Weight Problem Detected - Week 1

As I said in a previous post, I realized that my extra kilograms won't miraculously disappear if I don't take action. And my extra it's more than a normal person would evaluate to be. We're not talking about 2-3 kilograms, not even 10.

I'm 1.56 m tall, and on the 2nd of January my weight was 74.5 kg. Translated, that means a BMI of 30.6, that equals with the hashtag of OBESE. 

I've never been skinny, but I remember feeling lighter, stronger, more confident in myself, happier. I used to enjoy listening to music while walking (I hate sports and I've never been running), to go to make pictures of monuments, places and people that inspired me, to dance, to wake up with the thought of getting ready, putting heels on and to go in town, even by myself, to get inspiration for a fresh day. 

I've lost weight before, about 2 years ago, when the scale showed 65 kg. I managed to get rid of 15 kg in 6 months with sport, healthier dishes, different lifestyle. When I came to the UK I maintained the weight, more or less for another 6 months. After that I started working more, eating late at night, after work, taking the car every time, instead of walking. Things got out of control, and the kilograms started increasing more quickly. The problem was, I thought, that there's nothing to do, as the weather is always giving me a bad attitude. 

Well, I better find motivation somewhere else than. 

In my first week I tried to walk when possible, instead of taking the car. So I went to meet Joe, the Health Trainer, walking till the surgery. I put my headphones on, played ACDC, Panic! At The Disco, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Nickelback, Fall Out Boys, all the artists that I love and my fiancee does not enjoy to listen to. I was surprised to realize I missed it! The walking, the music, the nature, the curiosity the I had for small things, the willing to take it the long way, instead of shortcuts. I was very proud of myself of taking the first step of changing my journey!

I can't keep up with gym schedule, so I do my workouts at home at the moment. Keaira LaShae, Emily Skye, Marshall Fitness crew and, my rock music with improvised zumba moves, have helped me to move my fat around the house. 

Joe have seen my meal diary and said that I need to change only small things, like sweets. Because I tried to avoid them as much as possible, but when I ate them, I ate a full box, he tried to explain that there is no need to stop them, as long as I have them spread in a week time, in smaller portions. So, we came out with the idea of making specific days of the week when I can eat chocolate, in small portions, though. 

My days are Monday and Friday. Now I'm gonna eat normally, only that I'm gonna wait patiently for Monday and Friday to come, to have my rewards. This way I'm gonna make sure I won't cross the line, as I can't be trusted in these matters.

I'm gonna tell you next week how it went!

Cherrios!!

Weight Problem Detected

About 2 weeks ago I found the courage to step on the scale. Literally, I was in shock. I have gained weight before, but what the scale showed I never thought I could become. I looked on the Internet and calculated by BMI score. As I thought, it showed that I'm obese, not overweight, but OBESE!

I decided that I need to take action, but knowing myself, I knew that the best thing to do is to ask for help as I tend to back down when I realise that it's harder than it looks.

I went to GP surgery and explained my worries, saying that I gained more than 20 kg since I came in the UK, and that I can confess that I don't feel well in my skin. I get breathless after taking the stairs, I have difficulties putting my socks on, I feel tired most of the time and I have tons and tons of clothes that don't fit me no more.

The nurse was more than happy to introduce me to a Shape Up Programme of 10 weeks and to refer me to a Health Trainer within the surgery.

Easy, isn't it? I started last week to see Joe, the Health Trainer, that promised to support me for the next 10 weeks, taking my weight and my diary of diet intake from previous week, giving me advice and motivation to carry on with my goal. He can also help me to set specific goals that I want to reach, to change my lifestyle to a healthier one, instead of following strict diets and starving myself. I haven't felt better in a long time and I think I deserve to do this for myself!

Yesterday I went to my first Shape Up meeting, that offered a free gym pass of 12 weeks to great leisure places where I  can attend classes of yoga, zumba, postural, spinning, swimming and other ones that I  have no idea what they are. We (me and the other people that attended this programme) will receive next week a book to guide us in our journey, and each week we will discuss about the ups and downs of our experience. We can share ideas, recipes, exercises, and we will support one another to reach the goals.

It sounds more than great, but it is hard! I only think of food, laying in my bed and sleeping. After 12 hour shifts, it is so hard to find motivation of exercising or to eat slowly... on my days off I prefer a taxi, instead of walking, and so on...

Am I really gonna do it?

