Day 6 of my fasting and still no weight loss! Very frustrated this morning with it. Last time I did this fast I lost a stone within the 9 days. Is my body different now that I've had a baby? Surely I should still lose weight - I mean, I was eating rubbish, now suddenly I'm not, and yet there isn't a single change. Bit disheartening and I'm getting worried because I have NO summer clothes that will fit me if this doesn't shift. As it is I'm cycling between about 3 outfits and even they don't fit comfortably. Walking half an hour each day too - fairly briskly.
I know it will come off but it seems that it's going to be a lot slower than I expected.
I suppose on the up side, the mental guilt at eating crap is gone. I just hate seeing people and knowing they must be thinking how much weight I've put on. If it would start to shift I wouldn't mind as much...
I'll stick at it.
Right - time for my aloe vera gel... lucky me!!
Tuesday, 9 January 2018
Sunday, 7 January 2018
Here We Go Again...
And here we are. Again.
No, not really. I have gained weight but I've just had a baby so not beating myself up too much.
After I stopped blogging I kept at the weight loss and eventually lost 7 stone. I was at my lightest ever last January - I had discovered Banting and it shifted a stubborn stone so I was nearly at my goal weight although still flabby. No matter what, my arms and stomach never got firm - too much loose skin. My legs also never became slim and shapely but they were fine and I was generally happy. A size 12 in tops and 14 in jeans.
Then I got pregnant! I was really good for the first few months and then I started to let go - I was just so hungry and tired and never felt sick so I just ate everything and gained 4 stone. Whoops!
After I had my daughter, in October, I breastfed for a month and kept eating. I lost a stone right after she was born but was still up 3 stone. She was/is quite difficult - colicky, reflux... so I was tired and probably slightly depressed and I couldn't be bothered cooking so just ate crap. Which didn't help - none of my clothes fit me - beautiful boots I bought last winter are too small, my winter coats are too tight in the arms... I felt rotten.
Christmas happened and I told myself I'd start dieting in January. I kept putting it off until John's dad sent us photos he took at our baby's baptism. Well, that was a wake-up call! My belly and double chin were very illuminated by the flash! Started dieting the next morning!
So it has now been four days - I'm doing the Forever Clean 9 detox again for a kickstart and I'll go back to ADF. I would like to go back to Banting but John is gone vegetarian and I couldn't be bothered cooking 2 separate meals a day. I know I could do vegetarian Banting but it would be difficult. I'll see - maybe I'll try it after a few months of ADF.
So here goes! I'll update at nap times. 😊
No, not really. I have gained weight but I've just had a baby so not beating myself up too much.
After I stopped blogging I kept at the weight loss and eventually lost 7 stone. I was at my lightest ever last January - I had discovered Banting and it shifted a stubborn stone so I was nearly at my goal weight although still flabby. No matter what, my arms and stomach never got firm - too much loose skin. My legs also never became slim and shapely but they were fine and I was generally happy. A size 12 in tops and 14 in jeans.
Then I got pregnant! I was really good for the first few months and then I started to let go - I was just so hungry and tired and never felt sick so I just ate everything and gained 4 stone. Whoops!
After I had my daughter, in October, I breastfed for a month and kept eating. I lost a stone right after she was born but was still up 3 stone. She was/is quite difficult - colicky, reflux... so I was tired and probably slightly depressed and I couldn't be bothered cooking so just ate crap. Which didn't help - none of my clothes fit me - beautiful boots I bought last winter are too small, my winter coats are too tight in the arms... I felt rotten.
Christmas happened and I told myself I'd start dieting in January. I kept putting it off until John's dad sent us photos he took at our baby's baptism. Well, that was a wake-up call! My belly and double chin were very illuminated by the flash! Started dieting the next morning!
So it has now been four days - I'm doing the Forever Clean 9 detox again for a kickstart and I'll go back to ADF. I would like to go back to Banting but John is gone vegetarian and I couldn't be bothered cooking 2 separate meals a day. I know I could do vegetarian Banting but it would be difficult. I'll see - maybe I'll try it after a few months of ADF.
So here goes! I'll update at nap times. 😊
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Before and After/During Pictures
I'm going to be brave and offer pictures of myself. It's nerve-wracking as I still have work to do but I am proud of what I've achieved so far. I submitted pictures to a page on Tumblr which posts before and after pictures. They posted mine so I've reblogged them to my Tumblr page. If you'd like to see them - click this link - http://alternatedaydieting.tumblr.com/
Monday, 23 June 2014
Look Who's Back...
Well, it's me again, back for an update. I've been blogging so little because there's not much to say!
I've lost 4 kgs or nearly 9lbs since I wrote last. So that brings me to 42 kgs or 92 lbs in total.
When I last wrote, I had just started my running club. I was really good and kept it up and at the beginning of June I ran a 9km leg of a relay in a marathon. It was tough but I did it. I then took a break from running for a few weeks. I really don't enjoy it - I find it very boring. And I was told that it would do wonders to my legs, bottom and flabby belly but I saw no difference! The other day I went for a run again and I couldn't even do 5k without walking a bit. It has been really hot here recently to be fair, and I find running in the heat very difficult, so I think if it was cooler I'd have managed more, but it scared me a bit, as I don't want to lose all the fitness I worked so hard to get! So I joined a bootcamp class - starting on Wednesday. Apparently it's loads of different exercises, so boredom can't happen, and it'll work on my arms and core too so I should finally see some tightening up.
I kind of lost the run of myself in the last couple of months. There was a lot on and I ate a lot. I still fasted every second day but my feast days went a bit out of control. I also stopped counting calories on My Fitness Pal, which does keep me in check, so I was eating close to 2500 calories on normal feast days. That's not including my bad feast days, after a night out! Two weeks ago I weighed myself after a particularly heavy weekend, where I had eaten and not fasted for three days. I had gained three kilos, or 6lbs. I think it was a wake-up call though - I fasted for two days, lost the weight and since then I've been back on track - counting my calories on feast days and not going above 1700.
I've lost a kilo in the last week which is great. Maybe the more relaxed couple of months was good for me - gave my body a break from the routine I had got into. It wasn't catastrophic - I only gained that weight at the very end and it's gone now. And it did ram home to me that I have to count all my calories, feast day or not. I just don't have the discipline to eat well otherwise - whereas seeing it written down and seeing my calories going up keeps me in check.
Is it bad that after a year I'm still having to do that? I eat well now on a daily basis but the urge to binge is still often there - whilst I've made a lifestyle change it hasn't been a full mental change. It is better and when I do let myself pig out I get fuller faster and don't enjoy it as much. It's just that I often see blogs from people who've lost weight who say that they now enjoy eating healthily and will never go back to their old ways. I like my soups and my healthy meals but I still love my pizza and crisps more.
It doesn't worry me too much - they say an alcoholic is always an alcoholic - the wish to drink remains. I think I'm like that about food. It's easier to eat well, I enjoy it and I can resist temptation very easily now, but the back of my mind always wants to throw myself on the food and eat it all. I can control it for the most part now though and that's what's important. And the benefits of my new body are more than making up for not binging! I get so many compliments on a regular basis now. Some people don't even recognise me - we were out in town the other night and a friend I hadn't seen in a long time had to do a double take. Each time that happens I feel like cheering.
Can't wait to start bootcamp - defined arms, here I come!
I've lost 4 kgs or nearly 9lbs since I wrote last. So that brings me to 42 kgs or 92 lbs in total.
When I last wrote, I had just started my running club. I was really good and kept it up and at the beginning of June I ran a 9km leg of a relay in a marathon. It was tough but I did it. I then took a break from running for a few weeks. I really don't enjoy it - I find it very boring. And I was told that it would do wonders to my legs, bottom and flabby belly but I saw no difference! The other day I went for a run again and I couldn't even do 5k without walking a bit. It has been really hot here recently to be fair, and I find running in the heat very difficult, so I think if it was cooler I'd have managed more, but it scared me a bit, as I don't want to lose all the fitness I worked so hard to get! So I joined a bootcamp class - starting on Wednesday. Apparently it's loads of different exercises, so boredom can't happen, and it'll work on my arms and core too so I should finally see some tightening up.
I kind of lost the run of myself in the last couple of months. There was a lot on and I ate a lot. I still fasted every second day but my feast days went a bit out of control. I also stopped counting calories on My Fitness Pal, which does keep me in check, so I was eating close to 2500 calories on normal feast days. That's not including my bad feast days, after a night out! Two weeks ago I weighed myself after a particularly heavy weekend, where I had eaten and not fasted for three days. I had gained three kilos, or 6lbs. I think it was a wake-up call though - I fasted for two days, lost the weight and since then I've been back on track - counting my calories on feast days and not going above 1700.
