Now for some folks, and our lass would be one of them, they would a lot more stringent on criteria and the like. For me it is making those little changes to make big long term gains.
I used to have 6 weetabix each morning put half a pint of milk on them and then sprinkle sugar over several tea spoons, even equate to several desert spoons. I then cut down to four, and now I have cut down to buttering them. So now no milk, no sugar added. I am sure someone will tell me about the evils of butter.
As for tea consumption, that would be several a day, 6 or more if off work at least 4 if at work and then coffees at work from the free vending machine with the sugar dosage put up high. Yesterday was the first day at work with this regime, so no coffee was taken, I swapped it for water having took a pint glass.
I did last night have one mug of tea. It is the exception for the day. Our lass made it, so it would have at least half the sugar I would have normally put in it. and it is the joker I will play each day, I hope to get through days without playing the joker, But one mug of tea is a lot better than 4 or more.
Funnily enough last night was the first time for a while I haven't had to trott to the toilet in the night.
Anyways, I am 2 days in, hoping to make it a lot longer and also to have an effect on the scales next week..
Friday, August 31, 2018
11 days of walking too and not spending money at work
Well we are getting close to the end of the month, and I have now completed 59 miles and we still have today to be added, but as always with blog posts I will blog about it once I have completed it.
Have I done anything special, well walked to work rather than be lazy and take taxis. I did do my Half Marathon and a a couple of cheeky 5 and 6 mile walks, So as a start it is going well, to start pushing the scales in the right direction though, I need to make a success of NO ADD SUGAR. Which I will blog about next and the 2 days of success so far.
On the spending front, or shall we say none spending front. I now have £33 which I wouldn't have if I had continued like I had done before and just bought snacks and sweets. I would have been a few pounds heavier as well.
So yes I am happy, I could be happier but still happiness comes in all forms.
Have I done anything special, well walked to work rather than be lazy and take taxis. I did do my Half Marathon and a a couple of cheeky 5 and 6 mile walks, So as a start it is going well, to start pushing the scales in the right direction though, I need to make a success of NO ADD SUGAR. Which I will blog about next and the 2 days of success so far.
On the spending front, or shall we say none spending front. I now have £33 which I wouldn't have if I had continued like I had done before and just bought snacks and sweets. I would have been a few pounds heavier as well.
So yes I am happy, I could be happier but still happiness comes in all forms.
— retireatfifty (@retireatfifty) August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Day 1 of no added sugar complete
I have mentioned on previous posts, I want to report on what I have done, not what I hope to do. Hopes have a knack of not being completed, so I stay with what has happened and not what with what could.
What is No Added Sugar? I do get through quite a bit of sugar, either with breakfast or with large cups of tea or with cups of coffee at work.. This adds to any other intake during the day, So If I were able to cut this out, it should have the kicker to help in the weight loss, as I have been doing the exercise (another 5 miles yesterday that is 56 miles in total for the month so far now) but standing still with the weight.
So yesterday was the first day of buttered weetabix, no tea (max allowed is 1 per day) no coffee at work (which was easy yesterday as I wasn't at work)
Now the results should be clear in a week, if I last the week that is, because taking sugar out of the diet has always been the hardest thing to do. I hope to reporting next week on 7 solid days of good news, and who knows it might have a good progress on the scales.
What is No Added Sugar? I do get through quite a bit of sugar, either with breakfast or with large cups of tea or with cups of coffee at work.. This adds to any other intake during the day, So If I were able to cut this out, it should have the kicker to help in the weight loss, as I have been doing the exercise (another 5 miles yesterday that is 56 miles in total for the month so far now) but standing still with the weight.
So yesterday was the first day of buttered weetabix, no tea (max allowed is 1 per day) no coffee at work (which was easy yesterday as I wasn't at work)
Now the results should be clear in a week, if I last the week that is, because taking sugar out of the diet has always been the hardest thing to do. I hope to reporting next week on 7 solid days of good news, and who knows it might have a good progress on the scales.
Day 1 of no added sugar. Had been 26st 2 then went to 26st 6 now back to where I started. pic.twitter.com/XMnaNlWLZh— retireatfifty (@retireatfifty) August 29, 2018
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
10 days walking to and not spending money at work.
Bank Holiday Monday has been and gone, and to be honest I would love on a Tuesday to be using the hashtag #BackToWork , but for some of us working all the time is a reality. You don't seem to have a working, middle and upper class these days. Just a, don't have to work, work not a lot, work all the time and the don't work at all but should be working.
3 more miles were added to the total so this now makes 51 miles another day without spending money at work, and as I was out of vouchers, I nearly got tempted but that now makes £30 not wasted at work. I am sure it is purely psychological but the bank balance looks better for it as well.
