Weigh In 9

Start
Weight:180lb / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 163.5lb /11 stone 9.5lb

Current Weight: 161.5lb /11stone 7.5lb

Weight Loss Since Last Weigh In : -2lb
Total Weight Loss: 18.5lb/1 Stone 4.5lbs


Second Goal
Weight:160
BMI:30.27

So I want to lose 20lbs for my second goal and am hoping to manage that next week given that losing 2lbs this week (so happy!)  means I only have to aim to lose 1.5lbs for Monday 1st October. Even if I fall short and lose 1lb I will be incredibly happy with that.

I am finally starting to feel that I am back in control of my weight and whilst I'm still much heavier than I want to be I can eventually see a light at the end of the (long) tunnel!

For a long time I was dieting and not really losing more than 1lb a week, then gaining half the next week, then losing half etc etc in a never ending and quite frankly depressing circle, so since starting the Dukan diet I feel so much better as I've seen results and kept the weight off - not just seen results and then it's come back on or slowed down the next week.

Anyway, I am hoping to lose the 1.5lbs for next week as it is the 1st October, so I'd like to say I'd lost 20lbs by October, and also because I have an event on October 4th.

My next event after that is 18th October - with people whom I last saw on August 31st, and I think I was about 11stone 12lbs at that point so I am hoping that if I reach 11stone 6 next week and then have 2 more weigh ins I could be 11stone 3 or 11stone 4 and given that I am 5'1 this should hopefully be quite a big difference in size. (Weigh in on 15th October)

After that I am going out for Halloween, for which I'd definitely like to be 11stone 2lbs. (Weigh In 29th October)

Following this my boyfriend's birthday is November 21st so I'd have 2 weigh ins from Halloween to then, by which point I'd just like to be under 11stone - even 10stone 13lbs. (Weigh In 19th November.)

I've said my overall goal is to get to 10stone 7lbs by Christmas and after his birthday I have 5 weigh ins to get from 10stone 13lbs to 10stone 7lbs - so 5 weeks to lose 6lbs, which should be manageable!

Weigh In 8

Start
Weight:180lb / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 163lb /11 stone 9lb

Current Weight: 163.5lb /11stone 9.5lb

Weight Loss Since Last Weigh In : -.5lb
Total Weight Loss: 16.5lb/1 Stone 2.5lbs


Second Goal
Weight:160
BMI:30.27

This is was my weigh in from yesterday and to be honest I'm quite happy about having only gained half a pound since the last one as I definitely didn't want to diet in Paris so I feel like I've gone away and enjoyed myself and managed to get back on track. I am going to do just pure proteins till Friday of this week, as I didn't start properly doing just pure proteins till Saturday last week so that will give me a 6 day attack to get back into the mind set of the Dukan, na dhopefully mean I can get rid of the extra 0.5lb for next week (and hopefully maybe another 1.5lb on top of that!)

I said last week that I am hoping to hit goal 2 - 160lbs, ie a loss of 20lbs, by Monday 1st October, which is 2 weeks from yesterday's weigh in. That would obviously mean losing 3.5lbs over the next 2 weeks, but if I am on a pure protein attack phase till Friday I am hoping that would allow me to have lost 2lbs by next weigh in, and hopoefully another 1.5 the week after that. If I fall short then as long as I've lost weight both weeks I don't mind.

My long term goal is probably to lose about 60lbs, but if I think of that then I'll just get drepressed! I am hoping to have lost that by the time I go to Florida next December, which is more than manageable.

To make it into more bitesized chunks though my aims are to lose 33lbs and be 147lbs (10st 7lbs) by Christmas, and I have 14 weigh ins till then (with the last one being on Christmas Eve!) so since I have already lost 16.5lbs, that means I have just another 16.5 to go, and 14 weeks to do it means I just need to lose 1.17lbs a week, so aiming for 1.5 a week and that should more than cover it!

My next goal thereafter is to reach 130lbs by my next birthday - which is July so gives me 7 months to lose 17lbs - 2.5lbs a month roughly, and after that I want to reach 120bs by December 2013, giving me 5 months to lose 10lbs - 2lbs a month, so hopefully by making these really doable and breaking it down into an aim of losing 1.5 a week, then 1 a week, then 0.5 a week etc it shoudl help me concentrate on current successes and not be daunted by the long term plan.

