£ for Pound

Week 25 and 26 - I Don't Believe It!

2006-03-06T22:22:00.000Z

At the end of August 2005, I returned from a family holiday in Devon. As I was in Devon, and as my eating habits were totally out of control at the time, I had devoured enough cream teas in a week to sink a small merchant vessel. I had gained so much weight that I had to buy 2 new pairs of trousers, just so that I had something to wear when I took the children to school at the start of term.

After unpacking, I stood on the scales. They tipped over 200lbs. I could hear the American cop show actors of my youth: "Suspect is a white female, 200lbs. Likes cream teas. Wearing impossibly large trousers."

Standing on those scales made me thoroughly miserable. I got off them and thought about me. I was going to be 40 in November 2006, I had been fat for the majority of my 30's, I was expecting my wonderful husband to put up with it, setting my beautiful daughters a terrible example and worrying my parents sick. Before all this I had been very fit, eaten well and been extremely proud of my appearance. What on earth had gone wrong? I have struggled with my weight since I had our 7 year old twins. To be fair, I'd struggled with my weight before I had them, but with exercise and restraint, had always managed to pull myself together before it got out of hand. Since my pregnancy, I had tried everything and I had yo-yoed up and down like a diet junkie.

I'm well educated and intelligent - why was I allowing myself to walk around looking like a blond, clean shaven Pavarotti? To top all of this, I am a swimming teacher! I spend my life in a swimming costume (Any normal person would think that would be incentive enough to keep your body in good nick!) and I encourage young children to be fit, active and healthy.

Clearly action needed to be taken. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am an all or nothing girl (obviously it was the nothing side of my personality that had allowed me to grow to the size of a pregnant horse - NO self control). I NEVER shirk from a challenge and simply will not allow myself to fail at anything - if I have made my intentions public. I went to work the next day, feeling only slightly smaller than a blue whale and spoke to Jason, my manager: "The pool always needs money", I said. "I want to go on a sponsored diet, lose 42 lbs in 6 months, and give all the money to the pool." He looked at me, thought about it long and hard for about 0.05 of a second and agreed. The deal was the pool would do the admin and support and I would just get on with it. Wendy and the Reception Girls set up a Pounds for Lbs board, and Jason delighted in taking pictures of me resembling a pool inflatable and displaying them on the board. Ruth, our resident coach started training me, and Fireman Dan - Top Lifeguard - organised a gym programme. I was banned from having anything remotely naughty in the cafe, and everyone - pool staff, family, friends, total strangers - was under strict instructions to ensure that I didn't scoff Mars Bars on the quiet. We then asked anyone we could think of for money!

The stage was set, and if you have been following my Blog, or reading the Stanley Infant and Nursery School News Letter, or looking at the Pounds for Lbs board, or reading the emails I have been sending out, you will have followed my journey and know most of the story. Except the end....

On Friday 3 March I weighed 157lbs. I had done it with 4 days and 1.5 lbs to spare. If everyone gift aids their sponsorship money, I will have raised nearly 2,500 big fat money pounds for Hampton Heated Open Air Pool.

After walking, swimming, rowing and cycling hundreds of miles, and throwing myself around the gym for what seemed like hours at a time, I have achieved my first goal, in the long and ongoing process of beating MY weight problem forever. There has been no magic solution. Sorting out out your weight and fitness is as simple as this: Don't put rubbish in your mouth, eat less of the right things, move around a lot more!

THANK YOU to all of you who have helped me over the past 6 months with such generosity of spirit. You have given me your time, knowledge, encouragement, kindness and money! You have kept me going. I still have another 14lbs to lose, but that is just for me!

If you were kind enough to sponsor me, I'd like your money now please! If you, or someone who will pay on your behalf, is a UK tax payer, please Gift Aid your money. All you have to do is write a short note and enclose it with the payment. The note has to include your name and address and a sentence saying, "I am a UK Tax Payer and wish you to use all donations I make to Hampton Pool, on or after the date of this Gift Aid Declaration, in support of the the work of Hampton Pool." Please ensure you sign and date the note.

You can give your money to me at school, hand it into Reception at Hampton Pool, or post it to:

Lisa Keech c/o Hampton Pool Ltd., High Street, Hampton TW12 2ST. Please make cheques payable to Hampton Pool Ltd.

You don't have to have sponsored me to make a contribution - if you think that losing 84 packets of butter in weight is worth something, you can just send me some money for the pool!

