Fitness Encouragement, Support & Tips

Hi RBF! Hope the night shift goes well tonight - what are you on next week?

Sounds like we're roughly the same body type; I have a larger bottom half and a rounder face! My face is where I've noticed the weight loss most - a few years back I was all triple-chinning it everywhere and thankfully I'm now down to 1.5 chins

It's funny how around Christmas, my motivation was sky high. I was ready to lose all the weight, eat fresh, exercise every day... and now as we get closer to the important dates I'm comfort feeding like there's no tomorrow!

I have one photo of me in my dress which I looked at frequently when I first got fitted. I now haven't looked at it for several weeks. I think it's up to you whether you look at it or not - maybe avoid it if it makes you feel anxious? But if it makes you feel confident and/or gives you motivation, then look at it every minute! Ha ha.

I'm using Virginia Hannan for alterations: http://virginia-hannan.co.uk/home/1237107. I've obviously not seen the FINAL product, but certainly the times I've met her and the fittings I've had, she's been very nice, friendly and seems to know what she's doing. I've never had experience in this sort of thing, but to me, she's absolutely fine.

I'm very lucky in that I finish work at 6, my best friend works up the road and finishes around the same time so she comes to me, we get changed in the work toilets, stroll down to the beach and then jog away. Yesterday was pretty horrific, though - I had a PT session in the morning and then we went for a 5k jog up some hills in the evening. I was close to crying for most of it!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I need to find the motivation to last another 7 hours at work and then we're Essex-bound to visit OH's family

Thanks - just heading to bed in a minute. I am on nights friday and saturday, then long days (13 hour shifts) monday and tuesday and off for the rest of the week woohoo!! We are going camping in the cotswolds over the long weekend so lots of hiking etc for me which I am really looking forward to. Then I am off the following week too but need to nail this essay so don't envisage me spending my time exercising much. Life just gets right in the way doesn't it?!

That is very promising that you have noticed a difference in your face though! Fingers crossed. Knowing my luck that'll be the last place it comes off. With my (non-existant) boobs being first to go obviously...!

I was the same at christmas desperate to make a change. And I have to some extent but the health issues combined with weird shift patterns lately have messed that up. Hopefully the first signs of spring will get me my mojo back! The sun improves everything!

I feel good when I look at the pic of me in my dress, motivated but not depressed so I think I'll keep looking. I think my obsession will die down eventually as I do have 470 days till my wedding lol (thats an app countdown not in my head FYI!)

I'll look up your alteration person. Let me know how the final fitting goes. I obviously have tons of time so will be interested to hear.

Have a good weekend everyone! Doesn't feel like the weekend to me haha as I am just about to dive in to 4 back to back shifts lol.

Hi all, glad to see everyone is pretty much better, even if no one is sticking to the original plans! ? I have given up on my exercising, I just don't have time to fit it in after all of my work, children, and running around... I only have 12 days until I get married!! I picked up my dress yesterday, it is stunning, the dress shop has been absolutely brilliant so I have them a bottle of prosecco each as a thank you.

I still have so much to do, I keep procrastinating as I don't know where to start, that's normal right? I have just started feeling disgustingly nervous about it all, which I was hoping would kill my appetite, but I just seem to be scoffing chocolate.

Mittel, I am in shock over your dress story, it's brilliant it's worked in your favour, but what a tale!

Romantic, that's a huge amount of money for alterations, definitely ask around and see if you can find somewhere at a better price. And remember, even if you're quiet / shy, be polite but firm, you are the customer and they can't intimidate you into options that you do not want. You're not wasting their time, your money is as good now as it would be in a years time.

Pooba, I still can't believe you're doing the Rough Runner, your running seems to be going really well.

Wow MOGF that is soooo exciting! I hope you post some pics after. So glad that you like your dress too, feel confident about the way you look in it? I am sure you look stunning and on your day you will be so happy and this is the most beautiful thing, a beaming and glowing bride.

The procrastination is normal definitely. I find the best way to focus is write a list of everything needs doing broken down into smaller tasks, order it and then just do one job at a time and tick it off when it is done. I am a sucker for lists and ticking off the done stuff is a triumph! Get rid of the chosolate and don't buy any more! Buy your fav fruit or something like grapes that you can pick at to keep your mouth busy!

Yes it is a lot, I am definitely going to ask around. Plenty of time! Thanks for your words on encouragement about being polite but firm. I know I don't have to go ahead but I just cave under the pressure ☹️xxx

Morning everyone! Sorry for the radio silence, I had my birthday last week so lots of cake, wine and bug dinners ? Now I'm definitely off the booze until I go to Ibiza for the big day (oh apart from my hen do ?)I'm just not seeing the changes on the scales. Still got a stone to lose in 10weeks ?

Mogf You must be so excited right now! Great news that you're so happy with your dress, please do post pictures! I definitely think it's normal to be procrastinating....go with your gut and make those choices!!

Pooba well done with your amazing running achievements! I'm gradually building up my exercise strengths but nowhere near as much as a 10k run!

