Working again today so I’m feeling pretty worn down, but I’ve got a nice week coming up!

I am visiting my new Brownies tomorrow!  And this isn’t the chocolate variety.  Brownie Guides are like young girl scouts, in the UK we have Rainbows (5-7 years), Brownies (7-10 years), Guides (10-14 years) and Senior Section (14-25 years).  I’m nearly finished my leadership qualification and I will be taking over the Brownie pack in August, where I am going to be Brown Owl, which I’m totally psyched about!  Brownies love to do badges and are much easier to deal with than the pre-pubescent Guides I work with at the moment.  I’ve already worked up a provisional program, which I can shape up once I know the school term dates (because Brownies only runs during the school term) and how this pack likes to do something.  If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, or just to understand what on earth I’m talking about, check out the Girlguiding UK website.

I’m also going to stay with my parents for a few days, and I am looking forward to seeing them.  They’ve been so good to both me and DP, and helped us out of more than our fair share of financial problems recently.  It’s also nice to spend time just the three of us (I’m an only child) without DP.  While they’re at work I can play my computer or the Xbox and I’m also taking readings to work on for my dissertation project and some Brownie stuff.  And exercise of course!  I’m meeting them at the train station on Tuesday then we’re heading out for a meal and to see Angels and Demons, which my dad’s been dying to see for ages.  My parents are great, and I’m glad I can spend some time with them.

Weight is back to 154lbs.  It’s officially been 2 weeks now, and I’m 1lb down.  It’s not brilliant progress, but it’s better than going no where.  I need to keep pushing hard, probably try to push more than 64 oz of water a day and do as much exercise as I can.  Because, as DP keeps reminding me, while the scales might not show a difference, the exercise can’t be making things worse and if I can trim off some body fat, it’s all good.

Hope you all had a good weekend!  And P.S. I am waaay excited about being joint fifth in W8C at the moment (until everyone else updates tonight!!!)  DP hasn’t heard the end of it!

Also - I thought I’d share this, Lolcatz get me through the sad times

Work was looooong.  It’s a horrible day today, and also the week before payday for most people so I spent 8 hours of doing very little!  I took in a delivery for an hour which passed the time, lifting boxes up and down stairs, lots of heavy lifting etc. (good exercise!) but other than that - nothing!

I was annoyed after step going up to 156.2!  Yesterday I was 155.2 and today I was 153.8lbs, which I was a lot happier with!  DP is making me a meal tonight and we’re having a movie night, so it will be nice just to snuggle in and relax

I’ll update more thoroughly soon, but just wanted to let you know I wasn’t dead!

I feel a little down today chicks.  I’m not putting in food etc, because I’m using my WW tracker, but I just feel a little lost today.  Yesterday I did 40 minutes of walking, a 50 minute step class (that almost killed me) and half an hour on the stationary back after just because I wanted to get that second exercise star.  I weighed myself this morning and I’d put on 2lbs.  2lbs taking me to 156.2lbs.  I actually shed a couple of tears I was so disappointed.  Really, bitterly disappointed.

I didn’t give up today, I went to the gym but not as long because I was quite sore.  I did 40 minutes of walking, 20 minutes of elliptical and 30 minutes on the bike.  I used some of my activity points because it is my cousin’s birthday, where we went to Pizza Express.  They do “lighter” made pizzas where the base is half the calories so I got one of them.

I’m not particularly enjoying WW today.  Part of that is because I gained today, I suppose.  However, I’ve been at this for 11 days now, and I’m 1.2lbs heavier than when I started.  I just want to say screw points, 1000 calories a day and that’s it.  I feel deflated today, which is unlike me,

I’m sorry for the moody post today, but I didnt feel I could honestly write something upbeat today.  My apologies, I’ll try to be better tomorrow!

Mango x

Well obviously given that I have more revision to do, procrastination is my preferred option right now.  I am not particularly hopeful for tomorrow’s exam.  I do know pretty much all my notes (apart from what I’m learning today) but while this is the layman-friendly baby subject the lecturers are harsh with their questions and even harsher with their marking.

