Wednesday 1 December 2010

Let it snow...

I wished for snow and it obliged, perhaps a little too much! This is what I woke up to this morning:


You can't tell from the photo, but that snow is well over a foot deep and getting deeper by the minute. It was only predicted to be very light, so I wasn't really prepared for it. I'm stranded at home, with hardly any food in the house, let alone Dukan friendly food, and I have already eaten 2 biscuits : (  Oh dear...

Monday 29 November 2010

Three times a charm!

Week 17 - Weight loss 3lbs (Total lost 42lbs)

Yay mini goal no 3 achieved, 3 stones!

Well a combination of being sick with a nasty cold and having very little food in the house has helped my to achieve mini goal number 3 (despite eating a naughty chocolate cookie yesterday). That means I can get my third charm for my bracelet when I go Christmas shopping next week : ) I'm thinking something festive like a little snowflake.

I'm so ready to be at consolidation right now, but I have to keep plugging away for another 2 stone before I reach my true weight. Realistically, taking Christmas in to account, another 12-15 weeks on the cruise phase.

I know it will be worth it in the end, but sometimes it's so hard to stay motivated sometimes.Especially now it's sooooo freezing cold, I'm longing for soup and a bread roll or stew with dumplings!

Wednesday 24 November 2010

Countdown to Christmas

I haven't lost anything this week after a slightly indulgent weekend of booze and birthday dinners, but I'm just glad I haven't put anything on to be honest. I've got a week and a half till my xmas party, by which time I will hopefully have reached 3 stone lost and I've bought a slinky little dress to celebrate. The good thing is that as we're hosting the party I can make sure there are plenty of Dukan friendly nibbles - although I'm going to have to bend the rules a little with the alcohol again!

I love this time of year, perhaps this is mainly because I get 2 whole weeks of work at Christmas, but I just love it. The parties, shopping for presents, seeing my family, decorating the tree, carol concerts, snow! I think one of the things I'm looking forward to the most this year is roast potatoes and stuffing- my carb-filled present to myself for one day only : )

Thursday 18 November 2010

Progress photos

I know, I know - I've been really slack AGAIN with my blog! I've been doing heaps of overtime at work and it's generally been a horrible week, so I haven't felt much like posting. Anyway, I thought it would be a good time to post some progress photos:

Before the diet                                                     


And after losing 2 stone 7lbs





















I've lost another 4lbs since these were taken, so when I get to my next mini goal of 3 stone I'll put another pic up.

I may have gone AWOL on the blog, but don't worry I haven't gone AWOL on the diet, here are the latest stats....

Week 15 weight loss 3lbs - total weight loss 39lbs

Hope everyone is doing well xx

Thursday 4 November 2010

Busy busy busy!

Well this week has been mad! I'm super busy at work right now, which is the excuse I'm using for being off the radar for a while. I work in events and advertising and yesterday was the biggest event of the year (which I'm responsible for organising!). Luckily all went well and I got plenty of exercise running around like a mad person. Anyway I digress, stats for this week:

Week 13 weight loss 2lb (total weight loss 34lb)

I have to admit I got home from work at 9pm last night and succumbed to a small chocolate lollypop which we bought for trick or treaters - I know it's naughty, but I felt like I earned it!

Really looking forward to this weekend - going to a bonfire night tomorrow, I love fireworks!!

Thursday 28 October 2010

Déjà vu

Week 12 - total weight loss 1lb (total lost so far 32lbs)
So every 4 weeks without fail I have a mini plateau and lose hardly anything. Hey - I'm nothing if consistent! I'm used to it now, so I'm not too bothered by it.
Operation exercise more has been going well. I have been keeping up with my running, swimming and walking - swimming tonight. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with swimming. I love actually swimming, but I hate being in a swimming costume in front of loads of people, getting splashed in the face by the man who insists on doing butterfly stroke right next to me and then trying (and never fully succeeding) to dry off afterwards. I think I need my own pool, then it would be perfect.

