneak in gym visits while they are here to keep the damage down. This will be tough as they are here during our regular working week, so I'm sure I will be needed at home for the car to take them places, but I have to try to sneak in at least some cardio.

Any other ideas friends?

Help! Trying to keep it together.

So I miss my e tools badly. I aim to get them back when I get paid. They really keep me in check. I just did a quick add up of my food today including dinner and I am looking at being over points by about 1.

I want to do this. I feel helpless without ww but right now I can't reinstate it into my life. Actually, maybe there is a way. I could use some money from savings on the promise that I put it right back when I get paid in about 10 days time. I don't want to fall off the wagon. I'm going to discuss this with Daniel right now! I don't want what I have achieved to fall by the wayside. I really really don't!

Edited - we decided I should just do it! So I am about to. I have missed it. I am hopeless at keeping on track by myself.

On Monday I went to the gym with my friend Amy and boy did she work me hard. We did the treadmill for cardio and then she ran us through some paces of...well how to describe it? Like bicycles lying on our backs and leg raises and all sorts. Also weights! That's good as I need to tone up badly as well as losing weight. My body took it hard and is still aching! It was very weird, the next day driving to school I could FEEL my stomach muscles trying to stabilize me as I went around corners! I could feel those muscles working!! I maywell run through those paces myself before I get in the shower in a little while.

In other news the in laws have been trying to make it over here and were due on the 16th, they are now due on Monday and as flights have resumed I am hopeful. I know they come bearing Easter Eggs which is a little worrying...