I’m upset. Apparently fat people are not supposed to ski….

Posted on January 25, 2013 by cambridgemummy

So here goes. Yes, it is my fault that I am fat. That I am a size 18 / 20. But I think I should be able to go feckin skiing if I want to. I shouldn’t be having to fight the urge to scream out loud in a changing rooms because I can’t even get the biggest XL of a mens pair of sallopettes to fit me.

I am very upset right now. Proper upset. Not crying upset. Angry upset. And it makes me want to do is eat more food. Which isn’t going to help the situation.

Relatively, I have done well. I have not gained any weight since last summer – August to be exact. I’ve gone up and down a bit, but I’ve not gone and higher than where I was last summer. And in the first 8 months of last year, I gained a fair bit. So I’m doing better than I was.

I don’t know. I’m waffling. I’m sorry. I’m upset. I’m bidding on some on ebay that are for girls. But I want to be able to try them on. In a shop. I don’t want to be penalised for having a big tummy after a bodged c section. I’m seriously naffed off right now.

:((((

A Christmas Gift – from me to you…

Posted on December 12, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Disclaimer: Thinking Slimmer is totally one of my clients. And I’m totally pimping them via this blog post. But it’s not actually part of my work for them – it’s something that I want to share, with you…

My Christmas gift for 2012, is two fold. One part of my Christmas gift to you it is a free download, to help you manage your eating over Christmas. You don’t *have* to put on a minimum of 5lbs if you don’t want to. (Apparently, research shows people put on, on average, at least 5lbs…) You can still eat and enjoy food, but you don’t need to do it to a point where you beat yourself up about it afterwards….

Continue reading →

Fashion crisis for the MADS ….

Posted on September 23, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I’m going to the M.A.D.S. awards next Friday as one of my businesses, the New Baby Guides, is sponsoring the pregnancy category and am having a fashion crisis. I’m really looking forward to it as Ms Whittle, Founder of the M.A.D.S is someone who I write about, along with Northern Mum, as being the sort of writer I want to be as funny as, when I am a grown up. The only problem is, that I’ve gained ahem, a bit of weight and can’t get into my usual awards dress. So I’m not just stuck. I’m panicking! Here’s the dresses that I’m choosing between – sorry it’s not a good photo, but had to do a screen shot and this is all I could get, but gives you an idea…

And then, there’s the shoes…. I’ve still not found the right shoes and bag to go with it, so any suggestions would be good. I’ve been advised to look for silver bag and silver shoes but I’m very scared about the latter – about looking a bit Tootsie… so, any suggestions please? I’ve narrowed it down to navy or blue shoes, but am so not sure! HELP!

Disclaimer. This is *not* a sponsored post. I was discussing my weight issues and current fashion crisis with a friend who has a contact at Debenhams, basically saying that I was thinking of not going, because I’m not feeling great about how I look at the moment. Shortly after our conversation, she surprised me with an email telling me to pick a dress, shoes and bag for the awards. Bless her. I owe her one :) I’ve not been asked to write anything or do this, I am genuinely having a fashion crisis. And I have to say, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what I’ve found!! x

Seeing as a few people have mentioned similar things, I’ve put my first ever link together (I normally get someone else to do all that kind of thing for me so if it’s not the usual format, sorry). It’s just one I found online and can use! So please would you add your blogs about the MADS and fashion related stuff here? Would be nice to see what others are wearing!! x

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Cambridge Mummy … on things needing time

Posted on August 19, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Well, after all my hopping about around the Fat Club stuff – aka Weight Watchers, I have good news. And I can’t believe I’m writing it.

To recap, I gained half a pound on my first week and one pound on my second week, in weight. I was near hysterical about it the second week because I’d really gone for it – swimming four times, turning down treats left right and centre. It was too much to bear.

So in week three, I was like the hungry caterpillar. I had chippy chips three times, a meal at Browns including half a chocolate torte for pudding and ate like the clappers. Wanting to know what the impact was, planning to get back on the wagon this week, I am at weigh in for 6.40pm. I’m willing her to open the door so I can get weighed and get going. I’m third through the door. In the same clothes as last time, so that we can get a true measure of the situation.

And yes, I lost two and a half pounds. How? What the fluff? (my mum reads this, she doesn’t like me swearing…) I got off and insisted on doing it again. Basically, the class leader and I have concluded that my body just takes time to “react” for want of a better word to my eating and exercising activity. I was thrilled to think that all that effort had paid off.

