I would like to apologise for my complete failure on the blogging front recently. Work's been mental and I haven't had time to write. Sorry.
Thursday went well. I lost 2 1/2 lbs. I now have 2 1/2 lbs to lose before I get my 4 stone award. I'd LOVE it if it was this week. I'm giving it my best shot this week. I've been determined, I'm still on the wagon (Day 16. Blood is now coursing through my alcohol stream. I'm starting to see things as they really are. 'Floor!' 'Curtains!' 'Gobshite!' Erm. Sorry. Just went all Father Ted there for a minute!), I've kept to well under 10 Syns a day, except for Saturday when I went half a Syn over, but I'm not worried about that really. I've walked a lot. I haven't been quite as stressed out this week as I have been during the last two weeks about losing weight. I don't feel any different or any thinner. I know I couldn't possibly have put weight on with the things I've been eating, but hey - who knows how the human body works? Certainly not me. It'th a mythtery, as Toyah Wilcox might say. For the benefit of my readers under the age of 35 and who therefore don't know who Toyah Wilcox is - ask your mum. She'll always be Monkey to me. Toyah, that is. Not your mum. I feel as though I'm unwittingly starting to stray into unintentional 'your mum' jokes territory. I'm going to end this aside right now before I get into trouble!
I'm really sorry you missed the fiesta. It was a special fiesta as well, in honour of the synchronised swimming. Ricardo has become obsessed with it. He designed a load of inflatable leg warmers for the llamas and they did a fabulous routine. If I get my 4 stone shiny sticker this week I'll get them to re-create the whole thing for you.
I should point out at this juncture that I will probably be off-grid for the next ten days or so. I'll update as much as I can, obviously, but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday I shall be at the annual District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in Liverpool. In the North West for the last 14 years or so it's been held at the Manchester Arena and it's a big, scary place, so my family and I have escaped to somewhere far more exotic for the Convention over the last few years. Stoke-on-Trent. Anyway, this year it's in Liverpool, and as my entire family are from the glorious city, we're very excited about the prospect.
I have new dresses. I had a disastrous afternoon's shopping on Saturday. Not that the company was disastrous, you understand - it was fabulous. After all, I was with my pal, Heather. I know. Two Heathers, no messing. She's awesome and I love her to distraction. So, I had a grand old time as always with her, it was just the dresses were the problem. They were either too short or too low (and although I'm skinny now, I still have massive knockers to deal with) - and often both at the same time. Although at least they all fitted me. It's nice to know that I can walk into a shop, pick up a dress in a particular size and know that it will fit me. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's all progress. I found a new dress yesterday, which is very pretty and fits me, so I'm nearly replete with dresses in my wardrobe, which is all very exciting. Eventually, I will post my 'before' and 'half way through' photos. I just need to retrieve the 'before' photo that my Auntie Heather took of me in January!
After the Convention, I'm moving out of home for a week or so. Long story. I'm sleeping at my pal's house for a few nights and then staying with another pal for a few nights. I should still be able to update the blog while I'm away because I'll still be working, but if not, you'll know why. My life should hopefully return to normal - well, as normal as my life ever gets, anyway - on or around 23 August, which coincides with the Global Public Holiday I've been campaigning for for the last who knows how long - International Keith Moon Day. Everything is wonderful on that day, it's by far my favourite day on the calendar. So it's only fitting, really, that everything sorts itself out by then.
I shall try to update on Wednesday or Thursday but I won't be able to update on my results from Fat Club until at least Monday next week. Sorry about that, chaps. Wish me luck though. I have a feeling that this week I'm seriously going to need it!!
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
The Blog Entry With No Name
It's all right, I didn't kill myself on Sunday as envisaged. I hit the 29 mark, I survived, I made it through, I'm going to continue with living for a little while longer. After all, I've lost three stone, it'd be a shame to waste it. I'll just have to be old and deal with it like normal people.
