Day 180 - Measuring Progress without the Scales

I came across this article by Liz Noelcke recently and found it very interesting and helpful:

Frustrated. Disappointed. Hopeless. Skeptical.

Whichever you choose, these emotions are enemies of people trying to lose weight—especially when you feel like you have done everything right. For many trying to shed pounds, the elation from that initial weight loss is brought to a screeching halt when the scale stops moving. But, instead of viewing this as a setback, look for other ways to measure your progress besides the scale. After all, good health isn’t always measured in pounds.
Losing weight usually involves a relatively simple calorie equation: burn off more calories with daily activity than you consume through food. So what happens when these numbers indicate progress, but the scale doesn’t? Before the aggravation sets in, consider why this might be the case. If you’ve been hitting the gym on a regular basis, participating in both cardiovascular and strengthening exercises, then chances are good that you have shed some fat. But the scale might not indicate this because you have also been building lean muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, the scale might not reflect your hard work.

Non-Scale Signs of Progress

1. See results by taking a trip to your very own closet. Take out a pair of pants that fit snugly before you began your new, healthy habits. Are you able to ease into them, when before you had to sit (or lie) down and yank them up your legs? This is a sure sign of progress toward a leaner you! What about an old shirt? Is it now a little loose around your waist or arms? Also look for improved muscle definition when you check out your body in the mirror. There are many everyday indicators that you are firming up your body, from how your clothes fit to sitting more comfortably in a booth or small chair.

2. Aside from weight, use other numerical signs of progress. When you first start your program, take measurements of your waist, arms, neck and hips. Even if you are not losing pounds, you very well may be losing inches all over your body as your figure slims down and tones up with muscles. Measuring your body is more reliable than the scale alone. Other numerical indicators include a reduction of blood pressure or cholesterol, BMI, and body fat percentage.

3. Monitor how a healthy diet and regular exercise affects your energy levels. Not only will you be able to work out for longer intervals of time, but everyday chores will also become easier. Whether cutting the grass or simply walking up the stairs, these behaviors will come effortlessly. Think of all the daily activities you could use more energy for—grocery shopping, house cleaning, playing with your kids, and more. Pretty soon you’ll be training for your first 5K!

4. Lastly, be conscious of how you feel emotionally. You’ve been working hard to reach your goals. Hopefully, the hard work will come with a boost in self-esteem, confidence, and happiness. Are you beginning to feel more comfortable in your own body? Work to build a positive vocabulary to stay motivated.

Just because the scale has stopped moving doesn’t mean that you’ve hit a plateau in reaching your goals. Don’t give up out of frustration—all healthy behaviors are well worth the effort. Whether it’s better sleep at night or more energy throughout the day, start listening to the signs your body gives you that all of your hard work is paying off!

B - 155
250 soymilk - 155

L - 653
200g of yogurt- 260
1 tbls agave - 43
110 g butternut and goat cheese pie - 350

D - 524
250 soymilk - 155
2 slices of wholewheat bread - 132x2
1 tbls butter - 105

Calories - 1332 calories
Exercise - 2 hrs of tennis
H2O - 80 oz water

Day 181

B - 428
200g of yogurt- 260
1 cup kiwi - 111
1 tbls agave - 43

L - 196
Some shrimp - 70
3 cups o vegetables - 126

D - 590
200 g of cheese & onion quiche - 500
200 g o pineapple - 90

Calories - 1214 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 58 oz water

Day 182 - 2kgs lost - 28kgs. to go

My Weight Chart:



I weighed today .. I should have done it on the 27th October but I was a tad distracted so I missed the date. I am now 83kgs = 182lbs down from 85kgs = 187lbs. That's only about .5 kgs = 1 lb. per week.

I am surprised that I did not lose more because the new suit I bought a month ago which was fitting snugly is much much looser ... but from my weight loss history I have traditionally be a slow loser.

I have to say though, to my small circle of blogging friends and anyone who may stumble across this blog, even a small weight loss like 5lbs. makes a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE to my self-esteem, self-perception, health, comfort and ability to move in my own body. It's incredible that such a small number could make such a huge difference.

I'm really looking forward to the next month ahead. My goals are to increase my exercise and make it more consistent, that is elliptical trainer 5 days, weights(which I've slacked off on) 3 days upper body, 2 days lower, tennis 3 days and of course Argentinian Tango 1 day. I'm also going to try getting off and on the tube one stop away from the college and walking briskly there. In terms of food, I am ready to add some small weekly treats to my food plan.