Finally, to anyone who feels unhappy about how much they weigh. If you want to - please do something about it. Don't wait, or waste, another precious month thinking about it, or worrying that you can't achieve your dream. You can. Just buckle down and do it! It's not easy, it can be boring, the weeks when you don't lose weight will be hard, but in the end you will DO WHAT YOU'VE SET OUT TO DO and you will be so much happier.

Thanks again to all of you.

Lisa - 3 stone lighter, 3.5 dress sizes smaller, immeasurably happier and healthier.

Week 22 and 24

2006-02-21T13:27:00.000Z

I have just got in from a 2 hour walk - in the snow and wearing a t-shirt: I have found that this makes me walk faster in cold weather! Well, we are into the home straight with just two weeks to go until the deadline. I don't have that much to report on really - my entire day is taken up either with trying to move around, stop myself from going to the fridge and thinking how much I am going to weigh the next morning! It's not that I am becoming obsessive. It's just that I am determined to reach my target weight and make the money for the pool. After March 8th I still have another stone to lose (just for me!), but I can attack it with renewed vigour, as the time pressure will have gone. Anyway, I had to get that off my chest!

I am munching on my eighth celery stick as I type. For the next 2 weeks I am on minimal protein (steamed fish. Mmmm yummy!), and steamed veg, or veg soup, 3 times a day. In the last two weeks I have lost a pound a week. The end is in sight - and so are a nice pair of slinky new jeans!

Weight loss: 35 + 2 = 37 lbs off. 5 lbs to go in 2 weeks. Pass the raw veg please.

Week 22 - Yes!

2006-02-10T13:36:00.000Z

Goodness me - I have been worrying this week. Time is running short, and I still have a lot to lose. Basically I have cut my portion sizes, and cut out anything that appears to be even slightly 'mucky'! Also I have determined not sit still when I could be moving around - even if it's been cleaning the grate out, nipping round to the cardboard bank, walking into Kingston to exchange something at M&S - you name it, and I've done it, just to prevent my bottom from sitting still on anything for too long!! The result? Another 3lbs gone! I have been out and bought clothes that are 3 or 4 sizes smaller than when I started this enterprise back in September...It's not just been the weight, but the inches I have lost, that have made such a difference to my wardrobe! I now have 4 weeks until the last weigh in on 8th March - and 7 lbs to lose. Sponsorship is still edging up: nearly 1,900 big, fat money pounds, and with Gift Aid we will make over 2,000! If you are reading this and want to contribute to keeping our wonderful pool open, it's not too late! Contact me and let me know how much you think my efforts have been worth! If you can't spare the cash, spare a message and spur me on...

Weight Lost: 32 + 3 = 35 lbs (70 packets of butter!) off!

Week 20 and 21 - Steady

2006-02-03T19:29:00.000Z

Hello - I have v busy and therefore have not posted regularly - sorry! Anyway still going steady with lots of walking, swimming and a bit of cardio in the gym. I have found it hard going over the last 10 days or so: it is sooooo cold and herbal tea really doesn't hit the spot, but one must simply soldier on! Last week I lost a pound, this week nothing. BUT since Tuesday I have lost 2 pounds so far, so you never know, this week coming could be a biggie.

Anyway the story so far is:

Weight loss: 31+1 = 32 lbs off. 10 lbs to go in 5 weeks! Time to dig really deep.

Week 19 - Hooray Again!!

2006-01-19T15:38:00.000Z

This week I have eaten 3 good meals a day; not eaten after 6.00pm and have tried to eat by 5.00pm; walked and walked and walked; swum, swum, swum; drunk enough water to swim in! Cycled; had no treats and have gone to bed early every night. I feel marvellous and.....

Weight loss: 26 + 5 = 31 lbs gone!!! That's another 5 lbs this week.
7 weeks to shed the last 11 lbs...I CAN DO IT!!

Week 18 - Hoorah!!!

2006-01-13T21:41:00.000Z

At last I have some real progress to report. My Christmas break really seems to have done me good - I lost 5 lbs this week! YES! I was getting so fed up with not losing anything and then Bam! 10 packets of butter disolved. I haven't really kept much of a record this week re: exercise, but there has been a lot of it! I am now going back to my swimming, walking and cycling - as it seesm to work. The gym and I really do not get along! (Sorry Fireman Dan). No treats this week either, just good wholesome food in small doses throughout the day. More news next week: the end is in site with only 16lbs to go, but I know they will be the toughest...

Weight loss: 21 + 5 = 26lbs gone - and good ridance!

Week 17 - Back to the grind!

