So far: -17 1/2 lbs

Hi everyone.

I know it's been a while again; trying to pin me down to a definate time scale is very tricky.

Anyway, first of all I want to say thank you.  Thank you to all of those people who have taken the time to donate either through my Justgiving website, or through offline donations by pledging on the specially made sponsorship forms.  I'm afraid I need to make a proper calculation of the offline donations, as I know for definate I over estimated on the offline donations.  (There are currently three seperate forms flying around and I'm trying to work out roughly who much has been pledged on each)!

So...anyway...thank you!

Also, I received the National Vicim Support newspaper through my door yesterday and there was a little article about my weight loss project.  It has kicked me into gear a little bit, because now that the whole country are aware of what I'm doing, I need to try and keep this blog updated as much as possible!  It's going to be hard, but I'll do what I can!!  I'll fight the good fight and all that.  The last thing I want to do is let the organisation down.

But that does mean, however, that if I'm doing what I can to lose weight and update this blog, everyone out there has got to do what they can to help me stay motivated.  By all means, follow my blog.  Add your comments (I'll try and respond if I can).  Point it out to your family and friends.  Print it off and frame it, if you so wish!!  But please, keep me motivated!  At the end of the day, whilst I'm doing it for charity, I am also doing this for myself.  I don't want to let any of you down, but I would be distraught to let myself down.

Anyway, how is the weight loss going?

The truthful answer is...slowly!  I've reached a plateau, where I'm starting to fluctuate and either stay the same or put a little weight back on.  I'm looking at what I'm eating even more (following the Weight Watcher guidance I've been given) but also I need some motivation to go and do some exercise.  

When I was younger, I used to swim A LOT.  I used to love swimming to the point where I started to become a long distance swimmer.  However, my swimming teacher mentioned in passing about me possibly swimming the channel when I was older (we're talking when I was about 7 or 8 at the time?) and I lost total interest from that point on.  I have tried to swim, but with my weight being what it was, I've always been embarassed about going back in the water.  So, hopefully, I can convince myself to get back in the water and swim more.

Also, I like walking.  However, around where I live, there are little to no walking routes that are 'easy on the eye'.  Any suggestions of where I can walk in West Bridgford, please let me know.

Whilst I'm on the subject of motivation, let me explain to you what has happened to me over the course of 24 years for me to do this:

I've always been chubby, no matter what.  There hasn't been a day gone by when I can think of when I was thin.  I remember playing in an activity complex for toddlers (as a toddler, obviously) and one of the other children telling his sister, 'Don't play with him.  He's too fat!'.

I was never a sporty person.  I hated PE and Games at school; not because I was lazy but because most of the activities were ones I weren't interested in.  I hate football, and I never used to want to WIN at school Sports Days.  I used to do them because I wanted a rosette.  That's all I ever wanted.  I didn't even mind if it had been last place!  (I did eventually get one in my last year of Primary School, even though it was for a relay race). 

I once joined a gym in Nottingham when I was at University. I didn't want to, but I did...simply because other students were gym goers.  And you know what?  I hated every moment of it!

Well, actually, that's not strictly true; the sauna and steam room were relaxing.  But I've always believed gyms to be a waste of money.  You join and you run and do weight training.  But what' awful about it is that everyone else in there are fit!

You never, if at all, see an overweight person at the gym.  But it's not because they're lazy, or not bothered about their weight.  It's the same reason that a lot of chubby children feel excluded from a lot of their friends activities.

It's because fit people are the only ones doing it!!  I remember going to the gym and I was in there for 40 minutes.  The whole time I was being stared at by a group of guys my own age.  They were giggling and constantly looking over at me.  I just had to leave, and never went back to that gym again!  The last thing anyone wants is to feel like their doing something wrong or looking like they're making a fool of themselves when they want to feel like they're doing a great thing.

But the main reason has to be the comments I've had over the years.  I've had people make jokes about my weight to my face, on the understanding that I'll laugh it off.  I've been given 'advice' from friends about what I should be eating and doing.  I've had people suggesting diets.  All kinds of different things.  In the end, though, there comes a point where you can't take any more.  No matter how good natured that person is being, it's the straw that breaks he camel's back.

