A Lighter Life For Me

Day 62- SS-induced headaches suck!

2007-04-21T20:13:00.000Z

Hey all,

Well once again, full of good intentions I managed thursday SSing all day, then succumbed in the evening.... oops. And started again on friday and once again succumbed in the evening... im seeing a trend here!! Anyway, me and Stace made a pact to start this morning, but we ended up starting last night by drinking 2 pints before bed! We called it the 2 pint challenge LMAO...

So today, my first FULL day of 100% SSing no cheating for a fair while! And I intend for things to stay this way. I am back on the wagon now and it feels good, im not even tempted by food as I am so determined not to say "well I succumbed" one more time! So, another day at home under the watchful eye of mum and dad tomorrow, that should see me into ketosis and then its onwards and upwards!! Lol, only thing is these blinkin' headaches I always get at the end of a day SSing... never mind, it will hopefully clear by end of tomorrow and then i shall be fine.

So, my restart (which this is really when we consider how naughty I have been recently) stats are as follows:
Weight: 13 stone 1 lb
Height: 5'6'' (never changes)
BMI: 29.5 (thankfully hasnt changed despite all my naughtiness.. altho i havent consumed enough cals to put on so i wouldnt have expected a gain, altho havent consumed too few to lose)

So wish me luck everyone. Feel like its my first time all over again and I actually quite like it! I'm so glad I have Stacey- if ur reading this hun, i want u to know your support is more valuable than u could ever imagine!

xxx

Day 59- What is wrong with me?

2007-04-18T22:12:00.000Z

Hi all,

Was over the moon to see a 2lb loss on Friday!! Whoop whoop, I fessed up to my CDC about my pre-Easter naughtiness and she was lovely about it... but then the weekend happened. On Friday night I really felt the need to go out and drink, it had been too long and I was feeling sad and depressed about spending ANOTHER night in while my friends all went out together and had a good time! So I did, I went out, had a brilliant time and got sloshed on voddie and diet coke.. not my tipple of choice, but only 56cals per drink- thought it was the safest option! Then, on Sat, there was the BBQ. Now, I was very good and prepared ALL the food (at my friends house) including a few different salads, potato salad etc. I made sure I filled up on salad first so as to avoid over-indulging on the meat, but I still managed to consume a burger, hot dog and rib... oops! Avoided the alcohol though (was pleased with that as everyone else was drinking) and stuck to water. So hope the damage was limited by that.

Anyway, then came Sunday. I was good all day, until I couldn't handle the hunger created by eating all Saturday at about 10pm. So I stopped by the Co-op on the way home from my friends house and bought... :-(.... pringles and a pasty. Shocker! I cant believe I did that, I am kicking myself now, and having done so well all day!!! Monday was ok, as I went shopping with Cheryl (Pandora from Minimins) and spent the day feeling rly uplifted about being able to buy some size 12 stuff, which motivated me not to eat. Excellent! But then yesterday I crumbled again and gave into my friends offer to treat me to a Chinese... it was delicious though, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and worked out I consumed about 2000 cals so hopefully not too much damage done.

Which brings us to today, Wednesday. After my Chinese yesterday I decided that enough is enough (again!) and I needed to get back on track NOW otherwise I may not see a loss on Friday, and I really want to see at least 2lbs off this week. So have managed to keep my willpower today and have completed my first full day of SS for nearly a week, and intend to continue like this until I reach goal. I know I keep saying this, but I really do have good intentions, and am not going to try and make excuses why I should carry on eating. When I decide to do something, I do try my hardest- just sometimes thats not enough. Well I dont intend to let food get the better of me, and I will continue to try SSing for as long as I physically can!!!

Phew! Well now I have got all that off my chest, I'm off to bed. Hopefully I wont feel hungry whilst asleep.....

xxx

Day 52- a brilliant day

2007-04-11T22:50:00.000Z

Well, after doing so well on Sunday and Monday, I lapsed a tad yesterday, altho not majorly, but enough to make me feel stupid and a little sick- it actually put me off cheating again and I think it has worked! Today has been full of temptation, I went to the pub with Mike and his mates for the best part of 3 hours and all 9 of them ate, and I didnt touch a morsel. Not a sausage lol! I just sat and drank my tetra feeling jolly proud of myself! We then went to see Ricky Gervais at the BIC and he was hilarious! I even found myself laughing at his jokes about obesity- i felt bad for those people in the audience who know they are obese, but now that I am just overweight I didnt classify myself to be one of the people he was talking about... does that make me a bad person?

Anyway, I'm hoping to see a little loss on the scales tomorrow and Friday so at least I have something to show my CDC for the last 2 weeks work! It really should have been a 6lb loss on the scales this friday but i suspect it will be more like 2lbs if i'm lucky! lol but i hope that it will be more- even if its just water weight!

xxx

Day 49- its been really hard

2007-04-08T20:34:00.000Z

Hi all,

Well after an absence of 11 days I feel I should explain myself. After my last loss things went a bit wrong and I started picking at things, slowly the picking turned into eating meals and for the last week and a half I have been SSing in a way in which I would describe as 'less than half-hearted'!! But today I decided that tomorrow would be a fresh start. I then came online and went on minimins forum and after chatting on msn with a girl off there who's about to start this amazing journey, I realised how good losing weight makes me feel and that I should get back on track today- not tomorrow, after all how many times I have said that over the past week I have lost count!! So, I made the decision to start afresh today- Easter Sunday of all days! And I have stuck to it, resisting the roast dinner at our big family easter meal, saying no to the chocolate, the lemon meringue dessert, and all I have had today apart from my tetras and LOTS of water, was 2 tbsps of cabbage and leeks on my plate, as I didn't want to miss out on the family meal. But I don't think thats a problem, do you?