To combat the ageing blues, I've started a new (not 'new', exactly, more 'revisited' as I've loved this actor for years anyway) and more than likely short-lived cinematic obsession, it'll probably only last a few weeks. I can't even remember how many Stewart Granger films I've watched over the last three days. At least six. I've had a jolly good time doing it, too!! Did you know - and I certainly didn't, but I love him even more now I do know - his real name is James Stewart, but he had to change his name (he chose a mixture of his surname and his mum's maiden name) to stop him being mixed up with... well... James Stewart, aka my absolute favourite actor of all time! I mean, there is a resemblence, I suppose, they're both tall and a bit gormless-looking!! Good ol' Granger - he's like the David Bowie of cinema, but without heterochromia!! Scaramouche. Get it watched. It's a classic.
I went to a party on Friday night and I wore a dress that I bought from a high street shop. That's right. I walked into Dorothy Perkins. I saw a red dress (it's a constant source of disappointment to my Dad that, although I've been raised a true Evertonian, I love wearing red!). I thought "Oooh, that's pretty!" I saw it was very reasonably priced. I bought it. I tried it on. IT. FITTED. PERFECTLY. Seriously. It's such an achievement I really can't describe how chuffed I was. I might've still looked a mess, but at least I know that I can buy nice clothes on the high street now. I still have a long way to go, I know I do - but it was such a great feeling to go out in public wearing clothing that wasn't from the plus-size range!!
However, having said all that - I've decided to have a week off the diet. Not a going mad and turning into Miss Pacman type week off, but just a week off. It all started on Saturday. My lovely friend Clayre-Louyse and her husband, Adam, have moved near me. This is brilliant. Clayre and I have been friends for about eight years but we've always lived miles and miles away from each other - now she lives a ten minute walk away!! Hooraaayyy!! Anyway, I'd been in work all morning, then gone grocery shopping straight from work and by the time I got to Clayre's at half three, I hadn't eaten anything. I brought her a packet of biscuits (they always help with unpacking), really nice chocolatey ones, and she offered me one with my brew. Normally I'd've said no and been strong, but I hadn't eaten anything all day and I hadn't had a biscuit all year, so I accepted. I instantly thought "Gah, that's it now..." and decided to have a day off. In fact, I had a monumental day off. I went to the pub with my sister, had burger and chips and a pint of beer, followed by a chocolate ice-cream sundae, which had huge chunks of brownies in - and the brownies were still warm!! Oh my goodness! It was indescribably incredible!!
I really haven't had a huge day off like that yet, so I didn't feel too bad. But bank holidays are funny things, and I haven't been able to reign it back in as normal. I've not been spectacularly naughty, I've just not been nearly so strict with myself. So I'm not going to weigh-in tomorrow. A week off won't kill me. I'm still going to get there eventually. It feels like I've taken a bit of pressure off myself, which has to be a good thing. I'll get back on it properly and with a vengeance in the next day or so, I promise. I'm even strongly toying with the idea of joining a gym. Yes, you read that right. A gym. Cross-trainers, rowing machines, all that type of thing. A real live gym!
For those of you who are huge fans of the llamas - fear not! They will be out in fine style on Friday anyway, dancing away like things possessed, as I will be dedicating Friday's blog to a review of Nathan's album, which I received on Saturday morning. I'll tell you all about it then!!
To combat the ageing blues, I've started a new (not 'new', exactly, more 'revisited' as I've loved this actor for years anyway) and more than likely short-lived cinematic obsession, it'll probably only last a few weeks. I can't even remember how many Stewart Granger films I've watched over the last three days. At least six. I've had a jolly good time doing it, too!! Did you know - and I certainly didn't, but I love him even more now I do know - his real name is James Stewart, but he had to change his name (he chose a mixture of his surname and his mum's maiden name) to stop him being mixed up with... well... James Stewart, aka my absolute favourite actor of all time! I mean, there is a resemblence, I suppose, they're both tall and a bit gormless-looking!! Good ol' Granger - he's like the David Bowie of cinema, but without heterochromia!! Scaramouche. Get it watched. It's a classic.