Oh RBF I feel for you, wedding dress shops can be pretty intimidating....do you have anyone you could take along with you who would be able to almost talk on your behalf about wanting to get the alterations done for you? My sister is very quiet sometimes and I often go along for back up to things. Knowing I'm there normally gives her the confidence to speak up.

Pooba and RBF I think I match your body shapes. Larger on the bottom (size 14) and 10-12 on top. Nightmare buying dresses and annoying when the weight seems to go from my rib area of all places ?

I hope you're all doing ok generally.

I met with a wedding coordinator for our party over here yesterday. She was brilliant. Really knew her stuff but managed to make me feel pretty disorganised about quite a lot of stuff. Next couple of weeks I need to really pull my planning socks up!!

have a great week everyone. Take care x

Hi everyone!

Weekend was a NIGHTMARE with food - Friday night was KFC at Fleet services, Saturday lunch was a bacon sandwich, followed by Dominos pizza for dinner and then a fat roast dinner yesterday with lots of chocolate and birthday cake. Managed to do a ~9km run yesterday morning, although feeling very lethargic and bloated today.

My parents are now staying with us until Friday while their house gets redecorated and then it's hen do weekend, so I can't forsee particularly healthy eating over the next week either. Eeeep. Just got to keep going with the exercise - I have 2 runs planned and 2 PT sessions booked this week and then part of my hen do is 'Go Ape' - an obstacle course in the trees, so hopefully the exercise will help negate the bad food! I'm also up to 30 press ups a day, although they actually seem to be getting harder rather than easier

RBF - hope your long shifts go quickly today and tomorrow. Your long weekend sounds amazing; just hope the weather holds out for you!

I'm so glad the photo of you in your dress helps. Keep looking away! You still have lots of time to get in the right mindset and realise you'll look AMAZING regardless of weight and measurements

Mogf - wow, can't believe you'll be married in such a short amount of time. It will all be worth it though - and I assume your friend is still in reasonable health? Sending you all best wishes!

Must be making it all real now having your dress in the house? If there's anything we can help with organisation-wise - even running ideas and stuff past us - don't hesitate to drop a note!

Thanks for note about running. For the first time ever I'm feeling pretty confident going into a sporting event. I know it's not a race and (at least some of) the group of us will take it slow (one of my friends has done a lot less training and I refuse to leave her behind), but as long as I'm not the one lagging I don't care!

Mittel - happy birthday for last week! Did you have a good day?

re. weight loss, how's your exercising going? Still got some time to lose what you want to in a healthy manner ...although we don't want it all going from your ribs! Ha ha, that's such a strange place to lose your weight. That said, I have a weird set up: my ribs are all bony, I have a huge pot stomach (which I've learnt to suck in 24/7!), large child-bearing hips and then chunky thighs.

Great news about your wedding coordinator - sometimes you need that push to get things decided and sorted. How long after the wedding is the UK party? Will you wear your dress again?

Happy Monday everybody. 3.5 days until looooooong weekend (unless you're working over BH. If so, sorry!)

Hey Mittel! Happy belated b'day! Well my mum was there with me that time but I think she doesn't realise how I feel until we left the shop. She isn't local so unlikely to go there again to be honest. I don't have anyone here I trust to be my voice for me sadly ☹️ I'll get through it though, my feelings about not overspending will definitely come above my feelings over being shy, eventually! I think I just need to forget about it, get some other quotes to confirm my suspicions that the shops quote is well overpriced, and deal with it from there.

It does seem like we are the same shapes! I love my shape in general and wouldn't swap my big bum and hips! Even though my top half is the smaller, this is still where I want to loose, my dress hides my thighs anyway! And my FACE darn it!

That is great that your wedding co-ordinator gave you confidence! Cant imagine much worse then not trusting your wedding co-ordinator to do a good job. I am yet to really meet mine, with my wedding so far away, but my impression of her so far is good. I am also interested to know if you are wearing you wedding dress at your UK party? If so, I am very jealous, wish I could wear mine more then once!

Naughty weekend Pooba! I am no better though haha! How is the exercise going this week? I am a big FAIL! I've done go ape a couple of times, really enjoyed it but wouldnt class it as exercise as it is a fairly slow paced thing!

My long whifts were fine thanks, got a couple of boxes of chocolates from couples (why can't they buy me amazing fruit baskets...?!) but the shifts were SO busy that I didn't get a chance to eat them. I'll nibble slowly slowly! Re. camping, not gonna happen. The forecast says 100% chance of rain on all 3 days now haha so we will just spend the whole weekend in Cardiff with the in-laws which is great as we are going to spend a day in the town shopping. Shopping is great in cardiff and completely naff in London so really looking forward to that!

RBF - money is definitely a good incentive to speak your mind. I'm the same, always very shy and non-confrontational but I've been stronger-willed when it's come to wedding stuff and it seems to have paid off for the most part! It may be that if you do find some quotes from elsewhere, the shop will match them? See what happens

I guess we're all very lucky we have 'womanly curves' although I had more envy at the gym this morning looking at the sleek women. By far and away, I'm most conscious about my stomach and have lived in baggy clothes for the last 15 years to cover it up. Losing weight over the past few years has seen my confidence grow a little, but I'm still very apprehensive...