So, on to tomorrow, day two of my restart, and here's to a new me, with no cheating, and all being well I should still be at goal by end of June!! Whoop whoop- I'm just glad I have managed to get back on track today and didnt waste any more time making excuses!

I promise that now I am back on track I shall resume the blog-keeping, as I think it helps keep me focussed. So look forward to hearing more about my journey from now on!

xxx

Day 37- AAM :-D

2007-03-27T10:18:00.000Z

Morning everyone!

First of all the vital info: how much loss the scales showed on Monday.... drum roll please.... SIX LBS!!!! Can't believe it, I am now in the 12's, wearing my size 14 clothes, and it feels amazing. I honestly can't believe it was only 5 and a bit weeks ago that I was reading other people's blogs in my size 16-18 clothes and longing for the day when I could be like the other people who had done a VLCD and found happiness by slimming down and toning up. But now that feeling is a thing of the past- I am here now, mid-week 6, and knowing that before mid-June I will be at target (as long as I lose my average 3.5lbs a week, so no cheating for me!).

I SHALL be wearing my size 10 summer wardrobe in June and definitely July, and that makes me so happy.. still can't imagine me being size 10 (have not been there since I was about 10 years old I don't think- was always at least a 12 as a teenager)!

So I am thinking positive now. I also can't believe that I have lost something like 3lbs since starting AAM! I am loving AAM- have so far enjoyed: chicken and broccoli with garlic mushrooms, fresh cod and brocolli, chicken and cabbage, and cottage cheese with fresh chives mixed in, inside iceberg lettuce parcels! Yum, never thought I could be so satisfied by suc tiny portions of purely healthy food!! To be honest I will be sad to have to go completely without food again for 3 weeks, but time flies and I know it will be OK- I can do it! I will do it! ROFL!

Anyway, its Easter hols now and need to get on with the old dissertation, so will speak to you all soon.

xx

Day 35/36-weekend summary

2007-03-25T23:22:00.000Z

Hi all,

Well after my WI on Friday I was very pleased as I recovered my gain from last week and was a total of 6lbs down from last weeks WI! Whoop whoop! It is now Sunday night (late) and this morning I was down to 13st 1lb! That pesky 2lbs to get me into the 12s! Am hoping they will have shifted by tomorrow- have been drinking for England today in the hope that it will increase the speed at which they disappear!!

Anyway I am feeling so motivated today- until today I had been wearing my size 16-18 clothes, and my jeans were getting ridiculously loose- they were making me look bigger than I am, but I was too scared about trying on my old, size 14 stuff in case it didn't fit which would make me feel depressed. However today I felt stupid wearing trousers that fell off so pulled the old clobber out of the loft and had a trying on session. Well, what a surprise was in store for me....

- ALL my old jeans now fit, and 2 pairs I have had to throw away as even those are too big for me (size 14).
- ALL my old summer skirts (gypsy ones which have no beltloops to hold them up :-() were too big and have had to throw them all out, which I am actually sad about as I really liked them!
- ALL my summer tops which were previously tight now actually look OK, altho my arms are a bit too big but once they are more toned the tops will look good- theres no pulling at the back or anything for once.

I then decided to make way for my new jeans (I have 4 pairs which now fit which didnt before) I had to go through my wardrobe/drawers and get rid of some stuff.... this is what I have thrown out....

- ALL (bar 1) pairs of jeans!! They are in good nick as most are a year old or less so will send them to charity
- ALL my 'smart/going out' bottoms- including my 3/4 length black trousers which I adore... that was hard!

I have, in all, today thrown out about 20 items of clothing :-o which although means I shall have to buy a new wardrobe next winter, also means that I am getting skinnier!! Whoop whoop!! There were only 2 things that didn't fit, which are 2 miniskirts that I haven't worn since I was 16. So I shall save them for the summer by which time they will prob be too big :-D and I can buy new ones 2 sizes smaller!

I feel so gooooooooood, I dont care what the scales say- most of these clothes I haven't worn for AT LEAST 2 years, some up to 4 years, and that means I am shrinking..... YES!! THIS IS WHY I AM DOING CAMBRIDGE!!!!

xxx

Day 33- photo update

2007-03-23T00:57:00.000Z

Hi again, thought I would put a new photo of me up on here so you can see the changes through the stages. I have already noticed my face is much slimmer, as is my neck, and my collarbone is now starting to show :-o I love it!! This will be motivation for me when I log on here as well, to remember why I am doing this, for me, to make me happy! Enjoy!

Day 32- a fresh start tomorrow

2007-03-23T00:49:00.000Z

Hi all,

Well I have to say I am disappointed in myself. I completely ditched SSing at dinner today and after a meeting in a restaurant to discuss the menu for an event we are organising there, I was invited to sample some of their food for free. Stupid woman that I am I didn't say no, and ended up consuming 2 glasses of diet coke, 2 slices of pizza and 3 or 4 onion rings. Now I know it could have been worse... and it got worse.. on the way home I then bought a bar of galaxy chocolate- i dont know why, i'm not even a real chocolate fan, I just fancied it! What is wrong with me?

