How do you measure up?

I have already talked about being able to fit into smaller clothes and how good this feels, and only today I was in front of a mirror when I was out and thought to myself “Wow, I’m looking good!” well, for an old bloke, but this got me to thinking more and more about where the weight is going from.

22 years ago Weight Watchers (WW) would recommend going home and measuring yourself, so even when you don’t think you’re losing weight, you might see a change in the measurement inches. I have never done this, and I have to admit I kind of regret it as it would make a good graph (yes, I am that sad!). Recently I have noticed more and more areas where I have obviously lost weight like my wrists, arms, legs, fingers, I can even feel bones, collar bone, ribs, sternum and even hips!

I have a story from 20 years ago in the early WW days, I was in London and called Jane to confirm I had left my wedding ring on the bedside table as I was not wearing it, to be told it was not there!!! I had, in face actually lost it! It had fallen off my finger since I had lost so much weight from when we got married. I subsequently found it that evening when I fished inside my suit jacket packet for my train ticket where it had obviously being been hiding after dropping off. Fast forward 20 years and this is at risk of happening again, I can shake it off my finger, also my watch strap has had to move up three notches, my shoes need to be tighter as my feet seem to be thinner!

So what’s this all about? It’s about why my body is taking it’s sweet time in shrinking my belly! The place I would really like to see getting smaller, does not seem to be! However, measuring up it the key, remember when you get new clothes, think about how much smaller they are. But don’t just think of it as one or two sizes smaller, put them on top of each other and really look at the difference. A friend of mine did this, and it was a really powerful image to me of how well she had done, so I plagiarised it, and have done it also.

Just seeing your old clothes with your new ones can really demonstrate to you what a difference you’re making to yourself.

Also, being in the digital age is magical. We have selfies and app to side by side images to compare yourself. If you’re like me, it is likely you don’t really like seeing yourself (especially the fat me!) but doing it will help you see what others are starting to see. Only today my daughter told me that someone she shared an older picture of us as a family with said, wow you can really see how much Matt has lost!

If you’re on a journey, use all the tools you can to track how well you’re doing. Seeing results for me acts as a motivator, and snowballs, the more you lose the more you keep going, well the opposite of a snowball as they get bigger, but you get the idea, right!!

Seeing is believing and you really need to believe in yourself to keep up the flight long term.

Jambalaya

I’m sharing this recipe for no other reason than I had this tonight for the first time in a little while and I had forgotten how good it was.

It is an old Slimming World one, I have never done Slimming World, (red and green was too much for me) but I have a few in my locker which come out from time to time.

Ingredients

1 Onion (chopped)
1 lb Chicken or Turkey Diced
2 tsp Dried thyme
1 tsp Basil
2 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Mild Chilli Power
6 Quorn sausages
1 Red pepper
1 Green pepper
2 Yellow pepper
1 tsp Lemon Juice
1 can Chopped Tomatoes
255g Long grain
454 ml Chicken Stock

Method

1. Heat a large pan sprayed with Fry Light. Add the onion and fry for 10 minutes to soften.
2. Stir in the chicken and Quorn sausages and carry on cooking over a medium heat for 10 minutes.
3. Add the peppers, courgettes, thyme, lemon zest, chopped tomatoes, rice and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season to taste.
5. Leave the jambalaya in the pan for a few minutes to soak up any remaining liquid.
6. Serve sprinkled with some freshly chopped parsley.

Thanks for reading, as always I love it when people comment as it normally means they made it to the end. Hit like and share with any friends that might enjoy listening to a middle aged chubby bloke trying to get into the best shape he has been in for years!