Exercise this week has been okay, thanks. PT session on Tuesday, 6.5km hill jogging yesterday, another PT this morning... my body is dog-tired, but I have a 10km jog planned tomorrow and can't feasibly get out of it so will just need to suck it up. I've done Go Ape once before, but I'm looking at it more as a strength and possibly toning thing rather than cardio. I'm going to try out some new gloves I've bought and maybe do some extra exercises/hanging while I'm up there!

Real shame about your weekend, although shopping sounds like fun! Do you get on with your in-laws?

Happy Bank Holiday everyone! May the easter bunny bless you with much non-fat, no-calories, great-skin-making chocolate x

Yes I will definitely put my wallet over the fear of an awkward conversation but I am dreading it already lol. Never mind I'll get over it! Maybe they will match it actually. Thats a good thought.

Yes I do love my curves and would rather have them then not have any shape at all, but I am like you in the I hate my belly as that is one curve that I can live without and is one that hasn't always been there! I also wear baggy clothes, usually dark, and generally hate my wardrobe. Wish I could have a personal shopper to tell me what looks good on me!

Well done on your exercise....your SO good! In cardiff this weekend is the world half marathon and my br in law was running so we just went to the end of the road to cheer him (and Mo Farah!) and it made me feel so lazy haha. Need to get back in to running. Am considering booking me on to a little 5k to give myself something more short term to work towards as I think with the wedding I am always like "oh I have plenty of time....!" (which I do!)

How was go ape Pooba? We dont mind about the weekend tbh, camping is pointless in the rain and it is nice to be in Cardiff. Went shopping this morning and got a couple of things but I remembered that it isn't just the lack of shops in London I just generally dislike shopping lol. And hate my body and just look at everything and think "meh I wish I could pull this off"....

Yes I get on with the in-laws but just between us, his mum is a little odd and although my parents are divorced, I do not want to base our marriage on theirs as they don't get on at all and she is so petty. She digs at him all the time in front of everyone so I can even imagine what it is like when they are alone, poor bloke.

Hope everyone is having a good relaxing weekend and not eating too much chocolate. I am definitely having a fail on the food front, although I am rather proud that I ate and finished a vindaloo yesterday without any trouble! Love spicy food!

Evening ladies!!

How was Easter for everyone? I got two eggs and unlike every other year I haven't yet opened either!!

RBF yes, I'm wearing my dress twice! Very excited that I'll get to really get some wear out of it I just hope it doesn't get wrecked in Ibiza!

so I've been doing squats and lunges with weights for the last week and I've actually started to see and feel a difference (and so has hubby to be!) my bum is definitely tighter and my jeans seem looser! Whoop ?

RBF good job you gave camping a miss, you might have blown away this weekend ?

Pooba, how's the diet now after your naughty weekend of dominos? I must say I'm looking forward to the week after the wedding when I can eat a pizza, garlic bread and wash it down with whatever alcoholic drink I choose without feeling guilty!!

Am I right in thinking Mogf has her wedding this Friday? How exciting!!

have a good week everyone, I've only got 10weeks to go now, 8 weeks to lose the weight to feel beautiful for my hen do!!x

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a lovely long weekend.

High/lows over last few days: hen do was a complete success, had an amazing time. Did 10km jog on Fri, Go Ape on Sat (boy, that was fun on the arms), another 5.5km jog yesterday and then a PT this morning. Diet wasn't great, though and I had quite a lot of alcohol on Saturday night...

I also have 9(!!!!!) easter eggs at home. I'm going to have to hide them/give them away else I will absolutely gorge myself on them! Ha ha.

I have less than 2 weeks until Rough Runner and 3 and a smidgeon weeks until the wedding. Focus will now be on diet and exercise - even more so than past few months. I. Can. Not. Fall. At. Last. Hurdle.

RBF - how did your BIL get on in the half marathon? We watched a little bit of it - gutted that Mo Farah can do a half marathon in the same time it takes us to do 10km! Lol. Would definitely recommend signing up to do a race or something; I've found I'm more motivated towards that than the wedding itself! Strange...

Well done on the vindaloo! I can barely manage a korma ?

Mittel - You have a little time between Ibiza and the UK reception, right? Just get the dress dry cleaned, I'm sure it will be fine ?

Fab news about the squats and lunges! It's amazing how quickly our bodies respond to dedicated exercise.

Mogf - I'm sure Mittel's right and it's your wedding this week - maybe the 2nd? I'll double check your thread in a minute! Hope you're keeping well and healthy x

Hi all, eep! I get married on Saturday! I still have to make my bouquet, but that's fine.

My exercise went out of the window, but my eating is better. No more biscuit diets. I'm proud you're all still managing, though everyone needs treats sometimes. I am working until Thursday, so am trying to fit everything in around work.

