Week Three

Thought of the week: (When on the home stretch of Tuesdays run)
Wow I could keep running for hours! Must be that tub of Ben & Jerrys I ate last night!

Diet:
After the all out binging I did last weekend I seem to have hit somewhat of a stumbling block in the fact that I cant stop eating "crap!" The truth is, all the calorie counting and meal planning I have done over the last year or so has exhausted me to the point where, mainly due to lack of results, I cant be arsed and dont want to do it anymore.
So this week I decided to have a "semi-rest" from it all by eating healthily while at work but having whatever I fancy for dinner. I know this will not give me my lean and toned stomach but I just havent been in dieting frame of mind!
But Monday the 1st of August just round the corner now so i'm thinking new week, new month, new start! So starting tomorrow, my plan is to try to be a little stricter with dinner which means keeping a small amount of carbs on the menu but passing on the desserts!

The naughty bit:
Well... Monday was turkey drummers, chips, bread, peas and a tub of Ben & Jerrys. Tuesday was a burger, jacket potato, beans, cheese and a jam roly poly with custard. Wednesday wasnt too bad until I snuggled on the sofa with a tub of ice cream watching Step Up 3. Thursday was mums toad in the hole and an apple crumble with custard! Friday was, you've guessed it, Dominos pizza with lots of sides and desserts. Last night was chicken burgers, chips and a toffee and pecan roulard at mums, and tonight is corned beef hash and baken beans! (Wowza... lots of cals there!)

Exercise:
Its official- I'm king of the hill! Okay, more like queen of the hill but the bottom line is: I finally made it to the very top of the steep hill and all the way back home without stopping and more importantly, dying!
I can't begin to tell you how good it feels to actually be back at the top of my running. Its really feels great and my goal is to now try and run even further... but first I need to find a nice way to add more miles to my route.
Circuit wise I'm back on top form there too! I'm now doing an extra circuit (so 5 instead of the 4!) and am managing to add 15 minutes of interval cardio to the end! Again i'm absolultely chuffed that i'm back on it with the exercise... I feel it makes up for my disasterous diet a little!

The painful bit:
My thighs! Yep the hill running, squats, lunges and reverse lunges have left me and my thighs feeling a little tight and sore!

In other news:
The "Come Dine With Me" three course meal that I did for my family last Sunday was a roaring success! We had warm cheese, crusty bread and caramelised red onion to start, pan fried duck with green beans and daulphinoise potatoes for the main and mini frangipan tarts with ice cream to finish. The whole family seemed impressed with my culinery skills and they especially loved my dessert! Even my mum (who is not a dessert fan- crazy I know!) is still ranting and raving about my tarts and homemade shortcrust pastry!
To be honest I've been doing a lot of cooking this week and have even whipped up a couple of healthy dinner dishes - Green Thai Chicken Curry and a Beef Stroganoff! Both were very yummy and a hit with me and my sister so they will definitely be on the new "stricter dinners" menu!
On Thursday I went to the birthday party of Dotty, my lovable niece, who turned 2 years old. To celebrate we had a hearty meal and gave Dotty some pressies - I gave her a chew toy, set of balls and 2 very big meaty biscuits! What? Oh, I see! No, Dotty isnt a baby! She's my sisters adorable black and white, short legged, short haired Jack Russell puppy... waaaaay cuter then any baby!

<< Awwww, Dotty!

(See, waaaaay cuter than any baby!)

So there you have it! My week of "semi-rest" and naughty dinners! Now as August approaches I must try to pass on the desserts, forget that Dominos exists and finally lose my podge!

Week Two

Thought of the week: (After one of the girls brought cake in the office)
No Laura, dont have any chocolate fudge cake... there's Ben & Jerrys Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream in the freezer you can have!

Diet:
You'll be glad to know that despite the above thought that occurred on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after another cake was brought in, I had neither the chocolate fudge cake or Ben & Jerrys Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream! It was a struggle to say no but I stayed strong and determined... until Friday... when Dominos came a knocking... and today... when I devoured a sausage sarny, crisps and belgium bun for lunch and brought cookies for later! But me being the optimist I am, I like to look at the good points and the good point about this week is... I stuck to my healthy eating for a whole 6, yes 6, days before Friday occurred! Amazing huh? (Or should that be: "amaze huh?" My sister has been using the word "amaze" for every adjective recently i'm positive it must be the latest craze word!?)

