Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Day 16 - The only thing we have to fear

Week 2 weigh in last night. Dreaded it. Rightly so, as it turned out, as lost precisely 1lb.

I'm not feeling that losing 1lb was unjustified, quite the opposite - I was lucky to lose anything at all. I'm annoyed that I sabotaged myself for no reason. I've thought about this weekend a lot, trying to work out why I wasn't prepared to front up to what I was doing and deal with the consequences, why I tried to hide it and 'get away' with a (poor) compromise.

I should preface these remarks by saying that actually nobody has been anything but supportive. My close friends are very, very supportive of me. My husband is a superstar - doing all the shopping, eating before I come home from work, not expecting me to deal with food at all. Big thanks Mr S. So I have no idea where all this reluctance to tell people came from, other than quite simply fear.

Fear. False Evidence Appearing Real. Oh how true.

But this is what scared me. It winds me up how people think its ok to have all sorts of opinions about VLCDs - usually garnered from third hand anecdote, the rabid tabloid press, or wimmins magazines (all such reliable sources, I'm sure you'll agree) - about a) diets they know nothing about b) people with a weight problem, you in particular c) what you 'should' do - hacks me right off...and this is why I had such a major thump off the wagon this weekend. I was too reluctant to confront what other people thought, and couldnt' be doing with all the negativity and criticism that I know comes with telling people you're doing a VLCD.

Comments about 'that's not healthy' or 'your hair will all fall out' or 'it only works for as long as you do it' or even 'why not join weightwatchers' or 'eat less move more'. Grrrrr. Gets right up my nose. If those things worked for me, do you think I'd be here? Jeeez, thanks for those, I never thought of eating less - do you think that'll do it for me? God.

Well that taught me! From here on in, I'm not giving a stuff what people think or how they respond. I have SO proved that it isn't worth trying to conform to what people think you 'ought' to do. A polite 'thank you for your concern, but I'm quite comfortable with my choices' should deter them. And if they persist I'll have no trouble at all just saying that this is, after all, MY choice, and they can butt out now, thankyou SO much.Sorry, I appear to be ranting. But it annoys me in the first place and now I have reason to be very upset about the position I put myself in because of it!

So now I've got to go through the hell of climbing the wall again. Nearly there, I think, but haven't had a brilliant day. Onwards and downwards - tomorrow can only be better.

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Day 14 - Buffeted on all sides

Waaah. Am v annoyed with self.

I had brilliant plans for coping with the event this weekend. In context, this is the end of week 2 on CD and have been doing really, really well, and was on track to lose enough to take me up to/past the first stone marker at my WI tomorrow night.

Been to a family party, and worked out how to deal with the bbq. Take a plate, eat small amount chicken and salad, circulate. Didn't work out. SOOOO didn't work out.

No barbeque.
No circulating.

Instead, cold buffet.....I joined in. Perhaps I shouldn't - but, hell, I did.Ok so I tried to make reasonable choices - studiously avoided rice, pasta, potato salads. However, did eat - edamame salad; beetroot, hb egg, coronation chicken (yikes). And the worst, cheese, crackers, pate. Oh and a small amount of (thin crust) pizza. Like the fact that its thin crust makes a difference.

And puddings. Less said the better.

No circulating - everyone sat down to eat, so plan of losing plate uneaten didn't work either.

What I did manage to do was not drink. Had to keep going up to the house to get water, but otherwise had orange squash, no doubt full of sugar - EVERYTHING soft was sugary...coke, lilt, oasis, juice. Gah. I did take a glass of red wine but didn't like it at all - i normally love red, so either my system just couldn't take the alcohol, or it was a nasty red (unlikely - a decent Merlot) so I accidentally spilt that.

I'm SOOOOO disappointed with myself, and now dreading my WI. I'm glad I went to the event, but wish I had more self control.

Today's lesson: planned weekends off don't work for me unless I just bin the whole thing and go bonkers.

Sorry. Whinge. Just so disappointed. In the grand battle between Liz and Ethel this weekend, I have to say Ethel has won hands down.

On the upside (there has to be an upside!) I didn't immediately think 'right thats it I've blown it' and stuff myself full of breakfast (had nothing - just coffee/mint tea and a choc shake) and then compound the error with crisps and chocolate and other service station nasties on the way home. Nothing since I got home. The idea of food makes me feel a bit ill. A lot ill.

