Laura Croft
Happily maintaining
Well you know my thoughts 
I'm glad you've made a decision and I hope 810 works well for you. x
I'm glad you've made a decision and I hope 810 works well for you. x
Alexmummy's learning journey...
- Thread starter alexmummy07
- Start date
I could have written this Claire, it's good to make a decision though and we'll encourage each other. x
alexmummy07
Silver Member
12/1/10
I had a major down evening last night - just a wobble and felt very down about the whole thing, but I actually think it's probably done me good, and I feel better today
The scales are down a little today, which is one thing that has made me happy - but the main this is I have totally renewed something in why I am doing this.
I have roughly talked about it before - but not totally, so I'm going to open up a bit.
On the 19th May 2008, my uncle (my mum's twin) had been running in Bristol in the day,he was training for the Microsoft Challenge (if anyone's heard of it?) That evening he ran again, he ran in Wales up Sugarloaf Mountain in Abergavenny. Sadly, that night he had a massive heart attack and died. He was 43. It was such a huge shock to all the family, as he seemed to be so fit and healthy. Time slowly went on, and family members started to speak up a bit more. So many people said he had looked 'grey almost' for a time, maybe he did know something was wrong? Maybe he didn't? That's something we will never know. The little pieces we could put together though was that he felt so very tired, he told many people this, but still pushed himself to limits that other people I guess wouldn't. He was using energy bars constantly, and these were found afterwards - I'm talking stacks of them, perhaps a desperation to keep his weight down and his energy up after losing a lot of weight from being a bigger man in his younger days - again something I/we can only speculate on.
The one thing I do know is that he would never have given up on the Microsoft Challenge, and the training was so important to him, he had raised over £70,000 for the NSPCC, a charity for whom he tirelessly supported over the years, and for which HP and the Microsoft Challenge now have a trophy in his name. An honour to which, he would be so proud of achieveing, and as his part of his family, I am so proud of him for being a part of!
The sad part is, my uncle and I didn't always see eye to eye. After splitting with my aunt years ago, things changed a fair bit, and his new girlfriend wasn't always his most supportive partner, as past his funeral has shown, with things she has upset my family in saying, but I am so so thankfull that we had put our differences aside, and got on so well at what happened to be our day together at Alex's Christening. He took all the professional photo's for me, and those memories are lovely memories I have from that day. I remember saying Thank You to him for taking them, and genuinely feeling we had broken through and things were so much better, and saying Goodbye...never thinking for one moment it would be for the last time...
So in October 2008, a few of my family members set out to go to Sugarloaf mountain and reach the spot where he died (typically the top! - how stubborn huh?!)
I never did get to the top, I never even got to the mountain part. It was such a long trek to even get around to where the mountain was, all up hill, and I was very almost 17 stone at the time, just couldn't do it. I have never felt so let down in all my life. It is such a beautiful place, but I just couldn't do it, not with breaks/water, nothing.
This is a big part of what pushed me into the weight loss, although I had no idea then about Cambridge (that came in the December)
I made a promise to myself last January, I had a few promises that when I got to goal I would do, and reaching the top of Sugarloaf mountain is one of them. It is such an important thing to me, I just have to do it. There are no if's/no but's, I have to.
My fiance' won't be able to do it with me as he suffers badly with Asthma (although he really wants to) but it's just not worth that risk.
I don't want to run up there, I don't even have a set time to get up there, I just want to do it. So on the weekend of 23rd May (following the 2nd anniversary of his death) that is what I am doing, and why...
This is why I have to keep the training up, and why I cannot give up on the training. (and why I am looking forward to spring lol!)
I will be doing it sponsored, and for the same charity as he did, in his memory, but for me too.
So today, although I know the weight is still an issue for me, I also know that one way or another I can and I will do this. I have made myself promises. I just have to get there now. xx
I had a major down evening last night - just a wobble and felt very down about the whole thing, but I actually think it's probably done me good, and I feel better today
The scales are down a little today, which is one thing that has made me happy - but the main this is I have totally renewed something in why I am doing this.
