NSVs

 In my working life I was self assured, confident, forward thinking and motivated right up until the day I retired.  Oh how I wish I could transfer all of the above into my private life, but its not that easy, is it? Just to have a bit more of that motivation and self confidence in other walks of my life would be great - especially in my SW journey. I know its in there, I've seen it, but trying to drag it all out and apply it is proving to be a real challenge.

Motivation engulfs me from time to time but sustaining it is much more of a challenge. Its because I am so easily led as far as food is concerned!!! I don't need much of an excuse to stray from my plan though the gremlins in my head are always present. I tell myself I have time to pull things back as it's 'only Thursday' then before I realise it's Tuesday evening and I am staring at weigh in day. Where does that time go?

Well, yesterday was Wednesday again. The scales awaited me and I knew it was not going to be good. This week it will be because I have not nearly eaten enough.  That, I think, is due to the fact that last week the wind caught the car door and whacked me in the face. Left me feeling nauseous for a couple of days so I hardly ate. Yes, I gained a pound. 😟

On a positive note, since Christmas I have gone back to measuring myself so there are some non scales victories (NSVs) to console and encourage myself with. Overall inches losses amount to 3 inches so that in itself is worth celebrating! If you don't measure yourself it is never too late to start. Get a tape measure and note down your measurements. I measure bust, waist, hips and thigh. Some people also measure upper arms but that's an area I prefer not to focus on as my bingo wings are all too evident! I also used to keep a piece of string in my purse and would mark a 'notch' on it from time
to time just to show myself how my NSVs were going! I need to resurrect that piece of string!

I know for me the results on the scales are not always as rewarding as I want them to be so I need those other little 'victories'. They keep me going if not entirely motivated. I draw the line at sticking awful pictures of myself around the house and kitchen but I do have them on my phone for the moments when I need a little nudge or a big kick. Doesn't always work but just sometimes it's all I need. What I need to do now is to find out what others do to give them that motivation that we all need from time to time!

Meanwhile, I faced the scales last night in the knowledge that the number may not be good but at least the inches look better this week!

I need to rethink planning!

Ive got all sorts of formats for planning my week and I do use them. I religiously fill out my weekly food plan, usually on a Thursday, and I add things to my shopping list. I am always ready to tell new members how important planning is, and I do believe it, but............

I have suddenly realised that my planning is only covering half of what I need to do! I know it should have occurred to me by now as every week I'm asked: 'Is there anything that is going to get in your way this week?' Honestly, I do think of those occasions that I might have in my diary and I do try to plan around those. I have some success though my good intentions are sometimes just that and I get waylaid! To be very honest though, its not the events and special occasions that ruin my plans!

Thinking about it all today, I am failing miserably on the mundane and regular occurrences. I now see that I don't plan for them! To give you a perfect example................. every Monday I look after my 18 month old grandson. Now, I have planned Monday in my food diary and I know exactly what I should be eating but then life gets in the way. so what goes wrong?

I pick him up at 7.30 am and head back home for breakfast.  Its fairly hit and miss though it shouldn't be. I SHOULD plan overnight oats or something that I have prepared in advance because if breakfast involves toast or eggs for instance, chances are I'm not going to manage to have them so - I either don't eat or I eat whatever is to hand. (First mistake!)

The morning hurtles towards his lunch time. Believe it or not, his is well planned and prepared! I don't fall into the trap of eating what he leaves, but I'm not organised enough to have my lunch prepared. I had forgotten how difficult is is to cook or prepare anything with a toddler around! The result is that again I grab whatever is available and ready but inevitably it doesn't fill me up. Quite often we bake together (its one of his favourite things to do with granny!) Yes I have planned it and no, I don't lick the bowl. I do have to taste what we have made though and I know I shouldn't but I don't consider the consequences. What I should have done is planned my 'treat' in advance, or at least allowed for the syns, but does that happen? No! Why? Because I haven't planned for it!