Am drinking water like its going out of fashion, but I don't hold out much hope for the WI tomorrow night. We shall see.

However - great party, really glad I went, even though its caused me a bit of a hiccup!

Friday, 26 June 2009

Day 12 - scales of injustice

Ok, here's today's lesson. Scales are bad. Bad.*

Had I not leapt on the scales in happy anticipation for the last few mornings I would not know that I had not lost an ounce since Tuesday night (day 9). I would, however, know that I have lost 3 inches or so off my waist, that a friend said I looked noticeably thinner, that I've been 100% committed and have not cheated.

I would know all these positive things, and be pleased, and be looking forward to my WI like I was earlier this week, knowing that I couldn't fail but to have lost weight.

Instead, I am annoyed, grumpy, demotivated and disheartened. My WI looms on the horizon like an appointment at the smear test clinic.

Thus - scales are bad. I am going to take the battery out of the bloody things so I cannot be further tempted to 'just see' where I am.

However, I refuse to let this overshadow my day, which has been pretty good actually, despite being freezing for most of it. I got into a pair of size 18 M&S trousers today - proper work trousers, no stretch, proper waistband. I bought them without trying them on months ago, literally months ago, and they never fitted. Today, they do. Rah!! Yay me!!

Off to family bbq tomorrow, and after much internal wrangling, have decided to have one planned meal 'off diet'. Am just hoping that by sticking to lean protein and salad and studiously avoiding carbs and alcohol, I can stay within fingertip distance of ketosis and not have to go through the hell of climbing that wall again. I don't care if people wonder why I'm not drinking, but the thought of spending about 12 hours explaining over and over and over to a sequence of people who will either not understand, or decide (with no basis in fact) that CD is 'bad for you' and spend hours arguing with me and/or trying to make me eat a burger - well, just fills me with abject horror.

This event is not about me, nor do I want it to be, I just want to be a normal guest and not be a topic of conversation, nor do I want to be justifying and defending myself, I'd quite like to enjoy the event too and not spend it feeling beset on all sides by well-meaning people bearing gin and tonic, burgers, crisps and beer. Of course, that might not happen - nobody really cares, do they, but just in case, I have a plan.

I shall take a plate of food, circulate, chat to people, pick at the chicken and salad (there has to be chicken and salad. there always is) then quietly lose the plate. And as far as everyone else is concerned, I've eaten, I'm full, end of story! Hopefully this will work....will report back on success or otherwise on Sunday, and Monday night will be the proof in the pudding, at the WI. I hate to risk my success so far on one meal, but this makes me feel a hell of a lot better than the alternatives, and I feel a lot more positive for having made a sensible choice. (I hope it is sensible)

For anyone non-CD reading this blog (such as it is, so far) - I do actually have a life, by the way, but this is my blog for my CD journey, and I see no reason to bore you, dear reader, with much else!

Lx

*Disclaimer: For me. Not for everyone - whatever works for you, girlfrien'

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Day 10 - a good day but feeling a bit odd

Apologies to friends and forum members who may have read bits of this already tonight. Having written this once already tonight, in different places, I don't really see the need to write it again, given that it is what happened and what I'm thinking.

I'm doing ok - totally 100% still, drinking my water, feeling fine. But today i've been thinking, I can't ever imagine myself slim. I've been overweight all my adult life - from slightly (teen/early 20s) to enormously (various points in between then and now) but mostly ...well, mostly significantly overweight. I lost weight for my wedding but still was married at 13 stone; went up to 16; down to 11.5; back up to 15...and here we are.

The only time I've been properly slim - even thin - was when I went to college; I went at 10 stone and within a term was 9 stone (a diet of mainly alcohol, with occasional veggie-pizza-chips-and-beans and things on toast - plus a whole new regime of walking 6-8 miles per day and dancing every night). Even then, I thought I was fat. By Christmas of that first year, everyone told me I was too thin and looked ill, but I wonder how much of that was just surprise and the fact that they cared about me and it didn't look like I was taking care of myself.