The naughty bit:
Well, where to start! Obviously yesterday and today have not been angelic and as my week runs Monday to Sunday there is still tomorrow to go too. And as my sister kindly invited mum and dad over for dinner tomorrow I shall now be cooking a naughty three course "come dine with me" style dinner for the family! (Eeeek! 3 naughty meals/days on the trott! Not good! Not good at all!)

Exercise:
The good news is I'm running a little further up the hill. The bad news is it really really hurts! My fitness definately took a beating last month, and once you add the extra pounds I now have to lug around, you have the perfect recipe for a heartattack! But I'm still plodding along and will keep plodding along til I reach the top of that hill and back!
As for the bodyweight circuit sessions, these are also making my heart and lungs pound violently against my ribcage! But with the help of a cup of caffeine filled tea with my warm up, I'm managing to complete all my reps and sets aswell as adding a little skipping/shadow boxing to the end!

The painful bit:
Its still my back and shoulders... that shadow boxing stuff is hard core!

In other news:
I finished the book "Sweet Temptation" by Lucy Diamond and have to say it was a great read. I did feel a pang of jealously at how quickly the time on their diets whizzed by though- it took me three days to read that book and in those three days Maddie lost god knows how many stones, Jess shaped up and Lauren slimmed to a size 12! I suppose it was a book, and in books months can pass in just a few paragraphs but still, it would be nice to do a year of dieting in three days!
Also this week I've tried to up my twittering! Yes I am on Twitter and can be found at @laurapicklecox so feel free to follow. My sister says the key to Twitter is to follow lots of people and reply to their tweets. Sounds like a solid plan but I find it very difficult to tweet anything that isnt to do with me!

Its been a real quiet week so thats about it! Guess i'll see you at the end of week 3!

Week One

Thought of the week:
£166 million.... I so could have done with £166 million!

Diet:
Diet wise I'm being nowhere near as strict as before because:
(1) Ibiza's gone so I dont have to worry about my wobbly bits bulging over my bikini for a good year or so.
(2) I can't do it! As soon as I say "Right Laura, no more biscuits!" then all I can think about is biscuits and no matter what I do I cant stop thinking about biscuits until I end up scoffing down a packet or two!

So i'm easing myself in gently by making small changes and having everything in moderation. (Afterall, its not about dieting, its about lifestyle changes right?? And there is no way I can go my whole life without biscuits!)

Its not been a bad week food wise but thats because:
(1) Its only the first week!
(2) I'm back working 9am til 5pm Monday to Friday so have no choice but to eat what I take to work with me.
(3) I'm eating more calories (from "good" foods) so I dont starve myself and end up diving head first into the nearest biscuit tin.
(4) I'm still allowing myself to have a naughty meal when the "occassion" rises. One of the problems I had last time was I scheduled my cheat meals for the weekend but then some "event" would pop up mid-week and i'd end up having another one! So this time I'm not scheduling my cheat meals and will have one when an "event" like I'm at my mums or I'm dining at a restaurant arises. (Normally just one "event" pops up each week which is ideal so fingers crossed a lot of "events" dont pop up in one week... or worse, that none pop up at all!)

The naughty bit:
This weeks naughtiness came on Tuesday and last night (Fri):
I was at my mums for dinner on Tuesday where she cooked the classic dish of: Fish fingers, chips and baked beans, accompanied by bread for a chip butty! And seeing as my mum stores a barrell of biccys in her cupboards I just couldnt pass on a dessert of tea and biscuits!

Last nights cheat came from Dominos- small pizza, wedges, chicken wings, cookies and free Ben & Jerrys ice cream! To be honest it wasnt really needed and I do feel I let myself down for having it after I'd been so good the rest of the week (Tuesdays dinner excluded!) and it wasnt for any "event" although... if I mention the words "time of month" I'm sure a few of you (especially the ladies!) will understand!

Exercise:
As for the physical side, again i'm easing myself in gently and am getting there... slowly! I'm currently focusing on getting my fitness back up to where it was before my month of eating, boozing, eating, sitting on my arse and eating began!
So, I'm doing a full body bodyweight session 3 times a week and going for my 3 morning runs.