The next and the most hardest part of this is going to be NO ADDED SUGAR will report on it tomorrow as with all things the day after I have completed a day. It will be for me the toughest thing I am trying to do yet.
3 more miles were added to the total so this now makes 51 miles another day without spending money at work, and as I was out of vouchers, I nearly got tempted but that now makes £30 not wasted at work. I am sure it is purely psychological but the bank balance looks better for it as well.
The next and the most hardest part of this is going to be NO ADDED SUGAR will report on it tomorrow as with all things the day after I have completed a day. It will be for me the toughest thing I am trying to do yet.
Monday, August 27, 2018
9 days walking and not spending money at work.
I always make these blog posts in the retrospective, as this is something I completed on Saturday. In total now I have walked 48 miles since starting this blog in August and saved £27 from food and drinks I would have bought from the work canteen/vending machines.
Always write about what I have done, in case I fall down one day, and give in to temptation and by something, or if the rains come and I don't walk to work.
After the initial buzz of the start we are now into the long miles of a marathon still only on mile 2 or 3 but need to get into a mindset of head down, and keep the pace going, because at the moment I feel fresh but need to be mentally ready for when I start to want to give in.
Also I need to start a new direction which is "No Added Sugar" So I can truly benefit from the exercise. Now that should test my resolve.
Always write about what I have done, in case I fall down one day, and give in to temptation and by something, or if the rains come and I don't walk to work.
After the initial buzz of the start we are now into the long miles of a marathon still only on mile 2 or 3 but need to get into a mindset of head down, and keep the pace going, because at the moment I feel fresh but need to be mentally ready for when I start to want to give in.
Also I need to start a new direction which is "No Added Sugar" So I can truly benefit from the exercise. Now that should test my resolve.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
8 days walking and not spending money at work.
I weighed myself yesterday and I had gone up by 2 pounds, which considering all the walking I have done was depressing, but on deeper thought I need to combat the food intake. One thing I will be starting soon is the no added sugar. The vouchers I have won at work have meant I am still having packets of biscuits, where I had moved from big cups of tea to water, and creamy-milky weetabix with sugar on to buttered weetabix, has all fallen by the way side.
As I mentioned yesterday, the walking only seems to have put of the rot, and it being even worse. With our lass not being well, it meant a walk to and from work yesterday so another 6 miles on the total for the month so that is 45 miles in total now.
No spending money either, but this I would be happier with, when temptation strikes, and I have no vouchers and have to live off will power alone.
As I mentioned yesterday, the walking only seems to have put of the rot, and it being even worse. With our lass not being well, it meant a walk to and from work yesterday so another 6 miles on the total for the month so that is 45 miles in total now.
No spending money either, but this I would be happier with, when temptation strikes, and I have no vouchers and have to live off will power alone.
Friday, August 24, 2018
7 Days of walking and not spending money at work.
3 more miles notched up and this makes the total for the month so far 39, what I really need to do is turn this exercise into it's full potential of making me fitter and leaner. Although I have not spent of my own money at work, so that has also kept up the continuous days without spending, I have been winning vouchers, I am still snacking through sweets I got for my birthday as well, so I really need to look at lowering the intake to keep up with the amount of energy I actually need for what I am doing.
I guess if I wasn't walking or doing anything I would have seen the scales sky rocket based on this past weeks intake. That does not bare thinking about.
I guess if I wasn't walking or doing anything I would have seen the scales sky rocket based on this past weeks intake. That does not bare thinking about.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
6 days of walking to work, and also not spending money at work.
The rain on Saturday morning evened up the walking to work, plus having done nearly 13 miles on the Friday, my right leg was shot on Saturday. So much for exercise being good for you.
Well another 3 miles walk Monday morning and a voucher I won on Saturday helping me to not have to spend my own money at work. Meant that so far this month I have walked 36 miles and saved myself £18 from not buying tit bits at work.
What I really need to concentrate on, is eating good food and not substituting vouchers for the junk I normally eat, but just being free because I am using vouchers. Those vouchers won't last for ever then will become the test of my resolve.
Well another 3 miles walk Monday morning and a voucher I won on Saturday helping me to not have to spend my own money at work. Meant that so far this month I have walked 36 miles and saved myself £18 from not buying tit bits at work.
What I really need to concentrate on, is eating good food and not substituting vouchers for the junk I normally eat, but just being free because I am using vouchers. Those vouchers won't last for ever then will become the test of my resolve.