And then, I could have screamed in the middle of the room. But I didn’t. But GOD I SO WANTED TO !!!! How much damage has my strop done to my weight and my efforts? Well, we won’t know, because I’m actually away this week. Could I send the house sitters in my place? Although to be fair, they’re both lighter than me – and one is a bloke, it’s all so unfair. Anyway, I digress.

So this week, and next week, until I get to my next weigh in, by God I am going for it. I am going to swim, walk, point every naffing thing that goes through my mouth and go for it. To balance out the self pitying wallowing that I did last week.

Then hopefully, I’ll be able to get to the weigh in, in two weeks time and be the same weight as I am now, allowing for the time lag in my body’s reaction to weight loss and all that kind of thing. Actually, there’s no “hopefully” about it. This is it, I’m on it, and I’m having this one.

Cambridge Mummy on … hating dieting

Posted on August 9, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I have just embarassed myself at Weight Watchers. I bounded into the weigh in. I talked happily in teh queue. I go to be weighed in jeans and thin top like last week. She asks how my week has been. I say “briliant – I’ve swum four times, made lots of homemade soup, eaten really well and feel great.”

Pride before a naffing fall. I can’t swear, in writing, because my mum reads this. But I’m pretty upset. To put it politely.

I’ve gained half a pound. Funny how we don’t count half points and we round up when I’m eating, but when it comes to weight gain, it firking counts.
In fact, I’m angry.

The suggestion from the weight watchers leader is that perhaps my exercise is making my body hold on to my weight and so I need to give it another two or three weeks, and I’ve to track everything. But that’s what I’ve done this week. I told her that. She said to do it again and take it down there with me.

I am so done with this. People go in and loose 3lbs in their first week or two, there’s me. So pleased to be going in, expecting 3lbs of weight loss, and I’ve gained.

I’ve come home and eaten a mini twirl. 5 points. Didn’t even like it. I just want to rebel against something. I’m so upset and I want to carry on but can’t see the point, to be honest. Maybe I’m just destined to be a chubber forever?

I am well and truly fucked off right now. (Sorry mum, but when you’ve tried as hard as I have this week, I think it’s worth swearing)

Cambridge Mummy on … loving my swimming

Posted on August 8, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I’m going to look like this in my costume soon ;)

I have been swimming twice today. Yes twice. I am so proud of myself. I’m managing approximately 35 – 40 lengths in 30 minutes. I’m really pleased with it and am getting my stroke back. Well actually, I’m not getting my stroke back – I’m getting my stamina back. I’m getting better at getting more lengths in the 30 minutes that I’m allocating myself in the pool. My stroke is shocking!

Things I’ve discovered this week:
It’s a good idea to carry a spare pair of pants in my changing bag.
I can use the freebie towels that you get when you have a new baby, from Persil et al, as great ways to dry your hair post swim.
That it’s a good idea to use a swim cap but I shouldn’t put my hair in a hair tie as it will break it…
When my hair is wet, I must not put it in a hair tie as it will stretch it and then when it’s dry, it will break when I brush it.
It’s good to have change in a special purse and buy swimming sessions in bulk so that I can just take the card, and don’t need to move bank cards around.

Next week, I’m going to look into getting a couple of private lessons at the pool, to make my stroke better. Though I don’t know how, unless there’s a harness involved, I’m going to manage to put my bum up more, as I know that’s the route to better stroke… I’ll keep you posted on that one!

PS. This is not a sponsored post but I was gifted a speedo swimming costume by Simply Swim 6 weeks ago and it’s really helped me get my but back into the pool – I’m no longer having wardrobe malfunctions and having to put my boobs back in my costume each time I’ve completed a length!

Cambridge Mummy on … loving swimming

Posted on August 6, 2012 by cambridgemummy

Yes, I went swimming this morning. It was great to be in the pool. I was out of breath and pooped by the time my 30 minutes was done with, but I definitely did more than 22 lengths. I didn’t keep count in the end. I just kept going as best I could. And I am still LOVING my swimming costume. Thank you Simply Swim, for your email of divine intervention a month ago. It got me into the pool, and is keeping everything in the right place whilst I’m doing my thing.

The low point, is that I put my costume on before I went to the pool, and forgot to take any underwear with me. You’ll know that I’m not worried by the bra issue, because I regularly don’t have the where with all to put one on after I’ve been swimming. But pants? I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t do commando. It’s for boys. Not girls. My damp bum, in denim, in the car was not a nice experience.

You won’t tell anyone, will you?

