omg. o.m.g. O.M.G.
I needed some new jeans, my old ones have got 'fashunable' *koff* rip in knee. Decided to try some cheapo ones on in Asda - if I can fit into a size smaller than I was when I started this diet, I'll buy a pair, I thought. Tried them on - didn't fit - too big!!!!!!!!! Tried on the next size down, they fit, OMG! OK so they are a little on the snug side right now but I mean like omg I dropped 2 (or is it 4? I get confoosed?) sizes in a month. How kewl is that??
Monday, February 09, 2004
Sunday, February 08, 2004
oh dear. bad cheese. bad bad bad shouting at me from the fridge and making me eat it. hmm. at least I not put butter on the crackers (butter lives in freezer these days). Calorie budget blown again today. And that was before the extra glass of wine to celebrate Lord Brocket getting chucked off IACGMOOH. hah.
Marjorie’s Tip For Today: Write It Down
The only way to keep track of how many calories you eat each day is to write down everything you eat, how much you ate, and the calories in it. Get a little note book (the Paperchase sale is good for getting cute ones cheap like Clazza's) and use it to keep a record of everything you eat. Add up the calories as you go along, so you have a running total for the day and know how many you have left. Also, make a note of any exercise you did that day. This is what a page of Clazza's book looks like.
You could do it on a computer (and there are some websites that let you keep your records there) but that's only any use if you have a pda or laptop. Otherwise, you won't be able to writ everything down straight away, and you'll forget things (accidentally or accidentally on purpose). Trust me, the old fashioned way with pen and paper is better. And the batteries never run out.
Be honest when you write things down. Like your dad always told you, the only person you,re cheating is yourself if you "forget" about that extra slice of toast, mars bar, can of coke, whatever. No-one else has to see your book. It's for you, and it's only any good to you if you're honest.
You could do it on a computer (and there are some websites that let you keep your records there) but that's only any use if you have a pda or laptop. Otherwise, you won't be able to writ everything down straight away, and you'll forget things (accidentally or accidentally on purpose). Trust me, the old fashioned way with pen and paper is better. And the batteries never run out.
Be honest when you write things down. Like your dad always told you, the only person you,re cheating is yourself if you "forget" about that extra slice of toast, mars bar, can of coke, whatever. No-one else has to see your book. It's for you, and it's only any good to you if you're honest.
Meal went well last night, and I don't think I blew my diet too badly (tho I had to guestimate calories eaten and drunk). Sadly all of the applewood smoked cheddar didn't get eaten so I will be forced to eat it all myself shame shame.
Usually we try and go for family walk on Sundays but we're being wimpy about the wind today and just going to the park for a bit instead.
Usually we try and go for family walk on Sundays but we're being wimpy about the wind today and just going to the park for a bit instead.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
having people round for a meal tonight, so my calorie budget for the day is gonna go rather over drawn. I'm trying to keep the calories to a reasonable level (eg Delia's low fat white sauce on the lasagne). But it's still gonna be a bit of a blow out, esp with all the wine I plan on drinking. Ooh and there will be pudding, which will make a change from muller rice and/or fruit.
Marjorie's Tip For Today: How Many Calories In …. ?
For packaged foods, look on the back of the pack. You should see calories (and fat, carbohydrates, protein etc) per 100g listed. Often they will also give the calories per ‘serving’. Watch out, cos this can be misleading. What you think of as a serving and what the food manufacturers think are often not the same thing.
You will also need a calorie book, like the Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible. This lists the calories of just about every food there is. You’ll need it to look up the calories of non-packaged foods, and for those times when you throw away the packet before looking. You can often get smaller calorie books free with slimming mags – not as comprehensive, but handy for taking with you when you go out and about. You can also look up the calories of foods online at sites like Weightloss Resources.
You will also need a calorie book, like the Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible. This lists the calories of just about every food there is. You’ll need it to look up the calories of non-packaged foods, and for those times when you throw away the packet before looking. You can often get smaller calorie books free with slimming mags – not as comprehensive, but handy for taking with you when you go out and about. You can also look up the calories of foods online at sites like Weightloss Resources.
Friday, February 06, 2004
Marjories's Tip For Today: Get Some Scales
You Need Scales. You really do. Actually you need two sets.
