Diet Plan for the last week of the year!!

The last week of the year will not be the start of a diet! But it will be a chance for me to trial this out and see how I go. It's also quite helpful because I can 'excuse' the fact that we may go out for dinner, or have dinners with other people where I can't fix and choose my meals. I'm also trying to get rid of all the biscuits I was given for Christmas, in a more 'planned' manner!! As I've only just returned home today, I don't have the healthy snacks in my house yet to really get prepared!

So this week:

Pre-Week

Update of the Year

I started this diet by working really hard and reflecting over what I eat. I was able to make much more informed decisions about the food I eat, and I also began to exercise, but not until Easter! So it did take me a while, but the pounds were shed very easily in the first few months.

It got a lot harder towards the end. I think this was partially as I plateaued and it was difficult to find more healthy meals, and more time for exercise. As I went back to work in September, I had less time to focus on the diet and the exercise, and I slipped back into normal routines.

By the beginning of December, I had just about shed 3 stone. Which is great and I'm thrilled, but secretly I'm still disappointed as I know I was rubbish towards the end!! And the final few weeks of December resulted in a load of weight gain. I had too many Christmas parties to attend, lots of indulgence!! But I was throroughly looking forward to Christmas, so I'm not too bothered. I think I've put on about half a stone. When I get back to my trusty weighing scales, I will provide a final accurate result. 

I still want to lose another 3 stone. If I do that I will be absolutely thrilled. I aim to complete this next year. 

Now that I have learned from my work this year, and of course from my failures, I now intend on making a weekly diet plan prior to the week ahead to ensure that I have the food needed in the kitchen. Then when I'm really hungry at the end of a long day, I don't have to resort to carby food.

I'm also going to buy a slow cooker so that we can prepare meals for when we know we've got busy days or late evenings so that again we stick to healthy meals.

In July we have a cruise planned, this is my week off to look forward to!! So we've also agreed there will be NO takeaways prior to the cruise. 

I suck at this!!!!!

Fresh start? Think not!!! Tonight I had my soup faithfully. Then we went out and shared bags of crisps during the quiz, and picked up a kebab on the way home!! And as I was very busy after work I didn't do my 7 minute workout either! Lo an behold I've put on a pound and a half overnight!!! I am being totally rubbish at this. 

I'll do what I can over the next couple of days but I don't have it in me at the moment. I will try in NYC, there is no reason for me to eat totally unhealthy there. I want to have lost my 3 stone by the time I return. Can I do it? I won't have weighing scales, and I don't have that much money so I have to try and keep food costs down anyway. Just need to check myself CONSTANTLY!!! 

Update to 295

After talking with my Mum (my total inspiration) I've decided to start up the 7 minute workout again. It was the way I got into exercise right back in February before going on the first NYC trip, so hopefully will re inspire me again. Did my first session tonight :-) xx

Day 295

I know I should update but I'm not really sure what with. I'm not doing much, and not doing great!!

I put on a pound here and there, then lose it again... I'm still circling 15 stone. Which is obviously great as I'm not putting on weight. But it needs shifting soon and I really haven't put any effort in.

I changed my diet slightly. I have a sandwich at lunch, but for breakfast I just have a full glass of milk. I feel that's ok, because it still has tonnes of nutrients in, and I'm certainly not missing having breakfast. I'm trying to just have soups and a sandwich for dinner but the house is full of naughty snacks which I treat myself to now and again.

I continue to just drink water and green tea, so all is fine there. But I do zero exercise. Ok I'm fairly active in the day, teaching and constantly chasing after kids. But no proper exercise, and no motivation either. Where has it all gone? How do I get it back? 

Day 284 - countdown to NYC

Weigh in this morning: 15 stone exactly. 

I'm going to NYC in 2 weeks, and I know the food and drink will be a plenty!! So I'd like to make sure I've hit the 3 stone bar and possible surpassed it by then. I'm going to try a new idea. I'm going to continue with the breakfasts and lunches that I normally have, drink only water and green tea (I have been having orange juice and diet coke now and then), but for dinner in going to have soup. I might have a piece of bread with it, but that is going to be my dinner. I know it's fairly filling and although I'm not a massive fan of soups, I've bought some really nice Covent Garden ones that are still very low in calories, approx 100 calories a serving. 

I'm going to pick up some fruit as well in case I'm still hungry, no resorting to ice cream!!! 2 weeks to go.

Day 283 - judgement day

Well I'm really disappointed.

I've had a really long week but I was very careful about what I was eating. And today I am 15 stone 1lb. So annoyed!!! No going out tonight. 

Day 280

Weighed in at 14.13 today... Do I book a table??

Day 279

This morning I'm 14 stone 13lbs... 1lb to go and SUSTAIN!!

I'm going to make my weight official on Friday morning. If I lose 3 stone by Friday, we go out for a Thai meal as a treat. The question is, do I book a table in the hope and assumption I will reach my goal? 

Day 278

Weighed in at 15 stone, 2lbs to go! Determined to get there by the end of this week!! Last week was full of late nights :-(

Day 271 - still here!!

Ive been quite busy at work so I haven't been updating or focusing very much on my diet, although I still weigh in every single morning without fail, so that does help keeping me focused!!

Every morning I've stuck with porridge or bran flakes, and every lunch mostly consists of a chicken breast salad sandwich on whole meal seeded bread, and normally a pack of raisins.

Dinners have been up and down as I've been busy at work, on D of E trip and visiting Keele Uni with lots of hours driving, so I've had some ups and downs. I mostly have smaller portions than I ever used too for my dinners, and leave out the potatoes. 

As per usual, it's the dinners that are my downfall!! But I'm not giving up hope. I'm currently weighing in around 14 stone 13lbs; so close!!!! But I'm not great at he weekends so I mostly go up to just over 15 stone on a Monday morning, then by Friday I'm down to 14:13 again!! 

I'm desperate to get to the 3 stone mark. However, tomorrow is my birthday and I'm being treated to a full english for breakfast, and a Chinese for dinner!! Last night we went out for steak, and I still weighed in at 14:13 this morning so I'm remaining hopeful. 

I will try extra hard this week to have stupidly healthy meals for dinners, to get past the 3 stone mark. 

Day 247 still going strong!!

I did another week of the zero hunger diet as I was really enjoying it, and managed to lose another 2lbs, just about, but we aren't interested in decimal places here!! Last night I made massaman curry, full of coconut milk, peanut butter, with prawn crackers, wasabi nuts, and meringue and fruit dessert! This isn't normally on the diet but it was a special occasion that was pre planned. I was relieved when I had still lost 2lbs despite this. 

Normally I then have a day off to eat what I like, but today I was FAIRLY healthy. I stuck to a nice porridge for breakfast, and had a couple of rice crackers and a belvita in the day with a few green teas. But for dinner ordered a big curry. However, after the starters and a couple of poppadums I was full, and I (unbelievably) stopped eating!! I had bought a vienetta as a treat for today but I still has meringue and fruit left over so I had that for supper, so it's not been too bad!! 

I'm going to keep healthy in the day tomorrow and have my left over curry for dinner with vienetta, then I plan to start back on the diet on Friday. I've decided so as not to get bored on the diet, I'm going to start introducing other meals. I'm happy with breakfast and lunch as I'm so busy at work I don't have time to be too bothered about changing it. But for dinner, I'm going to incorporate a bit of red meat, jacket potatoes now and again as well, but try to keep it as healthy as possible and see how it goes by next Friday.

I'm going to weigh in this Friday to confirm my weight before the start of the diet, to see whether it's successful. I'm currently at 15 stone 1lb. I think it's also helped being back at work, as I've been very busy and walking around a lot, getting more exercise. Only 3 more pounds until the 3 stone mark!!