Monday, August 20, 2018
5 Days of not spending money at work.
Last Saturday mad it 5 days without spending money at work. In someway made easy to make it to 5 days, as I haven't been at work solidly, so this and the coming weeks, should be more of a challenge. Due to having no more holidays until the end of September. So if I can still report then an unbroken run of not spending at work, then it will be something to be glad about.
All the same I am 15 pounds better off and although it may be more psychological than anything else, But I do feel as though there is a little bit more in the bank account.
All the same I am 15 pounds better off and although it may be more psychological than anything else, But I do feel as though there is a little bit more in the bank account.
Saturday, August 18, 2018
My half marathon
I do demand a recount, as the app only seemed to work at the end, and doesn't do your progress on the way around, I followed the map I did on google maps and that said 13 miles.
A lot of improvement to be had on time, and one day I want to be able to get up to marathon distance, but as a start it is good, it has however injured my foot, as I seemed to have bruised my right foot at the top, it may have been they way I was walking.
But it does make 33 miles for this month so far.
A lot of improvement to be had on time, and one day I want to be able to get up to marathon distance, but as a start it is good, it has however injured my foot, as I seemed to have bruised my right foot at the top, it may have been they way I was walking.
But it does make 33 miles for this month so far.
— retireatfifty (@retireatfifty) August 17, 2018
Friday, August 17, 2018
How to earn rewards whilst you are walking.
A family member kindly pointed me in the direction of https://www.betterpoints.uk/ a great new venture, meaning as I walk and get myself fitter, I can earn points which can then be turned into reward cards.
So now I can help my wealth as well as me health as I walk.
So now I can help my wealth as well as me health as I walk.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
5 days of walking to work completed and 5 miles more today
On Monday I walked to work which meant I had done 5 days of walking to work since setting up the blog, which is 15 miles as each walk to work is 3 miles. Then today I have a trip into town and then a walk out to meet with our lass, this will be 5 miles (checked on google maps). I normally don't count walks until I have done them but I have to go to the bank/post office and I have to meet with our lass.
So it seems a certainty that I will complete it, this means I would have done 20 miles of walking, now if only I had cut down on the food, it might have had an impact, then again who knows without the walking I may have added even more pounds. So there is your positive.
So it seems a certainty that I will complete it, this means I would have done 20 miles of walking, now if only I had cut down on the food, it might have had an impact, then again who knows without the walking I may have added even more pounds. So there is your positive.
4 days of not spending money at work and cutting out an expenditure.
Monday made it 4 days in a row without spending any money at work, it was another 12 hour shift so in itself an achievement as they are the ones where I have the most likely hood of wanting to snack. But, and it's a BIG BUT!!! It was kind of a cheat, I did indeed not spend any money but I won a £5 lunch voucher for the canteen, which I promptly stocked up on biscuits. 4 packets of jaffa biscuits and 3 large packets of bourbons.
I then spent the rest of the shift consuming one packet of bourbons and one jaffa cakes, the others are in my locker. But it is something which isn't going to fit well with the health regime, so I need to organise constraint the same way I have organised myself to stop spending at work. currently with the £3 a day average I am £12 better off.
I also got rid of the BT sports package / AMC this also saves me another £13 pound a month (I got it half price) I had it for one programme (Fear The Walking Dead) Which I might as well wait until the DVD comes out and buy it and it would still be cheaper than a years worth of subscriptions.
I never did get to watch the baseball as I wished and Southampton look unlikely to make it to the European stages for a while. So I got rid.£156 saving a year, which will start being noticeable in the future.
Lastly I am off to the bank with my spare change. £40 pounds worth of 5ps, 10ps and 20 pence's this also goes neatly into the next blog post about walking, but every little helps and will help me, help our lass get rid of the mortgage.
I then spent the rest of the shift consuming one packet of bourbons and one jaffa cakes, the others are in my locker. But it is something which isn't going to fit well with the health regime, so I need to organise constraint the same way I have organised myself to stop spending at work. currently with the £3 a day average I am £12 better off.
I also got rid of the BT sports package / AMC this also saves me another £13 pound a month (I got it half price) I had it for one programme (Fear The Walking Dead) Which I might as well wait until the DVD comes out and buy it and it would still be cheaper than a years worth of subscriptions.
I never did get to watch the baseball as I wished and Southampton look unlikely to make it to the European stages for a while. So I got rid.£156 saving a year, which will start being noticeable in the future.
Lastly I am off to the bank with my spare change. £40 pounds worth of 5ps, 10ps and 20 pence's this also goes neatly into the next blog post about walking, but every little helps and will help me, help our lass get rid of the mortgage.