I've lost a kilo in the last week which is great. Maybe the more relaxed couple of months was good for me - gave my body a break from the routine I had got into. It wasn't catastrophic - I only gained that weight at the very end and it's gone now. And it did ram home to me that I have to count all my calories, feast day or not. I just don't have the discipline to eat well otherwise - whereas seeing it written down and seeing my calories going up keeps me in check.
Is it bad that after a year I'm still having to do that? I eat well now on a daily basis but the urge to binge is still often there - whilst I've made a lifestyle change it hasn't been a full mental change. It is better and when I do let myself pig out I get fuller faster and don't enjoy it as much. It's just that I often see blogs from people who've lost weight who say that they now enjoy eating healthily and will never go back to their old ways. I like my soups and my healthy meals but I still love my pizza and crisps more.
It doesn't worry me too much - they say an alcoholic is always an alcoholic - the wish to drink remains. I think I'm like that about food. It's easier to eat well, I enjoy it and I can resist temptation very easily now, but the back of my mind always wants to throw myself on the food and eat it all. I can control it for the most part now though and that's what's important. And the benefits of my new body are more than making up for not binging! I get so many compliments on a regular basis now. Some people don't even recognise me - we were out in town the other night and a friend I hadn't seen in a long time had to do a double take. Each time that happens I feel like cheering.
Can't wait to start bootcamp - defined arms, here I come!
Monday, 10 March 2014
Very Slow and Steady
Well, well, well, here I am again. Quite a lot of news - none of it very exciting but...! I'm now down 38 kilos, or nearly 84 pounds, or 6 stone. Weight is pretty much just crawling off now - 2 kilos in 2 months is pretty dire.
To be fair, I had a lot of things on - again. Had to go to France in February with the school to supervise the French Exchange. We were wined and dined for every meal and I put on a stone in weight!! We were having three course meals, and four glasses of wine with each meal! Like I was explaining to John, you have to go along with it, it'd be rude to say no, but he did make the point that I probably could have sipped the wine a bit slower and not had so many glasses...! But it was nice.
John and I went to Poland the day after I got back from France and had a lovely time there. Just really relaxed and didn't do much. I lost half the stone while I was there, from walking around and eating less richly. When we got back, I fasted for three days and lost the rest of the weight then, so I'm back to my starting point.
Since then, I did a detox for 5 days and for some reason lost 2 kilos and then put them on again. I'm now just back to normal ADF but the weight isn't really moving.
I was doing a bit of running before Christmas, like I said, but since then I've only been doing a bit of Pilates here and there. So on Thursday I decided to get back into exercise properly and joined a running club! That sounds impressive, but actually it's the pilates instructor, who started up running for beginners. The first night, we just ran a circuit 9 times which is 3 kilometres in total, the instructor blew the whistle every minute and we ran or walked as much as we needed to. It lasted for about 25 minutes. I'm not sure, because I forgot to count, but I think I probably walked for about 10 minutes and ran for 15 ish. So I was feeling pretty pleased about that.
However! I went again yesterday and it was awful! We had a different instructor, whom I much prefer actually, but she actually brought us out on a route - so we had to stay together. The other two women in the group were way more advanced than me and after a while I just couldn't keep up and had to walk. I was wrecked and disheartened because it was supposed to be running for beginners and that was for a beginner who's been running for a while already. I got home and John was sitting there having his breakfast and asked how it had gone. I just burst into tears. He was nice though - told me I'd done well and that it was a bit unfair to have me with way more advanced people when it was supposed to be a beginner course.
I'm going to try to avoid that instructor's classes though and go to the other guy who lets you run at your own pace. I've to go for a run on my own tomorrow too so I'm going to try to push myself again to get my fitness up as quickly as possible!
It's not great either as sometimes my fasting day is on a running day - but like John said - I'm hardly running marathons yet - not having eaten won't matter too much energy wise when I'm only exercising for half an hour.
So hopefully that will help - I'm getting a bit sick of my weight not moving. I don't really know why it's not. Possibly due to drinking at weekends and then eating a ridiculous amount the next day but I didn't actually drink at all in January and still didn't lose much. Apparently running is great for actually shifting fat though - so we'll see.
To be fair, I had a lot of things on - again. Had to go to France in February with the school to supervise the French Exchange. We were wined and dined for every meal and I put on a stone in weight!! We were having three course meals, and four glasses of wine with each meal! Like I was explaining to John, you have to go along with it, it'd be rude to say no, but he did make the point that I probably could have sipped the wine a bit slower and not had so many glasses...! But it was nice.
John and I went to Poland the day after I got back from France and had a lovely time there. Just really relaxed and didn't do much. I lost half the stone while I was there, from walking around and eating less richly. When we got back, I fasted for three days and lost the rest of the weight then, so I'm back to my starting point.
Since then, I did a detox for 5 days and for some reason lost 2 kilos and then put them on again. I'm now just back to normal ADF but the weight isn't really moving.
I was doing a bit of running before Christmas, like I said, but since then I've only been doing a bit of Pilates here and there. So on Thursday I decided to get back into exercise properly and joined a running club! That sounds impressive, but actually it's the pilates instructor, who started up running for beginners. The first night, we just ran a circuit 9 times which is 3 kilometres in total, the instructor blew the whistle every minute and we ran or walked as much as we needed to. It lasted for about 25 minutes. I'm not sure, because I forgot to count, but I think I probably walked for about 10 minutes and ran for 15 ish. So I was feeling pretty pleased about that.
However! I went again yesterday and it was awful! We had a different instructor, whom I much prefer actually, but she actually brought us out on a route - so we had to stay together. The other two women in the group were way more advanced than me and after a while I just couldn't keep up and had to walk. I was wrecked and disheartened because it was supposed to be running for beginners and that was for a beginner who's been running for a while already. I got home and John was sitting there having his breakfast and asked how it had gone. I just burst into tears. He was nice though - told me I'd done well and that it was a bit unfair to have me with way more advanced people when it was supposed to be a beginner course.
I'm going to try to avoid that instructor's classes though and go to the other guy who lets you run at your own pace. I've to go for a run on my own tomorrow too so I'm going to try to push myself again to get my fitness up as quickly as possible!
It's not great either as sometimes my fasting day is on a running day - but like John said - I'm hardly running marathons yet - not having eaten won't matter too much energy wise when I'm only exercising for half an hour.
So hopefully that will help - I'm getting a bit sick of my weight not moving. I don't really know why it's not. Possibly due to drinking at weekends and then eating a ridiculous amount the next day but I didn't actually drink at all in January and still didn't lose much. Apparently running is great for actually shifting fat though - so we'll see.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Quick Update
Well, realised today that I had a few comments on my blog and it gave me a kick to write again.
So update: I'm down 79 pounds now, or 36 kilos, which is 5 and a half stone!! Very, very exciting so see those numbers. My weight loss has slowed right down, just 9 pounds, or 4 kilos, since the beginning of November but then there were a lot of eating occasions in that time. A trip to London, my birthday, Christmas, New Year's Eve... Actually I'm really proud of myself that I kept ADF going over Christmas. Traditionally, that was always the time when I fell off the wagon, and stopped dieting. This time, I kept fasting every third day, instead of every second and as a result I didn't gain any weight, despite pigging out.
In terms of exercise - I do need to get back on track. I was doing Pilates twice a week and I started a Couch to 5K app on my phone, called Zombies Run. I, who could not run for more than maybe 30 seconds, managed to run for 13 minutes, twice! Then Christmas happened and I haven't exercised since. I must start again. Writing this blog is actually motivating me. I'll go for a run tomorrow. Pity it's so wet and cold and horrible but... I don't want to lose all the progress I made. It's such a good feeling to not get out of breath like I used to.
I just went upstairs to try on my test pair of jeans - they have fit for a few months but were MUCH too tight around my belly - but now they fit! I'm sitting in them now as I type. Still a little tight around the hips and stomach but wearable.
Going to France in a few weeks, to supervise a French exchange, and the day after I come back, John and I are going to Poland for our anniversary. Lots of eating going to happen - I'll have to try really hard not to be tempted by delicious dishes in the restaurants, and try to have fish every second day. And no dessert... Hmm. I'll wear these jeans a lot - they'll be unforgiving of any weight gain at all!