The clocks go back this weekend, which is threatening to sabotage my running after work, as the park where I run is not very well lit. I think I'll have to change my route, which is a shame because the park is so pretty.

I'm thinking about getting the Wii Fit balance board for when the weather's too bad to go running - has anyone tried this? Is it any good?

Thursday 21 October 2010

Running smoothly.

Week 11 - Total loss 3lbs (Overall loss 31lbs)

Pretty happy with the weight loss this week, despite my bad boozing behaviour on the weekend. I got a charm for my bracelet too for reaching my second mini goal, super cute:

I've made an executive decision that I need to be way more active, the weight loss is all very well and good, but I don't feel very toned. I'm going to try and keep up the swimming once a week and start running too.

I went for my first run since I've lost the weight and it felt amazing, it was so much easier. Admittedly I ache ALOT today, but it hasn't put me off - I might even go running again on the weekend. If all goes well I might consider doing a sponsored 5k run next year like Race for Life.

Hope all is going well for you fellow Dukaners!  

Tuesday 19 October 2010

True weight debate.

My weekend celebration (read copious amounts of forbidden alchohol) has got me thinking about consolidation and my true weight.

As you'll already know when you calculate your true weight on the Dukan website, you're asked to enter what weight you'd like to be (mine was 9 stone 7lbs) and then it provides your true weight (9 stone 10lbs). I'm interested to know how you decided what weight you want to be and how this differs from your true weight.

I'm almost half way there now and I can already feel a huge difference, I'm starting to wonder whether I really need to loose another 3 stone. This would put me at the lower end of a healthy weight range for my height, which would be great, but I'm just worried about keeping the weight off.

I think that losing weight is relatively easy compared to maintaining your weight loss. It's where I've always slipped up in the past. That's one of the reason that I chose the Dukan diet, because it doesn't end when the weight loss does. I guess I need to have faith in consolidation, when I finally get there!

Friday 15 October 2010

Mini goal reached - yay!

Firstly apologies that I have have been MIA for the past week! Things have been pretty manic. However, as you'll see from the title I have good news. I've reached my 2 stone mini goal! Plus, I'm no longer classed as 'obese' according to my BMI. Wow, I never thought I would be so happy to overweight : )

Secondly, I want to say a massive thank you to all my blog friends and those who read my blog. I can't believe that I've had over a thousand page views - when I first started the blog I didn't think anyone would even read it and I didn't expect to find so many inspirational blogs to read either. Reading your blogs is what keeps me motivated! I've tried and failed so many diets in the past and I truly believe that I could not have achieved the weight loss I have with the Dukan diet, without your encouragement and support - you guys are AWESOME.

Anyway, I am most definitely going to be celebrating this weekend, I've got a big night out lined up for tonight and I may succumb to a Mojito or two, but I feel like I've earned it. Plus, I've taken the day off work on Monday so I can go shopping with my hubby for a new charm for my charm bracelet (I get one for each stone I lose).

Hope everyone has a great weekend and I promise not to leave it so long before I post again!

Thursday 7 October 2010

Up and down

Week 9 - total lost 3.5lbs

Well my weight has been fluctuating ALOT this week, up and down it goes, it's driving me mad. Two steps forward one step back. I've been a bit lax with the water and the oatbran of late, so that's probably not helping!

I'm definitely going to try and be stricter with myself next week. Plus my BBF has asked me to start swimming with her on a Monday so that should be a good way to start the week.

I couldn't be happier that it's Friday tomorrow, work has been miserable this week, so stressful, plus there was a robbery on monday (luckily nobody was hurt) and then yesterday a man jumped of the building opposite, really sad.

Anyway, I'm hoping that a weekend spending time with some of my favourite peeps will cheer me right up and maybe, just maybe I'll reach my second mini goal by next week!

Sunday 3 October 2010

A weekend off.