Anyway, after feeling stupid and guilty I have just sat down and worked out how long it would take me to get to target if I SS'd 100% from now on, and it will take me til the end of June. So, I have decided that if I don't want to fall off the wagon or prolong my weightloss into July, then I MUST SS 100% from now on.

So, please quote me on this in future should I cheat again (which I won't), as of tomorrow, I stick to the Cambridge plan 100% and absolutely no cheating, not a sausage, not at all, not for anything. OK? Please feel free to tell me off if I do, I would be most grateful!

Think I may have now jeopardised my loss for tomorrow- how annoying, so will be interesting to see what comes up on the scales! Will let u know how it goes... I'm not expecting any miracles!

Love N xx

Day 31- feeling strange...

2007-03-21T23:43:00.000Z

Hey all,

Sorry didn't write yesterday, went to the pub quiz with my bf. The crisps I ate on Monday didn't take me out of ketosis (dont know how or why!) and by yesterday morning I had dropped another 2lbs which I was very happy about! I had some crisps last night too and I am still in ketosis- mind you I think its cos both days I skipped a pack to compensate for the cals and the fat, and it seems to have worked. Now I know I shouldn't and its very wrong to do that but I figure if I am going to feel rubbish all night about not having them then its better to savour them (it took me an hour to eat a packet!) and enjoy them, and sort out my relationship with food, as I am not going to be able to keep away from them forever. I don't intend on doing it again though, as they didn't make me feel any better and I wouldn't want to risk slowing my weight loss down because of it. I have made the decision that I am now going to go back to properly SSing with NO cheating AT ALL.

That said, I am craving Chinese food so badly! I don't know why I keep getting weird cravings, and so far have managed not to give in, but I REALLY want one! Am trying to focus on Friday when I start AAM and will then have chicken and mushroom skewers (with maybe a teensy bit of soy sauce- low fat and low salt variety) to try and quash the craving! I hope it works... I know if I give in and have one I can get straight back to SSing but I also don't want to slow down my weightloss. Every time I kick myself out of ketosis its gonna slow my loss down by a few more days... at least I know I can get back on the wagon. If I do make the decision to have one I will enjoy it properly and then get straight back to SSing 100%, I am not prepared to fail on my weightloss mission!

I'm hoping that if I don't give in tomorrow, then my weightloss on Friday will bring me into the 12s. Not sure if it will but I really hope so! That would be so motivating and would sort my head out good and proper! We shall see, it will require at least 3lbs off since yesterday tho so not sure it will happen... wish me luck!

Probs wont remember to write again til Friday so will let you know how it goes!
xxx

Day 29- weigh in today!

2007-03-19T12:25:00.000Z

Well, its the end of week 4 of SSing, and I am pleased to announce that my weight has dropped 4lbs since Monday- so I have lost 2lbs since last Monday, which considering I ate, is very good! It also means that if I hadn't eaten I may have lost a whopping 4lbs this week :-( shame about that is it would have put me into the next BMI range down, and one step closer to being healthier. Never mind eh!

Had a little weak moment a minute ago and ate a teeny bit of chicken which was in the fridge for sandwiches after my family's roast yesterday. I really enjoyed it and its less than I would have had on AAM so i'm not worried or feeling guilty... but thought I should confess.

Other than that, not much to report, will be in touch soon!

xxx

Day 27- no harm done

2007-03-17T10:49:00.000Z

Well let me fill you in on the weight situation. My CDC yesterday weighed me and I had put on 2 lbs since Monday :-o shocker! I was really gutted and depressed all day yesterday but stuck to it despite feeling miserable and hungry (think im back in ketosis now but wasn't last night). Kept drinking my water in attempt to relieve the water retention held by the glycogen.

Anyway, jumped on the scales this morning first thing and lo and behold I was back to my week's starting weight- so I have not actually gained anything which is brilliant! Today I'm going to do a Callanetics video to start toning up as I need to get in shape but not sure I have the energy for a gym workout as only just back in ketosis and feeling a bit wobbly.

So, might get on with that in a minute, just thought I would update as haven't been very good recently at writing every day!

xxx

Day 25- Back to normal

2007-03-15T22:39:00.000Z

Well I am officially back to normal with the SS plan, have had 3 tetras today and although not enough water, more than I would otherwise drink. I have been feeling a bit ill with a cold (which made itself known originally on Sunday altho I thought it had subsided) and didn't go into uni today.

Darling bf brought me some throat sweets bless him altho I can't actually eat them :-( shame as my throat is killing me! He's quite happy to have them instead though as we both appear to be suffering from the same bug. Hopefully will feel better for tomorrow.

I forgot to post my loss from last week- it was a measly 1lb, and so if it weren't for the events of this week I would be hoping for a big loss. I get weighed by my CDC tomorrow and I would like to see a lb or 2 off since Monday- altho I wont be upset if its less, as it is only 5 days into the week and 1 of those was cheating!

Will let you know how it goes
xx

Day 24- Back from Business Trip

2007-03-14T20:12:00.000Z

Hey all,

As some of you may recall, I went off to Worcester yesterday with work and was worried about eating food whilst away. I eventually decided to eat but to listen to my body and stop when I thought I was full...

Well, heres the update! We ended up in pizza hut but I thought I should have a small one and just leave it at that... one slice in and I was full to bursting! I felt so full I couldn't believe it. So I put the rest in a box to take home... and then threw it away on the way out as realised I didn't need it and I wanted to get straight back on the diet so more pizza wasn't the best idea!

