Week 11 : "I'm Late! I'm Late!...

... And I've put on weight!
No time to say hello, goodbye!
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!"

Yes, sorry for the delay getting this post out. I really don't know why I didn't do it on Monday. But by now, you may have worked out that I put on this week. Probably because like in Alice In Wonderland, I am a big girl who basically just sees "EAT ME" written on everything… I packed on 1.2lbs — but I am totally OK with that. I was still fighting off sinusitis last week, making a very half-arsed attempt at fasting and absolutely no attempt at any exercise. So I was expecting this result.

What I was not expecting, was to arrive at the office last Monday to find clotted cream, jam and scones at work (brought in for a birthday) along with a million other snack foods. That was hard to deal with on a fast day, even though I had recently eaten the Scone Cake Monstrosity (see previous post). But I did manage to resist until the next day, which is something given how shit I was feeling. Oh, but I did eat three giant pretzels that day. And by three, I obviously mean five.

The rest of the week is a bit of a blur I'm afraid… All I wanted to do was eat nice things that felt comforting, although him indoors stopped me from going down the chippy, which initially I resented massively, but then was thankful afterwards. Sort of. And I really craved curry, probably for the strong flavours because I couldn't taste much, but I couldn't be arsed to make one, and my parents had made chicken with salad when I went round to visit. Not what I had in mind, but I kept telling myself it was better for me and really healthy, blah, blah…

However, by the weekend, I knew I would be well enough to re-start my new exercise programme. So you can imagine my excitement when Saturday finally came — at last, I can go running! Two weeks of feeling crap, but now I could run past the cows with wind in my hair, a burning sensation in my calves and sweat dripping from my brow — hallelujah!

I did nothing. And then I did nothing on Sunday either, deciding to sleep in until 1pm instead. Shame. On. Me. I felt really guilty by the end of the weekend, so naturally I drowned my sorrows/sabotaged myself even further with some pasta and garlic bread. Punishment Pasta, that's what it was…

I think my initial fasting excitement has waned a bit — it's understandable. But I think I just need to get a few good weeks of weight loss under my belt and I will be re-enthused (is that a word?). I have been a bit up and down so I think it's just about getting back into it, which doesn't really feel like an awful, terrible imposition on my life at all. In general, I feel good about my body — I am especially liking my legs right now — so overall, I think that's more important. My body looks better and I feel better about it than I did three months ago, so that's good enough for me right now.

Although next week will be Week 12 — time to have a review and get the measuring tape out I think…

Week 6 : "Welcome to Dumpsville… Population: You."

Just so you know, I did not get dumped. But I tell you this much — if I did get dumped, I would not be writing this blog anymore. I would be out there, running down the street, flaunting my too-depressed-to-eat skinny body in hot pants and a boob tube. 

No, I'm talking about a different kind of dumping, people. (Don't worry — it won't be for very long.) I weighed myself after my second fast day last week and my weight was exactly the same as the week before. Given how much I had eaten over the weekend, plus eating out at work, I was quite content with being 11st 5.2lbs. At least this way when I weighed myself on Saturday (my official day), I wouldn't be shocked at the results. 

As an aside (and an excuse to squeeze a picture in, cos that's what blog reader want, apparently), I believe in keeping fast day meals simple — I don't want to be faffing around with food when I am not free to just chuck stuff in. You can eat what you want all week, so two days should not need to be sexed up! This was some lovely spiced basa fish with griddled courgettes and mushrooms I had — very low in calories, so perfect for fasting :-)

This is even better with smoked basa…

So Saturday arrived and I (officially) got on the scales. 11st 4.6lbs. What the hell? After having a Chinese takeaway last night?? Man... OK... Just over half a pound is good, but how could I make it better? Hmm, could I try going to the loo…? Would that make a difference? Worth a try, surely? Well, I'm glad I tried, because boy, did that poo pay off! 11st 4lbs — IN YOUR FACE, FAT BODY!

There is a part of me that feels slightly dishonest doing a Weigh Day evacuation because I don't always try for a Number 2 before I get on the scales every week. But then I thought, "Fuck it — I'm in the fat-weighing business, not the poo-weighing business. It's not cheating!" And it's not like the old days where I used to pop a bunch of Sennakot before bed and pray to have a massive shit the next day… ANYWAY. Poo stories aside — I lost over a pound. I win. The End. 

So I was feeling excellent on Saturday. And when you feel excellent, you want to do all you can to continue feeling this way. So, time for some exercise! I had nipped out earlier in the day and stepping out the front door was like entering an oven, so running was out of the question — I didn't want to miss my friend's birthday celebrations suffering from heat stroke. So I decided to do my Davina Power of 3 DVD. It had been well over a year since I had done it (I used to do it religiously) but at least exercising in the living room was a bit cooler. 

The warm up was fine, but then I started doing the leg workout. The moves were feeling intense. Too intense. Every squat felt like someone was kicking me in my butt cheek — HARD. Halfway in, I decided that this was a stupid idea, especially as I was planning to wear proper heels for the first time in year later that night — I really didn't need jelly-leg syndrome! So I did some arm work and then went off to ice some birthday cupcakes, naturally.

After stuffing our face with three fajitas, we headed out to my friend's birthday. Excellent night out (although we were all sweating like little bitches), lots of nice snacks (that I didn't need but ate anyway) and I didn't fall and break my ankles, which is my constant fear when in heels — RESULT! As we didn't get a chance to grab a hot dog after the club, I rustled up more fajitas when we got in at about 3.30am, as well as defrost some dhal — never underestimate the effort a drunk foodie will put into a worthy post-club snack! Finally, it was time for bed.

