Louisa's Weight Loss Blog

I am so sorry that Louisa and I have not been updating recently, but thank you to everyone who has still commented on previous posts. Glad to know you’re still reading us.

Activities to raise money for charity are a great motivator to get your fitness up to scratch. Having found myself in a bit of a fitness rut and eating more junk and going to the gym less, I knew I needed a longer term kick up the bum than the vague fear of ‘bikini season’

So I’ve signed up to do Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. It’s a women only race of 10k or 6 miles if you’d prefer. It focuses more on finishing the race rather than a huge competition, but I am determined to run it in under 1hr and 15 mins even though people can finish it in under and hour, I saw it happen when Louisa ran the same race a couple of years ago.

This is a huge deal, as I’ve decided to run it in memory of my Grandfather who died of cancer last year and I want to raise £250 for him and during the last of his life, I was not happy in my work and my life and I know that this hurt him and I want to show him now that I am by achieving this. I can’t let him down.

Signing up to an activity as such for charity means you are not going to want to back out and on those days that you really don’t feel like training, you’ll remember why exactly and get your bum out of bed. I know that with every bite of junk food I eat or every day I put off going for a run, is more unnecessary pain that I am going to feel on the day of the race.

Right now, I have devised an 8 week plan that will see me add more and more distance until I hit 10k the week of the race.  Running 2.5k to start with as I am used to running 1.5k in my usual gym sessions. I do interval training which is a minute on and a minute off on intervals of 6mph and 8mph although I am trying to extend the amount of time that I run 8mph and that I am always moving and don’t stop.

The most important thing when you are running is to stretch properly so that you don’t get that offputting muscle pain the day after. Stretch each muscle for a count of 30. Warm up for a good few minutes. I warm up for 5 minutes on the cross trainer, upping the difficulty level every minute and then stretch my leg and arm muscles, front and back and sides. Don’t be put off by the fact that you see people in the gym rarely stretch, they’re the ones who are going to hurt the next day.

Another thing is to keep your resistance training up. Running is an excellent fat burner, but doesn’t exactly do wonders for the shape and tone of your bum or arms. Trust me, get a resistance program in twice a week, I am now squatting and doing arm weights like never before. This is how you achieve that lovely lean shape that runners have.

Hopefully, you’ll stay with me throughout my training and I’ll update regularly on my progress. I’ve got another run planned for later so will look forward to that.

If you want to have a look at my sponsorship page in the meantime here it is: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/ameliahastings

I would never be so forward as to ask for sponsorship, but if you want to donate, I would be hugely flattered by your support. Your support by joining me in this race or joining your own activity for charity would mean so much to hear about your own journeys.

Women who have fat on their hips, thighs and bottom are healthier than women who carry weight on their stomach and chest.

"Muffin tops" are hard to get rid of... but do you want to if it's healthy?

Why is this?

According to the BBC website, “Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging”

There has even been suggestions that scientists may look into helping women INCREASE their hip fat. By redistributing fat to the hips and behind, the hope is that cardiovascular and metabolic diseases e.g. diabetes could be prevented.

For those who have tried for years to get rid of unsightly hip fat, it turns out that it is meant to be hard to shift the small pockets of fat. The slower burning hip fat makes more of the hormone adiponectin that protects the arteries and promotes better blood sugar control and fat burning.

Researchers also noted that burning fat too quickly releases cytokines that trigger inflammation in the body. That is certainly food for thought but should not put dieters off reaching their healthy goals.

For those who are more interested in their health than how they look, this is certainly an interesting development. However, for those who are unconcerned about diabetes as they have few risk factors blighting their life style, I do not see hip fat suddenly becoming acceptable in fashion circles. I for one, will try and stick to longer tops!

I think that this news is further proof that we should aim to be slim and not thin.

Are you a beautiful person according to the members of this website?

A little news amused me in my lunch hour today…

The BBC reported that 5000 members of the world dating website Beautiful People were unceremoniously removed from the website because they put on too much weight after Christmas.

Hilariously, a spokesperson for the website said something along the lines of… if we don’t kick the “fatties” off the website we won’t be able to retain our niche and maintain our credibility.

Apparently, the worst offending countries for losing formerly attractive members were the US, Canada and the UK.

