Friday, August 29, 2014

The week so far, the stigma attached to men going to weight loss groups and goals for September

Back from London after a few days catching up with family and mates and even got to see the greatest football team on earth and the Pride of North London qualify again for the world's premier club competition, foodwise its going ok, not missing meat at all so far but this can easily change, getting in plenty of fish which I like anyway and even making vegetarian versions of my favourite dishes, my protein coming from fish, nuts and whey protein and i'll be sticking with this. The weekend will be as normal as possible and come into weigh in with a much needed loss to give my morale a boost.

Being addicted to food and being a yoyo dieter all my adult life I've been going to weight watchers a few times and most recently the past 3 years slimming world most of the classes I was the only man in group and the reason why? A lot of men sees weight loss groups as women only and I don't agree at all, I joined a weight watchers group in Dublin in 2009 and this leader had a men only class as he recognised that some men felt uncomfortable sharing their stories with women, at the end of the day overweight men need help too and in recent time Slimming World has invested a lot of time encouraging overweight men to lose weight on their plan and it's working but I still hear and see every day the stigma attached to men going to weight loss groups, I was slagged off last year behind my back with an idiot saying 'I'm sick of Mick's weight loss stories and that only women and queers go to s.w and if he was a real man he'd be having a few pints with the lads and banging hookers afterwards' and that fuelled me to ram those childish thoughts down their narrow minded throats the best way possible and it was to carry on doing what has won my life back. My consultant's brother who is also a s.w consultant has quite a lot of guys going to him and the same with my one, I'm even hearing stories especially through my followers on instagram that they met their boyfriend in slimming world so 'only women and queers go to s.w?' Those pricks are not even worth the steam of my piss and FUCK THEM, I like hearing stories of men who actually find love in weight loss groups, it helps them and inspire others also. So any man who needs to lose weight, it's socially acceptable to get help through these classes it's the 21st century after all and obesity levels in the UK and Ireland are at an all time high.

I'll end this as August is coming to a close and when I set my goals I didn't put pressure on myself on the scales and I still lost 3.5lb this month and i'm good with that and will continue with that attitude in September and stick with the pescatarian diet and not even a juicy medium rare steak will tempt me

Have an A1 weekend everyone

Monday, August 25, 2014

This weeks weigh in

Normally weigh in at my regular class in Athy but I'm currently back home in North London for a few days and rather waste a holiday I chose to stick to plan and weigh in at a class in Enfield like I always do when I'm in London, a tiny setback with a 1lb gain but there is a positive outcome to this, a complete change in the way I eat can take time to kick in and I've only been a pescatarian for 5 days.

Did have a setback regarding my bastard hip last night and struggled to get a proper nights sleep because of it, the 2nd Cappagh Hospital appointment can't come soon enough, hoping its the pre-op but it could also be a normal clinic visit, either way at least I'll know where I stand.

I'll sign off for now, did my bit for charity today as I dunked myself in cold water in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association

Thursday, August 21, 2014

The week so far, a new diet and the quick fixes that ruin the weight loss community

The week is currently going well so far, was at a slimming world friendly bbq in Athy Tuesday night and it was a blast, plenty of food there and a good team bonding evening where members from all 5 classes got together, eat and socialise and everyone had fun, that night was also the last night I consumed meat as I had been thinking since my 1st Cappagh appointment where I was advised to eliminate red meat from my diet, spoke to my doctor last week about the pescatarian diet (it's a vegetarian diet but you can eat fish but no meat), hopefully this will prolong my hip until I get a replacement and that I don't have to rely on medication or using a walking stick in which I am using around 60% of the time. I'll be buying a lot more fish and Jennifer will support me 100% even know she will continue to eat meat, gonna miss my juicy medium rare steak, bacon sarnies and chicken but I need to prolong this bastard of a condition as long as possible.

On a final note was a member of a Facebook group called Motivation Elevation until this morning when I was removed because I said that Herbalife was an overpriced and poor quality product and that only hard work and eating right is the way to go, I wasn't allowed to promote this blog on there because it was deemed as advertising but the moderator sells the bullshit crazy wraps on the page and also encouraging other bullshit quick fixes that make a mockery of the hard work me and a load of people who go through sheer hell to live a healthier lifestyle, I'd rather struggle and gain respect for my hard work than wrap cling film around my stomach or take a genetically modified supplement such as herbalife just for a quick fix FUCK THAT LOAD OF BOLLOCKS, work hard, eat right and have a positive attitude you'll get there

This weeks weigh in

Weighed in like I normally do on a Monday afternoon and despite eating out twice this week (nandos after weigh in last week and had a 3 course meal in Cactus Jacks in Dublin Saturday evening and had a big dirtbird burger lol imagine the calories in that when you had a 1/2lb beef pattie, chorizo,Monterrey Jack Cheddar,mayo, relish and jalapeños but it tasted so damn good) I stayed the same, goes to show if I stick to plan 100% throughout the week and eat out I can minimise any damage caused by consuming a shit load of calories at a Mexican restaurant I can get positive results.