I had a better weigh in today (= happy Mango!) and can’t wait till tomorrow afternoon!  All my classmates and I are going to Magdalen Green, a big wide open park to have a BBQ and play rounders :)  And I am going to be super active doing a MAJOR overhaul of this flat.  I tell you, biohazard suits should be worn at the moment - this is what happens when I don’t have time to do the cleaning, bf’s “picking up the slack” is little more than, well… nothing really!  AND now exams are over I will be earning super stars WOOHOO!  Gym when it’s rainy, walking when it’s sunny or playing rounders or just tossing a ball about I’ll be able to be outside again rather than stuck in learning stuff!

Weight Today: 154.2lbs (-0.6lbs)

Brunch: 2 slices of reheated veggie pizza

Afternoon snack: two plums

Tea: chilli con carne with brown rice, petit filous for pudding

Water: 86oz

Exercise: 35 minutes walking to post office and around town

Ok so updating then…  It’s 11.05pm on the night before the exam and I can tell you I am officially down-and-out terrified.  I know I know, there’s no more learning I can do now, I’ve done the best I can in a short space of time, it takes a hell of a bad answer to fail.  Regardless, I am TERRIFIED.  I can tell you now ladies, tomorrow will not be an OP food day, I am going to Tonic for my lunch (my favourite lunch-style bistro/restaurant) because I haven’t been there since February and it is a huge treat.  Also, I will probably be having some cider or what not because I will be *shell shocked*.  But there will probably be quite a lot of walking as well, so not to worry.

If you don’t hear from me tomorrow, I’m not dead, I’m probably just passed out in a hibernatory state.  See you on the other side chicks; let’s hope I’m the same person…

Mango x

Weight Today: 154.8lbs (+0.2lbs)

Breakfast: oat cheerios with semiskimmed milk and heaps of raisins

Lunch: one slice of wholemeal of bread (yup, just on it’s own!)

Afternoon snack: small sweet cinema popcorn

Tea: two slices of veggie pizza and one slice of garlic bread

Water: 72oz

Exercise: 35 minutes walking around the Tesco carpark over and over…. lol

No chocolate at all-go me!

Mango x

My mood is resembling the weather - overcast!  There’s a culmination of factors involved; being up on the weigh in this morning, stucking studying again (2 more days to go…), feeling sore and in the end not being able to do more than half hour of partner stretches which won’t count towards an exercise star.

Bummer.  I’m hoping I’ll feel better tomorrow, I just have to keep loading in the ibuprofen and fluids.

Weight Today: 154.6lbs (+0.6lbs)

Breakfast: none

Lunch: raspberry jam sandwich, Crunchie (one piece of chocolate for the day!), 2 jammy dodgers

Afternoon snack: lightly salted kettle chips

Tea: sausage and tomato pasta (grilled sausage cut up in pasta with a homemade tomato, garlic and mixed herb sauce)

Water: 64oz

Exercise: only 30 minutes of partner stretches

I really want to start doing Weight Watchers again.  I did them for a while a year or so ago and didn’t really stick with it long enough to see positive changes, but so many people are having good experiences with it, it makes me want to give it a go again.  I find it easier than calorie counting.  I shall have to wait till we’re in better financial climates though - it’s not cheap on a student budget!

Weight Today: 154lbs (+/- 0lbs)

Breakfast: very small bowl of leftover risotto

Lunch: 65g of pasta with tomato and oregano sauce, pinch of grated cheese on top

Afternoon snack: small sweet popcorn at the cinema

Tea: miniature chicken pie, two potato croquettes and mixed vegetables

Water: 64oz

Exercise: 1 hour yoga

My DP that is, though the “dear” is a bit of a stretch at the moment.  He’s been in a pissy mood all day because his PC’s broken down again, which I can understand and I appreciate this adds to the money worries etc. but his attitude irritates the hell out of me.  Rather than be proactive he just sits and moans and wallows in self pity.  Which I can do as well, I know, but I have enough to deal with having an exam tomorrow and doing studying today, I don’t need to be holding him up as well!

