My first Marathon .................... in a week

It's been a busy week this week.

We had a dinner to go to on Tuesday. It was lovely to get dressed up and even nicer that people noticed me weight loss which made me feel good about myself. (I even managed to get some more sponsorship!)

Thursday we went out for a meal with some friends and although we had great fun chatting, catching up and laughing the meal itself was pretty grotty and it seemed that everything was steeped in garlic butter! So with that and rather a lot of alcohol it was a bad night calorie wise!!

On Friday we took Benjamin to Sundown Adventurland near Retford. Anyone reading this with children under the age of 8, I would highly recommend it. We had a fabulous day and Benji ran himself ragged.

Training has gone very will this week. On Monday and Wednesday I covered 5 miles at 3.7 mph. Tuesday and Thursday I did 3 miles at 4 mph and because I missed out on Fridays' session (athough I walked round Sundown for 5 hours!) I did 5 miles on Saturday at 3.8 mph. That was 21 miles in total.

Today Ray and I decided to drop Benjamin off at my Mums and go out for a walk across the Humber Bridge. We were out for about 1 hour 50 minutes and we did 6 miles.............. Have you worked it out yet????????? I certainly did, that means throughout the week I have actually walked my first ever marathon! I'm absolutely elated, all I have to do now is condense the week into one day!!! lol

Weigh in was also today...............................

I have maintained......................... I'm not really surprised after the week I've had and I'm sure the training would certainly have brought muscle mass inot contention so I'm happy with that.

I'm feeling better in my clothes and even wearing thinkgs that have been dormant in my wardrobe fro years and my body is certainly changing shape!!

Until next week

God bless

Ellie

xxx

Happy Valentines

This week really has been an up and down week.

Training has been hard as I've been so busy but between juggling family, business, personal and exercise I've managed it and clocked up 17 miles! I have also been out and bought a new pair of trainers for the job and I have a training programme for next week from Andy, so it looks like a week of early rising for me to get the hours in.

My Garmin forerunner arrived on Tuesday and I couldn't wait to get into the gym to try it out. I'm still waiting to use it outside and now that all the snow and ice has gone I'm hoping to be out in the fresh air next week.

My thoughts this week have been of my wonderful Mum, how on earth does she cope? My Auntie Margaret (not my real Aunt but my mums best friend) lost her mum whilst she was on holday so we had the funeral on Tuesday. Over we went to Wakefield, another funeral but we wouldn't have been anywhere else but supporting her. It was so difficult not only for me but for my mum. Her first funeral since Dads and she found it really tough.

Also yesterday, Valentines Day, the most romantic day of the year! I had a dreadfully emotional day, I couldn't even look at my Dads photo without crying. He always used to complain about Valentines Day being nothing but a money making scam yet he never forgot to get mum a card bless him. I did ask if Mum would like to come down on Saturday but she declined and instead said she would come for Sunday lunch. Benjamin always goes to Grandmas for a sleepover and he's missed her coming here so he was sooo excited. He always manages to make her smile.

We have many more milestones to get through and I hope I can continue being strong for her and help her through what must be an absolute nightmare!

I love you Mum xxx

So Sunday is here! Gosh I'm getting to like Sundays..........

I've lost another 3lb this week. Oh my God I'm stunned and delighted. We had a gorgeous 3 course meal last night for Valentines day along with a bottle of pink champagne and a bottle of wine between the two of us. It just goes to show if you plan ahead for what your having it pays off.

I've got a heavy weeks training ahead of me next week, I'm not sure if muscle mass will come into it.......... I look forward to finding out.

Take care

Ellie

xxx

One Down Three To Go!!

Well here we are, Sunday again already.

This weekend has been a basy one but a good one. One that has been spent crying through laughter (for a change!).