As you all know I am battling Osteoarthritis on a daily basis and there is days the pain gets the better of me and it sometimes saps every bit of energy out of me but at the same time I won't let a cunt of a condition beat me and even the possibility of having Fibromyalgia won't defeat me,I wouldn't wish Osteoarthritis on my worst enemy because it affects the people close to you as my fiance would tell you, I may feel down, stressed and moody sometimes but I'm carrying on as normal, this has also fucking up my social life as I don't want to be in packed places and when I'm not in best spirits i don't feel like joining in and it's unfair on others, I did enjoy the other night but nearly had a panic attack walking into a pub in Dublin but luckily I defused the situation immediately, I need to get this sorted out especially when I'm gonna be getting married to the love of my life.

Any of the readers of this blog who attend a Slimming World class will know this week and last week is the most emotional 2 weeks in the Slimming World calendar otherwise known as Woman of the Year where nominees get to tell their stories and they are heartwarming and it does have people in tears, weight loss journeys are sometimes brutal and sometimes rewarding and the photo this blog is Nicola who weighs in my own group in Athy who won Woman of the Year for the 3.30 class, she has a facebook page called thenakedblondie if you are a foodie and take inspiration from meals itself while I focus on weight loss, my fight against food addiction and osteoarthritis and fitness

Have a positive week everyone

Thursday, August 14, 2014

The week so far

The 3lb loss after the weekend back home was a boost and the extra incentive of getting married has really got my mojo back, no bokwa yesterday as my hip is being a total bastard again but instead of doing fuck all and moan about it, I actually carried on as normal and still got up and moved around, this is what no excuse is about. I do have an appointment with the doctor in the morning but in just 4 weeks time I should know more about the hip replacement.

I did mention a few weeks back that one of my hates is people who thinks obesity is a laughing matter, well today while visiting a friend's Slimming World group in Dublin, a lady gave an emotional speech regarding secret eating and shortly afterwards I saw some pathetic excuse of a man on Facebook post an immature comment poking fun out of a woman who happened to be overweight and thinking it's funny so the delete friend button went in use, I don't need negative narrow minded pricks in my life right now, there will be more unfortunately but when I find out, I fuck them off too.

May hit the gym Sunday for a bit of strength training and have set up a weight loss and fitness motivation group on Facebook to help and inspire and be inspired by others

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

This Week's weigh in and a major decision in my life

Where do i start, was back home in London this weekend for 2 games (Millwall v Leeds and the chance to wind Leeds fans up by saying 'Jimmy Savile is one of your own' and he next day saw North London's finest put on a show for the fans at Wembley), i stuck to the plan 100% and allowed myself a couple of treats and it paid off nicely with a 3lb loss, that's now half my June/July gain lost and right now i'm very happy with this, not only this means i'm back on track but this is also a psychological boost regarding my fight against food addiction, dealing with osteoarthritis and giving me the strength to keep it going no matter what is fired at me.

Did my 2nd Bokwa session last week and it was so much fun, some of the moves i struggled with because of my hip but i gave my all and that's good enough with my instructor, no gym last week but was able to get out and about while i was home in London, hope to get some gym and some Bokwa this week.

On a final note, last week i made the move to propose to my long term girlfriend Jennifer and she said yes straight away, yes i'm getting married and extra incentive to kicking obesity in the bollocks, she helped me get through everything that I went through and I can't wait for the future, right now we are looking at a May/June 2016 wedding

Have a positive filled week everyone

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

This Weeks weigh in

A 6 day week due to weighing in on Tuesday last week and I lost 1.5lb getting rid of the 1.5lb gain from last week and a brilliant start to August too and I had the future in-laws 50th wedding anniversary sunday just gone and the dessert was too good to resist in the shape of a proper rocky road cake surrounded in Cadbury's chocolate fingers which is normally a food addicts nightmare but I was 100% on plan throughout the week and managed to have just the one bit and an extra bit to take home (Happy 50 years to Mick and Dolores and here's to many more happy years and a happy birthday to my little mate Red).

Back in the gym fully again and it feels great, back to being an IRON ADDICT in the words of powerlifting and bodybuilding icon CT Fletcher (the man is my inspiration, 54 years of age and with a heart defect still works out and in great shape who develops a no excuses attitude) , only do 15 mins of intense cardio and in process of joining a 2nd gym just for pool use as I want to be using the pool 2-3 times a week, Bokwa is on tomorrow evening and buzzing for that.

Will blog again on Friday with plans for the weekend when I'll be in London for the Arsenal v Man City game and seeing friends and have an A1 week

Saturday, August 2, 2014

The week so far

The weekend is here and it's pissing down right now, no more weather updates lol but despite the wet weather this weekend I'm having a very good week so far, no evil temptations and my food is 100% spot on, able to shop smart and on budget helps too did some batch cooking (made a spicy tomato soup, bolognese and turkey chilli) and I should get a few lunches and dinners with this, I'm also making sure I'm eating the right foods frequently so I can spike up my metabolism which is important in weight loss.

Back in the gym after a month out and it felt good, only doing 60 minutes per session for now plus a bit in the pool so I don't put a great deal of punishment on my hip, so happy to get my mojo back and is hopeful for a loss this coming Monday, also looking forward to doing Bokwa this coming week, need to keep the feel good factor going and have set goals for August which is the photo of the day, not pressuring myself on the scales but as long as I claw back the 9lb gained since Boney's funeral I'll be happy

Have an A1 weekend everyone