Well I've had a pretty busy weekend, friends round for dinner on Friday and then a wedding all day yesterday. I tried to stick to the diet as much as possible, but I did allow myself a few treats. For the dinner party I served antipasti of cured meats and olives, meatballs in spicy goulash sauce and then warm chocolate orange pudding with chocolate sauce. Mainly dukan friendly, but I have to admit I did try a bit of the pudding "for taste".

At the wedding I thought I would allow myself a drink or two (which ended up being or four), I avoided anything too carb heavy but I did eat most of the dessert - white chocolate icecream with a warm chocolate and pistachio fondant...mmm! The wedding reception was at the same venue where we had our wedding and it was lovely to be back there, it really brought back memories. It also made me wish that I'd known about the Dukan diet when I was trying lose weight for my wedding, but you can't change the past can you.

Anyway, I'm now following a pattern of 2/2 for my PV/PP  to mix things up a bit, hopefully it will help with my loss this week.

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Loving my button!

It's a cold, wet and miserable day... but I'm happy because I have my cute button to remind me just how much weight I've lost so far, courtesy of the lovely Lauren.  

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Is that all?

Week 8 - Total loss 1.5lb

Not much of  a loss at all this week, but funnily enough I had the same situation after 4 weeks, so I'm wondering whether this might happen every 4 weeks?

I'm desperate to get to the 2 stone mark so that I can buy a new charm for my charm bracelet. There's so many charms to choose from and they're super cute - I'm not sure what to go for this time ... maybe a C for Carrie or I've just seen a new Eiffel tower one. Hmmm, another 5lbs to go yet.

I've got a couple of events coming up, so I would like to have lost 2 stone in total by 15th Oct when I go for a friends leaving drinks and 2 stone 7lbs for a friends party on 30th October. Fingers crossed!   

Monday 27 September 2010

I want chocolate!!!

Pre-dukan I didn't even eat it that much chocolate, but I'm really craving it today. It's been a rubbish day at work and I've come home to a cold, empty house because my husband's working tonight - I just feel like chocolate would be the perfect pick-me-up right now. Luckily or unluckily, depending on how you look at it, I don't have any chocolate in the house, so there's no chance of me falling of the wagon.

I did 30 minutes on my mini stepper hoping that the exercise might release some endorphins and my chocolate cravings would go away ... they didn't. Anyway, enough feeling sorry for myself - chocolate will not get me any closer to my true weight.

I'm considering changing my approach on the diet - up till now I've been doing 5 PP days/ 5 PV days, but I'm thinking of doing 1 PP/1 PV. Does anyone have experience of it both ways and which do they prefer?

Monday 20 September 2010

Back to reality.

Vegas followed by a crazy Hen night - things have been pretty busy lately and it's meant an endless stream of PV days, but now it's back to strict PP for the rest of this week. I don't mind them so much anymore, I used  to wonder where the rest of the meal was, but now I'm used to a single piece of meat framed by lots of empty plate!

I raided my wardrobe archives today and found 2 pairs of work trousers that fit me now - score! It's definitely a good feeling to be wearing things that have been sat at the back of the wardrobe for years. I can't wait to get to my true weight and clear out all my "fat" clothes, so that going up a dress size will no longer be an option. No more yo-yo dieting for me!

I like that daily weigh-ins have become part of my morning routine too, I used to absolutely dread getting on the scales, sometimes I would go for months without getting on them because I couldn't face what they might say. I still don't really "like" what they tell me, but I prefer it to what I saw 6 weeks ago!  

Friday 17 September 2010

Sins in Sin City!

I back from Vegas and feeling pretty jet lagged! What an amazing week I had though - I miss it already, especially the sunshine. But the best news is ......

Week 6 (and a half) - Total weight loss 5.5lbs!!

Don't ask me how that's possible. I don't think I've ever managed a trip to the States without putting on weight, the food is always so good and the portions are huge. However, I stuck to the diet as much as I could, I did PV every day and did heaps of walking. There were a few naughty things I had though, so I'm confessing my sins in sin city...