Two of our best friends moved in together this weekend and spent their first couple of nights with us which was fabulous. Tammy has been one of my best friends for many years now. She's always there, night or day for a chat, to hear me moan, to give me a shoulder to cry on or to help out. Whether it be at the end of the phone or a kepboard or knocking on my door at any time of the day, she's helped me through some tough times, I love you Tam. THANK YOU xxx. Al has moved to good old Hull from Kings Lynn to live with Tam and I couldn't be happier for them. They've let us share in their happiness and we wish them both all the very best for their future (just give me plenty of time to get my hat!!!lol). Al also starts a new job tomorrow and I wish him all the luck in the world for that too. Thank you guys and here's to many more weekends xxx

Caz (my walking partner for the Moon Walk) and Andy (my trainer and Mr Motivator!) with their daughter Loz, are our good friends from Harrogate and they have also been here for the weekend helping us celebrate and to talk 'training' of course! We've not seen them for a while and it was lovely to catch up and spend some quality time with them. I look forward to your knee being on form again Caz to I can come over to Harragate and pound the pavements with you! Andy, you're not only a great trainer but you are an inspiration! Tahnk you both for your friendship, your input and for your faith in me xxx

We've laughed about kcals and they have tested my ability to know just how many I'm eating - I hope I passed the test! I'm now getting to be a bit of a pro. This weekend we've eaten healthily, we've drunk sensilbly, we've talked constantly and we've laughed heartily!! I can't remember the last time I laughed so much so thank you all, it's meant more than you'll ever know xxx

So with all things balanced, as I said on Wednesday I was looking forward to getting on the scales this morning...................................

I've lost another 3lb!!!

THAT'S MY FIRST STONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am absolutely over the moon as you can imagine. Ray promptly went into the pantry and put 14lbs of flour into a bag and passed it to me. Oh my word it was soooo heavy. There is no wonder I used to be out of breath by the time I got up the stairs. Training for the Moonwalk has kicked in now with 23miles under my belt so far!!......... So here's to another good week

God Bless

Ellie

xxx

Let the next challenge begin!!

On Sunday evening I was chatting to a good friend of mine was asking how my diet and exercise was going. Caz happened to mention that there was a marathon walk in Scotland in June and would I be interested in doing it with her

Caz (who has done the Moon Walk for the last 2 years!) and her super athletic hubby Andy (who just happens to have ran the Marathon des Sables, the Spartathlon and the Namibian Desert 24Hr Ultra Marathon as well!) are coming over from Harrogate at the weekend and we left it that we would talk about it when they arrived.

As always when a challenge is put in front of me it wouldn't stop playing on my mind. Could I? Would I? What would people think of me? Should I? - By midnight that night I'd talked myself into filing out the online form and I had been accepted ....................................

ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH.

The very next morning I was in the gym doing a 2.5 mile walk, I followed it later that afternoon with a 3.5 miler.

Yesterday I had a swim and today (Wednesday) I was back in the gym for a 6 mile walk.

There I was listening to Abba through the headphones and I've come to realise how fab they are to walk too as most of the songs are sang between 3.4 and 4 miles an hour.

Whether I was pounding away to 'Voulez Vous' (3.9 miles per hour) or stretching out to 'I Have A Dream' (3.4 miles per hour) every single song worked for me, if not for the speed of the song it was for the feeling or memory it gave me:-

The Winner Takes It All'

The gods may throw a dice

Their minds as cold as ice

And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
Its simple and its plain
Why should I complain.

The inevitable happened, I was in tears!!!

In just a matter of weeks I'd lost my Dad and 2 of my Aunties and today a good friend was on the operating table having an op not too dissimilar to Dads (I have EVERYTHING crossed!).

But I was also crying because I realised for the first time in a long time I was now doing something to better myself, putting my health first! - I was proud of ME!!! I'm slimming in memory of my wonderful Dad but I'm losing weight (with the Moon Walk obviously aiding that loss!) and being a healthier person to hopefully prevent me from getting chronic heart disease. I haven't lost an awful lot of weight as yet (11lb in total) but I'm already holding my head higher, feeling better about myself, and smiling. Does that make my charity work selfish? I really hope not. To date I've been pledged over £1000.00 (with 4 stone weight loss) for my chosen charity (The British Heart Foundation) I'm going to prolong my life by losing weight - I'm happy.

