Week 109

0.8lb gain.

Bollocks.

I thought I'd been on track this week, although it's been particularly tough.

There's been a subtle difference in the cravings this week. Whereas the past couple of weeks have been more the kind of physical addiction type, this week, especially since Friday has been almost purely emotional - wanting to eat to fill the void in the stomach and chest rather than satisfying teeth-gnashing munchies.

However, I can only think of one or 2 of the smallest of extra nibbles I've indulged in, which shouldn't account for a gain. So either I've been nibbling more and not been consciously aware of it or this is just one of those abberations where I have to think about the larger trend rather than the individual week's reading.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 10lb - 178lbs
Body fat: 23.5%
Total Weight Loss: 97lbs

Week 108

1.4lb loss!

Woohoo!

This finally gets me below my pre-Feastmas level and takes me down to the lowest weight since I started this quest.

It's not always been easy and there have been several times this week when I could easily have started chewing my own arm off, but the way I see it, another week or so and the severe cravings should ease off significantly.

Statistical significance:
I am now just 0.2lbs shy of the 7 stone weight loss mark


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 9.2lb - 177.2lbs
Body fat: 23.3%
Total Weight Loss: 97.8lbs

Week 107

2.6lb loss!

Wow, the last 2 week's weight gain has come off in one week. Over 2lbs in one week is the biggest drop in a single week for months and months.

Still, I'd have been surprised if I'd not lost anything as I have been on track all week with not a single slip-up.

It's not been easy, but I've been determined to get back under control. One of the things that was proved last Autumn was that our system gets easier if we can stick with it for about 3 weeks. Last November (Week 90) was really tough after an October of various meals out and celebrations. My body had to go through another withdrawal before I was able to get past the worst of the cravings.

Last week I determined that I was going to face down those demons for the next couple of weeks no matter what, and so far I have.

And there's a real difference between saying "I have to get through the next couple of weeks" rather than saying "I have to get rid of the next X-number of pounds". The knowledge that if I get past this stage then it WILL GET EASIER really helps the motivation.

The battle this week was not with the weight, it was with my determination which, in the end, it always is.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 10.6lb - 178.6lbs
Body fat: 23.5%
Total Weight Loss: 96.4lbs

Week 106

1.4lb gain.

Aw shite.

Well the only consolation with the weight gain this week is at least it came from a nice weekend away with my wife - coffees & shortbread in the afternoons, a meal out in the evening and a full English fry-up for breakfast.

But now the excuses are really all used up and I hope that next week will show a change in the direction of my weight.

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13.2lb - 181.2lbs
Body fat: 23.9%
Total Weight Loss: 93.8lbs

Week 105

1.2lb gain.

Considering it was my daughter's birthday on Wednesday, and we were out for a big family meal on Thursday, and I was eating popcorn at the cinema on Friday, and my wife decided to make a fruit crumble for pudding last night because my stepson is down visiting, it's hardly surprising I put on what I'd lost the week before.

I'm out for a meal today too, but after that there are no excuses on the horizon, so it should be back to normal.

I am now past the 2nd anniversary (15th Feb) of the change to our eating lifestyle, and as promised, below are some photos that document the weight loss. It wasn't easy finding them because I'm usually the one behind the camera.

The first was taken in January 2005, one month before we began.

The second was taken in June 2005, when 4 months had passed and you can see the difference was quite noticeable. As with any change like this, you lose the weight quickest at the beginning, and at this point I had already lost over 40lbs

The third photo was taken at my father's birthday at the end of last September. Because of Christmas and various birthdays I'm only about 7lbs lighter now, so there's no noticeable difference in the face. However, I can wear my 34inch waist jeans now, whereas back then I was still wearing the 36s.


Changing faces

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 11.8lb - 179.8lbs
Body fat: 23.9%
Total Weight Loss: 95.2lbs
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Week 104

1.2lb loss!

I'm happy with that. It takes me to within half a pound of my pre-feastmas lowest point of 178.2lbs.

In 3 days time it will be the 2nd anniversary of when we began the change in eating.

When I add up all the times I've put on a pound or two (especially over 2 xmases) and had to take it off again, I find I've actually lost about 121lbs in the past 2 years - several pounds more than the hundredweight of the title of this blog. However because all these little pounds add up to about 25lbs, my nett loss to date is 96.4lbs.

Next week will be just past the 2nd anniversary, so I'll see if I can dig out some then & now photos.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 10.6lb - 178.6lbs
Body fat: 23.8%
Total Weight Loss: 96.4lbs

Week 103

Even.

To be honest, I'm a little disappointed in that. There have been struggles throughout the week, but I've pretty much had things under control. I was hoping to have continued the trend of the past couple of weeks, but apparently not.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 11.8lb – 179.8lbs
Body fat: 24.3%
Total Weight Loss: 95.2lbs

Week 102

1lb loss!

I'm pleased with the pound loss. It's been a tough week emotionally, with declining health issues for Maggie's parents and my own battles with trying to make sense of my existence in the universe.

There have been plenty of time that I've wanted to wolf down the entire contents of the fridge, freezer and food cupboards, but at the back of my head has been the voice that is determined to try and keep some kind of control. So on the couple occasions where I have indulged, I've managed to keep them contained, and I feel pleased about that.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 11.8lb – 179.8lbs

Body fat: 23.9%
Total Weight Loss: 95.2lbs

Week 101

1lb loss!

It's not been an easy week, but I have managed to stay on top of the cravings.

Always for me, the problem is stopping eating once I start. By far and away my greatest ally (beyond my wife, that is) is fruit & herbal tea. I'm a fan of the red fruit (strawberry, blackcurrent, raspberry etc) ones, with my favourite being blackberry. I can't stand perppermint or camomile, which is what everyone seems to have in their cupboards if I visit them and ask if they have anything without caffeine.

I boil the kettle and pour the water over a blackberry teabag just before I sit down to eat, so it's ready to drink straight after breakfast, at the end of lunch, after my dinner and in the middle of the evening after I've had an apple if I really need to snack.

This works well on a several of levels for me.

1. It delays the amount of time before I can put food back in my mouth, thereby allowing my brain to catch up with my stomach and realise it's eaten

2. It washes away any food bits left in the mouth that are continuing to trigger the cravings

3. As time has gone on, it has become a ritual of ceasing to eat. The more often I do it, the stronger it reinforces the signal to stop.

I should stress that these are "herbal infusions" and not flavoured teas, if you go looking for them in the supermarket.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 12.8lb – 180.8lbs
Body fat: 24.3%
Total Weight Loss: 94.2lbs

Week 100

1.4lb loss!

Back on track!

It's been a tough week but I'm delighted to have just scraped back under the 13 stone mark, which is a good place to be as I reach Week 100.

Writing week 100 feels a bit weird. Triple figures.

Just as well I wasn't expecting it to be a temporary diet.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13.8lb - 181.8lbs
Body fat: 24.5%
Total Weight Loss: 93.2lbs