I am thinking about how much of this contributes to the fact that I simply can't imagine that I will ever be slim and a healthy weight. It just doesn't 'fit' with my self image. I am a confident person and don't hide away, despite my size. I'm not the jolly fat girl, being a total misery some of the time, but I just don't make an issue out of being a size 18/20. Its normal. Its what I am.

Will I still be me if I'm 10 stone and a size 12? Can I ever get there? Fears of self sabotage abound. I just can't believe it'll ever be me. I've no idea where this has come from, and guess its just a passing mind-flurble, but I'm so used to being a 'big girl' that its impossible for me, at the moment, to believe that I'll ever be slim.

Had a choc tetra made into a mocha today, which was nice and much more filling than just the tetra on its own. Unfortunately, the contents of the choc tetra pack turn out to be grey. Which is an odd colour for chocolate milkshake. Obviously it is designed to be drunk unseen. Grey mocha is not terribly appetising, but it tasted ok. So that's good. Realise i've notbeen drinking enough - have been guessing - am close, but not quite 4l, I don't think. So I'm increasing that as of today, and am wearing a groove to the Ladies.

I've also recognised another emotion which I would normally choose to eat to suppress - anger. One of my staff has made me absolutely furious by backing me into a corner; details unnecessary, but I come out of this looking either petty and unnecessary, or powerless and irrelevant. Bah. And I stormed home, in a foul mood, and instantly wanted a piece of toast for comfort value and something crunchy to take it out on. I watered the plants instead. I did water them quite vehemently, but I don't think they noticed.

On a brighter note, I spent a few quid in the jane norman sale, and bought two frocks and a skirt in a size 14. Which is three sizes below where I am now. As I believe in the power of pull/positive motivation, rather than push (eg not wanting to be 15 stone any more - after all, I've achieved that already) these clothes are part of my 'pull' towards my new shape and size. I WILL wear them at Christmas (unless, of course, when they arrive I hate them!)

Today's stats:

Weight - 14'2
Lost - 11
To target - 45

And I think that's enough for now.

Lx

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Day 9 - weigh day

Woke up today stupidly excited about the fact that my first proper WI was tonight. Having had an interim one on Saturday (day 6) and down 9lb, I was keen to see the results of my labours to day 9.

The result is....11lb!! Big huge smiley face at having lost 11lb in nine days. Although I will confess to a little 'meh' moment at only dropping 1.5lb since Saturday. Bonkers, I know. I'll get over it soon enough. Just seems I want the moon, and having got it, would quite like the stars as well.

I've been having the odd can of coke zero in the last few days - my CDC said it was preferable to diet coke (banned! sob) but think I will lay off it and replace with water. I've done it before, given up my diet coke addiction, and in fact it was easy. So, no more coke zero. Mr L will have to take it to work and let his colleagues have it instead, I'm sure they won't mind.

Having got through Friday night (girl's night: wine, vodka, peanuts, pizza etc) 100% SS, I now have to face the challenge of a family barbecue on Saturday. All afternoon/evening, and overnight in a hotel. Am very, very worried about how I'll cope with it. Not because I think I'll cave in, but because I don't really feel much like spending the entire party explaining my choices and my decision to do CD. I'd rather keep it under my hat for now - I'm a bit fed up having to justify myself, and don't want to make this party all about meeeee, either. So, what to do. I do want to enjoy the party, I do want to go, I just don't want it to get in the way. And I don't want to cheat either. As I see it I have a few options:

1 - lie, take a plate of food, and quietly put it down somewhere
2 - lie, pretend to have an upset stomach, don't eat and retire early (how rooood!)
3 - take a plate of food, eat perhaps the chicken and a bit of salad, put plate down somewhere
4 - ???? no idea.
5 - let Ethel have her way and trough bbq food and vodka all afternoon.

My friends last Friday were SO supportive and really made what could have been a difficult evening very easy. I'm not suggesting family will try to sabotage me, but unless I spend hours being a diet bore, they're unlikely to 'get' what I'm doing... I fear 'oh go on just a bit of sausage, can't harm you' etc.

Hey ho. Only time will tell, I guess. Next WI on Monday, so at least I have that to hang on to.

Lx

Monday, 22 June 2009

Day 8 - Panic stations!