Thanks to all my wonderful blogging friends who share their triumphs and struggles with weight and life on their own blogs and pop across here when they can to support me. I appreciate you all so very much and could not have gotten this far or keep going without you.

B - 428
200g of yogurt- 260
200g of fruit juice - 125
1 tbls agave - 43

L - 588
225 g mashed potatoes - 295
110 g dal - 292

D - 588
225 g mashed potatoes - 295
110 g dal - 292

Calories - 1604 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 58 oz water

Day 183

Quote for the day:
We should consider every day lost in which we have not danced at least once. Nietzche

B - 330
200g of yogurt- 260
1 pureed fruit cup - 70
1 tbls agave - 43

L -
30 g semoline ?
250 soymilk - 155

D - 513
Soup - 210
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43

Calories - calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 64 oz water

Day 184

Had a wonderful time at tennis today. I am really improving and think I can hold my own with the other ladies now. I love playing very much and that makes me soooooooo deeply happy ... happy to love a sport finally and to actually want to do it.

Something else I've noticed that I want to share. The more weight I put on over the years the more I I loss both flexibility and mobility. My knees always felt stressed, my right arm felt arthritic, if I sat for too long, I struggled to get up.

When I first started to play tennis I moved like a slug, my reflexes were very poor and after each practice session my knees were so sore I could hardly walk. One session when we were practicing to serve, my right arm where it connects with the shoulder felt like it was going to stick in place or break off ... think of door with a rusty hinge. I was really afraid that I would have to give up tennis before I'd even got going properly, but I wanted to do it so badly that I just pushed through. I decided that I'd give it a month and if things didn't get better then I'd have to stop because I was just hobbled after every session.

Then last Saturday it all disappeared. Suddenly my knees just stopped hurting and my arm is completely flexible ... at least for a very fat arm. I was quite relieved ... ecstatic actually. Since then I have been playing much better and I think that's because I can now move without the rust feeling or pain.

After tennis one the ladies asked me if I wanted to go have a coffee. I was quite pleased because I happened to like her most of the four other ladies in the class. We spent a really wonderful afternoon in one of the little she she cafés in our neighbourhood. I was having such a good chat that I lost track of the time and did not get back in time for tango. :(

Now I am completely wired from the coffee (which I never drink) and can't get to sleep. Well, at least I was able to forget my misery for most of the day. :)

B - 330
200g of yogurt- 260
1 pureed fruit cup - 70
1 tbls agave - 43

L - 310
1 latte - 204
1 elderberry juice - 106

D - 513
Soup - 210
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43

Calories - 1153 calories
Exercise - 1 hr. tennis
H2O - 72 oz water

Day 185

Just can't chew anymore it's just too painful. I tried soft bread this morning but had to chew it with my front teeth and that took me a loooooog time. I've given up on solids ... have been reduced to things that don't require chewing and they have to be at room temperature.

I'm really lucky we're on half-term break, I don't know how I would cope if I were lecturing this week.

Decided to ditch dentist No. 2, the one who expected me to live in pain for two weeks, then pay £2,250 and went back to dentist No. 1 - the one that mis-diagnosed me. He had the nerve to be testy about his own failure to diagnose me accurately. He stood there looking at the x-rays he took back in July, mumbling that x-rays don't always show a problem and blaming the fact that I have white fillings which are not as durable as silver, for the decay he missed. (Then we got into a little exchange about my choice of white filings instead of the mercury ones) I hate a man who can't admit his mistakes or accept my decisions. Urrrrr!!!

At least he can get to work on me on Monday and God knows I am desperate for relief. Then I'll know whether I need a filling or root-canal. I don't have much faith in him obviously, so I haven't stopped my search for a more trustworthy and viable prospect. I think I have found one but won't be able to make contact until Monday and God knows how long it'll take to get an appointment.

Haven't exercised yesterday or today, do have tennis and tango tomorrow though and I'm not missing them for the world.

B - 370
250g of soymilk - 155
1 slice of wholewheat bread - 110
1 tbls. butter - 105

L - 408
Soup - 105
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43

D - 303
1cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave - 43

Calories - 1067 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 32 oz water

Day 186

This is how I know that I am a food addict. In spite of the incredible pain that brings me to my knees with each meal, I eat on.

B - 231
52 g oatmeal - 200
50g of soymilk - 31
1 mango - 107

L - 550
200 g of cheese & onion quiche - 500
2 cups of salad - 50

S - 155
250g of soymilk - 155

D - 320
Soup - 105
Slice of wholewheat bread - 110
Butter - 105

Calories - 1363 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 32 oz water

Day 187 - I'm Totally Fab, You're Totally Fab

In the midst of my pain and anger something really nice brightened my day. The blogging sensation of the Australian outback Livy awarded yours truly the :
Thank you Livy!!!

