The Cats First Day Outside

Our kitties are just over a year old and up until last weekend had always been house cats. This is because where we used to live was on a busy round in the middle of a town and far too dangerous for kitties to be running around.. Plus we had a much bigger house (3 storey town house) so they had plenty of room to run around. A couple of months ago we moved back to our home town on a nice quiet housing estate but had to compromise on size as our home town is so much more expensive. With the new place being considerably smaller, having a nice garden and being in a quieter area, we knew it was time to let the little munchkins out.

I'd read that when you move you shouldn't let cats our for a couple of months so they can get used to their new home and stuff so in this time we had Vinnie castrated (Chester got done last year) - he hadn't been done before because he's on daily meds as his immune system attacks itself - but the vets said it would be fine as long as he had extra medication before/after. We also got both Vinnie and Chester microchipped and they had their vaccinations.

Vinnie

We were so nervous about letting them out for the first time as we didn't know what they'd do - if they'd just do a runner or not! We'd been advised to let them out hungry so we did.. They were a bit cautious at first but were soon chasing flies, rolling around on the patio and doing funny walks on the grass - lifting their paws up really high as they walked lol.. So funny to watch! Today was the 4th day of them being allowed out (they come in when it starts to get dark, we don't want them out at night) and they still haven't left the garden yet! We do have a 6ft fence right the way round it but I'd have thought they'd have jumped onto the BBQ then onto the shed to get up but they haven't so far..

Chester

They both seem so much happier now which makes us happy. I'd love if they never left the garden as it means they'll always be safe but I'm not counting my chickens! I don't think either of them would go very far though as they're very in and out and such soppy little home boddies! I love our little munchkins so much and wouldn't change a hair on their super cute little faces :) xxx

Slimming World Rewards

I think it's really important to celebrate and reward each milestone during weight loss. I never thought of doing this until I joined my local Slimming World group and learned that at each half stone you are awarded a certificate and every time you get slimmer of the week it's celebrated too.. It got me thinking about how I can personally reward myself - it will give me something to aim for, push myself towards and look forward to if I do.

1 stone.
£30 to spend in The Body Shop... I also have a voucher so in theory I'll get more than £30 worth too ;) I love the products I have tried from there and have a list of things I'd really like to try but I never seem to end up going in (no idea why!) so thought this would be the perfect opportunity to treat myself.

2 stone.
£50 to spend in Boots/Superdrug on beauty products. I like me some make ups, I love trying new things but haven't for a while now so this will be good. I also have around £15 on my Boots card so will use that then too. I'd like to try some new mascaras and buy some nice bath products for the rare occasion that I'll decide against a shower, light some candles and properly relax in the tub.

3 stone/end target.
If I get to 3 stone and want to stop then my reward will be a shopping spree for new clothes either at Lakeside or in London for the weekend with my mum, with no price limit. Part of me thinks 3 stone won't quite be enough so if this is the case, I'll set a new target. The shopping spree is my reward for my end target. My 3 stone reward if I keep going will be a tattoo. I have a star on my forearm that I really dislike because it's plain so I'd like to add to that and make it look more feminine and pretty.


Are any of you following Slimming World? xxx

Weight Loss Tag

1.    When did you start gaining weight?
I started to notice I was larger than the people around me of the same age when I was at middle school. I was bullied during middle and upper school which I don't think helped but I gained most of my weight after I gave up smoking, 5 years ago and turned to junk food.

2.    What was your heaviest weight?
Once I feel more comfortable with myself I'll happily tell people what I did weigh but I'm not there yet, sorry.

3.    What diets have you been on?
I've tried Slim Fast (the shakes are yummy but I enjoy actually eating food too much!), Weight Watchers (it felt far too restricted and I always felt hungry) and Slimming World, which I'm doing now, I've tried twice before from home whereas this time I've joined a group.

4.    Is your goal a clothing size or a number on the scale?
A bit of both I think. At the moment my goal is to lose 3 stone but I also said I'd like to be a comfortable size 14 again (the size I was before I stopped smoking) and I have no idea if I'll lose 3 stone or get to a size 14 first! When I do get to one/both of them, I may feel like I want to go a bit further so I'm just going by how I feel, I really want to feel good about how I look in clothes again..  That's more important to me than a size or number.