Right, I think I'll keep it short and sweet and leave it at that. If I was really good I'd go for a run now... But my electric blanket is on, heating my bed, and my book is looking at me... So is the dog however...
So update: I'm down 79 pounds now, or 36 kilos, which is 5 and a half stone!! Very, very exciting so see those numbers. My weight loss has slowed right down, just 9 pounds, or 4 kilos, since the beginning of November but then there were a lot of eating occasions in that time. A trip to London, my birthday, Christmas, New Year's Eve... Actually I'm really proud of myself that I kept ADF going over Christmas. Traditionally, that was always the time when I fell off the wagon, and stopped dieting. This time, I kept fasting every third day, instead of every second and as a result I didn't gain any weight, despite pigging out.
In terms of exercise - I do need to get back on track. I was doing Pilates twice a week and I started a Couch to 5K app on my phone, called Zombies Run. I, who could not run for more than maybe 30 seconds, managed to run for 13 minutes, twice! Then Christmas happened and I haven't exercised since. I must start again. Writing this blog is actually motivating me. I'll go for a run tomorrow. Pity it's so wet and cold and horrible but... I don't want to lose all the progress I made. It's such a good feeling to not get out of breath like I used to.
I just went upstairs to try on my test pair of jeans - they have fit for a few months but were MUCH too tight around my belly - but now they fit! I'm sitting in them now as I type. Still a little tight around the hips and stomach but wearable.
Going to France in a few weeks, to supervise a French exchange, and the day after I come back, John and I are going to Poland for our anniversary. Lots of eating going to happen - I'll have to try really hard not to be tempted by delicious dishes in the restaurants, and try to have fish every second day. And no dessert... Hmm. I'll wear these jeans a lot - they'll be unforgiving of any weight gain at all!
Right, I think I'll keep it short and sweet and leave it at that. If I was really good I'd go for a run now... But my electric blanket is on, heating my bed, and my book is looking at me... So is the dog however...
Saturday, 2 November 2013
Remember me?
Apologies for the huge delay in writing - busier these days than I was during the summer. I've been feeling really impatient recently with it - not losing enough or quickly enough but I just looked back at some old blogs - I was down 24 kilos or 52 pounds on the 18th of September - today it's the 2nd of November - so just over six weeks later and I'm down 32 kilos as of this morning which is 70 pounds or 5 stone!
That's eight kilos in six weeks - I don't know what I'm getting so impatient about!!
Possibly it's because I bought a pair of skinny jeans three weeks ago in a size 16 which is my big goal. They did fit but were too tight so I couldn't really wear them. Now, three weeks on, they're looser around the bottom and waist but still way too tight around my calves - I can't really sit in them! Maybe that's why I've been getting disheartened - my legs aren't shrinking at all despite doing pilates twice a week and aqua aerobics once.
Also, I have some pairs of size 16 jeans that I used to fit into about 6 years ago and I still can't get them on, even though my size 18 jeans, which were too tight a month ago are now baggy and unattractive on me.
I think I'm just a bit fed up of not fitting into nice clothes yet - I've lost so much and I'm so close to my goal of being a size 16 but it's taking ages to do this final step. I'm easily a size 16 on top - even size 14s fit me but it's my stupid stumpy legs that are slowing things down on the jeans front.
In other news - John and I have been going out loads the last few weeks - big night of drinking every weekend. I've been keeping to the ADF routine fairly well but it's still not good. Last weekend, we went out the Friday night and I got a McDonald's on the way home, then had to work on Saturday so, since I was dying and wrecked, I ate all around me. I did fast on Sunday but on Monday we went for lunch at my parents' house and I just ate everything I wanted again, which resulted in a day of 3000 calories!
Felt awful after that, plus I caught a cold, so fasted on Tuesday and then had two half days of 750 calories on Wednesday and Thursday. Feasted yesterday but stopped at 1300 calories. Thought a week of low calories, lots of soup, and no sugar or bread might do me good. And it does seem to have if the scales are anything to go by!
Back to normal today anyway and I think I've managed to avoid a night out - John and I are going to the cinema. It'll be tough - I'll have to smell his popcorn but I think some time away from alcohol would be a good idea!
That's eight kilos in six weeks - I don't know what I'm getting so impatient about!!
Possibly it's because I bought a pair of skinny jeans three weeks ago in a size 16 which is my big goal. They did fit but were too tight so I couldn't really wear them. Now, three weeks on, they're looser around the bottom and waist but still way too tight around my calves - I can't really sit in them! Maybe that's why I've been getting disheartened - my legs aren't shrinking at all despite doing pilates twice a week and aqua aerobics once.
Also, I have some pairs of size 16 jeans that I used to fit into about 6 years ago and I still can't get them on, even though my size 18 jeans, which were too tight a month ago are now baggy and unattractive on me.
I think I'm just a bit fed up of not fitting into nice clothes yet - I've lost so much and I'm so close to my goal of being a size 16 but it's taking ages to do this final step. I'm easily a size 16 on top - even size 14s fit me but it's my stupid stumpy legs that are slowing things down on the jeans front.
In other news - John and I have been going out loads the last few weeks - big night of drinking every weekend. I've been keeping to the ADF routine fairly well but it's still not good. Last weekend, we went out the Friday night and I got a McDonald's on the way home, then had to work on Saturday so, since I was dying and wrecked, I ate all around me. I did fast on Sunday but on Monday we went for lunch at my parents' house and I just ate everything I wanted again, which resulted in a day of 3000 calories!
Felt awful after that, plus I caught a cold, so fasted on Tuesday and then had two half days of 750 calories on Wednesday and Thursday. Feasted yesterday but stopped at 1300 calories. Thought a week of low calories, lots of soup, and no sugar or bread might do me good. And it does seem to have if the scales are anything to go by!
Back to normal today anyway and I think I've managed to avoid a night out - John and I are going to the cinema. It'll be tough - I'll have to smell his popcorn but I think some time away from alcohol would be a good idea!
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Muscle Pain - Everywhere...
Poor me - in the last five weeks or so I think I've been in pain every single day. Nice post-workout pain but still.
Went to Aqua Aerobics last night and my calves are KILLING me today. Going to Pilates later though so that should loosen things up again.
Aqua Aerobics was really fun actually. Very active - lots of jumping - but because it was it the water it was totally manageable. I got warm and puffed but I wasn't dying like I would have been on dry land. I looked it up and apparently it is good as a cardio workout - your heartbeat stays lower because being in the water keeps your body cooler but it's still good. So that's going to be my cardio workout from now on. And on Thursday week, my friend and I are going to try Aqua Zumba. It's on a couple of hours before Pilates, so I'll have to run from one to the other and possibly collapse of exhaustion in Pilates but I'll try it anyway.
Got loads more compliments in work about my weight loss - went in wearing the slightly-too-tight jeans instead of my usual too-big jeans and the lack of baggy clothing seems to have highlighted my weight loss. I also measured myself the other day - I've gone down another inch from my waist, hips and back. Not from my thighs or arms which I thought odd considering the exercises I'm doing focus a lot on those two areas! I wish my legs would go down faster - I still have tree-trunk legs. Unfortunately I think I've inherited the stumpy shape from my grandmother but still - a slim stump is possible but is taking ages. My legs are always the slowest to lose weight from. It makes buying jeans still very touch-and-go.
Eating-wise I'm doing quite well. I fasted on Sunday morning until we went for lunch at my parents'. I had about 1400 calories in that meal alone - chicken, roast potatoes, spinach and a cream sauce. And then cheese and tiramisu. I had a small dinner of wholewheat noodles and 40g of grated cheese for dinner and that was it. So my day came to about 1900 calories.
Made lasagne yesterday but as it was a fast day I could only have a tiny portion and lots of salad.
I'm at about 1600 calories today - had lettuce, a tomato, two slices of ham, a bit of mayonnaise and a slice of brown bread for my breakfast. Two eggs and two slices of soda bread for lunch. And then lasagne and salad for dinner. However, we're minding a friend's dog for a week so he brought over cakes and chocolate to say thanks - I didn't have much - just a taste but it still came to about 400 calories for that.
The Wii Fit thing was a bust - it's broken. I'm going to take it to get repaired but until then I can't do it which is a pity. Was really looking forward to it.
Right, I'd better go get ready for my Pilates class. It's rainy and dark and cold here. Not the most inspiring weather...
Went to Aqua Aerobics last night and my calves are KILLING me today. Going to Pilates later though so that should loosen things up again.
