Sunday, 16 January 2011

First milestone!

Well blow me down with a feather, I've lost a stone!  Fourteen and a half guinea pigs to be almost precise (14.6lbs).  I'm thrilled, I really am.  The next stone will be even better as I haven't been that weight for about 8 1/2 years i.e. when I started to go out with my husband and the  "I'm happy and comfortable and it doesn't matter about that extra 1lb as he loves me" feeling kicked in.

Whoopdedoo - I'm getting there!  Only (!) another 58lbs to go until I'm at my target weight.  Right, best be off.  Still in my PJs and I have lots to do today.

Yippee!

Friday, 14 January 2011

Oops, where did the week go?

I can't believe it's been a week since I blogged last.  I've thought about it a lot but just haven't had the time or the inclination to sit and write how I feel about things.  I think I may have the January blues!  The weather (it's been chucking it down here), the amount of work I have to do, the decreasing speed of my weight loss this week and the fact that I'm really quite tired, really doesn't make for one happy bunny.

However, on the very positive front, I've lost another six guinea pigs i.e. another 6lbs since this time last week - taking my total to 12lb since the start of my smaller pants project.  Most of this has been on the Cambridge Weight Plan, the other 2lb was just cutting back after Christmas i.e. not trying to eat the contents of the fridge and the pantry in a day.  Why do we always stuff ourselves silly over Christmas? Hmm, I think I'll try not to this year!  That said, I may have to set a reminder on my phone for December not to trough like a starving piglet or I won't remember when we buy a big tin of Quality Street just in case someone calls over!

I think I'm enjoying this diet, but I'm not completely sure.  My appetite has certainly almost disappeared and I don't feel at all hungry.  This concerns me slightly as I wonder what's in the soups to make you feel full for most of the day.  I keep trying to tell myself that I'm only following this for a relatively short period i.e until I get to my goal weight and then I can introduce foods and drop some of the soups and porridges.  I've always been a follower of healthy eating, ensuring that we eat plenty of vegetables etc, so I'm feeling slightly at a loss without them.  I've actually started looking through some cook books for some satisfaction - dreaming about what I'll be able to eat (in moderation) when I actually get to the end of my journey.  My current favourite books are Bill's Basics and Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals (although I doubt anyone can really create all of them in half an hour).



Well, the weekend beckons - no plans as such, just a long to-do list and a bit more food porn with Bill and Jamie.

Friday, 7 January 2011

I've lost six guinea pigs!

No, not a careless mistake or a case of animal cruelty but a success in terms of weight loss!  I'm sticking to this diet like superglue and it seems to be paying off.  So far, since starting my new project, I've lost six pounds in eight days - the equivalent of six guinea pigs!


My stumbling block on this diet is that I don't like the porridges! They're way too sweet for my liking - I've been feeling like Goldilocks the past few days trying the varieties available and not liking any of them so far.  I couldn't face making one this morning so it looks like I'll be eating soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner until I can eat the bars!  oh well, another fortnight won't be too tough and if the results continue to be positive, it should all be worth it.

I'm really quite impressed with my willpower today.  I usually struggle when working from home, I tend to pick on things most of the day.  The phrase 'kitchen pickers wear bigger knickers' is very true in my case!  However, today I managed to stick to the diet 100% and despite seeing two friends for cups of tea, I didn't stray towards the biscuit tin once.  I'm a reformed character!  Here's hoping it stays this way!

Wednesday, 5 January 2011

Day 2 in the big diet house

Well I think I've survived day 2!  It didn't exactly start as I was hoping as my gorgeous daughter (whom I love dearly) did wake at 5.30am and wouldn't go back to sleep.  Never mind, I was up and ready for my porridge.  What a disappointment!  The apple and cinnamon flavour was really rather artificial and too sweet for my taste buds.  I also think I'd added too much water for my liking (even though I'd measured it out as it told me on the back of the packet).  Oh well, tomorrow I'll give the original porridge a go with half the water and perhaps a sprinkling of cinnamon or nutmeg - I wonder if they're allowed?

