What do I make of my 4lb loss this week then? 
Obviously I am happy…but just a little confused.
I am confused because I have done less than usual, eaten the same amount, drank six litres of water the day before weigh-in (only because of a sore throat…I would never advocate nor try and drink that amount usually!) and yet got a good result when I thought that I might have stayed the same.
The past few weeks have been tough. I have been putting in so much effort and yet not getting what I wanted. I guess I need to take my own advice and just relax a little! 
Given my desire to shift this weight, I had spent some time last week thinking through a couple of options.
First of all was my food intake. My Slimming World consultant and I had chatted about me using some of the extra syns that I can have. Due to my high weight – and my activity levels – we felt that I should maybe add a HEB serving of seeds or nuts to my porridge in the morning. This is the equivalent of 6 syns…but choosing from the HEB list means that I can avoid trigger foods.
We also discussed me having one of my evening snacks during the day – between breakfast and lunch…as I often have lunch quite late after working out, tending to the horses, and going shopping. So in terms of both my exercise and my diabetes it isn’t ideal to have such a big gap between meals.
And I had also considered cutting out my beloved bread. Some people think that bread is evil and causes bloating and all sorts of issues. Actually, an article today discusses that bread isn’t actually all that bad in the bloating stakes. However, I have tried cutting out bread before and it made no difference for me. But just because it didn’t work then doesn’t mean that I will discount that theory forever.
My diet has to evolve as I lose weight.
Since that epic yet frustrating moment on the scales, all of my musings regarding changing my food intake slightly have become moot I guess. Is there any need to change what I am doing yet if it is still working? Does a slower period of weight loss really need the thinking that I have been doing?
After all I am eating well, moving well, and my mind is in a good place. Why change anything?
My biggest challenge I think is – politely – ignoring some of the advice that I get given. It’s fabulous to have people in your corner, willing you along, but occasionally I end up with advice overload. Eat more, eat less, less carbs, more protein, more carbs, less syns, more syns, no bread, less exercise, more exercise, ‘time to step it up a gear’ was my favourite worst piece of exercise advice – you fecking step it up a gear you nob – I weigh a heck of lot, sweat like a bugger, push my heartrate when I workout and am there six times a week! More water, less water, count calories, eat more fat, eat less fat, more processed food (the ‘Diet Chef’ advice I was given) less processed food, eat clean, try juicing…’just have surgery as it’s easier’ has to be my favourite worst piece of advice ever! Try this supplement, protein shakes, carb cycling, Paleo…the list is endless and confusing at best, dangerous at worst.
I genuinely love the support. I really do. But sometimes it gets hard to block out the noise. I know what I am doing is taking me a step closer to my goals. I have the support of a highly experienced Slimming World consultant who helped someone shift more than I have lost so far, along with a BDA registered dietitian, a great personal trainer, a psychologist…and yet I still sometimes feel as if I need to take some of this crazy advice. I am only human! Even though I hate fads and quick fixes, it is tempting – albeit fleeting temptation – to try something that I wouldn’t otherwise consider…like cutting out carbs for example.
There is genuinely no need to worry though I suppose. I am doing what I need to be doing, with people who know me well in my corner supporting me, and if the going gets slow – as it inevitably will do at times – then I just have to stick with it.
I am going to change something though…
I was so focussed on the food, and so determined to be going to the gym almost daily, that I didn’t really pay attention to what my body might want. I ignored the fact that my body developed a cold as soon as I decided to have a long weekend break from the gym…was this a sign that I was rundown? Maybe, maybe not.
Despite enjoying the gym, too much of a good thing is never really that good for you.
So I am ditching my Monday workouts. In an ideal world I would like a rest day midweek. However this doesn’t fit with my goings on and my commitments, so I am planning on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the gym. Leg day, arm day, cardio day, and a personal training session. I will then have my Pilates lesson on a Saturday, and throw in the odd Friday night swim as and when I fancy it. Plus the work that I have planned with the horses this summer too.
