I can't believe the way the time has gone - I've done almost 8 months now on this diet and I've lost 75 lbs in total! I'm literally a different person to the oe in the before photo. The outcome has been amazing but my belief in myself has been the real turn around. When i started my last diet - the one before this I just wanted to get down to 12 stone (168lbs). I thought that would be an achievement. When I started this diet I set my self a 10stone goal (140lbs) and I'm 16.5 lbs off that now and now I've started to think actually I could do with going lower than that. ME THINKING ABOUT MOVING BELOW 10 STONE . I think I was 10 years old when i was last that sort of weight. It seems 10 stone would be right at the top of the healthy BMI range if I was 5ft 3in tall. I say if because I rounded up my height when i started the diet so I didin't have to aim too low. I'm actually a little shorter than that and I do have more than 16.5lbs to shift. But what should my tragt be - I'm in unknown waters here........But I haven't got to decide yet. I'm taking a break first. I finish Phase 1 of this diet on 10 September and I move to Phase 2 - the management phase where I gradually reintroduce food again. In this phase you may lose a little additional weight but you are not supposed to lose too much - it's about finding the right balance to maintain your weight and I'm happy with that for now. In december i go to Australia for 3 weeks - in which I will put on some weight - my objective is to kepp that to less than 4 lbs, but i accept i will be eating & drinking more than usual. When I come back in January i will move into Phase 3 - ie. I will go back to the foodbacks fulltime and lose the rest - whatever the rest turns out to be????
Is this really me talking ? - It seems like this big weight has lifted off my shoulders - the one I've carried for years - the belief that I couldn't lose weight like other woman and that I would always be overweight too some degree. . Well okay I've proved that maybe I don't lose weight like other women but on this diet I lose weight fast enough for me - and isn't that what is important.
Today is a good day - believe and you will achieve (and I'm a serial non- achiever when it comes to weight loss)
Well I lost 3lbs last week so that makes up for for the 0.5lb I put on. But the weight loss definately has slowed down. Oh well I'm finishing on 10 September whatever weight I've got to becasue I want to follow the12 week refeeding programme before I go on holiday to Australia. In the 12 week refeeding programme you gradually reintroduce foods while reducing your food packs and you start testing yourself on certain foodstuffs. For example one week you might reintroduce bread, then you assess the effect on a. your weight but b. more importantly your state of mind. ie. is it a trigger food - can you ration yourself to 1 slice a day or when you start, can't you stop? I think this is going to be the most valuable part of the process. It's also possible I might still lose a bit more a you gradually up your calories over the first 6 weeks to find your ideal level.
Tlaking of food - I ate this week. It was planned. I had to take a client to an awards dinner and I couldn't face having to go through explanations about why I wasn't eating anything. I avoided alcohol though and stuck to water. The starter was a tomato and goats chees flan which wasn't really my thing so I cut it up a bit and had a small forkful and left the rest. The main course was guinea fowl (protein so I was ok to eat), mashed potato (avoided those nasty carbs), caramlised apple (no - couldn't afford the sugar) and baked cougettes (yummy). The dessert was a panna cotta, which again never does it for me - so I mashed it about a bit, had a spoonful and left the rest. I'm proud to say I even resisted the plate of chocolates after the meal, but that was when people noticed I wasn't really eating - they noticed nothing during the main meal but when I refused a chocolate I started to get the third degree! But I didn't care I'm proud of my achievement so far. I'd bought a new size 16, fitted dress for the occassion and even though I say it myself I look pretty good. I have incredible curves now, probably a bit much for some people, but my husband likes them, and this dress really showed off my small waist and big bum. I even got chatted up my a stranger on the street as I made my way to the venue!!
Fingers crossed I'm hoping the one small meal won't impact on the weight loss this week - the scales are looking postive so far.
I know that's not a huge amount and if I'd been out for a meal or eaten alittle something i shouldn't have 0.5 lbs would have been a success - BUT I DIDN'T. I've been sticking to my food packs 500 calories a day plus regular exercise - it can't be possible to put weight on.....can it? It's not an irregular blip either, I weigh myself every morning and usually i see a very slow but steady drop in the scales as the week progresses - last week they just didn't budge - not until that Monday morning when they went up - and stayed up for my ofiicial weigh in on Monday evening.