Aqua Aerobics was really fun actually. Very active - lots of jumping - but because it was it the water it was totally manageable. I got warm and puffed but I wasn't dying like I would have been on dry land. I looked it up and apparently it is good as a cardio workout - your heartbeat stays lower because being in the water keeps your body cooler but it's still good. So that's going to be my cardio workout from now on. And on Thursday week, my friend and I are going to try Aqua Zumba. It's on a couple of hours before Pilates, so I'll have to run from one to the other and possibly collapse of exhaustion in Pilates but I'll try it anyway.
Got loads more compliments in work about my weight loss - went in wearing the slightly-too-tight jeans instead of my usual too-big jeans and the lack of baggy clothing seems to have highlighted my weight loss. I also measured myself the other day - I've gone down another inch from my waist, hips and back. Not from my thighs or arms which I thought odd considering the exercises I'm doing focus a lot on those two areas! I wish my legs would go down faster - I still have tree-trunk legs. Unfortunately I think I've inherited the stumpy shape from my grandmother but still - a slim stump is possible but is taking ages. My legs are always the slowest to lose weight from. It makes buying jeans still very touch-and-go.
Eating-wise I'm doing quite well. I fasted on Sunday morning until we went for lunch at my parents'. I had about 1400 calories in that meal alone - chicken, roast potatoes, spinach and a cream sauce. And then cheese and tiramisu. I had a small dinner of wholewheat noodles and 40g of grated cheese for dinner and that was it. So my day came to about 1900 calories.
Made lasagne yesterday but as it was a fast day I could only have a tiny portion and lots of salad.
I'm at about 1600 calories today - had lettuce, a tomato, two slices of ham, a bit of mayonnaise and a slice of brown bread for my breakfast. Two eggs and two slices of soda bread for lunch. And then lasagne and salad for dinner. However, we're minding a friend's dog for a week so he brought over cakes and chocolate to say thanks - I didn't have much - just a taste but it still came to about 400 calories for that.
The Wii Fit thing was a bust - it's broken. I'm going to take it to get repaired but until then I can't do it which is a pity. Was really looking forward to it.
Right, I'd better go get ready for my Pilates class. It's rainy and dark and cold here. Not the most inspiring weather...
Friday, 27 September 2013
Nice Surprise
Well I still haven't lost any more weight - so I've been at this weight now for just over a week.
Was getting a bit frustrated and was telling a friend at work - she mentioned that now I'm exercising - possibly I'm finally getting some muscle which weighs quite a bit. I kind of pooh-poohed that, as I'm not really killing myself with the exercise and Pilates is a lot of stretching and toning - I'm not doing weights or anything.
However, this afternoon I tried on a pair of jeans that were too tight to wear comfortably last weekend and they fit better - so much better that I'm now wearing them. They're still a little too tight but still.
Also, the test pair of jeans that I have lined up - an old pair that are a size down from where I am now - fit! Very tightly - there's no way I could actually wear them yet - they squish around my belly and my bottom is a little too "defined" in them but it's a big improvement from when they only went up to my knees a month ago!
So, my reasoning is that even if I haven't lost much weight recently - maybe my friend is right and it is because I'm gaining muscle and the fat is still dropping off.
It's very exciting because to be at the next size down is my goal for the end of November and I'm nearly there! Another few kilos and I'll fit into them comfortably and then I can go shopping!
I've been really good all week - fasted on Monday, had a very light feast day on Tuesday of 1000 calories, fasted on Wednesday, had another light feast day of 1500 calories yesterday and fasted today. Tomorrow is a feast day but we're going for lunch at my parents' on Sunday. As I want to be able to eat normally then, I'm going to do a half-feast day tomorrow - 1000 calories again or so. And then Sunday I'll have a good feed. Normally, if there was some sort of occasion after a feast day, I'd just have two feast days in a row, but I really don't want a repeat of last weekend.
I wish I could see some movement on the scales though - I get very impatient when it hasn't moved in a while.
The voucher I got for four yoga classes finishes on Wednesday. I really liked it but I can't afford to keep going. I remembered though that my sister has the Wii Fit and it has a yoga instructor on it. So I'm going to collect it tomorrow and then I can start doing some yoga at home. I figure that if I do it maybe twice a week, with Pilates twice a week and Aqua Aerobics once, I'll be doing fairly well!
I'm even thinking of asking for a gym membership for my birthday in November... what has happened to me???
Was getting a bit frustrated and was telling a friend at work - she mentioned that now I'm exercising - possibly I'm finally getting some muscle which weighs quite a bit. I kind of pooh-poohed that, as I'm not really killing myself with the exercise and Pilates is a lot of stretching and toning - I'm not doing weights or anything.
However, this afternoon I tried on a pair of jeans that were too tight to wear comfortably last weekend and they fit better - so much better that I'm now wearing them. They're still a little too tight but still.
Also, the test pair of jeans that I have lined up - an old pair that are a size down from where I am now - fit! Very tightly - there's no way I could actually wear them yet - they squish around my belly and my bottom is a little too "defined" in them but it's a big improvement from when they only went up to my knees a month ago!
So, my reasoning is that even if I haven't lost much weight recently - maybe my friend is right and it is because I'm gaining muscle and the fat is still dropping off.
It's very exciting because to be at the next size down is my goal for the end of November and I'm nearly there! Another few kilos and I'll fit into them comfortably and then I can go shopping!
I've been really good all week - fasted on Monday, had a very light feast day on Tuesday of 1000 calories, fasted on Wednesday, had another light feast day of 1500 calories yesterday and fasted today. Tomorrow is a feast day but we're going for lunch at my parents' on Sunday. As I want to be able to eat normally then, I'm going to do a half-feast day tomorrow - 1000 calories again or so. And then Sunday I'll have a good feed. Normally, if there was some sort of occasion after a feast day, I'd just have two feast days in a row, but I really don't want a repeat of last weekend.
I wish I could see some movement on the scales though - I get very impatient when it hasn't moved in a while.
The voucher I got for four yoga classes finishes on Wednesday. I really liked it but I can't afford to keep going. I remembered though that my sister has the Wii Fit and it has a yoga instructor on it. So I'm going to collect it tomorrow and then I can start doing some yoga at home. I figure that if I do it maybe twice a week, with Pilates twice a week and Aqua Aerobics once, I'll be doing fairly well!
I'm even thinking of asking for a gym membership for my birthday in November... what has happened to me???
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Yo-Yo-Ing
Well I'm annoyed with my body.
Friday was a feast day, so I feasted. Had about 1900 calories. We then made plans to go out on Saturday, so I decided to do a double feast day, as I needed soakage and the alcohol would ruin a fast day anyway. I intended to fast on Sunday but was tired and feeling eatey so I ate. Very badly I must say - we got a McDonald's AND a pizza. But, I wasn't too worried - figured it would do for my kick-start plan.
However, when I weighed myself on Monday morning, I had gone up FOUR kilos, or NINE pounds!! I freaked! I figured that if I fasted on Monday and drank loads of water, it would come down quickly again. I hoped that it was mainly water retention. So I fasted on Monday, yesterday I had a half feast day - I only ate 1000 calories - and today I'm fasting again. I weighed myself this morning though and I'm still about a kilo, or two pounds over the weight I was before the weekend.
I just don't understand it - I mean, I know I ate badly but still - four kilos in three days?? That seems excessive.
Now I find myself worrying that when I've finally reached my goal weight I'll just put weight back on really quickly if I'm eating about 1800 calories a day.
I'm annoyed. I wouldn't have minded if I'd gained a kilo after the weekend, but four just seems unreasonable.
Am I right to worry? I don't know. I wish I knew a doctor or nutritonist.
Friday was a feast day, so I feasted. Had about 1900 calories. We then made plans to go out on Saturday, so I decided to do a double feast day, as I needed soakage and the alcohol would ruin a fast day anyway. I intended to fast on Sunday but was tired and feeling eatey so I ate. Very badly I must say - we got a McDonald's AND a pizza. But, I wasn't too worried - figured it would do for my kick-start plan.
However, when I weighed myself on Monday morning, I had gone up FOUR kilos, or NINE pounds!! I freaked! I figured that if I fasted on Monday and drank loads of water, it would come down quickly again. I hoped that it was mainly water retention. So I fasted on Monday, yesterday I had a half feast day - I only ate 1000 calories - and today I'm fasting again. I weighed myself this morning though and I'm still about a kilo, or two pounds over the weight I was before the weekend.