Anyway, that's my little rant over.  I just wanted to make everyone aware of what this means to me.

On a lighter note, let me leave you with this musing:

'The past is history, the future is a mystery, but the time we live in is a gift.  That is why it's called 'the present'.

Okay, so I'll try and update you with the weight progress regularly from now on.  Thanks again for all your help. It doesn't go unnoticed.

See you soon.

A

Update

Hi folks.

Again, it's been a while.  Thought I'd update you to keep you informed as to how things have progressed.

The long and the short of it is, since I started my weight loss a few weeks ago (starting at 16 stone, 6lbs) I've managed to lose 1 stone and 1/2 a lb!!  I'm really pleased with myself.  So, currently I weigh 15 stone and 5 1/2 lbs.

It's been tricky, tempting and tough.  However, people have kept me going.  I still need the support however, so please keep in touch and let me know you want me to do it.

It's going to be tricky, but I still need the support.  Keep me going gang!

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Week 3: -5lbs

Hi everyone!

So sorry it's a late post.  I've been up to my eyes in it.

Last week, I had to go to a Wednesday meeting to get a weigh in due to the adverse weather conditions!  When I turned up, I was late (not a fantastic start) and then I nearly accused the lady weighing me of lying because I didn't believe how much weight I'd lost!

AND, what's more that was after a Chinese New Year party the previous Saturday with the Prospect Players, and a trip to Frankie and Benny's in Nottingham on the Sunday (armed with Weightwatcher's Eat Out book, which I might add is a Godsend in those situations).

I couldn't believe I'd lost 5lbs!  I have one more pound to lose and I'll have lost a stone!  I can't actually believe it.  However, this is where things start to get harder...

There have been times over the past week or so where I've sat and thought to myself 'Sod it, forget about it.  It will never work'.  But then I think about the support I've received from my friends and family and it gives me an instant boost.  I'll tell you one thing I hate though: pointers!

If you're on a diet or trying to quit smoking (never smoked, so I'm guessing with this one) or trying to give up something, usually you try and follow a plan.  In my case it's Weightwatchers, and as such there are certain exceptions you follow.  For example, as long as you stay within your Points range, you can pretty much have whatever the hell you want.

Some people use New Leaf to quit smoking.  Other people want to switch to a decaffeinated coffee, which looks exactly the same to regular coffee.  This is where 'pointers' come into the equation.

Usually it's someone who means no criticism whatsoever.  They think the world of you and only want to succeed, but once they see you doing something they think you shouldn't be doing, they immediately make it public knowledge to try and humiliate you into not doing it.  And the name 'pointer' comes from the finger they point when they see you do it.  It's true.  The next tie you see someone of that kind, watch their hands!  They can't help but do it.

Someone I know and care about said to me, as I was standing in a buffet, 'Now you don't want any of that , or that ...and CERTAINLY none of that '.  At which point, I was quite upset, as I was in a large group of people and it was quite humiliating not being able to decide for myself what I wanted to eat on that particular occasion.

What I will probably do, at some point, is create a post for different categories of people around you who either try and help or hinder you in various ways.  I've thought of a couple, and hopefully it should give you something to chuckle over.

Anyway, with it being the week of Taking Sides this week (my next production with the Prospect Players), I won't be able to make it to a meeting this week.  However, I'm hoping to see some results next week.  I'm hoping to start exercising more as of next week, so results are going to start looking different from now on as I start to put muscle on and my body starts to adjust to the loss of weight.  I'm praying I don't put any on, as I'd like to reach my 2nd 'silver 7' and my 1st stone!  We'll just have to wait and see though.

Please keep supporting me and donating.  I'm extremely grateful to all those of you who have taken the time to read this blog and to donate.  It's all very much appreciated and will go to a very worthy cause.

Until next time...

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Week Two: -2.5lbs

Sorry the post is late, but things have been a little hectic lately.