2006-01-03T12:22:00.000Z

Hello Everyone and a very Happy New Year to you! I do hope that you thoroughly enjoyed the holidays. We all had a fabulous time and packed loads of lovely stuff in. As you may have noticed, I haven't been blogging for the last 3 weeks and I have had a break from the strict eating that I've been on. However, I was careful over the holidays, and spent 6 days of them skiing, so managed to keep off the weight - weighing in last Tuesday without any gains. I have weighed in this morning and have gained just 1lb over the entire holidays - so I am really pleased. I am just going out with the girls for a walk in the park. We will do the same tomorrow and then the hard graft starts again on Thursday. I'll have 2 months to lose just over a stone and half...
Thanks to all the ongoing support and esp. those who have posted comments on this site. Interest has been truly global. Why someone in Canada, Malaysia, Poland, or any other place would be interested in an English woman losing weight to raise money for an outside swimming pool, beats me - but I'm very grateful for the interest and support!

More detailed info next week!

Week 13 - Still Dormant

2005-12-06T14:11:00.000Z

I've changed my diet and have cut down on the weights: this has stopped any further weight gain this week, but I haven't lost any more packets of butter either! I'm more chilled about it this week. If I keep going and don't sabotage my efforts by attacking a box of Thornton's, I WILL DO IT!! I've been busy this week - with lots of different exercise!

Exercise: 20,000 steps, 4,000 mtrs row, 5,500 mtrs swim, 2 gym circuits, 1,000 ab crunches,
2 spinning classes and an hour's skating!
Treat of the week: Homemade muffins for Sunday breakie.

Weight loss: 21 + 0 = 21lbs off (let's hope for a shift next week).

Week 12 - Plateau...

2005-11-29T10:41:00.000Z

I am cross: when you see my exercise tally for this week, you will understand why. I know why - but I am still cross! I have put on 1lb. Although I am CROSS, I have taken positive action and consulted Fireman Dan about why, since I have been in the gym, I have not lost a lot of weight. It apprears that although I am losing inches hand over fist, I am now weighing more because I am putting on muscle. Now, that's very nice, but it will not help achive my objective! The Wonder-Dan has now changed the training regime - more cardio, less weights. I am still doing Ruth the Wonder-Coach's training sessions, so let's hope that next week, I have better news for you. Oh yes! One extremely bright spot on this week's horizon - I went to an RPM (spinning) class with Nat this week, and I kept up. Which is a miracle, because I really thought that I might expire during the class!

Exercise: 4,000 mtrs swim, 12,000 mtrs row, 23,000 steps, 2 gym circuits, 500 crunches (less ugh this week) and the very lively RPM class!

Treat of the Week: 2 fairy cakes at the school bazzaar. (Hot chocolate is now banned!)

Weight Loss: 22 - 1 = 21lbs off (Oh Bugger!)

Week 11 - Get Going Keechie!

2005-11-22T21:51:00.000Z

I woke up one morning this week and realised that I had to lose another 21lbs in 16 weeks. It gave me a bit of a start, and I thought, "Golly, the pressure's on now!" With this in mind I hot footed it down to the gym and started rowing like a Titanic survivor! I must admit that I have found the fast 2 or 3 weeks difficult: it's cold and I want to make a nest on the sofa, whilst warming my tootsies in front of a roaring fire and drinking large hot chocolates topped with whoogie cream. You see my dilemma! Anyway, enough of that - I am back in the swing...and sponsorship stands at 1,730.00 big, fat money pounds!

Exercise: 30,000 mtrs row, 4,600 mtrs swim, 38,000 steps, 500 abs crunches (ugh) 1 gym circuit and an aqua aerobics class!
Treat of the week: Rather a large chunk of home baked cherry flapjack.

Weight Loss: 21 + 1 = 22 lbs off - yes another one has gone (but looking at my exercise tally this week, I am slightly miffed it's not more!)

Week 10: Half Way Mark

2005-11-15T18:30:00.000Z

I was so disappointed when I didn't lose any weight last week - I really felt that I'd let myself and everyone else down. So, I got on with it this week. I needed to get more positive about going in the gym, so I have attacked the rowing machine and got down on that floor and did my exercises! The result? Another 1lb off! I am hoping for rather a larger lump of butter off next week... Oh yes, by the way, current sponsorship is just under 1,700 big, fat money pounds!

Exercise: 36,000 steps, 15,000 mtrs rowing, 4,500 mtrs swimming and 900 ab crunches...oooh!
Treat of the week: Fridge cake: melted chocolate thing with ginger, cherries, raisins and digestive biccies...oh dear! (I don't think I should make that one again.)

Weight loss: 20 + 1 = 21lbs gone. I'm half way there in 10 weeks.

Week 9: Lazy

2005-11-15T18:29:00.000Z

I didn't work hard enough last week and drank too many hot chocolates. So I didn't lose any weight. It's that simple. Could do better - and will next week.