I would expect most people to sneer and say that self-proclaimed beautiful people shouldn’t have trouble meeting potential partners. It’s funny that one of the prettiest girls I know is single and has been for a while. Turns out you can be too beautiful and potential partners don’t have the nerve to approach you.

The thing is that my friend wouldn’t dream of listing herself on such a website, nor would she allow anyone else to create a profile on her behalf. I understand that you have to find a partner attractive but they also need to care about you as much as they care about their appearance.

If you are single, would you wish to be listed on a website like this but fear you are too fat to be approved by other members? It’s hardly a great reason to lose weight, but if you do feel too self-conscious to go out and find the love of your life, you need to change. It is not healthy to continually make excuses so you stop living the life you always wanted.

Have you found love online?

The usual complaint about people using online dating is that members are ‘creative with the truth’ and list impossibly old pictures of themselves or lie about their size.

As someone who has been involved in online dating, I can say with all confidence do not lie about yourself. The truth is that you WILL fail at finding a partner online if you are dishonest from the outset. As my grandmother said, “There is a lid for every pot” and you will find someone who likes you for who you are without any dishonesty or creative lighting!

When writing a profile, be honest about your personality, your likes, dislikes and interests. Positivity is generally viewed well so it’s best steering clear of this old chestnut: “I’ve just come out of a devastating and complicated relationship. I’m just looking for love from someone who won’t mess me about.” - You will be seen as a vulnerable walkover and you will attract the unscrupulous.

If your new year’s resolution is to find the love of your life online, find a website that has people who share the same values as you. It’s no good being beautiful if you can’t find someone who practices the same religion as you, or everyone you encounter are people desperately seeking sex!

There are websites that match people on all kinds of criteria, including dress size! There are even websites that match people who have the same STD! So be selective in your search because so many people take this rather terrible approach to dating: if you throw enough s*** at the wall, some of it will stick!

Read the full article here.

2009 has been a massive year for weddings amongst people I know and 2010 doesn’t seem to be letting up either. Weddings are an extremely stressful event in a person’s life because they inevitably require a huge amount of thought and organisation if you’re aiming to wed anywhere else other than Vegas. It’s not just the bride who contemplates losing weight, the bridesmaids, the mothers of the happy couple and even fathers and grooms go on a weight loss journey to look their best in the photographs. After all, most people enter into marriage not expecting to get another wedding day so they work really hard to make their wedding day something never to be forgotten.

Weddings are an excellent reason to lose weight

Everyone wants to look amazing in their wedding photos

Your wedding photos will potentially  haunt you for the rest of your life. My parents married 26 years ago, my mother in a navy suit and my father had permed hair! They can’t change fashions of the past which is partly why they only have a very small photo of their wedding tucked away in a glass cabinet.

Years later, everyone looks back and asks ‘what was I thinking?!’ regarding their clothes but there is nothing more heartbreaking than looking back and thinking ‘I could have looked so much better if I had made the effort’.

Only you can make that decision to change your diet so you can look your best when you get to live out the girlhood dream of marrying the man of your dreams. Seize the opportunity to change your lifestyle to one that will keep you slim and healthy for life.

And for here is a picture of me for  your amusement…

Slimmer days - I modeled my sister's wedding dress for her to put it on ebay last year.

I can think of one very good reason to lose weight quickly: you’re about to go on a date. Not just any date though… you’ve met someone online and you have really got a connection with them. Oh, he’s funny and sweet and attentive and his pictures have all got your heart racing! There is only one problem. You’re meeting him soon and your picture is an old one and you’ve put on a bit of weight since! You don’t really look like your picture any more with your large tummy and second chin and you’re sure he’ll flounce out the restaurant claiming you lied to him.

The first date is always terrifying

Online dating is a minefield of problems as you might feel chemistry online but in person, it is very different and you may or may not be feeling it.

I met Jonny online and at first he said we couldn’t meet as I lived too far away but we got chatting and he announced that he had to meet me that evening. So he booked a hotel room and drove 100 miles to meet me. We really hit it off and the first kiss was amazing as we had incredible chemistry. We fell in love very quickly and six weeks later, we decided that I would move 100 miles away from my family, friends and life to be with him as his career was more established than mine. We are living proof that online dating CAN work. I don’t just want to be with him, I want a life with him.

