MiddleAgeShed

Why I am intrigued, this diet week...

On last weeks podcast, Heather teased us all by saying that she had a special plan for this week on how to lose weight. I have to say I am intrigued and cannot wait to be let in on the secret of slimming!

I have been very good again this week, exercising hard and eating well. I have had the occasional malteser....but otherwise, feeling motivated about losing weight. I think I do work better with targets and as I have agreed to go away with Mum for a few days, that has given me a date to focus upon.

That focus helps me in 2 ways

• I have a target date but also
• For some unknown reason I start to think slim! I picture myself being the weight that I want to be for the holiday. I start holding myself differently and acting - and eating - like that person.

Human beings are so weird...well I am! However, Heather I am intrigued and cannot wait to hear the Heather secret to slimming success :)

Could We Be the Answer for Rising Fuel Prices

Heather have you read about the boat powered by human fat! It was on Trendhunter

" Pete Bethune and two crew members underwent liposuction, gathering a total of 2.5 gallons of excess blubber to power the speed boat. Their fat alone was enough to produce 2 gallons of fuel. He put the lard in motor and says under optimal conditions, the boat could run a successful 9 miles."

I am thinking it could be great motivation if we converted our cars! If you don't lose weight, you would have to walk....sure I would have enough left over for Farmer Phils combine if that helps??   

Reporting in from Blakemere

Well, finally I have had a good week.

I haven't weighed, but I have made a note (mostly) of what I have eaten.

Yes, I have had two beers, I have had some chocolate without guilt, I am going out tonight. But thanks to your help (Anna, Karen and others) I have remembered that I feel better if I am in control, and also that I can eat whatever I like and drink whatever I like, its the quantity that is the issue.

To this end I have brought back in my small plate and am actually thinking of going out and buying a special plate - like an Emma Bridgewater one that is really cool, so while I eat my food my plate is cool! (Yes I know arty farty - I am an Apple fanatic - remember)

I have also been thinking about when you do want to go out and have a binge and a drink and have rethought this in terms of balance and lifetime stuff.

Glad to hear my post hit the mark with Anna too.

Dieting and the Power of Belief

Wow, if you haven't read Heather's post on her diet thoughts then you should! It brought a tear to my eye...seriously.
I want to explain why I asked Heather about her slimming...the reason I asked is the opposite of what you think! You see I don't doubt her commitment, I have never known such a determined person - that is what I admire most about her. In fact I believe she has more commitment than me, I dream too much and take less action, generally in life!

That is why she confuses me, that is why I think there is something at the core of why she doesn't lose the weight she desires to....remember her inner commitment and definitely her self belief is far, far greater than mine.

I think she hits the nail on the head with this comment "To be truthful I dont really believe that I am supposed to be slim" I think many of us feel like that, I think that is why I lost the weight quickly to begin with and am struggling now. I think that this weight is me, I don't BELIEVE that I can live happily at a lower weight.

That is silly as if I lose this final 11lbs (on top of reaching my original target), I will still be 14lbs heavier than I used to be! I know that final 11lbs is possible and that I can live happily at that weight.

This is about belief, this is about believing we CAN be happy and slim. This is about believing we have the right to be what we want to be....

Thanks Hev because you have helped me understand why my block has happened, the best bit is that the one thing that has never been stronger is the belief that together we are stronger !

Progress

This week I have been mostly........at home!
The only real issue I have had is that as there is no school run to do - I have failed on my cycling, and there has been no tennis this week.
This week I intend to plan my food better as I really need to get rid of excess weight in a less gradual way... Anyone have a ready made diet of guaranteed success using things that I have here....broad beans, peas, onions, salad, pork, ham, chicken, porridge, apples, etc etc? If so please send to me.
Ooooo I have just remembered of course school holidays mean more cooking and we made the most gorgeous apple pie which I have helped to eat!
Looking forward to the podcast which definitely helps to focus the mind, looking forward to the week.
Signing off from Herefordshire on yet another rainy, windy, dull "summer" day in the heart of the countryside!

A Week of Diet Urges

Dieting this week I have had some strange cravings. I think the best I can hope for is to sustain my weight. After a strong few weeks for slimming it is as though my body has craved sweetness and instead of eliminating I have given in to the urges...but upped the exercise workouts.

I think as I try and live a healthier lifestyle that I need to realise that often you have to feed those urges...as long as they are short bursts and that you up the exercise to stem any damage to the weight.

Will I have maintained or put a little on, not sure but I know that my motivation is still strong and I feel better for giving in to those urges!

Heather Pops in for a Coffee

This weekend we couldn't record a show as Heather was away on a course, however her course was about 2 miles away from where my Mum lives and I was there cutting the lawn so she popped in with her hubby - Farmer Phil for a coffee. I was glad she arrived just after we had eaten a barbecue and had a banoffee pie!

I have to say it was great seeing her as always...by the way Heather have to apologise for the smell of garlic as Mum had bought us all our favourite garlic sweets from the local market!.....She looks great, I know that her weight has been a little up and down but do you know she still looks amazingly healthy.

When she was there, in the room there was huge evidence of how slimming can work as the people were 7 stone (98lbs) lighter than over a year ago. My aunt has lost 28lbs going to a slimming club and mum has lost about 14lbs since she was diagnosed with diabetes.

We may not have been able to do a diet podcast but seeing Heather was great as it kept my motivation high to get rid of these lb's. I had lost a 1lb this week and so I have about 11lbs to go....though the pig out yesterday hasn't helped!

Secret to Slimming

Got your attention! Well, I have found a secret....I haven't been shopping for food for 3 weeks - hate it at the best of times, however this has been deliberate!

The cupboards are relatively bare and I can tell you that the less food that is about, the less you think about food. Can this be a secret to diet success?

What a weighty surprise!

I went for my tests at the hospital today and they asked me to stand on the scales...uuuggghhh.

I stood on with my shoes, fully clothed etc....dreading to look down and guess what .... I weighed less than in my nakedness first thing in the morning :)

I am now thinking that each Saturday I should nip down to the hospital and use those scales to measure my diet!!

Good Week, Bad Week on the Diet

To lose weight, don't you have to really think about food? That sounds strange but it is so easy to forget what you are eating...or at least for me. This week I am doing well food wise and will have managed 4 trips to the gym this week.

I have done 2 things to help me lose this weight

• Eating has to be at a meal time - and nothing outside a meal time.
• Getting up earlier to get some work done and then to the gym around lunchtime to catch up on the news. The more interested I am on what is on the TV, the harder I workout!

Let's see if it works :)