I just don't understand it - I mean, I know I ate badly but still - four kilos in three days?? That seems excessive.
Now I find myself worrying that when I've finally reached my goal weight I'll just put weight back on really quickly if I'm eating about 1800 calories a day.
I'm annoyed. I wouldn't have minded if I'd gained a kilo after the weekend, but four just seems unreasonable.
Am I right to worry? I don't know. I wish I knew a doctor or nutritonist.
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Getting Stronger!
Just back from my second Yoga class - way better. I really enjoyed it this time - was able to do the exercises better - noticed some improvement in my arm strength and the instructor never has to correct me - I can see how Pilates is helping in doing some of the positions.
I went to Zumba again on Monday and I really didn't like it. The music was very clubby - instead of Latin - and I just was bored. I don't know - maybe I just don't like jumping around - whereas I do like stretching because I can feel it in my muscles and it feels good. Going to Aqua Aerobics next Monday anyway so I might prefer that.
Went to Pilates on Tuesday and I'm beginning to notice a huge improvement. I have so much more strength in my core muscles - I can sit up now from a lying down position instead of having to roll or push myself up. Managed to keep my legs in the air a bit longer too though there's still a lot of room for improvement! I love it so much though - always disappointed when the 45 minutes are over.
So weight-wise, I'm down 24 kilos, or 52 pounds, now - even after feast days. I've been down 25, or 55 pounds, after some fast days but it hasn't stuck yet. I had been having big feast days - 2200 calories or so - so today I had a feast day of 1600 calories to see if it moves things a bit.
Nearly halfway to my next goal - of being down 35 kilos, or 77 pounds, by the end of November. Hope I make it! Things have really slowed down recently. I may need to have another couple of feast days in a row - I always lose weight quickly a week or so after it and it's been a month already since I last did it.
So Pilates again tomorrow night and then that's it for the weekend. I'm going to do some Yoga stretches at home to try to strengthen up a bit more - I'm becoming obsessed! My calves were KILLING me today after Pilates last night - going downstairs was a bit unsteady!
Oh yes, I finally took some more photos of myself in my underwear - first time was in July after having lost a lot of weight already. I hadn't seen any difference since then and it was really bothering me but I can finally see some change. I showed John too and he said he could definitely see it. My waist has gone in, my back is nearly bump-free and I think my legs look a bit leaner. But I'm not sure - that may have been the light. I'm not quite ready for a dramatic before-and-after unveiling, but it is encouraging.
Sometimes wish that weight-loss was faster though! I could go to the gym and run every day but... I really hate that...
I went to Zumba again on Monday and I really didn't like it. The music was very clubby - instead of Latin - and I just was bored. I don't know - maybe I just don't like jumping around - whereas I do like stretching because I can feel it in my muscles and it feels good. Going to Aqua Aerobics next Monday anyway so I might prefer that.
Went to Pilates on Tuesday and I'm beginning to notice a huge improvement. I have so much more strength in my core muscles - I can sit up now from a lying down position instead of having to roll or push myself up. Managed to keep my legs in the air a bit longer too though there's still a lot of room for improvement! I love it so much though - always disappointed when the 45 minutes are over.
So weight-wise, I'm down 24 kilos, or 52 pounds, now - even after feast days. I've been down 25, or 55 pounds, after some fast days but it hasn't stuck yet. I had been having big feast days - 2200 calories or so - so today I had a feast day of 1600 calories to see if it moves things a bit.
Nearly halfway to my next goal - of being down 35 kilos, or 77 pounds, by the end of November. Hope I make it! Things have really slowed down recently. I may need to have another couple of feast days in a row - I always lose weight quickly a week or so after it and it's been a month already since I last did it.
So Pilates again tomorrow night and then that's it for the weekend. I'm going to do some Yoga stretches at home to try to strengthen up a bit more - I'm becoming obsessed! My calves were KILLING me today after Pilates last night - going downstairs was a bit unsteady!
Oh yes, I finally took some more photos of myself in my underwear - first time was in July after having lost a lot of weight already. I hadn't seen any difference since then and it was really bothering me but I can finally see some change. I showed John too and he said he could definitely see it. My waist has gone in, my back is nearly bump-free and I think my legs look a bit leaner. But I'm not sure - that may have been the light. I'm not quite ready for a dramatic before-and-after unveiling, but it is encouraging.
Sometimes wish that weight-loss was faster though! I could go to the gym and run every day but... I really hate that...
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
A New Me
I am a different person - not in appearance but in lifestyle - I am going to gym classes four times a week (and spending a fortune!) Since I last wrote, (which was nine days ago - oops) I have been going to Pilates twice a week, and Yoga and Zumba once a week.
I love Pilates - the instructor is lovely and I really enjoy the exercises, although my muscles are weak and I can't do a lot of them properly. Even keeping my legs in the air when on my back is tough after a minute. I'm already seeing an improvement though - I can stretch further in some positions and the pain in my hips during some exercises is almost gone.
I went to Zumba last Monday week and it was good but I didn't love it. I had trouble keeping up with a lot of the steps. I suppose that comes with practice though. So last Monday, my friend and I decided to go to Aqua Aerobics instead. However, we got there to find that there'd been a mistake and it wasn't starting for two weeks. So we went for a swim - more chat, less swim - and I'll go to Zumba next Monday and then Aqua Aerobics the week after. I would just like one cardio class in the week. Pilates does get me hot but it's not really cardio.
Today, I was looking on Living Social - those cheap voucher websites, and I saw one for four Yoga classes. So I got that and tonight was the first night. It was good - like a calmer Pilates - but I didn't like it as much. Maybe it was the instructor, maybe it was the class dynamic, or maybe the fact that I felt more awkward about not being able to do some positions than I do in Pilates. I don't know. I have three classes left, one a week, so I'll go and see how I feel after.
In terms of eating, I've been good. However, my last few feast days have been quite high - hitting 2100 calories each time and sometimes a bit over. I have lost another kilo but it's fluctuating wildly. After a fast day I'm down, but after a feast day I'm up about two. I don't really count a kilo as being gone until it's still gone after a feast day. I have tightened my belt by another notch though which is encouraging.
Maybe my weight is fluctuating due to my new muscles...! Hmm...
I love Pilates - the instructor is lovely and I really enjoy the exercises, although my muscles are weak and I can't do a lot of them properly. Even keeping my legs in the air when on my back is tough after a minute. I'm already seeing an improvement though - I can stretch further in some positions and the pain in my hips during some exercises is almost gone.
I went to Zumba last Monday week and it was good but I didn't love it. I had trouble keeping up with a lot of the steps. I suppose that comes with practice though. So last Monday, my friend and I decided to go to Aqua Aerobics instead. However, we got there to find that there'd been a mistake and it wasn't starting for two weeks. So we went for a swim - more chat, less swim - and I'll go to Zumba next Monday and then Aqua Aerobics the week after. I would just like one cardio class in the week. Pilates does get me hot but it's not really cardio.
Today, I was looking on Living Social - those cheap voucher websites, and I saw one for four Yoga classes. So I got that and tonight was the first night. It was good - like a calmer Pilates - but I didn't like it as much. Maybe it was the instructor, maybe it was the class dynamic, or maybe the fact that I felt more awkward about not being able to do some positions than I do in Pilates. I don't know. I have three classes left, one a week, so I'll go and see how I feel after.
In terms of eating, I've been good. However, my last few feast days have been quite high - hitting 2100 calories each time and sometimes a bit over. I have lost another kilo but it's fluctuating wildly. After a fast day I'm down, but after a feast day I'm up about two. I don't really count a kilo as being gone until it's still gone after a feast day. I have tightened my belt by another notch though which is encouraging.
Maybe my weight is fluctuating due to my new muscles...! Hmm...
Monday, 2 September 2013
On A Roll!
Well, it's been a great couple of days - I've lost another kilo - which makes it 23 kilos or nearly 51 pounds. It's exciting when the weight drops off quickly over a few days - makes up for the couple of weeks of nothing. I measured myself too and I've lost an inch from everywhere since the last time I measured myself - which was about six kilos ago. So overall, I've lost five inches from my waist, and four inches from my hips, each thigh, each arm, and my chest - though in that case it seems to have come off my back as my bras still fill the same way as before! It's great - I finally have a mostly flat back - the little rolls of fat are gone. I can wear tops now that before clung a bit and showed off the lumps - so I'd cover up with a cardigan. Now those tops are loose around the back.
