Disheartened

This week, I've been feeling a bit disheartened with my Slimming World journey. After gaining a pound then maintaining the next week after feeling like I've been doing well, it's hard to remain positive. So this week I've been eating my size of portions, enjoying some syns, having my measured healthy extras and lots of free food. I've also been using recipes from the book so I know that the portions are alright and I'm including plenty of speed foods. I've made an effort to move about a bit more this week - including getting up early this morning for a shwoer and get dressed properly. Not just in pyjamas.

I know. Scary thought.

I've just had an apple and made myself a cup of coffee then I'm going to go and do a work out that I printed yesterday. I'm finally making some headway with my weight loss binder which I will be starting filling out tomorrow. It's a new Slimming World week, after all.

I also want to start working towards my Body Magic Awards. I've made a chart for my binder so I can add activities in to my daily schedule and encourage myself to get moving.

I'll update this in a few days with how I get on at weigh-in tonight and some goals for the next week. Fingers crossed I get a loss. Even though this is YET ANOTHER * week... I've only had one off since I started my journey. Heaven help me...

The Ups and Downs of Slimming

This week's result at SW leaves much to be desired. I managed to put on 1lb and, though it could have been worse, it's still disappointing. However, these hormones aren't settling as soon as I'd have liked and they are messing with my journey. Medication is just another bump on the road, or a bit like a car with an elephant in the back. I'll get there, it'll just take me a little longer than planned.

Luckily, I'm not losing weight for anything in particular except my health and appearance. I feel a bit of a fat frump these days and now is the time to change that. Before my weigh in, I decided to sign up for a 10 week countdown which gives me 2 additional weeks free. Thank goodness I did. It has given me the motivation I needed to keep going even though my journey isn't going as expected. It would be all too easy to get disheartened by a gain and a slow initial loss but buying a block means I HAVE to go as it's already paid for. Boost. So I'm hoping it helps me maintain the determination I had when I started a few weeks ago.

Today, I have been fairly good. My daily breakfast or 2 small wholemeal toasts, 3 scrambled eggs (with no milk or butter) and half a tin of spaghetti hoops, followed by a cop of coffee means I've used one of my Healthy Extras and made a start on the dairy extra. I have had 1 cereal bar (3 syns), a light Baby Bell (2 syns) and a syn-free mug shot. More coffees and an Options hot chocolate (2 syns). So far, that's all the syns I've had and I'm allowed 15-20 daily. I also shared an apple with the little hooligan.

My aims for this week are to increase my water intake, do some body magic and limit my daily syns to make sure I get a decent loss this week. I'm bloody determined.

Body Magic... Turns you into a Wizard, right?

Today was the day I attempted my first workout in nearly a year. My muscles are weak and feel a little shaky but I'm feeling good. I have realised how out-of-shape I have become and I'm now determined to change that too.

I've also been pondering over alternative reasons to why I'm not losing weight as quickly as I'd like. One major factor is possibly not eating quite so much fruit right now. Another could be portion size. I know the plan says to "Fill your plate with free foods" but I do honestly believe there may be a limit to that. So, for this week, I've meal prepped and got all my lunches sorted, topped up on Muller Light yoghurts, and am drinking fruit tea inbetween mugs of coffee and builders tea. It may help, what with the antioxidants, etc.

For the first time this week, I'm also feeling more energetic. I've been struggling with sleep again and it's having a bad effect on my energy levels. However, I had a hunt in the cupboards last night and found a packet of teabags that I bought a while ago to see if they would help me drift off. And I think they worked. The blend of Chamomile, Lavendar and Vanilla Bean certainly aided my sleep last night. If you're struggling to get to the Land of Nod, try Twining's Sleep Tea. Highly recommended from me.

Anyways, It's time to settle down with a mug of Twining's Strawberry & Raspberry tea and an Alpen Light bar (3 Syns). Let's hope I can walk tomorrow and go for another workout.

Ciao!