Team Bikini bloggers - Week 2
Friday 15 May 2009
It's been a bit of a mixed week for our bikini bloggers: there have been a few slip-ups with the diet plan and boozy nights have led to late night snacks and hangover binges.
However, the ladies are staying strong and doing us proud, as they have still managed to lose a few pounds. But as the moment to bear it all draws nearer, will they manage to reach their target weight?
Debra Moss 
Starting weight: 14st 2lbs
Current weight: 14st
Weight lost so far: 2lb
Tom Hanks' new film Angels And Demons is this year's must-see - why is she mentioning this, I hear you say- well, my week has been full of both angels and demons, but of the dieting kind!!!!!
My promise to myself was to stay off the wine demon at the weekend and to stick with the slightly more angelic gin and slimline tonic... but I ran out of gin and did succumb to the dreaded vino, which in turn lowered my resolve in resisting the buffet I did on Sunday for our friends and the kids!
This minor stray from the path of righteousness meant that this week I stayed the same - I maintained my weight this week at 14 Stone... which still means I lost 10lbs in the four weeks since I started the diet plan, which is still fab I think.
I think the angel in me brought out the best in me as I went swimming with my son one day. I swam half a mile which I haven't been able to do since before my back operation.
I also managed to go to my Wii Fit board and completed the yoga section twice followed by half an hour of step... fingers crossed the minor slip does not come back and haunt me next week!
So what did I find difficult this week apart from the wine incident? Nothing really if I'm truthful, the little bit of chocolate I'm allowing myself is enough for me - I'm loving the different fruit and veg I'm eating.
Mark, my partner, is a fantastic cook and he did the chicken and bacon bake with fennel from my meal plan, and it was lovely.
I have got a bit sick of the old Weetabix this week so switched to brown toast and peanut butter which I've not had since I was a child and that too was lovely!
I have a big client visit to go to in Nottingham next week and although I'm hoping my nerves won't show during my presentation I'm hoping they will show when it comes to the lunchtime buffet!
It's also my son's birthday on 20th May so both this weekend and the weekend after we've got parties planned for him due to our families being scattered all over the country.
However, I've ordered an exercise DVD which I am going to ensure I do as it's got Colleen Nolan in it and she's looking fab at the moment!
I'm hoping for some kind of loss next week as I have only 3 weeks until I go on a mini break to Centre Parcs where I want to take part in loads of activities with my son - I wouldn't have been able to do either before my back op or before I've lost 10 lbs!!!
Fingers crossed I will have an 'angelic' week and keep the dreaded diet 'demons' at bay - see you next week and here's hoping there's a little less of me (and you) next week!
To find out more about Debra and our Team Bikini bloggers click here
Nadia Mierkalns 
Starting weight: 14st 8lbs
Current weight: 14st 3lbs
Weight lost so far: 5lbs
I struggled at the start of this week as I just could'nt get motivated to work out. I think it's because I've been to the gym so many times lately, I've just lost the interest to go.
But I've changed my outlook and I'm trying new things. I've been walking to work which is about 3 miles and it's lovely with the current weather.
I have even given a new aerobics class a go - combat-style! Oh my God, I nearly died and my back was killing me days after but at least I know im using new muscles. I think I'm going to continue with the classes, it's just hard to fit in with the shifts I do.
Diet-wise I've had a few slip ups... on Sunday I felt all tired, so I got the munchies and had chips plus a bar of chocolate! How naughty I was, but if I crave anything I tend not to deprive myself of it as I know if I do I'll have a massive binge which really would affect the scales.
So this week I lost a pound, I'm quite happy with it as I've not been as good as usual.
I have measured myself for the first time in 2 weeks and I'm so happy! I lost an inch of my waist, hips and legs! I nearly lost my jeans when i walked to the corner shop, but it's a great feeling that I needed another size down!
I haven't got much planned this week so hopefully I'm going to stay good and the scales will go down, fingers crossed!
To find out more about Nadia and our Team Bikini click here
Sally Mitchenall 
Starting weight: 10st 4lb
Current weight: 9st 13lbs
Weight lost so far: 5lb
This has been my best week so far in terms of following the plan to a tee, but the worst in terms of weight loss. I'm not overly worried as I am still losing weight and I reckon by the end of this week I will have lost 1-2lbs.
I've been making myself some of the dips - the butter bean dip was nice, though a little sharp as think I overdid it on the lemon.
I have also been enjoying the Mediterranean tuna salad which is very easy to make and rather tasty. I actually thought I would be starving as didn't seem like a lot but it was surprisingly filling - I think my body is finally getting used to eating a little less!
I'm still drinking plenty of water and have decided to just stick to my poached egg on toast in the morning as I am loving it. I feel much more 'raring to go' when I get into work now - I think my brain starts functioning much quicker!
I've been a little naughty this afternoon as I've had a bag of crisps - and I'm feeling rather guilty for it - but all in all I'm very pleased with myself... and the varying sizes of tupperware I keep in the house are finally getting utilised to their fulll potential - I have a fridge full of salads, half empty tins of beans and homemade dips- quite bizarre!!!
To find out more about Sally and our Team Bikini bloggers click here
Jennifer Trak 
Starting weight: 9st
Current weight: 9st 3lbs
Weight lost so far: 2lbs
I tried on my favourite pair of navy blue shorts today and they are slightly snug around the thigh area. Eek!
I have had a rough week hence a major increase in emotional eating. I tend to gain weight very easily and all in
my stomach/butt and thighs so just a week or two of overindulging shows up quite quickly much to my horror.
Not only was it my friend's birthday weekend last Saturday/Sunday, which involved a birthday party with canapes and cake followed by a huge lunch on the river on Sunday, but then on Sunday night I got into an emotional state because of some unfortunate turn of events. I was so depressed I couldn't eat but that changed when Monday hit.
Friends invited me around to their place on Monday night for a cheese-based 3 course meal. Appetizers were cheese pastry parcels with asparagus. Heavenly.
Then I dug into a cheesy vegetarian lasagna. Finishing off the night we had a huge cheeseboard with 8 different cheeses and crackers. I felt better emotionally but considerably wider.
The week didn't get any better. Tuesday I emotionally ate half a cake at my friend's house. Wednesday I went out to eat AGAIN at Banana Tree in Angel (really amazing Asian-style noodles/food for bargain prices). Hmmm... banana fritters with vanilla ice cream...
Thursday night was a haze in the pub near my house - all I remember is a pitcher of something and pad thai. Oh dear...
I'm just waiting for a friend from Canada to arrive this afternoon - she is staying with me for the next week so it will be another challenging week for me to try and stem the fat lady that is trying to get out.
Shamefully, I have gained 3 pounds this week and no exercise in sight.
Let this be a lesson to me not to emotionally eat!! It is too late to stem the damage for this week but I am going hardcore on the diet next week or the navy shorts threaten to not even zip up anymore. Joy!
To find out more about Jennifer and our Team Bikini bloggers click here
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