Weight Loss Week 18

Eeeeeee – the wedding is getting really close now! It’s just two days away and I have been incredibly busy with it all. I’d like to think I have been organised through the whole wedding planning process but of course, there are always some things that prove to be last minute stresses and that’s what I’m dealing with at the moment.

Despite the busy-ness, I have had a lovely week. As it was Easter I was off work for four days. I enjoyed my last single date night with future husband on Saturday. We went to a restaurant near where we live called The Farm and had a delicious feast of roast hake and potato dauphinoise, followed by waffle and ice cream and lots of cheese. accompanied by copious amounts of champagne. On Sunday, I went to church with my mum and had to gulp back the tears when I saw our names in the pew slip saying our wedding was on Friday. I also had my first (and second and third) bit of chocolate since Lent – and felt chuffed at my willpower to have lasted so long. Then on Monday I had my second hen do at Malvern Spa with my best friend, sister, my mum and my fiance’s mum. It was a very relaxing day and we were all thoroughly spoilt (with more champagne!). I had two treatments – a body scrub and a massage that left me feeling very blissed out and my skin sparkling.

Of course, such fun times to not easily lend themselves to dieting. I was pretty good in the week but the long weekend just threw me although I have lost another 0.8lbs this week, which makes me the slimmest I’ve been since starting this blog. I’ve got two days of being good now – lots of rest, relaxation, more beauty treatments, the final meeting with the wedding planner, the wedding rehearsal and then the big day will be here! I will try and squeeze in one more post before then.

Start weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 2 weight: 131.2lbs (9st 5.2lbs)

Week 3 weight: 131.8lbs (9st 5.8lbs)

Week 4 weight: 132.8lbs (9st 6.8lbs)

Week 5 weight: 135.4lbs (9st 9.4lbs)

Week 6 weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 7 weight: 132.4lbs (9st 6.4lb)

Week 8 weight: 131.6lbs (9st 5.6lbs)

Week 9 weight: 130.8lbs (9st 4.8lbs)

Week 10 weight: 131.4lbs (9st 5.4lbs)

week 11 weight: 130.4lbs (9st 4.4lbs)

week 13 weight: 128.2lbs (9st 2.2lbs)

Week 16 weight: 128.8lbs (9st 2.8lbs)

Week 17 weight: 128.4lbs (9st 2.4lbs)

Week 18 weight: 127.6lbs (9st 1.6lbs)

Weight loss this week: 0.8lbs

Weight Loss: Week 17

Two very exciting things happened this week. 1) I collected my wedding dress and 2) we got our rings.

After mum and I had collected my dress, we had a trying on session to see how it all works together. At first I felt a bit overwhelmed  just wearing the dress and a bit nervous thinking about the occasion, but my mum, who is a wise old owl, gave me some good advice. She said how I wear the dress will be how I look – so if I’m nervous and overwhelmed I’ll look it but if I’m happy and relaxed I’ll look that instead. When I thought about it like that I felt much better and relaxed into it. I also practised kneeling several times as we have to do that in the ceremony and I was scared I wouldn’t be able to get up!

It was exciting to get the rings and quite funny to see our hands wearing them; it didn’t look like us somehow but I’m sure we’ll get used to it. Mine is a beautiful platinum diamond set band to match my engagement ring – now I can’t wait to wear it.

I’ve had a bit of an up and down week diet wise but I have been pretty good on the exercise. I did Jillian Michaels’ 30 day shred once, David Kirsch Beach Body Workout twice, an ab attack class and a spinning class. It is just 10 days away now from the big day and I’ve got two weigh ins to go: Monday 1st and Thursday 4th, the day before the big day. Over the Easter weekend I am planning to enjoy some chocolate, as I gave it up for Lent and we’re also going out for dinner for our last single date on Saturday night so I plan on having a few glasses of champagne. On the Monday though I’m going to a spa with my mum and sister and Alex’s mum and sister, so that’s an opportunity to be extra healthy. It’s boringly slow progress on the weight loss but it is still progress and I’m going to be extra good this week to see if I can lose a few final pounds.

