My Big Fat Diary: Week 1

Hello Everyone, 

So like I said I will be doing weekly post every Tuesday, about my weightloss journey - but also about my moods and how I have been feeling with it. Now if you want to read (or see pictures) of me currently and my goal or me prior to my weight gain then click here. 

Week One:
I'm not sure whether week one is meant to be easy or not - or whether it is just dependant. For one thing, I had a lot of fitness motivation but probably lacked in certain parts of my diet (I did still indulge in some fatty bits... oops) I am just trying to slowly cut myself down on the foods that I like.Though on the positive, I have been to the gym 3 times this week (which was my aim) and I have been drinking around the 2 litres mark of water.   

Lost: 4lbs

Food: It has been a mixed week, I have had good and bad days. I only went over my calories one day and the rest I remained under which is great. I had a few little treats as I am trying to get myself of the chocolate without going cold turkey because then I am hoping that I won't crave it as much. I use the myfitnesspal app - my name is Misslaceyloves on it and I recommend it to anyone who is trying to diet! 

Calorie Target - 1500 per day/ 10,500 for the week. 
Calorie Intake - 10,399 for the week - which means that I was 101 calories under for the week. Pretty good considering the over indulgence that I had.

Fitness: I don't like going to the gym, but once I have been and gone to the gym I really like it, but then I don't like the aching the next day. A vicious circle really. I have never been the most sporty of people and I am rubbish at running and many other physical activities. I used to go to Body Conditioning classes back when I was fitter and they really helped me tone and help me lose weight too! I tend to steer clear of the gym itself as I am not very self motivating and I usually go easier on myself than I would in a class. 

Exercising Target - 3x 1 hour exercise per week 
Actual Exercising - 1 hour of the gym & 45mins Aqua Aerobics, 1 hour of the gym & 1 hour at a Body Conditioning class. Along with walking a lot more and as often as I can. 

Mood: I feel really deflated this week, I mean don't get me wrong I am happy with my weight loss this week. I do feel like I have cheated myself because I have just lost the weight that I gained over Christmas, that and I haven't tried the hardest that I could. I just feel that when I start exercising and dieting, I begin to notice the fat on me even more than I did before. I'm hoping to be gulping the endorphins of my exercising next week. I just need to pull myself out of my silly mope. 

If you want to see the background behind me and my weight see this post (includes pictures) 

How is everyones healthy New Years going?

What's In My Gym Bag?

Since starting to go back to the gym, I have been looking around seeing what people take to the gym with them. Now 9 times out of 10 when I go to the gym I have a swim afterwards or at least go in the Jacuzzi or the Steam Room. So it might seem like I take a lot of bits to the gym but I pretty much use them all most times. I also have 3 different "kits" like what I wear to the gym but the one that I am posting is my favourite!

Adidas Pink & Grey Sports Bag - I think that having the right bag for the gym is key, it helps you remember everything you need. This Adidas one is perfect for me, it is big enough for all the bits that I need. There are many compartments to this bag, on the outside you have one large pocket which is designed for trainers, it has air holes in it to stop your trainers from making your bag smell and it also keeps them separate from all your cleans bits. On the other side there is a zip section where I normally put my car keys, gym card, padlock and phone. Inside the bag there is an attached purse where I keep a little bit of money never more than £10 because I rarely take my purse to the gym unless I am going out straight after. There is also little pockets inside, one where I keep all my ladies things, just in case, the other I don't really use. And there is a place to hold a water bottle.

 

Nike Pink Dry Fit Running Top - I have only started to realise the importance of a good kit. I used to just chuck on a baggy t-shirt and some tracksuit bottoms/leggings. Now while I hate the way I look in this top as it isn't the most flattering. The material is light, it doesn't get caught up when  I am exercising and it allows my skin to breathe which helps with reducing spots. I love these tops - you can get this one here.

Marks & Spencer's High Impact Sports Bra  - This is an oldie and a favourite of mine. I have large boobs (36GG) so then need strapping down as best as they can. I struggle getting good fitting bras let alone good fitting sports bras. The high impact range from M&S are really good. The one I have isn't wired and has a racer style back - the current ones that they stop are underwired. I have never had an underwired sports bra, so I am not sure if they are better or not...?