Weigh In 7

Weigh In 7

Start
Weight:180lb / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week Weigh In:  166lb /11 stone 12lb

Current Weight: 163lb /11stone 9lb

Weight Loss Since Last Weigh In : 3lb
Total Weight Loss: 17lb/1 Stone 3lbs


Second Goal
Weight:160
BMI:30.27

No I'm not gone. I just came off the diet for a week in August, and then got back on it but didn't lose any weight for 2 weeks despite sticking to it, then felt demotivated. I remotivated myself though because int he end if has to work, and sometimes the number on the scale just takes a few weeks to catch up.

 

I've listed 11st 9lb as my weigh in weight, but my last weigh in was on Monday 3rd, which was a week and 2 days ago - as I went to Paris on Thursday and am just back this morning. I am going back on a mini attack phase, and will stay on the attack phase until my weigh in on Monday.

 

I didn't want to diet in Paris so I had already decided I was taking the time off the diet and would be back on it as soon as the plane landed - so I'm hoping by doing an intensive attack phase again until Monday 17th (a 5 day attack phase) I'll get my body back on track of not craving junk food and being used to the protein rich diet again. I'm also hoping it will mean that despite probably having gained weight during my 6 days away I wil be able to weigh in at (hopefully, fingers crossed!) 11st 9lb on Monday. Obviously that won't be any loss, but it will mean no gain either over the holiday so that I can just get on with losing my 3lbs and hitting my goal of losing 20lbs!

 

I will need to assess when to aim to have lost 20lbs by when I weigh in on Monday, in case the scales don't say what I want, but if I do weigh in at 11stone 9lbs on Monday then I am hoping that by my weigh in on Monday 1st October I will have lost the 3lbs - ie 1.5lbs off by Monday 24th, then another 1.5 by Monday 1st October.

 

 

 

 

Slip Up

Last night I slipped up. I had 3 slices of pizza.

I feel genuinely bad about it - and I'm writing in on here so that the next time I think about doing it I can remember how bad I felt. I feel like i've let myself down, and that I expected mroe from myself. I want to reach a goal weight of about 10 stone before moving on to the next stage in which other foods get introduced, and that teh idea of getting to that shoudl be enough motivation to keep me on the right path. I've also lost my first stone and I don't want to give up now and watch that all pile back on - it would mean everything up till now was for nothing.

I've not been happy with myself for a long time. I really haven't. Not because I'm a horrible person or there's anything wrong with me but because I hate what I see in the mirror. I feel so unattractive and I've always been interested in fashion and clothes and I had gotten to the point where I just felt so huge I didn't want to try any clothes on in case I had to go up another size. That life isn't worth living, and definitely isn't worth going back to for the sake of 3 slices of pizza.

So the moral here is I slipped up, but I'm back on the horse. I'm not going to let this slip up ruin everything I've done. But I want to remember how awful I feel about it because I don't want to repeat it. Saying you can just draw a line under something like this is fine once. But if you're slipping up every night you're not dieting anymore and youhave to be firm - because the line between one slip up and slipping up once a day is your own doing. And I want to make that a big, bold line.

Weigh In 6

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 167.5 /11 stone 13.5lb

Current Weight: 166/11stone 12lb
Weight Loss This Week: 1.5lb
Total Weight Loss: 14lb/1 Stone


Second Goal
Weight:160
BMI:30.27

Managed to lose the 1.5lbs I wanted off for this week and so reached my first full stone off - so happy! For next week I'd like to just lose at least 1lb so I can say 'I've lost 15 pounds' (in an American accent, obviously) and say that I'm at least half way to my next goal of 160lbs!

I've now started the cruise phase of the Dukan, and obviously having lost 5lbs last week to losing 1.5lbs this week my weight loss has slowed down - but that's probably for the best as it means I won't have any weird excess skin or anything! Having lost my first stone as quickly as I have done has really motivated me and I feel so much better for it - so I'm just focussing on my next target of 160lbs.

30th July - 4th August

Weigh In 5

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 172.5 /12 stone 4.5lb

Current Weight: 167.5/11stone 13.5lb
Weight Loss This Week: 5lb
Total Weight Loss: 12.5lb

First Goal
Weight:170 / 12stone 2lb
BMI:32.1
FIRST GOAL ACHIEVED!