Anyhow, this morning we met at 06.30am in the little chef for breakfast, and i still felt bloated from last night so i just had an orange juice, and then apart from water didn't have anything til lunch when I opted for a tuna and sweetcorn sarnie on brown bread. I also treated myself to a packet of crisps but I don't regret it at all and really made sure I savoured every moment.

I have had a cup of coffee tonight with sugar in before fully going back to SSing tomorrow (cant do coffee without sugar and had rly missed it) and am now MORE than ready to re-start. I honestly, hand on heart, can say I would now rather SS than eat. It doesnt make me feel good, and I really believe that this diet has changed my relationship with food forever.
THANK YOU CAMBRIDGE!!!
xxxx

Day 21- a bit disappointed..

2007-03-11T12:26:00.000Z

Hi all,

Well I have, since Monday, lost a measly 1lb- and thats if I read the scales ambitiously (its more like half a lb really). I seem to lose all my weight at the weekends so by Friday I don't appear to have lost but come Monday am the weight has miraculously dropped off- so I'm hoping thats the case this week. I am thinking that maybe eating on Friday may have affected my weightloss, and if that little can do that kind of damage I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't eat on my business trip after all. I just don't want to slow down my loss as I so want to be slim for the summer.

Thinking of just taking Tetras and having them, and if I MUST eat then just have salad with no dressing and a bit of chicken. I will definitely not have breakfast and probably not lunch as I had previously planned, and will just have water. TBH I really don't feel like eating and its my AAM the following week so don't wanna slow my loss down tooooo much!

So, now I have made that decision I am feeling much more positive. I have really sore lips at the moment- you know where all around your mouth its sorta cracked. I never had anything like this before even as a child, and not sure what's causing it. I think maybe I'm not drinking enough and licking my lips too much as they feel dry. Anyway, now they are all Vaselined up and hopefully that should sort it.

As for what I've been doing this weekend, well, I've been a busy little bee and spent 5 hours sorting out my car yesterday (yes, I DID say 5 hours!). It was a real state so needed a thorough inside and out pampering session- my hands were so dry by the end of it!! I washed, t-cut, waxed, emptied out, hoovered, dusted thoroughly, then sorted out my CD collection. It now looks like a new car- especially where I used T-cut and got the few little scratches out. There are a few little scrapes which lovely OH created on the first day of my owning the car (bought new in Dec) and as I'm sure you can guess, I wasn't best pleased! So, I have decided I'm gonna get a touch-up paint and sort it out next weekend, and then it will all be perfect! I have a definite sense of satisfaction having done it all myself!

Also pleased that I managed to get on an old pair of tracky bums that haven't fitted me for 2 years :-) in order to clean said car!

Anyhow, hope to see at least a 2lb weightloss tomorrow or I shall be most disheartened. Having said that, I believe week 3 is known for often showing a disappointing loss. We'll see!

xxx

Day 19- I'm a naughty girl

2007-03-09T21:44:00.000Z

Well,

I ate two mouthfuls of chicken, a small roast potato and some peas today- I know I shouldn't have but it was put in front of me at work and I couldn't say no- so I just had a little bit. I know its prob knocked me outta ketosis but I know I can get back in and have no intention of falling off the wagon- I don't see today as falling off the wagon as I did think about it but not in the emotional sense. I thought 'what are the pros and cons of eating this..? why am I doing it..? is it right that I should eat this?' I came to the conclusion that it would be ok as long as I didn't use it as an excuse to continue to cheat. Some people may disagree and this may be controversial but I know in myself that I am strong enough to handle that- it wasn't much different to an AAM except i had a potato.

Am planning to eat dinner on Wed night, have an egg for breakfast on Wed and a salad type thing for lunch, then back onto SS in the evening. Then I do not intend to cheat again until I complete this diet. I think the important thing is not to have a break from SSing as I don't think I could re-start after a significant break, and also not to make a habit of this planned-eating. I'm only eating as my boss basically told me I had to eat as the meals are all about networking and he doesn't want me to "tarnish the company image". Thats fair enough but I can still choose what it is that I do eat!

Anyway, no weight off today since Monday- but I am noticing that the weight tends to drop off over the weekend and I am noticing the inches off this week so I'm not too worried. Maybe by Monday I will have lost some more- hopefully 3lbs! So looking forward to this weekend, as this week has been crazy- I really need a rest!!

Keep you posted
xxx

Day 17- didn't realise I had forgotten...

2007-03-07T21:08:00.000Z

Blimey,

Can't believe I haven't posted for the last few days- the time is going by so fast that I'm losing track of what day it is and whether I have posted or not.

Oh well, at least this way I have more stuff to tell you. Well first things first, the result of my WI on Monday was another lb off so I'm now down 16lbs in total (saying now, I mean 2 days ago- on Monday). I hope I've lost some since then!!

So, whats new? Well I have had a friend who I havent seen say I look 'sexy' and she told another friend who then called me and asked me how she can get onto my diet as Claire (the one who said I looked sexy) reckons I look amazing and she wants a piece of the action. LMAO i love it- I'm really surprised at how much support I'm getting, even from my uni mates who I woulda thought would have just laughed at me and told me just to stop drinking alcohol instead. Also, my boyfriend's mum who sees me probably once or twice a week but then not again for another whole week, keeps saying she can see the weight dropping off me- especially around my face apparently. Strangely the only place I have noticed it going from is my midriff- which is always good!

