Blog Challenge Day 6

Favourite superhero....

Does Harry Potter count?

Ok, so, seriously, I don't actually have a favourite superhero, at least not one in the traditional sense. What I do have are favourite characters, whether they're from books, films or tv, which are normally based on certain characteristics that I admire - bravery, selflessness, intelligence and, to a certain extent, ruthlessness.

Not really part of the challenge, but it'll have to do.

As for all other aspects of the life of little old me... Weight Watchers has not been good...AGAIN. I haven't been blowing out massively but I haven't been tracking at all so I'm pretty convinced I've gone over. I'm going to go with the flow for the next couple of weeks and just try to 'maintain' as much as I can until I go back to uni, which is when i will start up my Weight Watchers Online account and go back to weighing in regularly. I'll be back in control of my meals then as well which hopefully should make things easier. Hopefully I won't gain in that time but I can't see myself getting back on the horse in the meantime, and I haven't been that bad, so I'm not going to panic too much.

Other than my less-than-perfect eating habits, everything else is good. Went out for a few drinks with mum last night up the High Street. Next time I hear the words 'you're too young to have a twenty year old daughter' I may shoot myself. Or the person who said it! I'm in work tomorrow, off Tuesday and Wednesday and then Thursday and Friday are my last two days before I'm done for the summer. On Tuesday I'm heading down to Canterbury to pick up the house, excitinnggggg :) I've also decided that I'm going to bite the bullet this week and take a chance, but more on that to follow!!!

I'm off to eat yummy roast duck now, cooked by Mummykins! Om nom nom.

Lotsa lurveeee

Lauren xxx

Blog Challenge Day 5

Ok, so not much to report today. The yesterday and the day before have both been a complete write-off in terms of Weight Watchers. I was quite good yesterday until I went round Nans for dinner. Beef stew with lots of dumplings and crusty bread, followed by homemade plum crumble and cream. Gotta love Nans cooking! I was fully intending to put it all behind me and I was reasonable well behaved at work, other than a slight mishap involving some walnut and banana cake from Eat. Dinner wasn't too naughty either - prawns and pasta in a tomato and chili sauce, cooked by moi! It was absolutely lushhh, easily my favourite meal to cook at home :) I only slipped up after dinner with the two glasses of wine and the toblerone...bad Lauren. Bad bad bad. I really must stop doing this to myself!

From this point on, every time I'm on the verge of putting something naughty in my mouth, I am going to stop, count to five, and think this:

'Is it worth the guilt I'll feel afterwards? Is it worth spending the rest of my life alone?'

Because, lets face it, nobody fancies the fat girl.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand! -

Blog Challenge Day 5

This photo (of me and my best friend Danielle) was taken at Disneyland Paris in March 2008. We went on a Business Studies trip in year 12 (I have no idea how I blagged my way there, I didn't even do business studies!) Its not technically of somewhere I've been, in fact it could have been taken anywhere, but this photo always brings back fond memories for me because it was such an awesome weekend - definitely one of the highlights of my time at 6th Form!

Lauren xxx

Weight Watchers Online

I've decided to give the online plan a go for a few reasons really, all stemming from the fact my old Saturday morning meeting has been shut down due to falling numbers. The meeting was very local to me, and convenient time-wise, plus I got on well with everyone there and helped at the meetings, so it was free which on a student budget is always good. The leader of the meeting, Angela, also does a meeting on a Sunday evening but I've decided this isn't for me for several reasons. Firstly, the meeting is a twenty minute walk and a train ride away, which is fine ordinarily but I don't like the idea of doing it alone in the winter when it will be dark. Secondly, I don't like getting weighed in the evening, and I especially don't like the thought of getting weighed at the end of the weekend, as all I'll be thinking about beforehand is WI and I'll be miserable. Thirdly, weighing in at home gives me much more flexibility, meaning I don't have to fret if I'm going home for the weekend or if I have something else that needs to be done. So yeah. Weight Watchers Online it is then!

