Day Two and Three

I’m so chuffed with myself these last couple of days. In the past I would make any excuse to get out of going to the gym or swimming (I was only lying to myself), but now I feel like something has changed in my head. Maybe it’s my head and body finally catching up with each other and making me realise I can’t go on forever at this weight and being so unfit.

Wednesday morning I got up at 6am and went for my C25K run. I still found it really difficult and couldn’t do the entire running as the program tells you to, but I managed to do one more bout of it than on Monday – so it was a small success. Yet again, after I completed my run, I felt totally energised and for the rest of the day I was in a great mood and slept like a baby at night.

A friend told me about an app that she has been using to help her lose weight called www.myfitnesspal.com. It’s a really simple site to use which calculates – based on your height, weight and age ­– how many calories you should be eating to help you lose weight at an achievable and sensible rate (1lb a week). It has a food diary and a record of most food’s calorie, fat, carb and protein content so that you can really see exactly what you are putting into your body. I absolutely love it as it helps me make an informed choice of what to eat.

We all think we know what’s healthy or unhealthy, and we can all read the nutritional facts panel on our food, but what’s great about this is it also has the servings size, not just per 100 grams, so that you can see exactly how many calories you are consuming – as well as carbs, protein and fat. Oh I forgot to mention the best bit about the app is that it is all completely free! There is also a community section where people can post either inspirational stories and photos of weight loss or chat about any other weight issues and get moral support from others online. I absolutely love it and find it’s far better than the other online diet tools. I can’t recommend it enough! So that was Wednesday.

Thursday was supposed to be one of my rest days but the weather here was so hot and muggy all I could think of was getting in a swimming pool to cool off, so after work I dashed home to de-fuzz my legs first (It’s been a long winter lol) and almost ran down the Jardin de Reuilly thinking the pool closed at eight. I got there to find there had been ‘une probleme electrique’ and they didn’t know how long it was going to take to repair. In the past I would have taken this as my cue to give myself the excuse “Oh well, at least you tried, it’s not your fault,” and turned around to go back home. Not this time. I waited it out and after about 20 minutes the pool was open again.

 

French swimming pools are like going back to school. Everyone has to wear swimming caps first of all (yuk) and men have to wear Speedo style trunks which do not flatter any man (unless he is Linford Christie ;-) ).  The water was a little chilly at first and it took me a little while to get the hang of doing the lengths, but in the end I managed 24 lengths in just over 30 minutes. The water felt absolutely amazing and I felt like I belonged there as soon as I got into my stride.

So on to this morning (Friday) annnnnd I bloody did it!! I ran the full 20-minute section as per the app tells you to, I even ran in the rain – which would have never happened in the past, and the lift was out of order when I got back so I had to walk up five flights of a winding staircase. I was practically on my knees by the time I got to the door, but I felt absolutely top of the pops for doing it. I’m sure it was the swimming the night before that helped as it seemed to stretch out all of the muscles in my legs and back. One last thing I almost forgot to mention – I have lost 2lbs since Monday morning!! I weighed myself after my run today so in four days I have lost 2lbs. I’m absolutely buzzing!!

I am off to Chartres for the weekend so lets see how I cope with that one!! I will be back after the weekend to tell you all about it…

Day One

Today I started my first run with C25K.  Before going to bed last night the H2B asked why I was setting my alarm so early, as I normally start work a little later on Mondays. He was very impressed when I replied it was so I could go for my run.

7am came far too quickly for my liking, but I was really keen to get up and give it a go. I actually felt quite excited to get started (sad, I know, and totally out of character for me when it comes to exercise). I threw on my joggy bottoms, a vest top and my hoody and made my way downstairs and out onto the street. It was a beautiful bright morning with just a couple of white clouds in the sky, but still a little bit on the chilly side. Perfect. I put on my headphones, pressed start on the app and turned on my music to begin my five-minute warm up.  The first tune was by The Jam, which was great to get me walking at a nice brisk pace.  I turned right onto the street and at the corner right again onto Avenue Daumesnil.

The first five minutes passed in a blur and soon enough I was up to my first running point. This wasn’t too bad, but believe me I was ready for that little voice to say “start walking” but I managed it, and continued on my merry way.  The second and third spell of running got gradually harder and by the fourth I could already feel my legs turning to jelly. I managed to do one more running stint and ran for about 13 minutes of the 20 minute walk/run section and then made my way back home walking at a brisk pace until it was time to cool down. I was bloody knackered!!!

My face was raspberry red and because my hair was tied back I had a tad more than a passing resemblance to a Ribena berry!! The sweat was running down my back and seemed to gather into a little pool under my boobs. Attractive. Thank God the lift was working when I came back!

