Zero Sum and then some

I thought I had posted this already, oh no, the wish was not mother to the action. The last two and a half weeks have seen me plough on with a few challenges and interesting results. Two weeks ago, I ate quite a lot, within general guidelines for what and stayed found my weight had not changed at all. This was suprisingly heartening, despite not really viewing this as a numbers game anymore, more one of feeling balanaced and controlled. I took this brave-heart feeling and morphed it into dietary recklessness a few days into the following week. And gained 5.5lbs, which gave me pause. I was out of control specifically around Key Lime Pie made for a a big community event. I do like my citrus, but I must find better ways of ingesting it rather than wrapped up in condensed milk if I can’t stick to one piece rather than 3 but licking the bowl out:) And the leftover Easter egg!

Since then I’ve pulled back reasonably admirably and am eating more nourishing food. I’ve also re-started my usual exercise levels now the schools have re-opened. Bit of an eating blip yesterday inspired by dog-tiredness from overnight child illness and being home alone. This blip involved eating LOTS of good food, spare noodle soup from the kids’ meal, extra fruit and nuts and yoghurt. Til my tummy ached. It was comfort eating at its finest, I zoned out and felt calm and happy and rested as i sat there troughing my way through all this stuff, while reading so my head was somewhere else as well. Only time I’ve done that this week so far, have been making a big effort not to read and eat.

I’m still mulling over what I could have done to replace the feeling of comfort and am just not sure. There was no escape from hearth and home, and playing with the kids just made me more tired. Will talk about it at group, possibly. This week I am using a lot of prepared foods and keeping out of the kitchen a bit more than usual to encourage less picking. This is working courtesy of the Waitrose Love Life range, which I find excellent. Especially the soups.

Food baby

Stuffed

I am a few days into adjusting to the last week of the reintroduction to food phase and often feel like I’ve lodged a 5 months pregnancy food baby under my waistband. I’ve been given the last 3 weeks of the program to let me pick through and use the things that don’t trigger gluten-ish issues and to increase portions to try and stop the galloping weight loss. Today is also Test-My-Thyroid day which I am not looking forward to as I have the kids with me for a blood test. Cue endless games of let’s take blood from mummy later I expect.

I am keeping a really, really detailed diary (hence slightly less dense wodge of picture tweets at the foot of this blog recently) so I have data for a proper review of how this week goes. I haven’t yet managed to eat all the portions ‘allowed’ as I’m usually too full by the end of the day, but with heroic and highly enjoyable efforts I’m getting there. Major breakfasts seem to underpin me nicely. Lunch is usually on the run and I need to make better arrangements about eating well when socialising in the evening.

A typical major breakfast includes: 40g (10g more than recommended amount) of date and coconut porridge with 1/3 pint of semi milk and a spoon of honey. 2-300 grams of turkey minced with a couple of field mushrooms, a 1/3 tin of toms and herbed into tasting like heaven, basil, herbes de provence, pepper. Cooked like some giant alien squatting patty in a fry pan with a bit of stock water.

I have been a bit anxious with all of this. Am I eating too much, too little? Am I listening to my cues OK? Why am I losing so much weight still? How will I cope with all this food prep when I am busier at work? Answer: one meal at a time, don’t worry, it only weakens me, you’ll know more and better when you get to the next problem, I’ll be better armed. Off to calculate my likely calorie needs per day….ah. 2252 suggested. That’s such a lot. Think I’m only managing about 1800 at present.

Done!

First phase, done! I have made these changes in 28 weeks:

19st 5lb to 10st 13lbs

BMI 44.0 to 24.9

Hips 56.5″ to 40

Waist 46 to 30

Chest 49 to 37.5

Second phase starts next week: bedding in balanced thinking, good activity habits, nutritious food. I’ve got lots set up already, some new crockery, some new plans about how when I eat with my husband, a STACK of new recipes.

We had a lovely session tonight, ending with a bit of a dance for 15 minutes. Was good to try something new. I also had my photo taken for the before/after money shot…will post that once I get it next week.

 

Towards Christmas

Today I am hiding here from the dreaded task of sorting out the children’s Xmas lists. The tightrope between their expectations and our ability to shop feels like it is strung, greased, loosely across a bottomless pit in gale force winds. I must hurry up as well, in order to stuff the advent calendar drawers with 25 pieces of interesting lego.

I’ve been missing in action recently due to commitments to choir and the older boy’s school, but everything continues to go well with weight loss. We’ve just started the TA transitions module, which is refreshing and exciting. I’m looking towards February when I think I’ll start ‘route to management’ and I think about it every day. Positively!

I’m going to Christmas without food and booze I’ve decided. Hopefully I’ll have more normal ones in future. This year my Christmas spirit is going to be imbibed nasally – I’ve ordered some lovely scented candles for each room for my treat. I have also managed to buy a great red dress for the various festivities and hopefully work interviews coming up, given it goes from boardroom to party with a change of belt and shoes.

 

Halfway point

My! I have lost four stone. I am at a weight unimaginable to me this summer past. My skin is clear and healthy, stamina high and I am beginning to get clothes from a wider variety of places (but especially the back of my cupboard with all this 1940s talk making me think thriftily). Roll on the next few months. More of the same, and hopefully fewer infections from schools and more toning exercises. We had a great session tonight on interrupting negative thoughts. I’m getting good at picking up points where I go wrong, or might sabotage myself.

To paraphrase the original Mrs M., ‘ At least the [weight loss program] obliges people to learn new skills…which bring a freshness and rejuvenation normally alien to most adults.’

First week

Reporting in late on my first week ‘results’ – a loss of 9lbs, and I am in ketosis. I feel healthier already and calm and happy. Which is just as well, having been in a small vortex of activity since the weekend. We’re going away en famille for a couple of days this weekend, my first major challenge to managing on the packs even more out and about than we were this week. I couldn’t face the bars this week, everything sweet is a bit too sweet for me so far.

I must mention in passing I’ve had my body fat measured and worked out my base metabolic rate and started walking with a pedometer. There will be data, there will be charts. When there is time! Looking forward to next week’s session with the counsellor, this week’s was commuted to a drop in session to avoid the London looting.

Day Two

Felt odd and warm and sort of tingly on waking. Suspect this sensation may be called ‘thinner’. No real hunger pangs, despite doing lunch for 4 others. Extremely thirsty, obviously dehydrated on waking, so adjusting for that today. No cravings or drives to eat, I think the novelty is distracting me at present.

Starting

Unsurprisingly, I am hungry. It’s OK though, motivation high. Despite the three-year old informing me my tea food looked like poo.