Week 59

Even again.

I can't believe that only 2 slices of cake (on separate evenings) and one lunch out (which was still quite healthy, if on the large size) have prevented me from losing any weight again, so I must conclude that once again it's down to lack of activity.

Fatmammycat has been giving me lots of support and encouragement over the past few months, and it's greatly appreciated. She has also been constantly nagging (in the nicest possible way) for me to get out and exercise. She is, of course, perfectly right and I'm glad she hasn't given up on me. But this is one are that I really struggle with.

I've never been much of a fitness or sports fanatic and have some serious psychological blocks against exercise.

Part of it is laziness, but I don't think it's the whole story. Some of it is to do with the fact that I have managed this far without getting involved in it, and partly it has to do with childhood experiences (see the latest entry on my main blog, PE Teachers Are Demons From Hell). But if I had to sum it up in one overwhelming word, I would have to say "daunting".

Fatmammycat suggests I start with a one-hour brisk walk a day. From her perspective it is nothing more than the next step up from walking to the car. But for me it feels like she's asking me to run a marathon or climb Everest and it fills me with utter dread.

Lord Lessismore has suggested that I get a friend to join me and I could see how that would work. The main problem there is that I don't have any that live closer than 100 miles away.

So I feel completely on my own with this, trying to tackle a demon that has no discernable shape and I don't know how to get a grip on.

It's sunny just now. I think I'll go for a 35 minute walk and think about it.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 0lb – 196lbs
Total Weight Loss: 79lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 14lb

Week 58

Even.

No gain, no loss.

I thought I might do better, with only 2 scones blighting what had otherwise been an exceptionally good week, but I guess the fact that as far as being active goes I've barely moved much more than from one seat to another, I can't expect huge progress


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 0lb – 196lbs
Total Weight Loss: 79lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 14lb

Week 57

1lb loss!

Although frankly I'm a bit surprised at that.

We did go out for a meal on Friday night and got well stuffed and there have been one or two other wee treats. I was expecting, hoping, for an even weight, so was quite surprised to find myself with a loss. But I'm not going to complain!

Statistical Significance:
This puts me at exactly 14 stone


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 0lb – 196lbs
Total Weight Loss: 79lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 14lb

The Perfect Diet

(Imported from Ramblings of the Bearded One)

I have finally conceived of the perfect diet. It's simple, it's easy to remember, it requires no charts, calculations or complex points systems.

It’s the Eat As Much As You Like So Long As You Don’t Like What You’re Eating Diet.

Because you can eat as much as you like, you’ll never need to go hungry; but because you’re not allowed to eat anything you like the taste of, you’ll have to avoid all the chocolate, crisps, sweets and home baking products that pile on the pounds. You’ll steer clear of large portions and you’ll never be tempted to have second helpings.

But what if you find that you start enjoying the delights of hitherto unpalatable foods? Simple – eliminate them from your diet.

It can’t fail. You will lose weight and never be troubled with comfort-eating again!

Anyone want to offer me a book deal?

I could start a Channel 4 TV series with this one. Oh yes. Gillian McKeith watch out – there’s a new food guru in town…

Week 56

1lb loss!

Still keeping on track.

What has helped give the process a significant boost has been the shift in thinking about how we reward ourselves, often with food, for feeling bad. This has the potential to set up a cycle of feeling bad, just so that we can justify our eating "treats" or cheats. I've written more about it on my main blog under the title "Rewarded For What, Exactly?" if you're interested.

Statistical Significance:
I can't seem to find one this week, however, one I missed last week is that I've now dropped below 90kg, so that will do.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 1lb – 197lbs
Total Weight Loss: 78lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 13lb

Week 55

3lb loss!

Woohoo!

This week I've been eating healthily the whole time and my meals have been tasty, filling and healthy. I've also been a bit more active.

There are no secrets - cut out the processed food from your life; eat brown instead of white; avoid the trigger foods (for me that means bread, crisps (potato chips), sweets (candy)); and eat plenty of fruit and veg.

And surprise, surprise, the system of focusing on healthy eating rather than dieting, that has accounted for all the weight loss to date, is working again.

After the struggle of recent weeks I almost wept with relief this morning.

Statistical significance
As well as dropping below the 200lb mark again (198lbs), and reaching my lowest weight since I began this way of eating 55 weeks ago, being 14st 2lbs means that I have lost 5 and a half stone since I began. For those not used to stones, each half stone (7lbs) is a significant marker.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 2lb – 198lbs
Total Weight Loss: 77lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 12lb

Week 54

1lb gain.

Bollocks.

What can I say? A Chinese takeaway, a scone with the coffee in the cafe (twice in fact this past week), Maggie's comfort baking (see last part of Bruce's Stone entry on my main blog), and last night, because Maggie is in Glasgow all day today, we celebrated pancake day.

At least I can see why the weight went on.

On a //lighter note//, //heavier note//, different note , I would also like to take the time to welcome Lady Lean and Twice The Man, Esquire to the Knights of the Round Bottoms. I have added permanent links up on the sidebar and will be popping over at least once a week to see how they're getting on.

UPDATE
It appears there's another Knight on the scene that I'd missed, so welcome Sir Squishy!


Statistical summary:

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 5lb – 201lbs
Total Weight Loss: 74lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 9lb

Week 53

Even.

Actually, all I can say about this is "phew".

To be honest this past week has not been good. Stresses from the previous week have escalated and I'm aware of just how difficult it's been to not fall apart completely.

I'm hoping that I should be able to get back on top of things this week, and see if I can drop belwo the 200 pound mark... again.

Statistical summary:

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 4lb – 200lbs
Total Weight Loss: 75lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 10lbs

Week 52

1lb gain.

*Sigh*

It has been a tough week, without a doubt. I can look to the large fish supper I had last week, and the 100g of chocolate I had on Sunday evening, but these in themselves wouldn't have accounted for the gain.

Truth is, I've been having the extra helpings, and snaffling left over roast potatoes on the tray while putting my plate in the sink. Things like this have been ongoing.

With the anniversary of my mother's death, alongside a lot problems with my in-laws (Maggie's mother has gone into a nursing home while as Maggie's father has been struggling to cope - they are both in their mid-80s), I have been surrouned with a sense of loss. With this kind of hollow feeling in my stomach, no matter how big a meal I've just eaten, there is an intense need to plug the gap with more food.

It's the old dangerous cycle again. Especially when I give in to sugary stuff, because although it fills the hole temporarily, as you get the sugar drop afterwards, the hole seems bigger and in even greater need of stuffing full of food. The most effective way to deal with this is to not start. However difficult it feels at the time, I have to remind myself that trying to stop afterwards is nigh on impossible, so I shouldn't start in the first place.

Get thee behind me Chocolate!

But, as I say, it's not just the blow outs, it's the constant extra nibbles which you don't even count.


However, on the upside, tomorrow is 1 year since I began this healthy eating way of being, and in those 12 months I have made a nett lost of 75 pounds. And as I tell my wife on weeks when she struggles, we can't get hung up on the weekly weigh in - it's the overall trend that counts.


Statistical summary:

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 4lb – 200lbs
Total Weight Loss: 75lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 10lbs

Week 51

1lb loss!

I AM NOW BELOW 200 POUNDS!!!

Woo Hoo!


Statistical summary:

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 14st 3lb – 199lbs
Total Weight Loss: 76lbs
Weight Lost since joining the Knights of the Round Bottoms: 11lbs