How to stay slim after weight loss - keeping motivated

I hit my target weight loss autumn, it was a great moment, standing on those scales and seeing that finally, I'd made it after almost a year of hard work and self discipline. Those weekly weigh ins, friendly words from the mentors and the loosening waistline had really kept me motivated, kept me well and truly on track, gave me something to aim for.

Now I'd got there, all I had to do was stay slim! Why oh why did I think that this would be the easy part?  I was fine for a few months but gradually my weight started creeping up - not helped by a minor op, Christmas and lots and lots of snow. I knew all I had to do was get back on that diet for a week or two, but I couldn't face it, I wanted to try and manage my weight normally, I'd had enough dieting, but there was nothing round to help me. I began to get de moralised and I did think about just giving in and getting fat again (Thanks Carol for giving me a talking to!).

It was quite a struggle and now it was all up to me. I was training for my big run so needed to eat healthily, work was really busy and Mum would now only eat if I ate something with her (miming didn't cut it, it's only her memory that's fused!).  The scales - my big friend during the diet didn't work any more.  My clothes fitted fine which reassured me that things hadn't got out of hand, I was fit as a fiddle and was looking good for the run, but I needed more of a push, I needed something to keep me motivated.

I got some real inspiration from other weight loss success stories who set themselves a goal for after reaching their target.  For some it was looking good on the beach, or a big occassion; one was to blog every day about food (see Foodie Fisher!) but the one that caught my eye was running. Two of my weight loss sheros had set themselves a running goal for a few months after the end of their diets. I needed my goal.

I'd always had a secret dream to run a marathon but never ever thought I would. As I lost weight that dream began to become possible, I decided to take some tentative steps. I signed up for a half marathon. I signed up for Race for Life.  I'm currently working out when - yes when - I should dare to go for that marathon dream, then I'll work back from that. Suddenly, I'm looking ahead, I have my goal and I'm going to go for it. It's a bit bonkers, but it's definitely not boring!  To get there my weight will have to go up and down, I will have to eat well and eat healthy, I'll have to be disciplined and not get too heavy or my knees won't stand the strain! But I have the scales and my trousers to help me keep on track and my dream to keep me going.

We all need a dream or a wish or a hope to keep us going whatever challenge we set for ourselves. For some people it's to make money or get promoted or win the lottery. My first challenge was to lose weight, as I did that I rediscovered my dream to run 26.2 miles with loads of other people. I will run that marathon and I'm already thinking about what happens after that - good to plan ahead.  Watch this space!!!

I'd be really interested to hear how you keep motivated to lose weight or keep the weight off? What keeps you going? 

Happy dreaming!

Sue

Piling on the pounds: the perils of the caring crunch

When I look back I can see that things began to go awry with my health a few years ago. I put some serious weight on when I started caring for my elderly Mum and Dad. Gradually, caring took up more and more of the time I'd had for me and I spent less time with friends and keeping myself fit and healthy. I got seriously trapped in the caring crunch and my health suffered.

So much of caring is about food that it can become an obsession. Mum wasn't eating properly as Alzheimer's took hold, Dad was in a care home, battling Parkinson's. I'd  come from 200 miles away every month with a shopping bag full of the finest foods Marks and Spencer could provide. I wanted to brighten their days, whet their appetities, make them happy.  A double choc muffin was Dad's idea of heaven and not even Parkinson's took that from him. For the three of us, sharing a cup of tea and a cake was being a family again, and we had some happy times.  I could head  back north a couple of days later knowing that they had an apple pie or a scone to look forward to. An obvious way to show love, and a language we all understand.

Over those years, my weight ballooned and I got a serious unhealthy eating habit with no exercise.  You give your all when you're caring for others and this can make it hard to find the time and energy to care for ourselves.  I don't like the phrase 'comfort eating', but that's what I did.  I cared for Mum and Dad with food and I cared for me with food, it was an easy and quick fix, it filled the void.  I'm not sure it did give me comfort, but it did make me fat and gave me gallstones.

But life moves on, Mum and Dad moved closer to us, and eventually Dad died. Caring now took up less of my time than it did and Ali and I had a future to think of. I will never criticise myself for getting by and coping using food. Sometimes that's all you can do. But it takes its toll. When Dad died I was 4 stones overweight and morbidly obese. I was not far off being less fit and less active than my parents, I needed to start caring properly and stop killing us all with my chocolate covered kindness.

I'm still caring for my Mum and as her memory worsens, I can feel the crunch building up. I still use food as a shorthand for love more than I should, but I make sure Mum gets lots of fruit now.  But I am not using food as my comfort and reward. I am caring for me by keeping a little bit of precious time for myself to spend with Ali, make time for a walk, to go for a run, to train for that marathon one day. I won't deny myself the simple joys of a good fruit loaf, but I will savour it and taste it. Sounds like progress eh? Fingers crossed!

Here's a photo of Mum and Dad on their last Valentine's Day together - 52 years together. Don't be fooled by Dad looking asleep, that's the Parkinson's or the Lewy body dementia - he knows exactly what's going on!

Take care

Sue

Running for Dad - the Edinburgh Half Marathon

I still can't believe I did it, that I ran 13.1 (+) miles.  All the training runs, all the advice I read, nothing prepared for me the experience of that first half marathon. I was used to running with a chum or two and on long runs was very much a lone wolf - sticking on the headphone and setting off for a few hourse with Jenni Murray to keep me going. Running the Edinburgh Half on Sunday was something else...

