separation from slimming world.

I finally reached my target weight at slimming world, and took the decision to end my subscription.

It's been a journey that has taken me 16 months in which i have lost 8st 6lb.

I made many friends a SW and enjoyed every minute of it. I actually got a buzz from loosing the weight. I wish everyone who attends the very best of luck for the future.

Well as for me, i am seriously into my cycling now i can sit on a road bike and enjoy watching me go by the world.

I have helped some friends set up a cycle group which is getting stronger all of the time.

Julie, my beautiful wife has taken to road biking which suits me fine as i get great company on long rides.

More posts to follow, take care all.

A year in the life of a man at slimming world.

It's been a little over a year since i joined slimming world.
At the time i weighed in at 22st 6lb, having weighed 23st 13lb the previous month. i blogged about this here if you haven't already read it.
The journey to my target has been fairly smooth, with the odd speed bump along the way. I did however see all the speed bumps coming, which made them easier to negotiate.

During the year i have had Three different consultants, one of which (Madie) was temporary. Our groups latest consultant Rachel is a credit to SW, and a credit to herself.

My year started with me rocking up to the group vouchers in hand, and a head full of ideas and ambition. I had loosely followed SW plan before joining, hence the drop from 23st 13lb to 22st 6lb. It was a conscious decision i made to stay at group as often as possible, this is something i do not regret. It is in my opinion the people who stay behind who will be most successful, even when a bad week has been had.

I blogged a post about men at slimming world here. I feel sincerely that is is easier for men to lose weight than women. My hat goes off to women who lose weight and keep it off. Women are subject to more peer pressure than men, they also have more uncontrollable influences upon them than men. For instance, Women are often expected to look after the family (children and husbands), regardless of if they hold down a full time job or not. Providing family with SW friendly food can be difficult as children often want and need high calorific value food (well they are growing). Husbands don't usually mind if they become a little overweight, it's not such of a stigma for men is it? A nice juicy steak and chips with fried onion rings goes down well after a day at work for a man, doesn't it? My point being that presenting hubby with a plate of tomato cuscus and the finest selection of salad isn't going to be appreciated quite the same as a steaming hot pie and chips is it? With the kids, we often find they ask for food then leave most of it on the plate (uncontrollable). It's a major temptation to eat that food rather than bin it. Binning the food is like throwing money down the drain, not easy when budgets are tight i know. The only way to beat this is to become focused on your short or long term goals.

The middle section of my year was probably the easiest time i had for losing weight. Without much effort i could shed 2.5lb per week. I was also finding it easier to exercise and stay focused. Its always a boost when people around you are beginning to notice your weight loss, the comments received acted as a spur to drive one on.
Below is a chart showing my weekly progress, the speed bumps are last years holiday.

I don't follow the SW plan to the book, i never have. I think it's whatever works for you that matters. My plan is loosely based on SW plan, with a bit of my own ideas thrown in for good luck.

The later part of my year has been a deceleration in weight loss, and i am comfortable with that. I find the exercise i am doing is building muscle and changing my body shape for the better. This is something everyone should take into their consideration, as some weeks when you are active you may increase muscle mass and possibly put a little weight on. The body will feel firmer and look better though, so don't get down.

To summarize my year i would say that i have had a good start with a consistent middle and a expected tail to target. My lifestyle has changed for the better as a result of the SW influence. This is something everyone should embrace if they want results. Change the lifestyle change your weight for life.
Good luck if your on the plan, and believe in yourself.

P.S
I have decided to push on with another stone loss over the next few months. once i get to 15st i will stay put.....i think.

The tour de Brownhills with Garmin Verb Elite.

A ride around my home town.

I recently became the proud owner of a Garmin Verb Elite. This is a small camera device which is great for recording cycle rides, runs or anything else for that matter.

I will say that so far i have had loads of problems with the device, so much so that the first one had to go back to the seller.

