lauraf

Thanks Karen, i will definitely keep my eyes out for it!! Things are looking up already (finger crossed they continue that way), I think getting to the gym and getting the blood flowing really helped me too. Today has been a rest day, although somehow I have managed to down 5 litres of water when I usually struggle with 2 - Odd! I'm going to try and stick to my February resolution of at least 2 per day now! And also back to the gym 3x per week.....hopefully I should be able to get there tomorrow. I'm also gonna try and get some pics of me now, because now 4 and a half months in I'm really bummed I didn't take pics of me before! I don't wanna leave it any longer!

It's been a tough couple of weeks, had family problems and turned to food for comfort *kicks my butt* and because of the bad snow/ice here in the UK I've not wanted to risk driving the 20 miles to the gym....until today. Today was my first day at the gym in a long time, and god it felt good! My workout wasn't my usual one as the gym was sooooo busy but I did: Cross Trainer 60 minutes- 30 mins level 5, 10 mins level 7, 20 mins level 5 661 calories 3.73kms Seated cycling 20 minutes- level 3 9.74kms 146 calories Food has been better today too. I had a snack pack of rice cakes, a vega shake (yum!!!) and I'm about to have stew. I will definitely sleep tonight when my head hits the pillow!

The last 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday) have been rest days for me. I've decided I'm not going to keep as much of a track on my calorie consumption as I have in the last month. I lost about the same amount of weight as when I wasn't calorie counting in Oct-Dec and it was a bit too time consuming for my liking. I hit my 2 litre target for water consumption yesterday and I am on track to hit it today (Thursday). I also found some Vega samples so going to try them out and hopefully find one I like to purchase in the sale, thats tomorrows job.

Seeing so many people were there doing it with me, showing me what they were doing. I was able to learn from their journals and their comments on mine spurred me on.

Yesterday I finished up with 1628 on myfitnesspal, I had pasta with a tomato sauce for dinner. I also drank a further 500mls. Thanks jmichael614 I will definitely try out the smoothie you mentioned. I went shopping today and bought a heap of fruits I got to the gym today- I'm very happy! My workout looked like this: - Cross trainer: 60 minutes on level 5, 638 Calories and 3.65kms - Abdominal crunches: 3 sets of 15 @25 ( can seem to manage to do even 1 at 30) - Leg Extensions: 3 sets of 8@35 and again after a nice bloke came up and showed me how i should adjust the machine to suit my short legs another lot of 3 of 8@35. It felt so much better the second time!! - Pectoral 3 sets of 7 @30 Thats all I had time for today - Theres a limit on the car park I use of 2 hours, not sure why I didn't manage to fit in my usual workout. Food today: Breakfast: Bean spread on a rye crispbread, 4 portobello mushrooms grilled Lunch: 2 Soya burgers in 2 buns with cucumber salad, raw spinach and tomatoes Dinner: Pack of rice snacks--- I'm so hungry though so there will be more to add to that. Calories so far: 1317 calories Water so far: One and a half litres Weight today:199lbs I'm so glad this challenge was set! It gave me the extra bit of motivation I needed after Christmas to get my butt back to the gym and back to eating better. I've managed to go to the gym 3 times a week like I aimed for and I have also kept another one of my new years resolutions.....to not bite my nails. This month I had tried to drink as much water as I could each day although I do find it difficult...I've not always hit the 2 litres per day like I had hoped....so that is Februarys challenge for myself- Along with purchasing (and using) some protein powder because I've not been hitting my protein targets with food alone the past month.

No gym today as work ran over as per usual, very annoyed but nothing I can do about it. Off work tomorrow so will definitely go in the morning. I love working out in the morning! Today I have eaten: Breakfast: Small bag of light crisps Lunch: Pea, spinach, and potato wrap and a handful of crisps No dinner yet. Going to have something in a little while. Calories so far: 1153 calories Water consumption so far: 1 litre

Rest day today but I was at work assisting with a major service on a car. Here is what I ate: Breakfast: Snack pack of rice cakes Lunch: Celery and carrot sticks with houmous Dinner: Sausage Casserole with pearl barley Snack: small carton of Chocolate Rice milk Myfitnesspal calories: 1785 . Water consumed: 2 litres Hopefully I will be able to get to the gym tomorrow after work

Late back from work yesterday. My calorie intake yesterday was 1682.I had eaten: Breakfast: 7 Medjool dates Lunch: Slice of pizza (no cheese), 2 cereal bowls of salad and a handful of potato wedges Dinner: beans on toast Water: 1 and a half litres Todays calorie intake so far is 976 (its only 5pm). I have eaten: Breakfast: Houmous with carrot sticks Lunch: Spagetti bolognese Water consumption so far 1 litre. Third workout of the week today, I did: Cross Trainer: 60 minutes (half level 4 and half level 5) 640 Calories burned, 3.66kms Abdominal Crunch: 3 lots of 14 @25 (i really struggled with this today!) Pectoral: 3 lots of 5 @30 Chest Press: 3 lots of 8 @30 No leg extensions today as machine was always being used. Rowing: 15 minutes. 2453m 128 calories I'm really pleased I started a journal on here. It has meant I have been to the gym 3 times a week for the last 4 weeks which was my aim