Review of 'Zero Hunger' Diet Plan - Day 239

Well, I did mention in my previous blog that I had a wobbly start to this, what with plans of going out etc., and that I had in fact put on weight five days ago.

Despite this, I stuck rigidly to the diet (certainly didn't eat any MORE than I should have, although I may have missed a couple of pieces of fruit here and there!)

I actually quite enjoyed this diet. Although sometimes it said 'rice and mushrooms', I personalised this slightly by making the thai rice that I enjoy so much, and pasta was 'pasta bake' instead. It really didn't make much difference in nutritional value, but made it much tastier. I also really enjoyed being able to eat bread, and having nice sandwiches for lunch.

I weighed in this morning at 15 stone and 3lbs! So despite putting on a lb half way through, I did in fact lose weight after that and lost 2lbs from last week. I'm thrilled with this, as I still didn't show any motivation to do workouts, so this is purely sorting out my diet now, and I'm much happier with this. I only need to lose 5 more pounds to have got to the 3 stone mark. If I manage to continue the way that I am, I think I can do that in about two weeks.

Today is my day off, full of sins!! We are having a Chinese takeaway tonight so I might try to fit in a workout so I don't have to feel quite so guilty about it, then I'm starting back up tomorrow, back on the zero hunger diet, and see how it goes.

I start work next Monday, which is towards the end of my diet, so that will change things entirely. I will have to review how I get on when being back at work, and what I can do to try to sustain all the good things that are happening here. Other things that are happening this week whilst on my diet: tomorrow night I'm going out for a meal with friends, and next Tuesday I'm going for dinner with friends as well, most likely a curry! I may try to change plans so that I cook at home instead, so I'm a bit more careful about what I'm eating, and cook from home instead.

New diet started early...

This is my update of the week so far. Firstly, I decided after losing the 4lbs last week, to have one day off (this gave me time to consider a new plan, and go shopping). On that day I was fairly good, I had a small pizza in the day, but generally I didn't eat too badly! I picked my next diet, which is the 'zero hunger' diet. I wanted this because I found I was very hungry in the mono food diet, and I hoped this would be successful. I started it on Tuesday, however I knew that on Wednesday I was going out and having a Thai meal, and then on Thursday I would miss lunch and dinner entirely and so we had a kebab at 11pm. Because of this, I'm fully aware that I'm not going to be as successful this week, but I'm not giving up. I haven't done any workouts all week so far (I will be doing one today!) - I just haven't felt like doing one at all, and I've been busy redecorating etc.

 So my new diet is this:
 Day 1
 Breakfast: Whole wheat cereal with skimmed milk, 1 orange, 1 tbsp raisins
Snack: Coffee or tea with lemon
 Lunch: 2 slices rye bread with turkey breast, 1/2 sliced tomato and lettuce
 Snack: 1 plain yogurt, 2 dried apricots
Dinner: 3oz whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, 3 cups lettuce with 1 tomato and low cal dressing, 1 apple

 Day 2
Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 apricot, 1 tbsp. dried cranberries, 1 plain yogurt
Snack: Coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 3 cups lettuce with 4 oz. chicken breast, 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber, 1 tbsp. low cal dressing, 1 slice rye bread
Snack: 4 dried figs
Dinner: 6oz. salmon or tuna steak, 1 cup steamed vegetables

 Day 3
Breakfast: 3/4 cup whole wheat cereal with skimmed milk, dried cranberries, 1 apple
Snack: Coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 3 cups lettuce with 1 can of tuna, 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber, 1 tbsp. low cal dressing, 1 slice rye bread
Snack: 1 plain yogurt, 2 dried figs
Dinner: 6oz. chicken breast, 1 cup grilled vegetables

 Day 4
Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 orange, 1tbsp. raisins, 1 plain yogurt
Snack: coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 2 slices rye break with 2 slices turkey breast, 1/2 sliced tomato and lettuce
Snack: 4 dried apricots
Dinner: 1/2 cup brown rice with 3 tbsp. sliced mushrooms, 2 cups lettuce with low call dressing, 1 pear 

Day 5
Breakfast: 3/4 cup whole wheat cereal with 1 cup skimmed milk, 1 pear, 1 tbsp. raisins
Snack: Coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 3 cups lettuce tossed with 1 small can of tuna, 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber, 1 tbsp. low cal dressing, 1 slice rye bread
Snack: 1 plain yogurt, 2 dried apricots
Dinner: 6oz. salmon or tuna steak, 1 cup grilled vegetables

 Day 6
Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal, 1 apple, 1 tbsp. dried cranberries, 1 plain yogurt
Snack: Coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 2 slices rye bread with 2 slices turkey breast, 1/2 sliced tomato and lettuce
Snack: 4 dried figs
Dinner: 6oz. chicken breast, 1 cup steamed veg.

 Day 7
Breakfast: 3/4 cup whole wheat cereal with 1 cup skimmed milk, 1 apricot, 1 tbsp. dried cranberries
Snack: coffee/tea with lemon
Lunch: 3 cups lettuce tossed with 4oz. chicken breast, 1 tomato 1/2 cucumber, 1 tbsp low cal dressing, 1 slice rye bread
Snack: 1 plain yogurt, 2 dried figs
Dinner: 1/2 cup brown rice with 3 tbsp. sliced mushrooms, 2 cups lettuce with 1 tbsp. low cal dressing, 1 apple.

 When I've managed to stick to the diet, I haven't always managed to eat as much as they say! But hopefully thats a good thing. Sadly I've jumped on the scales today and I've put on a pound :( I'm hoping that will change rapidly if I'm good today, and my aim is to do a workout every single day for the last 4 days of the diet, and hopefully that will have a good effect too.

Review of mono food diet plan

I weighed in this morning and thankfully I've lost 4lbs! I've weighed in at 15 stone 5lbs!

I'm really relieved about this, as I felt like I was getting nowhere.

This week I'm going to continue for a couple of days on the same plan, just to finish off left over food from the diet. On Wednesday I'm aware that I'm going out for a Thai, which I want togl be able to enjoy, so from Thursday I'm going to probably start again, or possibly next week as I've got another wedding on Sunday and going out for the day on Friday too, I want to be able to not feel overly restricted. 

I looked into the mono food diet a bit, and found out the reasoning behind it. Forums state that it works because complex meals use a range of enzymes to digest your meal. which doesn't work efficiently enough. When you break it down to one food group, only one enzyme needs to work and therefore your food is digested better. I spoke with a friend who is a biology teacher about this, who said it's not true at all and wouldn't account for weight loss, as any un-digested food just gets passed as stools anyway so there is no truth in this. Therefore I think the mono food diet only worked because it's a diet... You are being aware of what you eat, and eat in proportion. So I'm not going to continue with this one... I'm just going to pick another!! 