All roads lead to Rome

Hey, guys! It's late, really late, and I decided that it's the best time to write my new post! These days I tried to find the best way to put on paper (metaphorically speaking, paper), but I couldn't find anything to satisfy me, so I'll write how I will feel.

I've been to ROME!! I can't belive, not even now, a few days before, that I had the courage to start this trip all by myself, to go to find my lovely friends from Rome. It's a strange thing for me, because I usually am afraid to travel long trips alone, and I prefer to go to places that I already know. But, it's a start!

I took a lot of photos, but only a few are a little bit more suitable for this post.

 Domenico and Gaia have had the patience to guide me, to show me around, and first of all I want to thank them for all that have done for me, that they made me feel like they really enjoy the time spent with me. It was the best mini-trip ever!

We had a sandwich at IGEA (photo), and we headed to the subway. It was the first time for me on a subway. I can really say that it stinks!

The first attraction was the Colosseum! It's so hugeee! I really thought that is a little bit smaller, but it's impressive. We haven't had time to enter, but it's a great thing that I saw it! It's quite a big deal to build something like that on the first century after Christ!

The Roman Forum was the old center of the city where all the great things happened. Now it's an attraction for the tourists. Where all the decisions of the city and gladiators matches took place now it's left just some ruins that brings at Rome a lot of people interested in visiting. Let's just say that has the same importance as first.

 In Rome, like in all Italy, you can find a lot of great architectural structures, beautiful statues, a lot of people and a good mood. It's a nice place to have a memorable vacation. And the artists from the streets can entertain you entirely, because you can find anything you like: painters, dancers, fakirs, contortionists, actors, singers, mimes...

Il Vittoriano it's a relatively new construction, build for the first king of the unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel. Even if it's not a piece of the ancient history, it matches perfectly with the city: it has a lot of statues, columns, it's grandious.

Viale del Corso it's the boulevard of shopping paradise. You can find anything here. Zara has a shop on 5 flours!! But, most important, the buildings are extraordinary! I could walk there every morning, hoping that the tourists are sleaping then. Rome it's a great city, but not for living! You will see the photo of the Spanish Steps to understand!!

La Fontana di Trevi was like this!! I was dissapointed, but I threw a coin in the fountain, hoping that I will return someday to see it even with water!

The Pantheon is such a peaceful place, even though it was full of people. There were people praying, enjoying the beauty of the spot, and maybe that's why I was moved by this small chapel inside. The dome gives the natural light of the building, and its shape is made in such a way that it can't rain inside. The Pantheon was also build during the reign of Augustus. What's the secret of all the great ancient structures?

Piazza Navona was so crowded that I asked the guys if it's not a gret idea to have a caricature of us done. We couldn't enjoy the view, but we had such a great time. Samir, our caricaturist was so convincent, that we stopped from our crazy tour to relax, to laugh, and laugh again. And now we have a great souvenir!

Spanish Steps! So dissapointing! The photos that I've checked out on Pinterest before the trip was so cool, but there was so much people that I just can't cherish the moment. And it seems that all Rome is reconstracting now: the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain...

But, right next to the Piazza di Spagna I eate the best tiramisu of Rome and the best chocolate in the world. At Pompi you can find all kinds of tiramisu, with fruits, classic, and at Venchi, all kinds of chocolate. Yummy!

Vatican! Piazza San Pietro! It's just beautiful! Every single thing is well done there, or just it's the way I saw the Vatican! The shape of the Square of St. Peter stoned me. I wasn't informed, I wanted to be a surprise, and it WAS! 

We had lunch there, a great lunch with a great view. Even if we were on a hurry, we took some time to enjoy the sacred place. 

 The Castel Sant'Angelo is said that it was the tallest building in Rome, at one time. It was build as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian, is was used as a fortress by the popes and now it's a museum. I didn't had the chance to enter, because my trip was so short, but I will return one time to visit all this!

I'll just have to return one time to visit again this city of history, and maybe I'll have a little bit more time to enter on the museums, at the Colosseum, maybe even the Trevi Fountain will have water and the Spanish Steps will be more reachable. But I felt really good on this mini-trip and I recommand Rome! It's the perfect destination! The coffee shops are great and you have to check out te cocktail Baudelaid incontra Hemmingway at Cafe San Lorenzo. We celebrated there Massimiliano's graduation with our beloved friends Simone, Fabio, Alessia, Tiziana and we met new people, Matteo and Pietro. We spend some quality time with quality people!

That's all for today! I hope you enjoy the photos and maybe we will meet sometime in Rome!

Hugs and kisses!