A letter from my “alter ego”

Dear Miss unknown, 

Please consider yourself slapped round the head for being so hard on yourself, for being negative and for letting the apathy sink in. 
How many times have you said that what you’re doing is not a “diet”, it’s a lifestyle change, it’s a long-term journey? Well journeys have twists and turns, pit stops, break downs, diversions and all manner of problems, but at the end of the day they are still part of the journey and they still get you to the place you need to be going. You have to embrace them as part of the experience and learn from them. 
Remember that everyone’s journey is different, you’re travelling from different starting points to different destinations in different vehicles, on different roads and in different driving conditions so it’s useless to compare your journey to someone else’s. Concentrate on your journey, on your progress, on getting to where you want to be whilst not forgetting where you’ve come from and how far you’ve come. 
I know it’s hard watching your friend consistently lose weight on a different diet and losing considerable more every work than you and doesn’t seem to be struggling one bit with it but remember the diet that she is doing doesn’t train her to eat proper foods, yes she is losing it but is she gonna keep it off in the long run? Maybe she is struggling who are you to know but probably doesn’t like showing her weakness. I know it doesn’t seem that she is considering she is losing 7+ pounds a week. 

More importantly, remember that you have already lost 1 stone since you started dieting, you’re slimmer than you used to be, and you have already lost a dress size, remember how you hated wearing those size 28 trousers and now suddenly you can pull them down without loosening a button, you know that its working, fair enough you would like to be a lot fitter but in time you will, at least you are heading in a healthier direction better than the way you were heading. Isn’t this what your goal started out with? 

Darling, you have done so well, don’t let yourself be undermined by someone else’s success because you are successful too; you have lost weight, you are losing weight and you will continue to lose weight. God willing. 

I know that “dieting” and exercise are difficult for you, as much as you want to want to do these things they are contrary to the habits that have been instilled in you since you were a child. Here there’s only one thing to do and that is to break the old habit and create a new healthier one. You can do it. I know you will start to enjoy exercise and you are beginning to enjoy healthy food, you enjoy having a healthy attitude towards food even though it is a huge effort. Persistence and dedication are the key here “Miss unknown” and again, only you can change this. You just need to work on it. 

I strongly advise you doing what you is best for you and not what your friend tells you to do, this is your lifestyle change not her’s. I know she is looking out for you but you want this lifestyle change to last and not just for a few months. Your heart is telling you that you can do it the proper way and not by starving yourself. Trust in you. 
This time you just need to be more proactive in ensuring you commit to the exercises and that you see the programme through. Do it. Commit to it. 

You’ve let the focus shift from health back to weight alone and that’s not good for you. I think you’re right in deciding not to weigh in every day you know that once a week is enough and remember the surprise on your face when it’s a good result, you know that there is going to come a time when you plateau but this is all the aspects of dieting, its never rosy all the time. 

I think it will do you good to let yourself just enjoy eating healthy, low fat food and to enjoy exercising without worrying whether you’ve lost or gained a pound. I know your worried that if you haven’t lost weight then your husband may go off with someone else who is more prettier and thinner than you or worse still that your biological clock is ticking and your desires to have a baby may be lost, there is so much riding on the idea that you lose weight and with a lot of willpower and support from everyone you will get through this. 

As for your rut, the only person who can get you out of it is you. So stop whining about it and start doing something. Be proactive. Yes, you’re in less than your ideal situation, but if you react positively you can make changes for the better. Remember that you are responsible for how you react to a situation, so take control and do what you have to do. 

Most of all, my dear, remember that all these changes in your life have been chosen by you. No one is making you do this - you’ve chosen to do it. You’re working hard to create a better life for yourself and I’m so proud that you’ve made the right decision. 

Remember why you choose your username? It’s because that you believe that you are a fragile lonely person that hides behind a mask and that you don’t want anyone to know your true pain and suffering of every day of what you are going through, you don’t want anyone to judge you on your faults as you were judged since you were a child. You think after losing weight you will have some respect from people at last and believe that you are “NOT” a failure anymore and you can do this, I know you can. Believe in yourself, cause I do.

With all my tough love and the entirety of my support, 

~Your alter ego~

Afraid of failing

Well today after I had done my exercising I just started crying for no apparent reason. I just feel really upset, I don’t why cause I have done really well on my weight loss this week but I am so afraid of failure that after yesterday, eating too many calories I feel I am going to go down that road again.

Today I thought the exercise nearly killed me and I hate myself for getting this way in the first place.

I am missing my husband as well as he is 400miles away working at a different hospital so I am sat here alone and feel like just comfort eating but I know that’s not the answer!!

First bad day - Valuable lesson learnt

Well after opening the fast last night I was literally starving and went for the first thing I could think off to get rid of my hunger which was bloody chicken tikka samosa’s. Well I can tell you this I learnt my lesson when I seen how many calories there was in each one, it defintely wasn’t worth it!! After eating 4, yes just 4, I consumed 1500 calories, a whole days calories in 4 samosa’s. 

For the evening I consumed 1900 calories altogether which I am really mad with as I am trying to keep between 1200-1500 a day. I think we all happen to have days like this and this one was mine but how I do regret it, never never ever again. 

I have to keep reminding myself that I don’t want to be in competion with my husband anymore who can eat like a horse and won’t gain a pound. On the other hand I just have to sniff in the direction of food and gain a couple. 

After that I decided to see how much I would have ate on an average day before dieting and shocked to say the least, it was over 5000 calories. Why? No wonder I am the way I am, overweight and unhappy. 

Thankfully after last night I am learning what I put in my mouth and constantly telling myself, I no longer need that many calories. 