My draft dissertation is in on Friday and my course are going on a field trip tomorrow- we have a date with some major politicians in the Houses of Parliament as our final assignment this year is to do a publicity campaign for a party. I'm totally gutted that I have left my work too late and now can't go on the trip- oh well, at least there are no lectures so I will have a whole day to focus and hopefully get the work finished!! And I won't have to worry about how to make my shakes up either!

Went to the supermarket with OH today- he bought a load of crap, I bought a coke zero lol. I cant believe how much food there is out there when you dont really need much to survive. And so much crap- all designed to tempt us, even though its all so disgustingly unhealthy. Ah well, I just walked around feeling smug that I wasn't one of the people walking round with a trolley full of junk!!

Some disappointing news this week, the job that I thought was in the bag, is very much not in the bag, and has gone to someone else. This said, I'm hoping that they might reconsider me for later in the year, as I think they really wanted someone who could start immediately- which I, being at uni, obviously can't. Needless to say it would have been nice if they'd stated this instead of just telling me I was unsuccessful.

Well, thats all the news, now we're all caught up I shall say goodnight- don't want to bore you too much!

xxx

Day 14- 2 weeks gone already!!

2007-03-04T23:58:00.000Z

Hey hey howdy doody!

I am in an excellent mood this fine evening. Here is why:

1) I told my friends at my 20s-30s group thing after church about my loss so far (they knew I was doing the diet and haven't seen me since the day before I started) and they were really supportive. So glad I have friends like them.

2) I resisted the pizza (my fav food ever) and chocolate bars and crisps at the group and stuck to water... a mega achievement in my book- if I can resist pizza I can do anything!

3) I made a choc mousse for dinner and it was perfect first time- which I had been worried would not be the case having read on minimins that lots of ppl have struggled to get it right. The secret is to blend the sachet and mix-a-mousse together first, then add water and blend for a good two mins to get the air in. Plus I took a friends advice and chilled the water in the freezer for half an hour first. It was yummy but I felt really full halfway through!!

4) I have now lost over a stone-its my end of week 2 WI tomorrow morning so thats 15lbs in 2 weeks :-) which I am over the moon with!!

So, I am now off to bed feeling very smug about my weightloss, resisting my fave foods and still enjoying a social life! A bit worried about the fact that I seem to be coming down with a cold and can't take lemsip or anything, so I'm willing myself well and praying that this snivelly nose thing doesn't turn out to be anything more!

Night night! xxx

Day 13- Went out tonight

2007-03-04T00:58:00.000Z

Hey all,

Just got back out from a brilliant night out, not drinking alcohol or even coke zero, just water! Have had an excellent day today, just being a general lazy moose and not doing anything in particular! Love it!

Anyway I'm shattered so off to bed for me :-) night night xxx

Day 12- End of week 1

2007-03-02T19:35:00.000Z

Hey guys,

Well I had my first CD weigh-in this morning, and have lost 5lb since last Friday; its so strange cos where I started LL last Monday but CD on Friday, I don't know when I should do my official weigh-in. Think I'm gonna do it from Friday to Friday but I'm not discounting that hard-burnt-off 7lb that I lost before Friday last week!!

So, I am now down 12lb altogether although only 5lb on CD. I say only- altho I have to admit I am feeling a bit negative today 5lb in a week is excellent and there's no way I could have acheived it without SSing. Also, this week has passed so quickly I have hardly blinked before losing nearly half a stone! I'm happy about that and think perhaps my loss would have been more if I had drunk enough water (which I havent- slap my wrists!).

So, week 2 on Cambridge (or day 12 if we're counting LL) begins, hopefully will lose another 5lbs this week which will bring me to 17lb- a stone and 3lbs off in 3 weeks. Would love to have lost over a stone and a half in the first month, and call me ambitious, ideally 2! Is that asking too much?

Anyway, not out tonight as can't face going out without drinking or eating. At mum and dads at the moment-they just ate a yummy healthy veg stir-fry and I am so jealous! I can't wait to finish this and eat normally again... oh well, the longer I stick to it, the quicker I will be slim. IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!!!!!

xxx

Day 11- CD WI tomorrow

2007-03-01T22:31:00.000Z

Guten tag!

Well, tomorrow I have my first CD weigh-in. Its strange, cos as I switched from LL to CD my weigh-ins aren't at the end of each week, so end up needing to do my CD weekly weigh in and then my own official weekly weigh-in so I know how much I have lost in proper weeks of dieting! Very odd...

Have really struggled to take in enough water this week, I hope it hasn't affected my loss, as I don't feel much different to this week, whereas last week I noticed a big difference.

Anyway, will let you know how it goes

xxx

Day 10- time flies

2007-02-28T22:13:00.000Z

Evenin' all!

Well, there's not much to report tonight really, even though I didn't have time to post yesterday either. Except that I can't believe how quickly 10 days have gone. 9 more lots of them and I will have done 100 days and be at goal (hopefully, and maybe even before). Can't get over how good this diet is, and so glad that I have spent the past 10 days detoxing and burning fat rather than being unhealthy and puttimg on weight!