1 week on and lets have a look at the scales
Plus 2 pounds annoying but not surprising, as I will report in my other posts I am doing the walking but I am still doing the eating as well.
Plus 2 pound since last week now that's annoying. pic.twitter.com/Bo5skdXOqc— retireatfifty (@retireatfifty) August 15, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Day 4 walking / Day 3 not spending any money at work.
The walking to work was the easy part and that make 12 miles in total this week. Well it was either walk to work and get our lass up at 6am, and as I love our lass, I walked. (well it wasn't raining that may have changed the decision)
As for not spending money at work, that was a different matter. Yesterday was a 12 hour shift, dinner complete and out of food by 1pm with 7 hours to go. A couple of breaks remained and a well stocked sweets machine. My last break at 6pm nearly see me falter but I kept my resolve and felt better for it at the end of the shift. Which is the feeling I want to keep hold of when I am starting to think about giving in.
As for not spending money at work, that was a different matter. Yesterday was a 12 hour shift, dinner complete and out of food by 1pm with 7 hours to go. A couple of breaks remained and a well stocked sweets machine. My last break at 6pm nearly see me falter but I kept my resolve and felt better for it at the end of the shift. Which is the feeling I want to keep hold of when I am starting to think about giving in.
My first follower on twitter
Well, what can you say? I am sure they are genuine about following me to know how I it pans out in regards retiring at 50. But hey they were the first to follow and thanks all the same. Never had the pleasure of seeing someone pole dance in the flesh. Not any plans for the future as I am happily married, but I am sure it is great exercise (he adds hastily)
— Exotic Dance Academy (@ExoticPD) March 5, 2018
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Day 3 Walking / Day 2 Not Spending Money At Work (Complete).
Another 3 mile walk to work, so I have completed 9 miles so far in the exercise regime. effectively I have worked out as it takes just over an hour to do the 3 miles I would be doing a marathon (26 miles) in around 9 hours give or take, so I am planning in the future to try and get an app, which for one can be more precise and accurate on timing and distance and see how long it would take for a marathon (abiet it would be split into sections) Then try to improve month on month as I walk it, with at least one go in the next 6 years of doing the distance all in one go.
As for spending money at work, I had already eaten my sandwiches and packet of Cheddars by the end of the first break, I had a period of stress, which meant the hunger came on, and I was tempted to go and get something to eat, but I refrained and I felt good for getting through the day. Approx, 3 pounds better off so that's a £6 saving so far with that as well.
Today is a 12 hour shift, and since they have introduced vending machines which will take card payments, the days of simply making sure you didn't have change have gone. The will power has to be stronger.
I hope to report back tomorrow on a sin free day.
As for spending money at work, I had already eaten my sandwiches and packet of Cheddars by the end of the first break, I had a period of stress, which meant the hunger came on, and I was tempted to go and get something to eat, but I refrained and I felt good for getting through the day. Approx, 3 pounds better off so that's a £6 saving so far with that as well.
Today is a 12 hour shift, and since they have introduced vending machines which will take card payments, the days of simply making sure you didn't have change have gone. The will power has to be stronger.
I hope to report back tomorrow on a sin free day.
Friday, August 10, 2018
First 2 days completed of enjoying more walking
I do walk quite a bit, but normally at the first sign of weather or a slight ache or pain, I would grab for the phone and book myself a taxi. I also would on my days off just sit and play on here (internet) or my mobile, But on Wednesday I got out and about, even if it was with my mobile, as I was chasing down Zombies. It gave me the chance to do a 3 mile walk which I would not have normally done, then yesterday I walked to work.
So far I have completed 6 miles, and with the less calories intake from work thanks to Day 1 of not spending money at work it will hopefully help Day 1 on the scales come down.
Well that is the theory and this is where I will be reporting and keeping a track of what I am doing. Off for another walk to work today and another tomorrow so hopefully on Sunday I will be reporting on 12 miles completed.
So far I have completed 6 miles, and with the less calories intake from work thanks to Day 1 of not spending money at work it will hopefully help Day 1 on the scales come down.
Well that is the theory and this is where I will be reporting and keeping a track of what I am doing. Off for another walk to work today and another tomorrow so hopefully on Sunday I will be reporting on 12 miles completed.
Day 1 of not spending money at work
I am always going to work in the retrospective, as it's best to talk about the success of doing something rather than the possibility it might be done.
So yesterday I completed my first day in this exercise without spending money, no cheeky little packet of biscuits, aero bars or Crisps. I must admit it was only an 8 hour shift, and I only felt tempted once. But it does as the Blur song would sing (Parklife) "I get an enormous sense of well being."