I went to a party on Friday night and I wore a dress that I bought from a high street shop. That's right. I walked into Dorothy Perkins. I saw a red dress (it's a constant source of disappointment to my Dad that, although I've been raised a true Evertonian, I love wearing red!). I thought "Oooh, that's pretty!" I saw it was very reasonably priced. I bought it. I tried it on. IT. FITTED. PERFECTLY. Seriously. It's such an achievement I really can't describe how chuffed I was. I might've still looked a mess, but at least I know that I can buy nice clothes on the high street now. I still have a long way to go, I know I do - but it was such a great feeling to go out in public wearing clothing that wasn't from the plus-size range!!
However, having said all that - I've decided to have a week off the diet. Not a going mad and turning into Miss Pacman type week off, but just a week off. It all started on Saturday. My lovely friend Clayre-Louyse and her husband, Adam, have moved near me. This is brilliant. Clayre and I have been friends for about eight years but we've always lived miles and miles away from each other - now she lives a ten minute walk away!! Hooraaayyy!! Anyway, I'd been in work all morning, then gone grocery shopping straight from work and by the time I got to Clayre's at half three, I hadn't eaten anything. I brought her a packet of biscuits (they always help with unpacking), really nice chocolatey ones, and she offered me one with my brew. Normally I'd've said no and been strong, but I hadn't eaten anything all day and I hadn't had a biscuit all year, so I accepted. I instantly thought "Gah, that's it now..." and decided to have a day off. In fact, I had a monumental day off. I went to the pub with my sister, had burger and chips and a pint of beer, followed by a chocolate ice-cream sundae, which had huge chunks of brownies in - and the brownies were still warm!! Oh my goodness! It was indescribably incredible!!
I really haven't had a huge day off like that yet, so I didn't feel too bad. But bank holidays are funny things, and I haven't been able to reign it back in as normal. I've not been spectacularly naughty, I've just not been nearly so strict with myself. So I'm not going to weigh-in tomorrow. A week off won't kill me. I'm still going to get there eventually. It feels like I've taken a bit of pressure off myself, which has to be a good thing. I'll get back on it properly and with a vengeance in the next day or so, I promise. I'm even strongly toying with the idea of joining a gym. Yes, you read that right. A gym. Cross-trainers, rowing machines, all that type of thing. A real live gym!
For those of you who are huge fans of the llamas - fear not! They will be out in fine style on Friday anyway, dancing away like things possessed, as I will be dedicating Friday's blog to a review of Nathan's album, which I received on Saturday morning. I'll tell you all about it then!!
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Clothes Horse
This is it, folks. This is what 'back on track' looks like. A Wednesday blog and being on course for a three-post week. I'm on fire! Not literally, don't worry.
I've got back onto the green tea, I've started eating more fruit and I've kept myself to below 10 Syns per day. If I don't see at least some improvement by Friday I'll throw the blasted new scales out the window - don't try and stop me!! I may be skinnier now but I've still got the strength of a girl nearly three stone heavier than me...!! Grr!
I sort of feel like I've been a bit of an in-between size for the last couple of months. I reckon I've got about another stone to lose before I get back into my old clothes. There are two items of clothing that I'm desperate to be able to wear again - a black pinstripe shirt dress and a dogtooth skirt suit, both of which are a size 18. I'm a lot closer to both than I was five months ago, which is great. At the moment I'm wearing clothes far too big for me because I'm still trying to put off that clothes shopping trip that I know will be looming at some juncture. I'll wait. All my clothes are already at least one size too big for me, one more won't hurt. I'll go shopping when I'm officially thin enough to throw *all* my old clothes out. Or at least the majority of them. I know that sounds very wasteful, but honestly, my clothes are all so old and battered, if I sent them to the third world, they'd send 'em back with a note saying, "What do you think we are, a charity?" Cancer Research UK would blacklist me if I left any of my clothes at one of their charity shops.
At the moment I've only got one skirt, it's probably two sizes too big and when I first slimmed into it it was just above my knee. It's now halfway down my shin. It does look ridiculous. I will sort it out one day, honestly. I just want to get there first. As soon as I'm comfortably into a size 18 I'll cheerfully bin my fat clothes, get myself down the high street, walk in with my head held high and bypass the Fat Person's Clothes section and buy something that actually looks nice and not like a misshapen sack with a token handful of sequins in a feeble attempt at making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Oh, how I long for that day!