I have a new diet buddy who I chat with on MSN messenger. We have agreed that when we reach our target we will have a day of shopping, then dinner and a club :-) my idea of heaven. Of course we will have to eat healthily.... anyway that is also helping me, we share tips, encourage one another and answer each others questions if poss. Today we worked out that to get to goal will probably only take us 13 weeks as long as our weightloss is the average 3lbs, and as we are at exactly the same point in our journeys we are hoping that our losses are similar to those of others, and we lose a good chunk in the first 4 weeks before it goes down to 3lb-ish. Having said that I would be more than happy with a 3lb loss its just I want to get to target ASAP and am impatient!

Loving the CD, although struggling with the bars and have decided to have a week off them. The tetra packs have been a Godsend and am intending to have 2 a day for the next week.

My only problem is drinking the water- I dont drink enough normally so drinking enough on the diet is proving something of a challenge... but I am trying I promise! Just hope it doesn't affect my losses too much... will find out on Friday when I have my CD WI.

Til soon my dears
xxx

Day 8- WI and vitals

2007-02-26T11:11:00.000Z

Hey all,

Sorry for not posting yesterday, I had a busy morning and went for a walk with the wrinklies in the afternoon. All was going well.... until the moment I walked through the front door after the walk and felt really very sick. I had a glass of water and that didnt help so took myself off to bed for a few hours. Woke up at 6.30pm still feeling vile so I watched Bridget Jones on tv and went back to sleep again about midnight. I can only blame the grim combo of vanilla and choc shakes with coffee I had just before the walk for my predicament as I can't think what else it could have been!

Anyway, feeling mostly better this morning, and I have quit LL which I started last Mon I thought I should do my own WI and measurements to make sure I keep the chart going of my progress. Measured in the same places as my LLC to make sure they are consistent. Here goes:

Lbs lost in a week: 10
Cms lost from bust: 5
Cms lost from waist: 3
Cms lost from hips: 7

I knew I wasnt imagining that my hipster jeans kept falling down. Am now wearing my belt super tight to hold them up but the material bags and looks silly. Prob is I do have a few smaller pairs but they arent hipsters and my belly is too big to wear them still. Lol! Never mind hopefully it won't be long :-)

Got a busy few days ahead and staying at a friends to get an assignment done so may not get the opportunity to post. Speak soon

xx

Day 6- much better

2007-02-24T23:53:00.000Z

Hurrah, tummy is fine today!

Didn't get up during the night at all and slept right through til 10am :-) all now seems to be well in the loo department, which is excellent.

Have been on my first CD day today, althought have to do 2 more days of LL to finish off my packs which I should have collected yesterday but couldn't for obvious reasons! Not looking forward to going back as LL is disgusting compared with CD, which I am LOVING by the way! Had a hot choc for breakfast as I knew that that would be ok (as its the only thing on LL i really like), then a choc orange bar- which I cut half off and made into cookies. They were delicious, although I have realised that if they burn from the inside even a little it makes them VERY chewy! I kept the other half in the fridge for this evening and ate it with a glass of water with my family whilst they were eating their evening dinner.

Tried making ice cream-had the tetra in the fridge since last night and put in the freezer for over an hour, but it was still VERY liquid, cold liquid granted, but DEFINITELY not ice cream! Oh well, it was still yummy. I think me and Cambridge are gonna be firm friends. I was even saying to my mum I'll have to be careful making it into conventional type foods, as the main reason I'm doing this is to have some time off from food so that my attitudes towards it can change.

Anyway, weighed myself this morning, same time as I have done my other WI's, and was down 10lb- now bang on 14st, which is excellent! Thats another 3lb over-night, so hoping tonight and tomorrow will be the same, so that my end of week weight will be over a stone :-) that would be amazing!!

Wish me luck, night night xx

Day 5- not happy now

2007-02-23T17:53:00.000Z

Well all has changed over the last 3 hours. My tummy started gurgling uncontrollably and then I had to rush to the loo.... well you can imagine what happened next! Have been twice in an hour and don't know what to do.

My counsellor said to let it sort itself out as its probably a sort of final detox and is a side effect of starting a VLCD, but she doesnt warn people routinely about it as its not that common. Trust me to be the uncommon one! Lol. Oh well at least apart from my rumbling belly and skanky gut I'm feeling good, not hungry! Need to have a shake really, have still only managed 1 of 4 today, in fact will do that now.

Seeing LLC on Sunday instead for weigh-in and have told her I'm switching, she was really nice and said I can always come back if it doesnt work out. So no weigh-in tonight, although I expect I will be down another 1/2 a lb with all this yuckiness going on! I hope so, at least then it will have been worthwhile!

See you later x

Day 5- stop-in day

2007-02-23T14:49:00.000Z

Today has been brilliant!!

Its only 3pm but already my day is going brilliantly. I met my CDC this morning and she was absolutely lovely- really friendly, and I think I am going to get on with her much better than my LL lady. I was given my foodpacks and so I am now all set to start the CD on Monday (day 8). So, Nikki is a happy girl!

Also, when my CDC came over this morning she weighed me on her scales which she assured me are ultra-accurate and so I can take that weight as truth- and I had dropped 6 3/4 lb!! Thats nearly 7lb in 4 days :-). I can't wait to see what the total weightloss will be this week- especially as I've been on TOTM, if my loss is still good then I will be happy. Bearing in mind that 4 days is just over half a week, if my weight loss continues in this way for today and the next 2 days, by the end of this first week I could expect to lose maybe 13lb (7lb over 4 days + 6lb over 3 days estimation). This will be my challenge! I can't wait til Monday to see the results... mind you I won't be having an official weigh-in and it will be using my mums bathroom scales which may not be so accurate. But it will be a good indicator.

