There and Back Again - A Dieter's Tale

Ok hands up - who has been there (lost your weight, looked good, felt good)  and back again (gained the weight lost and/or more)? My hand shoots up in the air! If Yoyo-dieting was an Olympic sport I'd win  gold! But why do we lose weight and then put it back on again?  For me - losing weight has not been a lifestyle change - it has been a  case of "great I've reached my goal I can eat what I like, when I like!"  Oh yes? That really doesn't work! Taking the Lord of the Rings analogy (well, loosely anyway -  can't parallel all of the story), we are little Frodos: Think of our weight as the ring - it's heavy and it inhibits us!  We need to get that ring to mount doom and throw it in there! Perhaps our Gollums (temptations or those foods we  find hard to resist) will follow us and try to scupper our efforts to get rid of the weight. There may be good times where we do lose weight, but we mustn't rest on our laurels (like Frodo and Sam at Rivendell  when they thought they could go back to Hobbiton - we mustn't go  back to Blobbiton) - the ring had to be destroyed (the weight has to be lost) and it's only me or you who can lose our weight - I can't lose your weight for you and you can't lose mine for me. We can't carry someone else's weight for them and 'share the load' (why would  we want to do that anyway?). The onus is on ME/YOU to lose the weight. Goblins, Uruk Hai and orcs may try to hinder us - these are  people who are unhelpful - "oh go on one won't hurt!" "I've bought you a  huge box of chocolates for your birthday [even though I know you're on a diet]" next time someone is unhelpful picture them as an orc or something! When the arrows of temptation come flying at you - protect yourself  with the shields of willpower and resolve. Shelobs may come and attack when you least expect it and inhibit you,  you may think - that's it, I'm done for, may as well give up - I've been  stung by a cream cake, packet of crisps/biscuits etc. But it's only temporary  - we're just hindered, not completely done for!  Come on folks - we are on a journey - it's not going to be easy, but if you want to achieve, it's not going to be! Let's all get to mount doom and dump our weight in there forever - throwing our Gollums in as well!  Xxxx

High Fibre

Below I've listed foods which are high in fibre! They are taken from THIS site

Highest Fibre Vegetables

Avocado 
Beans 
Broccoli* 
Brussels sprouts* 
Cabbage* 
Carrot 
Chick Peas/Garbanzo Beans 
Eggplant/aubergine
Greens -- collards, kale, turnip greens* 
Lima beans 
Mushrooms 
Potato with skin 
Pumpkin, canned 
Peas -- black-eyed peas, green peas 
Peppers 
Rhubarb 
Spinach* 
Sweet Potatoes 

* These high-fibre vegetables are also goitrogenic, meaning that they promote thyroid enlargement and can potentially cause or aggravate hypothyroidism. Typically, the risk is highest when these foods are consumed raw, regularly, and in substantial quantity. Cooking eliminates most goitrogenic properties. 

Highest Fibre Fruits 
Apples 
Avocado 
Bananas 
Berries -- Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, etc. 
Dried Fruits -- Figs, Raisins, Apricots, Dates, etc. 
Guava 
Kiwi 
Orange 
Pears 
Prunes 

Other High Fibre Foods 
Bran Cereals, 5-10 grams - All-Bran, Bran Buds, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran 
Bread, whole grain 
Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans 
Nuts -- Almonds, Brazil nuts, Peanuts, Walnuts, Cashews 

Stone/lb; pounds; kilos conversion chart from 12 stone 5lb - 8 stone 6lb

Stone	lb	Pounds	Kilos
12	5	173	78.472
	4	172	78.018
	3	171	77.564
	2	170	77.111
	1	169	76.657
	0	168	76.204
11	13	167	75.75
	12	166	75.296
	11	165	74.843
	10	164	74.389
	9	163	73.936
	8	162	73.482
	7	161	73.028
	6	160	72.575
	5	159	72.121
	4	158	71.668
	3	157	71.214
	2	156	70.76
	1	155	70.307
	0	154	69.853
10	13	153	69.4
	12	152	68.946
	11	151	68.492
	10	150	68.039
	9	149	67.585
	8	148	67.132
	7	147	66.678
	6	146	66.225

	5	145	65.771
	4	144	65.317
	3	143	64.864
	2	142	64.41
	1	141	63.957
	0	140	63.503
9	13	139	63.049
	12	138	62.596
	11	137	62.142
	10	136	61.689
	9	135	61.235
	8	134	60.781
	7	133	60.328
	6	132	59.874
	5	131	59.421
	4	130	58.967
	3	129	58.513
	2	128	58.06
	1	127	57.606
	0	126	57.153
8	13	125	56.699
	12	124	56.246
	11	123	55.792
	10	122	55.338
	9	121	54.885
	8	120	54.431
	7	119	53.978
	6	118	53.524

Are you bored with your diet?

Sometimes we can get bored of dieting - counting calories, the discipline of exercising, points, syns, lettuce, low fat, high carb, low carb, no carb, lots of protein, no protein - it's repetitive and mundane.