Seriously, if anyone wants to come with me to help me , that'd be great. Send all applications to the usual address and in no more than 20 words, complete the sentence, "I should take Spev clothes shopping for skinny person clothes because..." I'll even treat you to a coffee and a slice of cake from Costa while we're out by way of a thank you!
Join me on Friday when hopefully I'll at least have boxed off most of that pesky 3 1/2 lbs that's keeping me from reaching my 3 stone target. With any luck the llamas will have come up with a lovely dance routine and we can all have a great time shaking our maracas together!! Arriba!!
I've got back onto the green tea, I've started eating more fruit and I've kept myself to below 10 Syns per day. If I don't see at least some improvement by Friday I'll throw the blasted new scales out the window - don't try and stop me!! I may be skinnier now but I've still got the strength of a girl nearly three stone heavier than me...!! Grr!
I sort of feel like I've been a bit of an in-between size for the last couple of months. I reckon I've got about another stone to lose before I get back into my old clothes. There are two items of clothing that I'm desperate to be able to wear again - a black pinstripe shirt dress and a dogtooth skirt suit, both of which are a size 18. I'm a lot closer to both than I was five months ago, which is great. At the moment I'm wearing clothes far too big for me because I'm still trying to put off that clothes shopping trip that I know will be looming at some juncture. I'll wait. All my clothes are already at least one size too big for me, one more won't hurt. I'll go shopping when I'm officially thin enough to throw *all* my old clothes out. Or at least the majority of them. I know that sounds very wasteful, but honestly, my clothes are all so old and battered, if I sent them to the third world, they'd send 'em back with a note saying, "What do you think we are, a charity?" Cancer Research UK would blacklist me if I left any of my clothes at one of their charity shops.
At the moment I've only got one skirt, it's probably two sizes too big and when I first slimmed into it it was just above my knee. It's now halfway down my shin. It does look ridiculous. I will sort it out one day, honestly. I just want to get there first. As soon as I'm comfortably into a size 18 I'll cheerfully bin my fat clothes, get myself down the high street, walk in with my head held high and bypass the Fat Person's Clothes section and buy something that actually looks nice and not like a misshapen sack with a token handful of sequins in a feeble attempt at making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Oh, how I long for that day!
Seriously, if anyone wants to come with me to help me , that'd be great. Send all applications to the usual address and in no more than 20 words, complete the sentence, "I should take Spev clothes shopping for skinny person clothes because..." I'll even treat you to a coffee and a slice of cake from Costa while we're out by way of a thank you!
Join me on Friday when hopefully I'll at least have boxed off most of that pesky 3 1/2 lbs that's keeping me from reaching my 3 stone target. With any luck the llamas will have come up with a lovely dance routine and we can all have a great time shaking our maracas together!! Arriba!!
Monday, 16 January 2012
"Not now, Zsa Zsa..."
Although SpevLand has seen a few high-tension dramas over the last two days, by and large I had a rather pleasant weekend. I hope you did, too - and may I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy Monday!
It all started on Friday, when, I managed to, without breaking the new eating regime in any way, have a Chinese takeaway AND a double Bacardi and Coke Zero for my tea!! I don't even know how that works, but I'm really glad that it does! I bet you'd not get to have takeaway AND booze with no guilt on Weight Watchers - and you *definitely* wouldn't get it on LighterLife!! I made a point of texting this exciting news to my namesake, Auntie Heather, who is my Diet Lama - like the Dalai Lama but prettier and with nicer shoes - she's full of fabulously encouraging words of wisdom to keep me going on this mission. She's also on Slimming World and looks more slender and gorgeous every time I see her!!
Honestly, if this is the way it's going to be from now on - dieting rocks!!
On Saturday I went clothes shopping. Well. Obviously, I didn't buy any clothes at all, I merely escorted my pal Helena while she bought lovely clothes and stuff for her impending Australian Adventures, and I must say I think I managed to help her spend her money very wisely. She will thank me for those canvas-soled platform shoes when she's partying like a celeb in Melbourne!! If you have never met Helena, well - that's your luck out. Not only is she one of my most cherished of pals, she's absolutely stunning. I don't just say this in a 'you have to say your friends are pretty because they're your friends' kind of way. It's true. She looks like a little Bohemian pixie princess, all cheeky smiles, twinkling green eyes and skipping joyfully through life, sprinkling magic and happiness upon all those she meets. And, good grief, that girl knows how to shop!!
