Monthly Archives: June 2017

Fatty Parry 24: 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss: 12 @ww_uk @weightwatchers

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check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

I’m on a 13 week diet to get into (a less round) shape for a family wedding. Click here for a quick explanation of what and why: but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”) in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

Last week

I began my almost cold turkey approach of no junk whatsoever four weeks ago. That is, one treat a week, one bottle of beer a week, and no more than a couple of biscuits a day. Click week ten’s post for details. This is yielding BIG results. 14lb in the last four weeks! That’s a whole stone!!

This week I got under sixteen stone — and stayed there. Can’t tell you how happy and vindicated in myself I felt when I saw that, morning, noon, and night, I was under sixteen stone! That is a huge milestone for me.

Last week I lost 5.6lb. I was always full up, ate whenever I was hungry. I was careful with silly things, too: for example, I’ve switched to skimmed milk, from semi, because of the vast amounts of tea and coffee I drink a day. It’s easy to add sugar, fat, and energy to your diet like that and not even realise. I don’t miss semi-skimmed at all! Eating meals more slowly so I don’t overeat — as it takes a while for your gut to register it has food in it. Also trying to focus on what I’m eating, instead of shovelling it in whilst yacking or watching a film, so as to enjoy it more. This way, I don’t need the “hit” of eating again and again, as I enjoyed it more in the first place. I think my mindset is beginning to turn a lot, as well, as I saw someone eating three donuts for breakfast the other day — and my genuine reaction was not longing, but disgust.

Next week

Upset that it took until week 9 before I could get a grip. I would have met my target weight if I had sorted my head out earlier. As it is, I am still going be hot, sweaty, and bulging out of my wedding suit. None-the-less, I feel like I can get myself under 15 1/2 stone by the wedding; there is even a very outside possibility that I might get it down to 15. But the key is always: eating healthily, eating balanced, never starving, never total depriving. So it won’t be as bad in the wedding as it would have been.

I’m going to try and hope for a 4lb plus weight loss this week. So that would be 15st 5lb / 215lb.

  • week 1: 03/04/17: 16st 11.6lb (235.6lb)
  • week 2: 10/04/17: 16st 9.2lb (233.2lb) target was 233.1lb
  • week 3: 17/04/17: 16st 7lb (231lb) target was 230.6lb
  • week 4: 24/04/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 228.1lb
  • week 5: 01/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 225.6lb
  • week 6: 08/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 223.1lb
  • week 7: 15/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 220.6lb
  • week 8: 22/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 218.1lb
  • week 9: 29/05/17: 16st 4.8lb (228.8lb) target was 215.6lb
  • week 10: 05/06/17: 16st 1lb (225lb) target was 224.6lb/213.1lb*
  • week 11: 12/06/17: 16st 0.6lb (224.6lb) target was 221.5lb/210.6lb*
  • week 12: 19/06/17: 15st 9.0lb (219lb) target was 221lb/208.1lb*
  • GOAL: 03/07/17: 14st 7lb (203lb)

*the left hand figure is my new revised target, the right hand one was my original target.

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

Film RE-view: Crash (2004) [SPOILERS!!!] @KermodeMovie #FilmReview #MovieReview

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check out my film review and Netflix blog at https://filmmovietvblog.wordpress.com

This RE-view has spoilers

WHY RE-VIEW?

Crash is about racism in America today and the different forms and faces it takes. Institutional, white-on-black, black-on-white, conscious, unconscious bias, rich, poor, and all between: the film was awarded three Oscars for its in-your-face message. It confronted racial tensions in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Various story strands are interwoven in what I can only call a Love Actually ensemble stylee — although the film seems to think itself more Pulp Fiction. Yes, a whiff of self-satisfaction, self-righteousness, and self-congratulation emanate from this flick. And that’s why I gave it 2/5 when it came out. But a friend kept begging me to give it a second look. So finally I did.

THE GOOD

It’s true, there are some great moments. The sweet story of the protective cloak that a father tells his daughter stands out as genuinely touching and believable. The film is well directed and the plot well structured. You can’t fault writer-director Paul Haggis for his mastery over the craft. And despite the large cast, there is good character development, and the film is well paced and zips along nicely. Despite this, some characters are completely extraneous and should have been cut. Particularly, the roles played by Sandra Bullock and her on-screen husband.