I have roughly talked about it before - but not totally, so I'm going to open up a bit.
On the 19th May 2008, my uncle (my mum's twin) had been running in Bristol in the day,he was training for the Microsoft Challenge (if anyone's heard of it?) That evening he ran again, he ran in Wales up Sugarloaf Mountain in Abergavenny. Sadly, that night he had a massive heart attack and died. He was 43. It was such a huge shock to all the family, as he seemed to be so fit and healthy. Time slowly went on, and family members started to speak up a bit more. So many people said he had looked 'grey almost' for a time, maybe he did know something was wrong? Maybe he didn't? That's something we will never know. The little pieces we could put together though was that he felt so very tired, he told many people this, but still pushed himself to limits that other people I guess wouldn't. He was using energy bars constantly, and these were found afterwards - I'm talking stacks of them, perhaps a desperation to keep his weight down and his energy up after losing a lot of weight from being a bigger man in his younger days - again something I/we can only speculate on.
The one thing I do know is that he would never have given up on the Microsoft Challenge, and the training was so important to him, he had raised over £70,000 for the NSPCC, a charity for whom he tirelessly supported over the years, and for which HP and the Microsoft Challenge now have a trophy in his name. An honour to which, he would be so proud of achieveing, and as his part of his family, I am so proud of him for being a part of!
The sad part is, my uncle and I didn't always see eye to eye. After splitting with my aunt years ago, things changed a fair bit, and his new girlfriend wasn't always his most supportive partner, as past his funeral has shown, with things she has upset my family in saying, but I am so so thankfull that we had put our differences aside, and got on so well at what happened to be our day together at Alex's Christening. He took all the professional photo's for me, and those memories are lovely memories I have from that day. I remember saying Thank You to him for taking them, and genuinely feeling we had broken through and things were so much better, and saying Goodbye...never thinking for one moment it would be for the last time...
So in October 2008, a few of my family members set out to go to Sugarloaf mountain and reach the spot where he died (typically the top! - how stubborn huh?!)
I never did get to the top, I never even got to the mountain part. It was such a long trek to even get around to where the mountain was, all up hill, and I was very almost 17 stone at the time, just couldn't do it. I have never felt so let down in all my life. It is such a beautiful place, but I just couldn't do it, not with breaks/water, nothing.
This is a big part of what pushed me into the weight loss, although I had no idea then about Cambridge (that came in the December)
I made a promise to myself last January, I had a few promises that when I got to goal I would do, and reaching the top of Sugarloaf mountain is one of them. It is such an important thing to me, I just have to do it. There are no if's/no but's, I have to.
My fiance' won't be able to do it with me as he suffers badly with Asthma (although he really wants to) but it's just not worth that risk.
I don't want to run up there, I don't even have a set time to get up there, I just want to do it. So on the weekend of 23rd May (following the 2nd anniversary of his death) that is what I am doing, and why...
This is why I have to keep the training up, and why I cannot give up on the training. (and why I am looking forward to spring lol!)
I will be doing it sponsored, and for the same charity as he did, in his memory, but for me too.
So today, although I know the weight is still an issue for me, I also know that one way or another I can and I will do this. I have made myself promises. I just have to get there now. xx
Last edited:
Katycakes
Stubborn tortoise
Thank you for sharing... such a sad and moving story. You will do it AlexM. Your determination is so strong, so unflinching, if anyone can do this you will. Do it safely, and don't imagine it has to be tomorrow... but yes, do it. Sometimes the real goodbyes are not about funerals but about quietness, emptiness, nature, letting the elements speak to you and listening for the echoes of loved ones lost.
I thought you were pretty awe-inspiring before, hun... even more so, now.
xxx
I thought you were pretty awe-inspiring before, hun... even more so, now.
xxx
alexmummy07
Silver Member
Thank you Katy.