Happy happy happy..... ALSO to make my day even better I was told by my CDC I could have a glass of Coke Zero if I wanted, although I need to keep an eye on my ketosis levels to make sure it doesnt affect it. If it doesnt I can consider as much as a pint a day :D which is EXCELLENT for me as I LOVE diet coke and miss it more than i miss food :-) yipppeeeee

I'm so glad I'm on this diet, its the best decision I ever made- even if I do struggle to get all the water in I think it should get easier.

Will let you kn0w my official LL weightloss tonight for the 5 days when I get back.

xxxx

Day 4- I'm good!

2007-02-22T22:02:00.001Z

Good evening!

I'm very positive today, have managed to sit and watch my friend eat my favourite panini and went for a drink at the Students Union with my friends who all had snakebite. Not me, a pint of water was my tipple of choice. I really wish I could have diet coke, I miss that more than the food itself, but I know it always makes me hungry so best to avoid it completely.

My new CDC is coming over tomorrow morning to give me a weeks supply of foodpacks- I'm having 1 bar, at least 1 tetra and 1 shake/soup, so I know I will enjoy 2 of the 3 (im not sure how the shakes will work for me yet but I know I will like the bars and tetras.) So looking forward to being able to enjoy the packs instead of dreading them.

On a more negative note, have been really struggling the past 2 days to get my 4 packs and 4l of water in. I have been so busy I haven't had time to drink as much as I would have liked, although I have still drunk the 2l that is supposed to be the amount your body should ideally have a day. The sachets are so vile I think for the sake of missing out on vits and mins for a few days it is better to avoid the sachets I can't stand and not vomit!! That would do more harm than good. Obv I couldn't do this long-term but I dont have the option to swap (as my counsellor is the other side of the county and I can only get to her at weekends when I go back to stay with my parents), so it seems to be my only option. Despite not having all my foodpacks, I feel amazingly good and have not struggled with actual hunger- only a bit of mental desire to eat. Started bars today and glad! It tasted so good compared with to the sachets, I actually let my OH try some :-)

Anyhow, sorry for the long post. I'm sure my belly feels a bit smaller.. hope I have lost a good amount this week. Got my stop-in tomorrow evening so will have an idea of what the total will be this week then.

Will let you know how it goes,
xx

Day 3- A decision has been made!

2007-02-21T22:39:00.000Z

Hi all,

Well I got on the scales today as couldn't resist seeing if this crazy diet works.... 4lb off- in 2 1/2 days! I'm impressed guys! Feeling good although missing food a little. Went out to the cinema this evening and at the complex I was thinking, isn't our culture really food focussed. You can't get away from the stuff. You go out to eat, you go to work and there's a vending machine, you go the cinema and there's snacks. Its ridiculous.

Anyway I have made the decision to move to the Cambridge Diet officially and have arrange for my new counsellor to come to see me on Friday (Day 5) to give me my stuff. I am going to see LL through to day 7 (seeing as I have paid for it) and go to my stop-in on Day 5 and not say anything. I will then phone my counsellor and tell her that I'm leaving and then I plan to start the CD on Monday (day 8). My counsellor is really lovely and has lost a lot of weight on CD herself. She should give me a lot of support, and an added bonus is she doesnt charge extra for the tetra packs (cartons for those of you on LL which are banana or choc flavour and normally cost about 30p per item more) or for the bars. I'm getting some mix-a-mousse and some water flavourings as I will be in my second week of ketosis- even though its only my first official week on CD. I will also eat every 5 weeks with the add-a-meal thing that CD recommend. I am now seeing 4 weeks (altho it will have been 5 including LL) as a mini-goal which should make the journey more manageable.

I'm loving that I have lost 4 lb already and its definitely a motivator to keep me on track, so glad I said no to that HobNob biscuit today :-)

Hope you're all doing well!
x

Day 2- how do you do this for 100 days?

2007-02-20T15:08:00.000Z

Hi all,

Got off to an ok start today. Woke up and didn't feel hungry but had my raspberry shake and a black tea (tea first to wake me up) but the shake made me feel like i wanted to be sick. I actually held my nose to take away the yucky powder taste. Hoped my veg soup at lunch would be better. Morning went quickly as I had lectures, and drank my 2l of water that I took with me.

However, it then came to be time for my second nutrition fix of the day- and I was reluctant... I can honestly say I have never hated a food as much as I hated that soup. It was foul, disgusting, cringe-worthy. And I normally like vegetable soup! I tried to use half the pack to make crisps but it didnt work and i ended up with a load of soggy, gunky, powdery tasting blobs! Yuck! I didnt want to but I HAD to throw it away, so I had a 1/4 of a multivitamin tablet to try and replace some of the lost nutrients. I also had a mint hot chocolate which was yummmmmmmm.... made it with peppermint tea. So that made me feel slightly more chirpy. I can see myself living of the chocolate and chicken flavours - plus the bars when I'm finally allowed them!

I dont honestly know how I'm supposed to ingest all this disgusting stuff, Im gonna take it to my LLC on Friday and ask her advice. Maybe she has some suggestions. I would rather have nothing at all but I know I need the nutrition so for now will try and carry on, think positive and imagine how worth it it will all be when I'm slim!

Job interview tomorrow, feeling positive about that and it will take the days focus off food (or lack off). Still dont feel hungry or crave anything, feel good in myself too despite it being TOTM! Even watched my bf eat yummy sausages a min ago and didnt try and eat them!