Let me share something with you:

I play the flute (not to a high level, but I've got Grade 5 and could probably skip to Grade 8 with practise - and a teacher). Well, in my early days of flute playing I did tone exercises for 10 minutes every day - slow, boring and repetitive BUT it has helped me to develop good tone!  Scales and arpeggios etc - boring boring boring - up and down,. down and up BUT they are great for helping with dexterity, speed, tone, transposition etc etc. Think of dieting like that - don't look at the here and now - look to the future - what you will become - a beautiful string of lost pounds, playing a tuneful melody. OK seems like a strange analogy, but I hope you get what I'm trying to say! 

Keep going - it will be worth it in the end

xxxx

Lime Pickle chicken salad

Tonight I bought a single chicken breast portion (already cooked) from work - I took the skin off and diced it into a bowl. I then mixed in 2 heaped teaspoons of Lime Pickle! 

In a colander I cut up:
some ice berg lettuce, 
baby spinach
a chunk of cucumber diced
sprig each of basil, parsley and mint
piccolini cherry tomatoes
strands of peeled carrot

wash all of those and then add to the Lime Pickle chicken, mix thoroughly and enjoy! 

Sometimes I'll add diced apple, strawberries, grapes and kiwi fruit to my salads to add some different flavours! You could also add peppers, spring onions, radishes, beetroot etc! 

The salad tonight was yummy :)

xxxx

A Sandy Beach

Was just wondering what to post today on my blog and as I was pondering I thought of a beach! A beautiful sandy beach. I think most people love beaches - whether you're the sunbathing type or more active sporty type. There's something nice about a sandy beach. The sound of the sea lapping on the shore, when the sea comes in, it can be fun dodging the advancing waves. Looking in rock pools for crabs and other creatures. Burying your friends in the sand or whatever. 
Have you ever considered though how many tiny grains of sand make up a beach? Trillions, no doubt.

We can look at our weight loss campaign like a beach - the grains of sand may be tiny but when put together they make something beautiful - it's the same as us - we may only be losing 1lb or even half a pound a week, but those build up and we are becoming shaped and formed. Just think of the smaller clothes we can buy as we keep losing, the confidence we will gain (I have to admit that when I have been slimmer I've had much more confidence!). 

Keep going on your weight loss quest - it will be worth it in the end :)

xxxx

Logging!

No, this isn't a form of limp jogging ;) This is what I've done for the past couple of weeks - Logging EVERYTHING I eat and trying to keep within my calorie allowance. So far it's working because I've lost 4lb since the beginning of July (although my ticker says 3lb - I didn't change my start weight, which was 1lb more).

I haven't done much exercise - the basic walking to work! I need to up my exercise and see if I do better!

OK if you're struggling - don't panic! Log all your eat and be accountable for it - no excuses now! 

Last Friday (11th July 2014) I went on a picnic and knew I'd eaten over my allowance, but wasn't sure how much over - well after logging I was over 500 calories above what I should have been! OK it was a shock, even embarrassing, but, by logging it I was taking ownership and making myself accountable for the excess calories and then I could get back on track again over the weekend!

Don't despair if you eat more - start again the following day and put the blip behind you!

This is a journey - we will encounter hurdles (holes in the road), etc, but the main thing is getting to the end of the journey!

Have a good week folks!

xxxx

Dumper Trash can of Excuses

I'm bumping this one up to the top because that's my problem I use way too many excuses when finding a way out of losing weight!

http://dizzycoolbabe.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/dumper-trash-can-for-lack-of-weightloss.html

Hope it's helpful

xxxx

In the Same Boat

When we go on a diet sometimes it's difficult to see that there are others who are struggling as well! The word 'DIET' conjures up images of unending lettuce leaves and boring food like that, but it doesn't have to be that way!

Remember my ownership blog post? All of us need to take ownership of what we do in our lives! What food we put in our mouths, how much water we drink, how much exercise we do etc. 

We all struggle, sometimes it feels like the boat is sinking, but remember, you're not alone - although others can't lose the weight for you - the others, who are not struggling at that moment in time, can 'bail the water out' by encouraging you, helping you out along the way, guiding you! 

Let's start bailing out the water by looking at what you eat and drink in a day - log it! I use www.myfitnesspal.com to log my food - I've been on it for just 3 weeks and I'm finding it does help me to take ownership of what I'm putting in my mouth and I can track the calories (OK this might sound boring, but look at your weight loss as a journey).

There's no better time to start than TODAY! 

Comfort Zone

I'm in my comfort zone - if I don't try to lose weight then I can't fail BUT it is now at the point where I NEED to lose it!

In my adult life I have never been this heavy: 12 stone 5lb (approx 78.5kg, 173lb)
I'm 5'2" (1m58)
I'm 44 years old
My BMI is: 31.6 (Obese category)

Healthy Weight range: 7st 3lb - 9st 11lb (I would look awful at 7st 3lb - aiming for 8st-9st)

I grew up in Cardiff, Wales which is quite a small city, I've worked in London and Brussels and walking around those cities at night is less scary than the journey I'm going to be starting! 

My biggest fear = failure again! I know people who are so discouraging - they say - oh no not again. You were supposed to be on a diet (insert time here) and it didn't work etc etc! Being this weight puts me in my comfort zone and the biggest step I can make from this day is to step out of this comfort zone and start on a journey which would change my life for the better!

