Day 9

I refuse to call this a diet, as it denotes it's a temporary thing I'm doing. It's a whole lifestyle change. I'm changing what I eat permanently, and I will be exercising on a regular basis. It's not a fad, it's not something I'm going to grow out of.  This is a new way of life for me.

I think my hunger is levelling itself out now. I'm not feeling the need to graze all day long, and  seem to be getting back into the habit of 3 meals a day and a couple of snacks in between. By snacks I mean fruit! Or veg dipped in low fat humous.

So how am I feeling? Well, I feel like a fat heffer, and a spotty one at that. I'm absolutely tired, but thats down to it being that time of the month. I really should start taking iron supplements to counteract my anaemia I guess, but have you seen what that shit does to your poo?!?? It's not good!

I feel like my arms and face are looking a bit thinner, but that's about it. I'm at the point where I can't bear to look in the mirror because I just hate what I see. It will pass when I start getting my fit, toned body.

I'm under no illusions; it's not going to be any easy feat by any means. You get out what you put in, and I'm going to be putting a lot of sweat, blood and tears into getting my body perfect for me.

I've even purchased an iPod  so I can listen to music at the gym. Yes, I have an iPhone, but it's too big to be strapped to my arm, and knowing me, I'll be on twitter instead of concentrating on my fitness programme.

My 'new' iPod Nano (the woman I bought it off left all her photo's and music on there. No saucy pics though!!).

Tonight's chicken curry and brown rice. I made this from scratch, no sauces used what-so-ever. It's surprising how many shop bought sauces have added sugar to them. As this 'diet' requires you to cut out all sugar and flour, I'm having to make my own - which is good, as I know exactly what's going into my body.

 

Tuna steak, aubergine and brown rice - Saturday's dinner. The Alice cat also likes Aubergine (or eggplant as the American's call it!)

My good old friend - porridge! I have to add a bit of splenda to it though as I have a very sweet tooth and have had sweetened breakfast cereal for as long as I can remember.

At some point, I will try it with strawberries or blueberries in it.

More brown rice, tuna steak with Cayenne chilli and green beans. The Cayenne went really well with the tuna steak (which I steamed with the green beans). I think I put a little too much on though as my mouth was a bit tingly and warm! HA!

Melon. I know I really should buy it fresh and cut it up myself, but my fridge is only tiny so have no storage for it.

Yesterday I had a clear out of my grocery shelves and these are all the refined carbs I can no longer have:

Flour, icing sugar, breadcrumbs, nesquick strawberry milkshake powder, pasta, sugar.... There are loads of things in the freezer that I need to get rid of too! 

I have decided to do a measurement and photo session once a month from Saturday of this week onwards. This will give me time to start making an improvement with exercise and may show more of a change, rather than doing it week on week.

That's it for now! May attempt a video blog at some point, depending on how brave I'm feeling and how free Dave is to assist.

Off to do some art. Ciao for now.

P xx

Day 7

Having eaten a load of fruit throughout the day, John treated me to nachos at the cinema then we had a KFC bucket at home while watching the footie,

OMFG! I'm in so much pain. My belly has doubled in size, I have trapped wind that stinks to high heaven when it's finally released, and I feel like utter shite. All down to 2 pieces of chicken, a portion of fries, some coleslaw and a few swigs of 7 up. Don't think the bottle of Corona at the pub has helped much either!

Back on health foods tomorrow, and def no more cheats. I can't take this pain.

Oh I spoke too soon about having no period pains. I've been necking painkillers all day. Least I've only had them today and not for the previous week!

That's it from me tonight. Gotta do an online grocery shop before bed... That's if I can keep my eyes open.

Nunight all xx

Day 6

Well, the past couple of days have been tough. I've had zero flour products or sugar, and can only think about munching on a succulent crusty piece of bread.

Yesterday was particularly bad, especially after seeing the pics of myself (read previous entry entitled The Brutal Truth).

Turns out I was just being over emotional and sensitive as it's that time of month. The good news is that this month has been pain free so far. I usually experience painful cramps a few days before I come on. I've had nothing. The only telling sign has been my emotions and the sudden tiredness (slept from 12.30 pm to 5pm today! I'm anaemic which doesn't help).

So, pain free periods are another benefit to eating healthily it seems.

Oh, I had my induction at the gym today too. Turns out I need a PT as I'm clueless. Gonna try it once a week for a month, and in-between seeing the PT I'll put into practice what she tells me when I do my 'go it alone' sessions.

I've not grazed on food as much today either. In fact I've been quite good! Not eaten much as been asleep most of the day, what I have had has been healthy.

