NEWSFLASH

This blog is no longer ‘live’.  All content, and any new stuff, will be here.  Life is very busy and I no longer have the time to keep up 3 blogs, so I have amalgamated them into one.  Please come over and join the new one.

You call that support?

As it is Sunday I have a craving for a glass of wine.  It has been a week since I downed one – ok, so I may be an alcoholic – and I’ve been very good.  Today I really fancy one.

Hubby told me I couldn’t have one and, when I pouted, told me that he was being supportive.  OK, fine, so why straight after did he put the chip pan on for his dinner?!

Chocolate, chips and wine are my 3 biggest vices.  And he’s not helping.

Bad me

Not that I really care, needs must and all that.

Last night I had ham, egg and chips and 2 pints of lemonade (the non-diet variety).  Totally blew my calorie limits, but it didn’t half make my cold feel better.  This morning I weighed myself, expecting a serious increase.  Just 1lb has crept on.  Happy days!!!!!

I’d like to point out that I don’t intend to make a habit of it.

Going in the right direction

On Monday I started the Curves Weight Management Plan – free to members AND non-members, though the book is £10.  On Sunday I had pigged out on a 12″ meaty deep crust pizza; probably not the best way to start a diet but one heck of a blow-out.  So it wasn’t really surprising when I weighed in at a ‘serves you right’ 13st 6lbs on my scales and 13st 11lbs on Curves scales (don’t you just hate that everyone else’s scales always make out you’re heavier than you think).  This morning I have lost 6lbs!!!!  I am so amazed.

I have had no wine since Sunday night, no chips since last Thursday and no ketchup since last Friday.  I’m on 1200 calories for 1 week, followed by 1500 calories for 2 – 4 weeks, then 2000 calories for 4 weeks – going back to 1200 calories for a day or so if the weight starts to creep up again.

The aim is to keep the metabolic rate ticking over.  A lowering of the metabolic rate is what causes weight loss to peter out over a few weeks, because your body gets used to the reduced calories and adapts to thrive on it.  Increasing the calories in steps like this will, hopefully, stop the petering out.  It will also lead to some weight increase which is why you drop down to 1200 calories for a few days if you gain more than a certain amount.  Apparently, it will take longer for your body to gain weight each time and, eventually, your metabolic rate can deal with the calories without them adding pounds.

Unfortunately the book is VERY American.  It suggests processed cheese triangles (yuck) and peanut butter (more yuck) in several snacks – it also mentions filet mignon as casually as you or I might talk about rump steak.  Fortunately it also gives you a list of exchanges within food groups, so I have been busy adapting these to suit my palate.  A lot of the ingredient measurements are in cups.  This is not such an issue for me as I have some Pampered Chef Prep Bowls which, helpfully, have cups measurements on one side.

Tonight I am eating out – not really recommended on the 1200 calories week – as it is my Father-in-Law’s birthday.  I’ll do my best to keep it to the right portion size but I may not be able to.  I’ll still have 2 whole days to undo the damage.

I get weighed at Curves again on Monday (and every Monday after that).  Hopefully there will be more loss to report.

Missing something(s)

Apart from a blog post for a while, that is.  Been on holiday.

I had my weigh-in and measure-up at Curves today.  I have lost a whole 6 inches from various bits of my body.  Yayyyyyyyyy!!!

Not so yay is the fact that I have also added 2lbs to my weight.  However, I’m telling myself it’s all muscle.  Muscle is denser than fat, and therefore weighs more.

I have noticed my metabolic rate has kicked in.  I am more hungry and warmer than usual.  All I need to do is train myself to eat healthy snacks instead of Mars Bars when in need of a boost between meals.

Feeling a bit slimmer

Shame about the scales!  Curves is turning out to be a good laugh – for which I am grateful as I lose interest in these things very easily.  I do feel a bit “Oh, gawds!!  Do I have to?” when it’s time to go, but once I’m there I enjoy it.  My daughter comes with me so we usually end up laughing at each other’s faces (somewhere between lobster and beetroot in colour).

The staff also make it enjoyable.  On Saturday Elena started an aerobics workout that was optional.  When you got to an aerobic mat (as opposed to a machine) you could either stick to the exercise for that mat or join in with her.  It was totally hilarious and certainly got my pulse rate rocketing.  I keep telling myself that when I can get in a size 12 – 14 again it will all have been worth it.

Here’s a good one

So how come my trousers are a looser round the waist (not round the bum unfortunately) yet my weight has gone UP 2lbs?

A couple of colleagues at work suggested it was because muscle weighs more than fat.  Another one suggested it was because the trousers had stretched – good job I like her.

A bit stiff…..

….. in all the wrong places.  This Curves lark is good fun but I do get a few minor aches from it.

Today I couldn’t get my heart rate up to the optimum 70% yet I felt I was working hard enough.  We like going as you’re not there for very long (about 30 minutes) and there’s usually some good banter going off with the staff and the other ladies working out.

My waistline feels a little smaller, though the scales have yet to show any downward shift.  I keep telling myself that muscle weighs more than fat.

Curves

Today was a lot of fun and sweat.  K and I were there for 11 am.  We were weighed, measured (height and various bits round the body) and had our body fat percentages worked out.  Mine is 36% and should be 31% for my age so, whilst not as bad as I was expecting, needs a bit of work.  K is keeping all her numbers to herself but has set herself some achievable targets if she puts the work in – being able to play more sport with her friends, and have a beach-fit body,  My targets are to hit size 12 – 14 by Christmas and to avoid the family tendencies for cardiovascular diseases.

We’re going back on Thursday to do our first full session.  Today we got to try the machines and did 1 lap of the room.  A full session is 2 laps of the room including all the aerobic mats.  Oh, and stretching out at the end.  We’ve signed up for a 6 week trial.

Watch this space.

Wish me luck

Tomorrow’s my big day.  Curves here I come.