Love y'all. Speak soon, hope it gets easier!
xx

Day 1- have done a day...

2007-02-19T21:01:00.000Z

..Just 99 to go! Lol!

No, actually its been quite good, I haven't felt hungry although my tummy has been rumbling lots and I've been to the loo about 10 times at least. Have drunk my 4 litres of water now (9pm) so hoping that I won't need to get up during the night!

Thai Chilli soup is DISGUSTING, Veg soup is not bad at all, vanilla is ok as long as you don't water it down too much, and hot choc is yummy! Hot choc mixed with vanilla and a bit of coffee could be verrrry good indeed- gonna try that out when I cant handle doing the flavours as they are any more, hopefully that wont be for a while.

Feel quite full actually although a bit tired, but it has been a busy day i suppose. Its my totm starting today, so I'm thinking maybe my withdrawal and entering ketosis grumbles might get lost in the tummy pains and headaches, so it will be like I never get them...

Hope you're not too bored with reading this :-)
Update you soon, altho maybe not tomorrow! Gonna be busy this week xx

Day 1- first day of 100!

2007-02-19T09:08:00.000Z

Well, today's the day. I was really worried that I wasn't going to get my doctor's permission to start LL but I needn't have worried, he was really enthusiastic and even asked me to keep him informed of my progress so he could see if it is worth referring patients onto!! Excellent!

As a Christian, I went to church last night- its the first time I have been in AGES! Very weirdly it was a healing service, and I know some people may be sceptical about this, as I was, but I can honestly say that I felt a presence and I felt the urge to ask someone to pray for me about this journey I am about to start. I was worrying about how extreme LL is and concerned that it wouldn't work. The lady who prayed for me asked God that if this is not his plan for me that the doctor should not let me on the programme as a sign that its not what he wants, and that if the doctor approved it that I should go ahead with his blessing. And he did, so I am going ahead feeling totally at peace and happy that I am doing the right thing. To those of you who don't believe in God then this may sound like a load of crap to you, but to me this meant a lot!

Its weird how things in my life get me down, but then all of a sudden good things happen all at once and change me and my life. For example, on Saturday I got the overwhelming urge to go on the Internet and look at diets, and the first thing I found was the CD which led me to the LL plan when I googled it. I felt straight away that LL is for me and will change my life, so I took the first big step and phoned Debbie my LLC, who told me that its really strange I rang cos she has a new group starting today, so I should come along to the introduction tomorrow (ie now yesterday), which I did, and got my GPs approval today. Its like it was a perfectly formed plan that I didn't even know about! AND I have a job interview on Wednesday for when I leave uni in May, and things generally are just looking peachy right now. I just hope I get the job- I have a good feeling about it. Will keep you posted.

Enough for now, I'm just doing this to pass the time til 10am for the meeting as am so excited I needed a distraction. But now its 20 past 9 so not too long to go. I will update you later and let you know how the meeting went, and how I'm getting on with the plan!

See you later :) xx

My 'before' pic with my OH- at my heaviest and ironically the photo is taken in TGI's at a meal!!

2007-02-18T16:48:00.000Z

Day 0- continued

2007-02-18T14:19:00.000Z

...just got back from eating my Sunday Roast. It was delicious and I made sure to eat it slowly and enjoy all the flavours! I really am going to miss it- ah well, some changes need to be made so it starts here.

It was my little brothers 18th on Thursday and he had a chocolate birthday cake today. Normally I would have passed but I thought I would allow myself a last taste of choc before I start tomorrow. I only had a little slice and it was well worth the calories. I now feel ready to stop eating conventional foods and can't wait to get my food packs tomorrow. However, I am really going to miss the drinking of coffee (white and one- cant stand strong sugarless coffee), the diet coke, and the alcohol. I live a very sociable lifestyle so there are going to have to be some changes in the way I spend my time to begin with- I'm hoping once I get into it I will be able to start going out etc again without the temptations...

Oh well, enough for today. I shall try and post a photo of me every other week so you can see the changes in my figure as time progresses. For me this was a big incentive to start LL as I have seen hundreds of before and after pics and the differences are amazing. I hope to be another addition to the list!

See you tomorrow,
Nikki x

Day 0 - Starting LL tomorrow

2007-02-18T12:53:00.000Z

Hey hey, this is my first EVER blog post related to Lighter Life. First I feel that I must introduce myself for those of you who want to know who I am! Here goes:

I am a 21 year old student from Dorset who has battled with her weight since her early teens. I think I have a somewhat unhealthy approach to food- I see it as a reward, a treat, something to look forward to, and I believe this is largely to blame for my slowly but surely increasing weight. When I was little I always thought I was fat but I actually was normal- and I think in some way this led me to have a weird eating disorder where instead of going the sad (but often common) way of becoming anorexic I actually started to overeat! Not bingeing or anything but I thought "Well, if I'm fat when I'm normal, I may as well eat whatever I want as it won't make any difference!"

How wrong I was! I look back at photos of me when I was 15 and I looked amazing then, I don't know what was going on in my head. So now I need to undo the damage, and fast! I want to be a healthy and normal weight before I go travelling in July, and according to the LLC it should be fine!

So, off to the meeting tomorrow (providing I can see my doctor in the morning!) Will let you know how I get on!

Off for my last Sunday roast now! And I intend to savour every taste!

xxx