One for weighing yourself. Some people prefer not to weigh themselves at all, instead checking out how well their clothes fit. I think that might work if you don't have much to lose, but if you have a lot of weight to lose you are going to have to weigh yourself. You can get basic bathroom scales from Argos for about seven quid, or if you want to splash out you can pay more for fancy digital ones that work out your body fat and/or look kewl in your bathroom. Resist the temptation to weigh yourself every day - once a week (or even once a month) is better. If you really don't want to have scales in the house, some people prefer to get weighed at a slimming club or at the gymn.
You need a second set for weighing your food. Cheapo kitchen scales start from three and a half quid in Argos, or again you can pay more for flashier ones to suit your Home Front inspired décor. Whatever, if poss I suggest you weigh your food in metric – it’s easier to do calculations in metric, and most manufacturers list calories per 100g (as does the Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible).
Oh and you need a set of kitchen measuring spoons too, makes measuring small quanities of stuff way easier.
One for weighing yourself. Some people prefer not to weigh themselves at all, instead checking out how well their clothes fit. I think that might work if you don't have much to lose, but if you have a lot of weight to lose you are going to have to weigh yourself. You can get basic bathroom scales from Argos for about seven quid, or if you want to splash out you can pay more for fancy digital ones that work out your body fat and/or look kewl in your bathroom. Resist the temptation to weigh yourself every day - once a week (or even once a month) is better. If you really don't want to have scales in the house, some people prefer to get weighed at a slimming club or at the gymn.
You need a second set for weighing your food. Cheapo kitchen scales start from three and a half quid in Argos, or again you can pay more for flashier ones to suit your Home Front inspired décor. Whatever, if poss I suggest you weigh your food in metric – it’s easier to do calculations in metric, and most manufacturers list calories per 100g (as does the Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible).
Oh and you need a set of kitchen measuring spoons too, makes measuring small quanities of stuff way easier.
Weigh in day today. Lost 1 lb this week (average cals for week = 1674/day). I knew that my rate of weight loss would slow down after the first couple of weeks but can't help feeling a little disappointed. Must keep reminding myself that 1 - 2 lb a week is the best rate of loss to aim for. I'm also hoping, with the exercise I've been doing, some of my fat has turned to muscle. Certainly some of my clothes feel looser, and I had to get a belt to hold a couple of pairs of trousers up. So things are moving in the right direction.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
So. Belly Dancing. Not just any old belly dancing mind, this was Tribal Belly Dance with an Edge apparently. A new experience. Very much a free your mind and your ass will follow experience. My mind has a long way to go and my ass further yet.
I saw a poster for it at the leisure centre and decided to give it a try, partly because it looked fun, partly because I know I ought to do more weight bearing exercise (good for the bones) but mainly because when I told my sis I was thinking of trying it she said I must, just think what fun I can have belly dancing on tables when drunk.
For me it was better than a conventional exercise class because you don't need to buy any exercise clothes or trainers, and the music's way better than the usual crap you hear pumping out of 'work out studios'. It was also interesting how mixed the class was, I imagine more diverse than your usual work out crowd. I enjoyed it a lot, tho it's gonna take me a while to get the hang of it. I think I need to put Terry Hall & Mushtaq on and practise in the living room.
Weigh in day tomorrow (Friday). Hmmm.
I saw a poster for it at the leisure centre and decided to give it a try, partly because it looked fun, partly because I know I ought to do more weight bearing exercise (good for the bones) but mainly because when I told my sis I was thinking of trying it she said I must, just think what fun I can have belly dancing on tables when drunk.
For me it was better than a conventional exercise class because you don't need to buy any exercise clothes or trainers, and the music's way better than the usual crap you hear pumping out of 'work out studios'. It was also interesting how mixed the class was, I imagine more diverse than your usual work out crowd. I enjoyed it a lot, tho it's gonna take me a while to get the hang of it. I think I need to put Terry Hall & Mushtaq on and practise in the living room.
Weigh in day tomorrow (Friday). Hmmm.
Marjorie's Tip For Today: Set Your Calorie Budget
To lose weight, you need to consume less calories than you use. That is the basis of any diet. So, you need to work out your calorie budget - how many calories a day you can eat and lose weight.
Ignore anyone who tells you to eat a really low calorie diet (and that includes some of the advice given in 'Vegetarian Slimming' - we love it for the recipes, not the advice). You won't stick to it for very long. The best thing is to find out how many calories a day you need to maintain your current weight, then eat less. There's a table in the 'Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible' (see Fat Fighters Book Club) or you can use the free trial at Weightloss Resources to find out your 'maintenance calories'.
Once you know this, how much less than this should you eat? These figures show the approximate weight loss you can expect by eating less than your maintenance calories ....