The second device i had sent out to me has been trouble free so far. I had to purchase a second part to allow me to mount it on my handlebars. There is a mounting device that comes with the device which i feel is more suitable for mounting on a car dashboard.

Here are my video's please watch and enjoy.

Stage 1 of the tour de Brownhills.

Stage 2 of the tour de Brownhills.

Stage 3 of the tour de Brownhills.

If you like or not, please leave me some feedback.

Slimming world and my Mr slinky speech.

My Motivation to weight loss.

12 months ago if someone had said to me "if you lose 7 stone in weight, your penis will grow by 11 inches and you will become immensely Rich" i would have lost that 7 stones in four months.
if on the other hand they had said to me "if you Don't lose 7 stone in weight you will inevitably become subject to illnesses and probably suffer an early death" i would have said "pppfftt yer right"!
Its amazing how we become motivated by things that are purely material, and our health sits on the back burner.

Well earlier this year i realised that my health was on the line due to my weight problem! I weighed in at 23st12lb and inevitably i was suffering for it.

Too many times before i have thought "i will go on a diet and sort things out", but it didn't get much further than that. Lets say it was a token gesture, so that if some one mentioned weight problems i could say "yes, im on a diet". it would be an excuse for me to carry on necking bottles of wine and take away meals.  i would indulge in high fat fast food and convenience snacks while proclaiming that i was trying hard to lose weight.

Well that was not going to happen this time! I felt a steely determination flushing through my veins.  Finally the most important thing happened, i stopped making excuses. There was no more "well at least i am trying" rationalizations.

So at the very end of February i turned up at SW, not knowing exactly what to expect although i knew a lot about the diet and methods used. I was already one and a half stone down from my heaviest as i was doing the slimming world plan in my own fashion.

This was the first time i met my fellow sufferers, that is you lot. To say i was nervous was an understatement, though that fear was soon put to bed. You made me feel normal and at home to which i am eternally grateful.

From that day forwards i have stuck to my plan, it's not text book Slimming world, but it is built on their fundamentals.
I don't eat bread at all any more and i don't miss it. (not something sw recommend)
I avoid pastry at all costs and i don't miss it. (not something sw recommend)
Now i do miss the odd drop of alcohol, but it's a sacrifice that i have to make as i have a goal or even "a mountain to climb".

Throughout my life i have been on one of three levels of mind in relation to my weight.
1) I am unhappy with my weight and i am going to make a token effort to lose weight. (most of my life)
2) I am unhappy with my weight and i will do something about it every day of the rest of my life. (That's me now)
3) I am happy with my weight. (this only occurred when i was a new born, or when i am totally drunk out of my head or when i forgot how much of a lump i am or was!)

So there you have it, i am going to do something about it for the rest of my life, and as for the penis extension......well i will just have to make do with fruity Rivitas i suppose. (see reference below).

Fruity Rivita reference; One of our elder statesmen male members, one made a joke in group about how women like things long and hard like the stiff fruity rivitas. It took him a while to get over it.

If you like what i do and it helps motivate you, drop me a dollar, i can then make some more.

Brownhills on a cycle.

I have been improving my fitness  of late, with the aid of a little cycling.
Recently I posted the videos on Facebook for the benefit of those who no longer live in the area.
The video is set to rave music, to which I only listen to infrequently.
Well here you go, enjoy your tour of Brownhills West and Clayhanger.
Here part 1.
Here part 2.
Here part 3.

What is going on in the world?

What is going on in the world ?

The recent terrorists attacks in France are sure to give rise to further violence. The violence is no more likely to come from terrorist than vigilantes, such is the state of your average Joe's mind. 

People are brain washed then condition into acts of terrorism and violence from all sides of the spectrum. Jihadist are being recruited on the back of what they see as injustices against their brothers. Right wing racists then feed off the media reports delivering us daily depressing reports on terror attacks. Its an ever decreasing circle which is not going to have a happy ending.