Mono-Food Diet Plan

I am halfway through the diet and so far I've done pretty well. I've missed a few days of Insanity, just been busy decorating or working, and didn't feel like doing it. I really didn't feel like doing it today, but I did a full workout. I've had a few fluctuations in my diet... last night I was so hungry and we had been out all evening, so I had a small doner kebab... but no chips, just a pitta bread and a few pieces of meat. And today I ate a packet of crisps. Thankfully it was my 'carb' meal time anyway, so again it hopefully didn't affect the diet too much! So this is the full diet for 7-days: Day One: Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices Swiss cheese, 1 slice ham Lunch: 1 cup fresh raspberries, 3 dried apricots, 1 glass orange juice Dinner: 4 oz. pasta with herbs and garlic, 1 slice toast Day Two: Breakfast: 1 cup fresh cantaloupe, 2 dried plums, 1 small pear Lunch: 2 large baked potatoes seasons with herbs Dinner: 7oz. grilled steak (any style) Day Three: Breakfast: 2 slices toast, 1 small banana Lunch: 1 cup fresh spinach, 1/2 cup sliced carrots, 1/2 tomato, 1/2 chopped green bell pepper, 1 tbsp. low-fat salad dressing Dinner: 7oz. grilled steak (any style) Day Four: Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices bacon, 1 slice mozzarella cheese Lunch: 1/2 cup rice cooked with 1/4 chopped onion and seasons with herbs, 1 slice toast Dinner: 1 apple, 1 orange, 1 glass pineapple juice Day Five: Breakfast: 1 cup celery and cattor sticks, 1 sliced tomato Lunch: 7oz. grilled steak (any style) Dinner: 2 large baked potatoes seasoned with herbs Day Six: Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal (porridge!) with cinnamon Lunch: 1 orange, 1 peach, 3 dried figs, 1 glass grapefruit juice Dinner: 7oz. grilled steak (any style) Day Seven: Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 2 slices turkey breast, 1 slice cheddar cheese Lunch: 1/2 cup sliced carrots, 1/2 sliced cucumber, 3 halved cherry tomatoes, 1tbsp. low-fat salad dressing Dinner: 4oz. pasta with herbs and garlic, 1 slice toast So far I'm on Day 5 and doing fine. I was 15 stone 9lbs, I think I've lost a lb, maybe 2lb so far... but with two more days to go, I hope to lose a 3rd pound by Monday. On Monday I'm going to continue on the mono diet but just with whatever I've got left over in the fridge, from this diet! I'm then going to pick a new diet to start mid-week next week. I will update on Monday with my weight and new diet plan!

Nervous for tomorrow :-(

II still don't think I'm doing that well. If I'm honest, I'm eating terribly. We went out for a mates birthday this week which entailed an Indian, and another one on Friday. I've also been drinking a couple of nights this week, and my schedule of lunch and dinner has gone to pot. Sometimes I'm healthy and other times I have timely forgetfulness!! It's annoyed me because I've worked so hard for a few months and I'm letting myself down.

I stayed at a mates after a barbecue(!) and drinking(!) last night, to pick up a macdonalds for lunch on the way home (!!!). I weighed in after all this at 15 stone 12, although this isn't my official weigh in, that's tomorrow. But if that is correct (and it wouldn't surprise me) I will have put on 6 lbs in one week!! What a waste of all the hard work!!!

So tomorrow, I'm trying something different. I've been completing insanity every day pretty much. I may have missed one or two, but I don't take the rest days so it's working out pretty fair. That means every day I'm doing a minimum of 40 minutes of hardcore workout!! Not many people do that, I know my exercise regime is very good and I am slowly but surely getting fitter!! But the fitness will come so much easier if I can take some more weight off! 

So to start something new, I'm going back to an app that I used to use. It's called diet pointer, and has hundreds of different diet plans, which include exact shopping lists, and it tells you the average someone loses on the diet. I've already picked a diet that I'm starting tomorrow, which everyone will recognise. It's the mono food diet, where you eat the same food groups together. Ok it may be a fad, but it's calculated that the average person loses approximately 4lbs a week. So I'm going to do it just for one week, and see how it goes. I don't expect to carry on after one week as I will probably be bored of it. But this is probably what I need to do. Mix up my food intake a bit, try some short, 5 or 7 day diet weeks and see what I manage to lose. It's definitely the food intake that is my problem at the moment, so I'm feeling the determination today, to get it sorted!! 

So my diet for tomorrow is as follows:

I think it looks pretty doable, for the first day!! Tomorrow I will weigh in first, fingers crossed it's lower than it is today!!

Day 1 of 7 day diet!

I woke up so late this morning that I didn't have chance to go shopping for the new diet plan! So I looked a few days ahead, and I switched my morning with a future one, and I had scrambled eggs with 2 rashers of bacon and a slice of cheese. I then went shopping and got everything I needed and so far, doing well!! 

Also to add, I weighed in this morning at 15 stone 9lbs. Not quite as bad as what I had seen on the scales yesterday, but yet again, back to my plateau. So frustrating. 

I stuck with my diet all day today with little problems. Tomorrow I look forward to a fruit breakfast, carb lunch and protein dinner. I'll publish it tomorrow. 

Day 216: Back to my trusty scales!

So in two weeks in Gloucestershire, this is what happened: - I started Insanity for one week, but in the 2nd week we had friends staying over and then my parents returned, so it wasn't suitable to be doing Insanity in the house - The hay had to be baled, which was very tough exercise - I always had fruit and yoghurt for breakfasts, but my lunches and dinners wavered depending on who was staying with us, etc. Now that I am back in my home, I feel confident that I should be able to do Insanity most, if not all, days. I'm going to try and do it in the mornings, and then if I feel I can double up and do another in the evening, then I will have the energy. So I weighed in this morning. Last time I weighed in I was 15 stone 10 lbs, and I was quite disappointed with that. Today I weigh in at 15 stone 6lbs! So I have lost 4lbs in 2 weeks. I am so relieved and pleased that I managed to lose weight in this time. I want to be able to keep losing a lot, I really want to get down to under 15 stone by the end of the Summer holidays, if not more than that. I visited my Mum last week when she returned from Canada. She told me she was inspired by me to lose weight herself - she has always found losing weight hard, and always tries to eat healthily, and frequently exercises by her normal daily life and job. I was astounded to hear that she had lost 4 stone, and she looks absolutely amazing. She has struggled for so many years with her weight, and I think that if she can do that, so can I. I need to push myself harder if I intend on losing that much weight. I wish to get down to 12 stone. For my height, my weight supposedly has to be between 7 and 10 stone. However, I don't feel that is realistic in any way. My BMI has always been severely obese, as I am only 5 foot 2. For the first time in a long time, my BMI now measures 'obese' instead, so I have gone down a category. To get down another category to 'overweight' I need to be just under 12 stone. I think this is a far more realistic weight than between 7 and 10 stone. So that means that although I've lost 2 stone 6lbs so far, I've got another 3 stone and 6lbs to lose. That's more than I'm going to manage to do in the next 5-6 months. I probably need another year of dieting in order to get to that weight.

Day 206, never trust old weighing scales!

So to update you...

I was feeling a bit guilty after my last update as I ended up eating loads of shortbread! I then did insanity but still felt guilty, and had my dinner. However, the cider in our pork Thermidor was was out of date, and I was sick all night!! Although it was not a nice experience, it certainly made me feel better about all that shortbread!!

Since Day 203, I've done insanity every day except yesterday, time kind of slipped past me yesterday and I just wasn't that motivated.

I've had strawberries, raspberries, grapes, low fat natural yogurt and honey for breakfast every morning and I've really enjoyed it. I added a couple of walnuts to give the granola texture, and although nuts have some fat in them, they are a great superfood, so certainly wake me up after I've been up feeding them animals early!

Apart from when we've been out for lunch, lunches and dinners have been ok. Not super healthy, but I'm feeling good about the fitness and breakfasts, so it's a great start. When I have the opportunity I eat healthily, but sometimes I can really be swayed by what my boyfriend is eating!

Here at my parents house, there's an old set of weighing scales. They aren't digital, and you always know the rule is to 'stick to your own scales' as they can be off, and it's easier to measure by staying on the same set all the time.

Well, just out of curiosity, I jumped on these scales and it said I was 15 stone 2lbs! Oh how I wish that were true! I don't believe it at all, but a little part in my brain wishes it was believable!

I've got another week and a half of continuing insanity, healthy meals and getting exercise with the dog and the farming, and hope that it will have made a difference by the time I get to my weighing scales!!

Pinterest Board!

Follow Zoe's board Diet Ideas on Pinterest.

Day 203 - ideas of change of diet...