Something I think that has been building for a while that needed to be added to my diary. I'm nervous about failing again, but failure just can't be an option, so I have to keep up the work, food and exercise. The sooner the snow clears, the sooner I can get out on more proper walks and up my rate on them. In the Virgin gym near me they have a fantastic machine - a walking one, but it is really designed for hill walking, I'd love to train on that, (it's not a treadmill - totally different - and works each leg seperately) but just don't have the pennies at the moment. If I wasn't on CD I would, that's quite hard to take at times, so I will have to make do with trying to get out and about, and finding my own hills. lol
Something I think that has been building for a while that needed to be added to my diary. I'm nervous about failing again, but failure just can't be an option, so I have to keep up the work, food and exercise. The sooner the snow clears, the sooner I can get out on more proper walks and up my rate on them. In the Virgin gym near me they have a fantastic machine - a walking one, but it is really designed for hill walking, I'd love to train on that, (it's not a treadmill - totally different - and works each leg seperately) but just don't have the pennies at the moment. If I wasn't on CD I would, that's quite hard to take at times, so I will have to make do with trying to get out and about, and finding my own hills. lol
curlywurly1234
Cambridge Consultant
Hon, thank you so so much for sharing your truly amazing story.. and good on you for being so determined to go up the mountain.. You will do it hon.. Your Uncle will be so proud of you....
You wont fail hon........... you have come to far..
Also I belong to the gym and have they have the machine there you are talking about but havent used it yet........ so even though I can go I havent gone so what Im trying to say is.. Even by doing your walking your be keeping fit and training and not wasting the money which sometimes people do when they join a gym..
Keep your chin up hon. You should be so proud of yourself xxxx
You wont fail hon........... you have come to far..
Also I belong to the gym and have they have the machine there you are talking about but havent used it yet........ so even though I can go I havent gone so what Im trying to say is.. Even by doing your walking your be keeping fit and training and not wasting the money which sometimes people do when they join a gym..
Keep your chin up hon. You should be so proud of yourself xxxx
Laura Croft
Happily maintaining
Wow that's an amazing story Claire. It gave me chills and I wish you all the best with the challenge. How high is the mountain?
I think the site Bess is referring to is justgiving.com I found out recently justgiving takes a fair bit of ££ from donations. I know it's a business but it was a much higher percentage than I thought. However it is still a reputable site and everyone knows it and it is easy to use too. Keep us posted on your training.
I think the site Bess is referring to is justgiving.com I found out recently justgiving takes a fair bit of ££ from donations. I know it's a business but it was a much higher percentage than I thought. However it is still a reputable site and everyone knows it and it is easy to use too. Keep us posted on your training.
alexmummy07
Silver Member
13/1/10
Snowing again today - df has tried to get into work twice, and failed. First time, traffic was so bad couldn't even get out of our road. Second time, he managed to get to a certain point, then attempted to get up a hill, and was slipping back down, so decided safer to be at home as the trains not particularly running either!
Scales are down another 1lb Very happy 10.6 again today - that's the 4lbs off now that were up by Monday (finally) time to shift the rest now (please please).
I'm doing ok with 810, this is day 4, and def think the keto breath is kicking in ...nice (not!) but it's ok for the results, I can cope with that. As I can't get out really I think it will be a quorn dinner a gain tonight.
As for the sponsorship - I will be using justgiving as mentioned, I know they take a % but all the sites take a % and a friend used a different one when she did her 10k last year and actually lost her money! (well the sponsors money) so would rather stick will the well-known brand, and know the money is still going to charity.
I have a lot of friends around the country, and in Ireland, so for me I need to open it like that or I won't be able to collect properly, as no doubt won't see all of those people before then.
I'll put a pic up of how close I got to the mountain - so you can see what it looks like. (It's an up-hill trek to get to the mountain first - just before it, there is a stream, which you can actually drink the water from, and you go up after that) It took us about an hour and a half just to get to this point...After I've done it, I will of course, post photo's of me at the top - May seems like a way off at the moment, but will give me plenty of time to train...to achieve it this time.
Snowing again today - df has tried to get into work twice, and failed. First time, traffic was so bad couldn't even get out of our road. Second time, he managed to get to a certain point, then attempted to get up a hill, and was slipping back down, so decided safer to be at home as the trains not particularly running either!
