Injury!

I have my first exercise injury - Does that make me an athlete?
I was doing a body balance class tonight when I heard a popping sound coming from my calf and my leg kind of went.  I tested it and it seemed OK so I finished the class - gently.  Afterwards though it kept catching at the end of my stride when I walked.   At least it means I can't do any housework tonight - always a positive!

So I had my fourth Fresh Start appointment today and I haven't lost any weight this week.  That was a little disappointing but as I had tracked all my food I know exactly where I went wrong.  I know I made some really good choices but I also drank a LOT of wine at the weekend (but I had fun doing while I was drinking it!).  It was shocking to see that over the week there were about 25 small changes I could have made to improve my diet.  Generally my diet is good - my meals are anyway.  It's the bits in between such as sugar in my coffee, a handful of crisps occasionally, wine.  So I think now is where the hard work begins.  I need to focus more when I eat between meals and really think about why I'm eating it.  So that is my challenge for the week - Mindful Eating.

Sweet Dreams
Fairy Princess Mummy
 xx

My first personal training session!

Why do people enjoy this??  That 45 minutes was one of the emotional (in a bad way) things I've done in ages!  I was meant to go to sewing group afterwards but my face was such a beetroot-reddy-purple colour I was scared they might call an ambulance (even I thought my face was about to explode when I saw the colour).

My session with the Personal Trainer started really well with a 8 minute fast walk on the treadmill to warm up and I managed to talk coherently throughout it. I thought 'This isn't too bad - and he seems like a nice lad.'  Then it got painful!  the previously lovely PT made me do 200 metres on the rowing machine - FAST followed by Kettle Bell Exercises then he made me do it again ... and again! then he made me do 20 burpees (aren't they the ones they use to break soldiers in the army?).  About half through I couldn't work out if I wanted to throw up or punch him more.  I was so relieved when he took me to the exercise bike - I thought I might get a bit of a rest but .. NO!  (I was however quite impressed with the bike which was a bit like a computer game).

Looking back though he was very supportive and I managed to do EVERYTHING he told me to without passing out.  Maybe I will learn to love it ... at least hopefully I'll love the results.  In the meantime - while I'm waiting for either of those things - does any one know how to stop me from going such a scary colour while I'm working out?

Sweet Dreams
Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Week 3 of the Fresh Start Programme

Last week my super amazing sister had her second baby boy.  I managed to get to see her at the weekend and completely fell in love with the gorgeous boy.  I felt so contented cuddling him for ages (I did monopolise his time quite a lot!).

We also had a house full of temperatures, sniffles and snot with the lovely husband and tiger cub being unwell (baby monkey just carried on in her normal, funny way but learnt the word 'poorly' quite quickly).  I'm not great with changes to the daily routine as everything takes so much longer and I worry when my kids are sick.  As there was so much going on I didn't track any of my food last week and I didn't get to the gym at all.  Normally at this point if I'd been going to Weight Watchers I would have bunked the session and kept on eating but as I really enjoy chatting to the Health Trainer I went along yesterday anyway and am sooooooo pleased I did - I have lost another 800g which makes my total loss in two weeks 1.2kg - yippee! 

I would have blogged this last night but I finally went to a class at the gym and was tired afterwards.  I had been thinking about trying an aerobics style class but just thought made me want to eat my own weight in chocolate and then sleep for a week.  Instead I thought that a BodyBalance class might be a gentler introduction to the world of exercise.  In a way I was right.  It seems to be a yoga based class and I loved it (especially when I got to lie down for 5 minutes at the end) but today I hurt - SO MUCH.  Tomorrow I have my first one to one session with a trainer at the gym so am hoping that will be just as good. 

Sweet Dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Fresh Start!!

So, today I had my second fresh start meeting and I am loving it.  The Health Trainer who is supporting me is incredibly lovely and easy to talk to.  She is also really encouraging (and she gave me a desperately needed cup of tea!).  In my first meeting two weeks ago we looked at a food diary I had to fill in for three days and looked at how I could make minor adjustments to start losing weight, took my weight and measured my waist. 
Today we double checked my height only to find I am an inch shorter than I thought!  But on a good note I had actually lost weight - 400g which doesn't seem a huge amount but is equivalent to nearly two blocks of butter which sounds much better.  I like the idea of comparing my weight loss to blocks of butter - not sure why, I suppose because it's easy to envision it.  I also lost 2.5cm from my waist which confuses me a little - it just seems too much.  The lovely HT double checked it and had got it right but di warn me it might not go down for a few weeks now.

