The third year and many more to come!

Little bit of a soppy post but, over the last 48 hours Dan and I have been celebrating our 3 year anniversary! Long story short, we met at Download festival in 2011 and he's the best thing that ever has happened to me. We've had our ups and downs like every normal couple, and we aren't over the top about our relationship, don't really mention it on Facebook.

We decided to stay in a Travelodge in Cardiff overnight, which we've stayed in before and the staff are absolutely lovely, clean and tidy rooms and good value for money. Its near a lot of bars and restaurants as well as the Hollywood bowl. 

We went to Chiquitos Mexican bar and grill for dinner, had a Passion fruit daiquiri which was sweet but sour iced, served in a tall cocktail glass with a lime wedge. Then I had nachos for a starter, nacho chips, with a cheesey coat served with chillis, jalapeno, salsa, sour cream and guacamole and for a main and a chimichanga, which was a crispy roll stuffed with rice, spicy chicken, black beans and cheese, served with chips and salsa, sour cream and guacamole.  

 It was delicious, I was very impressed with the chimichanga as I'd never had one before!

 What do you guys think of Chiquito's?

I think it's rather scrummy!

Well why not let her go to Morocco? We're going to Marrakech!

Just a short post, today myself, Luna and her boyfriend (sorry Dan you were at work!) went into Thomson after a few weeks trying to decide where we wanted to go on holiday next year. Its the first 'couples' holiday I have ever been on and I think it is going to amazing. We decided to go to Marrakech, Morocco. This place is called 'Medina Gardens' and a complete bargain. It was £571 each all inclusive, double room with a Jacuzzi. The Jacuzzi was an add-on for an extra £84 so we thought why not! 

Anyway, 1st May can not come soon enough, I can not wait to see the sites in this beautiful place.

Has anyone else been? Tell me about your holiday if you have, I'm going to buy a book and read up on this amazing country.

I have no excuse I need to get all slim and toned for my holiday only 273 days left!

The Harry Potter tag

I am a massive Harry Potter fan. I am obsessed with the books and then the films when they came out. I've laughed, cried (lots!), smiled, jumped (I have them on audio book!), been scared and 'aw'ed' a lot. I have never fell in love with a series of books like I did with  'Harry Potter'. I did enjoy 'The Hunger Games' trilogy but its nothing like Harry Potter. Harry Potter was my child-hood, and the films took me into adult-hood. They are incredible. I still listen to them now, I still cry and laugh like I did when I was 11.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to know good"

1. What is your favourite book?

My favourite book is 'The Chamber of Secrets' because I think out of all of them, it scared me the most. I mean a massive snake who slithers around the pipes at night, that pretty much freaks me out, plus the massive spiders in the 'Dark Forrest'. I thought it was one of the best because it takes the 'He who must not be named' story to a new level. Its brilliant! But then again 'Half blood Prince' is a very close second.

2. What is your favourite film?

This was really hard because the films miss so much out when it comes to comparing them with the books. I think my favourite is Philosopher's stone (I think!). It just fantastic, a great start to the series. Plus it had Richard Harris in it and he's who I imagine Dumbledore would be like, not really like Michael Gambon. Don't get me wrong Michael Gambon makes a good Dumbledore but he's no Richard Harris.

3. What is your least favourite book?

I'd say Prisoner of Azkaban. I don't hate the book nor the film but it just isn't my favourite. It isn't 'gripping' enough and although I absolutely adore the character Remus Lupin, it wasn't enough for me.

4. What is your least favourite film?

My least favourite film was 'Half Blood Prince' because it wasn't anything like the book! It makes me angry that they missed out so much. Especially missed out lots important details like Snapes mother and father, it wasn't preparing anyone for the next film. I like the small details but it didn't make any sence, it felt hurried.

5. What parts of the books/films made you cry?

Oh, I remember when I was listening to the 'Half Blood Prince' on audio, and Dumbledore died, I absolutely fell apart. I ran into my mums room in tears and she couldn't understand why I was such a state. I also cried when Sirus Black died in 'Order of the Pheonix' in the film because I love, love, love Gary Oldman. He made a great Sirus Black

6. If you could hook up with any character who would it be?

Easy, Neville but only when he got older and more attractive. He seems an absolute babe! He seems lovely and funny, mmh.

7.  Who is your favourite character?

Its between Ginny (in the books! Shes fab), Luna Love-Good and Ron Weasley. All the characters in the books because to me books > films.