250 less = losing 0.5 lb a week
500 less = losing 1lb a week
750 less = 1.5 lb a week
1000 less = 2 lb a week
Don't aim to lose more than 1 - 2 lb a week on average (some weeks you may lose more, some weeks less, but it's the average loss that really matters). Slowly, steadily and healthily are the keys to losing weighsuccessfullyly and keeping it off in the long term.
I wouldn't recommend eating less than 1500 calories a day, either, particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose. Many people find that they can usually eat around 1500 cals a day without feeling hungry, if they eat a sensible and balanced diet.
Ignore anyone who tells you to eat a really low calorie diet (and that includes some of the advice given in 'Vegetarian Slimming' - we love it for the recipes, not the advice). You won't stick to it for very long. The best thing is to find out how many calories a day you need to maintain your current weight, then eat less. There's a table in the 'Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible' (see Fat Fighters Book Club) or you can use the free trial at Weightloss Resources to find out your 'maintenance calories'.
Once you know this, how much less than this should you eat? These figures show the approximate weight loss you can expect by eating less than your maintenance calories ....
250 less = losing 0.5 lb a week
500 less = losing 1lb a week
750 less = 1.5 lb a week
1000 less = 2 lb a week
Don't aim to lose more than 1 - 2 lb a week on average (some weeks you may lose more, some weeks less, but it's the average loss that really matters). Slowly, steadily and healthily are the keys to losing weighsuccessfullyly and keeping it off in the long term.
I wouldn't recommend eating less than 1500 calories a day, either, particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose. Many people find that they can usually eat around 1500 cals a day without feeling hungry, if they eat a sensible and balanced diet.
Ananova reports that a Brazilian fashion show has featured larger models. This is good. Shame about the clothes, tho.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Aquarobics tonight. Nearly didn't go. Had a fun time in a last minute omg I nearly forgot dad's birthday shopping panic, which put me in a reet bad mood. Got home from that, got on bike to go to pool, and found out my brakes weren't working. Arse. R tried to fix it but no joy. I thought of just staying home but went (late) to aquarobics anyway. Glad I did, tho I didn't enjoy it as much as usual after all the mither before hand.
If you do swimming or aquarobics, it's worth getting a proper cozzie. Got an Allen's Swimwear brochure through the post this morning, which was nice. Might get meself a new cozzie when I've lost a bit more weight. It's hard for big girls to get proper cozzies in the high street. Most sports shops only sell them in small sizes, and big girl shops only sell sitting around and occasionally doing a bit of paddling type costumes. So hurrah for mail order and double hurrah for on-line shopping. Allen's stock lots of costumes in bigger sizes. Look for descriptions like 'masters' or 'classic' - that's swim cozzie code for "will fit normal women not just 14 year old olympic hopefuls". Master/classic cozzies come in larger sizes and often have medium or even low cut legs, useful for those of us who don't want to have to have a Brazilian just to go swimming. Several styles also have build in support for the chest area, handy for the top heavy among us.
Wednesday night is ER night, and ER night means popcorn. Fortunately Marjorie has trained me to enjoy plain popcorn ie home popped with a teeny bit of oil and a little salt. Satisfies those salty snack cravings nicely.
If you do swimming or aquarobics, it's worth getting a proper cozzie. Got an Allen's Swimwear brochure through the post this morning, which was nice. Might get meself a new cozzie when I've lost a bit more weight. It's hard for big girls to get proper cozzies in the high street. Most sports shops only sell them in small sizes, and big girl shops only sell sitting around and occasionally doing a bit of paddling type costumes. So hurrah for mail order and double hurrah for on-line shopping. Allen's stock lots of costumes in bigger sizes. Look for descriptions like 'masters' or 'classic' - that's swim cozzie code for "will fit normal women not just 14 year old olympic hopefuls". Master/classic cozzies come in larger sizes and often have medium or even low cut legs, useful for those of us who don't want to have to have a Brazilian just to go swimming. Several styles also have build in support for the chest area, handy for the top heavy among us.
Wednesday night is ER night, and ER night means popcorn. Fortunately Marjorie has trained me to enjoy plain popcorn ie home popped with a teeny bit of oil and a little salt. Satisfies those salty snack cravings nicely.
Marjorie's Tip For Today: Set a Target
You need to set yourself a target weight to work towards. You might chose a weight you’ve been happy at in the past. Or, if like Clazza you’ve been a bit of a whale your whole adult life, you could chose by working out what weight would give you a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) for your height. Whatever weight you chose, make sure it’s a healthy one for you – anorexic stick insect is so not a good look.
