Slimming World: Round 2

I'm back for round 2 of Slimming World because I'm still chubby. This time around I'm not going to the classes, I can't be arsed spending £20 a month for someone to weigh me when I have my own scales at home (plus the people at my local one seemed a bit unfriendly last time and ain't nobody got time for that). I need something to keep me accountable so I'm going to post my progress each week on here again. I've got a short term goal, a medium term goal and a long term goal to help push myself.

Short term: I'm going to my cousin's wedding on 31st August, and I'm determined to lose a pound or two before then, so that's my short term goal. Nothing too crazy, just want to feel good.
Mid term: To lose 5% of my body weight - taking me to 133lbs
Long term: Ben and I are going on a week long holiday in April for our friend's wedding and if I could lose 10% of my weight by then - leaving me at 126lbs - I would be so thrilled.

When I did Slimming World last year I managed to lose 5.5lbs in one month without doing any real exercise (I still don't understand how), but this time I'm in a much better head space and I'm ready to do some workouts (aiming for at least 3 each week) so lets see how we get on!

Starting Weight: 140lbs
Dream Weight: Somewhere around the 125lb mark.

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Week 1 (1st-7th August 2019)

Food: So the first week's result was slightly disappointing, but pretty much expected. I went to stay with Ben's family over the weekend and we had a busy one, going out to eat and drink every day, so if anything I'm surprised I haven't gained - I thought I'd have easily gained a pound each from Friday (we had a meal out before seeing Grease at the theatre), Saturday (we had a trip to Whitby so naturally got fish and chips, followed by a night out and a post-night-out-takeaway) and Sunday (went out for a roast dinner). Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I was well behaved to make up for my wild weekend but 3 days of good eating does not magically take away the 3 days of unruly eating! Anyway, I'm trying to tactfully eat my HEx-B - 40g Weetabix Minis - in the evenings so I can still snack when Ben and I are hanging out watching OITNB, but in a way which is Slimming World appropriate. They're a bit dry but definitely tasty, team em with a cuppa and Bob's your uncle!

Exercise: Didn't do as much exercise as I'd planned this week, I've had some problems with my foot and need to be referred to a physiotherapist, but still managed a kinda active weekend.

Saturday: 7km Walk around Whitby

Sunday: Climb up Roseberry Topping

Weigh In: 140lbs

Weight Loss: Maintain

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Week 2 (8th-14th August 2019)

Food: It was restaurant week in Newcastle, so Ben and I had booked to go out on a date on Thursday night to Longhorns to eat various delicious BBQ meats, which is exactly what we did! Despite that though, I had a really well-behaved week with plenty of speed food and all in all only ate 48 of my 105 syns, averaging around 7 each day. We even managed a trip to Nandos for only 5.5 syns! - I ordered the butterfly chicken (3.5) with corn on the cob (free) and spicy rice (2). I also tried the Low-Fat Chicken Super Noodles this week and I can confirm they are as bad as people say, don't waste your time.

Exercise: We've been plagued with really strange weather this week, I had planned to go out for several bike rides but each time I was getting ready to go, it started raining. Extremely frustrating!! So, second week in a row, I didn't get as much exercise done as I'd planned, but I did have to run to the metro twice this week because I slept in, so that's got to count for something, right? 

Tuesday: A delightful 30m Bike Ride which ended up with Ben and I being lost in the middle of a wheat field.

Weigh In: 138lbs

Weight Loss: -2

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Week 3 (15th-21st August 2019)

Food: I felt mega-motivated this week to be extra good, because I realised that I only really had this week and next to make a difference in time for my short term goal (help I still can't find a decent dress to wear to the wedding). I didn't eat out at all this week in the hopes that if I have a full week of healthy, on-plan, home cooking my loss will be as good or better as week 2 - spoiler alert, not quite. Syn count: 57/105, an average of 8 each day.

Exercise: I've been way more serious about working out in week 3, woohoo! Last week I found the Couch to 5k app, and it inspired me to finally give running another try. You can choose a celebrity to coach you and I've chosen Sarah Millican - her voice cheering me on makes me smile. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the two short runs I've been on, I thought it would feel like hell considering that it's been a few months since I've done any kind of running but I had a really pleasant time, so for now I'm going to try to keep it up. I also finally returned to bouldering this weekend, I hadn't been since we went on holiday in June so my arms were killing the next day, but it was lush to get back at it.

Saturday: 2.5km Run
Sunday: 2.5km Run and 1 hour of Bouldering

Weigh In: 137lbs

Weight Loss: -1 

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Week 4 (22nd-28th August 2019)

Food: I'll be honest, I lost all control of myself this week. It was an extra long bank holiday weekend for me and I spent the majority of it in Middlesbrough, where I don't have a massive amount of control over what food is available for me to eat. I'm not going to list all of the terribly delicious things I ate, but it was a binge weekend to top all binge weekends. I sadly floated back down to reality on Tuesday morning, and ate well the rest of the week. No syn count available, because no doubt it's somewhere in the 300s. I gained some weight this week, but I also gained some happy memories with people I love, so who really cares? Also, I finally found a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding on the 31st and it fits me just the way I am! 

Exercise: 

Saturday: 2 hour Bike Ride

Weigh In: 140lbs

Weight Loss: +3

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31st August/Short Term Goal Check-in: Strangely I weighed myself this morning and I was 136lbs, despite weighing in at 140lbs 2 days before - not sure what's going on but I was buzzing all day!

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Week 5 (29th-4th September 2019)

Food: I've been experimenting with new speed foods this week, and found I'm a really big fan of courgetti! I just spiralize some courgette, and make a homemade spaghetti sauce (chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, onion, garlic, pepper, mushrooms, spinach, etc) and the whole thing is 100% speed food, so great for when you need a boost. My cousin's wedding was on Saturday, and I'll admit... I was a tiny bit hungover the next day, so Ben and I shared a pizza, but half of a Pizza Express American Hot is only 11 syns, so it could have been a lot worse! Total syn count for this week (not including the food served at my cousin's wedding because I was a bit drunk): 69/105.

Exercise: Must admit, I've barely even thought about doing exercise this week. I've had a very busy work week, my weekend was mostly already accounted for and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights Ben and I have had guests staying over at ours, so it seemed rude to say "you guys just make yourself busy while I go out for a run, yeah?" - I'll aim for better exercise results next week.
Saturday: Danced the night away at my cousin's wedding. Got to count for something, right?

Weigh In: 138lbs

Weight Loss: -2

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Week 6 (5th-11th September 2019)

Food:  

Exercise:

Weigh In:Weight Loss:

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