Normally, the very thought of clothes shopping would make me break out into a cold sweat and run to the nearest Aldi in order to buy (and then devour) approximately my entire body weight in scrummy European chocolate. If you stuck me in a CD/DVD shop and left me there, I would be totally at home. You could quite feasibly even let me loose in a cosmetic shop with a huge perfume section and I wouldn't really feel too out of place. Going into clothing shops? That is an activity strictly for average sized people. In this modern age of the so-called 'obesity pandemic' I find this a little unfair, but it's obviously a good way to con the larger person into trying to shrink a bit.
Fashion simply does not exist for women who are larger than a size 18 (I'm unaware of the problems for the larger-circumferenced male, but I'm sure there are similar issues). In fact, you're still struggling at a size 18, which is why I'm aiming for a 14. My goal is basically to go into a clothes shop and not buy anything because a) I can't afford to or b) I don't like anything, rather than simply walk past said shop snarling in anger at the fact I will never wear be thin enough to wear pretty clothes. It is, of course, possible to buy clothes for the larger figure, but they're all glorified sacks. I'm not some sort of hippy - I have no desire to wear a kaftan. I'm a self-confessed Ticket - in that my heart will always belong to Modernism but I prefer to dress like a beat girl. The other thing that winds me up about so-called plus size 'fashion' is that all the labels have ridiculously patronising names to them, like 'Inspire' or 'True' or... something. Why is this?! Just put the size in the collar (in very small writing) and leave it at that. As if fat people don't feel segregated enough in society as it is, clothing manufacturers seem to think we need to be outcast even further by only having one tiny segment of the shop (oh, the bitter irony!) at the far left corner to find something as non-ugly as possible; and for that segment to be called something that they think is a bit empowering!! Just call it "Fat Clothes" or "Non-Maternity" or "Rent-a-Tent" and be done with it!!
Anyway, Helena is very nearly as excited as I am at the prospect of me eventually looking like a person rather than a Weeble - so we decided that we would find clothes for her and also look for the type of clothes that I might wear when that longed-for time of 'Thinner' finally arrives. Gosh, there was so much 60s-style clothing out there - it was all very exciting. We both fell in love with one yellow dress that was too tiny for either of us. We got very excited about purple shift dresses and red jeans with white ruffly shirts - and I very nearly almost took a dress home with me. It was a red shift dress with a little pleat at the front, a red bow in the middle and a Peter Pan collar. It may as well have been labelled "Spev".
This time next year, I shall go into a shop, look at a dress like that, and take it home, knowing that it will fit me right away and that I don't have to spend months gazing at it longingly and wishing myself thin.
The thing that really made my day, though, was going into a cosmetic shop and finding Wonder Woman makeup. Yes. That's right. Superhero makeup. For women. That's what I'm talking about. It's like MAC Cosmetics know me. They've just brought out a Miss Piggy range too. Superheroes, Muppets and makeup. Does life get any more sublime?!
Look at me, getting all girly over lippy. Well, it's about time, I guess...!
Join me on Wednesday, when I might update about the book. I mean, I might not, like. Irene's gone back to the Bahamas and I'm left with a lovestruck private investigator, a decapitated body with no fingertips and a member of CID who could murder a pint. It's a very real problem.
It all started on Friday, when, I managed to, without breaking the new eating regime in any way, have a Chinese takeaway AND a double Bacardi and Coke Zero for my tea!! I don't even know how that works, but I'm really glad that it does! I bet you'd not get to have takeaway AND booze with no guilt on Weight Watchers - and you *definitely* wouldn't get it on LighterLife!! I made a point of texting this exciting news to my namesake, Auntie Heather, who is my Diet Lama - like the Dalai Lama but prettier and with nicer shoes - she's full of fabulously encouraging words of wisdom to keep me going on this mission. She's also on Slimming World and looks more slender and gorgeous every time I see her!!
