I have had a great time today – in the wind, covered in horse hair, and standing in horse poop! I did warn you that I was more of a ‘Go Outdoors’ girl than a ‘Gucci’ one! 
The morning started well – I woke up feeling quite refreshed and decided to head to the shops first thing. We stocked up with supplies for today and then made our way to the stables. Once the breakfasts were made, water buckets cleaned and topped up, mucking out done and hay put in the stables, I bought the horses in and de-rugged them for a few hours. Mum arrived and we decided to leave the horses eating whilst we went and looked at saddles.
There were some gorgeous saddles in the shop…and Mum just happened to find the most expensive one the most comfortable! They had a ‘horse’ you could try out the saddles on…kind of a plastic block thing that you hop on. So she tried out a few for size, style and comfort…but we just need to get them on our horse first as she needs to be comfortable as a priority. I kicked myself for not getting on the ‘horse’…it would have been fun to pretend to be back in the saddle – I might sneak back there in the week on my own and have a go. They already turn their noses up at me there, so I might take my hat and wear it for a laugh and make trotting ‘clippity clop’ noises for fun whilst sitting on their saddles!
I did head over there with the plans of not spending any money. Alas, it wasn’t to be! I kitted out my little old grey lady with a new coat…
She will be nice and warm now when we head back up to the Highlands for our holiday over New Year. I have to say that kitting out a dog is much, much bloody cheaper than kitting out a horse! My other half hoped that this was the end of my spending, but I took a detour to a farm shop and came out with this lovely lot…
For some reason I fell in love with the massive onions they had – they were huge, the size of a big swede! I also bought a celeriac…I have not tried it before so must seek out a nice recipe for it. The grapes were lush, as were the raspberries which I couldn’t resist trying. A big box of potatoes was also bought…so leek and potato soup I think this week. My other half didn’t come away empty handed either – he bought gourmet crisps and pressed posh apple juices mixed with various other things like elderflower and beetroot…he is a bugger for this kind of thing!
We had also popped in to a local riding club to watch a few rounds of show jumping. We caught the tiny tots and leadrein classes…I nearly melted! The kids were so cute and the ponies we so well behaved with them. Our Shetland would definitely bugger off across the show ground if he had the chance, just for fun and to cause a ruckus! These ponies we so good. One girl was tiny – she couldn’t have been more than 3, and just 3 at my estimate. Her hat was huge and she had a little show jacket and jodhpurs on…she was loving in – trotting and cantering around on a lovely little grey pony. It was so cute to see…I bet she will be a future champion – she was fearless and looked as if she was having a real giggle!
A couple of horses got loose and were thundering around in the wind. I did try and help catch one, but it eluded me…not hard when they have four feet and I have two with over 26st to lug around! After a while, and after the cold set in, we headed off to pamper our horses.
They had a lovely groom and scratches – which they always return by nuzzling and ‘scratching’ back. Their manes and tails were conditioned and brushed to a shine. Their tails were plaited up in readiness for their move to the winter field next weekend. This just stops them getting too tangled and covered in mud. I love my neddies! My Welsh lad wasn’t in the mood for photos today…
My youngest lad was happy for a fuss off my Mum…
And my Shetland just wanted kisses!
Although he did pose once he had been pampered and plaited!
So that was my day really – just so lovely to be out and about with people I love, spending time doing things I love…which leads me onto a little rant…
Once again I heard something the other day which really annoyed me. I don’t know why I was annoyed, as I hear and see it so often on Twitter and Facebook and on various websites. It was a form of ‘I can’t be arsed to take care of myself’ complaint…and these have me seething!
Losing weight is hard – it takes time, it takes effort, it takes willpower, it takes determination. Nobody can do it but you. When I hear people complain about their weight, but in the next breath make it quite clear that they can’t really be arsed to try, I just switch off. I too have used the same excuses though…”I can’t get to a group”, “I work full time”, “I want to spend time with my family”, “I want to see my boyfriend in the evenings”, “Once I am home at night, I don’t like going out again”, “I can’t make a weekend Slimming World group as I have to see my horses / boyfriend / kids (insert the appropriate excuse!)”, “I don’t know how to cook”, “I have no time to prepare food”, “I can’t afford group (but you afford a takeaway?!)”…I just have to say that these excuses are bollocks. When I was using them, I stayed fat…and got fatter.