4 cocktails
1 glass of wine
Half a slice of cheesecake
Half a cookie
Low fat french toast
Fruit salad
Mini carrot cake
Nuts in my salad

There you have it. It looks quite bad in a list, but it was over the course of a week and I never had more that one alcoholic drink per day. The good thing was that there were scales in our hotel suite, so I hopped on them every morning. I did see that I weighed less on the scales, but I thought they may be a few llbs different than mine at home, so I was pretty surprised when I got on them at home this morning! Feeling very happy today and I'm off for a celebratory shopping trip : )

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Vegas baby!

Week 5 - Total weightloss 4.5lbs

So it's been a good week! Totally made up for my failure to shift a single lb last week. But now I'm about to face my biggest challenge yet - a week in Vegas - without totally undoing all my hard work. It's not gonna be easy.

I'm not quite finished packing yet and my cats are not helping matters ...



I don't think they want me to go. Anyway, I must get on with the packing and I'll be back in a week to let you know the damage done in Vegas!

Palazzo here I come...

Saturday 4 September 2010

Back on track!

Just a quick update to say the scales are finally moving downwards again! Yay! I'm 3/4 of a lb of my first mini goal, it's nail biting.

I've been doing quite a bit of clothes shopping this week, because it's nice to try stuff on when it actually fits nicely. It's probably a bad idea I know because in a few months these clothes will too big. But you have to reward yourself don't you? I do have some old clothes that I'm fitting back in to which is good, but fashions move on fast and some of my smaller clothes are a bit dated now. I'm interested to know what my weight loss buddies do - buy new clothes while they're losing weight or wear old clothes even if they're a bit dated?

Anyway clothing dilemma's aside, I've added a new page on my blog with what I've been eating and recipes. I don't blog regularly enough at the moment to post my daily menus, but I thought I'd put anything that I've enjoyed on there.

Tuesday 31 August 2010

Stuck in a rut

Week 4 total weight loss - 0lbs!!

Nothing! Nada! Zilch! Not a measly lb have I shed this week. I wish I could say it was because I had a night on the vino or because I scoffed a huge slice of cheesecake - but I've been saintly all week and I've done heaps of exercise. It makes no sense! Aaargh.

All week I kept expecting my weight to suddenly drop, but the scales didn't budge. I know I should be grateful that I didn't gain, I know I should be pleased with my weigh loss so far, but if I'm totally honest I'm really disappointed. I had hope that I would have reached my first mini goal of 1 stone by now. Anyway enough of the moping, I just hope for more success in the next week.

On another note, thanks to Charlotte for the lovely comments on her blog, it cheered me up on an otherwise miserable Sunday!

All the exercise I've done this week has got me thinking - I want to climb a mountain! Yup, I'm gonna ditch my heels for hiking boots. I probably should have decided that when the weather was a bit warmer....

Friday 27 August 2010

Under the weather

Summer is officially over and the gloomy weather is making me feel miserable. The temperature has dropped, jumpers and jackets are out of the wardrobe after their brief hibernation and an umbrella has taken up permanent residence in my handbag.
Winter is usually comfort food central for me, so I know that I'll find it difficult once the dark evenings and endless days of thick cloud and heavy rain kick in. Hopefully the thought of looking fabulous for xmas parties will keep me motivated!

The exciting news is that I got my first compliment about the weight loss yesterday from a friend who doesn't know about the diet! Sure my close friends and family tell me that they can see a difference, but I'm never entirely sure whether they're just being nice. Yay, it's official now - there is a visible difference! Once I've lost a stone I'm planning on posting some progress picture, I was hoping to get there by the end of week 4 but despite the PP day this week and heaps of excersise the scales are not budging this week : (

Yesterday I went to one of my favourite cocktail spots and drank......diet coke. It was a very strange experience indeed! I'm starting to think I might be able to make it through my trip to vegas a few weeks time without the booze - or maybe I'm kidding myself thinking that I can make it though a week in sin city without a sin or two! 