Scales are down another 1lb
Very happy 10.6 again today - that's the 4lbs off now that were up by Monday (finally) time to shift the rest now (please please).I'm doing ok with 810, this is day 4, and def think the keto breath is kicking in ...nice (not!) but it's ok for the results, I can cope with that. As I can't get out really I think it will be a quorn dinner a gain tonight.
As for the sponsorship - I will be using justgiving as mentioned, I know they take a % but all the sites take a % and a friend used a different one when she did her 10k last year and actually lost her money! (well the sponsors money) so would rather stick will the well-known brand, and know the money is still going to charity.
I have a lot of friends around the country, and in Ireland, so for me I need to open it like that or I won't be able to collect properly, as no doubt won't see all of those people before then.
I'll put a pic up of how close I got to the mountain - so you can see what it looks like. (It's an up-hill trek to get to the mountain first - just before it, there is a stream, which you can actually drink the water from, and you go up after that) It took us about an hour and a half just to get to this point...After I've done it, I will of course, post photo's of me at the top - May seems like a way off at the moment, but will give me plenty of time to train...to achieve it this time.
curlywurly1234
Cambridge Consultant
I will definatley sponser you to hon so dont forget to let us know your justgiving page when you set it up..
I am glad 810 is going well for you hon. and the scales are moving which is fab.
Have a good day x
I am glad 810 is going well for you hon. and the scales are moving which is fab.
Have a good day x
alexmummy07
Silver Member
Thank you everyone. I don't expect anyone to have to sponsor me at all, (so I'm totally flattered and shocked with the offers) for anyone that does, closer to the time, I will add the link.
Well an update to earlier, 810 has/had been going really well, but the shakes have kicked in at the moment, so feeling a bit dizzy. Had my bar, but can see a shake soon to follow if the dizzy spell doesn't end. Trying to keep drinking too, and hoping this is just ketosis at my door, rather than the long dizzy-spell I had before with SS/+/810, as I really do want to carry on and get down to goal now. With 13lbs to go, it should be do-able - I guess just some days seems a lot harder than others x
Well an update to earlier, 810 has/had been going really well, but the shakes have kicked in at the moment, so feeling a bit dizzy. Had my bar, but can see a shake soon to follow if the dizzy spell doesn't end. Trying to keep drinking too, and hoping this is just ketosis at my door, rather than the long dizzy-spell I had before with SS/+/810, as I really do want to carry on and get down to goal now. With 13lbs to go, it should be do-able - I guess just some days seems a lot harder than others x
alexmummy07
Silver Member
I'm ok, seems to have passed a bit now. Had my dinner, bit early than planned, and so I have a shake left to have later. I've had 2 1/4 litres of water so far and I know I could prob drink another pint, so that's a plus.
I went out in the snow (again lol) to Tesco to get some more food in, so I'm stocked up for my CD meals. While I was there, I picked up some bits so the boys could make their own pizza's, so they have been making them this afternoon, and have just eaten them. The smell is out of this world, but have resisted.
Right, I must come and see what you are all up to
xx
I went out in the snow (again lol) to Tesco to get some more food in, so I'm stocked up for my CD meals. While I was there, I picked up some bits so the boys could make their own pizza's, so they have been making them this afternoon, and have just eaten them. The smell is out of this world, but have resisted.
Right, I must come and see what you are all up to
xx
alexmummy07
Silver Member
14/1/10
Scales remaining the same today - that's ok - tomorrow though - down please
Another day stuck indoors - wish the weather would improve, as would like to be able to get out, but the weather so restrictive at the moment.
810 is going well, finally into Ketosis today, not feeling the hunger today, which is good.
Looking at money things today, not great as usual, but trying to keep battling through it all. x
Scales remaining the same today - that's ok - tomorrow though - down please
Another day stuck indoors - wish the weather would improve, as would like to be able to get out, but the weather so restrictive at the moment.
810 is going well, finally into Ketosis today, not feeling the hunger today, which is good.
Looking at money things today, not great as usual, but trying to keep battling through it all. x
Laura Croft
Happily maintaining
Just popped in to see if you had a photo of that mountain. Hope all is still good