There is a quotation doing the rounds at present that goes something like this. "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims". There is a smidgen of Truth in the quotation as there is certainly a high percentage of recent attacks coming from people of the Muslim faith. 

I am no politician,, and find it difficult to understand why the very small minority of Muslims would want to cause such bad feelings towards their faith? Is their final agenda an all out religion based world war?  This surely can not be their aim....can it?

Some one I know well said to me "all terrorists should be executed", which had me thinking we, (despite all the advances we have made in the last 2000 years) are no better of as a race. Many years ago those Roman soldiers that took a certain terrorist from Nazareth to his execution at Golgotha. After all Jesus himself was considered a terrorist by the Romans, was he not?
Come to think of it, that moment Jesus Christ was executed is the point at which modern religious wars were born. Eureka!!! I have it all worked out new, It's actually the birth of Christianity that is at fault for everything. Lets get off the average Muslims back then and give them a break.

Mr Sleek hey!

Yesterday, 6th November 2014 i won the "Mr Sleek award 2014 for Chasetown slimming world.

I was nominated against another of the male members Michael who is a bubbly, animated and popular group member. I consider Michael as being a friend, and a fellow sufferer. Michael is a very competent orator and gave a wonderful speech when he was nominate. Previously Michael had cracked a joke about ladies liking long, hard and crisp fruity Rivitas which went down well with the group.

As for the Ladies, there were numerous nominations. All worthy candidates in my opinion; as to be nominated is a endorsement of the effort and commitment one has made. Kim was the winner of the ladies event. She is a very determined and attractive young lady with a target in her mind that she has reached in good time. to you Kim i Doff my cap.

Here is the speech i made, which i was writing for this blogg anyway.



12 months ago if someone had said to me "if you lose 7 stone in weight, your penis will grow by 11 inches and you will become immensely Rich" i would have lost that 7 stones in four months.
if on the other hand they had said to me "if you Don't lose 7 stone in weight you will inevitably become subject to illnesses and probably suffer an early death" i would have said "pppfftt yer right"!
Its amazing how we become motivated by things that are purely material, and our health sits on the back burner.
Well earlier this year i realised that my health was on the line due to my weight problem! I weighed in at 23st12lb and inevitably i was suffering for it.
Too many times before i have thought "i will go on a diet and sort things out", but it didn't get much further than that. Lets say it was a token gesture, so that if some one mentioned weight problems i could say "yes, im on a diet". it would be an excuse for me to carry on necking bottles of wine and take away meals.  i would indulge in high fat fast food and convenience snacks while proclaiming that i was trying hard to lose weight.
Well that was not going to happen this time! I felt a steely determination flushing through my veins.  Finally the most important thing happened, i stopped making excuses. There was no more "well at least i am trying" rationalizations.
So at the very end of February i turned up at SW, not knowing exactly what to expect but knowing a lot about the diet and method used. I was already one and a half stone down from my heaviest as i was doing the diet in my own fashion.
This was the first time i met my fellow sufferers, that is you lot. To say i was nervous was an understatement, though that fear was soon put to bed. You made me feel normal and at home to which i am eternally grateful.
From that day forwards i have stuck to my plan, it's not text book Slimming world, but it is built on their fundamentals.
I don't eat bread at all any more and i don't miss it.
I avoid pastry at all costs and i don't miss it.
Now i do miss the odd drop of alcohol, but it's a sacrifice that i have to make as i have a goal or even "a mountain to climb".
throughout my life i have been on one of three levels of mind in relation to my weight.
1) i am unhappy with my weight and i am going to make a token effort to lose weight. (most of my life)
2) i am unhappy with my weight and i will do something about it every day of the rest of my life. (Thats me now)
3) i am happy with my weight. (this only occured when i was a new born, when i am totally drunk out of my head or when i forgot how much of a lump i am or was!)
so there you have it, i am going to do something about it for the rest of my life, and as for the penis extension......well i will just have to make do with fruity Rivitas i suppose.