I would also say on average I spend 3 pound so I am £3 better off. So falls under the Wealth section, It also falls under Health and Improving Myself, less unhealthy foods will stop me from piling on the pounds and save them instead and the improvement would be staying on track for something, will my will power win out? I hope so.
So as the days go by I will tot up the money I have saved it will help I would say in the down moments when I may need all I can muster to not be tempted.
So yesterday I completed my first day in this exercise without spending money, no cheeky little packet of biscuits, aero bars or Crisps. I must admit it was only an 8 hour shift, and I only felt tempted once. But it does as the Blur song would sing (Parklife) "I get an enormous sense of well being."
I would also say on average I spend 3 pound so I am £3 better off. So falls under the Wealth section, It also falls under Health and Improving Myself, less unhealthy foods will stop me from piling on the pounds and save them instead and the improvement would be staying on track for something, will my will power win out? I hope so.
So as the days go by I will tot up the money I have saved it will help I would say in the down moments when I may need all I can muster to not be tempted.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
One of my main ways of exercising. (Walking)
And to make the walking more fun, I will be playing this game on my travels. Should cover around 4 miles today. a lot further than being sat on the sofa.
Take down walkers with your friends and earn amazing rewards! Get The Walking Dead: Our World now: https://t.co/q1JLGNBmlH #ItsOurWorld pic.twitter.com/rNABm118Nl— The Walking Dead: Our World (@TWDOurWorld) July 29, 2018
Day 1 on the scales
So this is where I am starting from, I had at the beginning of the year been 24 stones, this needs sorting and this is why I am off for a 2 hour walk today.
So this is day 1 #WednesdayMotivation well any day really— retireatfifty (@retireatfifty) August 8, 2018
But target is to get the weight down to under 20 stone. pic.twitter.com/3YsouFBC98
Welcome
So what it's all about?
I wish to retire when I am 50, simple as. It is 6 years away near enough to the day.
Now to do so, I am going to get myself ready, so at the top of the blog will be links to all the categories I have split this exercise into.
Health, I am far from fit at the moment, and as I wish to enjoy any future I have with our lass, I need to get fitter than I am now.
Wealth, folks don't just give money away, so this section will be covering what I am doing to organise enough money to retire on and also keep on top of the money we will be spending.
This will have a section for Investments, currently I have one which will mature before I am 50. So will track this over the next 5 years and hopefully add to it.
Preparing, for our lass to accept me retiring I have to show I ain't just going to sit around the house all day, or just sat on the computer as I am now. (Yes! The irony of setting up a blog is not lost) But this is to keep me on track, see where I have come from to see what jobs I have to do. We have the garden to sort, the house to finish decorating, and yes when retired would probably have more time to do these jobs, but I need to show I can do them now, and also have it so we can actually enjoy our time together without our lass worrying.
Improving Myself this past year I went back to college to get my GCSE's completed as I had never actually done it some 25 plus years ago when I went to school, those results will come at the end of August, but I will see what comes in the future. Part of it though will be cutting out a lot of the telly watching out and replacing it with more reading and exercising
Statistics, I love em, it is what got me over 12,000 followers on Twitter a few years back, and so this will be my little bit of fun for myself as I monitor how well this blog does.
I will add to this as I think of other things along the way.
I wish to retire when I am 50, simple as. It is 6 years away near enough to the day.
Now to do so, I am going to get myself ready, so at the top of the blog will be links to all the categories I have split this exercise into.
Health, I am far from fit at the moment, and as I wish to enjoy any future I have with our lass, I need to get fitter than I am now.
Wealth, folks don't just give money away, so this section will be covering what I am doing to organise enough money to retire on and also keep on top of the money we will be spending.
This will have a section for Investments, currently I have one which will mature before I am 50. So will track this over the next 5 years and hopefully add to it.
Preparing, for our lass to accept me retiring I have to show I ain't just going to sit around the house all day, or just sat on the computer as I am now. (Yes! The irony of setting up a blog is not lost) But this is to keep me on track, see where I have come from to see what jobs I have to do. We have the garden to sort, the house to finish decorating, and yes when retired would probably have more time to do these jobs, but I need to show I can do them now, and also have it so we can actually enjoy our time together without our lass worrying.
Improving Myself this past year I went back to college to get my GCSE's completed as I had never actually done it some 25 plus years ago when I went to school, those results will come at the end of August, but I will see what comes in the future. Part of it though will be cutting out a lot of the telly watching out and replacing it with more reading and exercising
Statistics, I love em, it is what got me over 12,000 followers on Twitter a few years back, and so this will be my little bit of fun for myself as I monitor how well this blog does.
I will add to this as I think of other things along the way.
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