Start weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 2 weight: 131.2lbs (9st 5.2lbs)

Week 3 weight: 131.8lbs (9st 5.8lbs)

Week 4 weight: 132.8lbs (9st 6.8lbs)

Week 5 weight: 135.4lbs (9st 9.4lbs)

Week 6 weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 7 weight: 132.4lbs (9st 6.4lb)

Week 8 weight: 131.6lbs (9st 5.6lbs)

Week 9 weight: 130.8lbs (9st 4.8lbs)

Week 10 weight: 131.4lbs (9st 5.4lbs)

week 11 weight: 130.4lbs (9st 4.4lbs)

week 13 weight: 128.2lbs (9st 2.2lbs)

Week 16 weight: 128.8lbs (9st 2.8lbs)

Week 17 weight: 128.4lbs (9st 2.4lbs)

Weight loss this week: 0.4lbs

Weight Loss: Weeks 14,15 and 16

Uh oh, I haven’t blogged on the ol’ diet for a while and I have to say I’ve gone a bit off piste. I had my hen do, which was wonderful but very indulgent (see right), we’ve had quite a few takeaways and I’ve been out for lots of meals too. I always thought I would be so determined when I was dieting for my wedding but I think maybe I am just too happy and enjoying life too much!

I have done a bit of exercise, I’d say about three times a week, which is ok considering I’ve been very busy with my new job. The next couple of weeks is also very busy doing wedding jobs and seeing various people but I’m still hoping to fit some exercise in. I’d particularly like to tone up my arms so I feel good in my strapless dress.

Having said all that I’m still lower than I’ve been for a while and there are 2.5 weeks to the wedding, to maybe shift a few last pounds. I hope I can do it!

Start weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 2 weight: 131.2lbs (9st 5.2lbs)

Week 3 weight: 131.8lbs (9st 5.8lbs)

Week 4 weight: 132.8lbs (9st 6.8lbs)

Week 5 weight: 135.4lbs (9st 9.4lbs)

Week 6 weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 7 weight: 132.4lbs (9st 6.4lb)

Week 8 weight: 131.6lbs (9st 5.6lbs)

Week 9 weight: 130.8lbs (9st 4.8lbs)

Week 10 weight: 131.4lbs (9st 5.4lbs)

week 11 weight: 130.4lbs (9st 4.4lbs)

week 13 weight: 128.2lbs (9st 2.2lbs)

Week 16 weight: 128.8lbs (9st 2.8lbs)

Weight gain in three weeks: 0.6lbs gain (grrrrr)

Pamper Party Hen Do

It was my hen do last weekend and for it I decided to have a pamper party. I organised it through the Pamper Company. I was so impressed I thought it would be useful for other brides to review it.

I originally booked it about six months ago online. It was very easy to do; you just select your date, transfer a £50 deposit and it’s booked. Then your guests have time to have a think about whether they want a treatment and which one. The cost per treatment varies based on how many people are having them. Generally the more people who have a treatment the cheaper it is. It worked out as £33 per treatment for us, but some guests had half treatments for half price.

The Pamper Party were really helpful all through the process – they kept in touch via email and answered any questions I had. The week before the beauty therapist rang me to check the arrangements. As we live in a top floor apartment, I was a bit concerned that the massage beds would be difficult to carry up the stairs but they had neat, folding ones perfectly suited to the job.

I had a back, neck and shoulder massage and the therapist said she had never seen someone with so many stress knots in their back. I said well I’ve just started a new job and I’m planning a wedding, and she said yep that’ll do it! She worked them out but I ached with the tension release for days after.

The two therapists who came were both lovely and easy-going (especially when we didn’t stick to the schedule that had been worked out), and made the whole experience fun and hassle free. I would definitely recommend using the Pamper Party for a hen do.

Fake Bake Manual Tan at Heaven V Spa

To have a gorgeous and natural glow for the big day, I’m planning to have a fake tan. I wanted to test it out first so the night before my hen do I tried a Fake Bake Manual tan at my gym beauty salon, Heaven V Spa. First, I was given a body scrub which was both relaxing and invigorating. Then I showered it off, before the beauty therapist applied the fake tan.

It had a rather muddy look as it went on but I was assured it would wash off to a lighter colour in the morning. I had to go home in old tracksuit bottoms and one of future husband’s old t-shirts – not a great look – to avoid getting any tan on nice clothes.  As instructed I slept in the tan and then had a lukewarm shower in the morning.

In the morning I excitedly pulled back the covers to see if I’d been transformed into a bronzed goddess. Sadly, not. I would say I was marginally browner but only very marginally and my friends who I saw later that day couldn’t tell I’d had it. In fairness to the beauty therapist, she did say it produces a very natural look but all in all I was a bit disappointed. The idea of a test though is to try stuff so it’s good I found out before the day. I’m going to book in for a spray tan later this month as I’ve heard they come out slightly darker. I don’t want to be mistaken for a character from TOWIE but a little glow is definitely required.