8. Who is your least favourite character?

Narcissa Malfoy - She's pointless to the storylines if I'm honest and she's didn't really need to be in the films. If they can't show her properly in the films why bother

 9. What is your least favourite line?
Not sure. Nothing is pointless when it comes to Harry Potter!

10. What would your patronus be?
An owl. That would be an awesome Patronus.

11. If you could have the resurrection stone, invisibility cloak or elder wand which would you chose?
Invisibility cloak. I don't want a powerful wand and the resurrection stone would make it really sad because it would show my loved ones but I couldn't be 'with' them. Cloak all the way

12. Which house would you be in?
Slytherin! I like a bad boy/girl ;)

13. If you could meet any member of the cast who would it be?
Gary Oldman. I got a real thing for him

14. If you were on the Quidditch team which position would you play?
I used to be pretty good at Netball so probably a chaser. I could throw the ball into the hoop pretty well. Although I loved hitting the ball in rounders so a beater might be fun

15. Were you happy with the ending?Books yes. Films no. In the film they should have gone into it in a little bit more, showed all the children, and the storyline and last but not least they should of used slightly older actors and actresses. It was a weird film ending and I was a little dissapointed :( I loved the ending in the book 'All was well'.

16. How much does Harry Potter mean to you?

A lot. I'm dyslexic so reading isn't my strong point. Its hard to me in concentrate on a book whether I am reading or listening to it. Harry Potter was my generation and I'm still obsessed. I could sit here and write a million reasons why it means so much to me but, I wont. Its one of the things I truly adore and I grew up with it, and 13 years down the line, I'm still totally obsessed with it all. My family are more than aware how much it means to me to the point that I went to the 'Harry Potter studio tour' for my birthday last year and I'm planning a whole day in 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potte'r for when I go to Flordia in a couple years time. Its my life.

Sweet potato, onion and celery soup

Last Monday I went round my friends flat and she offered to cook me lunch after I was finished at the gym, which was very kind. She wanted something light, as did I really because I was going out for dinner in the evening. Luna offered to make me a soup. I offered to get the ingredients for her to cook with including some whole meal 60g rolls (remember I'm on Slimming World guys!). So I picked up sweet potatoes and onions and she made me some soup! I absolutely fell in with it, it was tasty so I decided so make my own version!

Ingredients:

• Frylight
• 2 big sweet potatoes
• 1 onion
• Celery sticks
• 2 vegetable stock cubes
• 1 pint of water
• Salt and pepper for seasoning

 I chopped up the onion (with many tears!), peeled the sweet potatoes and the celery, fried the onions and celery off in frylight in a large sauce pan, added the chopped sweet potato. Boil the kettle, measure out a pint of hot water and add 2 vegetable stock cubes. Once they have dissolved, add to the sauce pan and turn the heating down to a medium heat and wait until the sweet potato is soft. Then I blitzed it with an electric hand blender until it was a thick creamy soup!

Before and after

This will do at least 3 portions so I will take some to work, some for my mother for her lunch tomorrow if she would like it and its entirely syn free on Extra Easy and Green plans.

Fatty to fittie

image from google

To date I have lost over 4st 7lbs, which has taken me just over 3 years. I've been doing slimming world souly, just wanting to shift the weight, didn't really think that my body was going to be like when I had got rid of all the excess weight. I'm not 'saggy' as I haven't lost a great deal compared to some people, but I have gotten to the point where I wanted to start toning up my tummy, legs, arms etc. Not wanting to go all 'HULK' like but you'no, firm skinned ;)

After coming back from Download festival, I sat down and had a conversation with my mum (who I go to with advice from here, there and everywhere) and I explained to her that I'd like to join a gym (again!). I used to be a member of 'Nuffield Health and Wellbeing' which was a shocking £42 per month! Although you had access to a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, gym and classes, £42 seems really steep! I looked into a few more gyms such as 'DW Sports', Swindon council gyms etc, I decided to look into the newest gym Swindon has. I had heard a lot of great things about 'Kiss gym' although it is about 10/15 minute drive from my house, I went to have a look.

'Kiss gym' doesn't have a reception desk, but as soon as I got there I was greeted by a very friendly member of staff/personal trainer, who give me a tour of the gym. It had everything I wanted in a gym. They had running machines, elliptical trainer, stationary bikes, stepper, spinning bikes, weights, mats, kettle bells, punching bags and classes. There is underground parking. I was told it was £15.99 per month but there was a joining fee. My heart sank because joining fee's are the worst, but I was told I could have £10 off the joining fee which went from £25 down to £15! Hey, a tenner, is a tenner at the end of the die plus I'd already fell in love with the place! So, I signed up and headed straight in. I had a small induction, but I didn't really need it as I had been to gyms in the past. I did 20 minutes on the running machine, which I have never been able to do! I have to say, joining 'Kiss gym' which the best decision I have ever made!