Exercise: 44,000 steps, 4,000 mtrs swimming (there lies the rub!) and 3 'little' gym sessions.
Treat of the week: piece of home made pineapple and ginger cake and TOO MANY HOT CHOCCIES!!!
Weight loss: 20 + 0 = 20lbs off.

Week 8: Watershed

2005-11-01T19:32:00.000Z

Well Dear Readers, 8 weeks in and another 2 lbs off!! This week's highlight was swimming 3,500 mtrs front crawl continuously - that was such a huge achievement for me. I was due for my gym indocrination this morning! Luckily Fireman Dan was out doing something far more important than showing me how to pump iron - namely putting out a fire - which means that I got a day's reprieve! However, I enter the lair of the treadmill tomorrow for the start of Phase Two. Today was my birthday, so I allowed myself to gently raid a tin of Quality Street that had been left in the office at work. 5 'Eat Me Lisa's' were consumed - Naughty!!

Exercise: 27,000 steps, 8,000 mtrs swim and LOTS of running around doing stuff, like moving furniture.
Treat of the Week: The 'Eat Me Lisa's' - they are particularly good orange cream...
Weight Loss: 18lbs + 2lbs = 20lbs off. THAT'S 40 PACKETS OF BUTTER DISSOLVED IN 8 WEEKS!!

Week7: Shapeshifting

2005-10-29T10:48:00.000Z

Definitely back on track with another 2 lbs shifted this week! I am feeling incredibly good about it all, esp. as we have had friends over to eat, been up to London - fab day at the theatre with shopping and tea and cakes, but not for me! - and have been doing a massive sort out round the house with decorating and whatnot. That sort of activity normally has me reaching for Mars Bars...Ruth's training is really paying off: I can now swim 60 lengths (just over 2,100 mtrs in our pool) of front crawl without breaking a sweat - 7 weeks ago I would be gasping for breath after 20 mtrs. Mrs T has also got me sprinting down the pool! Did a quick gym intro with Fireman Dan today: start properly on November 1st - the day I turn 39. By this time next year I WILL BE 40 and thin!!

Exercise: 30,000 steps and 10,000 mtrs swimming (v quickly most of the times!!)
Treat of the week: Piece of bakewell tart on the girls' birthday.
Weight loss: 2lbs! 16+2 = 18lbs lost

Week 6: Start of the Long Haul

2005-10-18T06:50:00.000Z

After last week's non-weight loss, I was a bit miffed. So I got back into the whole thing in a rather determined way: it was the girls' birthday party on Sunday and I didn't have a piece of birthday cake! Ruth (Number 1 swimming coach extroidinaire!) has upped the tempo of my swimming training sessions - shorter swims, faster swims!! Lots of walking and swimming and generally running around this week has resulted in losing 2lbs! Oh Hoorah! Next week is half term - that will be a little bit of a test! The week after that, I move onto Phase 2 of the operation: Fireman Dan (Number 1 Lifeguard) has devised my 3 times a week gym routine. Bless him! My dislike of gyms borders on pathological hatred - so that will be interesting!

Exercise: 41,000 steps and 13,600 meters swimming. No more netball until after Christmas.
Treat of the Week: 100g bar of Green and Black's white choccie. Ah...choccie after 6 weeks (my head nearly fell off!)
Weight loss: 2lbs . So 14+2lbs = 16lbs or 32 packets of butter!

Week 5: Flat Lining

2005-10-11T20:35:00.000Z

Golly I was tired last week! I really could feel every length of that pool. We went to Kent for the weekend to see our lovely ex-townie friends. Jo is a jolly good cook, so I ate what I was given ('cos it would have been rude not to and 'cos I wanted to!) and so spag bol, apple crumble and a piece of cake later, I returned home full of trepidation at stepping on the scales on Tuesday morning. Although I'd walked a long way last week (over 27 miles), I'd only swum just over 4 miles, so I was absolutely convinced that I was going to weigh in heavier than last week...BUT hey presto! I weigh exactly the same as I did last Tuesday: OK, it's not a loss, but I didn't put it on either! Decided I needed to get back in the swing - so I started this week off by swimming 3 miles today! Lots more sponsorship in last week, about 1,200 big fat pounds altogether so far. More news next week and thanks for everyone's ongoing support. Fantastic!

Exercise: 6,650 swim and 61,500 steps. No netball or cycling this week.
Treat of the week: Going to Jo and Jon's!!
Weight loss: 0lbs - so 0+14lbs - still a stable Mable stone off.