I am taking my foot off the gas in terms of quantity, but I am going to up the quality. Fewer, more intense sessions. My trainer encouraged me to do this initially…I ignored him. I have this fear that people will think that I am not putting in the effort if I don’t appear to be doing something on a daily basis. We had a chat today and he has told me not to be silly…but not using those words. He then told me that he had a killer session planned for me tomorrow – what joy!
Seriously though, I need to pace myself and give my body time to recover. So a nice weekend rest is ideal. As I get weighed in on a Tuesday morning, the hope is that my body won’t be retaining water – or rather my muscles retaining fluid – after my Monday workout.
Obviously I know that 4lbs a week each and every week is not going to happen. But if I can get my average back up then I will be a happy bunny. My average weight loss has been a steady 2.45lbs since starting in February 2012 – even accounting for me buggering around during the initial 6 months. So if I can get near that figure on a weekly basis I will be thrilled!
I will continue to give some thought to the food and exercise though. Not too much…but I am making it my job to succeed…so I need to keep thinking about it – my project reviews!
I had a chuckle last night. The Slimming World consultant who had invited me to speak at her groups last night had worked out that I have lost the equivalent of Arnold Schzwarzenegger holding a microwave…277.5lbs! How can I be anything but happy to have shifted that lot?!
Today has been okay. I am still not fighting fit and this cold really is lurking. My breathing wasn’t great but I wanted to get back to the gym and so ignored my usual workout options and went for a cardio session of my own design! The horses were good. And my afternoon has been relaxed for a change…gearing up for a busy day tomorrow. So that’s it from me today.
Breakfast: Banana porridge (5 syns).
Lunch: Pasta with veggies and cheese (2 x HEA).
Dinner: Mixed bean and veggie curry with roast potatoes.
Snacks: Velvet Crunch (8 syns), duck egg rolls (2 x HEB), and fruit.
A good food day. I have been a bit of a food monster today though and have over-eaten at dinner. I still have issues with not leaving food on the plate once I am full…the only solution for this is to serve smaller portions I guess. Brekkie was my usual banana porridge. Lunch was broccoli and cheese Pasta’n’Sauce with added veggies – red onion, mushrooms, spinach, carrots, green beans, and a few peas – with my cheese on top. I then had an afternoon treat of duck egg rolls…as I had forgotten to build my HEB choices into my day…and my Dad had picked me up some duck eggs from the farm. I adore duck eggs! Then it was a curry for dinner – a can of mixed beans, onions, mushrooms, spinach, pepper, courgette, garlic, chilli flakes, madras powder, and roast potatoes. My snacks were a couple of packets of Velvet Crunch and some fruit. It was a surprise to me that I didn’t finish my Velvet Crunch last night…I ate two packs of the planned six and so will eat them over the next couple of days.
Exercise: 15 minutes treadmill, 15 minutes elliptical, 15 minutes treadmill.
Thank you for reading,
Weight Loss Bitch xxx
WeightLossBitch
On a health and fitness driven journey to lose over 32st / 448lbs / 203kgs – yes, it is a considerable amount – I am committed to losing my excess weight without the aid of weight loss surgery, diet pills, or quick fixes…as there aren’t any! Changing my eating habits and building up my fitness levels, along with addressing the ‘head issues’ will be crucial in order for me to achieve my goal. Living in England as a 31 year old super morbidly obese woman can be challenging to say the least. I have been shouted at in the street and verbally abused far too many times to mention; hence the name ‘Weight Loss Bitch’…the day I am just called a ‘bitch’ instead of a ‘fat bitch’ will be the day that I know I have cracked my weight loss! With many reasons to lose this weight I am documenting my journey for a number of reasons. Firstly, I would like to keep a record of the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the challenges I face with such an enormous task to tackle. Secondly, I would also like to inspire and encourage other people who are in a similar situation and to show them that significant amounts of weight can be lost naturally…with a bit of motivation, hard work, dedication and will power. Thirdly, all of the blogging, Facebook-ing, Tweet-ing, Pinterest-ing and YouTube-ing keeps me occupied and keeps my fingers out of the fridge!
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