THE BAD

The film is also very funny in places. Although I strongly suspect that was unintentional. Either way, it’s certainly odd. The two African American car-jackers provide much of this unintentional comic relief. They drive around procrastinating on race and racism, like a crap Travolta-Jackson Pulp Fiction rip-off duo, whilst their actions confirm the negative stereotypes that they rail against.

This is the worst thing is that nobody reacts normally. Everybody is ready to fly off the handle over the slightest thing. It’s this constant hysteria that jarred so badly thirteen years ago and jars so badly now. And in these sobre days, where 9/11 is now history, we can see this film for what it is. Over-the-top characters and cartoonish racism are par for the course. Everyone constantly make shouty outbursts laced with racial slurs that seem shoe-horned in and never genuine. Example: “So tell me, who gathered these remarkably different cultures together and taught them all to park their cars on their lawns” says a black man whilst hanging out of the back of a Hispanic woman…. Another example: a moronic, obnoxious Iranian shopkeeper — driven to rudeness by post-9/11 hysteria and racism, we are meant to think — does not do what his locksmith told him to, consequently gets robbed, and then does what anyone would: get a gun and go shoot a child… I mean, seriously, we never see him get pushed to that breaking point. By opting for pure melodrama at every turn, the message that racism comes in many forms, not just the obvious KKK lynch ’em kind, is completely undermined.

IN CONCLUSION: OVER-HYPED

I still think the hype and the three Oscars were overboard. Right after watching this again, Midnight Express came on the telly. So I watched that — also, for the first time in ten years or so. Wow, that is what a multiple Oscar winner is all about (despite an equally dubious portrayal of race), not this melodramatic, unrealistic portrayal of racism designed to exorcise middle class white America’s racial and 9/11 demons. Crash was the kind of film America needed in 2004, but that doesn’t mean it lived up to the hype. Crash‘s ideology and surreal histrionic racism are just as jarring as ever. But I have a renewed appreciation for the craft of this film and the moments when it is believable. For that, it earns an improved mark: 3/5.

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/x0zz5XjT9FkZqoktcb7zGdbx8la.jpg

Fatty Parry 23: 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss: 11 @ww_uk @weightwatchers

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check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

I’m on a 13 week diet to get into (a less round) shape for a family wedding. Click here for a quick explanation of what and why: but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”) in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

Last week

I began my almost cold turkey approach of no junk whatsoever three weeks ago. That is, one treat a week, one bottle of beer a week, and no more than a couple of biscuits a day. Click last week’s post for details. This is yielding BIG results. Around 9lb in the last three weeks!

There was a slight blip this week, though. I only lost 0.6lb. Why? Well, Saturday morning I was 15st 13.4lb / 223.4lb. That’s 1.6lb down from the week before. So I was on course for 2lb + weight loss by the end of the week. However, one of my cousin’s had their Communion. And even though I stayed away from the cake, burgers, and other goodies, I simply had to munch something in this time of merriment. So I had two beers, half a glass of wine, a samosa, and a tasty sandwich which was chock full of crud. Also, I had a latte every day — this was due to having appointments galore and not being able to sort my eating and drinking pattern properly. This combo meant I didn’t make as much progress.

None-the-less, in the face of non-ideal circumstances, I was strong and resisted most junk, and my weight has still gone down!

Next week

Gotta keep it up. Try to lay off the lattes; if my routine is knackered, and I haven’t had my normal food or drink in the morning a Nero CostaBucks coffee isn’t the solution. No celebrations this coming week, either, so that should make things easier. Gotta make sure I do more jogging, too! Let’s go for three runs this week, including one at the weekend.

I’m going to try and aim for a 3-4lb weight loss this week. So that would be 15st 10.6-11.6lb / 220.6-221.6lb.

  • week 1: 03/04/17: 16st 11.6lb (235.6lb)
  • week 2: 10/04/17: 16st 9.2lb (233.2lb) target was 233.1lb
  • week 3: 17/04/17: 16st 7lb (231lb) target was 230.6lb
  • week 4: 24/04/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 228.1lb
  • week 5: 01/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 225.6lb
  • week 6: 08/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 223.1lb
  • week 7: 15/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 220.6lb
  • week 8: 22/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 218.1lb
  • week 9: 29/05/17: 16st 4.8lb (228.8lb) target was 215.6lb
  • week 10: 05/06/17: 16st 1lb (225lb) target was 224.6lb/213.1lb*
  • week 11: 12/06/17: 16st 0.6lb (224.6lb) target was 221.5lb/213.1lb*
  • GOAL: 03/07/17: 14st 7lb (203lb)

*the left hand figure is my new revised target, the right hand one was my original target.