I think dieting is 1% healthy eating 99% mental attitude! 

I know I can do it - I went from 11st 4lb after having my eldest son to 8st 7lb in about 6 months! OK I'm 20 years older - but it can still be done!

"putting on my climbing boots [mentally]" Let's get going...

xxxx

39 steps? years? puppies? NO...

...39 weeks before I go on the church holiday I'm organising (I usually organise one every 2 years).

I need to lose: 

47lb - to be 9 stone 0lb

54lb - to be 8 stone 7lb

61lb - to be 8 stone 0lb

My weigh in today: 12 stone 5lb 0oz! (I've lost 1lb from last week - whooo hoo) 

47lb loss = 1.2lb per week
54lb loss = 1.4lb per week
61lb loss = 1.5lb per week

This is do-able folks!  

My eldest son said to me - "Mum you've done it before so you can do it again!" Bless him - he's going to encourage me!

It's easier to be focused when the weather is good, but it's the winter which is the hardest,,, OK mustn't moan - have to take ownership of my life/eating AND I'm fed up with being blobby and unfit!

Anybody reading this who needs to lose weight - you CAN do this! Really you CAN!

Have a good one folks!

xxxx

Taking Ownership

In work that's the buzz phrase of the season - TAKE OWNERSHIP! What does that mean? Well stop making excuses and get on with what's supposed to be done with your particular section! 

How does this relate to losing weight?

Well ask yourself this - who made you overweight? Did someone force food into your mouth? Did someone beat you up if you didn't eat everything on your plate? 

Come on people (I'm actually talking to myself here and no I don't have multiple personalities ;) ) - no one has made me fat other than myself! 

Did I HAVE to buy that massive bag of crisps after work and eat the whole lot? NO!

Were the biscuits in the cupboard forced down my throat? NO!

Was the extra portion of food forced upon me? NO!

COME ON who made me FAT? ME - let me spell it out again M-E - however difficult this is to admit to myself - I MADE MYSELF OVERWEIGHT! Nobody else made me FAT! Nobody else turned me from a size 12 to a size 16! Nobody else made me gain 56lbs and about 50 inches!

Right NOW is the time to grab the bull by the horns and take ownership/ responsibility for my losing weight - no more hiding behind excuses and blaming others!

Have a good one folks

xxxx

After...

...my last post about counting lost pounds and not stones - I'm not doing too well! Apathy inc. has set in! I am so apathetic it's Pathetic! 

Exercise and drinking more water are my mental blocks - if I exercised and drank more water I think I would do better! I really should stop talking about it - and do it! Oh well ONWARD!!

Any who read this - I hope you're doing much better!

xxxx

Stone and Pounds verses just Pounds

I have been wondering if I may have more of a clear focus if I concentrated on just thinking of my weight loss in pounds (or am I thinking this through too much?)

I'm around about 12 stone and I want to be 8 stone 7 pounds (again)! Working this out:

12 stone = 168lb
8 stone 7lb - 119lb
That's 49 lb to lose - I don't know, that seems an easier way of focussing on it rather than 3 stone 7lb!

Oh well, I could give it a go... Nothing to lose - except pounds [hopefully ;) ] and inches!

xxxx

PS Weigh-in tomorrow...

Nada

No loss but no gain either - a huge PHEW! Not been sticking to anything lately - so tired, thirsty and undisciplined! I so need a life coach and professional organiser by my side 24/7 (well, maybe not when I'm asleep!) >grin<

OK any who read this - hope you're doing well (whether you're losing weight or not!)

Take care and watch out for a Youtube update (something else I need to be disciplined about!)


xxxx

Ooops

After all my losses - I gained 2lb! Mind, it's hardly surprising as I haven't been totally focused! OK things to change this week:

Eat sensibly
Drink more water
Exercise consistently

Here's to a new week!

xxxx

What a loser

8lb gone so far - that's over half a stone (something us Brits understand :) ). I have hardly exercised and I've not been totally good, but I have been trying to keep within my calorie allowance (even eating some naughty things!). This week I am hoping to be strict with myself and exercise to see if I can shift more than 1lb this week! 

Here goes! I will also try and update my Vlog (had a piano exam last Friday so was concentrating on that). 

Bye for now, folks

xxxx

WEIGH-IN

Weighed today and I lost 1lb 14oz - yay! Happy with that as I had a migraine last Sunday and ate for Britain on the Mon and Tues and also didn't feel up to exercising (although I did walk to and from work - up and down a steep hill). 

Onwards and downwards towards a slimmer, healthier ME 

Have a fantastic weekend folks!

xxxx

Video update 5th March 2014

This video can also be found on my DietingDizzy YouTube page :)

3rd March 2014 Fat before photos

This is what I look like today and I am disgusted by it - considering I now look like a FAT middle aged woman! Would rather look like a slim, toned middle aged woman lol!

Weight: 12 stone 2lb 6oz

Bust: 43"

Waist 37" 

Hips 44"

Thighs 22"

Knees 16"

Arms 11.5"