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Mallercise - my favourite way to burn calories!

Week 3 - Total weight loss 3lbs

For years I've been telling people that shopping is my favourite sport, so you can imagine my amusement when I came across this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/apr/29/healthandwellbeing.fitness

I could be burning up to 400 calories every lunch hour, as I power my way round the local mall, although you wouldn't catch me lunging in the middle of Debenhams! Mallercise has even made its way in to the urban dictionary - love it! I hope they introduce for the 2012 Olympics.

Anyway, I digress - I'm 11lbs down now and I've lost 15% of the total amount that I plan to lose. Not bad! Although I was disappointed to discover that my "True weight", 156lbs would still put me in the overweight category in terms of BMI, despite being at the lower end of the healthy weight range for my height - all very confusing.

True to my word, I did a proper workout today, half an hour of Davina Fit work out DVD. It was all going so well, until I turned around to see the paperboy gawping at me through the window as I jumped around like a maniac! Cringe. Oh, and of course I did my daily hour of Mallercise too.

Monday 23 August 2010

Socially awkward...

Lately my social life has been testing my will power. At a BBQ this weekend I literally had to fend off friends, who were desperate to ply me with alcohol. If another person asks me whether I'm not drinking because I'm pregnant, I'm going to scream!

What is the big deal about booze? Am I just more fun to be around when I'm hammered....hmmm, I have photographic evidence which would suggest not!

Plus, I have a Birthday dinner coming up this week on a pure protein day - no idea how that will work.

Anyway, I kicked off my exercise as planned today with a 40 minute walk, despite heavy rain. Tomorrow I plan to do a proper workout, cardio, abs, weights - the works.

Saturday 21 August 2010

Totally losing it! (weight that is)

Week 2 - Total weight loss 3.5lb

So I've soared past the half stone mark - I'm 8lbs lighter and my clothes are feeling a little loose. My goal for the third week is to add some more exercise in, I've been doing and hour of walking everyday (ok walking combined with shopping, but walking nonetheless), but I need to up the ante now.

I'm a big fan of workout DVDs and workout games on the WII these days, when the weather is rubbish. If it's nice, then long walks or even jogging. I can be quite disciplined if I put my mind to it and workout 3/4 times a week, but if I get out out of the habit (which happened a few months ago) I find it very difficult to start up again!

I'm committing myself to start again ON MONDAY. There...it's in writing now so I have to do it.

On another note, a rather exciting one, I have booked a holiday to Las Vegas with my husband and my mother-in-law for 3 weeks time! I am hoping that I can lose a stone in total or more before then. But how will stick to the no alcohol rule on holiday?

Erm...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - does that apply to diets?

Thursday 12 August 2010

Dining out dilemma

Who doesn’t love going out for dinner?

Normally I would jump at the chance! I would relish the thought of knocking back the wine, while my friend divulges the latest gossip - sharing some garlic bread while we eagerly await the main course.

Not tonight….

It’s the first time I’ve eaten out since starting the diet last week and I don’t think it’s going to be easy. The first hurdle is finding something that I can actually eat legitimately! It’s too early to be bending the rules, but we are going to “Carb hell” otherwise known as Pizza Express. A salad is the only option, but even they come with bread sticks.

I think it pays to do your homework, so I’ve been on to the website to peruse the menu for suitable options. Luckily they also have a list of calorie content in everything, so I can make an informed decision – Pollo Verdure Salad(unfortunately without the breadsticks).

I know it’s going to be a test of my will power to pass up a nice relaxing glass of Pinot Grigio and persuasive arguments such as “oh go on, one glass won’t hurt will it?”. But I’m on this diet for a reason – to get healthy and feel happy – so I will resist temptation.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Cruising along nicely!

Week 1 - total loss 4.5lbs

I've reached the end of week one, completed the attack phase and I have moved on to the cruise phase of the diet. This involves adding vegetable into the mix for five days and then switching back to pure protein for five days. The 5/5 pattern continues until you reach your goal weight, which for me should hopefully be January (just in time for my birthday!).