We all feel anxious on a first date, particularly if your date is gorgeous!

How can you make online dating work for you?

• Always be yourself. It is exhausting pretending you love football too when you really don’t care about anything but the footballers thighs. You will always get found out and he’ll feel deceived.
• Don’t put up a picture of yourself that is 10 years out of date. When he meets you, he’ll decide you are insecure and will again, feel deceived.
• Don’t feel pressured to put out on the first date. If you want to that’s fine but just because your online conversations became sexual early, it doesn’t mean you have to drop your pants at the end of the first evening. Your normal rules do apply.
• Remember your manners! This applies to both ladies and gentlemen! Guys, pull out her chair for her, take her coat and walk on the road side so she is protected from traffic. My dad still does that for me when we’re out and I have always expected that from guys I date. Ladies, remember to say please and thank you, at least offer to split the bill and thank him for a wonderful evening, even if it was average!
• Don’t bang on about your ex! It’s one thing to briefly mention you were hurt by your ex so you’re cautious about dating again. However, there is no need to go into detail otherwise you will just look like you’re not over it and ready to move on.

Hopefully, these pointers will set you up for your first hot date thanks to the internet. If you have any other advice for Total Chunk readers, please feel free to comment below.

The Daily Mail printed today that fat people were voted among the worst people to sit next to on a flight.

15% of respondents said that they didn’t like sitting next to fat people. To be brutally honest, I think that this percentage would be higher if people were more forthcoming with their honest opinions. We can all be rather impatient when we fly and our tolerance levels towards other people are likely to be far lower than usual. The poll also cited that people talking on their mobiles, those who recline their seats right back and swearing also ranked as highly annoying and rather rude.

What the article failed to mention was the percentage of respondents who resent being sat next to a ‘lively’ family. I don’t mind children but I don’t particularly like other people’s rude and badly behaved brats. Without wishing to sound like an old woman, when I was a child I sat down still and was quiet. I did not yell or scream in public and neither did my sisters. I have more patience with the elderly than I do with children who cannot/will not be quiet in public. My neighbours either side are both young families and I have been known to bang on the walls yelling at them to shut up because the toddlers have so many monumental tantrums that they distract me from my studies.

Would you want to sit next to him on a plane?

Back to the overweight, I can really see why this would be an issue on an economy class flight. The seats are small and the leg room is frankly, stingy. At 5ft 7″ tall I have a short body but stupidly long legs. It’s a curse, not a blessing I promise! I have to sit on the aisle seat so I can stretch my legs into the gangway when no one is walking past as I find it hard to stand on a plane. If an obese person is spilling over into my seat, this reduces my elbow room and makes me even more uncomfortable. Excuse my bluntness, but airplanes were not made with fatties in mind.

If you are overweight and a frequent flyer, is it time that you thought about losing some weight? Not only will YOU be more comfortable sitting in a seat that you fit in without having to request an extender for your seat belt, you will be at less of a risk of DVT and your fellow passengers will be more comfortable as well. It’s a win-win situation!

Two new categories on Total Chunk added in one week? Wow, with this website, you are really spoiling us!

My intention is to create a huge website with a wealth of weight loss resources. Not all tips work for all people for various reasons. Maybe you have food allergies, maybe you HATE brown rice or green tea makes you want to hurl. Maybe, you are just not ready to take such drastic action, after all, maybe all you need to do is cut your daily chocolate bar and energy drink out of your diet.

I want to help motivate other dieters because I have been in your shoes too. I have felt fat, ugly and worthless purely because I wasn’t ready to motivate myself to lose the weight I wanted to so I could be the person I wanted to be. Everyone who wants to lose weight will only succeed when they are truly ready to start. The people who have made the biggest changes to their lives are the ones who have hit rock bottom and are ready to make their lives count for something in their eyes.

Of course, you don’t have to get depressed and hit rock bottom to lose weight, but you do need to be determined and you do need to be ready to do it in your own time as weight loss isn’t as easy as waving a magic wand. I wish it was!

Introducing Reasons To Lose Weight. This website isn’t just about telling you how you can lose those final annoying pounds, I want Total Chunk to be motivational and inspiring. After weeks, months and sometimes, years of working so hard to lose weight, your motivation and drive does flag and it helps to remind yourself of why you are on this weight loss journey in the first place.