Weight Loss Weeks 12 and 13

Last week I started my new job so I didn’t have time to blog, however that’s not to say I’ve fallen off the wagon. I’ve been good overall eating lots of lean protein, salad, vegetables and drinking tonnes of peppermint tea. However I’ve still enjoyed the occasional treats of fish and chips, a cream doughnut, New York cheesecake and wine.

Although I’ve only worked out a couple of times, I’ve been doing lots of walking which I think really helps and mostly I don’t even realise I am exercising. I also treated myself to a detoxifying body wrap at the Heaven V Spa at my gym, which I blogged about here, so it has been a pretty healthy couple of weeks.

I’m now down to 128.2lbs (9st 2.2lbs) which is the lowest I’ve been for a long time and means I’ve lost 7.2lbs since the beginning of the year. Next weekend is my hen do and I’m hoping to lose another pound or two by then. The following weekend is my final dress fitting and my aim by then is to be 125lbs so I just have a final two pounds to lose in the last three weeks before the wedding. I will let you know how I get on!

Start weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 2 weight: 131.2lbs (9st 5.2lbs)

Week 3 weight: 131.8lbs (9st 5.8lbs)

Week 4 weight: 132.8lbs (9st 6.8lbs)

Week 5 weight: 135.4lbs (9st 9.4lbs)

Week 6 weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 7 weight: 132.4lbs (9st 6.4lb)

Week 8 weight: 131.6lbs (9st 5.6lbs)

Week 9 weight: 130.8lbs (9st 4.8lbs)

Week 10 weight: 131.4lbs (9st 5.4lbs)

week 11 weight: 130.4lbs (9st 4.4lbs)

week 13 weight: 128.2lbs (9st 2.2lbs)

Weight loss this fortnight: 2.2lb 🙂

algae body wrap at Heaven V Spa

This afternoon I treated myself to an algae body wrap at the Heaven V Spa at my gym. It was quite the experience.

The therapist started off by body brushing my limbs and back. I can’t lie it was a little painful because it was such a firm brush.  I gritted my teeth and got through it thinking of how good it would be for my skin and circulation.  Then she massaged me with a peppermint scrub and cleaned it off with hot cloths.

Next she applied the algae all over my body. The aim of the algae is it draws out the toxins from your skin. It was very cold but kind of nice and soothing. Then I was wrapped in a tin foil blanket. I did feel rather like a roast chicken or a marathon runner but it wasn’t unpleasant. The bed I was lying on was heated and the therapist wrapped me in a blanket so I was as snug as a bug in a rug.

Then she gave me a scalp massage. I have to say I can’t really remember this bit as I fell asleep but I think it must have felt pretty good. Then the therapist cleaned off the algae with hot cloths and wrapped me back up in the blanket, leaving me feeling completely blissed out. For quite a vigorous treatment, it was strangely relaxing and my skin has never felt softer.

Trial Wedding Make Up

If you hadn’t already guessed, I love make up. Its transforming and prettifying powers never fail to gladden my heart and I’ve been in my element think about the make up look I want to go for for the wedding.

I’d saved an old copy of InStyle with a picture of Claire Dane’s make up at an award ceremony as my inspiration. I love how polished but fresh and clean her make up looks and how her beautiful, green eyes pop. On Thursday I went to try to recreate the same look at the Clinique counter. Unfortunately I’d forgotten the page from the magazine and the beauty adviser had to work from a teeny picture I’d managed to download on my phone.

Firstly, we talked through my skincare and then the adviser applied a good dollop of Moisture Surge (this is currently on offer in Boots for £20). The she applied Pore Refining Solutions in pressing motions with the foundation brush. It made my skin feel spookily soft and silky. The idea of this primer-come-concealer is to provide a smooth base for the make up to go on. It also lasts longer and make up won’t sit in open pores or start shining an hour after you’ve put it on (especially important when I’ll need it to last a good 15 hours).

Next she matched my foundation. This was a bit of a tricky decision because she had to match it to my current skin tone but I’ll be having a Fake Bake tan for the wedding. We went with the Ivory shade of Even Better foundation. This is designed to give the full coverage I was after and even out my patches of dark pigmentation (never, ever, ever go on sunbeds is the sad lesson I’ve learnt to my cost). She also gave me a small tester pot of the Honey shade and the wash off Gel Bronzer encouraged me to have a play at home when I have the fake tan on.  I’m booked in for a tan before my hen do in a couple of weeks so I thought I would try it then. Again she applied the foundation with a brush, from a little dollop on a tissue and then blended it with her fingers. It felt lovely going on, very smooth and not too heavy. My fave product was the Up Lighting Liquid Illuminator in Natural. The adviser mixed a small amount with the foundation and also dabbed it gently around my cheek and brow bone. It gave a very slight sparkle and glow.