I haven't been doing anything different - I think it may be the three days of feasting that I did recently. I also have been eating a bit more on my feast days in general - going from about 1600 calories to about 1900. Maybe that's having an effect - I may have slowed down my metabolism by having 1600 calories one day and then 500 the next. Probably not enough.
I had a feast day on Friday, and then was meeting some friends in town on Saturday night. Since I knew I'd drink, and ruin a fast, I decided to let Saturday be a feast day too and then fasted yesterday instead.
John is going to see his parents in Galway on Wednesday and he'll be gone till Friday. I'm so tempted to get a takeaway on Thursday night - Chinese or Indian - both of which I enjoy from time to time but which John doesn't like at all - so I never eat it. Thursday is supposed to be a fast day so I might have two feast days in a row. I don't know though - I have Pilates on Thursday night and having a big meal before that is not the best idea... Hmmm... what to do....?
Zumba tonight - kind of wish I wasn't going - I'm tired after the weekend and a cosy night in would suit me nicely. But I've paid, so I'll go. I am looking forward to how I'll feel afterwards - on a high and really pleased with myself. I put it into My Fitness Pal and it said that 45 minutes of Zumba was 640 calories!! I really don't know if I'm going to burn that much - that might be for people with slightly more stamina than I! So although My Fitness Pal is telling me that I can eat 2300 calories today - I'm stopping at 2000. Don't want to ruin the extra calorie burning effects of exercise!
I haven't been doing anything different - I think it may be the three days of feasting that I did recently. I also have been eating a bit more on my feast days in general - going from about 1600 calories to about 1900. Maybe that's having an effect - I may have slowed down my metabolism by having 1600 calories one day and then 500 the next. Probably not enough.
I had a feast day on Friday, and then was meeting some friends in town on Saturday night. Since I knew I'd drink, and ruin a fast, I decided to let Saturday be a feast day too and then fasted yesterday instead.
John is going to see his parents in Galway on Wednesday and he'll be gone till Friday. I'm so tempted to get a takeaway on Thursday night - Chinese or Indian - both of which I enjoy from time to time but which John doesn't like at all - so I never eat it. Thursday is supposed to be a fast day so I might have two feast days in a row. I don't know though - I have Pilates on Thursday night and having a big meal before that is not the best idea... Hmmm... what to do....?
Zumba tonight - kind of wish I wasn't going - I'm tired after the weekend and a cosy night in would suit me nicely. But I've paid, so I'll go. I am looking forward to how I'll feel afterwards - on a high and really pleased with myself. I put it into My Fitness Pal and it said that 45 minutes of Zumba was 640 calories!! I really don't know if I'm going to burn that much - that might be for people with slightly more stamina than I! So although My Fitness Pal is telling me that I can eat 2300 calories today - I'm stopping at 2000. Don't want to ruin the extra calorie burning effects of exercise!
Saturday, 31 August 2013
I Amaze Myself...
So - it's been a while. Back at work and things are busy. The last time I wrote, I had just finished a kick-start experiment - eating about 1800 calories or so for three days in a row to try to get over my plateau. Nothing happened for a few days, in fact, when I weighed myself right after my three days, I had gained a kilo which I was furious about - considering my calories had still been low enough. However, that kilo went within a day or so and in the last four days I've lost another two kilos - at last! That's 22 kilos now, or 49 pounds. Another mountain left to go but at least now I just look overweight, instead of looking waddly. Eight kilos to go until my next goal weight at the end of November. I should make it - I hope.
I have great hopes that things will begin to move a bit faster though because... I've started going to the gym!!!! Well, I've been to one class. But I'm booked in for three more this week - and since I had to pay in advance, chances are good I'll go. I went to Pilates on Thursday night, and I'm booked in for Zumba on Monday night, and more Pilates on Tuesday and Thursday. It's €8 a go, which isn't the cheapest but it's not too bad either. There's no point getting a membership yet - I do know myself very well after all. If I'm still going in a month, I might join.
I don't know what suddenly persuaded me. I do prefer classes to going for walks but normally I can't be bothered to actually drive to a class. But I was reading on Wednesday night and just suddenly a longing to be slim and toned came into my mind - so I rang and booked straight away. Possibly it's motivated by the fact that people keep congratulating me at work but my weight loss has slowed down - I want it to start up again so that I keep hearing nice things! Also, my "Before" picture, that I took back in mid-July shows no difference to how I look now. Apart from possibly less fat on my back. Quite disappointing really. Another motivator is that I found a load of clothes from about six years ago when I'd lost another pile of weight and there are a pair of jeans that are a size down from now and only go up as far as my knees. So I have a new test pair. My previous test pair are on me as I type, and from fitting halfway up my hips, they now have to be belted on.
So - hopefully a new dawn has arisen. I'm hoping that after a while, I'll start to love these classes. All the people who post amazing "before and after" photos on Tumblr say how they lost weight through dieting and exercising - and they all seem to love exercising now. I'm really hoping I'll get into it too.
I did enjoy Pilates on Thursday - it was tough - at one point I thought my hip was actually going to break off - but I felt really good when I came home and all day yesterday too. I'm in agony though - my muscles are killing me. I can't lift my arms very well - even typing now is hurting them! But it's a nice pain - I like knowing that I actually worked some muscles for once.
Hopefully some of the flabbier bits will start to become less wobbly within the next couple of months!
I have great hopes that things will begin to move a bit faster though because... I've started going to the gym!!!! Well, I've been to one class. But I'm booked in for three more this week - and since I had to pay in advance, chances are good I'll go. I went to Pilates on Thursday night, and I'm booked in for Zumba on Monday night, and more Pilates on Tuesday and Thursday. It's €8 a go, which isn't the cheapest but it's not too bad either. There's no point getting a membership yet - I do know myself very well after all. If I'm still going in a month, I might join.
I don't know what suddenly persuaded me. I do prefer classes to going for walks but normally I can't be bothered to actually drive to a class. But I was reading on Wednesday night and just suddenly a longing to be slim and toned came into my mind - so I rang and booked straight away. Possibly it's motivated by the fact that people keep congratulating me at work but my weight loss has slowed down - I want it to start up again so that I keep hearing nice things! Also, my "Before" picture, that I took back in mid-July shows no difference to how I look now. Apart from possibly less fat on my back. Quite disappointing really. Another motivator is that I found a load of clothes from about six years ago when I'd lost another pile of weight and there are a pair of jeans that are a size down from now and only go up as far as my knees. So I have a new test pair. My previous test pair are on me as I type, and from fitting halfway up my hips, they now have to be belted on.
So - hopefully a new dawn has arisen. I'm hoping that after a while, I'll start to love these classes. All the people who post amazing "before and after" photos on Tumblr say how they lost weight through dieting and exercising - and they all seem to love exercising now. I'm really hoping I'll get into it too.
I did enjoy Pilates on Thursday - it was tough - at one point I thought my hip was actually going to break off - but I felt really good when I came home and all day yesterday too. I'm in agony though - my muscles are killing me. I can't lift my arms very well - even typing now is hurting them! But it's a nice pain - I like knowing that I actually worked some muscles for once.
Hopefully some of the flabbier bits will start to become less wobbly within the next couple of months!
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Rewards
So had my first day back at work with all the staff back and it was great - so many people commented on how much weight I'd lost and I got wolf-whistled at and all!
It was a great feeling and gave me an extra push to keep going, which I think I've maybe been needing recently, what with things slowing down and all.
Today was my last day of my kickstart experiment - I ate about 2000 calories today and I have to say that I'll be glad to get back to fasting tomorrow. I feel bloated and sluggish. It's my fault - I could have upped my calories on potatoes and pasta instead of cheese - but anyway. At least the fast tomorrow will feel good. And hopefully I'll see some movement on the scales in the next few days.
Even if I don't, I'm just going to keep going as normal now for a few weeks - no more experiments. I can't plateau forever - I'll have to lose weight at some point!
I'm pleased at how I feel tonight - I was worried that three days of feasting would make me slip out of it a bit - I mean, today, at work, I had two biscuits at the morning break and I did get a moment of worry at one point, thinking, "Oh no, am I slipping back into my 'pick at everything' habits but I don't think so. I stopped at two without too much temptation, whereas last year I'd easily have polished off about four or five. But tonight, as I said, I'm actually looking forward to fasting tomorrow. Feels cleansing.
It was a great feeling and gave me an extra push to keep going, which I think I've maybe been needing recently, what with things slowing down and all.