For more on healthy weights and healthy weight loss, (including online BMI calculators) , take a look at the BBC’s health site and the British Diatetic Association’s Weight Wise site.
For more on healthy weights and healthy weight loss, (including online BMI calculators) , take a look at the BBC’s health site and the British Diatetic Association’s Weight Wise site.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Went swimming tonight. For some reason only half the pool was roped off into lanes, ie half as much 'proper' swimming space as usual. It was nice to see the Manchester and District Ladies' Slow Breastroking Club (incorporating the The More I Splash The Faster I'll Go Gentlemen's Freestyle Association) out in force and fully demonstrating their motto Lane Discipline Is For Other People. Hats off to them for the nochalant disregard with which they regally swim 3 abreast in each lane, untroubled by the 'please swim anti-clockwise' notices. Why use one lane for swimming slowly in when you can use all 3? I know that Marjorie also admires their dedication to style and beauty, particularly the way the ladies never fail to apply fresh make-up before entering the pool, and the gents annoint themselves with aftershave, giving other pool users the joy of swimming through slicks of Brut. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.
Actually I'm not a swimming snob, really I'm not. Some people swim slower than me and some people swim faster than me. S'OK. It's thoughtless selfish lane hogging bastards I can't stand. And I'm not just in a bad mood because I can't master lesson one of Total Immersion. Not at all. Grrrrrrrrr.
Actually I'm not a swimming snob, really I'm not. Some people swim slower than me and some people swim faster than me. S'OK. It's thoughtless selfish lane hogging bastards I can't stand. And I'm not just in a bad mood because I can't master lesson one of Total Immersion. Not at all. Grrrrrrrrr.
hurrah, I made it back from Biscuitland without having a biscuit. Being a good fatfighter girl, I took my own sarnies and an apple, and declined the biscuits. Fortunately I already had my coat on when someone arrived with a huge box of Indian sweets. I utterly adore them, but they seem to be made principally of sugar and condensed milk, with extra sugar, and I would not not not have been able to stop at just one. So I listened to Marjorie's voice in my head telling me to be good and ran out the door before I could think for myself.
Marjorie's Tip For Today: First Things First
Before going on a diet, starting an exercise regime or making other major lifestyle changes, speak to your doctor – particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose and/or currently lead a pretty sedentary life. Your doc may also be able to give you support and advice, or refer you to someone who can, such as a dietician or practice nurse.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Marjorie's Tip For Today: Getting Started
calories eaten less than calories used = weight lost
calories eaten more than calories used = weight gain
and there, in a nutshell, is why people like Clazza are such lard arses. They eat too much and sit around on their arses all day long. The only way for these poor souls to become slim and gorgeous like me is to eat less and do more. Simple! well it is for me but the likes of Clazza need more help, so I will be sharing my top tips with her and you.
calories eaten more than calories used = weight gain
and there, in a nutshell, is why people like Clazza are such lard arses. They eat too much and sit around on their arses all day long. The only way for these poor souls to become slim and gorgeous like me is to eat less and do more. Simple! well it is for me but the likes of Clazza need more help, so I will be sharing my top tips with her and you.
I started making a serious effort to get fitter and healthier and slimmer on 9th Jan this year. I knew I was a bit overweight (OK very overweight) but I didn't know just how much, till I accidentally stepped on some scales. My weight is in the top right of this blog, I still can't actually say the figures out loud, it's too horrible. What was worst of all was calculating my body mass index and finding out I fell into the 'morbidly obese' category. Waaaaaah. So, in consulation with Marjorie, I set out to tackle this. So far I have lost 1 stone (14 lb) in the first 3 weeks hooray but as Marj keeps reminding me, weight loss can be quick at the start of a diet but slows down as you go on. So I don't expect to keep losing at this rate - 1 to 2 lb a week is the rate I am aiming at.
Inspired by my dear friend, mentor, role model and style icon, FatFighter-in-Chief Marjorie Dawes, I am trying to following her shining example and Get Slim the Fat Fighters Way. Marjorie has kindly agreed to aid me in my fight, and will be giving me the benefit of her years of Fat Fighting experience. She has also graciously agreed that her gems of wisdom may be shared with you, the interweb reading public, so that you too may fight fat the Marjorie way. Look out for Marjorie's tip for today, coming soon to this blog.
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