Well I'm going to start off by saying I didn't do Insanity last night. My excuses are that I couldn't get down to the animals until 6.30pm, then by the time they were fed and I was back it was 8pm. Then we ordered food, and didn't finish that until 10pm. So it was too late. But those are definitely bad excuses.

Today I've already fed the animals once and we are bout to be dogsitting, so I'm waiting for the owner to drop the dog off. I had scrambled eggs and bacon for my breakfast today. I haven't had lunch but I did just eat a piece of shortbread. I'm drinking peppermint tea for the next two weeks as there's no green tea in the house at the moment, but it's just as good as green tea for a detox, and it will be good to have a change. For dinner we are having pork thermador. I'm going to get some veggies to go with it and I will not eat any carbs along with it.

That's me updated, now for some food ideas.

I'm going to try and stick with fruit, so my first idea is:

Breakfast - fresh fruit (strawberries, grapes, raspberries) with natural yoghurt and honey. I'm not going to have a lot of this, but just a tablespoon of yoghurt, a teaspoon of honey and a handful of berries. This works out at around 100 calories for a breakfast. That's quite minimal, but if I'm having snacks in the day, this should work out fine.

I've started creating my own Pinterest board to put ideas of healthy foods on - here is the link - I'll embed it here too so you can see it as I build it.

Day 202: Time to start the regime once more!!

So all week last week, I started Insanity - a fantastic, cardio workout that really is making me work really hard! My breakfasts have been banana's, although when we had a work breakfast I had a croissant. My evening meals often have rice with them or pasta, and I really need to stop doing that.

I think although I'm getting so much fitter, my diet is now changing and becoming more lazy. With the movement of fat to muscle, and also not eating as healthy as I used to, the weight is piling back on.

And then, there was a hen weekend. On Friday evening we drank shots and cocktails all night, went out for dinner, and I had a chimichanga with rice and peas. Then on Saturday, we had a big breakfast, plus some dancing lessons (at least there was some sort of workout there!!). Then last night, I met my family for a 60th birthday, and had lots of unhealthy foods: quiche, sausage rolls, bread and cheese, as well as champagne and gin and tonic!

So now is the time to straighten myself out properly. I've weighed in, and although I really didn't want to count this as my weigh in, I'm going to. I officially weigh in at 15 stone 10 lbs. 4lbs higher than I was 2 weeks ago.

I'm going to Gloucestershire for 2 weeks now - 2 weeks of walking down to the farm twice a day, feeding animals, and hay baling. On top of which I intend on continuing Insanity every day, from today (I haven't done the last two days due to the hen weekend). I don't have a good set of weighing scales in Gloucestershire, and I don't intend on taking mine. I'm going to try and work hard for 2 weeks, and try to work out what my new diet is. I've had enough to Activia yogurts, and bananas for breakfast. I'm going to start researching what other things I could have that are low in carbs and calories, and healthy for me.

I will update with ideas and research over the next two weeks, but I won't be weighing in until my return, exactly two weeks today!

Wish me luck!!

Food.

Ok after publishing the last post, I think I need to sort out my evening meals. They are turning into carbs. I need to go back to salads, less bread etc.

Day 198 - What is going on??!

So, it's been a very busy week. On Sunday I did a 3k run for Isabel Hospice, which was good fun, and I ran faster than I normally do, with an average of 9 minutes per km.

I made sure that day that I had porridge for breakfast, and I ate well all day. However, I weighed in on Monday at 15 stone 11lbs. I didn't publish it as I thought it might be an anomaly, and I would get it back down by tomorrow. However, each day I've weighed in, and I've gone down lower, but I still 15 stone 9lbs. I don't understand whats going on! I'm eating healthily, and since Monday, I started the Insanity programme, which is a high intense training workout, 40 minutes a day, working really hard.

All I can think of this statement everyone says 'it's muscle, not fat'. It may well be true. But I really want to hit that 'under 15 stone' mark and it is taking FOREVER. I need some guidance on what to do next - I thought I had it sorted, with lots of exercise and healthy meals, but this doesn't seem to be working anymore.

Day 192 Week Update

This week, I have been absolutely exhausted and not eating properly at all. I've tried to stick to my normal diet, but I have not had time to even go shopping to buy groceries!

On the weekend I was out in London, drinking and eating restaurant-style food. In the week I had some healthy evenings, but then friends came over and we had a barbecue, and we were exhausted last night, so had a takeaway.

I weighed in this morning and I've lost another 1lb, so that's down to 15 stone 6lbs. I'm really trying to get down to the third pound, and I still have 8lbs to go.

I managed to go out and do a 4.2km run on Monday night, which then made me ache for a couple of nights, but not too bad. It is currently taking me 10 minutes per km, which means my 5k on Sunday is likely to be 50 minutes. I'd like it to be a bit quicker.

New Measurements

Ok so this is where I started:

Arms: 16 inches

Hips: 51 inches

Waist: 41.5 inches

Thigh: 30 inches

And this is where I am now:

Arms 15 - loss of one inch

Hips 47.5 - loss of 3.5 inches

Waist 38 - loss of 3.5 inches

Legs 26 - loss of 4 inches!

Day 184... Mid year review

So I noticed that the middle of this week was actually the middle of the whole year! Looking back, I'm pleased with the weight I've lost in 6 months, but I would have been happier if I had hit the 3 stone mark by now. But I should only look forward, there's no point of looking back.

This week I've been really good! Eating very well, and I've been running. I did 3k on Wednesday. I'm supposed to be running tonight but I now have plans so might not have time.

I'm out all weekend in London, at a festival, out with friends etc. So food won't be great this weekend.

I've weighed in today and I'm actually 15 stone 7lbs, so I have lost weight again. Really pleased. I'm actually on the low end of 15 7 so gives me good opportunity to continue weight loss over the weekend if I can. I certainly will try!! 

I've also measured, I will post up my new measurements in a separate post. 

Day 180... Lost the will!!

Im know a few people read my blog and have told me they are truly inspired, or how well I'm doing. But deep down, I know that after the first 2-3 months or so, I'm not happy. I worked hard at it for a while, and now I'm just finding excuses. So on Saturday for example, I had a Chinese. The positive is, I stopped when I realised I was full. The negative, I had Chinese!! I know that if I stuck to my guns and worked hard I would lose weight in no time. But I'm just not sticking to it. 

So if I'm remaining honest, I may as well continue. Yesterday I had left over Chinese for breakfast. Sounds weird to many people... You either love it or hate it!! It wasn't a plate full, just a small plate. Then I drank a few gin and tonics in the day, but stopped by the evening. More calories. I walked lots as I was at a festival. But I also had a hog roast roll for my lunch, and a small kebab when we got home. It's not massively unhealthy, despite thinking it is!! It had no chips, just salad and pitta bread. But it was late at night, so again I didn't want to weigh in this morning.

I don't want the negativity of a bad weigh-in. So I don't feel it would be worthwhile until Friday, when I can try to factor in a bad weekend with hopefully, a good week. 

Today I started off well. I had a yoghurt for breakfast, and green tea all day. I had grapes, a mini bagel with salmon and cream cheese, and a very mini falafel wrap for lunch. Pretty good. For dinner tonight I have lamb chops with salad. I'm also going to go out for a run, after dinner. And if I'm hungry later, which I shouldn't be, but if I am, I'll have a green tea and perhaps a belvita biscuit. So my aims are there. I'll be pleased if I can stick with it this week. I've got no major evening plans this week, so no reason to be unhealthy. If I'm 15 8 or 9 at the end of the week, ok. Above that in will be very disappointed. Below, I will be ecstatic. 

