Biggest Loser week 5

“You know how it feels to reach too high, too far, too soon
I saw the crescent. You saw the whole of the Moon”
~ The Waterboys

First things first. I’ve lost a pound in 2 weeks and a very lucky pound it’s been too.

I’ve felt yuck. Not ill just really lethargic and can’t get out of bed yuck. Coach Jim was on half term and he was far too busy socialising to pay any attention to his poor Mother . Now I know it would have been perfectly possible to do my planned exercise without him but to cut a long story short I didn’t.

There’s been a lot going on with my Mum, her health and sorting out her affairs which has been absolutely draining.

Last Sunday was far too icy to run so decided to walk the dog instead. I slipped on a manhole cover and twisted my knee. In fairness I have done upper body exercise this week but not nearly as much as I should have and I could have gone swimming but that didn’t happen either.

On Friday I went to Liverpool to see South Pacific with the girls from work. It was excellent. I drove and borrowed hubby’s car. I know for a fact he loves his car more than me. It was not such a good idea to bring it back with go faster yellow stripes courtesy of the car park wall. Let’s just say things are a tad fraught in our house at the moment. I am still alive though which technically I guess is a miracle.

Today was the Mold leg of the Borders League. I’d volunteered to marshall and as usual got there far too early. Was lovely to see some old familiar faces and great for Wrecsam Tri Club to see quite a few in team vests I didn’t recognise. The legend that is Ultraman Shaun O'Keefe welcomed me with energy bars from his sponsors Shotz. I’ve not tried them before but the Apple Berry Blast is by far the best tasting in all the world ever. I managed to get a 45 minute power walk in glorious sunshine before the start and worked up quite a sweat. We were marshalling on the first corner. I love the power of yelling at a field of 295 to “get on the pavement.” We walked back up to the finish and I had the pleasure of assisting a lovely 12 year old in handing out sinishing tokens. It was incredibly warm and I was gobsmacked to see the lead car coming back in 25 minutes. There were some fantastic and brave performances and many moments of humour especially Ian James of Wrexham AC who came 4th repeating and repeating “I am so unfit.” It was very disappointing that Wrecsam Tri didn’t have a single female competitor. I’ve said for years I want to race the Borders. I’ve “run” it on many occasions but it takes me 80 minutes. If I can get it under the hour, which should be possible with 6 stone of free speed, I will race it next year.

A race always inspires me and I can’t wait to get out there this week and rack up some serious mileage.

Biggest Loser Week 3

Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie
Which we ascribe to heaven.
~William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

What I failed to mention in the last blog was that I developed a headache on my Saturday run. An absolutely banging, pulsating wanting to throw up headache. This lasted for a week. I did go to the Doctors. He diagnosed migraine. I, queen of self diagnosis (commonly called hypochondriac), diagnosed withdrawal symptoms of all the crap I’d been poisoning my body with for the past 48 years.

My 16 year old middle son is incredibly fit (did I mention he plays Academy Football and went to Benefice’s Academy last year and is off to Real Madrid’s Academy at Easter?) he’s off to college in September to do sports science so me in my infinite wisdom decided he could practice on me. He’s an absolute slave driver. I do the strength exercises until I physically feel I can do no more and he makes me do them all again, this time with “eye contact.” I’m really ready to divorce him. I am so close to tears. Never has no pain no gain meant so much to me. Physically my arms and legs are shaking when I’ve finished. I don’t enjoy it one bit. I love the feeling of satisfaction when it’s over.

I ran this morning and absolutely loved it.

Foodwise everything’s changed. Portion size has probably halved and I’m not hungry. The balance of the plate is completely different too. I made chilli last night and used half my regular amount of meat but bulked it up with extra tomato and beans. Snacking’s stopped and alcohol is banned from the house. I’m getting a bit OCD about the whole thing but I did go out with work on Wednesday for a fabulous meal. I just made informed choices and had a “couple” of glasses of wine. The difference was I was in control. Before I went I’d decided I wasn’t going to be a party pooper and because there was no guilt about “failing” the next day I got straight back on track.

I lost 4lb in week 2 and 2lb last week. That’s a stone in 3 weeks which equates to 5% of my body weight. I am currently ranked 124 of 768 in the Biggest Loser Fastrack Challenge of % weight loss, not that I’m competitive or anything.