Week 272 - 100lb loss... revisited

1.6lb loss!

Well, if that wasn't a good loss in itself, it takes me down to a fraction under 12½ stone, which means I have once again reached that 100lbs marker from my original starting point just over 5 years ago.

OK, I first reached this marker 3 years ago (week 110), but I don't think that invalidates the whole thing.

The reality is between 95% and 98% of all people who go on a diet, put all the weight back on within 2 to 3 years. And most of them actually end up heavier than when they started.

Although my weight did start creeping back up, across 2½ years, I put on no more than 23lbs and have now taken that off again.

And it's all about focusing on eating healthily - not on dieting.

Weight loss is a side effect of being healthier, and as such it's sustainable and doesn't get you adopting stupid, dangerous eating patterns just to lose the pounds

The battleground is then not with the food, but with how we deal with why we overeat, and how we use food to cope with high emotional states.

Focus on eating healthily. It really is the best way


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 6.8lb - 174.8lbs
Body fat: 24.2%
Total Weight Loss: 100.2lbs

Week 271

0.8lb loss!

Because of the way this eating style works, I cannot have anything with sugar in it as the yeast in the gut, having been deprived of it for several weeks now, would go mad and explode in growth if I do before it's all died back.

So I can't even lick the jam spoon, pick the cheese off the pizza tray or any one of a hundred other little nibbly things you do without realising.

But while it is, without doubt, frustrating at times, it does mean the weight is continuing to drop


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 8.4lb - 176.4lbs
Body fat: 24%
Total Weight Loss: 98.6lbs

Week 270

1.4lb loss!

Still heading in the right direction, and getting closer to reaching the 100lb mark again


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 9.2lb - 177.2lbs
Body fat: 24.7%
Total Weight Loss: 97.8lbs

Week 269

0.4lb loss

Not sure why the drop was less - it was another faultless week, but then some weeks I've dropped more than expected, so it all evens out in the end.

This means I've had 7 successive weeks of weightloss, and that 100lb mark that I originally reached 3 years ago, is getting closer once again


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 10.6lb - 178.6lbs
Body fat: 24.4%
Total Weight Loss: 96.4lbs

Week 268

2lb loss!

Another faultless week, and that 2lb loss takes me back under 180lbs, and the 6th successive week of weightloss

I first reached this figure back in November 2006 (having started 96 pounds heavier in February 2005). The last time I was at this weight was December 2007, although I came close in summer 2008.

But there is something nice about being comfortably back in the 12 stone something range. And as I have to give this way of eating a proper chance to see if it will help combat the CFS, there's no reason why things should change over the next few weeks at least.

And I have had no chocolate this Easter. None. Not a single cream egg. First time ever, I think.

Anyone got a medal for me...?


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 11lb - 179lbs
Body fat: 24.6%
Total Weight Loss: 96lbs

Week 267

1.8lb loss.

A faultless week - even a complete week with no sugar in my coffee. It's mildly less vile, but at this rate it could be August before I get used to sugarless coffee.

Significant figures: I'm back under 13stone for the first time since August 2008.

I also realised the 36" waist jeans are definitely too baggy now, so am back in the 34"s - slightly snug, but bearable.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 12st 13lb - 181lbs
Body fat: 25.1%
Total Weight Loss: 94lbs

Week 266

0.6lb loss

Not as much as last week, although it is still in a downward direction, so it wasn't just a blip.

A faultless week this week and I've even cut sugar out of my coffee the past few days. At the moment it still tastes like vile poison, but I'm hoping my tastebuds will get used to it soon.

At some point soon I will cut out the coffee too. Then, hopefully I will have removed all up-and-drop habits from my life, but I'm not ready just yet.

With the CFS I miss that feeling awake, feeling alive that I only get now for 45 minutes or so after my 2 coffees a day. My hope is once the caffeine is completely out my system my body will naturally adjust so I won't just feel knackered the entire day.

But to be honest, I'm quite fearful - what if it means I don't ever feel properly awake or alive again?


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 13st 0.8lb - 182.8lbs
Body fat: 24.9%
Total Weight Loss: 92.2lbs

Week 265 - 3lb loss and a visit to the Nutritionist

3lb loss!

In the past 5 years I think I've only twice ever lost 3lbs in one week, so this was a bit of a surprise.

But I have been on track and then some, this week.

Last Thursday I went to see a Nutritionist who, after looking through the detailed questionnaire I'd filled out and testing me on her machine, told me I most likely had a couple of mild food intolerances and too much yeast in my system which affects my digestion and ability to absorb the right nutrients, thus either causing, or contributing to my CFS.

The upshot of this is it has been recommended I cut out sugars, yeast and fungi from my diet - this includes fruit juice, dried fruits and many fresh fruits too, as they are all high in sugar content - and take pro-biotics and Chromium supplements to allow my body to recover. She didn't think I had full blown Candida, but felt I was leaning that way so should look to address it.

I don't appear to have a wheat intolerance, but can't have bread because of the yeast. And it turns out the fungi thing means I can't have Quorn either, which is a bit of a bugger as we lead a largely vegetarian diet and Quorn usually features once or twice a week.

It seems mostly I'll be following a GL diet, which Maggie had been looking at anyway.

Am I certain this is all correct and not bullshit? No. You don't need a medical degree to call yourself a nutritionist, and the vega machine she used to test me for my reactions to different food stuffs hasn't had full clinical trials.

However, I'm prepared to give it a go. It looks a few stages more advanced than Crystal Therapy, and I'm not being recommended to do anything unhealthy or life threatening. If it turns out to be complete bollocks, then at least I won't have lost anything.

What this has meant is I now daren't snack on anything I shouldn't. It's no longer just a case of extra calories delaying or preventing weight loss, but the wrong things can feed the yeast growth. And if I'm to give this a shot then I've got to do it properly, otherwise I'll never know.

I've not given up my 2 coffees a day yet, but I fear it's only a matter of time...


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 13st 1.4lb - 183.4lbs
Body fat: 25.5%
Total Weight Loss: 91.6lbs

Week 264

1lb loss!

That's good. Was on track all week, with the exception of a tub of popcorn at the cinema on Saturday when Maggie and I went to see the new Alice in Wonderland movie (visually lovely, but lacking any real dramatic tension).

No matter how many advances I've made in other areas of my life, I cannot go to the cinema without having a tub of popcorn. I would be completely unable to enjoy the film, spending the entire time missing the popcorn.

Fortunately we very rarely go to the cinema


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 13st 4.4lb - 186.4lbs
Body fat: 26.1%
Total Weight Loss: 88.6lbs

Week 263

 0.4lb loss

Back in the right direction again.

Forgot to mention last week it was the 5th Anniversary since I began the journey of heathly eating. I still haven't figured out whether that's a good or a bad thing...

Starting Weight: 19st 9lb - 275lbs
Current Weight: 13st 5.4lb - 187.4lbs
Body fat: 25.6%
Total Weight Loss: 87.6lbs