Honestly, if this is the way it's going to be from now on - dieting rocks!!
On Saturday I went clothes shopping. Well. Obviously, I didn't buy any clothes at all, I merely escorted my pal Helena while she bought lovely clothes and stuff for her impending Australian Adventures, and I must say I think I managed to help her spend her money very wisely. She will thank me for those canvas-soled platform shoes when she's partying like a celeb in Melbourne!! If you have never met Helena, well - that's your luck out. Not only is she one of my most cherished of pals, she's absolutely stunning. I don't just say this in a 'you have to say your friends are pretty because they're your friends' kind of way. It's true. She looks like a little Bohemian pixie princess, all cheeky smiles, twinkling green eyes and skipping joyfully through life, sprinkling magic and happiness upon all those she meets. And, good grief, that girl knows how to shop!!
Normally, the very thought of clothes shopping would make me break out into a cold sweat and run to the nearest Aldi in order to buy (and then devour) approximately my entire body weight in scrummy European chocolate. If you stuck me in a CD/DVD shop and left me there, I would be totally at home. You could quite feasibly even let me loose in a cosmetic shop with a huge perfume section and I wouldn't really feel too out of place. Going into clothing shops? That is an activity strictly for average sized people. In this modern age of the so-called 'obesity pandemic' I find this a little unfair, but it's obviously a good way to con the larger person into trying to shrink a bit.
Fashion simply does not exist for women who are larger than a size 18 (I'm unaware of the problems for the larger-circumferenced male, but I'm sure there are similar issues). In fact, you're still struggling at a size 18, which is why I'm aiming for a 14. My goal is basically to go into a clothes shop and not buy anything because a) I can't afford to or b) I don't like anything, rather than simply walk past said shop snarling in anger at the fact I will never wear be thin enough to wear pretty clothes. It is, of course, possible to buy clothes for the larger figure, but they're all glorified sacks. I'm not some sort of hippy - I have no desire to wear a kaftan. I'm a self-confessed Ticket - in that my heart will always belong to Modernism but I prefer to dress like a beat girl. The other thing that winds me up about so-called plus size 'fashion' is that all the labels have ridiculously patronising names to them, like 'Inspire' or 'True' or... something. Why is this?! Just put the size in the collar (in very small writing) and leave it at that. As if fat people don't feel segregated enough in society as it is, clothing manufacturers seem to think we need to be outcast even further by only having one tiny segment of the shop (oh, the bitter irony!) at the far left corner to find something as non-ugly as possible; and for that segment to be called something that they think is a bit empowering!! Just call it "Fat Clothes" or "Non-Maternity" or "Rent-a-Tent" and be done with it!!
Anyway, Helena is very nearly as excited as I am at the prospect of me eventually looking like a person rather than a Weeble - so we decided that we would find clothes for her and also look for the type of clothes that I might wear when that longed-for time of 'Thinner' finally arrives. Gosh, there was so much 60s-style clothing out there - it was all very exciting. We both fell in love with one yellow dress that was too tiny for either of us. We got very excited about purple shift dresses and red jeans with white ruffly shirts - and I very nearly almost took a dress home with me. It was a red shift dress with a little pleat at the front, a red bow in the middle and a Peter Pan collar. It may as well have been labelled "Spev".
This time next year, I shall go into a shop, look at a dress like that, and take it home, knowing that it will fit me right away and that I don't have to spend months gazing at it longingly and wishing myself thin.
The thing that really made my day, though, was going into a cosmetic shop and finding Wonder Woman makeup. Yes. That's right. Superhero makeup. For women. That's what I'm talking about. It's like MAC Cosmetics know me. They've just brought out a Miss Piggy range too. Superheroes, Muppets and makeup. Does life get any more sublime?!
Look at me, getting all girly over lippy. Well, it's about time, I guess...!
Join me on Wednesday, when I might update about the book. I mean, I might not, like. Irene's gone back to the Bahamas and I'm left with a lovestruck private investigator, a decapitated body with no fingertips and a member of CID who could murder a pint. It's a very real problem.
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