Things picked up after porridge.  The chicken and mushroom soup was delicious and just what I needed after my walk to town in the cold rain.  The soup was followed by several cups of black decaff Earl Grey tea (I'm assuming this does contribute towards my water intake as it's basically coloured water - if anyone knows, please leave a comment) and a couple of glasses of sparkling water.


I was absolutely starving by the time I arrived home tonight and quickly 'indulged' in a soup.  On tonight's menu was the leek and potato soup and whilst it wasn't quite as nice as the chicken and mushroom, it was still quite pleasant.

I was nearly taken in by a Hovis advert on telly earlier this evening.  Someone was making toast and had what I believe to be banana on it - it looked really scrummy and has brought back the hunger feeling.  But I'm really pleased to say that I haven't so much as eaten a crumb that I shouldn't have.  I have a love hate relationship with clever advertising (not that the Hovis ad was particularly clever mind) - I just love watching ads and follow marketing trends generally.  Right, I'm rambling!

Good news though, I seem to have lost 2lbs since yesterday which now makes a total of 3lbs since I started my smaller pants journey (I gained a pound after my chocolate antics).  I wonder what the scales will report tomorrow morning. (Yes, yes, I know I shouldn't be weighing myself every day but I have an Excel sheet with daily figures to update and I'm a sad obsessive control freak!).  Toodle-pip!

Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Raring to go!

Well, here it is.  D-day.  Day 1.  I met with my Cambridge Diet consultant at lunch time and I was weighed, measured and was given my meals for the week.  Whilst I wasn't expecting a trolley full of food, there's something slightly disturbing about being able to carry a week's worth of food in a small box.  Seeing as I don't like any milk shakes or milky things, I've opted for a mix of soups for my lunch and dinner and some porridge for breakfast.

So far, I've had a chilli soup for lunch and a mushroom soup for my evening meal.  I've been quite pleasantly surprised by both (I was expecting something rather vile but these are actually quite tasty).  Seeing as I met my consultant at noon, and therefore skipped breakfast (didn't want to fall off the wagon on day 1) I'm hoping that the scales will be very kind to me tomorrow morning.

Right, early to bed, I'm tired and I feel quite cold - probably side effects of not enough calories.  So there we have it, day 1 done only another 83 to go before I have some real food again!

Sunday, 2 January 2011

Talking the talk, sadly not walking the walk...

OK with a house full of chocolate I'm having some difficulty sticking to the low carb bargain.  That said, I have dumped the wheat, grains and potatoes and even managed to avoid nibbling on a slice of cheese on toast that my lovely husband had made for our daughter at lunchtime.  So, deep down there is an element of restraint somewhere but it's having difficulty being heard during this post Christmas period.

I am pleased to announce that between taking the Quality Street tin with us last night when we visited our neighbours and handing hubby some rogue toffees every now and again; we've managed to clear most of the sweet stuff.  I've even stuck a bag of white chocolate balls which I bought "just in case we have visitors with kids" in a padded envelope with my sister in law's Christmas present and I fully intend to post it to her on Tuesday.

At the start of a new year it's obviously a time for contemplation, lists and planning but for some reason I'm not seeing the woods for the trees, beyond my Cambridge Diet journey which starts really quite soon.  Without my usual resolutions and plans I'm feeling a little lost.

Whilst procrastinating I've been trying to imagine what I'll look like in a few months.  Whilst I want smaller knickers, I'm hoping that my body will keep some element of proportion (i.e. I don't want to just lose my bum!).  I think I'm facing a bit of a style crisis.  With the limits usually placed upon my fashion choices about to be blown away by a slinkier me, I'm not sure what type of clothes I like.  I want to look stylish and smart but not too old for my age and at the same time I don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb either.  Oh well, seems like I have a greater journey ahead of me which is likely to involve several shopping trips and hours in changing rooms!



Speaking of changing rooms, I've been chatting to a new found friend on the CD forum and she mentioned how fantastic she felt when she tried on some clothes in a store and didn't recognise herself in the mirror.  I think I'd like a little of that!