Panic on two levels today - one work related, which I won't bother writing down - it was bad enough first time, let alone reliving it for the purposes of a blog.

The second - I was cheerfully walking along to work this morning when I realised I had not put a shake in my bag for 'lunch' today. Not good. I wondered if I would be able to go 12 hours between packs, but decided that probably wouldn't work. I am only 8 days into the diet and am still in a mindset of having shakes at 'meal' times eg breakfast, lunch, tea. I know from experience that that passes, and its possible to go for long periods of time between them, but not at the moment.

Hmmm. Great trepidation. I wanted to survive the day without getting faint and/or saying sod it I'm in need of food I'll have something, but neither did I want to eat. I'm in ketosis, and i don't want to ruin that - it took me long enough to get here!

Imagine my HUGE relief when I opened the desk drawer and found a chocolate pack lurking within! I don't remember putting it there, but clearly I did so, for blonde moments such as this morning. (Must now remember to replace it....) However, despite relief the size of Belgium, I was still interested to know what to do should I find myself up shakiness creek without a pack in future.

So I consulted the wisdom of Minimins and asked what I could have, and am pleased to say I learned something; should that happen again, I know what I can choose and not throw myself out of ketosis or spoil my weigh in....chicken seems to be the food of choice, but also tuna or cottage cheese. Left to my own devices I probably would have chosen peanuts (instant protein delivery!) or babybel cheese. So now I know what to do. Bonus.

I'm finding the idea of the 810 plan very seductive. Food! Proper food! Even if its just a mini meal, its food. And I miss food - planning, shopping, cooking, eating. Apparently the losses are just as good, maybe a shade lower, but not much. Easy to see how that can be attractive.

But I'll think on this for a day or two; need to ponder and evaluate. At the moment, much as I miss food, I think I need a complete break from it. Sole source is just that - sole source - nothing else. I need to reprogramme my relationships with food; so having food is surely counter-productive? I can see both sides.

A good day, though, despite the panic. Fully into ketosis and despite being very very cold, feeling just fine. Not hungry at all. The promised 'feeling of wellbeing' has arrived! Brain like cotton wool, but never mind - I am deeply chuffed with myself for getting through the first week 100%. Weigh in tomorrow so hope to post with good news!

Sunday, 21 June 2009

Day Seven

Well, hello. I'm a completely virgin blogger, so be gentle with me if I get all this horribly wrong.

Here's a bit about myself and why I've set this blog up. I'm Liz, 36, and I live in Kent with two cats and one husband. I'm blogging about my weight loss journey using the Cambridge Diet and I don't give a toss if nobody ever reads this except me. Just knowing its out there in the world, and using it to record my progress, ups/downs, thoughts, earth-shattering insights etc is enough.

I started CD on Monday 15 June. Its my second (proper) attempt at a VLCD, having lost 4.5 stone with Lighter Life in 2005 but failing to keep all bar a stone of it off. The trigger for starting CD - and really meaning it this time - was a trip away with friends in early May.

We had each bought the same dress from New Look back in about January of this year - a short, sequinned, gold tunic dress. I bought a 16 - the biggest size they had - with the intention to 'slim into it'. Hahaahahaha - excuse me whilst I roll about on the laughing floor for a while.

Of course I didn't slim into it and had to wear it as I was - it DID fit, just, but I did not look good in it. I feel so unhappy when I look at the photographs of that weekend. it was a brilliant weekend, but I can't believe I looked so bloody dreadful. I'm wearing the dress again in September.

Whilst it seems a bit superficial to lose weight for the point of a dress, its much more than that. I'm four years off 40 and need to sort my health out once and for all. I am at serious risk of diabetes and heart disease if I carry on like this, not to mention all sorts of other nasties that could come along. Being a sensible weight is the first step in a long journey to sort myself out. The dress is a convenient and useful expression of all that - I WILL look good in it; in fact, it will be too big, by September!

So here's the goal - four stone, or 56lb, by September, and then carry on after that to get to 140lb. Started on Monday, at 14'13, and by yesterday had lost 9.5 lb.

Here's today's stats:

Weight - 14'3.5
Lost - 9.5
To target - 46.5

I weigh in 'for real' on Tuesday, so hope to get it to 10lb or more by then. Till then....

Lx