"When All Is Said And Done"

In our lives we have walked some strange and lonely treks
Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex
We're still striving for the sky
No taste for humble pie
Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun
Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done

Standing calmly at the crossroads,no desire to run

There's no hurry any more when all is said and done

My adoring husband Ray!!

He never complains, he's everybody's strength and he's always there to lend a hand no matter what and God I love him!

We were married nearly 4 years aboard the Sea Princess just of the Bay of Biscay. I can still see his face when my Dad proudly walked me down the Isle to him to say our wedding vows with my Mum and 2 of our best friends also present. We then walked the full length of the ship with every public room clapping and cheering en route for photos on the bridge. It was the best day of our lives. He's always thanking me for loving him. I just need to let him know - your easy to love and thank you for loving me back. Thank you for believing in me and thank you for helping me achieve my goals. Love you Googlclex ......... FOREVER xxx

I'm looking forward to getting on the scales on Sunday

Until then ..........................

Ellie
xxx
(just to let you know I am blogging my Moon Walk at http://www.elliesmoonwalk.blogspot.com/)

Gosh this week has been tough.

We travelled to Guernsey to Auntie Vals funeral which, as expected was very sad. My own emotions were so raw from 10 weeks ago that everything came flooding back with a vengance. The emotions of those around me also brought home just what I'd been through. To see it happen to people that are so close and who I love is heartbreaking. Hopefully I managed to help them a little - I was in the 'been there, done that' syndrome!

We were kept up to date with Auntie Irenes funeral in Torquay too. There were some 300 people attended and it even made the national press (Express) as the vicar who took the service got a parking fine for not displaying his disabled badge correctly. (If you'd like to read more about it Google 'Irene Redhead' and both her wonderful tribute and the Vicars story are within the first few stories that come up).

Sometimes I hate people thinking that I'm the STRONG one. . . the one that can take all life that throws at them . . . I'm really not like that! For all that I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else this last week but helping my family, for a lot of the time all I wanted to do was to curl up in a corner and sob (which on a few occasions I did).

Benji not being with us also made it more difficult and I missed him dreadfully. He stayed at Grandmas house, 'helping' each other. I also hope he kept her smiling too!!

So with everything going on as you can imagine emotions were in turmoil and if I'm honest, for all that it was lovely to see everyone (even for the wrong occasion!), I'm so pleased to see the back of it!!

I did say last week that I was worried about my diet as my cousins are fantastic hosts. We certainly drank our fair share of alcohol whilst we were there and ate extremely well. I really tried to be careful and I planned for the excessive food and alcohol intake by being very strict both before I went away and on my return!

With this done ................................................... It's weigh in day.................................................

I've maintained and I'm delighted! I've lost the weight I know I gained whilst away in Guernsey. I have to admit however that I'm ever so slightly dissappointed that the scales never went down any!

But looking back at it, although I was careful what I ate, I did eat more than I would have done at home, I had more alcohol than I care to either think about or remember and I never did any exercise whilst I was away!!

So now is a new week. I've pulled my strings in already (chicken dinner today with a 250ml glass of wine, 524 kcal!! lol). My soup is made and here's to a good week.

Good Health!!

Love

Ellie

xxx

My heart is just so heavy this week its unbelievable. We've booked our flights for my Auntie Val's funeral in Guernsey (Auntie Irene's is arranged for the same day in Torquay so we cannot be there). I really need to think about packing but can't get my head around anything at the moment. I think its just brought back everything I was feeling 9 weeks ago.

I feel sad, weepy, lonely, frightened and vunerable. I want to stand on a mountain and SCREAM!


The whole week has been a funny sort of week really with emotions as they are at the moment ...............................