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

Film Review: The Blind Side (2009) #100WordReview

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check out my new film review blog at https://filmmovietvblog.wordpress.com/

The Blind Side is the true story of a wealthy WASP family, headed by Mater Familias Sandra Bullock, who take in a seventeen year old homeless black kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Battling social prejudice, lavishing him with clothes and an education, this is altruism at its best — or is there an ulterior motive? A prestigious football scholarship is at stake.

This fish-out-of-water tale has plenty of heart. Success is never a foregone conclusion. Tight scripting earnt this flick an Oscar nom for best screenplay, Bullock herself won Best Actress for her subtle, humane, and convincing portrayal.

4/5

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image http://truesportsmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/the_blind_side1.jpg

Fatty Parry 22: 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss: 10 @ww_uk @weightwatchers

Fatty Parry, , , , , , , , , , , ,

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

I’m on a 13 week diet to get into (a less round) shape for a family wedding. Click here for a quick explanation of what and why: but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”) in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

Last week

I began my almost cold turkey approach of no junk whatsoever last week. That is, one treat a week, one bottle of beer a week, and no more than a couple of biscuits a day. This is yielding BIG results. 3.8lbs lost this week, 8lb in the last two! Each week I lost more than I did in the foregoing eight weeks put together!

I think I can therefore say that I have broken the snack-craving cycle I spoke of last week. But how? 

By going more-or-less cold turkey, but never being hungry by constantly eating apples (you could have carrots instead, for example: the key is crunchy, filling, fat/sugar-free food), I broke my psychological dependency on snacks. Very quickly, I saw the pounds come off; this encouraged me to let myself have a moderate treat a week, my motivation to stay healthy coming from instant gains. And no, a small treat does not mean a small pizza! Last week, I think I ate one brownie, two biscuits, one bottle of beer, and one curry laksa soup (=coconut milk rich) — these were the only “non-diet” things I had, and boy did I enjoy them! Absence makes the heart grow fonder… plus, I’m enjoying the taste and challenge of being creative with my salads!

Next week

Just gotta keep it up. Plenty of salad, but careful on the dressing — no salad cream! Lemon and/or lime juice, plus say cyder vinegar, and a small touch of virgin olive oil, with salt, pepper, a little chilli = phenomenal flavour without ruining the healthiness of the salad. Play around with those ingredients to make different dressings. By popping into the salad things like bell peppers, carrot, apples, pears, celery, radishes, and such, is a great idea: all of these are virtually fat and sugar-free, but so crunchy that it’s a real mouthful that fills you up. This last week, I’ve been adding apple. When that gets boring, I’ll swap to another kind of apple or another one of the things from that list.

Also, don’t neglect protein: it keeps you full and fixes your body. But make it lean! Maybe some cooked cold green lentils sprinkled into your salad. Or maybe a small piece of grilled chicken (no bigger than one quarter of your plate/palm of your hand).

And don’t neglect a little bulk, especially in the form of wholewheat. A small amount of wholewheat pasta, bread, or rice, or a sweet potato or normal white man tater. No more than a quarter of your plate. Your plate should mostly (half) be greens.

As for me, another three to four pound weight loss seems reasonable. I’m so overweight, that the weight should still come fairly quickly. So my new, revised weight goal for next week is 15st 11-12lb / 221-22lb.

  • week 1: 03/04/17: 16st 11.6lb (235.6lb)
  • week 2: 10/04/17: 16st 9.2lb (233.2lb) target was 233.1lb
  • week 3: 17/04/17: 16st 7lb (231lb) target was 230.6lb
  • week 4: 24/04/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 228.1lb
  • week 5: 01/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 225.6lb
  • week 6: 08/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 223.1lb
  • week 7: 15/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 220.6lb
  • week 8: 22/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 218.1lb
  • week 9: 29/05/17: 16st 4.8lb (228.8lb) target was 215.6lb
  • week 10: 05/06/17: 16st 1lb (225lb) target was 224.6lb/213.1lb*
  • GOAL: 03/07/17: 14st 7lb (203lb)

*the left hand figure is my new revised target, the right hand one was my original target.

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png