Nike Dry Fit Running Capri's - I think these are third in the list of importance of when you need to make sure you get a good fit (first being trainers, second being sports bra). These trousers allow you to move around, they stay up and they are well fitted. They are breathable and tight - like I don't like how I look in them because I feel that my arse is huge in them. You can get this here - they come in lots of different colours

Nike Trainers - These are light and comfy. I was wearing plimsolls at one point and one of the instructors from my class said that I will end up with really bad knee problems. After buying these, it made such a difference with my workout, so I recommend getting some well fitting trainers. Mine are actually Men's ones - I have only just realised but I am a size 7 so I guess it is easy to make.

Puma White Trainer Socks -  I love these ones, they don't slips under my feet and they are cheap enough to buy in bulk as I usuallyly wear them out.

Adidas Black Swimsuit -  I received this for Christmas, after a year of wearing a purple one where I resembled Barney. With this when swimming I don't have to worry about anything falling out and it is pretty flattering too. I have mine with white stripes.

Topshop Flip flops - Just for when walking around the pool area and when using the showers, you never know what nasties are on the floor.

3 x Towels - I big beach towel for showering, a small one for my hair and a face towel for wiping down the machines after use.

Swimsuit Bag - I bought this is Primark, it is a bikini bag, but is great for putting a wet swimsuit in.

Hair Brush - Paddle brushes are my favourite as I have super knotty hair. I use this one from The Body Shop.

Body Spray - I am using Impluse Very Pink, I always worry that if I take perfume the bottle with brake but this body spray does the job whilst I am in the gym.

Iphone - I have only recently got an iPhone and it is great for the gym. I keep track of my excercising and progress whilst keeping myself occupied. I will be doing a blog post of my favourite diet/fitness apps and motivation.

Headphones - The new ones for the iPhone 5 aren't the best but I am using them at the moment until I can find a good alternative. They have a great sound quality but tend to move/fall out of my ears whilst I am excercising. 

Gym Card - I am a member of Virgin Active, and I couldn't recommend this gym more. The people are lovely, it has great equipment, gym classes and offers great advice. The facilities are always clean and tidy! If you have one local I would check them out, the best gyms I have seen in my area.

Padlock - I need this for my locker at my gym, it is my own personal one. 

Toilertry Bag - My one is from Primark a few years back now, it is great for the gym as it is waterproof and has two sections and can be hung up whilst keeping all your bits dry.

Body Wash - I used Happy Hippy by Lush it has a citrus fragrance and is great at revitalising after a work out. This is my favourite shower gel ever!

Body Scrub - I am using up an old Botanics one which they no longer stock.

Body Sponge - Just to get off any excess skin, I use The Body Shop Lily.

Shampoo - Essential, using one up from Christmas. I don't rate it at all!

Conditioner - Essential, using one up from Christmas. I don't rate it at all!

Wide Tooth Comb - Helps when I am conditioner to detangle my hair.

Face Scrub - I love this face scrub, I am a lover of the original St Ives scrubs but this warming one feels great on the skin and sort of spa-esq. It is St. Ives Elements Warming Scrub.

Deodorant - Need I say anymore. I am currently using up my Dove Beauty Finish Roll On.

Body Moisturiser - After sweating in the gym, then going swimming and then showering, my skin needs its moisture being replaced. I am using up my mini Soap & Glory Righteous Butter, I prefer fruity scents but as this is a mini, I am just using it up!

Face Wipes -  I always wipe my face after a workout, I have blemish proned skin and I try to limit this by cleaning my face regularly. I am currently using Johnsons Cleasning Wipes for Combination Skin

Face Cream -Just because I use wipes, I want to rehydrate my skin. I am currently using The Body Shop's Aloe Day Cream as it is light and gentle on my skin, also soothes redness. 

Tissues - Again just incase you need one, I have had a cold recently so these have been essentials.

Lip Balm - My current favourite is the Nivea Caramel Creme, it is so soft on my lips.

Hair Bands & Kirby Grips - You never know when you need these they always come in handy and I leave them in my little black zippy pot/bag

Water -  I tend to take a bottle from home and just refill as much as I need at the gym.

What's in your gym bag? 