If you do not think that you are worth two hours a week to attend a group, then you are unlikely to succeed. If you make excuses about not being able to do something that will get you to your goal, then don’t complain if you don’t reach that goal!
I fully understand that some people cannot go to a group due to financial reasons, or maybe they are a single parent without anyone to look after the kids…fair enough. But the upshot is that you have to change in order to see change. If you always do what you have done, then how do you expect to get a different result? So you have to find a way around, over or through any obstacles that are in your way.
I am aware that going to a weight loss group is not for everyone, but for me it has been invaluable. It is my time. I get to spend time in a room full of supportive people who share a common goal of losing weight and getting healthy. It has been inspirational, motivating, supportive…and it is social too – it got me out of the house at a time when I was hiding away from everyone.
There are also studies – one of which was published in the American Journal of Medicine on 15th October – which evidence that not only do people who attend weight loss groups lose weight quicker, but that they also keep that weight off. The group support and tools that you are given – some of them subliminal! – really do help. A result as far as I am concerned…and I am happy to have a couple of hours to myself each week.
I do think that you need to get a little bit ‘selfish’ – in actual fact I do not think that it is selfish in the slightest…but those of you who are always running around after others probably feel guilty and selfish for spending time focussing on yourself. So do it, get a little selfish each week. Hell, get a little selfish each day – write a weight loss journal or blog, take a long hot soak in a lovely bath (which is what my other half is doing right now!), spend some time meditating, relax with a book, light a scented candle in a quiet room. Just get some time to find yourself again. And stop making excuses as to why you cannot do this!
As for weight loss excuses – keep them if you want…but you will also be keeping those plus-sized jeans and muffin tops too!
Right then…I think I did get on a horse today…my high-horse! Seriously though, I really do care – it breaks my heart to read emails from people who are struggling to lose weight and I just want to see people healthy and happy! I wish I could help!
Breakfast: Yogurt and fruit.
Lunch: Ham salad rolls (2 x HEB).
Dinner: Ribeye steak with stuffed peppers (2 x HEA), roasted butternut squash, red onion, spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes.
Snacks: Crisps (8 syns) and a Christmas pud HiFi bar (6 syns).
A gorgeous food day today. I really do love the Greek yogurt – it is lush. The sweetened stuff tastes really weird to me now…although I still have one of my freebie pots of Activia in the fridge and won’t be wasting it! Lunch was quickly made at the stables – just something to keep me going. I actually ate my syns early today and they were lush – the crisps are like Monster Munch but for 4 syns a packet. Dinner was lovely – a nice bit of steak with lovely superfree trimmings…a perfect end to a fabulous weekend.
Exercise: A fair bit around the stable yard.
Thank you for reading, and I hope that your weekend has been fab!
Weight Loss Bitch xxx
WeightLossBitch
On a health and fitness driven journey to lose over 32st / 448lbs / 203kgs – yes, it is a considerable amount – I am committed to losing my excess weight without the aid of weight loss surgery, diet pills, or quick fixes…as there aren’t any! Changing my eating habits and building up my fitness levels, along with addressing the ‘head issues’ will be crucial in order for me to achieve my goal. Living in England as a 31 year old super morbidly obese woman can be challenging to say the least. I have been shouted at in the street and verbally abused far too many times to mention; hence the name ‘Weight Loss Bitch’…the day I am just called a ‘bitch’ instead of a ‘fat bitch’ will be the day that I know I have cracked my weight loss! With many reasons to lose this weight I am documenting my journey for a number of reasons. Firstly, I would like to keep a record of the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the challenges I face with such an enormous task to tackle. Secondly, I would also like to inspire and encourage other people who are in a similar situation and to show them that significant amounts of weight can be lost naturally…with a bit of motivation, hard work, dedication and will power. Thirdly, all of the blogging, Facebook-ing, Tweet-ing, Pinterest-ing and YouTube-ing keeps me occupied and keeps my fingers out of the fridge!
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