I think the thing I really need to master if I'm going to make Weight Watchers Online work is self-discipline, which is what I've been struggling with for the past month or so. This tends to be the pattern - few weeks on track, then a few weeks off. I don't tend to gain any weight but I don't lose any either, which is definitely not the point! I'm working hard to get the discipline back but yesterday is a prime example of how hard I find it. I stuffed my face at work and then went out for an all-you-can-eat curry with my family which is always a recipe for disaster. Afterwards me and mum went to the cinema and had some of those Cadbury Cluster things, which are yummy but a wee bit naughty! Still, I've drawn a line under it and am determined to be good for the rest of the week. All it will take is a few good days on track and then I'll be fine.

Blog Challenge Day 3 and 4

Ok, so I didn't get a chance to post yesterday so I'm posting yesterday and todays challenge in one hit :)

Day 3:

I couldn't decide which photo to post so I thought I'd be cheeky and post two :)

The first photo is of me and the girls at V Festival on Saturday morning, the second was taken in May 2009 at my year 13 prom. I really miss the old school lot but I'm still in touch with most of them, and I have some fantastic memories of all the things we got up to in Sixth Form.

Day 4:

A habit I wish I didn't have. There are so many! I think my worst habit is torturing myself over things I have no control over, for instance the V Festival shenanigans. I also have the terrible habit of putting things off to the last minute, especially essays and other things work-related. I also wish I didn't chew my nails off before they even grow.

Lauren xxx

Back On Track Day 1, Blog Challenge Day 2

Back On Track Day 1

Ok, so my 'getting back on track' never really happened yesterday, I was too tired and hungover and needed sugar and carbs - ASAP! Me and mum had fish and chips for dinner and I spent the entire day on the sofa doing absolutely nothing - it was bliss. BUT I went back to work today and have managed to stay on track all day so I'm pleased with that. At the moment I'm resting on 24 points after dinner (including a couple of treats today) and I will definitely be needing an early night so I doubt I'll eat anything else before I hit the sack. I'm currently watching Silence of the Lambs while tidying my room (cheerful evening viewing!) and I'm about to plan my weekends away for next term. Planning a trip to Birmingham to visit my best friend from school Sonia and my lovely fellow Weight Watcher Rosie, really can't wait to spend some quality time with them!! And also a trip down to Somerset to visit my cousin who will be starting college down there in September.

Blog Challenge Day 2

The title of my blog, A Little Less of Lauren, is pretty self-explanatory. I started the blog as a way of detailing my weight-loss journey, somewhere to let my thoughts out and hopefully somewhere people can find inspiration for their own weight-loss journeys.

Blog Challenge

While perusing some blogs I stumbled across this one-month blog challenge that one of my 'followers' Katie is attempting to do. It looks like fun so I thought I'd give it a go.

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

day 2- the meaning behind you blog name

day 3- a picture of you and your friends

day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have

day 5- a picture of somewhere youve been to

day 6- favorite super hero and why

day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

day 8- short term goals for this month and why

day 9- something youre proud of in the past few days

day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

day 11- another picture of you and your friends

day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one

day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently

day 14- a picture of you and your family

day 15- put you ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play

day 16- another picture of yourself

day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have

day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them

day 20- someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future

day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy

day 22- what makes you different from everyone else

day 23- something you crave for a lot

day 24- a letter to your parents

day 25- what I would find in your bag

day 26- what do you think about your friends

day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge

day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?

day 29- in this past month, what have you learned

day 30- you favorite song

As I've already posted the most recent picture of me in my previous post I'm starting with the '15 Interesting Facts' part.

So here we go...15 Interesting Facts about me.

1- I've been biting my nails since I could chew and I don't think I'll ever stop

2- When I first read Harry Potter I genuinely thought I was going to get a letter from Hogwarts on my 11th birthday

3- Growing up scares me

4- I develop bizarre crushes on random men. Benedict Cumberbatch is currently topping the hot list

5- I will be doing my 3rd year of uni in America

6- By the time I get to my goal weight I will have lost 8st 4lb, which is just over 40% of my original body weight

7- Weight Watchers saved my life

8- Stereophonics and Oasis are my all-time favourite bands

9- I end up in hospital at least once a year with some kind of ridiculous injury

10- I'm completely in awe of people in long-term relationships because I don't think I have the mental capabilities to sustain one

11- I plan conversations in my head and then never have the bollocks to have them

12- My self-confidence is 0 at best

13- I've lost count of the amount of times I've read the Twilight and Harry Potter books

14- If I won the lottery the first thing I'd buy would be plastic surgery

15- I'm trying really hard to be a better person than I used to be

So there it is - 15 facts about myself, whether they're interesting or not I can't really tell you!