I stuck a conditioning treatment on my hair while I cleaned this morning, I patched up my nails last night and will paint them Friday. Thankfully I'm a trained nail tech, so when I broke two of my nails on Sunday I knew I could fix them... After only a little panic. My hair and make up ladies are all booked in and will arrive at 9 & 9.30 am! i took my dress out of its bag today to hang it and decrease, along with my veil... It's all just so very very close now!

Hi everyone! I've been a bit out of the loop, we moved house in Feb so wedding stuff went on the back-burner for a while. We've been in our new place for a month and still have no phone line/WiFi, so I have very limited access to hitched as the mobile signal is dreadful!

It sounds like you're all making fab progress with fitness stuff, I'm always full of admiration for anyone who can subject themselves to PT sessions and running... I have lost 15.5lbs on Weight Watchers since my first meeting on 14th January, and I went to zumba this morning for the first time since June! I've been walking further since we moved which has definitely helped, but I think adding an hour of zumba into the mix will give my weight loss a proper boost!

My dress is now in the shop so I'll be going for a fitting soon, eek!

MogF how exciting that you only have DAYs to go now!!! Apart from the wedding bouquet has everything else been sorted? I read somewhere the other day that half way through your wedding day you should stand alone for a minute or two and take in all the hard work you've done and see how much everyone is enjoying themselves..sounds like a good suggestion to me! I wish you all the best for Saturday!????

Oooh pooba, I went on a hen do to go ape a few years back, it was so much fun. I really ached the next day though!! I can't believe your big day is creeping up now too!! How exciting! I think it only really hit me at Easter that our wedding is actually happening!! Because our venue is Ibiza I haven't been able to visit it it or decide much to do with decorations etc so it hasn't really felt real. We had a booklet emailed over and ticked the decorations we wanted. Obviously in the run up to the big day it'll be lovely that someone else is doing all the hard work for us but until now it just hasn't felt real ?

Yes we have 2 weeks between the Ibiza day and the U.K. Party in order to get my dress cleaned, phew! I've got to work the 2 weeks in between though so I presume I'll be running round like a headless chicken ?!!!

RBF I had a similar shopping experience at the weekend (thankfully just online) but still so depressing seeing all the lovely clothes and thinking "that'll look sh*t on me" or "that definitely won't fit in the right places" one of my friends is a personal shopper and has offered to come shopping with me for a dress for my hen do (we're going to the races) but I can't see us finding anything flattering when Im so bottom heavy and hate looking in the mirror wearing anything other than a hoody and tracky bottoms!?

Welcome back arpee! Oooh how exciting about your dress! When are you planning on going for a fitting? Mine is in 2 weeks but I'm dreading it. I've not lost any weight since I first tried it and it was snug then!!! Although I think I'm toning up which hopefully will make a difference.

I hope you're all having a great week.

Xx

Mogf - can't believe it's so soon and you're in the final throes of preparation. Does it all seem real yet?!

Shame the biscuit diet is no more, I was looking forward to hearing how good it was and incorporating it into my own diet

Arpee - hellllooooo! Congrats on the new house, although boo to no internet.

That's amazing news on the weight loss, well done! Did you enjoy Zumba? Certainly mixing up your exercise will help and (hopefully) make it more fun.

When do you think you'll be going for your first fitting? Make sure you come back and tell us how it goes

Mittel - great idea to stop and relax for a moment at your wedding. Will definitely try and remember to do that.

I fully understand how strange it must be to ask someone else to do the decorating and stuff for you. Have you seen pictures of what the place should look like?

Those 2 weeks will go quick flash! Would probably get your dress into dry cleaners as soon as you're back - I've heard they can take a little while to get sorted. That said, you might get away with not having to clean it... maybe stay away from the red wine and stainable foodstuffs in Ibiza!

2 weeks until your fitting as well! Eeeeeeeeeeeee. Have you got all your underwear and jewelry ready?

My friend and I are hoping for a 10km jog tonight, although I'm feeling pretty sore from PT yesterday so might struggle...

Half way through hump day (does it still count as a hump day on a 4 day week? Don't care, it makes me feel marginally more able to cope with the fact I still have 2.5 days left in the office until the weekend!). Hugs to all x

So the jog went really well last night, 10.2km and hills in 1:05 - the same time it took us to do 10km on flat a few weeks back so very chuffed with myself... until I got home and (TMI!!) realised that the contraceptive pill I'm on which stops me bleeding had failed spectacularly. All of a sudden, I was cramping like no tomorrow, becoming absolutely bloated and an emotional wreck.

Had to cancel my PT session this morning and I'm in work now with a small hot water bottle hidden up my jumper. Glamorous.

Hope everyone else is well and having a good day x

Hey ladies!

Bit of solence from me. I'm on a week study leave and supposed to be hitting this essay hard! It's going OK, but could be better - SO BORING!

Anyway, clearly I will do anything to not write an essay as I went for a jog this morning. A cheeky 4k, the first since I did my shoulder in. Soulder was fine, heart, lungs and legs were NOT! I hate that fitness goes so quickly! Grr. Well it is all in light of this half marathon I am apparently doing in October....pretty sure that is not going to happen. I thought I was going to vomit at the end of 4, never mind 21! Pooba he didn't do as wel as he liked, 2hrs 20. He was aiming for 2 hours but life got in the way this time and he didn't train properly and the vindaloo the night before didn't help hehe! Yeah honestly when he ran past us (twice) i genuinely couln't sprint that fast!! The length of stride he gets in crazy! I actually said that the H2B that if a half marathon took me an hour, I would do it all the time...but no, it'll probably take me 3 hours!