I'd thrown myself into the pre race tweeting and face booking which was great to get to know some of the basics about what was to come. I asked lots of stupid questions, realised that lots of us were nervous and got an idea of just how different we all were, but all coming together to run. It was great and I really felt part of something as I headed off to Meadowbank Stadium.  It was so exciting to see people walking, cycling and bussing to the stadium in all sorts of gear.  But I was nervous too and poor Ali left a rather tense wife in the queue for the porta loos.  I was not alone and the queue got longer and longer, but luckily for me I was befriended and soothed by some lovely ladies from North Berwick. 

Then into the stadium to walk about and get my bearings. I stood in the sun to get warm and gradually began to relax and just absorb the fact that I was about to do what I'd been planning for about 6 months.  As the elite runners headed off, we all waved and clapped and I once again had that lump in my throat. What is it about these runs that is so moving? There is something so completely and wonderfully human about long runs, unaided by wheels or bits of wood, just legs and what we can persuade our bodies and minds to do.

And then it was my turn and  the 2 to 2.5 hour runners were off. No amount of lecturing about water loss could stop be sniffling as I headed towards the gate and the open roads of Edinburgh.  We had started. It was slow and packed, but I just told myself I had plenty of time for a burst of speed later on and that did the trick.  I headed off to Afro Celt Sound System - suitably Celtic and atmospheric and just went with the flow.  Gradually I became aware of a really weird flopping/slapping noise, quite unlike anything I've ever heard before. It was the sound of thousands of trainers hitting the Leith pavements. I have that sound in my head and will carry it with me forever - the sound of runners en masse. Never expected that one!

It was the most beautiful sunny day, just great to be alive and outside, and so great to be able just to run and enjoy it. Some of the runners did tend to cut me up a bit. At 5'2" and being a female of a certain age, I am not unused to being invisible until trodden on, but I was a bit freaked by some of the close shaves. However, the zen of the run (or maybe the endorphins!) came to my rescue and I decided I had to run my own race, to own my bit of the road  and not be intimidated. It worked and I relaxed - I wish it was always that easy!

There were so many high spots. The kind and warm Edinburgh and East Lothian people who came out to wave and wish us well, particularly at the end where some lovely people really kept me going and made me cry again!  The marshalls were just wonderful, really encouraging and gave up their time to make sure we didn't get lost. The kids and dogs who thought we were really amusing and a bit bonkers (how true) and the police and ambulance folks who kept us safe.  Most of the drivers were friendly and patient too, I hope they all got where they needed to on time.

It was hard work at the end, I have never been so happy to see Cockenzie Power Station and turn that last corner. I saw the finishing line and it was truly one of the best sights ever. I still don't know why it seemed to move further away the more I ran, but I did get there in the end. I made it over the line at 2h 5 minutes, my final time was 1 hour 58 minutes and 57 seconds. Ali was waiting for me with a big hug and a post race bag of goodies. I'd made it.

As we left a sunny and busy Musselburgh RaceCourse, I'd already started to think about what next. If I can do a half marathon then one day I can do a full one, it's just about training and hard work. 

Once again I'd proved to myself that I can achieve what I set out to, that I can do challenging things, that I can go beyond my own expectations.  Just like losing weight, I could do it if I set my mind and heart on it. All that and it's good for you too! 

As we left the stadium, I knew that somewhere my Dad was so proud of me. Parkinson's Disease had stolen a lot of his life from him and his family. He loved to be active and it was his death two years ago, almost to the day, that had inspired me to do things now whilst I still can. I'd run for him and for Mum who has Alzheimer's. 
Here's a piccie of a very happy but tired me at the end.

Happy running!

Love, Sue

Race for Life and Living

Every single woman should do Race for Life at least once.  Unusually for me, I'm almost lost for words to describe what it's like, it's just amazing. The excitement of the gathering - who's going to be there, will you know anyone? Will all the girls turn up? The warm up laughter as we get the legs and arms moving and the chat going. The moment's silence, as we remember why we are all there, together but in our own hearts for that minute. And then we race for life - your life, my life, our children's lives. Doesn't matter if you run, walk, jog or wave and cheer (believe me waving and cheering really makes a difference!).

Almost everyone running will have a name written on the back of her shirt, people they love who have or have had cancer. Too many names, far too many. You want to hug everyone and make it better. Whatever you do, wherever you go, you'll not find a gathering quite like it.  These women are amazing, inspirational.

Everyone does Race For Life in her own way. We trot, jog, walk, run and sprint. We pant, glide, hobble and waddle. We don't care what other folk think, whether it hurts or whether we're any good, that's not what Race for Life is about. Everyone there runs a personal best just by being there.  We do Race for Life because we love life and we want our life and the lives of those we love and care about to be long and happy and healthy.  We run to raise money and we run to raise awareness, to support each other and lift spirits. 

You don't have to like running to love Race for Life, but I know people who have come to love running that way. More and more women are taking up running, you just need a good sports bra (definitely worth it believe me) and trainers and you're off.   I kept doing Race for Life even at my largest when I mainly walked my 2k. This year I'm going to do the 10k, I remember thinking I'd never do that. They say almost anyone can do a 5k with a bit of training and that starts with walking. It's all just one foot in front of the other.

And if you really can't manage - then sponsor someone or raise money. No excuses!

So, here's the link to Race for Life. Please sign up if you can.raceforlife.org

Some tips:

• Write your name on your top so people know who to cheer
• Make sure you've got water
• Smile as much as you can (your face should hurt more than your legs afterwards!)
• and most importantly --- wear waterproof mascara. I defy anyone not to shed a tear at some point during the day.

Enjoy every moment and tell everyone how you got on.

  

Love from Sue