My counsellor gave me some advice - I had been a bit constipated but not significantly - but she explained that can be a sign of the metabolic rate slowing down. She suggested that I needed to up my physical training as I've been concentrating on swimming - so I went to a Spin class on weds - I used to go before I started the diet but with the calorie reduction I thought it would be a bit much for me. I'm pleased to say I found the class relatively easy - certainly easier than when I was 5 stone heavier - so I'm going to go more often now. I've also upped my intake of Green tea which I'm told also helps boost your metabolism. I'll try anything - I'm desparate.
Anyway so far this week the scales have dropped slightly, about a 1lb, but that includes the 0.5 lbs I put on last week so it's not great. I've got 3 days til weigh in - I really need at least another 1lb or I will get really depressed.
I've lost 5 stone exactly now - that was one of my key goals.
Working at home today got to see the dentist mid morning - it's a re lief actually my whole working life now revolves around people issues. Considering I've always said I'm not a people person that is tough. I'm resposnible for improving our recruitment practices and improving retention rates across the business but I'm not a HR person - actually I'm an engineer - so I'm a little out of my depth to be honest. But it's a challenge!!!
Definately slowing up now. I only lost 1/2 lb last week (although I was weighed late and had alreday drunk all my 4 litres for the day) I usually drink my last litre after weigh in). But the scales are looking slow this week too! It was TOM, which helps explain last week but that should mean a bigger loss this week and that is just not showing on the scales.
Trying not to feel too depressed - I know I've still got 2 stone (28lbs) to go and 10 weeks to get there which is not likely - I'm losing on average 2.5lbs a week and that has slowed up to 2.3 lbs in the last month or so. At worst maybe I'll lose another 20lbs - that's not so bad is it?
Aaargh - it's frustrating I've got so far and now it seems to be slowing up - fingers crossed tomorrow is better than I'm expecting.
I had a good week last week 3.5 lbs off but the scales aren't showing much movement this week - I'm due on next week and I always slow up the week before. Reading that sounds like I have normal regular cycles doesn't it? Actually I know I'm due on next week because last week I got the sharp, painful stitch in my side that sometimes occurs 2 weeks before my period starts. I have never ever been regular, my average cycle time is currently 42 days but it varies significantly within that. It's always been the same ever since I was teenager and I've got used to it. About 2 years ago I went over 90 days without a period so i went to the doctor (I wasn't pregnant I did a test) and was finally sent for an ultrascan to test for Polycycstic Ovaries - the results were "consistent"with PCO's. It explained alot to me - why I had always had difficulty losing weight, why my periods were so erratic and even why I regulalrly got the excrutiating mid cycle pain at ovulation time. Following this diet has evidenced that I lose weight at approximately 2/3 the speed of the "average" woman. Whereas most of my fellow dieters lose a stone a month I'm losing a stone every 6 weeks. But at least I'm losing which keeps me going.
I don't know why I'm going into this now - well I guess I do actually - I've just recieved a letter from my doctors surgery, a new doctor has just joined and she specialises in women's problems and she has requested I go into to speak to her. That's an interesting turn up because no doctor has ever shown the slightest interest in my problems before. Even when I was diagnosed I was told there was nothing they could do and I would just have to learn to live with it - which I have done for the last 30 year. Added to that is that I have found a diet that works and I've been monitoring the impact of my weight loss on my cycle length - it's a bit early to say but there is a trend towards a shorter cycle length. That last few periods have been all around 35 - 38 days apart. I wonder if this means I'm more fertile? I came off the pill 4 years ago, without much hope I have to admit, and I've been proven right. Not sure that I want to be fertile now I'm approaching 40 rapidly and my husband is 50 this year - think I'm past the having kids stage . Actually I've never had a strong desire for kids - I know some people might think that's strange - When I got married I though it might be nice if it happened but now I rather think it's too late - not physically but mentally, I don't think I'd adapt very well. Does that make me selfish or sensible?
As promised I've uploaded a new photo now I've lost 4.5stone. The swimming costume I'm wearing is a size 14 o it's a snug fit bit it's a fit!!! Still got to reduce the size if that arse though.
Well it was a 1 lb loss this week, but after 5lbs last week I was expecting that but the brings me to exactly 4.5 stone off (63.5lbs). The scales are still moving this week too - I've got 12 weeks to go now as i'm finishing this diet on 10 September 2007 - so countdown had begun.
I've had a hungry week this week. It's funny how that happens I go through weeks fine hardly noticing that I'm not really eating and then BANG...my stomache starts rumbling and I want to eat. It;s hard then but so far I have resisted and the feeling does go away. One tricj I have found is mouthwash. I good gargle with a fresh minty mouthwash tricks your body into thinking it has eaten...it really works!
Well I got through work this week, although i did have to tick my boss off for going over my head again - he can't resist in getting involved in detail but that's what he pays me for, so just let me do my job!!!
But on the whole a very positive week as I got lot's of positive strokes (ie. compliments) some of the guys at work started joking that I was wasting away (not quite true yet but good to hear) and my husband can't believe the difference in me and show's his appreciation in other ways (not for discussion on here!)
I had my exam on Wednesday last week and all things consdiering I'm feeling quite confident. I had to answer three questions and I'm confident about 2, the third was a little more tricky but everyone said the same so i should have done enough to get through. But better than that I had a good weight loss last week and have got down to my lowest adult weigh which is fantastic. I then went to see my parents in kent after the exam for a short break and i haven't seen my paretns since february and I've lost 3 1/2 stone since then. My Mum and dad were both amazed at the diffrence and really supported me in this (they originally had some concerns but they can see it working and they can see I'm fit and healthy.) I also had to clear out my wardrobe nothing fitted anymore it was all too BIG. So I had to go shopping for some SMALLER clothes - wow that was fantasis. I seem to be a size 16 now (which I think is a US 12?) and I even bought a pair of shorts in a 14. My waist measures 30" - which is less than some of the woman who are at goal - but my bum is still massive - but hey you can't have everything.
I'm going to get some photos taken this weekend to show the difference. If they are good I'll upload them.
I'm feeling chipper at the moment - let's hope work doesn't bring me down again........................
Well am I a little overwrought or what! Aargh - my first year MBA exam on Wednesday - it's based on case 3 case studies and I'm supposed to analyse the case studies in advance so that I have the anlysis to answer whatever the question maybe in the exam. I say supposed to because as i explained my job changed on me last week. My new boss has had several loooong meetings with me to discuss my new role and wants me to pick up the reins immediately although I haven't actually handed over the old job yet. Not to mention the fact that he has a management style that I am having difficulty adjusting to. Let's just say I feel like I am back at school. Do you know he actually got his secretary to call me at 4.45pm on Thursday afternoon to ask me to make my way back to his office for a meeting on something he had heard on the grapevine about which he wasn't happy. The fact that I was actually on the other side of London on my way to another meeting didn't seem to cross his mind - I refused of course and had to go see him first thing the next morning - and yes he had got completely the wrong end of the stick. I am a senior manager in this business i am not an errant schoolgirl - if he continues to treat me like that I won't be hanging around for long I can tell you!!
Anyway back to the point because I've been trying to do two jobs and deal with my new manager I have not been able to do as much revision as I need too. I'm off work now til the exam but that is only 4 days - HELP!
. I think I was 10 years old when i was last that sort of weight. It seems 10 stone would be right at the top of the healthy BMI range if I was 5ft 3in tall. I say if because I rounded up my height when i started the diet so I didin't have to aim too low. I'm actually a little shorter than that and I do have more than 16.5lbs to shift. But what should my tragt be - I'm in unknown waters here........But I haven't got to decide yet. I'm taking a break first. I finish Phase 1 of this diet on 10 September and I move to Phase 2 - the management phase where I gradually reintroduce food again. In this phase you may lose a little additional weight but you are not supposed to lose too much - it's about finding the right balance to maintain your weight and I'm happy with that for now. In december i go to Australia for 3 weeks - in which I will put on some weight - my objective is to kepp that to less than 4 lbs, but i accept i will be eating & drinking more than usual. When I come back in January i will move into Phase 3 - ie. I will go back to the foodbacks fulltime and lose the rest - whatever the rest turns out to be????
. Well okay I've proved that maybe I don't lose weight like other women but on this diet I lose weight fast enough for me - and isn't that what is important. 