5.    What is your fave food prior to starting this life style change?
Chicken and sweetcorn pizza with mozzarella stuffed crust from Dominoes. I wouldn't allow myself to have it while I'm still the size I am but once I'm at target I would definitely have it as a treat.. Just not a large one all to myself!!! #fatpig

6.    What is your fave food now?
Salmon! I'd never tried it until about 2 months ago when my sister told me how nice it is... Now I can't get enough of it!! I have it 2/3 times a week on a bed of salad - another thing I've really been enjoying. I also love cous cous, home made curry, spag bol and jacket potato with prawns.

7.    What is a food you will not give up?
There isn't really anything you need to give up to be honest! That's why Slimming World is so easy to stick to.. There are things I personally don't let myself have anymore (like the pizza) because it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle choice and I binged so bad on junk so I won't allow myself to do that any more as it's unhealthy but other than that, there isn't anything I've thought "I'm not going without that!"

8.    How do you reward your accomplishments?
Watch this space because I have a post dedicated to this question coming up this week where I'll let you know what my rewards to myself will be :)

9.    What will you do at goal?
This will also be covered in the rewards post that I'm half way through writing! 

10.  What diet or plot are you following right now?
Slimming World, although as I said, it's not really a diet it's a change in lifestyle.. I still eat all of the foods I enjoy eating. I don't go without chocolate or anything but it's all in moderation now, no stuffing my face with it until I feel shitty, just having enough to enjoy it. It's about eating better food, encouraging you to cook meals from scratch using fresh ingredients rather than buying a jar or chucking processed crap in the oven. 

11.  What is your fave body part?
Does my hair count as a body part?! I love my hair.. I really don't like much else about myself at the moment.. But at least I'm doing something about it :)

12.  What are your non scale goals?
To gain more confidence.. To feel good about myself when I get dressed and look in the mirror or at least accept it and not feel negative and to be able to shop in "normal" high street shops again. To feel comfortable eating in front of others without thinking they're judging me and to stop thinking people probably wonder why Aaron is with a fat girl when he could probably have someone a lot nicer looking.

13.  What makes losing weight hard for you?
The time it takes! I'm sure we'd all love to click our fingers and wake up our goal weight/size but unfortunately it takes hard work and time. I feel a lot differently about it this time though.. Something seems to have snapped in my head and I really feel determined and I'm enjoying it!

14.  Would you ever consider weight loss surgery?
No, I'm a huge wimp! Even if someone paid for it I don't think I could do it.

Slimming World A Month On..

Last month I wrote a post on why I'd felt so crappy for so long and told you how things seemed to be turning around and I was starting a new journey. You can read that post here. After that, I wrote a this post on why I had decided to join Slimming World.
Now I'm writing again to let you know how I'm getting on, just over a month later.. The answer is brilliantly! I said to Aaron earlier how I'm really enjoying it this time round. I'm actually enjoying eating healthier meals and enjoying fruit. Yes, you read that correctly - I'm eating fruit.. And (don't faint) vegetables!! When I've tried to lose weight before I'd eat healthy food but only cause I felt like I had to.. Now when I eat tuna salad with actual lettuce leaves I thoroughly enjoy it. Shit the bed.

I had my 4th weigh in last Thursday and lost 2lb.. I've now lost 10lb in total. I've also won slimmer of the week 3 weeks in a row :) I'm so proud of myself for how determined I am this time and how much will power I have. There's been several times where I could quite easily have said fuck it and ordered a Dominos or had several bacardis with the diet cokes I had instead.. But I didn't because what's the point? I can't lose weight and eat shit, it's one or the other. Eat crap, feel like crap = keep looking like crap. Eat good, feel good = look good.

Made (and tweaked) the 1/2 syn cake. Delish!!

One thing that has bugged me (only a little bit but I wanted to share) is that I can't see any changes when I look in the mirror yet. My mum and sister say they can tell and Aaron says he can feel that I'm smaller - minds out the gutter you rude people! - I mean when he puts his arms round me and cuddles me. Maybe it's just that negative voice in my head but sometimes I just think people say them to be polite and I quietly question if they mean it - I've never been great at taking compliments - it stems from being bullied - it's like an automatic thing that when someone says something nice I automatically think it's not true and they're only saying it to be nice/polite, not cause it's true - cause it couldn't possibly be.. Quite sad really isn't it.