Today was my last day of my kickstart experiment - I ate about 2000 calories today and I have to say that I'll be glad to get back to fasting tomorrow. I feel bloated and sluggish. It's my fault - I could have upped my calories on potatoes and pasta instead of cheese - but anyway. At least the fast tomorrow will feel good. And hopefully I'll see some movement on the scales in the next few days.
Even if I don't, I'm just going to keep going as normal now for a few weeks - no more experiments. I can't plateau forever - I'll have to lose weight at some point!
I'm pleased at how I feel tonight - I was worried that three days of feasting would make me slip out of it a bit - I mean, today, at work, I had two biscuits at the morning break and I did get a moment of worry at one point, thinking, "Oh no, am I slipping back into my 'pick at everything' habits but I don't think so. I stopped at two without too much temptation, whereas last year I'd easily have polished off about four or five. But tonight, as I said, I'm actually looking forward to fasting tomorrow. Feels cleansing.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Shift Please...
I am experimenting again.
I took 3 photos of myself in my underwear about five weeks ago. I compared myself with them last night, and while there is some difference, it's minimal. I had to really look carefully to find anything. I'm a bit annoyed by this, as well as the fact that I haven't really lost weight in about two weeks - I've been hovering on going down one kilo recently but it's not certain enough to please me. So I'm having three feast days in a row, to try and kickstart things again.
As I've said before, I should be eating 2200 calories on feast days, but I usually eat about 1700 or so. I genuinely find it difficult to go above this - I don't want to eat lots of junk all the time to make it, or have huge portions, as I am trying to form better eating habits. However, I wonder if maybe the huge slowdown in weight loss is due to this - my metabolism slowing down maybe?
So yesterday I had a feast day, and today and tomorrow too. Now, I'm not too happy with myself, because yesterday I had pizza and quite a bit of cheese, and today I had even more cheese and some crisps. I haven't gone above 1800 calories either day but I know that saturated fat is not the way to be going either. Tomorrow is the staff lunch - first day back at work after the summer - and there'll be salads but also cake - all of which I intend to eat. So tomorrow night I'm going to have lots of vegetables - I'm worrying a bit for my insides. I'm also worrying that all this saturated fat will mean a rise on the scales in the morning...
Hopefully then, once I start fasting again, I should lose a bit more weight. That seems to have triggered weight loss the last time I did this.
The reason I'm so impatient at the moment is that I'm bordering on going down the next dress size, and I really need new jeans for work but I want to fit into them comfortably, instead of squeezing myself in, when I go to buy them.
However, aside from all the moaning, I just spent a very enjoyable hour. I tried on all my clothes that haven't fit me in three years and they nearly all fit now, apart from a couple of tops that fit but still look a bit tight. So my wardrobe has tripled which is great!
I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow - I'd better get lots of comments on my weight loss!
I took 3 photos of myself in my underwear about five weeks ago. I compared myself with them last night, and while there is some difference, it's minimal. I had to really look carefully to find anything. I'm a bit annoyed by this, as well as the fact that I haven't really lost weight in about two weeks - I've been hovering on going down one kilo recently but it's not certain enough to please me. So I'm having three feast days in a row, to try and kickstart things again.
As I've said before, I should be eating 2200 calories on feast days, but I usually eat about 1700 or so. I genuinely find it difficult to go above this - I don't want to eat lots of junk all the time to make it, or have huge portions, as I am trying to form better eating habits. However, I wonder if maybe the huge slowdown in weight loss is due to this - my metabolism slowing down maybe?
So yesterday I had a feast day, and today and tomorrow too. Now, I'm not too happy with myself, because yesterday I had pizza and quite a bit of cheese, and today I had even more cheese and some crisps. I haven't gone above 1800 calories either day but I know that saturated fat is not the way to be going either. Tomorrow is the staff lunch - first day back at work after the summer - and there'll be salads but also cake - all of which I intend to eat. So tomorrow night I'm going to have lots of vegetables - I'm worrying a bit for my insides. I'm also worrying that all this saturated fat will mean a rise on the scales in the morning...
Hopefully then, once I start fasting again, I should lose a bit more weight. That seems to have triggered weight loss the last time I did this.
The reason I'm so impatient at the moment is that I'm bordering on going down the next dress size, and I really need new jeans for work but I want to fit into them comfortably, instead of squeezing myself in, when I go to buy them.
However, aside from all the moaning, I just spent a very enjoyable hour. I tried on all my clothes that haven't fit me in three years and they nearly all fit now, apart from a couple of tops that fit but still look a bit tight. So my wardrobe has tripled which is great!
I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow - I'd better get lots of comments on my weight loss!
Monday, 19 August 2013
Sleep The Fast Away
Fasted all day Saturday with surprising ease in the end. I had a bowl of butternut squash soup that I had made, for breakfast, to ease the hunger pangs, and then didn't eat until seven o'clock that evening. I had more soup and three rice-cakes with an avocado. That brought me to about 470 calories, so as a treat, I decided to use up the rest of my calories on some of the chocolates I'd bought for Friday night - the Maltesers specifically. Weighed them out and calculated the calories - I was allowed three! Seven grams of Maltesers is about 35 calories - three Maltesers weigh seven grams. That is ridiculous! When I think of the amount I used to eat without a thought before... Ugh - I feel slightly sick and ashamed.
John went out Saturday night with people from work and came home about three o'clock in the morning. I woke up and got up - he decided to have a couple more beers so I stayed up with him, chatting and listening to music - we made it to bed about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. I was very good though - just had two cans of Diet Coke, and didn't eat anything. Even though technically I was into a feast day by the morning and could have eaten. We went to bed and slept for a few hours. We were due at my parents' for dinner at half-six so I dragged an unwilling John out of bed and we went. Had some crisps, goat's cheese on honeyed toast with salad, and my mum had made the exact same salmon meal that I had made on Friday night! I also had three glasses of Cremant - so all in all, the meal came to about 1600 calories.
I must say, it seems like a bit of a waste of a feast day - to sleep it away and only have one meal - but on the other hand, fasting before a big meal is ideal really, as it kept my calories down. Sleeping is really handy sometimes - fast days where I sleep in and don't wake until late morning are great - dinner never seems so far away.
I'm back at work on Thursday - big staff lunch organised so luckily it happens to be a feast day. It'll be interesting to see how ADF fits into my working life. I suspect that working will make it much easier - as I've said before - if I'm busy, I don't feel hungry, or at least, I don't dwell on the hunger on fast days.
Oh yes, I'm also down another kilo! It's been hovering for the last couple of days - I've been down after fast days, and back up after feast days, but today is the first day it's down after a feast day. This always happens - I lose a kilo but it doesn't stay properly down for four or five days - I guess that's why you're only supposed to weigh yourself once a week... So that's 20 kilos gone now - or 44 pounds.
Went through my old clothes the other day - I was going to have to go buy new jeans before work as all my nice jeans are way too baggy on me now but I found two pairs that fit me about three years ago when I was a size smaller, and fit me again now! Great feeling - fitting into old clothes. Plus it saves me money. So now I need to concentrate on going down another size by the end of November. My dream (which might sound silly) is to be able to wear a denim skirt, with tights and boots by winter. It's a look I love and have never been able to wear due to my tree-trunk legs.
John went out Saturday night with people from work and came home about three o'clock in the morning. I woke up and got up - he decided to have a couple more beers so I stayed up with him, chatting and listening to music - we made it to bed about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. I was very good though - just had two cans of Diet Coke, and didn't eat anything. Even though technically I was into a feast day by the morning and could have eaten. We went to bed and slept for a few hours. We were due at my parents' for dinner at half-six so I dragged an unwilling John out of bed and we went. Had some crisps, goat's cheese on honeyed toast with salad, and my mum had made the exact same salmon meal that I had made on Friday night! I also had three glasses of Cremant - so all in all, the meal came to about 1600 calories.
I must say, it seems like a bit of a waste of a feast day - to sleep it away and only have one meal - but on the other hand, fasting before a big meal is ideal really, as it kept my calories down. Sleeping is really handy sometimes - fast days where I sleep in and don't wake until late morning are great - dinner never seems so far away.
I'm back at work on Thursday - big staff lunch organised so luckily it happens to be a feast day. It'll be interesting to see how ADF fits into my working life. I suspect that working will make it much easier - as I've said before - if I'm busy, I don't feel hungry, or at least, I don't dwell on the hunger on fast days.
Oh yes, I'm also down another kilo! It's been hovering for the last couple of days - I've been down after fast days, and back up after feast days, but today is the first day it's down after a feast day. This always happens - I lose a kilo but it doesn't stay properly down for four or five days - I guess that's why you're only supposed to weigh yourself once a week... So that's 20 kilos gone now - or 44 pounds.