I'm proud to say that I havent skipped a session and the bodyweight routines seem to be getting to somewhere near my earlier efforts. The running is taking a little longer though- I'm currently managing to run to the bottom of the very steep hill and back home (2.58 miles) just before my heart explodes! But I'm confident that I can reach my old distance of 3.57 miles (thats to the top of the very steep hill and back) within the next couple of weeks!

The painful bit:
Well up until this morning my thighs were biggest aliment, what with all the squatting, lunging and running, but after mixing my Friday workout up a bit and adding some shadow boxing my triceps and upper back are sore, sore, sore!

In other news:
I saw Take That live at Wembley! Whoop whoop! Wembley was an open roof and it p*ssed... and I mean really p*ssed... down with rain for most of the night but rain or no rain- it was awesome! I really only went to see Robbie (who was brilliant and totally stole the show) but the other four boys didnt disappoint either and helped to make it a show I'm sure I'll "neeeeeeeever forget!" (See what I did there?? Hee hee)

And after catching the reading bug on my holiday in Ibiza I have made myself promise to read at least one book a month (afterall, I've really got to stop wasting my evenings watching soaps!) So this month I read Jane Costello's "Girl on the run" which was actually very motivating for helping me to get out of bed for my morning runs... and has even planted the idea of me doing a few races myself!? I have now started on "Sweet Temptation" by Lucy Diamond- I'm only a few chapters in but am already enjoying the story as its about 3 ladies who are all fighting their own battle of the bulge- naturally I'm able to connect with this book really well!

Thats about it for week 1- roll on week 2!

BREAKING NEWS: Those who indulge BULGE!

Good evening and welcome to this special Pickle news bulletin.

Our top story today...

After over-indulging for the past 4 weeks Pickle's waist line is bulging to the point where it has now taken up residence flopping over the waistband of her trousers!

Our sources say that Pickle is not looking her best and isnt very fond of her newly grown muffin top that makes the buttons on her trousers pop open! To add to the drama, her face has also enrupted with "greasy food and alcohol induced" spots making her look like a human dot to dot puzzle, and her attempts to get back into exercise are resulting in near death heartattacks.

Our source says:
"Pickle's really struggling to get back into exercise, especially with her running. She used to run 5km each morning but she's lucky to make the 2km mark these days!"

Its fair to say that Pickle's 12 week Ibiza challenge is yet another plan to add to her long list of failed health kick attempts!!

Pickle, who is feeling incredibly demoralised and sorry for herself, has released the following statement:
"Firstly to call me a human dot to dot is sooo not nice! I've always had dodgy skin and its not my fault my concealor wont cover the buggers!
Secondly, I would like to declare that my fight with my pot belly is not a battle - its a war! And whilst I may have retreated on this and every other previous occassion, I will not be defeated! I have been dieting since I was a toddler so am well practised and come Monday the 11th July I will once again prepare my healthy eating and exercise arsenal for another battle!
At this point I would like to re-confirm that this will start on Monday the 11th July 2011- therefore I should not be judged for the crap I shove down my throat tonight and this weekend!
Thank you"

There you have it folks - straight from the pigs (*gasps*) sorry horses, mouth- podgy Pickle will return to her healthy ways starting this Monday so make sure you stay tuned for her regular, and what she feels to be rather humourous, weekend updates!

Its finally here...

... Ibiza... and the final blog entry from podgy Pickle! (I know, I know. Its a sad time, a very sad time.)

Yep, 12 weeks ago I set out to lose my stubborn, ugly, unloved pot belly and regularly updated this blog to not only entertain you (if there are any "you"'s out there??) but to also keep track of my progress.

I would love to say that the last 12 weeks have been a fun and pleasurable experience but seeing as thats not true i'd be lieing! While I enjoyed the initial success I had in the first six weeks, the last six weeks has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride!

The first half of the challenge came and went without any mishaps - I ate my planned meals, did all my exercises and kept to my rule of just one naughty meal a week. My willpower and determination during this time paid off as for the first time since I was, I dont know.... a toddler!? I tipped the scales at under 9 stone! (8 stone 11lbs and 3/4 to be exact! A huge achievement for me seeing as I have always struggled to get under the 9 and half stone mark!)

But then I hit "the wall!"

Yep, I got to that point where I thought: "Wow, 12 weeks is a long time! I dont think I can keep this up!" This thinking plus the fact that I had already achieved a lot made me think I could afford to relax a little... but I was wrong!