Day 178

Was very good yesterday. I had a bacon wrap for breakfast this morning, with green tea. Then for lunch I has some chicken dippers (no fresh food left in the fridge - time to do some shopping!!). We are going out this evening, so I'm eating out again! I'm only going to have starters. It's raining today so no run, although I have written in evenings in my diary of when I'm going to go running to make sure I stick with it. Instead, I did the abs, squats and push up challenges. 

Day 177

Although today should be my weigh in, I've decided not to do it. I've been doing so well all week and was aiming on my weight loss, but last night we went out for a birthday dinner and although I picked fairly healthy meals from the menu (chicken fajita wraps), there was still drinks and starters and large portions. So rather than get myself down that I've put on weight, I'm just going to give myself until Monday for a weigh in instead. That will give me time to get rid of the temporary weight from last night.

I aim to have an omelette for tea tonight, then Saturday should be able to be fully healthy, although Sunday I'm at a music festival all day until late. So not sure how healthy and regular that is going to be!!

Also going to try and go for a run on Saturday, although I'm still not well, so will have to see how I do after one lap. 

Day 175 bad times!!!

So to update... Breakfast and lunch still great. I was planning on going for a run tonight, but went to cinema instead! Dinner was late and therefore a KFC. what a fail. So I had some fries and three pieces of chicken, and a glass of coke. 

I have tried doing the challenges and I've decided to be a bit more realistic. I'm pausing the abs one for now, and finishing both the squats and push ups, missing out all the rest days. I have 12 days left but with rest days, it's probably 9. As soon as I've achieved those, I will do the abs ones. Then after that I will be running another 5k (REALLY NEED to go do some training) and my friend has set me up with the insanity programme. Apparently it's really tough! I've decided to start it after the 5k, to keep me going over the Summer. 

I think my body has got used to the majority of healthy good I'm eating, and therefore my weight has balanced out. Hopefully with the continuation of exercise and stepping it up over the Sunmer, I should be able to continue to lose weight. I don't mind if it's slower now, so king as I'm still losing it. 

Day 174 update

Rather than publishing sneaky weigh ins, I'm going to write my diet diary more often so I can check what I'm eating etc!

Yesterday I had a green tea and activia for breakfast, bananas weren't ripe! I ate my normal healthy lunch, then for dinner we had roast lamb, peas, potatoes and gravy. Although I had some carbs there, it was portion controlled.

I was too lazy to do any challenges yesterday. I WILL do them tonight. Watch this space! No jogging as I have chesty cough still, kicking off my asthma. 

Day 172 update

Yesterday I had a full English breakfast! This was pre planned! Then I was out all day running a concert with no time to eat, so I had the large breakfast to burn energy throughout the day. I drank tonnes of a water, and had a green tea in the morning too.

In the evening we had lamb chops, mash, peas and gravy. It was a  small amount of mash, so well portioned. 

In regards to my rules so far:

1. Breakfast and lunch routine is for weekdays!

2. I was aiming on a 3k jog today, but I'm ill. My throat infection has gone to my chest and nose, and it's kicked off my asthma too. I may do it this afternoon but right now, I'm taking it easy.

3. Evening meal for tonight planned: steak with peas and home made chips. This will be portion controlled!

4. Didn't do any challenges yesterday due to feeling ill. Will do at least squats and push ups today, and aim for the abs if I can.

Day 170 weigh in

This week wasn't great. As per usual, I was fine during the day. On Monday and Tuesday we had burgers/sausages with a salad, but there was loads of food left over from a party on the weekend. Crisps, coke, more crisps, and cheese and biscuits. So I was nibbling on those too.

Wednesdays Indian, I had a korma, pilau rice and peshwari naan. Thankfully I shared the whole lot with someone else, so it was much more minimal!!

Thursday I had fish and chips out, it was so yummy!! I thoroughly enjoyed breaking my diet!!

My abs squats and push up challenges have got better. However, the abs one is so intense that I do one day, then pull my muscles for the next two days!! I've come up with some options of how to fix this, including starting again from the beginning and alternative exercises. However for now, I'm going to keep going as I am, as I am still pushing through it. 

I weighed in today at 15 stone 9lbs. This was surprising and I felt quite pleased. But I know I really need to step up my game. So, new rules:

1. Stick with breakfast and lunch routine

2. Complete at least one 3k jog in 7 days (I would do more but coming to the end of term I am ill and exhausted, so I'm taking this easy).

3. Plan all evening meals so as not to indulge on fatty and calorific foods.

4. Continue on abs, squat and push up challenge, giving rest days when I've pulled muscles!! 

Day 166... Argh!!

So, I was absolutely right. I put on a tonne of weight over d of e weekend!! I weighed in Monday at 15 stone 11, gaining 3 lbs. This was disappointed but unsurprising. I'm going to keep trying this week, but I know I won't do well. On Wednesday I am meeting others for an Indian, then Thursday I'm out for dinner too. This does not bode well!!

Day 165... Bloat City

Well, I've just got back from D of E and I have very heightened concerns of my weigh in tomorrow!!

Basically, all I ate all weekend was burgers, sausages, bacon and bread. We cooked on a barbecue for every meal, and I had no control of eating anything healthy. I feel incredibly bloated tonight, and I know I'll have put on a good 5 lbs in the space of 2 days!!

I did stick to water and green tea, although one can of coke zero. I also played a rather active game of rounders one night, and did a 2 mile hike today, so I guess that's something. My legs are certainly aching!!!

I don't think I'm going to shed all my bloated bread filled stomach overnight, so I'm sad to say I will have put on weight by tomorrow. However, I feel confident that I should shed most or all of it by Friday, hopefully. 

I will update with an official weight tomorrow, but I'm not looking forward to it!! 

Day 163... Pre D of E!

I weighed in this morning and I was thrilled to see I had lost 1lb. Yes only one pound, but a weight loss nonetheless.

I am away all weekend on Duke of Edinburgh with the students. Unfortunately, that does mean I have to eat what everyone else is eating, when everyone else is eating, and I don't have much choice. I do have control over drinking, and I will be making sure that despite World Cup antics, I will only be drinking water and green tea. 

Day 159 - Race for Life complete!!

This weekend I started off really well. I ate fairly healthily and very aware of what I was eating. I've also done all my abs, squats and push ups, and still going!

On Sunday I did Race for Life, and once measured, it turned out to be over 6k, rather than 5k! I was very proud of achieving it, and I managed to raise £165 towards the charity as well. I had lots of people cheering me on, and I realised that I had run much faster than I normally do, completing a kilometre in approximately 8 minutes. I normally do it in about 10 minutes.

I had done some sneaky weigh ins on both Saturday and Sunday, and it looked like I had dropped 2 pounds, so I was really looking forward to saying that this morning! However, after the race yesterday, I had a lunch out (pork escalope) and then we had pasta for dinner. When I weighed in this morning, I had only lost 1 pound! It's so disappointing after working so hard on the run. However, I know that if I'm good today and drink lots of green tea, that extra pound will probably come off.

So today on my weigh-in I have lost one pound, and I am at 15 stone 9lbs. My plateau once again!! Hopefully by Friday I will aim to lose another pound or two.

Day 156 - Race for Life looming!!

Again, it's been a while since I blogged. Things got in the way... residential trip for a week with 88 Year 7 students... Ofsted... tired!!

Anyway, I need to update, and not only update, but sort myself out.

So since the last blog:

1. I am continuing on my excellent diet in the morning, and at lunchtime. I have a banana for breakfast (porridge on the weekends), an Activa drink for break, and at lunch I have a packet of either dried fruit (e.g. a few apricots) or vegetable crisps. They are the healthy ones - you can buy small packs that aren't seasoned or anything, and are purely very healthy. I've got the 'NuMe' range from Morrisons - such as these:

After a little bit of research, I then also switched from Snack a Jack rice crackers, to 'Velvet Crunch'. They are very similar rice cakes, but they have less calories in them, so I'm sticking with those. They are SO yummy!

