Got to Goal!

At my Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday March 15th I weighed in at 12 stone, 2.5 lb giving me a BMI of 24. I had originally wanted to get to 12 stone. Well I like round numbers, but after a great chat with a lovely leader I reset my goal at 12 stone 3 lb. The top end of my BMI is 12 stone 6lb, which is the weight I could have become a GOLD member.
OK science bit over.
I joined Weight Watchers on May 25th last year and I have been a member for 43 weeks. In total I lost 46lb. The challenge now is to stay this weight.
I know I sound like an advert but Weight Watchers has changed my life. It has taught a whole new attitude to food. I can honestly say there has never been a time when I've felt like I was missing out on something. As I've lost weight it has been easier to exercise. Running the Hydro Active in September was a major achievement for me, the former cross country cheater. I feel better about myself, and I have learnt how to have time for me, a challenge for someone as perpetually busy as me.
I'd love to say that losing weight was really really hard but it wasn't. There were times, and weeks when it was a struggle, or days when I'd eaten all my points and I still wanted more food. There were weeks where a visit to the gym didn't materialise, or I stopped counting points or stated deceiving myself about how much I'd eaten. These were the weeks, I stayed the same weight, or put some on. Christmas was difficult but I accepted I would put on weight, and I did. I don't think I ate as much as I have in former years, and nor did I want to. James has been very very supportive and I couldn't have done it without his help. I love him very much for this, he has never had to lose weight in his life!
I have been counting points for the whole time I've been doing Weight Watchers, but there is another plan called 'Core' which is a list of foods you can eat freely until you are full at meal times, and snack on fruit in between. My plan is to stay on points until after the wedding, then learn how to maintain using a mixture of Core and Points. I am determined that this is how it is going to be from now on. Food and I have an uneasy relationship, and I will be easily seduced again if I am not careful. However I am happier with the new way of things and I am positive about the future.
So here are some before and after photos:

March 24th 2007

March 24th 2007

A picture of me

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I wasn't going to skank this from the several blogs I've seen it on but I like it, and it's broadly accurate. Have a go yourself if you want....

Anti Slavery Links

Sign the anti-slavery internation declaration here: Anti Slavery

and Stop the Traffik here: stopthetraffik

Thanks Liz, Beckie and Daddy!

Cargo

On Saturday night James and I joined his parents and lots of other people at church for a preview of Cargo, Paul Field's new musical production looking at slavery. It tells the story of the end of the slave trade but then turns its attention to slavery today.
Stop the Traffik, an international charity focused on ending people trafficking, estimate that there are 12 million people in slavery today. A large proportion of these are children under 16.
I'm angry, and upset, and annoyed, and disturbed, and shaken.
Cargo was amazing. It wasn't fun or frivolous but it rocked me to my core, challenged me and nagged me. I spent a large proportion of the evening on the verge of tears, trying to comprehend the facts, trying to understand the feelings of the slaves, both of 200 hundred years ago and now. God was challenging me, nagging me to DO something.
It feels quite hopeless, and a strong sense of apathy creeps up on me, an apathy that infects too many of us today. I find myself asking the question 'What can I do?' 'What difference can I make?'
Well I'm going to try and find out. The worst offence I can commit is to do nothing.
The visual presentations that accompanies the music and spoken words of Cargo included this quote from the anthropologist Margaret Mead:
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world’
Gosh. Now there's a challenge.
H x

You are mine

I don't usually post pieces of scripture but I wanted to put this here as a reminder to myself. I am not mine, I belong to God. God has called me by my name to live and work for him. In return he will be with me always. He will protect me and comfort me. He will love me like no other. He has saved me, and will be my saviour every day of my life. My mum, as part of her recovery from cancer, made a healing quilt. She asked both Alice and I to write our favourite comfort quotes on fabric to be included.. This was mine. I still take great comfort in it. I can almost feel myself being calmed and comforted by God's almighty grace as I slow my breathing down and hear God' still small voice of calm saying these words directly to me.

'But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; " '
Isaiah 43: 1-3

March On!