Lauren xxx

V Festival 2010

Well I'm back after the most amazing weekend (albeit a slight incident with a guy and a 'friend', but the less said about that the better!) The music was immense and I met so many fab people! Soooo much alcohol consumed and so much junk food eaten but it was completely worth it. I haven't felt so relaxed and confident in a long time.

Here I am on Saturday, just before Paul Weller.

I think this could be my all-time favourite pictures of me.

This is just a quick one from me to say that I had a fab time and that I am, as of now, 100% back on the Weight Watchers wagon. The aforementioned 'friend' incident has taught me that appearances really are everything, and I feel like I won't be treated with any respect or dignity while I'm the fat girl. So onwards and downwards and here's to losing some of the V Festival weight this week!!! :)

Lauren xxx

The Climb

Over the last couple of weeks I have been really struggling with Weight Watchers. It all started after I got my 3st on the Thursday. The Friday was my work do at the Tower and I decided to let myself go a bit as a reward for having lost the 3st. The next day I would be right back on it! Needless to say, this didn’t happen, and I’ve had an extremely sketchy couple of weeks self-control wise, which has not been helped by the fact that I’ve been at Dads, and therefore out of my environment. The situation has also not been helped by the fact that I’ve been a pre-menstrual monster for about a week and have just wanted to eat everything in sight!

Anyway, I finally pulled myself together last night and decided enough was enough, and as of today I am back on track! I weighed myself this evening after work (we were too late for me to go the local WW meeting) and I’ve somehow, miraculously, lost 2lbs! I don’t know if this is to do with the scales being slightly different, or because I came on, or if I have genuinely lost 2lb. Either way, it’s the motivation I desperately needed and I am pleased to announce that I am 100% back on the wagon! Today has gone reasonably smoothly and I finished work on 13 points (which included a latte this morning and soup from Eat for lunch) and I’ve just had chilli con carne for dinner. Not really sure what I should point it as but I know I’ve got enough to cover me for the day so I should be fine!

I haven’t posted for about a week and for once I’ve actually had a lot going on in that time (thus contributing to the lack of WW dedication!) On Friday I went to see Wicked with my sister and some of her friends. It really is a fantastic show and I had a great evening. We had dinner at Nando’s beforehand which was delicious as always, and then we had chocolate at the Theatre.

I had Tuesday and Wednesday off work this week, and on Tuesday I had the big event – shopping for V festival!!! I got some really festival-ly stuff, including a great top from Evans that says ‘your love makes me high’ on the back. I also got a black hanky-hem top from Evans with a studded heart on the front, and a black and white Aztec print summer dress from the Dorothy Perkins sale. I grabbed some coloured tights and lots of jewellery from the sales as well so all I need now are some fab willies and some groovy sunglasses and I’m good to go!!

On Wednesday I met mum, George and my cousin Luke in London and we went for lunch at Pizza Express and then onto the Pasaje Del Terror. I fully intended to have a Leggera pizza for lunch but it went out the window and I ended up with a Four Seasons. WHOOPS! Still, at least I didn’t have dessert! The Pasaje Del Terror was HILARIOUS! And terrifying! The 3D film is seriously cheesy but it builds the atmosphere nicely and then you go through the walk-through bit. Its full of scenes from horror films (including one from the Exorcist) and the actors jump out at you and chase you through! We were screaming our lungs out, but it was so much fun! Afterwards we had a walk round Picadilly. This photo of the boys was taken outside Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and the statue is the same height and size that that man really was!

Anyway guys, thats all from me for now! I'm at work for the next three days and then I have Monday off, so hopefully I will be able to stay on the WW wagon for that time! I'm back to Mums tomorrow which should make it easier...in theory!

Lotsaa lurveee

Lauren xxx

Fatshion

While perusing one of the many fashion and celebrity mags that loiter in the staffroom in work, I stumbled across an article that caught my interest. It was about bloggers, and one of the bloggers featured was a girl called Gabi. Her blog is called Young, Fat and Fabulous. The article told of how Gabi, as a plus size girl with a passion for fashion, was sick of being exiled to fashion Siberia because of her size. YFF is her opportunity to showcase some of her own personal style and demonstrate to the larger ladies out there that just because they don't conform to the size 0 phenomenon, that doesn't mean they can't wear exactly what they choose to.