So all in all a good day.  HOWEVER - I didn't get to the gym.  I had to work late and then do some more when I got home so just couldn't face trying to fit that in too.  I feel I have a long way to go when it comes to exercise but I'll keep trying.

Happy sunny days people!
Fairy Princess Mummy

I'm back!

I haven't posted for ages due to a number of 'technical difficulties'. 
First my elderly computer got poorly, which meant my lovely husband had to spend a great deal of time sorting it out so it can last probably only another few months :(  I had planned to do some posts in my lunch breaks at work but then my car got very poorly (expensively so).  This meant that my hours at work were a little tight due to sharing a car for a few days.  It was a slightly stressful time so I did what I'm good at - EATING!!!

I have made some very good choices though so although I don't think I've lost any weight I am hoping that I have stayed the same. 

Some of my good choices have been:
- signing up to the Fresh Start programme
- joining a gym (only did that today so I haven't actually been yet)
- going to a Pilates class
- reducing my coffee intake (I don't have anything against coffee - I just like it REALLY sweet)
- eating more fruit and veg
- trying not to eat after 9pm

They are all baby steps - but I am getting there slowly. 
The two most important things I've done are:
1 - getting a LOT of support to help me stay on track  
2 - starting to write down everything I eat (and how I felt and where I was)

I've got a Fresh Start meeting tomorrow and will be going to an exercise class at the gym too, so will post again after (if I have any energy left).

Sweet Dreams
Fairy Princess Mummy

Any progress?

I am aware that I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks and am now in week three of my journey!

I also completely forgot to post my stats (a bit silly as this is supposed to be about me tracking my progress - or non-progress!)
So here they are
Weight - 73.6kg
BMI - 28
Dress Size - 14

I have not lost any weight and am struggling to get my head in gear so I have gathered a 'toolkit' (Mostly developed from other peoples experiences and knowledge) and I have a plan.
My plan is to get in to my healthy BMI range which means losing about 14kg. 
My tools

• Weighing scales - to weigh myself every Saturday morning
• Tape measure - to keep track of my measurements
• Pedometer - cos I don't walk enough
• Water bottle - to help me drink my two litres a day
• Food diary - this is the one I'm using: http://www.personal-nutrition-guide.com/support-files/food_mood_journal.pdf
• A good friend - my lovely (and glam) friend G has agreed to be my buddy.
• A lovely husband who cooks
• 2 active kids (with the occasional help from their active cousin)
• A blog! - extra accountability

I also created an inspiration picture which includes my reasons for wanting to be healthy including:
- being a good role model for the girls
- having more strength and energy
- to fit in to the dress I was wearing when my husband proposed
- to be able to wear my wedding ring again (I had to stop wearing it when I was about 7 months pregnant with baby monkey and have not been able to wear it alongside my engagement ring since)

Tracking systems
I love a sticker so am using a Change4Life poster and tiger cub has her own too
I also have a weight loss graph on my wall and in my diary.

I also realised I needed even more accountability and help to change the way I see some food so have signed up for a 'Fresh Start' programme run by the Kent Community Health Trust.

Hopefully I will see some changes soon!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Getting started

So today was officially the first day of week 1 and was fairly typical of how my 'new beginings' start!

We started of today well - with me and the girls doing exercise.  I did a great Pilates session while the girls did a kids exercise class which they loved and didn't want to leave. 


Any exercise class which involves balloons has got to be good!

But food wise was not so great.  Luckily, I have already decided that Saturday is my 'free day' (see how good I am at justifying eating rubbish).  I am very aware that my diet has been punctuated by so much sugar, caffeine and processed food that to go completely cold turkey would make me crave some food more.  So my plan is to monitor my food 6 days a week and have one day where I can relax a little.  I am also planning on getting more support to help me change my mindset to help stop the snacking. 

My abs are starting to ache a little and the fizzy wine is calling!