From the start of week 7 to the present day, I have struggled beyond belief to stay on track with the diet. My one naughty meal a week soon turned into two naughty meals a week... all the way to today where I have had a whopping three naughty meals this week and that doesnt include tonight when I go out for dinner!

Obviously, this is not good and I feel ashamed typing it! But, on a positive note I have kept up with my exercises of jogging 3 mornings a week and lifting weights 3 times a week too- it's easy to do when you enjoy it :)

But as you can imagine, my poor second half performance means I havent got the beach body I wanted and i'm pretty sure i'm back over the 9 stone mark! (I'm not going to weigh myself to see though!)

So, my pot belly will be joining me on the flight to Ibiza! And unfortunately, my pot belly will also join me on the return flight... but it would have grown a whole lot bigger! (*grimaces*)

They think it's all over...

... it is now! Yep, i'm just a few days away from the sunshine of Ibiza and I have done all I can! No amount of dieting, exercise, breathing in or praying will change the way my belly and I look in a bikini now!

I have to say that this last week has been very very relaxed for me, both in the way of work (I really couldnt be bothered to do anything) and my diet and exercise (I knew losing another pound wouldnt make a huge, if any, difference so kinda thought "sod it!")

I have still been getting up at the crack of dawn to go for my 3.57 mile runs and do my weight routines, but the evening bike rides did stopped- not only because I thought practising the art of eating ice cream and drinking alcohol in the evening would be more beneficial for Ibiza but also because of this darn British weather! So windy and rainy! (Better not be like that in Ibiza!)

In all fairness my diet hasnt been overly bad! I may have had the odd alcoholic beverage and bowl of ice cream but i've pretty much stuck to my "good for you" food for the rest of the time!! I did veer off track by changing a turkey and veg meal to a more satisfying sausage and mash combo- but seeing as sausages are protein, potatos are veg and it was served with a big pile of peas, thats a rather balanced meal in my eyes! (*smiles*)

But now its all off! The 12 week plan has ended as from 5pm tomorrow I am officially off work and on annual leave! Yippeeeeeeeee! And as Ibiza will be just around the corner i'm going to celebrate...

Friday will come, i'll wake up, have a cup of tea, do a workout, drink my protein shake, shower, dry, get dressed, clean the house, pop to Tesco, pack my suitcase, eat lunch, drive to my parents, make chit chat with the folks, wait for my beautician, let the beautician in, have my eyebrows waxed, have my eyelashes tinted, pay the beautician, and then...

The beautician will leave, we'll open the champagne, get the chinese takeaway menu, argue over who's gonna ring up, order the same dishes, order too many dishes, lay the table, guzzle our champagne, warm plates in the oven, look out the window for delivery, finish our champagne, moan there's no more champagne, open some wine instead, check out the window again, sit on the sofa, down our wine, say how hungry we are, have another look outside, pour more wine, listen to the doorbell, rush to the door, pay the driver, take our food, sit at the table, top up our drink, frantically pile food on our plates, and... eat and drink waay more than we should or need!

New hair, dinner at mums- must mean...

... I'm officially in holiday mode!

Yep, this weekend is all about Ibiza baby! My bank balance is already £70 slimmer thanks to my restyle at the hairdressers this morning, and tomorrow my mum, sister and I will hit the shops for essential holiday wear! (Hence the reason for staying at mums tonight... so we can hit those shops early!!)

I've had a really good week on the diet with no mid week cheats or takeaways so, as I have a lot to do this weekend and wont be at home, i've decided to relax my diet for these couple of days... starting tonight with a girlie night in!

Yep, dad is out playing cricket so its just us 3 girls, some trashy TV, a simple dinner of chicken, chips and beans, tipple of Cava and... dessert! (You've always gotta have dessert on a girlie night in!) And tonights dessert is something I baked as a suprise for my mum...


Pickle's fudge tart... just like the ones from school! (Go on admit it - you want some! I dont blame you- I'm a fab little baker! I even make my own pastry!)
I can tell tonight is going to be a great evening and it wont stop there as tomorrow we'll embark on our fun shopping spree and depending on the weather, we'll either indulge in lunch at one of Cambridge's restaurants or a scrummy BBQ in the evening. (Mmmmm)

So, as you can see the diet is momentarily on hold and will recommence on Monday... for a few days... as from 3pm Thursday I am officially on annual leave and so the holiday really begins!!