Having had a good look through some of the most recent posts on YFF, I can categorically state that it is, indeed, fabulous! Gabi (and some of the other ladies featured on the site) all dress superbly and look young, fresh, sexy and sophisticated. It makes such a nice change to see people who, like myself, are on the large side, but who wear exactly what they want to wear without worrying about it being 'flattering' to their shape (incidentally, the clothes almost always are very flattering and look amazing, so they're doing something right!) Rather than hiding inside plain, baggy clothes, they're proud of their curves and they dress to impress. Go them!

Reading the blog and looking at the pictures has really shown me that I need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and that I should dress how I want to, in whatever makes me feel good. Although YFF is all about accepting your shape and loving your body (kind of the opposite of the whole Weight Watchers approach) it applies to everyone, of any shape or size. And I know that even when I get to my goal weight, I will still be a size 12-14, and therefore still considered a plus-size by the fashion industry. So from now on, I'm going to dress how I want to, without worrying about if my legs look fat, or if my arms look chunky. If I like it, and if it makes me feel good, I'm going to wear it. And let the chips fall where they may!

With this is mind, here I am last night at a friends birthday.

My legs are far from the slender perfection I'd like them to be, and yes, my arms are on the wrong side of bingo-wing. But I like this outfit and I felt good in it, so why shouldn't I wear it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up Weight Watchers, even though the last week has left much to be desired on that front. I couldn't make it to WI this week because I'm at Dads and didn't get home from work until gone 7pm, but I weighed myself on Dads scales this morning and they report a 2lb loss, which is pleasing. Hopefully it is an accurate reading and I can WI on Thursday with a good result! :)

Lauren xxx

I Am A Very Bad Fat Fighter

I don't know what it is this week, I've just been feeling...blahhhhh. This has resulted in some disappointing Weight-Watcherness and I ended up having a bit of a sugar attack this afternoon after work (Cadbury caramel chocolate buttons - WOW!)

I keep telling myself that I can't be point-perfect every day for the rest of my life, sometimes I am going to slip up and I can't always win at everything - but failure is against my nature and it really annoys me when I'm not perfect at something.

I know for a fact tomorrow is going to be a WW disaster. Its one of my best friends from schools birthday and we're pubbing then clubbing. HELLO ALCOHOLLLL. It will be an immense night and I have what I hope is a great outfit for it :/ (pictures to follow as my new digital camera arrived this morning!!!!) but I can't help but think I will look a bit too much like a fatty who is trying too hard in it. Still, we'll see tomorrow! Being out tomorrow night also means I won't be able to attend a meeting to get weighed, but I am instead going to weigh myself on the scales at home to give myself a rough idea of where I'm at :)

Bit of a boring and miserable post from me today sadly, I promise from now on I will try to do better and be a bit more interesting!!!

Lauren xxx

Ok, I have once again come on here to confess my sins, which I really hate doing. I guess the easiest solution would be to stop sinning, but where's the fun in that?

It is now Sunday morning, and I am still feeling hungover from the absolute skinful I had on Friday night. As I previously mentioned, it was the TOL 'Happy Hour' BBQ, something that happens at the end of every month. I had a brilliant time with all my work colleagues (they are all completely hilarious, I'm very lucky to work with such lovely people) but my goodness, did I drink!

I don't actually even remember what I drank, I just remember everybody getting rounds in from 5.30 through to 11.30. Then there was this stupid game where if you were holding your drink in the wrong hand you ended up having shots poured down your throat. Bad times.

God knows how I managed to get home without mishap.

I was fully intending to draw a line under my misbehaviour yesterday, but the hangover monster reared its ugly head and all I wanted was carbs! Then in the evening I couldn't be bothered to cook and so ended up with a takeaway :(

The gist of all this is that I haven't tracked or pointed for two days, which will seriously impede WI on Thursday. I'm going to be extra good for the rest of the week by sticking to 22 points a day - meaning I'm saving 4 points. Hopefully I will see a STS or a small loss on Thursday, but I hold out very little hope!

Lauren xxx