Progress

Yes, I'm still here. I'm pleased to say that my fat percentage has been at 27% for the last five days. As you'll see, it did reach 27% on odd days in the past few weeks, but not consistently over a period of time. Now, it seems firmly at 27%. As the weight comes off, though, I'm expecting it to jump back up to 28% temporarily, as this is the pattern my weightloss seems to follow. Eventually I'd like to get it down to about 25% but all indications are that it might take a while; after all, it's taken fifty days to get it from 30% to 27% - and it's more difficult the lower you go.

As you've probably noticed, I don't belive in cutting out the calorie-dense but nutritious things, like olive oil in my cooking, nuts, avocado, etc. But I also haven't completely stopped eating the really truly bad things, like golden syrup (yum), clotted cream (yum)...and other baddies. I should mention that I am coming to terms with the fact that you can have a little of what you fancy every now and then, without considering it "bad", and feeling guilty. If it's not too often, it's not going to do me any harm, or hamper my efforts. And it's not healthy to feel guilty all the time, when really I'm doing so well.

Weight: 8st 7
fat: 27%

I've lost almost three inches from my waist and hips (each!) and half an inch from my arms and thighs. I wish my thighs had lost three inches! Still, I'm pleased and am still full of motivation.

I'm exercising for at least five days a week. It's simple: I make sure the ingredients for my evening meals are prepared in the afternoon (garlic is peeled, chillis are chopped, veg prepared, etc) and I exercise between 7:30 and 8:30, after Charles goes to bed. Then I have dinner. It's a case of fitting in the exercise when I can. Not many people really have the time to spare. It's almost always a case of making the time, of squeezing it in somehow. A friend, who is desperate to get fit, recently asked when I exercise. Her response when I told her was that exercising at that time would absolutely kill her and she didn't have any other time she could fit it in. In other words, it isn't as important to her as she thinks it is! I know it's hard to get motivated - but if you want to do it, you can.

Carrot, Orange & Coconut Soup

Make this soup! Oh, but you absolutely must. It's so simple and quick to make - and so delicious I just can't say. This soup is extremely smooth and silky, with a slightly sweet yet tangy taste. Adjust the quantity of orange juice to your preference. As the oranges were tasty but a little sharp this time, I only used one and a half, and added 1tsp of sugar (unusual for me). I forgot to take a photo, which is a shame, as the soup is a vibrant bright orange.

450/500g of carrots, sliced
2 large oranges, juiced
20g creamed coconut
a little olive oil for frying onions
one medium onion
garlic, if desired
about 1 1/2 pts stock

Chop and fry the onions (and garlic, if you're using it) with the lid on your casserole dish/saucepan, to stop them browning (you could do this part with water instead of oil if you like). Once the onions are soft, add the carrots and the stock, Simmer with the lid on until they're cooked. Blend, after cooling a little. Reheat gently and add the orange juice and creamed coconut. Season to taste. Delicious!

Built For Speed


I was going to call this entry "Comfy Jeans" and then the OH walked in and said, "wow! You really look built for speed today, babe". Imagine it in a Bill Nighy voice (though Nick's voice is nothing like that, thank heavens) and you'll understand the tone of this comment. Infer from it what you will.

Anyway, I was having a what-to-wear crisis six weeks ago before going out to see a friend in a band, when last I tried on these jeans. I remember turning to Nick and wailing that I couldn't even wear them with the biggest and baggiest jumper ever, as my stomach and hips hung out so far over the top, it was obscene. You probably think I'm exaggerating. Honestly I'm not. It was a lot of flesh to see (shudder). But now, I can even sit down in them without causing huge ripples of flesh to hang over (just small ones now).

I've been feeling really quite demotivated, thinking I'm doing so badly and failing miserably and now I feel better. These jeans have told me I'm not doing so badly. In fact, I'm now built for speed. Yeah.

Funny thing is, I've only lost five pounds in six weeks, though that has mostly been fat. Five pounds of fat must take up a lot of space, if you think about it. And I would have done better if I hadn't had at least five or six serious lapse days. I guess this proves you can trim up without completely depriving yourself (I have been exercising a lot, though). Trouble is, though I can see results, I'm not happy with my less-than-perfect attempt at eating well. Oh, I'm hard on myself, as I eat better than every other person I know (bloglanders excluded).

Enough. I'm fed up with talking about myself.

Pulling it Back Together

Over the weekend I went off the rails a bit. I only intended to eat a little bit more, just to speed up my metabolism a bit. You know, make sure my body didn't go into hoarding/starvation mode. It's true, that does happen and it does affect fat loss. Anyway, I ate loads of salted peanuts (usually don't go near the salted variety), clotted cream, cornish ice-cream, home-made walnut and chocolate cookies (5 huge ones), chocolate fingers, and loads more. I carried on exercising, as if it makes a difference when I've been that greedy. So now I have to get it under control. I made home-made baked beans yesterday morning and ate some for lunch. They're really delicious. And today I'm making lentil and tomato soup for lunch, and a really tasty chinese dish for dinner this evening.

I must keep going, and not give up just because the weekend was a rocky road of tempatation.

Checking In

I just couldn't be bothered to post every day over the last week. Doing all the exercise etc. was enough work on top of everything else in the day. For instance, yesterday we started baking walnut cookies at 8:30, and then spicy couscous and adzuki bean chilli and that took up most of the morning. Then there was cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming etc. etc. Then lunch and quick workout at 1pm-ish...writing the menu and shopping list for next week blah blah blah and then it was Charlie's dinner time....playing with the train set, bedtime for Charlie, another PROPER workout, dinner for me, a bit of knitting and then bed.

See what I mean?

I have been working really hard on getting the fat percentage down. Although I really do look sleeker, minus clothing, it's not really reflected so much on the scales. Well, that's what I say, and then I remember I've lost 3 or 4% body fat and I have to remind myself that it's excellent results in just five weeks. My clothes feel and look so much better, although I still have a big wad of fat on my hips and my upper thigh has always been relatively chubby. So, keep going I must.

Measurements
Hips: 35 ( 37)
Arms: 10 6/8 (11)
Thighs: 21.5 (21.5)
waist: 28 (30.5)

Weight: 8st 7.5 (8st 12)
Fat: 27% (31%)

Exercise: 330 cals. A mixture of Joanna Hall and Hotpants
In brackets are the measurements of five weeks ago. As you can see, my thighs are the same. I'm not imagining it. So annoying. But on the plus side, my midriff has come in considerably (as have my hips) and I'm pleased about that. I'm sure that's due to the pilates stomach exercises in the Charlie Brooks dvd.

Food today:

• shredded wheat (surprise again)
• black grapes, pear and kiwi fruit
• almonds and walnuts
• spicy couscous and tuna
• two cheesy Carr's biscuits
• small packet of yoghurt-coated cranberries
• some ham
• adzuki bean chilli with brown and wild rice and raw baby sweetcorn. Yum.
• red wine (it's the weekend)

I'm Still Going Strong

Just wanted to let you know I'm still going strong with the fitness thing and have not lapsed into badness. In fact, I did 620 cals of exercise today.

Will start posting properly again, soon.