I had joined Thursday 17th July and since then I have been Monday, Tuesday evening (exercise class) and Friday. My goal is go out at least twice a week. I have also measured myself as I'm stepping away slowly from using the scales and focus on exercise and toning. 

My measurements:

Bust: 36"

Waist: 34"

Hips: 42"

I'm pear shaped.

I will measure myself again in a month and see if there is any changes, wish me luck ;)

My weight loss story

imagine from google

As loosing weigh is such a huuuge part of my life I decided that I wanted to share with you guys my journey so far.

What made me lose weigh in the first place? 

Basically I was a big girl always had been but in 2011 I was weighing a staggering 16 stone 10lbs, dress size 22 top and 20 bottoms. It never bothered me though, I was with a guy who loved me for me. We used to cook food with a lot of oil, go out for dinner or order in a takeaway, as I only saw him at weekends as he was in the Navy. To me, it didn't feel like I 'pigged' out that often. After our relationship ended in May 2011 I was really down about everything especially since I thought it was my fault I decided to book a ticket to Download festival and have some fun! I met my current boyfriend Dan there who apparently thought I was attractive (at almost 17 stone that is something I will never understand!) so we had a lot of photo's together.

This photo was the one I saw after I came back, and I couldn't believe how big (okay, fat) I was. I was so down and depressed I knew I had to do something about it and stop feeling like I did.

So, what did I do about it?

 I started swimming. I downloaded myfitnesspal for my iPhone and started to calorie count. I lost half a stone in my first week, this inspired me to keep going. Within 6 months, I'd lost around 1 stone 10lbs which bought me down to 15st. I stopped over Christmas, and I ended up gaining weight like you do, ended up being 15st 5-6lbs. Within another year or so (I was yo-yoing a lot! I'd lost motovation), I'd lost another 7.5lb , bringing my weight down to 14st 11.5lbs. I felt very stuck, I'd lost the ability to lose weight by calorie counting and exercising. I guess I had been doing it for almost 2 years it was bound to happen sooner or later.

The photo on the left was taken May 2012 and the photo on the right was taken March 2013.

This was because of calorie counting and exercise.

So, 'Slimming world'?

After trying Weight Watchers (it worked so well for Dan's mum), I decided to look into 'Slimming World'. I had been thinking about joining for a while especially since I've heard and seen such amazing results. My mum wasn't keen as I already spend £34 on a gym membership which I use and love, but I felt like I needed to go and have a look around and see what it was all about. So, I told her I was going to the gym (I still do!) and I went to my nearest meeting. I was nervous and I automatically thought that I was going to be the biggest on there, but it was fine. My group is very lovely, they are supportive and they encourage me and I have had some amazing weight losses over the past 22 weeks. To date I have lost 2st 7lbs (4st 7lbs all together) I had enjoyed every moment of it. I've had my 'ups and downs' but its THE best decision I have ever made. I enjoy not calorie counting and eating good food and eating until I am full, it is fantastic! I truly recommend 'Slimming World'. I'm so close to my target weight which is 12st, but I am considering changing it. I'd like to get my 3 stone award, which would bring me to 11st 11.5lbs. I will see how I feel when I reach it. I have 4.5lbs to lose until I get that beautiful blue shiny sticker!

This isn't the best of photo of me and the fella, but this is our most recently one. Although I still have my double chin, you can see the differences in almost 3 years of dieting/changing my eating habits. I love this photo and I adore this man! 

Just, me

I don't have a better photo at the moment. This was taken when I was in Turkey May just gone. 

Check out that sun buuuurn.

Well, here I am, back again. I couldn't quite stay away although I don't think I've posted on here since LAST August. A lot has happened in the last year which caused me to stop blogging. It makes me really sad that I stopped doing something I really enjoyed. I bought an expensive posh camera which I haven't been able to use as well. Anyway, I will stop making excuses. I deleted my past posts and decided to start again, fresh new start. I'd like to thank Jayde; if it wasn't for her starting up her personal blogspot, then I wouldn't of even considered it!

Let me introduce myself (again!). My name is Vicky Rae Townsend, I'm 23, 24 come September! I am a fish monger at Tesco, not sure whether I enjoy it anymore, but the money is fab! I have a boyfriend of nearly 3 years called Dan, and I still live at home because I'm absolutely horrendous with money! I enjoy expensive moneys, clothes shopping, the gym, gigs, music festivals, days out and nights away and buying technology - Dan is the same this is the reason we do not live together. I am a slimming world addict, and I've started going to the gym and its starting to take over my life which I love. I'm not girlie, I'm not a tom boy, I'm just me. This is my online diary, can not wait to share with you my adventures.