Dinner was brown rice, Aubergine (eggplant) and tuna. It was ok, think the Aubergine was slightly undercooked though. Need some practice with that one!

The brutal truth

I enlisted the help of my friend Dave to take some photos of me in my bra and knickers so I can keep a record of my progress. I could have cried.

I know they say the camera adds 10lbs but from looking at myself in my mirror at home and then looking at these photos, I'd say it was more like 20!!

Before I put the pics up, here are the statistics:

Bust (across, not under like when you measure for a bra) 41"
Waist 34"
Hips 40"
Bottom and thighs 45"
Thighs 25.5" each
Arms 13" each

Are you ready for the pics? Here goes...

Day 3

Today has been freakin' awesome! I mean AWESOME!!


I took a whole load of healthy snacks to work today and grazed all day. My energy levels have been through the roof. Usually at 230/3pm I have a lull and feel like I need to nap. Not today. I felt like a Duracel Bunny!


This is what I ate (at work):

• 1 banana
• 1 punnett of blueberries
• 1/2 punnet of strawberries
• 300g 30% reduced fat humous (shared with a friend)
• 1 handful of carrot batons
• 1 handful of cucumber batons
• 1 handful of celery batons.

When I got home this evening I made (for myself and the mother):

• Warmed goats cheese sprinkled with crushed walnuts, on a bed of rocket, drizzled with balsamic glaze
• Grilled pork steaks (marinated in freshly squeezed lemon and dried rosemary), with mash potatoes, green beans, peas and gravy

Mum, the cheeky sod, couldn't believe how domesticated I am.

I'm still having really bad cravings for sweet things. I have resisted the urge to eat biscuits and chocolate today. Instead I have made some banana muffins from this amazing cook book

I do have the book released before this, which explains the diet and has a few recipes in it, but I have loaned it to mum.

As a favour to my twitter diet buddy, Sarah, here is the recipe for said tasty muffins (please note that as it's an American cook book, all measurements are done in cup sizes. I only use cups for cooking now as it's so easier than weighing shit out on scales).

The recipe for No Flour, No Sugar Banana Muffins (extracted from the book)

These muffins are easy to make and freeze well. Place them in individual services packages in your freezer and microwave for 15 seconds for breakfast.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of oatmeal (porridge oats to you and I)
• 1 cup of unsweetened apple sauce (I made my own by peeling, chopping and simmering in water 2 gala apples, strain then blend)
• 8 egg whites whipped until foamy
• 6 bananas, mashed
• 2 cups of Splenda (sweetener)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda (baking powder, NOT Bicarb of soda)
• 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon (I may add an extra spoon for the next batch I make)
• 10 tablespoons soy milk
• 1 teaspoon of butter
• cooking spray for coating the muffin pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (approx 270 degrees C)

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl (I added the foamy egg whites last and just gently folded them in to keep the mixture light and fluffy).

Pour into muffin tins coated with cooking spray and bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Serve warm (very tasty) or freeze.

It says this recipe makes 12 muffins, but I got 18 out of the mixture.

Here is a pic of the ingredients:

Here is a pic of the tasty muffins

These will satisfy even the strongest cravings for sweet things. The best thing is, there is no flour, no sugar, minimal fat and they're good for you! However said all things that taste good is bad for you has obviously never tried these muffins.

I am so happy I discovered this diet, and the cookbook.

Now, I have finally hit the tired wall. Time for me to go to sleep. Tomorrow I shall be taking some muffins to Dave to try, and will be roping him into taking full length pics of me so I can share the changes my body makes as I become more fit and healthy. I hope seeing my efforts will inspire some of you guys to join the Get Fit and Healthy Bandwagon.

Goodnight world. Sleep well.

P xx

Day 2

So, I'm on day 2 and the sugar cravings are really bad.


Yesterday I was good(ish). Breakfast was 2 portions of fruit. Lunch was a salad. Dinner consisted of warm goats cheese, with a walnut crust on a bed of rocket, followed by chicken chasseur, mash and steamed green beans. I did have a cheeky home made cheesecake, but I did have a guest for dinner!


Today I have had a total of 6 portions of fruit, a salad, 2 chocolate covered malted milk biscuits, 2 digestives, goats cheese, salmon with a tomato and green olive sauce, rocket and brown rice (and a cheese cake - I had 2 extra portions left). Pics below.

They were very tasty and now I actually feel full.


I also feel 'lighter' in general. By this I mean I don't feel as heavy when I walk, my digestion system doesn't feel as sluggish


My skin, however, is a different story. It's horrible. I feel like a teenager again all covered in spots! They really are quite sore too! Just look at the state of me!! I don't look impressed do I? Haha!