Happy bank holiday weekend.

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Week 1 of my fit, healthy new life - Take 987

I have completely lost count of the number of times I've decided to lose weight and give up again within the week (or day, or hour).  It's amazing what you can convince yourself of when you are tired or hungry or celebrating or faced with cake.  Here are a few of my favourite arguments for eating:
- Anything with fruit in it (or fruit flavoured) counts towards your 5 a day.
- Latte is healthy as the calcium it provides helps your bones and cancels out the 3 sugars.
- Almond croissants are healthy as they contain healthy nuts.
- Broken biscuits are fine as all the calories have fallen out.
- Anything eaten between 10pm and 5am doesn't count. (No reason - it just doesn't!)
- Chocolate and champagne (or any fizzy wine really) are good for the soul and therefore healthy.

So you can see my problem (and the reason I feel like a giant sloth most of the time).
However I am determined to make a change and start to be a better role model for the girls.  The eldest (tiger cub) is growing fast and learning a lot about healthy food and exercise from us and at school and the baby monkey never seems to stop moving but can consume chocolate faster than anyone I have ever met (including me!).  It is so important that they have good role models who are not just teaching them the healthy way but also role model healthy behaviours - both emotionally and physically.

So right now I'm in the planning stage of my new adventure and gathering the tools which will make this a sustainable and slightly easier journey.  Any one got a  magic wand out there?  Mines broken!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

The end of the journey

So, apologies to anyone who has been waiting for months for me to tell the end of my egg donation journey.  As soon as the process was over I had to focus on my essay and my portfolio - both of which seemed to take forever and have taken far, far longer to recover from than the egg donation!!

In my last post I was hoping that the next scan was to be my final one but it wasn't.  My eggs took a little longer to grow than usual which just meant that I was injecting for something like 14 days instead of 10.  I think this part was the most frustrating - this is far more down to me liking a plan rather than anything else (also I was using this time to procrastinate on my essay!). 

So the day came for me to go to Guys and give them my eggs (it seemed quite apropriate that this was happening around Easter time too).  My dad was amazing and came with me despite having quite a poorly leg only a few days before.  He was incredibly calming and it was lovely to spend that time with him.  When we arrived at Guys we only had a short wait before we could go through to the ward.   When I got on to the ward I got the most beautiful flowers and the sweetest card from the couple.  From the window of the ward we could see loads of London so dad distracted me by pointing out all the highlights.  Then came time to go for the process!

I was so nervous but the medical staff were fab!  It was strange as I walked in to the theatre which just looked like a doctors room - I think I was expecting lots of stainless steel but it was quite laid back.  Then they tried to put the canular in the back of my hand.  For most people this is a simple process but for some reason my hands don't like it and I forget that each time.  A lovely Australian nurse held my hand and teased me when I made girly squeaks!  The canular had to go inside my elbow and that bit was fine.  I thought that after jabbing myself a couple of times a day that the canular bit would be fine but I'm such a big girls blouse!  When they put the sedation in I thought it's going to take me ages to fall asleep - I'm not sleepy at all.  Literally the next thing I remember is waking up. 

The whole thing lasted less than an hour and seemed really simple. I felt a bit woozy when I came round but that only lasted about half an hour and by the time I had a couple of cups of tea and biscuits I felt fine.  My sister came to pick us up and take us back to my parents house.  That day I chilled and ate and went to bed really early (same time as the girls).  The next day I had some cramping and was careful not to pick up the girls so it was really useful being with mum and dad to look after them.  A couple of weeks later I had a really heavy period and my next period was a week or two later than it should have been but that makes sense if my body still had all those hormones running about it.

They managed to collect 10 eggs of which 2 were used within a week or two and I think 3 or 4 were frozen.

It has been really nice writing this post and remembering what a positive experience it was.  It is something I am so pleased I did as I met some really lovely people and have found the whole thing fascinating and rewarding.