Anyway!! Although I can't see a difference when I look in the mirror, something fandabbydosey happened today! We went to Asda cause I'd seen some trousers online I wanted and I tried on a bunch of stuff. The trousers I'd wanted looked bloody awful but I tried a top on in the usual size I'd get and it was too big! I had to get the next size down! I still can't really believe that it's actually working, even though clearly it is! I was well chuffed, I still am. I probably will be every time I open the wardrobe too, haha. It's things like this that will help me to keep on track at home.

Me being organised!

Talking of keeping on track... Last Thusday was the last week I needed to fill in my food diary for my consultant to check over. Being the super organised person I am, I bought a (glittery blue and pink) note pad to keep writing everything down in. This way I can keep check on myself and keep a note of what I'm eating/drinking or if the weight doesn't keep coming off the way it has been, I can show my consultant what I've had and get some advice. I've also gone through all of my old Slimming World magazines and cut out any of the recipes I'm likely to want to make plus any syn values for things and put them in sleeves in a folder. Told ya, super organised, me!

Also, part of me is toying with the idea of dusting off my camera and doing Slimming World videos on YouTube. I want to but I don't. Well, I want to... But I'm not sure. I do want to.. But something keeps making me say BUT! See? I can't put my finger on it. Should I? Shouldn't I?

I'll sleep on it ;) xxx

On Joining Slimming World

Last month I took the plunge and joined a Slimming World group. I've given Slimming World a go a couple of times from home but always said I'd do better if I attended a group - only I had nobody to go with and didn't have the confidence to go alone. My sister joined with me and it wasn't as scary as I thought, it's true what people say - they're all lovely! I also bought a bike and have been biking to and from work every day, I definitely didn't exercise enough before but I'm putting that right now :)

I decided to join Slimming World because I couldn't stick to it for very long doing it from home.. Being at group as given me the motivation and extra support I didn't have before.. It keeps me on track and keeps it fresh - from home it ends up sliding and sliding and the next minute you're eating crap again. At group there is incentive to keep going - you're praised and rewarded by the group (they all clap your weight loss, you get a sticker and certificate for every 1/2 stone you lose and if you lose the most out of everyone else at your group, you're slimmer of the week and get a sticker and a bowl of fruit. There is also a draw each week to win different syn free/low syn ingredients.)

I have 2 reasons for wanting to lose weight. Firstly, I hate the way I look and how I feel in pretty much everything I wear and I want to be able to shop in "normal" shops again. I want to look in the mirror and think "I look great in this!" instead I think "URGH" - if I look. When I first met Aaron, 6 years ago, I was a size 14 and I really want to get back to that. Please don't think for one minute that I think plus size is horrible and they should all lose weight too because I don't at all. Have you seen plus size blogs? Those ladies are fabulous! The difference is, they're confident and love who they are, they embrace it. It's personal choice.

My second reason for wanting to lose weight is for health reasons. Since putting this weight on, I get back ache more often and I've had problems with my foot the past couple years too. I'm flat footed and being overweight hasn't helped.. Sometimes the pain in my foot is so severe I'm in tears. It's meant I can't walk too far cause if I do, I'll suffer afterwards (another reason for buying the bike!) and I'm very limited on what shoes I can wear. Also, both my dads parents have diabetes, my dad was told he'll likely end up with it and I know that by leading a healthier lifestyle, I'm at less risk.

Thursday was my 3rd weigh in at my Slimming World group and I got my half stone award, won slimmer of the week and won the raffle too - you should have seen me trying to bike home with everything!! I won slimmer of the week the week before too :) It's such a great feeling having everybody clap and genuinely be happy and proud of you. In 3 weeks I've lost 8lb and I'm so proud of myself. My target is 3 stone in total although I may want to go further once I get there - I'm going to go by how I feel and what I look like instead of concentrating on a number.

I'm not in a big rush to get to target, I still enjoy my food and I'm not going to start depriving myself to get there quicker because I know I'll be more likely to give up or just pile it all back on again. The changes I've made and continue to make need to stick with me once I get to my target too, I can't go back to binging on rubbish, it's about changing eating habits for the better - hopefully it will just come naturally after a while! :)

Are any of you following Slimming World? Let me know! 

I'm always posting about it on my Instagram so feel free to take a look @tiffanyleighx

xxx