For the eye colour, we went with the Pink Chocolate colour surge quad eyeshadow although looking at the picture of Ms Danes now I can see it was more golds and coppers that she used. Oh well, it’s an excuse to go back!

She used all the colours in the quad starting with the pale pink as a wash all over the lids, then the medium brown defining my eye socket, the rosy pink all over the lid and a touch of the dark brown in the outside corner. The overall effect was darker than I’m used to but I liked it. She added the soft brown smudging eye liner for definition. She shaded by eyebrows and applied the High Impact Waterproof Mascara (Brides magazine has said this is the best wedding mascara although because of my propensity for tears I’ve had to have the waterproof kind). She swirled over the Invisible Stay Matte Powder, followed by Sunkissed Bronzer and Pink Love Blusher. Then applied Neuturally Lip Liner and the lipstick Soft Bloom. The finished result is pictured left. Excuse the angle of the photos which make my nose look massive.

Doing it myself I would have added a little more blusher and bronzer and some under eye concealer (I cannot function without YSL’s Touche Eclat), but overall I was very happy with it. The adviser made me feel really special and she had good advice on how to use the products. The other thing I liked was that the make over was free and she didn’t give the hard sell, which probably meant I end up spending more. Although buying the make up is expensive I think overall it’s better value than paying a make up artist, especially as you get to keep the products. I bought the products pictured below on this trip and I’m planning to get the rest nearer the time.

 

 

Weight Loss Week 11

The highlight of the week was my baptism yesterday. I’d been wanting to be baptised for a long time and it was important to me that I did it before I was married. It was a beautiful service and I felt like it had even more meaning for me because I’d made the decision as an adult. And of course a baptism calls for cake and a little glass of something!

In diet terms, this week has been a bit of a mixed bag. I’ve worked out three times which isn’t bad and I’ve eaten relatively healthily. But looking at my fitness pal app, I’ve alternated between having ‘good’ days and ‘naughty’ days, which is probably not a very good idea.

Tomorrow is my last day in my current job so tomorrow night I’m going out for a celebratory meal with my fiancé. I’ve got the rest of the week off which is nice and means I can take advantage of being at home and go to the gym as much as I can. I’m pleased to have lost 1lb this week and be at my lowest weight since starting this blog. I’ve just got to stick with it!

Start weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 2 weight: 131.2lbs (9st 5.2lbs)

Week 3 weight: 131.8lbs (9st 5.8lbs)

Week 4 weight: 132.8lbs (9st 6.8lbs)

Week 5 weight: 135.4lbs (9st 9.4lbs)

Week 6 weight: 133.2lbs (9st 7.2lbs)

Week 7 weight: 132.4lbs (9st 6.4lb)

Week 8 weight: 131.6lbs (9st 5.6lbs)

Week 9 weight: 130.8lbs (9st 4.8lbs)

Week 10 weight: 131.4lbs (9st 5.4lbs)

week 11 (current) weight: 130.4lbs (9st 4.4lbs)

Weight loss this week: 1lb

Beauty Review: Benefit Lip Shine

Once we’ve both said I do, my groom will ‘now kiss the bride’ and of course, I want our first kiss of married life to be wonderful and delicious. So the search for the perfect lip gloss has begun.

My future husband hates lip gloss – in fact he’s not wild about me wearing make up in any form (spoilsport). But what girl could face her big day without a little something to highlight her smile?

For Christmas, my future parents-in-law bought me Benefit’s Lip Shine in So Frisk Me, a beautiful, sparkly rose pink. I haven’t had a Benefit lip gloss before but I’m very impressed. It has a good applicator brush and the tube is a decent size so you can’t lose it in your handbag. I love how long the sparkle lasts. It is very close to my natural lip colour which is just the kind of effortless look I’m going for for the wedding.

The sticky-factor is the thing my fiance doesn’t like about glosses. When I puckered up wearing it this morning, he couldn’t be convinced so perhaps I’ll have to save this one for when he’s not around. The search for the perfect – and totally kissable – lip gloss continues.