Having given him his tea, I take him home again at 6.30 pm. By the time I get back home I am pretty much beyond eating anything at all, despite the fact that it is often prepared. Then the evening is ruined because I'm picking and  compensating for my lack of proper breakfast/lunch/dinner. The tragedy is, I have planned, I know what I should be doing, but EVERY WEEK I fall into the same traps! If I am not careful on Tuesday I am on the same bandwagon and sidestep my plans because I did that on Monday. I am on that hamster wheel again!

Need I say more? The same thing happens when I go out with friends or family or I suddenly have to do something different. I know what I have planned to eat but I have forgotten in the planning that I might not be in the right place to eat it as I am likely trundling round the supermarket or ferrying people in 'mum's taxi'.

 So you see, I do plan, but I forget everyday life in all of that. I can manage to 'one offs' and 'specials'. I can cope with the parties and drinks and I can even manage the restaurants. What I cant seem to manage is the everyday occurrence that serves me a 'curved ball'. Is it a problem with the planning, a  real conundrum, the inevitable, life in general? Or, am I making excuses??????????? The jury is out but if I'm honest I know what the answer is!

Time for cakes!

Mmmmmm biscuits!

Lets not panic now !

Right. First weigh in of the new year over and done with. It is what it is so let's move on! Lucky is the person that can lose weight over Christmas .........i'm not one of them!

Secondly, thank you to those people who commented on my previous blog last night.

'No more messing around,' I am telling myself. 'There's the scenic route to target and there's the 'I'm hideously lost and going round in circles route'. Much as I hate admitting it, the latter is me and has been for a little while now. I am not sure why but I need to shake myself up as in 9 months time I will be MOTHER OF THE BRIDE. Those of you who have followed me for a while may remember that I first started this journey when I was to be Mother of the Groom. I was determined to lose weight as I realised that those wedding photos would be on display for years to come so I wanted to look as good as possible in them. Vain, I know!

Well, here we go again! Realistically I have about 7 months before I really need to look for an outfit. I don't do muted colours so it will have to be bright and bold. In which, case I need to be smaller!!!!


The before and after last time........

not very flattering holiday pic!

         

mother of the bride - 2 stones lighter

I know I can do it. I might need some help/encouragement but do you know what? Ultimately it is down to me! Watch this space......

Where have I been????

Sue, this one is for you........ After all you have been nudging me for long enough!

So, where have I been? The simple answer is, nowhere really. It's been so long since I posted that I can't remember where I was up to at that time. Best then to draw a line and move on I guess. It's safe to say that I am no further forward with my weight loss than I was then though I am no worse off which is something. Just a whole load of marking time which is not good however you look at it. I guess for my own benefit I need to reel out the 'excuses' so that it's all out of the way........ Apart from the weight, much has changed!

At the time of my last blog a very very close friend was seriously ill and I found it almost impossible to concentrate on anything. It was an horrendous time and one I would not wish to repeat in a hurry. His death left us all devastated, and I guess we still miss him so much, especially around celebration times. At the same time my daughter was not in a good place emotionally. We are very close so I spent a lot of time with her. It was a traumatic time but we all go through such things from time to time. It was, however, another excuse for me not to care about myself or my weight!

One joy on my horizon was the birth of my grandson Oskar. He gives us all so much pleasure and happiness and at 17 months old he has captured our hearts. Being 'granny' is amazing and I get to look after him one day a week. We do lovely things together - painting, cooking, printing, singing, drawing, reading etc etc etc.but sticking to food plans on Oskar days is a challenge!

I could go on with the excuses but I won't because that is what they are - excuses. It's the 1st January. I've made one resolution to use less e-communications and to try to write to friends and family more. Today I've written 8 letters! I've impressed myself. I know I should make a weight related resolution but I think that I may just jinx myself so I won't! I have a goal though as my lovely daughter is getting married in October. I want a stunning outfit but I don't want it in my current size, so .... I need to do something about that. I think I have until the summer before I go out to buy an outfit and I have to be smaller than I am. 

I am going to try my best but I am not naive enough to think I don't need help! I can't commit to a regular daily blog like before but I will post when I can - at least weekly! It won't be easy - the food plan/weight loss or the blogging but I will do my best!