The next morning —OH DEAR GOD. I could not move. Seriously, everything was aching. Thighs, calves, butt, hips, triceps — everything. It took me ages to get out of bed and I actually felt like I had been in a fight. FUCKING DAVINA!! (I am still in pain as I write this.) However it reminded me how good this DVD is, so I am going to try and squeeze it in once a week.

Having eaten all that food before bed, I didn't have a hangover at all the next day, so it should have been a good day food-wise. Unfortunately, there was no proper food in the house, so I gorged on cakes, biscuits and crisps ALL DAY. Not very satisfying or nutritious really. And it means I have to really be careful this week, as well as being on top of my exercise. In fact, my new technique when I am feeling tired on my run is to grab a handful of my saddlebags — honestly, that keeps me moving! (Although I probably look a bit mental.)

I have lost just over 8lbs in 6 weeks. My next goal is 10lbs (because it's a nice round number) and then after that it will be to get under 11st. If things keep going at this rate, a bit more of the wardrobe should start to fit at last. Roll on dinner with the girls!

Fast Diet Weight Loss Record

No, I have not released a song about my adventures in fasting. I just wanted somewhere to document my progress each week. 

I weigh myself on the same day every week, and in the same pyjamas pants usually. I have no idea if my digital scales are accurate or not — let's hope so!


START — 1 June :       11st 12.0lbs

Week 1 — 10 June :   11st 8.5lbs (-3.5)
Week 2 — 17 June :   11st 6.4lbs (-2.1)  
Week 3 — 24 June :   11st 6.4lbs (0)  
Week 4 — 1 July :      11st 6.2lbs (-0.2)
Week 5 — 8 July :      11st 5.2lbs (-1.0)  
Week 6 — 15 July :    11st 4.0lbs (-1.2)    **8lbs**  
Week 7 — 22 July :    11st 6.4lbs (+2.4)  
Week 8 — 29 July :    11st 5.6lbs (-0.8)
Week 9 — 5 Aug :      11st 5.4lbs (-0.2)
Week 10 — 12 Aug :  11st 4.8lbs (-0.6)
Week 11 — 19 Aug :  11st 6.0lbs (+1.2)
Week 12 — 26 Aug :  11st 6.6lbs (+0.6)
Week 13 — 2 Sept :   11st 7.6lbs (+1.0)
Week 14 — 9 Sept :   11st 5.8lbs (-1.8)
Week 15 — 16 Sept : 11st 6.4lbs (+0.6)
Week 16 — 23 Sept : 11st 5.0lbs (-1.4)
Week 17 — 30 Sept : 11st 4.6lbs (-0.4)
Week 18 — 7 Oct :    11st 3.8lbs (-0.8)    **8lbs** (again)

TOTAL SO FAR : 8.2lbs

A New Start : The Fast Diet

Yes peeps. I have finally quit Weight Watchers. I was planning to move to the 'online only' membership, but I decided to pack it all in. Not to just get fat, but to try another approach. They have had enough money off me.

A few weeks ago, Blog Mate asked if I had heard of the 5:2 diet. I said no. Then the boyfriend asked me as well, I said no again. But then I got curious… I did a little bit of research on Dr Michael Mosley (the guy who has brought this to the forefront most recently)… and watched his Horizon TV show where he first discussed the diet… then researched online… then bought his book… And then after having a weird dream where he was working in my local Morrisons serving salami at the cigarette counter (which had dog food in it!) I decided that I should probably just give it a go.

So since Saturday, I have been on the 5:2 diet. The basic premise is that you don't count calories. You eat 'normally' (we will come back to this later) and fast for two non-consecutive days. But on those fast days, you do actually eat — 500 calories of high-protein, low-GI food, and lots of water, herbal tea or black coffee, etc.

This seemed way more achievable than counting points for the rest of my life. IF it works, that is. I have decided to fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays (as I tend to be busy on those days and it is suggested to keep yourself occupied on a fast day) and so far it seems to be good. But then I am only one week in! 

Eating 500 calories really is OK. I felt a little lightheaded, but apparently that goes once your body gets used to it. I was surprised at how easy it was — getting through a fast day is a hell of a lot easier when you know you can eat what you want the next day, rather than waiting until the the weekend, or when you get your new weeklies, or when you have finally got thin, you tubby cow… 

I like to split my 500 calories into two meals. I have my first meal when I get hungry, and I find that is around 1.30/2pm. Which is good really, because I worry that if I ate first thing in the morning, I would just be craving food until dinner, and I really couldn't handle that. And then my next meal I eat in the evening when the hunger does ramp up a bit. But I think that's more out of habit than actual hunger. 

I haven't bought the cookbook, as I figured I can probably rustle up stuff myself from looking online — people have so many recipes out there. You can actually get two very decent meals for 500 calories! I was really surprised. On my first day I had a one-egg mushroom omelette with leafy salad for lunch, and for dinner I had a spicy turkey stir fry that I turned into a soup. Today I have the soup again for dinner, and a whole can of tuna with salad for lunch. It looks exactly the same as what I normally have for lunch, which is really fucking good. I think I can do this…

Before I headed to Leeds a few weeks ago, I managed to lose 3lbs, but ended up putting two of them back on over the weekend. When I weighed myself to start this diet on Saturday I was 11st 12lbs, but after one fast day I was down to 11st 10lbs. Now a lot will be water and the first week 'kick start' that happens with any new diet, but I am happy with that. Also, I got a 'how you doin'?" and a 'hi there' from a nice young man in Morrisons yesterday, so gym clothes plus fast diet already appear to be working for me :-)

Let's see what Saturday brings! Actually, I might move my weigh day to Monday morning as myfitnesspal (which is a bloody godsend!) starts its weeks on Mondays, and I am more likely to write a post on Monday too. So back here Monday for results!