Todays workout: Cross trainer: 60 mins (level 3 30 mins, 15 forwards,15 backwards and level 4 30 mins) 597 Calories 3.44kms Abdominal crunch: 1 lot of 15 @25, 2 lots of 2 @25 Leg extension: 3 lots of 9 @35 Chest Press: 3 lots of 10 @35 , 1 lot of 4 @30 Stationary rowing: 10 minutes, 1670m 84 calories Food today: Breakfast: 4 rice cakes Lunch: 2 meat free burgers with tomato and spinach, garlic bread, potato wedges Dinner: Hot chocolate Myfitnesspal calories: 2239 Water consumption: 2 litres

First of all. Update to Mondays calories. Total was 1690 after supper. (i had crumpets with worcester sauce) Yesterday I didn't get chance to post.....I didn't get back from work until 1am! (we had been working on a car 100 odd miles away!) and by then I was ready for my bed! Total Calories yesterday was 1484. I ate: Breakfast: Bean Salad Lunch: Nutty rice salad, rice cakes and an iced finger bun Dinner: Beans on Toast No chance for a workout, Water consumption : 1 litre and a half Today I got up late after getting to bed so late. I spent the whole day cleaning the house while my partner went to work. Couldn't get to the gym tonight because I need my partner here to watch our daughter so I'm hoping to go first thing tomorrow before work. Today I ate: Breakfast: 'Beef' slices Lunch: 3 Grilled mushrooms Dinner: Pasta with tomato sauce Myfitnesspal calories:921 so far. Water consumption: 1 litre so far. Not really hungry but I guess thats because I've not been up all day. Going to go and get an early night now

First an update to yesterdays calories. Final total was 1482, I had missed off an orange juice i'd had and I had a hot chocolate for supper. I hit the gym first thing this morning, although I've been tired for the rest of the day I enjoyed going then rather than late on. Todays workout: - 60 minutes on cross trainer (25 mins level 2, 15 mins level 3, 20 mins level 4) 3.53kms and 606 calories - Abdominal crunches - not done today (ran out of time) - Leg Extensions 3 lots of 8 @35 - Pectoral 1 lot of 2 @30 and 3 lots of 5 @25 (I really failed at this today!) - Chest press 3 lots of 8 @25 - Stationary Rowing 20 minutes, 3333m, 168 Calories Food today: Breakfast: Snack pack of rice cakes Lunch: Sausage casserole with pearl barley Dinner: Nothing yet.....not feeling hungry again Calories so far today according to myfitnesspal: 1282 , Water so far: 1 litre and a half. Weight today 200lbs Since October 2nd 2011 I have lost 17.5 lbs.

Food today: Breakfast: Low fat crisps (I need to be more prepared for eating when out with work!!) Lunch: Boiled brocolli, carrots and potatoes with sausages and gravy Snack: Snack pack of rice cakes Dinner: 2 Sandwiches with mock chicken slice, tomatoes and spinach,watercress and rocket. 4 grilled mushrooms Myfitnesspal Calories: 1269 so far..... I may have some supper to try and up the calorie intake a bit, I'm worried that some days I'm eating too little. Water consumption today: 1 litre and a half so far. I will be hitting the gym again tomorrow- I have the day off work, I can't wait!

Didn't get to the gym today like I had hoped, I spent all day running errands. Not happy but at least I've already done my 3 sessions this week Today I've eaten: Breakfast: Beans on toast Lunch: Jacket Potato with beans and side salad Dinner: Soya burger in bun, couscous, tomatoes,spinach and grilled mushrooms I've come to realise I'm not very adventurous when it comes to eating different things. MyFitnessPal calories 1642. Water consumption: 1 and a half litres At work again tomorrow but may get chance to squeeze in a dog walk on the beach.

Thanks for the encouragement Matt!! Once upon a time I would have eaten for comfort but I've managed to curb that in recent months. I didn't get up until 11am today after a late night surfing the internet, luckily I wasn't meant to be at work. As soon as I got up I was busy cleaning, cooking and organizing. I took 2 loads of stuff to the tip and loaded the car up with 7 boxes (!!) of paperwork to take to the office tomorrow. It's been a busy day but I enjoyed it (am I weird?!) Not been too hungry today probably because of the late start, I had: 12pm: Peanut butter Sandwich 6pm: Vegetable Stew with Dumplings Myfitnesspal calories: 1285 Water consumption: 1 litre Hoping to go to the gym tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Rest day today. Went to work, had a crappy day and I'm glad to be home! Food for today: Breakfast: Houmous wrap Snack: Low fat crisps and a banana Lunch: One slice of pizza with no cheese, 2 cereal bowls of salad (peppers,onions,sweetcorn,couscous) Dinner: Small plate of pasta and 2 tablespoons of 'cheese' powder Myfitnespal Calories: 1964 Water consumption: just over 1 litre