2. My evenings haven't been brilliant. Sometimes, I will have salad and a chosen meat or protein item, which is fine. However, with the busy times we have had recently, we had a kebab last night (got home at midnight from a show), and a takeaway on Monday night (the Ofsted call!!). 

3. Whilst on PGL, it was full board, so it was very difficult to eat correctly. I had some bacon and beans, or beans and a hash brown, etc., for breakfast, and a yoghurt. Then for lunch I would have salad and a protein, and steer clear of potato. Then I would do the same for the evening. But I wasn't that active, and I wasn't jogging or getting much exercise, so I was a little worried when I came back. However, after my return, I stayed on the same weight, 15 stone 9lbs. I was really pleased with this, as I didn't want to go back up, and I know this is my plateau weight, I really need to break it.

4. Exercise: I went for a jog on the weekend after PGL, and I did 3 laps around the park. That equated to 4.7km! I was really thrilled with this and it really felt like I was edging nearer to my Race for Life goal. Then all week I've not had opportunity or energy to go jogging all week. I was going to go tonight but I'll be honest - I can't be bothered. I just don't find it easy to encourage myself after a long day at work. I'm really busy tomorrow, but I'd like to try and do a lap or two - nothing too strenuous, as I have the full slog this Sunday!!

5. Ok so the actual weigh in this week is not brilliant. Last night we went to a show, got home at midnight and were starving. We had no food in the house that we could cook or eat quickly, so this meant a kebab. So when I weighed in this morning, I was 15 stone 10lbs. I know this isn't awful, but I'd like to get rid of that 1lb, and a couple more! For tea tonight I've had stew, and I may have some more in a bit. Lots of healthy veg and stock, can't be that calorific. This site gave me a good idea as to the nutritional data...

I must admit I didn't exactly weigh my serving, but for a fair serving size, this looks like a very small amount of calories. 

For the rest of the weekend, I plan to still be very good! Porridge in the morning, healthy snacks for lunches, and then I'm going to do some grocery shopping to work out evening meals and make sure we have no takeaways! 

6. And finally... exercise regime!! With the 5k on Sunday, I'm hoping for a good weigh-in on Monday. Not only that, but I've started a challenge! There is currently an Abs, Squats and Push-Ups challenge as apps on the iPhone. They are 30 day challenges, and they are not easy!!! They increase each day, except for 2 rest days in a week. The abs one is definitely the toughest, with last nights' exercise as 30 sit ups, 12 leg raises, 12 crunches and a 20 second plank. I'm on Day 6 now and I have done every day so far. I intend to keep it up! 

To finish off, I have to say I feel great. Not all the time... I know I've got a lot to work on still, but there are some big positives to gain from this. Firstly, I bought some new trousers, and I was able to buy (and fit in to!) a size smaller than I have been wearing. Secondly, I went into my drawer of 'clothes that are too small for me' and chose a pair of trousers, and they fitted me too! So I have two new pairs of trousers that aren't hanging off me, and can show a slightly smaller figure! And finally, I've received so many compliments. Pretty much on a daily basis, one of my colleagues will come up to me to congratulate me, or ask me about Race for Life, or tell me how good I look. Although I KNOW I have loads to do, it's wonderful to get such praise for something I have been trying really hard at. And now, my meals are becoming a way of life. Not so much the evenings maybe... I'm starving by then, and all I want is comfort food. But I really enjoy eating salads, and I like having healthy snacks in the day and a healthy breakfast. It makes me feel better about my day. I also really enjoy drinking green tea, and I know how good it is for me. I don't think I will get to where I want to be in 365 days, but I do think I will have lost enough to feel amazing. And by the end of the year, I think I will feel like I've cracked it, and hopefully enjoy the new lease of life. I'm talking way ahead of myself here... I hope when I read back in 6 months time I'll be nodding away...

Day 141 weigh in

So this week, I've had better lunches as I got rid of the Dunkers, and instead I found some healthy style (not the unhealthy ones!!) vegetable crisps, nuts, dried fruit etc. This has made my lunches much more balanced. 

My dinners have been mostly ok. I've had jacket potato and tuna, turkey escalope and salad, chicken dippers and salad. My only one bad night was quite bad though... We went to an all you can eat Chinese!! After two plates I was full, clearly my stomach is shrinking due to my small lunches and breakfast, I was quite grateful!! 

It's been a very busy week, with parents briefing one night, going to the O2, prom tonight, and cinema night!! This means I haven't been out for a jog this week. I will be going tomorrow though, and I'm going to aim on about 4k if I can. Even if some of it is long stretches of walking. Race for life is just too soon. 

My 7 minute workouts haven't been that successful either. I always do them at night, but being so busy, and tired, I've just forgotten. The good thing is that it's not because I couldn't be bothered, it was purely be forgetting!! 

Next week I'm in PGL. that means full board food. Will certainly try hard to keep on the straight and narrow with just salads as much as I can!! Although It's an adventure camp, there isn't much room for going our jogging etc, still, I will try to make sure I get some fitness in. 

So I weighed in this morning at 15 stone 9lbs. This used to be a weight that I would often be at... It was my plateau weight before I put the extra few stone on. Hopefully next week I can try to lose a couple more. 

Update

I've been rubbish today!! I ran out of bits of food at home, so no food for breakfast. I took a yoghurt and raisins to work but only managed to have time for the raisins all day!! Then we went straight to the cinema at 6pm and I had a big bag of popcorn in there. Then on the way home about 10.30pm we got a Chinese takeaway. I didn't have lots though, I felt guilty and quite aware that I had done really badly!! Still, jogging tomorrow. Will try to get on the straight and narrow!!

Weigh in :-(

Day 134... I had been weighing every day to see how I was doing. I was on the route to losing a pound this week, however, yesterday evening I didn't exactly think properly! We had a really lovely dinner but it was pasta heavy, something I don't normally have. Then when coming home late, I bought a small doner kebab. I knew this morning that I felt heavier, and I have actually put on a lb. 

In terms of exercise, I did the 7 minute workout two days ago, but last night I was just busy and never got the opportunity. However I will try to do it tonight. Also, I'm going to go for a jog tomorrow. I'm going to aim to lose the 1lb I put on, plus more, just this weekend. Lots of salads and portion control!! 

Day 132... Still going?

So, I'm starting to lose my focus slightly. I've not been awful, I'm doing ok, but I'm not rapidly losing weight anymore. I guess a lot of the reason is because I've shifted two stone, and now it starts to get hard. Despite jogging about 7k a week, it's not really helping me lose weight. I jogged 3k on Saturday and was pretty good all weekend, but the weight isn't really moving.

So I think I need to reflect on everything and try and start again. I am just over a third of the way through my diet and I've lost 2 stone.  I want to lose about another 3 stone. With still about 7 months to go, I think I can do this.

My current diet consists of a banana and green tea for breakfast, during the day I have a muller light yoghurt, a packet of snack a jacks and a dairy lea dunker. I don't drink much in the day. Then in the evening I try to eat before 6-7pm, and I normally have something with salad, although occasionally I'll have something a little heavier. Normally we have fajitas, or a meat with salad. Last night we had tuna jacket potato, tonight is tomato omelette.

I used to jog every couple of days around here, but it's giving me shin splints, so I have to go further afield onto grass! I was going to go tonight but my legs are still really aching and I think I need to give them a break. Instead, I'm going to go for a really long jog next weekend in the park, on Saturday. I want to try to get to 4k next weekend.

I am, however, going to make sure I do my 7 minute workout every single night that I don't go for a jog. That will keep my fitness up and hopefully burn a few calories too. 

I'm also going to try to drink more!!