Went through my old clothes the other day - I was going to have to go buy new jeans before work as all my nice jeans are way too baggy on me now but I found two pairs that fit me about three years ago when I was a size smaller, and fit me again now! Great feeling - fitting into old clothes. Plus it saves me money. So now I need to concentrate on going down another size by the end of November. My dream (which might sound silly) is to be able to wear a denim skirt, with tights and boots by winter. It's a look I love and have never been able to wear due to my tree-trunk legs.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Surrounded By Temptation
I've been good all week, keeping to my calorie limits. Had two friends over for dinner last night, so I had an avocado and three rice cakes for breakfast and then I fasted the rest of the day in anticipation. As it turned out, I didn't actually eat too terribly. I had about 1900 calories for the day. We had tortillas with guacamole for starter, but I didn't eat too much. Then I had made hot-smoked salmon darnes, with mashed potato, red pepper ratatouille, and a cream and mustard sauce. For dessert, we had lime and ginger cheesecake. And a few glasses of wine throughout. Fairly rich meal, considering my breakfast was only about 300 calories!
Fasting today and it's going to be a tough one. I have that eatey feeling I get after eating rich food the day before - stomach feels all rumbly and empty. I also got up really early, despite it being a Saturday - John is working overtime and got up at seven. I was awake so decided to get up too. But now a big long day of being alone and no eating is stretching in front of me. Plus he has a work night out tonight so I'll be alone all evening too. Perfect day to pig out - especially since it's raining and I'm surrounded by lots of lovely leftovers from last night - as well as all the extras I had bought in case people were extra hungry - cheese and crisps and chocolate... But no - the memory of last week's pig out is still fresh in my mind, and I don't want to feel like that again. Also, we're going for dinner to my parent's tomorrow so today has to be a fast day.
Pity it's so dismal outside - it's always easier to eat less when it's sunny I find.
Fasting today and it's going to be a tough one. I have that eatey feeling I get after eating rich food the day before - stomach feels all rumbly and empty. I also got up really early, despite it being a Saturday - John is working overtime and got up at seven. I was awake so decided to get up too. But now a big long day of being alone and no eating is stretching in front of me. Plus he has a work night out tonight so I'll be alone all evening too. Perfect day to pig out - especially since it's raining and I'm surrounded by lots of lovely leftovers from last night - as well as all the extras I had bought in case people were extra hungry - cheese and crisps and chocolate... But no - the memory of last week's pig out is still fresh in my mind, and I don't want to feel like that again. Also, we're going for dinner to my parent's tomorrow so today has to be a fast day.
Pity it's so dismal outside - it's always easier to eat less when it's sunny I find.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
And On Again...
Back on track which feels good. Had a feast day of 1600 calories yesterday - 4 rice cakes with 30g of pate for breakfast, two soft-boiled eggs with a small roll for lunch, and pasta with a red pepper, chicken and goat's cheese sauce for dinner.
Fast day today - vegetable soup with a pitta bread for dinner later and a square of 70% dark chocolate for dessert. That'll be 481 calories. Can't wait - I'm starving! Had a busy day though which is always good for keeping my mind off eating.
Meeting my dad for lunch tomorrow - I always get the chicken liver pate plate when I go for lunch with him - it's quite small so only comes to about 370 calories - it's always harder to work out calories in restaurants. Can't exactly start weighing the pate at the table!
I did the weekly shop today and I bought a delicious-looking pizza for our dinner tomorrow night. Goat's cheese, spinach and caramelised onions - mmmmm... We're going to have a half each with some salad - the whole pizza is 1200 calories! To think that I used to think nothing of eating a whole pizza myself for dinner..!
I love this diet though - I would never have bought a pizza before for dinner unless we had been out the night before as I'd have felt guilty. Now, knowing that I can fit half into my calories, and that it's a treat means that I have no guilt about it.
I have friends coming for dinner on Friday night - since it'll be an evening of heavy eating I'm going to fast all day before - even though it's a feast day. Really don't want a repeat of the last day's calories or guilt!
Got a haircut today - who knows - maybe I'll be down another pound tomorrow!!
Fast day today - vegetable soup with a pitta bread for dinner later and a square of 70% dark chocolate for dessert. That'll be 481 calories. Can't wait - I'm starving! Had a busy day though which is always good for keeping my mind off eating.
Meeting my dad for lunch tomorrow - I always get the chicken liver pate plate when I go for lunch with him - it's quite small so only comes to about 370 calories - it's always harder to work out calories in restaurants. Can't exactly start weighing the pate at the table!
I did the weekly shop today and I bought a delicious-looking pizza for our dinner tomorrow night. Goat's cheese, spinach and caramelised onions - mmmmm... We're going to have a half each with some salad - the whole pizza is 1200 calories! To think that I used to think nothing of eating a whole pizza myself for dinner..!
I love this diet though - I would never have bought a pizza before for dinner unless we had been out the night before as I'd have felt guilty. Now, knowing that I can fit half into my calories, and that it's a treat means that I have no guilt about it.
I have friends coming for dinner on Friday night - since it'll be an evening of heavy eating I'm going to fast all day before - even though it's a feast day. Really don't want a repeat of the last day's calories or guilt!
Got a haircut today - who knows - maybe I'll be down another pound tomorrow!!
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Guilt Trip
So... the best-laid plans of mice and men... Last night was a disaster. I ate 3400 calories in the whole day. I ate crisps and I also bought chocolate and I absolutely stuffed my face whilst watching a film, with no restraint at all.
Did I feel horrendous after? Yes. Was it worth it? No, not in the slightest. I was eating and feeling guilty as I ate. I also didn't even enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I wasn't savouring every bite. The first few crisps were lovely, yes, but then it got too much but I just didn't stop. Same with the chocolate. By the end, I was eating just to finish.
I had a food hangover then for the rest of the night - felt depressed and guilty and sick. I drank loads of water to try to feel better but it didn't work.
Woke up still feeling horrible and couldn't bear to weigh myself.
So, today was a fast day and I've never been so grateful for one. I ate nothing until six o'clock, although I was starving and starting to feel sick. Just drank pints of water and then finally had a tuna salad for dinner. Came to 430 calories for the day.
Tomorrow's a feast day again but I'll go back to normal and try not to go over 1800 calories.
I wish I hadn't done it but maybe it'll be good in that it'll put me off doing it again. I know I'll forget about this and in another month or so I'll want to do it again but hopefully if I read this it'll remind me that it's a bad idea!!
Also, I think that if I do decide to do this again, I'll do what I did last week when friends came over, and fast for the day. So at least the calorie count shouldn't go so astronomically high.
My poor Fitness Pal app - it didn't know what hit it. The bar for yesterday is all red and threatening. The only thing that is stopping me from completely breaking down is that I was so good for the rest of the week, with four fast days and two other feast days of 1600 calories.
Anyway, that's done - I'm back to normal and hopefully the scales won't get a shock tomorrow.
Did I feel horrendous after? Yes. Was it worth it? No, not in the slightest. I was eating and feeling guilty as I ate. I also didn't even enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I wasn't savouring every bite. The first few crisps were lovely, yes, but then it got too much but I just didn't stop. Same with the chocolate. By the end, I was eating just to finish.
I had a food hangover then for the rest of the night - felt depressed and guilty and sick. I drank loads of water to try to feel better but it didn't work.
Woke up still feeling horrible and couldn't bear to weigh myself.
So, today was a fast day and I've never been so grateful for one. I ate nothing until six o'clock, although I was starving and starting to feel sick. Just drank pints of water and then finally had a tuna salad for dinner. Came to 430 calories for the day.
Tomorrow's a feast day again but I'll go back to normal and try not to go over 1800 calories.
I wish I hadn't done it but maybe it'll be good in that it'll put me off doing it again. I know I'll forget about this and in another month or so I'll want to do it again but hopefully if I read this it'll remind me that it's a bad idea!!
Also, I think that if I do decide to do this again, I'll do what I did last week when friends came over, and fast for the day. So at least the calorie count shouldn't go so astronomically high.
My poor Fitness Pal app - it didn't know what hit it. The bar for yesterday is all red and threatening. The only thing that is stopping me from completely breaking down is that I was so good for the rest of the week, with four fast days and two other feast days of 1600 calories.
Anyway, that's done - I'm back to normal and hopefully the scales won't get a shock tomorrow.
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