I have stepped up the exercise this week and have been going out every other day for a long walk. I'm out for about an hour so probably about 3 miles. My muscle tone is certainly changing and I'm aware that I may not have a big loss because of it.

I had a shopping expedition in town on Tuesday to get a new outfit for a special meal that we had booked at our favourite restaurant - I bought myself a skirt! (All those that know me will have fallen off their chairs by now as I NEVER go out in a skirt) but when I'd got ready I actually felt better than I had for a long long time. 10lb weight loss certainly gave me a confidence boost and although I don't intend to buy new clothes every week it did me the world of good. We had a fabulous night and I seemed to forget the world and its troubles for a while, got into a bubble and enjoyed myself.

Ray, Benji and I went into town yesterday and had dinner out. Eating out hasn't been as bad as I expected. I was careful in what I chose from the menu and wrote down everything I had for my food diary.

With all that said it's weigh-in day.................................

I've lost another 1lb. That's 11lb in total. I'm thrilled!!!!! It's one pound more than I expected this week and its proved to me that I can enjoy eating out as long as I watch the things I'm eating inbetween times.

We fly from Manchester first thing in the morning - My real dietary concerns are that my cousins are fantastic chefs so I'm going to have to be extra careful whilst I'm away.

This next week is not only going to be hard for my eating plan but it is going to be hard emotionally. Saying goodbye to someone you love is one of the hardest things anyone can do and after my experience late last year I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I will try to be strong for my family, hopefully I can do that!

Goodnight, God bless Auntie Val and Auntie Irene



Ellie

xxx

Is there a god

My Dad was the youngest of four brothers, Phillip and David (identical twins),Peter and then came Dad.

When Dad died last year it wasn't only a shock to us but to the whole family as he was the first in a generation to die. The first husband, the first Dad, the first Grandpa, the first Uncle and the first cousin...........Today this is not the case.

This morning we got the devasting news that not only my Auntie Val (Uncle David's wife), but also Auntie Irene (Uncle Phillips wife) died in the early hours of this morning. How wierd is that, identical twins wives' dying on the same night, they say there is a link between identicals but this is just unbelievable.

My wonderful husband went out to do the shopping this morning (with a bad back!) as we had visitors for Sunday lunch and gave me time on my own (he always seems to know when I need a little space and I love him for it).

Whilst he was gone I collapsed in a heap and cried like a baby!!!! Not only for my own sorrow as everything came rushing back from 8 weeks ago but for that of my relatives too. I can so feel what they are going through and my heart aches for them. For the sadness, for the pain, for the shock and for the suffering they are all feeling. If I could take that pain away from them I could.

Mum came for lunch today too and God only knows how she feels?! Of course we've talked and cried and laughed, as we do every day, but today is different. There is a cloud above us all that just seems so black and murky we can't seem to shift it. We couldn't have asked for better company today to help us all through it really. Thank you guys once again for lightening our load (or at least trying too). I'm sure because of you the cloud has shifted if only a little way.

I don't know what to say from here really as the whole day has just melted into a blur.

Sunday is weigh in day.

Until the news this morning I'd had a fabulous weekend and I'd prepared myself for 2 nights out. Whereas last night I was looking forward to jumping on the scales, after todays news I stepped on them instead .............................I've lost 3lb!

I've decided that now more than ever its the right time to be doing what I'm doing!

One of my Aunts died of a suspected heart attact. Why? We do not know, but by losing weight I will not only be healthier (is this diet a selfish act?, that's a question for another blog!!) but it will give the British Heart Foundation now over £750 for research ........If you would like to make that total greater then please visit my site and sponsor me.





http://www.simplyelliegance.co.uk/





My love and thoughts are with my family tonight. My advice to them is......... hold the memories, smile and laugh at them. It's helping me through!!

Ellie
xxx

When I read the Hull Daily Mail on Wednesday I nearly fell on the floor when I looked for what I thought was going to be a little article tucked into a corner!