Second Goal
Weight:160
BMI:30.27

So I managed to lose an amazing 5lbs this week, which bring me not only over my first goal of losing 10lbs, but also under 12 stone! I am so so happy to be under 12stone for the first time in probably about 2 months, and the only way to go from here is further down the scale!

Today is my last day on the attack phase of the Dukan and the results have been fast and amazing - and I feel so much happier for the short burst of fast weight loss, but I know now that going on to the Cruise phase my weightloss will slow down so for next week I'd just like to aim to lose 1.5lbs, and therefore reach 11st 12lbs - i.e the loss of my first stone!

26th - 29th July

25th July

Today was the first day I've done the 'Dukan pancake' and brought in the 1.5tblsp of oatbran with the aspertame, egg white and yohgurt which you fry for 2-3 minutes on each side.

I think I burnt it a bit this morning, so tomorrow I'm going to do it for 2 minutes on each side rather than 3 but it was edible - moreso than I really thought it would be. I think 'delicious', which is what Dr Dukan claims his daughter finds it when she first does the diet, would be pushing it a bit but it's definitely edible and it does make a welcome change from meat. Only 5 more days and I'm out the attack phase!

24th July

23rd July

The Dukan Diet book said that after day 3 cravings would disappear - and it was true, today was probably the easiest day so far. I did weigh in this morning so I probably was motivated due to that, but when I went to Tesco for lunch I wasn't really tempted by the pic and mix or anything, so that;s great - and long may it continue!

Weigh In 4

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 175.5 /12 stone 7.5lb

Current Weight: 172.5 /12 stone 4.5lb
Weight Loss This Week: 3lb
Total Weight Loss: 7.5lbs

First GoalWeight:170 / 12stone 2lb
BMI:32.1

My goal for this week was to lose the 1.5lbs I gained last week - and I've doubled that, but I think that is really to do with the attack phase of the Dukan, as if you look at the graph I was over my calories every day before starting the Dukan Diet, so I don't think those days have partiucularly contributed! This is also the most weight I've lost in any one week, but I've actually been 920 calories over my weekly total.

I am expecting it to slow down but I'm hoping I could push for 2.5lbs next week to take me to my first 10lbs off goal - but realistically I'll be happy with any loss. Have also surpassed the half stone mark as well, which makes me happy.

Note
-Time of Month started yesterday, may effect weight loss next week.

22nd July

I think this was probably the hardest day in terms of my cravings for carbs seemed to reach an ultimate peak, but I kept to the plan and stuck to lean protein!

21st July

Day of the Dukan Attack Phase

Feeling hungry today - or not so much hungry, but very aware that I'm missing carbs.
Have bought the oat bran today though so as of tomorrow I'll be having that in the morning, which will hopefully mean I get over the carb-cravings.

The book did say that day 2 would be the worst and promises that after tomorrow the hunger will disappear - which it better as we're going out for dinner on Monday so I'm going to really need the willpower of asking for some plain grilled chicken or salmon on it's own for dinner, though hopefully my weigh in on Monday morning will motivate me to keep sticking to it.

We're going shopping first so my plan is to put as many packets of ready to eat chicken bites as possible in my bag and eat 2 boiled egg whites as well as the oat bran 'pancake' that dr dukan has devised for the attack phase before I leave so that I'm not going for dinner really hungry or anything.

I didn't do any C25K today, but I did do a lot of walking, more than thr 20 prescribed minutes, so I definitely did do some exercise.

20th July

First day on the attack phase of the Dukan.

So far, so good. By the end of the day I was absolutely exhausted and I won't be trying to do any C25K tomorrow as I think that was a huge drain on my energy this morning - by the time I went to bed tonight I was ready to collapse. Having said that having gotten an hour's sleep the night before was probably something to do with that.

The Dukan is restrictive in terms of no carbs only protein - I was reaching for sushi when I was out buying my lunch and then had to stop myself, as I was so in the mindset that sushi is healthy and whislt it is healthy it's not pure protein.

However I did eat enough overall - you are allowed unlimited quanities, and the only time I felt hungry was between my mid afternoon snack and my dinner, but that was my own fault for leaving it so long.

