YAY I made it to 4 weeks

I got to 4 weeks so I made a video blog to celebrate!

Day 21

First off, I need to apologise for not updating this for the past 12 days. I have been extremely busy with work and art projects that by the time I've thought about writing an update on here, it's time for bed.

So, I've made it to day 21. Well done me! I'm not going to say it's been an easy journey so far. It's been tough! Real tough! I still crave chocolate and biscuits. I miss toast, chip butties, cake, but I know abstinence is the best course of action for me to take right now, simply because I have an addictive personality. I know that once I let those foods back into my diet, they'll stay there and the good work I've done over the past three weeks will be for nothing!

As I didn't get to go to the gym last Saturday due to flooding, I took my mum's dog for a run and then on Monday night, I did some exercise on the parents Wii Fit. I was shocked to see how unfit I actually was. On Tuesday I couldn't walk very well as my calf muscles felt stiff. Walking down stairs was very difficult, yet amusing to friends and colleagues.

On Wednesday, mother and I had a go at the Ministry of Sound Pump It Up dance workout that I had bought a few years back and only used twice. I managed only 20 minutes, before I was sweating like a pig and crying like a girl! Mum, however, did a full 35 minutes! I was well impressed. I'm also very proud of the progress my mum is making. It's good that we have something we can do together, and we provide encouragement to each other. You can really see the difference in my mum's figure. I called her this morning and you could hear the change in her voice; there is a ring to her tone now, instead of sounding down. WELL DONE MUM!! KEEP IT UP!

Anyway.... back to ME!! I finally got to have my first session with Daiva (my personal trainer) yesterday at the Pure Gym Wolverhampton. I really like it in that gym. They have put the free weights at the back, around the corner so I don't feel intimidated by the body builder type folk. The people that attend aren't all up their own arses; they're normal people like me, all different shapes and sizes, just trying to get fit and healthy.  The staff are great too. Very helpful and not up their own arses either!

Daiva did all my measurements, took my weight, worked out my BMI and looked at the percentages of fat, water and lean muscle in my body. She was surprised that my lean muscle was at the recommended rate, considering my body fat was a lot over the recommended percentage. My body water content is 40% - it should be 50% - 60%. This just confirmed that I don't drink enough water.

We then got down to business. I have never been worked so hard in my life! I thought the guys at my old kick boxing school were tough, but Daiva - I'm not sure if it's because she small, Polish or both! Boy! She really earned her money!

For those of you who have never been to a gym before, or haven't used one in years I'd highly recommend getting a PT for the first couple of months. They check your posture when exercising, correct you if you're doing it wrong, and work out a training programme. Most of the exercises I did yesterday I can replicate at home. I just need to get a pull up bar and get the inflatable ball back from my mum! Oh, and a medicine ball.

Ooooh, I forgot to say: When I measured myself again on Monday, I'd lost an inch all over! I'd also lost 8lb in the first 2 weeks!  I'm going to post some more pics of how my body has improved, but not until I have been working out with Daiva for at least 4 weeks. I shall work out with her on a Saturday morning, and attend the gym twice a week before work - I'm thinking Tuesdays and Thursdays will be best to allow time for recovery. I also need to get some muscle rub, ibuprofen and protein to aid recovery.

I also need to thank a few people on twitter who have dispensed really valuable info to me over the past few weeks. These people are Jai and Matt and if you are on twitter, you should follow them, just because they're awesome (and hot), but mainly because of the awesomeness and quality of their advice.

That's it from me today. My body feels battered, but I know it's all for the greater good. I never thought pain would make me feel happy. Jeez, I've become one of those sadomasochistic people! 

Laters folks xxx

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