Exercise, I did overcome that a bit but not as much as I would like. 

Cardio: 
10 mins Epilectical Trainer 
10 mins Rowing Machine 
10 mins Jump Rope 

Strength training: 
2 sets of alternating dumbbell biceps curls - 15 sets each 

Calories burned - 606 

Water intake - 3 litres 

I am starting my walking challenge tomorrow so will see how that goes but I have full intentions of keeping my usual exercises up as well.

Weighin No2

Well I got weighed this morning and I lost 5lbs. I am very happy with that.

I couldn’t get much exercise in this week as I felt knackered. But I am going to start tomorrow walking and have set myself a 10000 steps a day goal, wishful thinking probably, but I am going to give it my best shot.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support.

Where there’s pain, there’s no gain!!

Sorry I haven’t been blogging this last couple of days as I am working nights and find myself going straight to bed as soon as I get up.

I have been exercising for the past few days and my calves on my legs, arms, back are aching, every move is sore to take.

10mins on the cross trainer

20 reps on weights

30 mins brisk walk

50 reps on the rower

20 crunch twists

So far so good apart from the pain, I don’t think my body is used to all of this at all…lol, thankfully I haven’t felt like giving up yet so I am defintely in the “zone”.

The fasting is going well although felt starving today I couldn’t wait until it started. I shouldn’t be complaining but its always like this at the start until I get used it.

First day of Ramadan (9th day of diet)

Well today is the first day of Ramadan. For those of you who don’t know Ramadan is a religious month of fasting where you cannot eat or drink during daylight hours. Its also a time of prayer and spiritual reflection. The fast began this morning from 4.30am and finished at 8.30pm (uk time) 

So far so good on the diet as I am working nights I am finding it quite easy and still can consume 1300 calories however I was up from 12pm this afternoon and couldn’t sleep and felt some temptation to eat even when I was fasting. To keep myself busy I dyed my hair jet black. I think its nice however my husband thinks it makes me look very pale. So  The fasting period lasts 30 days.

Exercise

20 mins cross trainer

10 mins skip rope

10 mins free weights

I also weighed myself this morning as I couldn’t wait however and have already noticed another loss which is great.  Hopefully by thursday it will be better.

Hope you are all having a good weekend. Take care

My first Weighin…..OMG

Well I think I have surprised myself this week when I stood on those scales this morning and after the inital shock and checking the scales 5 times I have lost 14lbs, yes thats right a whopping stone in one week. So yo can imagine I am hopping around like a headless chicken at the moment and can’t believe it!!

I keep asking myself if I am in a dream….lol but I am wide awake and loving it.

I am also down a dress size too.

No fad diets just reducing calories and plenty of exercise and water. Water is now my best friend and Ihave increased my daily amount to 4 litres. So far so good….I am sure this week is just alot of water retention but either way I am delighted.

A big thanks to Kerstin and Michelle who supported me and offered tips along the way and also “Natural Elements” weight loss support group who were always there to support no matter what even when I coudn’t offer the same in return.

Onwards and downwards………….

Headaches and loo trips

Well I know that this diet is working when I have been suffering all day from the constant urges to go to the loo, it must be all that water running through me and headaches. I hope it gets better. I managed to take 3 litres today which was great. Exercise has been a complete zero as my legs were killing me from yesterday.

Just to show how bored I was today I decided to count up the calories on a normal day before dieting of what I would consume in a day and I was shocked to say the least that I was eating around 5000 in a day. I was a very big takeaway person and sweets were always my downfall. Now as I consume under 1500 calories a day I don’t feel full, no wonder!! I feel ashamed to admit this to myself let alone anyone reading this.

But then thats why I am here to have a life change. I just hope I can do it!!

Day 2

Well today has been great! Stuck to the diet 100% and got my water intake up to 2.5litres. I also went for a jog/walk. My friend who is a personal trainer told me to run for 10mins, walk for 10mins so decided to give it a go today and I can tell you it was the toughest yet. My legs are killing me. I did only manage 30mins so a bit disappointed with that however I know that it can get better. I also done around 2hrs of ironing so I don’t know if that counts as exercise…lol. Tomorrow I am going to try to do skipping, I havent done that in yonks so will give it a go anyways.

I think determination is keeping me going and the willingness to succeed!!  May the vibe long continue!!

My turning point!!

Well today I started weightwatchers online and so far so good however I am noticing that the portion sizes are alot smaller which is understandable. My husband even noticed that I was having very little on my plate and asked me surely I can’t live just on that?! I am having a bit of a problem with the water intake and so far has only managed 1 litre which I know I will have to increase as the days go by.

Still feeling rather lazy on the exercise front and so far haven’t managed anything today however I intend to do some tomorrow. I am going to start off slowly where it concerns exercise, so three days a week slowly building it up as the weeks go by.

Today my neice called around, she is only 13 years of age but acts like a woman of 30!! She knows that I am going on this diet and is extremley supportive as obesity is discussed all the time in her school and she has always been health conscious. She knows that I need to lose weight for myself and of course to get further in my job so she is 100% behind  me and has offered to go for walks, running or swimming. To be honest I felt embarassed discussing it with her, all these years I have put one excuse in front of another of why I couldn’t lose the weight but in fact I was taking the coward’s way out and not continuing with it, maybe it was because I was scared to admit the truth, who knows.

Finally today my neice made me see sense, the real question was, “Do I want to be slim and normal or fat and unhealthy?”

I am sure anyone who reads that sentance knows the answer otherwise they wouldn’t be on this site. I certainly do!!

So onwards and ??????

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