Mittel - OMG I am s jealous you get to wear it twice, actually makes me consider re-arranging all my plans and going abroad just so I cant have two parties hehe! Nah, I'll just make it my new housework attire. I agree with Pooba though, just get it dry cleaned in between. If you book it in now then you have the peace of mind they will have the time to do it and it doesn't usually take long. So exciting that your fitting is soon - don't worry I am sure that even if you haven't lost weight that it will fit better as like you say, you are toning up and I bet you may have lots inches even if you haven't noticed. Every little helps!

That must be odd not being able to go to your venue at all, I live 2 hours ish from mine but closer to the time plan on going there a good handful of times. Will you get to see it at all before the wedding? I am very jealous of the friend who is a personal shopper, when I was walking around the shops I was thinking I just wish someone could pick stuff out for me that would suit my shape! It really gets me down. We were glad we cancelled camping haha we certainly would have been blown away, lost the payment though grr! Planning another trip for the mayday bank holiday weekend.

Well done on the squats/lunges/press ups everyone. I am planning on taking it one step at a time a go with the running every other day for now and maybe add on some of that after a while. Also re-considering weight watchers if I am good for a month or so with the running. Don't want to start just as I (re)commence a new (old) exercise routine as I am sure I'll put on the lbs rather then loose. Not about the lbs though its about the inches....hmm maybe I should measure myself today.

Mittel - lol at the week after the wedding diet....I am going to USA for 4 weeks so will be cramming my face with food in american size portions for all of that time! God help me.

Everyone's wedding are getting so close now and mine feels no closer then when I booked it! So exciting for you ladies though, and MOGF you must be so happy....I saw the pic you posted of you in your dress at the final fitting and you look stunning - def don't need to worry about the way you look on the day, just relax and smile! I am sure you will anyway, don't need me to tell you that! Are you making your bouquet from real or artificial flowers? You doing all the other flowers too? Enjoy the last day of work today! How long do you have off?

Hen do sounds lovely Pooba! Your so good for keeping the exerise routine up over a weekend like you had - any excuse and I'll stop haha! And 9(!!!!) easter eggs.....! I got 1, from the FI. I am so glad though, I am one who prefers not the have the temptation around in the house or I'll just eat it.

Arpee, my wedmin is also very much on the back burner for the time being, where do you live where there is no signal? That is amazing how much you have lost with weight watchers! You have made me think I might join even more now, I would be so happy with that in what 10 weeks? Enjoy the fitting!

Hmmm that was a bit lengthy - wonder if I can submit that as my essay?

Warning, this will be all about me, sorry!

I get married tomorrow! Eep! I still haven't put music on the iPod for the ceremony or painted my nails. I have just finished putting together my bouquet, it'll do. I decided on a pashmina wrap in my bridesmaids colours, in case it got chilly. Today we have to go to the venue and organise everything, sweet tables, table decorations, Dj set up. I'm swinging from it not feeling real, to ohmygoodnessican'tbelievei'mdoingthis. But, that's normal, right?

My Aunt has had an awful cold midway through her chemo treatments, so she's feeling horrific, but, will make it at least to the ceremony tomorrow. Everything kicks off at 9am tomorrow, hair and make up ladies are coming. I don't even know why I'm telling you all this, I'm just mega procrastinating.

Mogf it's nearly here! I totally understand your varying feelings, hopefully tomorrow it will feel a bit more real. Definitely take 5 minutes to step back and survey the magnificence of all your hard work!

Mittel my fitting is in about two weeks, hopefully one of my BMs will be coming with me because I haven't got a clue what I should be looking out for! Need to see if I can find some shoes beforehand too.

Pooba well done on your hilly 10K, I'm not surprised you're proud of yourself! Hope you're feeling a little less crampy and emotional today. I really enjoyed the zumba, to the extent that I've been trying to work out when I can fit another session in each week, I want to go right now!

RBF I live in Gloucester, somewhere there really should be plenty of signal but as soon as you get inside our new-build block of flats, there is no signal unless you prop your phone up on the window ledge! I don't know if the building was built with some kind of anti-signal bricks?! For some reason the building company *forgot* to get BT to connect the building to the telephone network when they built it, so we are having to wait for BT to get us connected before we can get Wifi. We're too far away from a telegraph pole so it has to go underground, which means digging up the car park ?
I'd totally recommend going on WW, I don't feel like I'm really dieting, I've just made changes to eat more healthily.

I went to my WW meeting last night, another 2.5lbs down, so I've lost 1 stone and 4lbs in 12 weeks! Really chuffed with that!

RBF - I hope the essay is going alright and you're managing to get your head down and focussed!