I went straight into the shower and cooled off under the lukewarm water. When I stepped out I felt absolutely amazing. My Mam and friends will all tell you I am soooo not a morning person but I felt (dare I say it) chipper and almost in a perky mood. I got dressed and actually went off to work with a spring in my step.

Although I wasn’t able to do the full running section I really felt as though I had achieved something. I have made a start and I will be back to tell you how I do on Day Two.

Fat to fit in Paris

Ok, so I’m 31 and have been living in Paris for the last 14 months with my fiancé.  Our wedding date is September 7, 2013. I’m 4 foot 11 inches and a half (yes, half an inch does matter ;) ) and I weigh 17 stone 5 lbs / 243lbs / 110.5 kilos. And, of course, I want to lose weight for our wedding. To be honest though, the wedding isn’t my main reason for wanting to lose weight. On our way home from watching the footy with friends at our ‘local’ the husband to be (h2b) and I were talking about when we have kids and for the first time it struck me that I don’t want to be fat and unfit when I have children.  I want to be a good role model. I have lots of friends, a good sense of humour, I’m kind and fun, which are all good personality traits I believe, but if I’m honest I haven’t taken care of my body. I’m overweight, but I don’t sit and scoff cakes and pies and chocolate all day, I probably have a slow metabolism and obviously take in more calories than I burn off – or I wouldn’t be in this situation. 

In the last few years I have done several diets to lose weight, all were successful to a point but I lost motivation or found the diets too difficult and life restricting to stick to. Three years ago I lost almost four stone following the Cambridge Diet which is a (disgusting) meal replacement plan and totally unrealistic to follow over a long period when you have a lot of weight to lose like I do. The minute I stopped drinking the shakes and trying to maintain the weight loss, even when I was eating just salads, the weight started to creep back on, and slowly over 18 months I was back to where I started. 

French women are tiny. In the shops you’re hard pushed to find anything over a UK size 14. Also, people here in Paris really stare at you when they see someone who is overweight. They look at you as though you’re a cross between a massive dog shit/alien from another planet (disgust and curiosity all rolled into one). Also lots of French African men seem to find the combination of a blonde with a big arse incredibly exotic and I often get unwanted attention on the Metro, street or on my way to work. 

Since moving to Paris in all honesty my diet has improved a lot. I very rarely snack like I did in the UK.  Paris is a carbohydrate wet dream, but, I rarely indulge in croissants, pain au chocolat or even a baguette. Each week, 6 out of 7 of our main evening meals are home-made, no frozen (no freezer to put it in) no convenience, processed or fried foods and for lunch I eat sushi, salad or leftovers. I walk much more here than I did at home. I would rather walk than take the Metro when I have the time. 

A couple of weeks ago I was on the train going to work (hung-over like never before) when a French African man got on the train. The carriage was empty apart from me and the obligatory drunk tramp.  Immediately, he clocked me and sat down right beside me. Great, just what I need when I can barely open my mouth for fear of vomming all over myself. He starts up with the old “Bonjour Mademoiselle”. I nodded just to be polite – as I said, I’m a nice person and find it hard to be rude to people. I explained “Desole, je ne parlais Francais” and he continues with “Ah, so you’re English” and then hit me with a barrage of questions like where are you going, where do you live, do you live alone, and then he comes out with the mother of all chat up lines – “You are nice girl, you are very fat. I like you a lot, you are very fat” with arm actions to illustrate his point that I am fat. What a way to sweep a girl off her feet. 

You might be wondering where this is going but I am getting to the point now – I just wanted to share some of me with you first.  I was reading a Slimming World support group page on Facebook when someone mentioned the ‘Couch to 5k’ app for smartphones and also a link to Fatgirlrunning’s blog.  After reading her story I was awe-inspired to see that someone with the same problems as I had really decided to do something about her situation and take control.  So that is what I’m doing, I am taking control.  I’m going to start the c25k challenge and write about it after each and every run and also chart my life and wedding plans in Paris on this blog.  If I write about it and put it out there I have to keep doing it.  I need to remember I am doing this for my future children and to be fit and healthy.

Don’t get me wrong I am not going to say I hate my body, I don’t, it’s the only one I have and my h2b adores me and my body exactly the way we are. Yes I’m fat but I am genuinely also very happy and I like being me. I don’t want to sound like the stereotypical fat and funny and bubbly girl, I’m not, but I know my body will eventually rebel against me if I don’t start to take care of it properly.

So this is my journey and I will tell the truth, warts and all but (hopefully) with a positive and humorous slant, mixed in with some fun and hijinx of my life in Paris.  C’est la vie…