Cambridge Mummy on … 2 steps forward and 1 step back

Posted on August 5, 2012 by cambridgemummy

So, week one of Weight Watchers was good in some ways – I was much more aware of my food. But I cheated. And guess what? I gained 1lb. Cheating doesn’t work, so this week I am now on it – like a woman on a mission on it. I have made soup, dinners and am really going for it – weighing and measuring and getting myself in hand. We’ll see how I’ve done when we get to next Thursday. I do not reccomend anyone’s ready dinners – seriously, I don’t. Because you don’t get much food, it is usually over spiced and it’s pants. But I do recommend the Weight Watchers chocolate mousse things. They are lush. And feel like a treat. Which is, I suppose, what they are.

And the activity level is going to be better this week – I did 22 lengths in my new swimming costume this morning, in 25 minutes, whilst the boys had their swimming lesson. And I’m so setting my alarm to go again tomorrow morning. Because I want to sustain it. Only problem with it is that I am so shattered, and sweating from the activity that I can’t even manage to get my bra on, so I shuffle out afterwards with my arms folded, trying to not look too much like Meatloaf, with the boys and Lovely Bloke bouncing around full of life. All I want to do it sleep – for hours on end. But I’ve got to get over that bit.

If it takes 21 days to make news habits, then I’m going to do this. I’ve taken myself in hand. And I’m doing it. Because life is too short to not do it. I don’t want to have this tummy forever. I want to be more confident. And I want to be able to shop in normal clothes shops, for size 14 clothes. That’s my goal. To get from size 18 clothes, to size 14. Anyway, I don’t want to sound too preachy or like I’m on an Oprah esque mission, so I’ll go and do some housework before an early night to pysch myself up for exercise tomorrow!

What have you done that’s helped you with changing your mindset and approach to food? I could do with hearing of what’s worked for others…

Cambridge Mummy on … first go at Fat Fighters meeting

Posted on July 26, 2012 by cambridgemummy

So tonight, I slunk into my first weight watchers meeting. Well that’s not quite true. I did it 5 years ago, before I got pregnant with E. And lost a stone, but it was a lot of effort.

Right now, I don’t have the time or inclination to weigh all sorts of stuff out. So getting there and finding that the “materials” (ie: this is how you do it, this is what you can eat and what the points are) were minimal was a relief. It was unfortunate that it was literally, in the church itself, rather than the room that’s usually hired out. It felt very “fat fighters”.

But the leader was welcoming, and apparently, for the first five weeks, I have to weigh in with her, so she can keep a track on me and also, because her queue is longer. Because us newbies have more questions in the first few weeks!

I stayed for the chat, but didn’t think too much to it. I’ll give it another go next week, and see if it’s better. Other than that, today is the first day I’ve been within my points and I’m feeling quite proud of myself for that. In fact, I even had a point left over and that’s including a chocolate mousse tonight! Whoop Whoop!

The one thing that has come out of tonight, is the leader saying that if there’s something that I really want to eat, then I should eat it, and work the rest of my food around it. So the thing I want to still have, is chippy chips and gravy. So I should. But at the same time, I think it’s a bit nuts that I’m so hung up on eating my food. There must be something psychological in this. So I’m thinking about it. There’s got to be some middle ground surely?

If you’re interested in how I’ve done that, I’ve put a screen shot below of my day. Not sure if it’s interesting to anyone else really, but it is to me.
See you at the next weigh in…

If you’ve got to the bottom of this, well done! What food is there that you don’t want to ever stop eating? That you are hung up on?

Cambridge Mummy on … getting going with Fat Fighters

Posted on July 23, 2012 by cambridgemummy

I have little or no awareness of portion control. There, it’s out there. One measure of coco pops isn’t enough to fill one of the bowls for the boys. So tomorrow, it’s weetabix, so see if they are any better. I don’t think that it’s going to be toast with chocolate spread.

I want to write, “thanks Weight Watchers” but right now I don’t feel very grateful. I feel grumpy. One of the pots of the chocolate mousse that I usually have with the boys is 500 calories per pot. I image that it’s around 9 pro points. I can tell that because a 91 calorie muller light yoghurt with chocolate flakes is 2 pro points.

I hope you don’t think this is all too lame, to cliched, but I’m on my wagon. I’m working out what’s appropriate and what’s not from a portion control perspective. And it’s not glamorous. I don’t feel like I’m “playing the game” like those lush women in the adverts were at the start of the year. But it’s practical. It’s form filling in and it’s counting. And I have to stick at it. Hopefully, when I do a weigh in, and it’s worked, I’ll feel better.

But right now all I want is a chocolate mousse :(