So there is the end of the journey.  Sorry it took me so long to tell you.  I will hopefully e blogging a bit more again now (at least until I need to write my next essay)

Still scanning

So last time I posted I think I'd had two scans.  Since then I've had another two and a third one tomorrow (hopefully the final one).  My folicles are growing a little slower than is usual (but I seem to have quite a few of them).  This means the whole process has taken a few days longer than I expected but luckily I'm on holiday and my family are quite flexible and so supportive.  Hopefully egg collection day will be at the end of the week.  Also at my last scan they showed me my folicles on the screen - so fascinating!  They look rather similar to this:-











Since the begining of the weekend my tumy has felt quite bloated and a little tend at times.  A couple of days later it started to be quite painful when I gave myself the injections.  As I am a bear of very little brain I assumed these were connected!  The lovely nurse put me right though - The bloating does not affect how the injections feel.  However, as I was a bit hormonal and quite frankly a little 'over' jabbing myself in the tummy and therefore they were hurting!!  Weirdly since then they haven't hurt again (apart from when the cat made me jump mid jab!).  I think for a couple of days I lost track of what I was doing and since reminding myself of this it has become easier again. 

Anyway - I'm very aware that this isn't the most fluently written post as I am sleepy tired!  Just wanted to get it down in writing.  Will let you know how it progressses.

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Scanning

So I had the baseline scan Monday before last and a week later after starting the injections I had a second scan a week later.  My folicles are not growing as quickly as normal so they have doubled my dose of Gonal F.  I then had a third scan today which again showed that I have a good amount of folicles but they are still not big enough at the moment.  This means that I will probably go in for the final procedure after the Easter weekend.  Fingers crossed they grow a little more quickly. 

I have to say that the hormones have taken me a little by surprise and I have been a bit grumpy the last couple of days - nothing acup of tea and piece of cake won't solve I'm sure!!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

It's all happening so quickly!

I have not blogged (or socialised, or read a good book, etc) for ages!  It has been a manic few months with essays and portfolios coming out of my ears.  So I hibernated a little!  I feel the worst is over and I can start doing fun stuff again and I have news.

I will be donating my eggs any day now!!

After a long wait and a couple of postponed attempts I am now giving myself daily injections (for a girl who has never been able to have injections done or blood taken at the doctors without taking a husband/parent/sister along this is MASSIVE and I am so proud of myself for not passing out!
SO ... here is the process so far - it may get a bit squeamish and you may learn far too much about my hormones but here goes:-
I came off the pill on the Wednesday (a day earlier than would probably be normal as my bleed takes a few days to start) and then I booked my first scan for the Monday.
Monday morning arrived ... but my bleed didn't ... cue panicked text to  my lovely Altrui lady! (What do I do - I know it's coming cos of the pain but it's not here - aaarrrgghh!) to which I got a lovely reply telling me not to panic and just to move the scan on a couple of days (There is a time limit - the first scan needs to be between days 1 - 3 of your bleed to get a baseline assessment)
So two days later I went for my scan.  This is an internal scan (think smear test with ultra sound - while on your period - very strange but everyone is so nice and matter of fact that it is far less squeamish than it sounds).

So that night I started the first of the injections to make my ovaries grow more eggs (Gonal F).  I tried to be brave and do it on my own - I really did.  I sat down on my desk chair (next to the bed so I would have a soft landing if I passed out!) and got everything ready.  Then I looked at the needle, put it to my tummy and tried to inject myself, chickened out, looked at the needle and tried again.  This went on for quite a while!  Finally I called my lovely husand who came and sat next to me and then I finally did it!  Of course it was fine - it didn't hurt nearly as much as I thought it would (- but I still won't do one without him next to me).

This I started the second injection which stops the eggs from releasing (or something similar).  That one is a bit more complicated as I have to inject liquid in to a tiny bottle with powder and then dissolve it and fill the needle with it again before injecting it.  I did wait til the kids had gone out with their grandparents to ensure quiet though.  This injection made my tummy a bit itchy around the injection site - a bit like a nettle sting but this died down fairly quickly.  To be honest the scariest thing is that I might forget or do something wrong - but i'm sure it will be fine.

The other advice I was given was to keep well hydrated - sensible advice on any day but ultra important now.

My next scan is on Monday and I should be going in for the actual procedure in a week or so!

Happy Days

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Lent

Although I have never really fasted at Lent, I am a fan of it.  I think it is a great opportunity to take stock and think about the world.  Although I have converted to Buddhism I still have a great respect for Christianity (especially as it is the religion I was brought up in). 