He was meant to be going to Taekwondo tonight, which I said would help vent some frustration, produce endorphins etc. and make him feel better but he couldn’t be bothered. He has a testing at the end of the month so it’s his own damn fault if he doesn’t pass. I am trying to be patient as I realise one of us has to be the adult, hence the rant here, I am just fed up of the apathy.  He will need to grow up sometime, but apparently isn’t ready to take the plunge just yet.

Studying has taken a lot out of me today; a lot of facts and figures and given the general bad mood vibes in the house I haven’t been able to take over the living room to exercise (don’t get me started on the mess he’s got sprawled out in there!)  It’s a petty excuse I know, and I will need to make up for it to earn some more stars but today I’m just all out of enthusiasm.

Weight Today: 154lbs (-0.4lbs)

Breakfast: none

Lunch: 75g pasta with tomato, basil and crushed garlic sauce with a small amount of grated cheese

Afternoon snack: 10 small chocolate coins

Tea: spaghetti bolognaise with lean mince and tomato and oregano sauce

Water: 64oz

Exercise: none as yet

Too much carbs, not enough exercise.  It’ll get better.

Mango x

Brace yourself girls, this is sent to be a long post!  It’s been such an up and down day I feel like I’ve lived out 72 hours rather than under 24!

As I said in my last post there was all that drama with the police and stupid criminals last night, which meant I didn’t sleep tremendously.  I was horribly anxious this morning and felt to sick to eat so I’m afraid I didn’t weigh-in this morning; I couldn’t face extra stress!  My exam this morning was a 3 hour paper on Biological Psychology, Performance and Perception and is the worst subject for me.  It wasn’t a good exam and I’m sure if I passed it’s only a C3 (C-) or a D.  However, it’s over now and I’m focusing for the next one - Social Psychology and Individual Differences on Thursday afternoon.  Exams will all be over in a week, which simultaneously feels like forever and not nearly enough time.  I’ll get there though! Study hard…

Food today hasn’t been brilliant.  After the exam I went for lunch with some classmates and ordered a burger and fries with a pint of Magner’s cider (it was that kind of shellshock).  I ate the chips - there were only 9 little totsy ones! - and after two bites of the burger I decided I didn’t like it enough to make it worth the calories. I had a quarter of my pint; it took enough time for me to drink that to take the edge from my anxiety.  I got a baguette from my favourite sandwich deli instead, along with a little treat.  It’s 9pm now and I’m only just starting to get tickles of hunger.  If I have anything it will probably be only a small bowl of pasta with pesto.  I LOVE pesto!!

Weight today: ???

Breakfast: none - too anxious!

Lunch: two bites of a bad burger, 9 small fries then wholemeal tuna mayo sweetcorn baguette and a caramel shortcake

Afternoon snack: one maryland cookie (small), sunmaid raisins

Tea: tbc

Water: 80oz!!

Exercise: 45 minute walk, 50 straight sit ups, 20 left side twists, 20 right side twists, 40 reps of 17.4lb weights

I am super pleased with myself about my water, 80z is easier when you have pint glasses and a little diluting juice :)  The exercise was good too.  I cycled between the weights and different types of sit ups to vary it a bit and my stomach has that delicious “worked hard” feeling.

But the best thing about today - I joined Eileen’s May Challenge and I am totally, uber excited about it!  Seriously, I never knew I could be so damn motivated about little pixel stars!!  I have four from 2 on plan food days and the accumulated exercise.  I am determined to get a GREEN star as soon as I can!  Thank you a hundred times Eileen for motivating me - good job!

And McCupcake - I’m glad you got something from the paper.  It just clicked with me when I was studying that it was so relevant to what we’re all doing here!

Take care all,

Mango x