Well done on going out jogging, even it was only to avoid said essay Didn't realise you have signed up to do a half marathon! Blimey, well done. Just keep upping the kms with each jog and as soon as you know it, you'll be running full marathons! In an hour! Maybe...

Fingers crossed for the May bank holiday and camping is more successful then! I have an absolutely mental weekend then: we get back from honeymoon Friday morning, Bryan Adams concert in the evening, OH's sister and new partner coming to stay with us on Saturday, a wedding reception in the evening and then a hen do in Bristol Sunday-Monday! I'm knackered just thinking about it!

Time will fly by to your wedding. I remember when we booked it last June and it seemed like forever to go... Now I have the 3 week countdown going and it's scary! Ha ha.

I've now eaten 2 eggs (although OH helped me with both) and I'm very angry with myself. We also had KFC for dinner last night. Why can't I stop myself from having bad food?!

Mogf - your big day is TOMORROW!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Have a fabulous, amazing time and enjoy every second with your aunt ?

Arpee - 2 weeks until your fitting! How exciting!

So glad you're enjoying (and planning more) zumba. I found that it almost didn't feel like exercising, because you were just dancing and enjoying yourself.

Can't believe you're having to go through so much just to get the internet in your flat. Surely that should have been one of the major things the developer should have checked off their list?!

Well done on your further weight loss, fantastic news! What with additional zumba and carrying on with the healthy eating, the lbs will continue to drop off

So I haven't done any strenuous exercise since Wednesday evening, but went for a nice gentle stroll along the beach last night after work and then walked into work this morning (~7km) in the sunshine which was nice. Planning to go to an exercise class tomorrow morning and then maybe a jog on Sunday, depending on how everything goes... still (TMI) gushing and not quite sure what to make of it. It's like my body is just absolutely throwing a wobbly for the sheer fun of it ?

Happy weekend all! x

MOGF that so exciting!! Dont stress about today's jobs, they are all little things which you'll be able to get done no problem That is great your Aunt is able to make it too. I can't advise if your feelings are normal as I've not been there (yet!) but I imagine it is! As Arpee said, take time to absorb everything you have done today. And enjoy tomorrow. I hope we will get a report ?

Arpee that is great you enjoyed Zumba! I had to give up my gym membership because of not being able to afford it but always wanted to try zumba. I reckon I'd look like a right noob though, do you do it with anyone you know? Thats such a pain in the bum about your signal/wifi issues! I hope it gets sorted super soon!

Thanks for recommending WW. Your loss is amazing! I didn't feel like I was deting with SW if I am honest and did loose about 1lb/week without really trying.

Pooba - thanks for the encouragement, the essay is boring the cr*p outa me (excuse my bad language) but I am getting places. It is is a long one so think I will be doing it for a while! Then got one more after that till I finish my course! (I think/hope).

Yeah the half marathon..... H2Bs family have sad they are signing me up.....not sure how I feel about it yet and whether I will actually do it or not but you never know. I'm going to get myself a fitbit (prob one to share between me and H2B) to monitor my heart rate whilst running, then when it stays sufficiently low during exercise I will up the speed/kms. Just because I generally find exercise knackers me out so much at the moment as opposed to what they say that it gives you energy, and apparently that is because I am pushing my body too much, hence the hr monitor thing.

OMG you get back from your honeymoon in may...when you say it like that it seems so soon! Blimey that sounds like a nightmare weekend, not really what you want after getting back from honeymoon? Do you mind?

Yeah I must admit time is going at a reasonable pace, not that I am wishing my life away!

Bad KFC!! You very much confused me by saying you had two eggs....I was like "whats wrong with eggs for brekkie???" then it clicked....chocolate eggs lol. Not so good. Stash them away somewhere for after the wedding? Easier said then done but do you have somewhere that's so hard to get to you know it wouldn't be worth the effort to dig one out for a nibble?

Sorry your not feeling much better on the cramping front...do you usually get cramps?

xx

It's today!!! Argh!! Thank you all for your support, you've been wonderful. I'll be sticking about to see how you all get on. So far I'm all calm, I'm sure that'll change come 9am. Enjoy your weekends! xx

Hey MOGF congratulations! I just saw your pics and you look just gorgeous. I'm glad you had an amazing time and your aunt managed to attend.

As for me, I had a heavy weekend but managed to go for a run saturday. Intended to go for a run today but got called out for a homebirth at 10pm and was there most of the night so absolutely shattered today and well not up for a run. I was planning on doing my essay too but just can't face it. Back on the ward tomorrow but hopefully will be able to go running wednesday.

Hope everyone is doing OK xxx

Hi y'all! How's everybody's Tuesday going?

So exercise at the moment is going well; did a legs, bums + tums class on Saturday morning and then ended up walking best part of 10 miles during the afternoon. Went for another long walk on Sunday, PT session yesterday morning, a 6.5km hills jog in the evening finished up by another PT session this morning!

No wonder I'm nearly falling asleep at my desk ?

Food isn't going quite so well, though. We had an Indian on Saturday night and I've been nibbling on chocolate and crisps for the past few days. I need to hide all the junk! One minor victory over the weekend - my OH had a bacon sandwich for lunch and I managed to stay strong and have a tuna cous-cous thing instead. I wish I had that willpower the rest of the time!