My Big Fat Diary

So as you might have seen, one of my New Years Resolutions is to lose weight - this is a standard for me and it happens every year. If I am honest, I don't think everyone is happy with there body and I don't think I will either. There are just some things that you need to learn to accept. For instance, I am never going to be really skinny because one, that isn't the way I was built and two, I love my food too much! I will be doing a series of fitness/diet/healthy living blog post, so I wanted to give you a full idea of what I am about. I hope to show you all how I am losing weight and the tips and tricks that I do.

My History 
So first off I thought I would give you a brief overview of me and my body, because lets face it everyone is different, so what might work for me - may or may not work for you. I would say on average that I have been a size 12, I have flucuated between an 8 (this was short lived) all the way to an 18 and at points probably fitted into a 20. I am currently sitting at a slight uncomfortable size 16, which for me is a 2 dress sizes above where I feel comfortable. On the whole my family aren't skinny and we all have healthy appetites. I have an hour glass frame and I am 5ft 7", I have always had big boobs too regardless of size but currently I am sitting at a 36GG.
(L-R: Around my slimmest; My Body Happiness; At My Largest (luckily this is the only picture I have and I am wearing all black so probably a bit bigger than this)

Weight vs Size
I wish I had the confidence to disclose my actual weight and I am not sure why but it is something that I am extremley embarrassed about. I am one of these people, who I guess are pretty fortunate enough to weigh A LOT more than I look. There are only 4 people who actually know my real weight and I am pretty sure they still think I weigh less. Obviously the doctors know and I always get the same reaction of "oh I didn't except you to be as heavy as that." I am a size 16 and that is all I am going to say, you never know if I lose the amount of weight that I want to, I may feel better about letting you know my weight. Though if you scroll down to my goal weight loss, I am sure many of you could work it out :)

Looks vs Health
I would be lying if I said that I wasn't going to lose weight for vanity reason, because I do - obviously I want to feel better in my skin which means looking a little trimmer. However, that honestly isn't my main motivator at this current point in time. I need to lose at least 14lb by the 25th February 2013, so that the doctors don't moan at me when I want a repeat perscription of my contraceptive pill - because I had to plead with them last time to give me the pill as I had lost weight from the previous but I hadn't lost as much as they wanted. However, I did have major health problems and was in and out of hospital so they couldn't really have a go :p. I can't go onto a different pill either because the other one which they put me on before sent me a little crazy - not something that I want to put myself through again!
 

Goals
I found this picture on weheartit.com and I think that it is so true. In an ideal world I would love to lose 2 stone in 2 months, but lets face it - that is a little unreasonable. On average I want to lose 2lb a week until I have hit my 36lb target! Obviously I am going to lose weight quicker in the first month then it will slow down but that's just the way it goes, so hopefully as I get fitter I will need to work harder. I also want to run a 5k race in the Summer time, so this weight loss will aid my fitness and hopefully me accomplishing this. But ideally I just want to be able to fit into this dress again: 

(if you don't recognise me, I am the one in the black dress on the right)

Reasons Why I'm Overweight
This one seems pretty obivous to be honest, I am overweight because I eat more than I burn off! But it isn't just that there are habits which I have adopted and consume which cause me to be overweight. 

- I love everything that is calorific and bad for me
- I am really lazy and prefer takeaways/eating out to my own cooking (or someone cooking for me)
- I don't like running or feeling out of breath
- I am a really big emotional eater - Sad/bored/lonely/fed up/cold/content - I eat!
- I hate the way I look in sports clothes/ when I excercise
- My family (household) have bad eating habits and they are hard to break out on your own.

What My Plan Of Action Is

- Stop moaning about my weight and start to do something about it.
- Aim to go to 3 gym classes a week - at least (it has to be gym classes as I am not very self motivating) 
- Religiously use MyFitnessPal (a calorie counting app - also available online myfitnesspal.com)

- Make sure the food that I am putting into my body is nutritional (this will help with my moods as well)
- Limit the amount of takeaways, when I am being lazy! 
- Learn what foods are good for you and what to avoid when eating out
- Keep busy to avoid emotional/boredom eating

Do you know any helpful websites or tips which I could look at? Or if you are dieting/tracking your fitness via your blog - leave you link below!

Have a great day! :)