The week hasn't felt too challenging, I haven't felt hungry particularly and drinking lots of water has done wonders for my skin. I'm really pleased with my loss so far and I feel like I'm really getting somewhere this time. Plus I have a great incentive, my husband has said he will by me a Thomas Sabo charm bracelet when I have lost a stone and a charm for additional each stone I lose. I think it's really important to reward yourself, but never do it with food!

If there's one thing I've learnt through my many years of yo-yo dieting, it's not to use food as a means of rewarding yourself or cheering yourself up. How many times have I had a rubbish day at work and thought chocolate or a chinese take out was the answer? It works for all of a few hours and then I end up feeling ten times worse, because I know what it'll mean the next time I get on the scales. So in my opinions rewards should be something you'll enjoy without feeling guilty.

Friday 6 August 2010

Attack!

The first phase of the Dukan diet consists of 2-7 days of a pure protein diet and I'm aiming for 5 days. It should be interesting as I'm not a huge meat eater and I'm a carb junkie.

It wasn't until dinner time on day one that I started to panic, all day at work I had been drinking plenty of water and merrily eating chicken and 0% fat yogurts and I wasn't even feeling peckish. But at dinner I looked at my steak and 2 measly gherkins and thought, there is no way this ever going to fill me up - where are the potatoes, where is the salad and where is the steak sauce for crying out loud? To my surprise, I ate the steak very purposefully savouring every mouthful and when I finished I felt satisfied, not full exactly but I definitely felt like I had eaten a decent meal. Plus I still had the essential oat bran gallate to come.

Woke up on day two feeling sprightly, despite supposed lack of energy I should be experiencing from lack of carbs and was intrigued to hop on the scales. The book says to weigh yourself every day - which is not something I'm in the habit of doing as it's usually bad news. I wasn't expecting any change because I lose weight very slowly, but sure enough I'd already lost 1.5lbs! That would normally take me a week to lose at weight watchers.

Now before you try and burst my bubble, I know it's probably just water weight, but it's an encouraging start to somebody who wants to lose weight quickly. Yay me!

My next challenge is having a guest over for dinner (I'm determined not to let it affect my social life). Have to cook 2 separate meals and avoid looking like a total weirdo!

Dukan do it!

So I've chosen to follow the Dukan diet - and it's pretty extreme! I've followed lots of diets before, the most successful being weight watchers, but I needed something different this time. Weight watchers is a great diet, there's so much flexibility and you can pretty much eat anything, within reason, but I find the weight loss slow and it's easy to over indulge inadvertently by not measuring something or forgetting to add points. That said I may well revert to it once I've reached my goal weight (9 stone 10 according to Dr Dukan) to help me maintain it.

Anyway I wanted a diet that helped you to lose weight quickly and something that was structured - this seemed to fit the bill nicely. I bought the book from amazon after reading some impressive reviews and eagerly awaited it's arrival.

The book is easy to read and has some interesting ideas about additional ways to lose weight, like turning the heating down in your house to 23 degrees so that your body has to work harder and burn calories to keep your body temperature regulated. Interesting, but not particularly useful in summer!

Fat free

I've been that girl before, you know,  the one who looks fabulous in anything. When I was 19 I lost about 5 stone on the weight watchers diet and was a skinny minnie all through my uni years. But I came home, got a desk job, ate my husbands cooking and the rest is history. And here I find myself 28 years old and in an even worse situation than before, one I swore I'd never go back to - one I literally used to have nightmares about when I was thin.

My wardrobes (yes pleural, I love to shop) are like a clothes store, with sizes from 8-16 and I have been all of those sizes over the years, but at the moment even 16 feels tight and I need take action.

So if you want to join me on my journey back to slimness, here it goes - post your comments please to let me know you're out there. Perhaps we can help to motivate each other?