And finally, from next Monday, I'm going to change my diet at lunch time. I'm going to keep the yogurt, but although my other snacks are calorie controlled at 100 calories each, it's not exactly the healthiest, and is really just tiding me over until dinner. I don't have a lot of time, so packaged things do help me. 

I'm going to try a few things and see how I do. Firstly, trail mix. Perhaps some carrots and humous too, and grapes. Rice cakes seem popular on most websites as an ideal snack, so I think I will keep the snack a jacks, but stop with the Dunkers, and switch to trail mix, and see how that goes. 

Day 125... Still alive!!

Ive not posted in a very long time!! It's been busy, and then my internet has been broken... So a quick update: 

In Norfolk I was fairly careful... I had healthy breakfasts, green tea whenever possible, although we did have fish and chips for lunch on the Saturday.

I've started jogging much more. Every couple of days I do 2.5k, but running on Tarmac is really painful for my shins, so I can't jog more than that! Tonight I'm going to go somewhere different so I can try jogging on grass instead and see if that helps.

I weighed in yesterday at 15 stone 10 lbs, so another 2lbs off. It is going slowly but I'm less good with my eating habits now. I need to try a bit harder with it. I still have a banana for breakfast, yoghurt, snack a jacks and a dunker throughout the day, but then my meal in the evening is starting to get larger. I will try to curb back. 

Tonight is stew, so I can be careful to not eat the potato or rice, and steer clear of dumplings, and aim for more of a soup!! 

Weigh in

Day 113! Can't believe I've been doing this for so long!

Weighed in this morning back to 15 stone 12lbs. Really thrilled I'm back on track, just need to get these next 14 pounds off. 

Away this weekend in Norfolk on a school trip, full board, so I need to be very careful how I eat. I don't have much control over it this weekend. Weather is horrible but I've brought my jogging stuff anyway in the hope of a jog every day 

Day 111

I've been jogging for the last two days and I've been simply angelic with my food... But I still haven't had a weight change at all. I'm a bit stuck as to what to do next. I thought the jogging would take it off pretty quickly. I guess I need to work at increasing my jogging pattern, but I can't really decrease my food intake anymore. And I'm only drinking green tea and water, I am only eating small portions and healthy meals. 

Day 109...

Well today is weigh in.

On the weekend I had bananas for breakfast, green teas all day, or water. Yesterday I had a Sunday lunch for dinner, and fruit for tea. Saturday I had salad and pittas for lunch, and a barbecue for dinner. I was fairly good at the barbecue, although I did have two bread rolls.

I went for a jog yesterday too.

However, I've got on the scales and put on 3 lbs. I'm so disappointed. I think I've hit a plateau that is difficult to get off. I've been around this weight for a long time now. I've got to try and get off it. 

This week I'm back to work, so it will be yoghurts for lunch, salad for dinner, bananas for breakfast. I need to shed those three pounds and keep going down!!! :-(

Weigh in...

And.... I weigh the same amount as I did on Monday! Little bit annoying as I've been good all week, but at the same time I'm relieved I haven't put any on. 

So 15 stone 12 lb... 14 lbs to go until the next goal!

Late night blogging!

It's technically day 106 although it is 1am... Late night marking!!

Today was good. Banana and green tea for breakfast, a simple salad for lunch, and then two chicken fajitas for dinner. I had some watermelon in the evening too. No chocolate, no temptations. 

A few hours and it will be weigh in time. I hope I've done enough just to keep the pounds off, I'm not bothered about losing more weight this week, just keep the consistently of losing that stone.

The weekend will be tough. My parents are visiting so I've stocked the cupboards with bread and crisps, as well as biscuits, but I'm pretty sure I can steer clear of most of that. We are having a barbecue on Saturday so if I can ignore the rolls and just eat meat and salad, that's great.

Sunday will be a roast dinner, so I will just try to portion the gravy and potatoes... The rest will be fine. 

I've got Eton mess for dessert, so lots of fruit and light single cream with meringue. At least there is tonnes of fruit! The one bad thing I know I will eat... Hot cross buns. I bought them as I knew my dad would be peckish, and we all like them. But they smelled beautiful when I bought them fresh, and it am honestly really looking forward to having one. I might have it as a breakfast or something early in the morning, so I can burn it off and it went sit on me late at night.

Anyway,bedtime now. I will post up weight in a few hours!

Tough Days...

Yesterday was tough. My boyfriend ate a nice breakfast, making me drool!! But I stuck with my banana. We went shopping and I forgot to bring a snack and I was starving. We also considered getting a Thai lunch, but knowing I was on a diet, we sadly resisted temptation. We agreed we would have one when I hit my next stone goal, whenever that may be!! 

I got home and had an egg salad with coleslaw and a pack of snack a jacks, and some chicken bites. Then for dinner I had a small portion of spaghetti. Well, to me it was a small portion anyway! I had a kinder egg with green tea after that. Recently, I just haven't managed to get into the zone as much as I did at the beginning. I must try harder to resist large portions, and snacking on unhealthy treats. 

Today is a busy day with builders around, collecting a carpet, doing lots of work around the house. I will try to keep myself occupied! Maybe it's easier when I'm at work, as I'm too focused to find time to think about food. 

It's all about consistency...

Yesterday I did well. I did some weeding and digging in the garden, burning lots of calories! I had a banana for breakfast, a yoghurt and snack a jack for lunch, and I had 2 chilli and salad wraps for lunch. After lunch I had a small chocolate bunny, and I had 2 cups of green tea. 

I'm going out today but I'm still going to aim to be good, I know I have chilli spaghetti for dinner tonight which is a lot of carbs, so I'm going to make sure to eat light all day, and keep a small portion for tea. 

New measurements

I realised I hadn't done my measurements since I was 16 stone 10, on day 29. My new measurements are:

Arms: 15.5 (loss of half an inch)

Hips: 50 (loss of one inch)

Waist: 39.5 (loss of 2 inches)

Thigh: 30 (no change)

Am I seeing things?

So I jumped on the scales this morning, and I have lost 3lbs! This means I am now 15 stone and 12 pounds, and I've hit my 2 stone goal! I can't quite believe it, as that means I lost 3lbs in one day! Therefore I think this week is all about staying consistent with my weight, rather than necessarily losing any. I just want to try and keep the weight off for the next few days. 

Measurements will be updated soon!!

5lbs to go!!

Yesterday I did well, with a yoghurt for lunch, and a big salad for dinner with turkey escalope, which was really yummy. 

However, it was hard to get back into the habit and I was still hungry so I had a packet of snack a jacks, and a pack of chocolate animals for 100 calories, with a cup of green tea. 

I had a peek at the scales this morning and I'm 16 stone 1lb... So now just 3lbs to go until my 2 stone mark! 

Today has started with a go ahead bar (bananas not ripe enough yet), a cup of green tea, and I plan for a yoghurt at lunch and salad with pork ribs for tea. 

Result:

I was quite hungry at lunch so I had a packet of snack a jacks as well, and then later I made some egg mayonnaise on a few crackers.

This was my dinner:

Which I really enjoyed, but I am still so peckish! I've made a cup of green tea and I have a kinder egg on hand, 110 calories. At least something small like that can make me feel a lot better that I are something I really wanted, but it's well portion controlled, not like a huge bar of galaxy where YOU decide when to stop! 

100 days down!!

So today, I should be celebrating that I've done 100 days of dieting! But I'm not in the mood for celebration. I've come back from Italy and I've put on 4lbs.

While I was away, we had a 24 hour coach journey on the way to Italy. Although I had a couple of bananas and go ahead snacks, there are only so many snacks you can eat! Then whilst in Italy, we had full board food. For breakfast I steered clear of all bread, leaving me with ham and cheese for breakfast. I took green tea bags with me, so at least I could have one in the morning.