Two and a half pounds lighter, and if I'm quite honest...I'm a little bit surprised.

The Bonington Players' production of The Government Inspector was last week, but when the weekend came around, there was an after show party to consider!  Temptation abound, and comments coming left, right and centre I helped myself to a main course, but despite puddings being my true passion, I restrained myself and had a couple of oranges instead.  (See, I can be restrained at times!)

Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to the weigh in, but it seems as though I had nothing to be concerned about.  But it's going to be difficult from now on.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have supported me so far.  I've even had a volunteer tell me that once she has some money, she's going to donate some.  I've also had a call from the Nottingham Evening Post asking about the whole thing.  So I would ask that people keep donating, any and all are welcome and it helps us get to our target of £1000!

Just to keep you ticking over, here's a snack idea for if you're hungry and need something to quench your hunger: get a small Tupperware pot and fill it with low fat natural yogurt and then get some raw vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, celery, etc) and combine the two for a really tasty treat!

So, until next time...keep smiling.

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Week One: -5.5lbs

Well, it's true.  I could hardly believe it myself.  I've lost 5.5 lbs in a week through Weightwatchers alone.  Only require 1.5lbs more to lose and I get my first silver start badge (signifying a weight loss of half a stone!).  All being well, if I keep on track during the coming week, I should be able to do it.

At the moment, my daily Points allowance is 31.  I need to have a look at what I'm eating, etc to see if I can get UP to that amount, because this past week wasn't working that way at all.  I've been filling up on salad and fish, when I probably should have been stuffing myself with Kebabs and burgers! ;)

Oh, btw, something I noticed tonight; if you go to Frankie and Benny's to have lunch, if you're trying to lose weight, stay away from the BBQ Cheese Burger.  It's worth approx 41 points...and according to Weight Watchers, the maximum anyone is allowed is 40 points!

Again, I need supporters to do it though.  I've had a fantastic reception from people just from tonight's news, even the Group Leader!  please sponsor me.  It's motivating me to do it, but also Victim Support is always looking for donations.

I'm currently performing in the Bonington Player's production of The Government Inspector all this week.  Also, my grandma has been diagnosed with severe depression, I have a self assessment tax form to complete (which I didn't even know I had to do) and I'm learning lines for another play, so it will be interesting to see how things work out this week.  But, hopefully, I should make the 7lb mark next week.

That is, if the after show party food doesn't get me first! ;)

Until next time...

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First post

Evening all.

Welcome to my new blog site.  This is to keep you updated on my progress as I journey through 2009 (and maybe part of 2010) to lose 3 stone.  It's going to be difficult and I'm going to need all the help I can get.  Which is where you come in...

In order to keep me motivated, and also to raise funds for a charity which is close to my heart, I have created a Just Giving site to donate funds to Victim Support in Nottinghamshire.  Victim Support helps people cope with all kinds of crime, whether those crimes have been reported or not.  They are always looking for donations and all are greatly received.

So, I thought to myself...why not kill birds with one stone and do both; get a motivation to lose the weight, and also raise funds for Victim Support in Nottinghamshire.  Any and all funds received will only be distributed amongst the charity based in Nottinghamshire, so please be aware of this before you donate.

Please help, and in return, I'll keep you posted as much as possible on the ups and downs of what's going on with the weight loss.  This is mainly for those of you who don't see me very often in the flesh, but if you're one of the people I have regular contact with anyway, you're more than welcome to keep an eye on this new blog.

Also, my Just Giving site is located here: http://www.justgiving.com/adamweightloss

So...I've joined Weightwatchers, as of Monday (12/01/2009) and I've been tracking the food I've been eating.  This week has been a shock to the system, but I haven't felt too hungry yet, which is always a good sign.  Next week, I'm performing on stage at the Bonington Theatre, Arnold and usually, I go a bit mad with meals and stuff, so it'll be a struggle.

Anyway, I'll sing off for now and let you know fairly regularly if there's any news.  I will probably update this blog on Mondays, after my weigh ins at Weightwatchers meetings.

Wish me luck and please donate if you wish.

Until next time.

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