HOW WRONG!!

Thank you Joanna for writing a fantastic article on my crusade. I cried almost all afternoon. In fact everytime I looked at it and saw Dads face smiling at me I cried. He certainly would be proud of me but also humbled that I was doing it for him. xxx

I've been at the cooker most of the week making soups and I'm getting to be a bit a dab hand at them really and I think I've found a new love...... pepper!! lol. I've made Leek and Celery soup, Tomato Soup, Wholesome soup, Mixed Vegetable soup. You name it, I've weighed it, chopped it, softened it, stocked it, simmered it and whizzed it in the blender!!!

The 7lb loss last week has spurred me on this week and I've realised what a difference even half a stone can make in the way I feel about myself. My head is a little higher and I feel less bloated.

This weekend will be a tester as I have 2 nights out planned but I've also worked hard and taken them into account so I look forward to my reward when I step on the scales on Sunday and see yet another loss.

Ellie

xxx

Today I'm smiling although I'm a little overwhelmed......

Thanks to a good friend of mine (Katie xxx) Joanna, a reporter from the Hull Daily Mail rang me this morning wanting to do an article on my sponsored slim!! ARRGGHHH.

She asked me allsorts of questions about how I'm finding the site, (http://www.mailslimmers.co.uk/) how its working for me etc. and took additional details from me. I gave her the information to access my blog for a greater insight into my situation and within an hour a photographer had been despatched to take my photograph ready for an article in tomorrows edition of the Hull Daily Mail.

The publicity is fantastic as it will hopefully not only get me more sponsorship for The British Heart Foundation but it will also hopefully get my Dad's name in the spotlight too!

Dad was always such a quiet unasuming man, he never really went out anywhere but was always in the background helping and encouraging. He never liked to be in the spotlight....................... hahahaha now he is and I'm so pleased that people are finding out about the wonderful man he was.

There was another time he was the centre of attention...................

Dad was the youngest of 4 boys and has family all over the U.K. going as far as Guernsey but they was never a single time when the whole extended family were together. For his 65th Birthday (2004) we decided to throw him a suprise party and invite all his relatives! I hadn't even met a lot of them myself so it was a first for a lot of us.

I think he always had an idea that we had something organised for his birthday but he never knew the extent to which we'd gone. We could tell that by the look of shock, joy and pure emotion that was on his face when he walked onto the patio too see over 70 people including his brothers, their families and many of his in-laws from far and wide had come to send their wishes and spend some time with him.

We had a fantastic night that night. We laughed, talked, sang, drank and danced until the wee small hours.

Tomorrow Dad you're in the spotlight again. I'm looking forward to reading the article and seeing his name in lights for a change!!

Ellie xxx

1 week on

So here we are at the end of week one and I'm buzzing!!!!!!

Benjamin started pre-school (afternoons) this week. Off he went in his little uniform and all I could see was our tiny 10 week premmy in his incubator, remembering how Dad wouldn't even pick him up until he was about 7 months old because he was so small! How time flies!?! I then came home and had bacon and noodles. (293 calories...Lol)

The support I've had so far is unbelievable not to mention the sponsorship, nearly £700 already when I get to August with a 4 stone stone weight loss!!!

I've opened a Group on Facebook and I've started blogging! OMG

I got on the scales this morning for my first official weigh in............................. I lost a staggering 7lb!

I've enjoyed it this week, weighing and counting has been a bit of a pain but it's getting easier as the days go by. I'm aware that weight loss on the first week or so includes water retention but still 7lb!!!!!!!

Ray and I adore cooking so preparing low fat, low calorie meals has been fun and a learning curve. I do think soup is the answer, I never realised they could be so tasty, I have a new love in my life, lol.

We've been to mums tonight for dinner today which was lovely. It's still difficult walking in and not seeing Dad sat in his chair but it does get a little easier each time we walk in the door. I know he's proud of me and I know he's looking down helping me every step of the way.

xxx