I haven't drank much water for the past 2 days and I can feel the difference to last week when I was drinking a litre and half a day. My head hurts and I feel tired. Guess that's why I feel more hungry all the while too - dehydration, not hunger.


Need to take some full length body pic of myself to post soon too, so I can see the progress my body makes as I lose weight and tone up.


My gym induction is booked for Saturday at 11am. Wish me luck!


Off for a nice hot soak in the tub.


Ciao for now
P xx

Practice day...

... hasn't gone too bad. Started the day with a decaf coffee as per usual, had 3 regular coffees over the course of the morning, along with 3 portions of fruit and 500ml water.

12pm came and I was starving. Chocolate covered malted milk biscuits were calling me all morning. Ange asked what they were calling me, cheeky sod.

I resisted the temptation of munching the packet and had 2 wholemeal pitta breads stuffed with low fat chicken tikka and rocket and another 500ml water (pic below).

I was still hungry and unable to concentrate on my work, but I resisted those naughty little biccies, who were at this point staring me out, whispering 'eat me. Eat me bitch!'

Day ended and I went to Dave's. I was naughty at Dave's; I had one of the AMAZING white chocolate and pecan cake things he made, and chips and chicken kebab type stuff.

Ooooh my cookbook arrived too. Some of the stuff looks great, but not all items can be bought at Asda (disappointing considering it's written by a Yank and Asda are owned ny an American firm) so I'm gonna have to revert back to using Tesco. Meh.

Ireland are playing horrendously bad! Well done Italy for not losing! My pops will be pleased.

Time for Scott Pilgrim v the World. Over and out.

Not even started yet...

... and mum has just said I look like I've lost weight. She hasn't seen me for 2 weeks. I'm putting this loss down to stress and being ill. Both make me lose my appetite.

When I looked in the mirror this morning I thought I looked a bit slimmer. More to the point, my boobs looked smaller. WTF?? They had better not vanish else I won't be too happy.

Not much else to report today other than it annoys me that people are suddenly telling me what I can and can't eat. I know they're only trying to help but if I want advice I'll ask. I've ordered the diet book and cookbook for my requirements and done a bit of research on the web so I know exactly what I can and can't eat.

Oh, and here is one of the pics that has spurned me into action. My skin looks bad, I look swollen, and I have a double chin.

Introduction

My body has served me well over the past 34 years. It has endured nicotine, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as a poor diet and minimal exercise. All of this has taken it's toll. You may think to look at me that I'm fine, and that I have nothing to worry about, but I do. If I carry on the way I am, my body will fail me much sooner than it was intended to.

For those of you that don't know me, I have been battling depression and anxiety since my late teens. Those of you that have had depression know too well that it's pretty hard to get motivated to get out of bed at times, let alone to make an effort to cook something healthy to eat or to do exercise. When you're depressed you want things to be as easy as possible. It's easier to grab a snack, easier to boil water and add it to a pot noodle, easier to not make an effort with your appearance and so on.

Old habits die hard.

I did go through a phase of exercise a few years back. I did kick boxing for about 18 months with my ex sister in law. Although I enjoyed it, I felt I was doing it more for her to get her out of the house as she was a stay at home mum.

Earlier this year, I started doing Callanetics, but again, it wasn't really for myself. I think deep down, it was a bid to motivate my mum to get fit and start feeling good about herself (that old thing of if I can do it, you can too).

This time is different. This time I want to do it for me. 

Why now? Well, I think the tipping point for me is the end of a few friendships, 1 in particular. I don't want to go into details or turn this into a slagging off session. I'll just say that where the friendship was concerned, I rarely thought about myself, my feelings, wants, desires, happiness etc because my main focus was to make them happy, to help them see the good in themselves that I saw. I realise now that it wasn't my job to do that. They needed to do that for themselves, just as I need to look after myself and make ME happy.

So here I am, motivated and raring to go. I know what you're thinking, you're wondering why I have chose to record my journey with a blog. Well, if it's there in black and white for the world to see, it gives me a sense of obligation to see it through and I don't like letting people down. I know the only person I'd be letting down is myself if I failed at this and that's the point I guess... I know whoever you are reading this probably couldn't give a shit about whether I succeed or fail. I guess what I'm saying is writing this makes it real to me and will act as a motivator to carry on, especially when I look back at the pictures of how I progress, and read about how I feel at various stages of this journey. Make sense? Not really bothered if it does... I know what I mean! haha.

So anyway, I'll be joining the gym at the end of this month and as soon as my diet and cookery books (Dr Gott's No Flour No Sugar) arrive (next week hopefully) I'll be ready to spring into action.

Think that's enough from me for now.

P xx