RBF - wish I could give you a boost re. essay... all I can think of is picturing the end game - 2 essays to go before you finish your course! Yay!

Good idea to get the fitbit, at least you'll have a much better understanding of how your body works and copes during exercise. Would thoroughly recommend signing up to do some sort of event - maybe not a half marathon, but even a 5 or 10km run? Something to train towards that's not wedding-related, you'll be doing it to get fit, toned and have a goal: I will run X in X minutes. How did you get on with your jog on Saturday? How far did you go?

Yes, time seems to be speeding up considerably now. The first words my OH says to me in the morning now tend to be: X days to go until we're married! Although his is more of a nervous-excitement-can't wait for the holiday, rather than the giddy 'yay, wedding!' mood I imagine other people get ha ha. I'm actually looking forward to that weekend for the most part, although practically I'm struggling to work out when I'm going to get all the washing done!

Thankfully my body now seems to be back to normal and the acne that reared up is starting to fade. I'm just getting nervous for when I actually stop taking the pill and have to reacquaint myself with my body and it's quirks!

Well done on assisting with the homebirth. Can't imagine how stressful/tiring/rewarding your job must be

Mogf - Congratulations again! Can't believe you're now married. How does it feel?!

I am having a fab week back in work.....so much better then essay writing haha!

Well done for the LBT class and your runs - I can't believe how good you are! And well done on the bacon sarnie willpower. Keep at it! I am doing OK on the food front but naughtily went back to my bigger plate yesterday Having a kind of noodle soup for dinner today so need a bowl for that one....back on the smaller plate tomorrow.

The run on Saturday (and thursday) was about 4k. It is my easy run lol. I am going to work up to my 5 shortly and then keep going there until I am happy to move on. At the moment I am thinking I will do the half marathon as although I agree that 10k might be better, the team effort with H2B and his family is a pretty good motivation also.

Aww that's really sweet that your H2B is getting so excited about the wedding. I just saw your post on the "how many venues did you see" thread..... What is your venue if you dont mind me asking. Sorry if you have already mentioned!

I have to admit I have the best job in the world haha! What is it you do?

Hi Clifton bride - of course! Sounds like you have a plan in place! I also am concerned as to why I am not loosing as I have cut my portions, cook myself, generally eat healthy, have an active lifestyle and try to exercise when time allows (though I work full time and am working towards a degree at the same time so time is rare!) So I feel your pain.

Feeling more and more that I just need to join WW now actually... I genuinely dont have the time or energy to exercise much more then 2-3 runs per week which is what I am doing going forward.

Bonjour! It's Frrriiiiiiiddddaaaaayyyy! Rough Runner tomorrow, OH's stag this weekend and wedding in 13 days. Brain explosion imminent, stand back ladies!

CliftonBride - big welcome to you! Certainly sounds like you're doing all the right things re. exercide and diet. Sometimes the weight takes a little while to come off so I wouldn't fret too badly right now. Are you noticing any toning/clothes feeling a little looser?

Hope you've had a better couple of days food-wise. Easy for me to say, but try not to beat yourself up about having a few biscuits - and certainly don't hold back from having dinner if you do have something sweet earlier in the day. The way I feel is that as long as I don't overindulge, I'm not going to deprive myself of chocolate or anything - otherwise I'll be more likely to binge if/when I get my hands on the banned substance!

RBF - glad you're having a good week at work! Have you managed to do any essay writing at all in recent days?

Back onto the smaller plate now as well? I'll admit, I never got round to getting a smaller plate, just try to gauge portion size by eye...

Your jogging plan sounds like a cracking idea. Build up the distance slowly but surely, well in time for your event in a couple of months If you can, go for the half marathon! Depending on how tomorrow goes, I'm starting to think about signing up for the Bournemouth half in October... never thought I'd 'enjoy' running as much as I have over the past few weeks - although that could just be because we've been doing it more in the lighter evenings!

I've also found that my legs in recent times have become really toned - still large (!) but I actually have proper muscles now! Of course I'm still doing the PT sessions so can't completely link to the running, but it makes sense.

We're getting married at Parley Manor, by Hurn Airport in Bournemouth. Forgive my forgetfulness, but you're doing the deed in the New Forest right? The place that's being renovated?

My job title is 'Relationship Manager' but that's just code for general officebody/client meeter/presentation giver. I'd say I enjoy my job 2 days out of 5, but most of the people I work with are really nice and I'm certainly on a cracking wage for this part of the country so can't complain.

Hope you all have lovely weekends lined up! x

Hi Girls! I've had a rubbish week ? Infection in my wisdom tooth last week, so antibiotics and then had my top two wisdom teeth removed (I knew it needed to be done but hadn't planned for it in the run up to the wedding!) so my food choices have been very limited and exercising has been completely off the menu!

I'm off to a spa later today though and I'm hoping a few treatments and relaxation will help me build up the motivation and strength to start a fresh tomorrow!

