Today my daughter and I walked 14.7 miles in about 4.5 hours. We are in training to walk the first ever Women’s only Marathon in the UK for Cancer Research. The event takes place on October 4th. We’ve been training VERY hard. It’s been painful, seemed hopeless, seriously doubted my ability to turn things around to give this a shot. Sometimes you just need to have a challenge, a goal. HERE IS OUR PAGE. This is a big one as just 4 months ago my weight had ballooned back up to 310 lbs (22 stone 2 lbs) the crushing lower spine pain had come back and I could only walk 1/4 mile or so without having to sit down on a bench.
I bought some Victory Rolls in Superdrug so had a play. Note I didn’t also dye my hair green, that’s just a filter!
Today I’m back down to 274 lbs (19 stone 8 lbs) and ALL the back pain has gone.
I’ve set a new weight loss goal. 175 lbs (12 stone 7 lbs) and in the more immediate future I’d like to get rid of 20 lbs before the Marathon. Every single pound will help!
Today’s walk was a huge achievement for both of us. It gave us hope that we can actually do this!
During the week my current eating habits are porridge for breakfast, large salad for lunch and a vegetable based dinner in the evening, mostly something like a stew. At the weekends I’m trying to be more adventurous from one of my wartime recipe books. I’m rarely eating puddings right now and I’m sticking to my rations for cheese and using a meat substitute for my meat ration (as I’m veggie).
I WILL be posting some new recipes soon but my current busy life makes regular updates quite challenging right now (I do apologise). My day consists of getting up at 5 am, doing some kettle bell exercises, getting ready for work, eating my porridge and preparing my salad for lunch, leaving at 6:30 am, driving up the motorway to work to start at 8 am. Finish at 4 pm, commute home, pop into a shop to get fresh veggies etc. Get home by 6 pm (if no accidents on motorway). Make dinner, get changed for gym, do an hour on the treadmill, home, shower and in bed to watch something motivational on my tablet and then 7 hours sleep. Monday to Friday is quite the blur…
Thank you for continuing to support my blog by visiting. Really appreciate that. As someone noted the other day, there have now been over 3 MILLION visits to it. Just great that people are finding it interesting.
Take care, speak soon.
C xxx
PS: Cancer Research UK recently sent us our Marathon packs. I had ordered the largest t-shirt they had which was a size 20. As I am still a size 24 (but getting loose!!!) I tried the t-shirt on (which I REALLY REALLY want to wear on the day) but alas it looks like a crop top and displays all my large belly for all the world to see.
I’m posting a photo below to show you what I mean. I think part of the ability to succeed is being brave and being STRONG enough to reveal your hang-ups to the world. My large belly is mine. I wear long tops to disguise it. Maybe when I get into the 100’s the weight will be shifting off this area. I hope so…
Part of being able to succeed is not being afraid to recognise your hang-ups and be strong enough to recognise them. Mine is my belly…
Good on you Carolyn! Huge respect and sending you all the best and encouragement. #Inspiration
Carolyn you are doing brilliantly. I wish you every success you are an inspiration xxx
WOW well done , doing all this on such a busy life style . xxx
Fantastic goals. Wish you all the best in your marathon training.
You are looking fantastic, welcome to the silver vixens!
Best of luck and dont give up…you can do it…and the green hair looks great…that’s a nice pic…you are a beautiful woman…you make us proud…
Whoa! From walking only a quarter of a mile to managing 14 miles, in only four months? That’s absolutely brilliant! You’ve told us how you managed it, so I can see it was lots of hard work. Your muscles must be super strong to have lugged round the excess weight too. Really thin people must have puny muscles compared you. All that exercise as well as loads of commuting. You’re amazing! Now you really inspire me. What am I waiting for? I put on a stone earlier this year. There’s really no excuse for letting it sit there any longer. Thanks, Caroline.
Lovely to see you posting again, and the hair looks fabulous! Good luck with the marathon x
Glad to have you back! And WOW! WTG! You are so inspiring. Thank you for being brave and sharing your journey and pictures with us. I’ll look forward to more recipes as I’m a vintage nut. My family has loved many of the recipes, (our fave so far: Colcannon). Keep up the good work!
~ Tam Francis ~
http://www.girlinthejitterbugdress.com
Thank you for your positive comments – appreciate them xxx C
Wow, what a wonderful goal! You’ll do well, I just know it 🙂 Thanks so much for all the info you provide about rationing on your site. I am going to start following the rationing guidelines on Sept. 1st. Not so much for weight loss, but to save money. I recently had to stop working due to disability, and I think this will be a great way to eat healthy AND cheaply. I did it once before for a week as an experiment and felt fantastic. Let’s see what happens when I try it long term.
You brave courageous lady. Well done. You are such an inspiration! Lovely to see more posts x
Carolyn..I just found your blog after my sister made “Homity Pie” for my husband when we were back in England..and now I plan to make this in Canada now we are home.
I just LOVE your blog..you are such a refreshingly transparent lady and such an inspiration. Well done on the training for the Marathon!!!x
Hi, I’m from the U.S. and have been checking out your blog for awhile. My younger daughter even got extra credit at school because I was making ‘wartime rations’ meals for the family and she happened to be studying world war 2 in school at the same time. I commend you for not giving up on your weight, it’s inspirational. I know sticking with it is a huge key to success or at the very least not blowing it altogether. I’m a nurse here and good health is a daily commitment and struggle for most of us including me. Best wishes!
Thank you Arlene- thanks for sharing that! That’s an interesting story!! It’s good that they still keep WW2 alive in the syllabus, not just the war but the affects it had on people socially and economically etc.. xxx YES the key is to NOT give up even if people think you are a loser because you fail. Nothing wrong with failing if you pick yourself up and keep on trying – it’s the journey we learn from! XXXX C