Week 4: The Lost Philosopher's Stone

2005-10-07T20:49:00.000Z

This week's weigh in was a biggie - 4 weeks in and time to take another photo for the board at the pool. I only had to lose 2lbs to make it a stone in 4 weeks, and therefore swam 110 lengths (just over 3900 meters) on the Monday to ensure that I got it off! It worked: on the scales on Tuesday morning and I'd done it - 14lbs lost! I am so happy and feel very pleased with myself, especially as Vic and I have been to 2 parties in 2 weeks - deadly for weight lose! Self control prevailed at the socials and so I allowed myself a piece of this week's home made cake - orange cream and apricot sponge. YUM! The photo was a revelation too - I couldn't believe the difference! Onward and upward now as there's still another 28lbs to shift by March.

Exercise: 12,000 mtrs swim, 26,000 dedicated steps, a bit of round and about cycling and a bit of netball!
Treat of the MONTH: CAKE!

Weight lose: 2lb + 12lb. YES!! A stone in 4 weeks!

Week 3: A Challenging Week

2005-09-28T14:42:00.000Z

Well blow me down - if I didn't go and get a back to school cold, which knocked a bit of the stuffing out of me. It's still not gone yet! Anyway, I wasn't fit to train as hard, but kept going to ensure that I did a little every day. Had my first real 'yum-yum' twinge last Thursday and could have eaten my own arm off in my desire for choccie, but I tucked into a conference pear and made the most of it. I can really notice the difference in my clothes - down a dress size. LOTS of lovely people have been spurring me on and letting me know that they can tell I'm knocking off the pounds. Bless them!

Exercise: 8,000 meters swimming, 25,000 dedicated steps, 10 miles cycling.
Treat of the week: None! My conference pear was obviously enough.

Weigh Loss: 1lb - that's 12lbs off now, or 24 packets of butter!

Week 2: Slowly but Surely

2005-09-21T19:10:00.000Z

Another good week – last week’s chunk of weight off, has spurred me on!
Still cooking EVERYTHING myself and preparing 2 meals where required – one for Vic and the girls and another for me. This week’s treat: dessert spoon full of home baked apple pie. I made a lemon drizzle cake this week, and although I looked longingly, none passed my lips!

Exercise: 15,000 meters swimming; 20,000 dedicated steps – about 3 hours walking; and lots of cycling around and about.

Weight loss: 3 lbs – that’s 11 so far.

Sponsorship going well – I will let you know how much has been pledged so far in next week’s update.

Week 1 - Flying Start

2005-09-21T19:08:00.000Z

Off to a flying start, mainly driven by the horrendous photo of me in my cozzie, that is now adorning the £s for lbs Board. The board, complete with ‘weight loss thermometer’, is in the reception area of Hampton Heater Open Air Pool. VERY public. Anyway, the long and short of the first week is:

No nonsense food, all home cooked and no naughty bits!
This week’s treat: I dessert spoon full of home made fruit crumble!
Exercise: 10,000 meters swimming; 6 hours dedicated walking and I got my bike out on a fairly regular basis.

Weight loss: 8 lbs!

I feel good, look less like a pregnant horse and am absolutely delighted!

Hello Everyone

2005-09-02T19:08:00.000Z

I have reached gargantuan proportions and therefore need to lose 42lbs in weight. To keep me motivated and away from the fridge, I have decided to try and raise money for Hampton Heated Open Air pool, by asking you to sponsor my weight loss. I aim to achieve the target loss by 5th March 2006.

Don't worry, I'm not doing anything drastic, just eating less, and much better, and moving around more! The aim is to beat the weight gremlin for life this time!

Hampton Pool is the most fabulous place and I feel very passionate about the pool and the people who work and swim there. Our pool is heated and we are open all year round - 365 days of the year. We are a registered charity and we open our doors to everyone: young, old; champion swimmers and splash happies; able bodied and disabled Olympians in the making; rich and poor. It doesn't matter - if you love the water and fresh air, we're the place to come. The girls' school also has a great relationship with the pool: we always help each other out when we can.

We need to raise a large amount of money to refurb and extend our well loved but very tired premises, and buy new equip for our small but well used gym. We do receive some grants, but the Lottery and Sport England do not fund outside pools, and with the coming London Olympics, money will be even thinner on the ground.

Can you help the pool to get the money it needs, and keep me motivated to get back to looking like Pamela Anderson (My fans have been extremely disappointed of late!)?

If you're up for it, please email me and let me know how much you think shifting 42lbs is worth - that's 84 packets of butter you know! If you're not up for sponsorship, ongoing encouragement would be very welcome!