I just randomly decided to start the Dukan this morning and wasn't prepared and didn't have enough bought in - which is why I left so long between snacking and getting dinner as I hadn't planned my day but tomorrow is totally planned out and I went to the supermarket today and bought in loads of lean proteins so tomorrow should be easier than today in terms of that, although the second day is supposed to be the worst - but we'll see.

Weigh In 3

Again this was taken on Monday but only just on here now to post it.

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 175 /12 stone 6lb

Current Weight: 175.5 /12 stone 7.5lb
Weight Loss This Week: +1.5lb
Total Weight Loss: 4.5lbs

First GoalWeight:170 / 12stone 2lb
BMI:32.1
So my goal for this week was to maintain, which I haven't managed but after the way things have been the past few weeks in terms of parties and eating I think 1 and a half is me getting off quite alright.

That is all my stuff finished now (as of today the 21st when I'm writing this) but as of yesterday (the 20th) I have started the attack phase of the dukan diet, so I'm hoping by Monday to have lost the 1.5lbs I gained this week.

By Monday morning when I weigh myself I will have done 3 days of the attack phase, which I usually wouldn't think would be enough to lose 1.5lbs but aparently on the first 3 days of the attack phase you loose the most weight because it's such a shock to your body - and will especially be for me as I ama huge carb fiend and there definitely isn't enough protein in my diet in general.

After the first 7 days of the attack phase I'm not sure if I'm going to go on with the next few phases or not - I pobably will but I don't know if I will choose to loose all the weight I want to like this, because it is a restrictive plan and as I've said before on here I don't want a restrictive plan - I want to totally re-shape my mental relationship with food and change my whole lifestyle in terms of eating and exercising - I want a life change, not a diet that as soon as I stop it I gain the weight back again.

However I am going through with the attack phase mainly because I feel so blated after all the cake and alcohol and general meals out after the past few weeks - although the scales say I've only gained 1.5lbs I feel as though I've gained about 5 - I just feel absolutely huge and I want to do some form of detox to hopefully just get me back to feeling normal. The dukan's pure protein phase should be really good for that as the lack of carbs mean that my body won't retain water in the same way and hopefully if I can use that to flush out all the excess water I'll feel less eurgh. Which is the word for how I feel just now. There is also the oat bran, which I didn't get yesterday but managed to pick up in a health food store today - which should in theory help to flush out whatever else is still lingering in my body from the past fortnight (pleasant).

Anyway that's about all I had to say today - but one last thing, and this might just be motivation for me but the past few days when I've been staying with Harry if we've been sleeping I feel really uncomfortable when he puts his arms round me and I usually sleep with my legs bent up - which I've not been doing as it makes me stomach roll.
This is all because of how big I am at the moment, and I'm labelling this post with motivation so that any time I feel I'm lacking in motivation I can come on here and click to see all posts involving motivation - and how uncomfortable I feel lying in bed with the guy that I love purely because I feel so fat and therefore don't want him to touch me should be a major bit of motivation.

14th July

Today was the first day since Monday I've really given any proper thought to my weight or exercise. I haven't weighed myself but I'm pretty sure I've gained - but it was my 21st birthday, and I've had 4 nights out so far, with another 3 to go.

On the next few nights out I'm going to make sure I don't drink alcohol and that I manage to even do a half hour of C25K on the days before I go out - I've been getting in about 6am and sleeping till about 4pm, then spending the rest of the time trying to get ready for going back out. Other than that onthe day of my actual birthday I had my firt shift at work - doing a 10.30-2.30, and then it was a major rush to get to hair and make up and then to the venue on time, so no time to exercise that day!

Today I managed to get out and do half an hour of C25K, but since I hadn't done any in ages I only did 1 section of level 1 to ease me back into it, and it wasn't as awful as I thought it might have been after not doing anything for ages.

Day 12 & 10-13th July

These days are total write offs, on Monday 9th July, I managed day 12 of the 30 Day Shred, and thereafter it all went downhill.

I've done no exercise on these days, and not even written down my food intake. Up till now had this happened I would have probably given up altogether, but the point in this time is that this is a journey. My journey to slim. And it's never going to be an easy road, you fall off the horse every now and then but the key to success is getting back on the horse.