Pooba my OH is on his stag do this weekend too, kind of makes it a bit more real that the wedding isn't far away eh?! Well done on your recent runs and good luck today on the rough runner!

Hi Cliftonbride! Welcome to the group! I know exactly where you're coming from. It's so demotivating when you're eating well (especially designed by a professional) and exercising more than before and yet the numbers on the scales stay the same. I've been trying to get somewhere close to what I was when I first met my partner 2 and a half years ago but nothing is budging. He, on the other hand has dropped a stone since February without even trying (ok his job is giving him a lot of stress and I don't think he eats much at work) but it's still unfair!!

I'm a nanny so I'm in the same position as a lot of stay at home mums, constantly surrounded by food, feeding children and preparing food so it's very hard not to snack. Recently (since the wisdom teeth malarkey) I've been having really bad 2pm sugar cravings and energy slumps....probably because I'm not eating protein for lunch to see me through, but it's horrible. Sometimes I've literally raided the cupboards for ANYTHING with sugar in!

RBF well done on your runs too! Sounds like you're building up really well, 4K is very impressive! And congratulations on the home birth! Your job must be soooo rewarding! How much longer until you qualify now?

Well Im off to get ready for my spa (and avoid looking at Facebook where I'm sure there are some horrendous pics of my H2B ?)

I hope you all have lovely weekends!x

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your words of support over the past few months. Happy to say that Rough Runner was a success; the four of us made it in (mostly) one piece and for the most part, it was so much fun! No broken limbs, although I am slightly worried about the number of bruises I have now. My left elbow has a paintball-esque round bruise which canes like no tomorrow and I have a long scrape/bruise on my right upper arm which is causing a little discomfort. All the others are thankfully on my legs, which will be covered by my wedding dress.

Honestly, though, the sense of camaraderie amongst all of us running was incredible and I would thoroughly recommend doing something like it if you get the chance... we're already talking about signing up for another one later this year!

Coming off that high, I woke up this morning feeling really quite sad and apathetic about life, even though the wedding is now hurtling towards me. Psycho-analysing myself, I think I've put in much more energy and effort into RR than I realised and now it's over, I almost have the wedding blues people talk about... for RR and just before my own actual wedding takes place! I'm hoping that it's also the weather - waking up to grey skies and miserable rain really doesn't help! I have a PT session tomorrow morning + Friday, and my friend has text me to say that we should go for a jog again one evening this week so hopefully they'll kick me back into shape ready for next week!

Mittel - urgh, your infection sounds horrible! Everything back to normal now?

Hope you had a lovely time at the spa. Did you have any treatments done? Did it help you get back into exercising yesterday?!

How did your OH's stag go? My OH had a great time and didn't get too drunk, which he was very pleased about.

I think it was RBF who suggested drinking fruit squash when you have a sugar low and you're at home. It really does help and I'm sure it's saved me thousands of calories over the past few months ha ha!

Hope everyone had a good weekend x

Thanks so much, CliftonBride! Definitely going to be signing up for something, just need to plan which event to go for.

Well done on losing those 2kg! How are you getting on at the gym as well? Hopefully you'll notice it all at once as you carry on losing weight and toning up

How are you getting on with the food plans?

Exciting about your dress as well!

Hi all!

Can I join please?

I've just spent about half an hour reading through your lovely posts to eachother and wanted to join in!

I'm getting married in August - we only got engaged in Feb so I've only had 6 months in total! Wedding plans are going well - all pretty much sorted now, but I am on a big time gym mission! I'm trying to go to a couple of bootcamps a week, plus a couple of spin classes. I don't have a great amount to lose - I reckon about 10 pounds but it is SO HARD!! I'm so good during the week at prepping my food, but it goes to total pot at the weekend...

Anyway, I have 17 weeks (including this one) to the wedding, and I suppose probably a bit less than that really to get to my perfect weight (is there such a thing?!). My dress is being made so I think my first fitting will probably be June time, please reassure me that I have time!! I did the bodycoach last year for two months (evidence of my staying power - didn't make the third month!), and it made a real difference but I can't do that again as I got totally obsessional about it and became a crashing bore for my family and friends.

Considering getting a personal trainer for that extra push - my sister and I can share one for about £25 each for an hour a week. Those of you who have one, would you recommend it? I could just about afford it if I class it under the 'investment' budget but will it make a noticeable difference?

X

Hi HappyRedCakes - welcome to the forum and congratulations on your engagement!

Glad your plans are going well; not long to go now!

Sounds like you're doing all of the right things and you certainly have enough time to get to where you want to be.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on this thread who uses a PT and I definitely think it's made a difference. I started out with one about 3 years ago, did it alone for ~10 months and then started back up with another in November time. While at that point I overhauled diet and also started running, I certainly think having a PT has helped - someone tells you what to do so you don't have to think about it, they should tailor the exercises to your key focus points, answer any questions you have and give pointers to what you can do for the rest of the week.

If you can afford it, then go for it - IMO it's not just a push for the wedding, I've definitely changed my lifestyle and don't plan on slacking afterwards.

Whereabouts are you based?