For lunch there were bread rolls, but I didn't eat those either,  so I ended up skipping lunch most days and eating a go ahead bar. Then for dinner, the only options were to eat the pasta that was given to you. I hadn't been eating any pasta so this has probably made me a little bloated. 

One night I had pizza as we went to a pizza restaurant. I had a ice cream bought for me by a student, and we did tonnes and tonnes of walking, particularly up hill in San Gimignano!!

I was hoping that if anything, I would have lost weight. However, on the way home yesterday, we had another 24 hour journey. I had a couple of snacks, we stopped off for dinner and I ate a bratwurst. For breakfast I had an English breakfast on the ferry: hash brown, sausage, beans and egg. Then I didn't have any lunch, but we had no food at home when I got in last night so we ordered a Chinese.

When I look at the week with more analysis, I wonder if it was just the last 2 days of travelling that has turned my schedule into turmoil and I'm so tired that my metabolism is low too. Therefore I'm hoping I can get these few pounds off this week.

Today I'm going to go shopping this morning, and buy fresh salad, chicken, mince etc., and I'm going to go back to a banana for breakfast, yoghurt and grapes for snacks, and then salad with a meat for dinner. I'm going to weigh in on Monday, only 2 days away, and then on Friday too. I really want to get to my two stone mark and I'm so disappointed that I didn't quite get there by 100 days. But I am close. 

Off to Italy

Well I worked really hard for the last two days at having good meals all day. Last night we resisted the takeaway and I had turkey escalope and salad. But today I weighed in and I still needed to lose 4 more ounces!! So I'm not confident to say that I lost the 2 stone I wanted to by today.

I can't weigh in again now until next Friday. I've got lots of healthy snacks for the coach, and doing lots of walking, so I'm aiming to be as healthy as I can, taking into account that it's full board for a week. 

So close!!

Not much longer!!

I've had a hectic few days. However, massive success yesterday. I ordered 12 pizzas for people during our concert last night, but my colleague very kindly picked me up a salad. I did not eat one slice of pizza!! I was a little bitter but also a bit proud of myself too. And it totally paid off, as this morning I weighed in at 15 stone and 13 lbs! If this is consistent, that means I only need to lose one more pound. 

Today however, I had a croissant for breakfast, as it was bought for me yesterday. Then at lunchtime I ate a banana. I haven't had time for my yogurts, it's just been too manic. For tea tonight, our salad had run out, so I cooked 7 chicken dippers and a pasta and sauce, but I gave my boyfriend half of the pasta, so I thought it was a fair sized portion.

I don't think I will have put any weight on by tomorrow, but I might not have lost any... I really wanted to lose that last pound though. I've told my boyfriend we could go out for dinner tomorrow, but dependent on what I weigh in at, I'm not so sure... Wish me luck.

Busy day...

Same weight today... Maybe just one slice of pizza tonight then!

Good day

Had a sneaky weigh-in this morning and I was 16 stone 1lb, which I was really pleased with. If that was accurate and not fluctuating, that only leaves me with 3lbs left to go! 

Today I had a banana for breakfast with a green tea. then one small triangle of a salad sandwich on brown bread (quarter of a slice of bread) for lunch with some grapes. I was in a meeting with cakes, chocolate and tonnes of sandwiches, orange and apple juice. I thought I did really well by sticking with what I ate.

For dinner I had the same again... Chicken Kiev with salad. Oh and I made an avocado dip and had 2 pitta breads for a snack before that too. 

I also did my 7 minute workout today, and spent 2 hours putting clothes away in my wardrobes so I feel I was pretty active all day. 

Tomorrow... Late night, concert and pizza being ordered... I'm aiming to eat one, maybe two slices for my dinner. I will do my best!! 

New me?

Today I've done well. I weighed in at 16 stone 3 lbs, so I do still have 5lbs to go. Although this is annoying, it just spurs me on to keep going. 

So today I had a banana and a green tea for breakfast, a yoghurt for lunch and a fruit snack bar at around 3pm. Then for dinner I had a chicken Kiev with salad. I was starving by 9pm but I've had a green tea and a boiled sweet. 

Just realised I haven't done my 7 minute workout but I'm in bed now so it's just not happening!! 

Tomorrow I aim for a very similar day of eating, plus workout!! 

I'm going to weigh in every day this week. I know you shouldn't, but I want to monitor this and keep me going. 

Time to shape up!

Yesterday at the Ploughmans supper, I didn't do too badly. I steered clear of all bread, and ate all the celery and grapes (with a little pate). However, I did also snack on some crisps and cheese, and it was pretty late. Despite this, I stuck to water all night. So there were ups and downs. However, I snuck onto the scales today to see if this affected me at all, and I seem to have put on 2lbs! I'm really disappointed in myself. I really wanted to lose that second stone before I left for Italy (6 days away), but it seems an impossible task now.

I really have to sort myself out. I started this diet really well, and I'm not even three months in, and I've already been struggling. So from tomorrow, I'm going to do the 7 minute workout every day, and for the next 5 days, I'm steering clear of all bread. I'll have a yoghurt for breakfast, banana for a snack in the day, and a lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad. Then for dinner I'm going to have a couple of pieces of chicken (chicken dippers would be easy), perhaps a bit of bacon, with salad. No potatoes, no pasta, no bread. No dressing. Unfortunately, I can't do this today. I've started with a banana and green tea, but I'm cooking Sunday lunch for 6 people. I'm bulking it out with leeks, carrots, runner beans, broccoli and cauliflower.

I really need to stick to this and try and make a difference.

Disappointed weigh-in

Well, I weighed in again this Friday, and I was disappointed to see I'd only lost another 1lb. I've still got 4 lbs to go in 7 days if I'm going to make my goal. I've had very suitable breakfasts and lunches, and I've now got into the habit of having a yoghurt and a banana whilst at work, and a piece of toast for breakfast. I'm really happy with that. I had healthy dinners too.

Tonight I cooked golden chicken with leeks and beans, which was very yummy, and about 600 calories for the portion. I got this from Jamies 15 minute meals, and the boyfriend loved it too so that's one to have again.



This morning I was up early, and I had a bad breakfast... fried egg and bacon sandwich (wholemeal bread at least!!) Then I was in the garden weeding in the morning, and made a chicken salad wrap for dinner, with a handful of crisps. Then I put together a wardrobe this afternoon. So I've certainly been fairly active today!! We are out tonight at a quiz but I'm not drinking, and it's a plougman's dinner, so I'm going to aim for the grapes and healthy stuff for as long as I can. The food goes pretty quickly there anyway so I can imagine I'll be left hungry, if anything. I'm not drinking either, so it's water all night for me.

Tomorrow it Mother's Day, so I'm cooking a big roast for dinner, but with lots of veg: broccoli, cauliflower, runner beans and leeks. That will fill the majority of my plate so I have little room for roast potatoes or meat!

4lbs to go... I don't think I'm going to make it by next Friday, but I will certainly try.

Day 82

Day 82, and I've lost a pound over the weekend. Seeing as I played netball on Friday, and then went for a 3 hour walk on Saturday, I am a little bit downhearted by this. I ate good breakfasts, salads for lunch, and small portions for dinner.

So now, I am 16 stone and 3 lbs. 5lbs to go until my 2nd stone is lost.

Today I had one slice of wholemeal toast with reduced fat peanut butter for breakfast, with a green tea. Then during the day, I had one Muller light yoghurt, and a no dressing green salad. I also had a cup of normal tea,with drop of skimmed milk. For dinner I had chicken stir fry, with lots of veg and glass noodles.

My body is telling me its hungry but its now 6.30pm so I'm going to ignore it. Instead, I'm going to have another cup of green tea. Also before I go to bed, I'm going to do my 7 minute workout.