"The shame is not in falling, the shame is in lying there" - Anonymous

So I won't be lying down and just letting myself undo the 6lbs I have lost already, or the slight improvement to my fitness levels that I've already made. I'm not too far into it, so if the loss of 3 days is enough to put me bck to square 1 in terms of weight and fitness then so be it - but I'll get up and start again. Because this time I am going to manage this. And this time I will get to my goal weight.

Weigh In 2

I did weigh mysel fon Monday, I'm just really late posting it!

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Last Week: 175 /12 stone 7lb

Current Weight: 174 /12 stone 6lb
Weight Loss This Week: 1lb
Total Weight Loss: 6lbs

First GoalWeight:170 / 12stone 2lb
BMI:32.1
Lost 1lb for this weigh in, which was slightly disapointing, since I'd obviously done more exercise but I definitely wasn't as good with my food - eating one meal a day and usually it was a take out, so I guess I really can't be surprised at not losing a lot!

Anyway my goal for next weigh in is to maintain - it's my birthday this week and I have laods of different groups of friends etc, so I have 7 nights out to go to, one each night of the week, and if I can manage to not gain I will remain happy!

Day 11

So today was day 1 of level 2 of the 30 Day Shred - and it was hard. However I did it. Mainly following Anita - though I do actually bend my arms at the walk out press ups - not exactly doing a full push up but more than just getting to plank and staying there.

I'm just using the 0.5kg weights with the entirity of this level as Jillian chats about creating a wide upper body to make the illusion of a slimmer waist and whilst I want the slimmer waist I do not want bulky shoulders or anything so I'm not going to go up to the 2lb weights at any point. Plus my arms are ridiculously sore anyway!

I also did a half hour of level 3 of C25K and would have done more but was behind with my day and had to get ready to go keep my cinema date (I go to the cinema a lot. You may have noticed!) I think with level 2 keeping up the running to make sure I have alot of cardio happening is going to be really important as I really don't want to build muscle without doing a lot of fat burning - and again I can't do tonnes of the cardio in the actual workout as my neighbour is a cow. *Venom spills from fangs*

30 Day Shred - Level 1 Results

At the beginning of the 30 Day Shred I weighed 180lbs, and my measurements were as follows:

Chest:102 cm
Upper Right Arm: 39 cm
Upper Left Arm: 38 cm
Upper Waist: 93 cm
True Waist: 91 cm
Stomach:107.5 cm
Hips: 112.5 cm
Mid Right Thigh: 64 cm
Left Thigh: 62 cm
Right Calf: 40.5 cm
Left Calf: 40.5 cm

My current weight as of my last weigh in is 175lbs - so minus 5lbs, and my measurements are as follows:

Chest: 102 cm (no change - not moaning!)
Upper Right Arm: 37cm (down 2cm, - happy)
Upper Left Arm: 37cm (down 1cm - happy)
Upper Waist: 88cm (down 5cm - hugely happy!)
True Waist: 87cm (down 4cm - hugely happy again!)
Stomach: 106cm (down 1.5cm - was hoping for more but sticking with it and we'll see!)
Hips: 109cm (down 3.5cm - happy)
Mid Right Thigh: 62cm (down 2cm - happy happy happy - I never see changes in my legs!)
Mid Left Thigh: 62cm (no change, but it means my thighs are the same size rather than being different so not moaning!)
Right Calf: 41cm (up 0.5cm, not happy but outweighed by losses elsewhere)
Left Calf: 41cm (again up 0.5cm - again same as above...)


Total loss of 19cm then a gain of 1cm - so 18cm off altogether.

Day 10

30 Day Shred day 10 done - ie level 1 done (separate post with results!) and a half hour of level 3 of the C25K.

Do not feel ready to move on to level 2 today of the shred, but I'll stick with it and give it a go!

After I go out today(day 11)'s run I'll have done level 3 of the C25K 3 times, which means I should be moving on to level 4 - but I really don't feel ready to! This is my one issue with C25K - I don't feel that doing each level 3 times is enough to prepare me to move on. In the past 10 days I have done level 1 twice and level 2 9 times before I moved on to level 3, and although running for 3 minutes isn't the issue I fidn that the rest times are my issue - so I'm not sure if I should be moving on to running longer until I can do the levels as they are without feeling out of breath or ready to die during the rests, but then at the same time I obviously want to push myself... Level 4 of the C25K is when the rests start to get less than equal to the time of the run, and I'm definitely not feeling OK with that.

Day 9

My legs are ACHING.

Today I did attempt 9 at the 30 Day Shred, as well as doing C25K level 2 for half an hour and one section of level 3.

What I really find when running is that whilst I can keep going - I managed to run for 3 minutes both of the 3 minute sections (not saying I didn't look at the time during it to see how much longer I had to go!) - but the rest time never seems enough - I always either need to pause the time and walk a little longer or keep the proper time but take my inhaler, and I'm not sure which is better in terms of trying to improve my running and general fitness in the long run.

I was really aching after my hour of C25K so I varied my weights with the 30 Day Shred:

Circuit 1 - I did the first set of squat and press with the 2lb weights and the second set with the 0.5kg weights
Circuit 2 - Did both the dumbell rolls with the 2lb weights. Did both sets of lunges with bicep curls with the 0.5kg weights - though I managed to do 27 lunges per leg rather than my usual 24.
Circuit 3 - Did all 4 weight requiring sections with the 2lb weights.

I did feel that I'd pushed myself and my arms were shaking by the end of it, they're still tingling now actually, and today was definitely the sweatiest I have been yet - so I don't feel that by using the lower weights I've suffered in terms of my workout.

My food choices again weren't great - ended up out again (did I mention I never eat in the house?) but again only ate one meal today. It's not that I'm trying to only eat one meal but as I'm a student and I don't start my summer job till the 11th I'm sleeping until about 1 each day and by the time I properly wake up and shower and dress and faff about it's about half 2 and I then am either going out for the day, or work out. Whichever I'm doing first I'll be doing the other later, which means that in terms of meals I only stop for one during the day and then when I'm up at night I try not to eat because I'm not particularly hungry and I would only be eating for the sake of it.

The plan for tomorrow is to do another hour of couch to 5K - probably repeating today and using 1 section of level 2 to get into it then 1 section of level 3 to push myself through. Then it's day 10 of the 30 Day Shred! Gulp! Not so much gulp in terms of doing day 10 but in terms of that means the day after tomorrow I have to go on to level 2 - scary!

Day 8

So the problem with working out with an unfit gay man is that they die after half an hour.

Today I did Jillian before he arrived, and did it with the 2lb weights - which I'm happy with - but when we went out running we managed half an hour of level 2 - which I was planning to use as a warm up to attempting level 3!

The other issue is that after you've done half an hour of couch to 5K they then insist on going out for dinner. And claim that you've already burned it up. Unfortunately, this is the 3rd day in a row I've eaten outside the house - so I am spending the rest of the week locked up. My fridge is stuffed with salad and tomorrow I will not be leaving the house other than to run. A is working tomorrow so I'm working out with him again on Friday and this time I will be more firm. The issue with living in the city centre is that everywhere is on your door step so there's no hassle involved - besides showering and having to put on clothes and make up!

I'm hoping since I didn't eat anything else other than dinner and a tunnocks tea cake - which technically comes in at under 1,200 calories - that I won't have caused too much damage - but tomorrow is all about salads and fruit, no question about it!

Day 7

So instead of going running today I went to the cinema - but again I took fruit in with me, so it wasn't all bad!

I did come home and do the 30 Day Shred - attempt 7, and did it with the 2lb weights. I know they're not hugely heavier but I can definitely feel a difference in my arms as I type this!

Tomorrow I am going to have my gay best friend working out with me - Augustus (not German, but yes as in Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) - who will be using my heavier weights based on the fact that a)he's a boy and going to therefore use the heavier weights and b)they're pink.

Harry, my boyfriend, hates Augustus which makes things difficult when Harry is staying with me - so I like to try and spend time with A when H is on his weekly visits to his country home, and currently this means A is going to have to exercise with me as opposed to going for cocktails and dinners, which isn't something I'm convinced he's thrilled about. Not something I'm convinced Mrs Batty Old Cow downstairs is convinced about either mind you, since A is fairly heavy on his feet and doesn't need to be jumping for her to get her broomstick out. Though he just ignores her. And the last time she arrived at the door to complain he told her to stick said broomstick up either her arsehole, or his, because it would be the most pleasure she'd ever give anyone in her entire existance. This is a true story, and the funniest day of my life. Just to say though A is not one of the Drama Queen gays of the world- he'd been mixing cosmopolitans & champagne by this point. A is usually fairly refined. To the point of pretencious.

Anyway, back to the exercise chat - I had pledged to do 2 lots of each level with the heavier weights and was planning to make it days 9&10, but today is day 7 and Augustus will be doing tomorrow and Thursday with me - meaning I'll be using the heavier weights on day 7 and day 10. This could either be more desirable in terms of not using them 2 days in a row means I won't have time to start building any form of muscle or less desirable in terms of if I did use them 2 days in a row I might have started building up muscle, meaning I might have found the next level slightly easier!

Day 6

Today was my rest day from Couch to 5K, but I got off the train a stop earlier and walked home from there - so although I wasn't running I did still walk 2 miles today, just because I didn't want to do the 30 Day Shred with absolutely no cardio in my day, so even though it was a light walk and a light pace it was still cardio.

Anyway today was definitely the easiest the Shred has been - but I'm not sure if that was because I was doing less today in terms of I wasn't running as well, so I will see how tomorrow feels and if that seems to be going well I will up my weights to the heavier ones (still not heavy - 2lbs - but heavier than my current ones and heavier enough that I notice a difference when using them!)

It supposedly takes 21 times of not doing something to break a habit and 21 times of doing something to make one (or so I've heard), but although I'm only on day 6 I did feel a bit weird not going out for a couch to 5K session today. Not bad or anything, just a bit off.

As well as day 6 of the 30 Day Shred I dug out one of the ancient DVDs I've had kicking around from previous health kicks - a 10 minute solutions pilates DVD. I only did the pilates for flexibility section as one thing I feel with the shred is that you don't get enough of a stretch after it - and due to years of ballet I have really solid legs and I want to make sure I'm stretching out after exercising as I don't want to look really muscley or solid!

I was technically over my calories today but not too much, and I haven't added any of my exercise as I've decided I don't want to eat those calories - I'm doing the exercise to boost my weightlosses, not to be able to eat more, and right now I'm not doing enough exercise that I feel as though I need any additional nutrition. I had a healthy lunch and then a not so healthy dinner, but my plan is to allow myself that on Monday evenings so that the rest of the week I will be able to make healthier choices and know that it's just a case of waiting till Monday before my next 'naughty' meal. Having said that though I am just trying to eat less than 1,200 calories a day - I'm not focussing on types of food, but obviously the healthier the food is the less calories in it therefore the more I can eat per day - so generally I will be trying to make healthy choices.

Weigh In 1

Start
Weight:180 / 12stone 12lb
(Height:5'1)
BMI:34

Current Weight: 175 /12 stone 7lb
Weight Loss: 5lbs


First GoalWeight:170 / 12stone 2lb
BMI:32.1
I expected week 1 to be my biggest loss, and it was - a huge 5lb loss, which I am over the moon with! I'm definitely not expecting anything remotely like that next week but as long as I steadily lose I will be happy.

I would like to lose maybe 2lbs next week, fingers crossed as I start a new job on July 11th and would like to be able to say I've lost half a stone between my interview and starting - not because anyone else will notice but just for myself as a sort of first milestone reached type thing. If I don't lose it but do manage to lose at least 1lb I will still be happy!

Food for the week:

Day 5 - Last Chance Workout!

Feeling inspired by The Biggest Loser I decided that Sundays will be my 'last chance workout'.

Although I'm on day 5 of this blog I am going to do my weigh ins on Mondays, because I think it'll be easier to start each week as a new one rather than starting mid week as a new exercise and eating week.

Anyway with this in mind today I did an hour and a half of the couch to 5K - all level 2. I still don't feel ready to go on to level 3, but I'll give it a go next time. Mondays are going to be my rest days for the running, as it is important to take a rest when you're exercising and I will be having to do the 30 Day Shred every day, but I'll try it on Tuesday!

Day 5 of the 30 Day Shred went alright, my legs and arms were exhausted but I think it was because I had done the hour and a half of the running first, and I did manage to get through it.

In terms of how I manage each circuit:

Circuit 1
Strength: Push Ups, Squat and Press I do the squats on my knees, as there is just no way I can do a full push up :L I can manage to keep going through both these exercise sections without stopping.
Cardio:Jumping Jacks, Jump Rope I step out the jumping jacks and just march on the spot, doing the hand actions for the jump rope, as my neighbour bangs on my floor whenever she hears me jumping. Because she's an old bat. Pretty much all I can say on that one.
Abs: Basic Crunch, Reverse Crunch Basic crunches I keep going without stopping and manage 12 or 13 each time. I was thinking about trying to concentrate on building this up a bit but I can do it without stopping so I don't want to try going faster and then suffer in the technique department. Reverse Crunches are absolute killers, and I manage about 5 then stop and breathe, then do another 5.

Circuit 2
Strength: The Back Exercise *Clearly not the proper name- possibly a dungbell roll?*, Lunges with Bicep Curls The back exercise is fine, I can keep going for it (bearing in mind I use 0.5kg weights). The lunges are the bane of my life - I am now doing. 2 sets of 12, previously I was doing sets of 10 then managing an extra 1 or 2 before the end, so I am already imporving, but I've always been awful at lunges!
Cardio: Butt Kicks, Punches Butt kicks I again march on the spot as I can't jump, the punches are totally fine - I just try to concentrate on going fast, really tensing my arms while I'm doing them so I can feel my muscles working, and squating deeply whilst I'm doing them.
Abs: Side crunches I can keep going for these - and manage about 12 on each side.

Circuit 3
Strength: Chest Flys, Side Lunge with Shoulder Range Chest flys are fine - a welcome breather actually, and the side lunges I can keep going for - varies but usually manag about 20-24 each time.
Cardio: Jumping Jacks, Jump Rope, Punches, Butt Kicks As above basically, I step out the jumping jacks, march on the spot for the jump rope and butt kicks and do the punches as fast and hard as possible, whilst squating as deeply as possible - usually by the end of this section my legs are trembling and completely on fire.
Abs: Bicycle Crunches I manage to keep going, but it kills me!

Exercise & Food diary

Day 3 & 4

So on day 3 (yesterday) I did day 3 of the 30 Day Shred, and having just completed day 4 I think people are right when they say days 2 & 3 are the worst. I think by day 4 you've pushed through the initial second day pain - you know what I mean, when you feel fine once you actually stop exercising then the next day you can barely walk? - and your muscles are probably starting to get used to being used.

I think it probably, in terms of the rest of level 1, will just get easier from here as hopefully the muscles will start to get stronger. Not that I'm saying it will get any easier doing the actual work but I mean in terms of not finding pushing yourself through it as daunting a task as it appears at the start, and Jillian does say 'those of you who are on days 5,6 and 7 - I bet you're seeing a huge difference in your endurance from day 1". I think the Shred does help you get from 0 to fit fast, and that's part of the reason I'm using it to kickstart my journey to slim.

I'm currently using 0.5kg weights as the last time when I used the 2lb weights I started gaining on my arms, so my goal is to tone without building muscle, but I'm thinking the last 2 days of each level I'll use the heavier weights just to give myself an extra push. (If I need it!)

In terms of running - I am able to keep going through it all and on day 3 I didn't need my inhaler. I was going even slower on day 3 than on day 2, because I did one section of level 1 and one of level 2 again but only covered 3 miles(half a mile less than day 2), but I took 2 of my friends out 'running' with me and we were chatting during the walking, which I think slowed us down a bit.

On day 3 I finished my 3rd attempt at level 2 and technically this means I should move on to level 3, but I definitely don't feel ready for that! Due to lack of feeling ready today I decided to do level 2 on its own and only did the half hour, but I ended up needing my inhaler, however I definitely do think it's to do with having to do the run at 10.30pm tonight and the night air going for my chest because as I said I managed yesterday fine. My plan for tomorrow is to do a run at a more reasonable time and go for 2 sections of level 2 just to try and assess how I am realistically coping with it - fingers crossed!

Yesterdays Exercise & Food Photos

Today's Exercise & Food Photos