Well it's been an emotional week that has left me feeling drained. Wednesday night saw the full meeting of Lambeth Council to set its budget for next year, including 132% rise in Community Care Charges, cutting the eligibility criteria from Substantial and Critical to Critical only and cutting £3/4 million off the Voluntary Sector. If you clicked through the link in my last post you will see that we have been campaigning under the banner of Lambeth SOS.
The petition that ran off and online was signed by over 7000 people! And we decided to march from our offices to the Town Hall in time for the meeting. We thought we would be lucky to get 150 people. Over 350 disabled and older people, and their carers turned up and marched with placards and whistles through the centre of Brixton in rush hour. Now that's user involvement! It was awesome. I was a marshal so could take a good over view of the progress of it. At one point I got quite emotional knowing that so many people cared and had turned out to help us show the Council how much.
You can read the rather partisan account of the rest of the evening's happenings here:
South London Press Article
Sadly not one Labour Councillor voted against the proposals, although four did not attend the meeting, which could be seen as a sign of opposition. So the campaign continues, and my job, although not definitely coming to an end at the end of this month hangs in the balance.

Lambeth SOS

This is what is taking up my time at work at the moment. If you have a minute go to the website and sign the petition if you agree with what we are trying to acheive: Lambeth SOS

Washed Out

I'm feeling a bit like an old grey sock that's been through the wash too many times. I think it is the remnants of the bug I had at the start of the week. Physically I'm fine, all my symptoms have all but gone, and I'm back at work. But mentally I'm feeling a bit done in. I want to curl up in the corner and let the world carry on without me. I'm feeling delicate and childlike. Also when I try considering the future everything looks bleak. Now I know this is nonsense, but I'm not feeling sparky or happy about anything.
I tried on my wedding dress on Friday, my actual wedding dress, for the first time, and it fits like a glove (but doesn't look like one thank goodness!) No alterations. Now I love it, it's a beautiful dress, but in my head I'm comparing myself to some non existent ideal Bride. I keep doing this with the whole wedding. I am not so good at reminding myself that May 5th, my wedding day is just that: A Day. An important day, a magical day, a fun and happy day, but a day. One out of 365 this year. The best bit out my wedding Day is that I'll gain a husband and a whole new bit of my life will open. But I've got a bit stuck and focused on The Day that I've forgotten about the after bit. The rest of my life bit. I think I have been using my wedding as a crutch, as something to lean on when work is bad, or when I'm bored. Whilst I don't need to start planning the future, I do need to start remembering that I am building for a life of marriage, not a day of fun. I need to remember why and who I am doing this for. For James because I love him and he completes the pattern of my life. For God, because He made me, and He made marriage, For me because standing in Church and making promises so that all my friends and family can hear, and before God and according to His Holy Law, is exciting and enthralling and so important to me.
I get caught up in the popular hype of weddings and I think why did they do it like that, or why couldn't I have planned my wedding that quickly, cheaply, easily. My competitive insecure streak comes out and I forget that its not about anyone else. Part of my solution is to give up the Confetti Website. It's too tempting to get dragged into it, and down by it.
I need to remember that My wedding, Our wedding, will be what it will be, and for us it will be the best day of our lives....

Sniff?

Is it just me or can anyone else sniff Spring in the air today? Perhaps it is because I have been under the duvet with Lurgy for the last two days, but I am sure it feels sunnier, and brighter and milder today?
Anyhow, even through my fuzzy head and sore eyes I could see the signs of new life. Hooray!
Also Lent begins today. This is what I am going to do: Love Life Live Lent
It's awesome so take a look and give it a go....One easy action a day.
Hannah x

More Tea Sir?

Last Tuesday was James' 25th Birthday, and to mark the quarter of a century we both took the day off.
After breakfast in bed with presents and cards, we popped round to his parents to share the chocolate fudge cake I had made in a whirlwind of domesticity! We took the opportunity to wish Douglas a Happy Birthday too. In 25 years they have never bought each other a present. Twins - I will never understand them.
At midday we changed into our slightly posher togs and caught the train to Victoria from a cold frosty South Croydon. We caught a bus towards Park Lane, and as we were rather early for our treat we took a leisurely stroll in the wintry sunshine round Hyde Park.
At two thirty we wandered up to the grand entrance of The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane. It was like stepping into someone else's life! It was so much fun. We left our coats in the cloakroom, and were shown to our place, close to the pianist on the baby Grand. James sat in a throne like chair and I sank into luxurious plump silk covered cushions.
We were served by suited and booted waiters with finger sandwiches without crusts, tea in chine, scones, clotted cream and home made jam and a selection of lovely cakes. We whiles away over two hours, chatting and enjoying living a different life! It was such escapism and I would recommend it to anyone for a real treat, my only tip: don't use your knife and fork to eat the sandwiches!
Hannah x