So often Lent is thought of in a negative way, of giving up something or fasting.  In more recent years I have much preferred the idea of doing something more positive to help others or the world around us.  So here are some ideas of things to do this Lent:-
- Giving up chocolate/wine/chips
- Look at where you spend your money - clothes you don't need/ computer games/ magazines - could you resist this for Lent?
- Could you give this money to charity?
- Take up volunteering or charity work (www.do-it.org.uk)
- Be nice to EVERYONE (especially if they are rude!)
- Try to do a good turn for someone everyday - it doesn't have to be big - it could just be taking some time to listen or giving your colleague who is having a rough time a bunch of wild flowers.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle - how low can you get your household waste?
- Aim not to waste any food in your house (www.lovefoodhatewaste.com)

I am going to do three things this Lent:
1. Reduce the amount of rubbish I eat.
2. Increase my activity levels during the day (e.g. taking a walk at lunch time).
3. Try really hard to be nice to everyone and about everyone.

Happy Lent

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr

Music Monday

This week I (and many others) have mostly been singing Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

(Very loudly - but in the car so no one else has to put up with the noise!!)

Happy singing!

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
Charles Dickens

Snow day

This morning I woke up to hear little feet jumping out of bed, padding across the floor, a little voice say 'Yippee!' then little feet running through to our room.
'Mummy look outside! Look what happened!'  Our eldest Fairy Princess LOVES snow!
... Well actually she loves the idea of snow and looking at it out of the window but when it comes to being outside in it she doesn't love it quite so much. 

For me snow is a bit magical as it makes everything look pretty.  Apparently the sea front looks amazing (but you know how lazy I am - and I have 'man flu'  - , so apologies for not walking down there to get some photos for you to see.)  And luckily it is Sunday so I can snuggle up and watch films with the Fairy Princesses and drink hot chocolate.

Check out the pictures from around britain on the BBC News website.
Snowy Sunday

I did manage to get the princesses in to the garden to make snow angels and deep footprints.

Happy snow day!

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Running out of steam

I have decided to start running!!
I love the idea and I have never managed to keep it up succesfully on my own so after a glass of wine I rashly signed up to a local running group ... and have been hugely unsuccesful at joining them ever since!!
Session 1 - got held up at work and missed them so they asked me to a session on a different night - Which I made - yippeee! and really enjoyed. 
Session 2 - I got myself really organised and had a map but didn't check the postcode I'd been given andended up at the Pet Cemetary!  It was dark and scary and like the begining of a cliched horror film so I decided it was safer to go home. (Moral of the story - always check the postcode someone gives you)
Session 3 - Again had my map ready but got lost.  Had had a really pants week so probably wasn't concentrating properly.
So as you can see I am being very succesful at not running.  So I thought I would re-remember the reasons I wanted to run to keep me motivated in trying to find this elusive and mysterious group!

Running will
- help me lose weight.
- help me sleep better.
- improve my overall health.
- aid my concentration meaning I will be able to study more effectively.
- help keep my moods stable and decrease my stress levels.

Al pretty good reasons to get my trainers on - in fact I might go now... or maybe I'll have a cup of tea and a nap first. 

But if you are less lazy than me you could check some of these sites that have really good training plans:
Womens Running UK
Zest
NHS Live well - this one even has a great podcast

Healthy, happy days

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Quote of the day

“Have nothing in your house that you don’t know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” 
William Morris

... now to find the time to make this happen!!

5 reasons this was a good week

1.  I got a distinction in a group asignment!  Yippppeee! (and thank goodness for clever colleagues)
2.  I got my first written assignment finished - and with enough time to get a full nights sleep before having to hand it in!
3.  The eldest Fairy Princess can skip!!  and has moved up a ballet class - Which means we get an extra half an hour in bed on saturday mornings pretending we are asleep and don't have two cheeky monkeys bouncing on the bed!
4.  I finally went to a meditation class and sooo enjoyed it - so calming and relaxing.
5.  I rashly signed up to ten weeks of running!!  - First session on Thursday (it seemed like SUCH a good idea at 10pm after a couple of glasses of wine!)

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx