I've been a bit absent recently - I've just had so much on my plate (pun intended hee hee). I finished my Managing People assignment on Sunday and posted it on-line at 4.30pm a good 24 hours before the deadline - wahay!! I'm not totally happy with the quality but in the end I never am - I just want to pass and I hope it's enough for that. The first part is good but I know the conclusion is a bit weak. Mind you I didn't feel like celebrating at the time... I had a horrible weekend. On Saturday I spent all day trying to finish the first draft but I was really struggling with the last chapter - anyway hubby decided to have a sulk because I wans't paying him enough attention and when i got to bed I just got the cold shoulder treatment when what i really needed was a really big cuddle. The next day it was TOTM - so i woke up with cramps and a bad head because I hadn't slept propoerly and really upset with the old man for his callousnous the day before - so I didn't talk to him all day. I just couldn't face it - I had the assignm,ent to finish and I felt like sh*t - I really didn't need to deal with him as well. Unfortunately I've got a lot on at work, so even after I had finally submitted the assignement I had to pull my office work out and do some of that as well - so I was really not in a good mood.
On Monday I was a total zombie, I hadn't had any rest or recovery time and had to go straight into a big meeting at work about how we were goinh to manage the mountain of work that was coming our way. I really felt close to crying - and I'm not a crier. So I went to my Monday night weigh-in and I was low.........then I found out I'd lost 3lbs....I wouldn't say that revitalised me as such coz I was still knackered but by today my spirts had revived and I feel semi-himan plus hubby and I kissed and amde up this morning. I must admit I'm not sure how long I can stand this job. I swore I would stay here at least 3 years and I've only done 18 months but it's driving me mad. More of that another time.
I can't believe I've made it to Day 50 intact. When I started this diet I saw it as the last resort and I though it was going to be a struggle - a fight - to stay on track. I've had days when I've been tempted absolutely but not close to breaking point. This has been the easiest diet I've ever followed. Partly I think because the results are so dramatic, and partly because it takes food out of the equation. I don't have to think about food so I don't get cravings for food (or at least cravings I can't control). I do miss aromas though. Some of the women in my group admitted they disappeared at meal times to avoid seeing other people eat but the last week hubby has been away 've missed the smell of food cooking, and fresh bread.
Ever orgainsed I've been planning Christmas - partly because I want to treat myself then too - but I've decided to take my Mum to pamper day at a Spa near where she lives, and I'll get a make over for myself just before my Oz trip. They do the St Tropez air tanning thing which i thought I'd give a go. It will be nice to go to Oz with a bit of colour. I'm very pale and I don't really tan well - I can't stay in the sun too long because my skin is sensitive, so this will be a nice way to fit in while I am there. I'm going to treat my Mum to a full age defying facial, although it might be alittle late for her (ooh bitchy!) but it can't hurt either can it. There are loads of other treatments to chose from as well.
The other treat is for my hubbys 50th birthday - god thats ages us both. We both love trying fine dining experiences (hence my weight problem don't know why he hasn't got one). We have wanted to go to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant in London for ages. He tried to book me in a couple of years ago for my birthday but missed out. So I have decided to book us both into the Gordon Ramsey restaurant at Claridges and stay overnight in the hotel as well - make it real star treatment for yhe birthday boy. He can then do the party thing at the weekend with firend and family. Anyway hubby's birthday is in October so I should be finished on the diet proper and into the maintenance programme so this will be a test for me too - to see if I can go out and enjoy a dining experience without totally pigging out. It will practice for the Oz holiday - hee hee.
I've got to the end of this and realised I haven't actually announce my loss 3lbs this week which is a total of 25lbs. If I lose 3lbs next week (that is a big if though) I will have lost 2 tone in 8 weeks - unbelievable .
I do recommend this diet to anyone who struggles with the standard diets - if you can lose weight eating healthily and exercising thats great and definately the best way to do it, but if like me you just can't seem to do it then there is an answer out there. I feel all evangilisitc today - When hubby is back from skiing I'm going to get a new photo to upload to see if the difference is visible yet.
Almosthalf wat through the first phase and not one morsel has passed my lips! I'm amazing myself actually - never have I had the willpower to stick to diet this rigidly before. I must admit a few "crooked" thoughts (see my previous post) did flash through my mind today. I went to vist my parents this weekend as they live on th Kent coast. We played a game of golf this morning, only 12 hole coz it started raining, really cold icy rain and I wanted to get back to the warm, but it was all good exercise. However when we got back my Mum and Dad had steak and chips with sauteed mushrooms for their lunch...drool....and I had my lemon bar . I must admit driving home past the service stations it did cross my mind that if I was to stop and grab something to eat no-one would know!!! However I have to say it was just a fleeting thought and I banished it quite easily. I could stop if I wanted to, and I could eat a nice fry up and I would enjoy it, but it would throw me out of ketosis. I would be unlikely to lose much weight this/next week. I would then have to go through all the detox side effects again, and I would have to stay on this diet even longer. So it was just not worth the cost. How about that for adult thinking.
Weigh in day tomorrow - it wasn't looking like a big loss on Sat morning - but maybe the golf will have helped me lose a bit more. It is still downward though I know that so I am not too concerned. I've got to go and have my bath before I settle down to an evening of telly. Tomroow I have to get stuck into my assignment and I'm not allowing myself any excuses - so wish me luck.
We are set homework at our weekly counselling sessions and this week it is to keep a thought diary and catch our "crooked" thoughts. "crooked" thoughts as I understand it are those that we twist or over emphasise. ie. I can't live without that chocolate bar. Obvioulsy not true as you will live...but by thinking in that manner you are convincing yourself that it is not in your control. There are lots of ways to twist your thinking but my main problem area is the "I deserve it..." one. ie. I've been so good on my diet for 6 weeks now I deserve 1 day off!! Of course I don't deserve anything. I've been overeating for 38 years - just restricting my intake for 6 weeks doesn't really mean I deserve a treat. The other one is that hubby has just left me for 10 whole days while he is gadding about on the ski slopes of Whistler (I hate skiing so he always goes without me). Usually with him gone I'm like a little girl in a sweetshop. I eat all the foods I shouldn't - well I need the comfort don't I? Anyway what he doesn't see he won't know about and it won't count as calories then will it?
Argghhhh...I know when I'm thinking it, it is ridiculous but it I've never been able to stop myself in the past. But this diet is for me - no-one else. I've done so well so far and I can do so much better by sticking to it. Just imagine how good food will taste when I eat it SLIM! The first evening is over and I haven't slipped and I know I won't because I am in control
Another 2 lbs off so that is 1 stone 8 lbs. Not bad in 6 weeks!
I do find my Monday night weign in quite depressing though. One woman cam in after her weigh in , sighing and moaning. "I only lost 3 1/2 lbs" she complained. "I've got used to losing 5 - 6lbs a week."!!!! Then she went on to say that she had lost 2 stone 4 1/2 lbs altogether. But the worst bit was that she then turned to me and asked what I'd lost and when I said 2lbs this week and 1 1/2 stone altogether she was like..."Oh wow, thats brilliant" That is just so fake - I can't stand fake compliments - she is not happy with 3 1/2 lbs but my 2 lbs is "brilliant" I think not - and no if you are thinking she might be bigger than me, she is not - I probably have more to lose than her.
But gripe over - when I am away from the class I'm delighted with my weight loss - I've never lost so much so quickly - and I don't care that others can lose it quicker it just proves me right - I've always said that I can't lose weight the way other people seem to - and the doctors and dieticiains never believed me - now I have proof!
So weight loss is going fine. My assignment for my MBA is not. I've written 1 paragraph so far and it has to be in in 3 weeks time. I should be feeling really panicked by now but oddly I'm not. Maybe I've got too much else on my mind. The reorganistaion at work is not progressing very fast, We have another away day organised for March 20th to try and reach an agreement - but we keep going round in circles. It's like no-one is prepared to just agree they all have to have their say (and that goes for me too) although we always end up back in the place we started. You'd think we were school kids not the Senior Management team!!!
To end on a postive - I've booked my next holiday to Australia. We are going in December for just under 4 weeks. We are going to Western Australia - a short stop in Perth and than a 4WD safari up to the Ningaloo Reef for a few days snorkelling. Then back down to Perth and picking up a car and driving around the South west. We go to Albany and Pemberton before finishing in Margaret River for Christmas. We then fly home with a 3 day stopover in Dubai over New years eve. Its all planned and booked and I got a really good deal booking most of it direct. The really exciting thing is that I'll be half the size I am now and I might even be in a bikini by then!!!!!!!
Weigh in on Monday was good another 3.5lbs gone. I'm just under the 1 1/2 stone now which is fantastic in 5 weeks. I was a little disappointed to find out my fellow group members were still losing 5 to 6 lbs a week and most of them have lost over 2 stone in the same time period - and no they don't have more to lose than me. But when I'm away from the group and I look back at what I've achieved I'm really excited coz I've never lost weight like this before and I'm finally beginning to believe I can hit a "normal" weight.
Had a bit of a funny turn yesterday. For the first time on this diet I missed my shake for breakfast as I was in the rush and didn't have anything til after 1pm. Then on my way home after work on the Tube I sunddenly felt really hungry - the sort of stomach grumbling hunger I haven't felt since Day 1. I had one of my bars with me so I had that then I just felt ill. I felt sick, shakey and unsteady. I just had to go home and sit down until it passed. I think it was because I missed the breakfast - I think I need to spread the packs evenly through the day to keep my blood sugar steady - I'll certainly remember that in future.
I've been off on courses in the last 2 weeks. Last week I did the Realtionship Management 2 day course which taught me that actually I'm quite good at Relationship Manageemnt. I say actually because I'm not an outgoing bubbly sort of person and my boss had criticised me for not being a people person but I now know he was wrong - on a 121 basis I'm very good at connecting with people - I'm just not a salesperson which is something altogether different. Today I did a How to give Effective Feedback course which was mor interesting than I was expecting. It taught me that you need to be specific whether its good or bad feedback just saying "you did the job well" isn't good enough you need to say why, ie. You prepared a clear, well written report that was delivered ahead of schedule and the client has expressed his appreciation. It means so much more to the individual that way. Obvious I know but think about it, how often do you really give details?
A third of the way through the first 100 days! I haven't updated this site since my weigh in partly coz I've been run off my feet, partly coz of the updating of the site. Well last Monday my weight loss was 5 lbs. Over 2 weeks that is 2.5lb a week. It's a really good loss and on any other diet I would be doing cartwheels but I was a bit disappointed as many of the other women in my group lost 4 to 5lbs in just 1 week. But I swallowed my disappointment and just told myself I have never lost this fast on any other diet and this is not a competition. It seems to have worked coz I'm feeling really positive today. I was laying in bed this morning on my back and my stomach had almost disappeared!!! I can really feel the difference now and my hubby has even mentioned that he can see it too. Hopefully in 2 weeks time I'll be under 15 stone for the first time in 3 years.
I've started to excercise again. I'm going to Aqua aerobics twice a week now.It's quite hard work. We also recieved an exercise tape at our weigh in last week with an elastic execrise band. After week nine we also get an exercise ball. I haven't looked at it yet but i was intending to next week - I believe it's pilates style exercise which should be good for firming and toning. I'm most concerned that I'll lose the weight and be left with lots of loose skin....yuck.
Hoping to be able to book my next holiday to australia early next week. I'm really excited as we will be going over next Christmas it gives me time to get down to my goal beforehand. The bliss of being able to wear shorts adn even a bikini!!!
Weight is a wierd thing. This morning I weighed 15 st 3.6lbs. This evening before I'd eaten I weighed 15st 8lb - why the difference - surely the water I've drink can't weigh 4lbs??
I don't think I'm going to get 6lb loss I was looking for over the last two weeks (thats is supposed to be the average on this diet) but at least it is down. So weigh in tomorrow I've got my fingers , legs and toes crossed that I have at least lost a stone since I started. I don't think I'm going to lose the weight as quickly as the others in my group.
But having said that I am feeling more upbeat today than I have for a while so that's good. I went to the aqua aerobics class this morming which felt good, Then I practised my underwater swimming for snorkelling on my next holiday to Australia which I intend to book this week. We're not going til Christmas and the flights for that time of year have just come on sale so I'm itching to book. By the time I go I should be a normal size!!!!!
Not looking forward to work tomorrow though - I've got a meeting with the big boss to tell him how he should be running the business - I'll try to be diplomatic but I can get carried away sometimes. I'm also starting to worry about my MBA course work - I'm really struggling to get started this time. I think it's because I put so much effort into it last time and only got a C, so I can't be bothered this time....I know I know that is not the attitude but i'm trying to psyche myself up.....come on girl - you want to pass this course, it'll change your life if you do -go go go.
I'm not totally happy with the quality but in the end I never am - I just want to pass and I hope it's enough for that. The first part is good but I know the conclusion is a bit weak. Mind you I didn't feel like celebrating at the time... I had a horrible weekend. On Saturday I spent all day trying to finish the first draft but I was really struggling with the last chapter - anyway hubby decided to have a sulk because I wans't paying him enough attention and when i got to bed I just got the cold shoulder treatment when what i really needed was a really big cuddle. The next day it was TOTM - so i woke up with cramps and a bad head because I hadn't slept propoerly and really upset with the old man for his callousnous the day before - so I didn't talk to him all day. I just couldn't face it - I had the assignm,ent to finish and I felt like sh*t - I really didn't need to deal with him as well. Unfortunately I've got a lot on at work, so even after I had finally submitted the assignement I had to pull my office work out and do some of that as well - so I was really not in a good mood. 
. We both love trying fine dining experiences (hence my weight problem don't know why he hasn't got one). We have wanted to go to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant in London for ages. He tried to book me in a couple of years ago for my birthday but missed out. So I have decided to book us both into the Gordon Ramsey restaurant at Claridges and stay overnight in the hotel as well - make it real star treatment for yhe birthday boy. He can then do the party thing at the weekend with firend and family. Anyway hubby's birthday is in October so I should be finished on the diet proper and into the maintenance programme so this will be a test for me too - to see if I can go out and enjoy a dining experience without totally pigging out. It will practice for the Oz holiday - hee hee.
. I must admit driving home past the service stations it did cross my mind that if I was to stop and grab something to eat no-one would know!!! However I have to say it was just a fleeting thought and I banished it quite easily. I could stop if I wanted to, and I could eat a nice fry up and I would enjoy it, but it would throw me out of ketosis. I would be unlikely to lose much weight this/next week. I would then have to go through all the detox side effects again, and I would have to stay on this diet even longer. So it was just not worth the cost. How about that for adult thinking.