I get to choose up to 5 bloggers I think are totally fabulous. Drum roll please ... and the Fabulous Award goes to :

Abba - because she somehow pulled herself out of the depths of despair and got herself back on the road to losing weight; because she is a kind and supportive woman and is living proof that you can't keep a good woman down for long.

Iron-Man - because he is super funny, honest, direct, insightful, naughty, ironic, features a weekly round-up of weight-loss winners and is a great example of why you should never judge a man by his weight.

Livy - because she is real and courageous; because she wears her heart on her sleeve ,is passionately about life, can laugh at herself, doesn't bull-shit or take bull-shit, is funny, supportive and kind-hearted, full of ideas and dreams, is charting her own destiny under extremely challenging conditions and is a great role model for her two little girls. (Sorry Livy, I know you've already gotten it, we can make you my unofficial selection if you want)

Sayre - because ... well, she is Sayre; she rock climbed with her husband in her wedding dress (how cool is that) is balanced, level-headed, fair, determined; is devoted to her family, is taking a really healthy approach to helping her son with his eating/weight issues, and writes so beautifully about her workout sessions that when I read her posts I feel like grabbing some weights and getting to work.

Willow - have you seen this woman in action? Oh my God, you have got to visit her blog. She is not playing around . She is a woman on a serious mission who is winning the battle of the bulge one meal at a time in English and in Dutch. Very Inspiring!!!


B - 311

52 g oatmeal - 200
50g of soymilk - 31
20g raisins - 80

L - 335
1 goat cheese frittata - 235
2 cups of Salad - 50
Dressing - 50

S - 418
25 g dried banana - 80
30 g nuts - 183
250g of soymilk - 155

D - 170

James cooked a really nice dinner but I couldn't eat it, the pain has been so erratic today. He ended up blending the vegetables into a mushy mess, and I let them go to room temperature and then I sucked them down like a toothless baby.

3 cups of vegetables - 170

Calories - 1234 calories
Exercise - 1 1/2 hrs of tennis
H2O - 32 oz water

Day 188

Okay this is going to be a HUGE RANT!!! I am soooooooooooooooooooo angry right now.

One Saturday a few months ago I was eating breakfast and got a huge jolt of pain in a lower left tooth. I though it was a one off but the pain increased over the weekend so I knew I needed to see a dentist.

Now we here in Britain pay a huge amount of taxes for among other things, the "privilege" of having a National Healthcare Service which is supposed to means that we pay no or little money out of pocket for any form of medical attention.

The last time I went to the dentist was last November so I was due for a check up but I moved to a new neighbourhood last December and hadn't gotten around to finding a new dentist yet. So I went to the NHS website and printed off a list of dentist in my neighbourhood and started to make calls to find one. Each dentist I called told me they were no longer part of the NHS. Don't ask me why they were listed as NHS dentists if they were not longer part of the service.

Finally I found a practice that said they were part of the NHS. Relief! I went along and they did a basic examination and two x-ray for which I paid the standard NHS co-pay rates of £15.90. The dentist told me that the tooth was just sensitive to hot or cold and I just needed to use Sensodyne toothpaste. This didn't feel like just a sensitive tooth to me but I was willing to go along with this story after all he did take x-rays right and saw nothing there. Just as well, because if I'd needed further treatment, I would have had to pay as a private patient because the practice only offered basic examinations under the NHS and everything else you had to pay for yourself as a private patient. In other words they offered NHS basic service to attract patients and then once they'd reeled them in wham!

Anyway, I bought the Sensodyne and used it but eventually stopped chewing on the left side of my mouth because of the discomfort, so all my chewing was being done on my right side. Well over the weekend I started to get a sharp pain in one of the teeth on the upper right as well. The pain got so great that I couldn't chew on my right side either and I started to take a pain killers.

Yesterday I started my search for an NHS dentist all over again because 1) obviously there was a greater problem than just sensitive teeth and 2) I couldn't go back to dentist No. 1 because I would have to pay big time for whatever was wrong. So I went back to the list and started to call and got the same story that I got the first time around. Then I finally called a practice not far from where I live that said they participated in the NHS. I was careful to ask if they just gave NHS rates for the first visit or for subsequent visits if one needed more work as well. The woman I was speaking to kind of hemmed and hawed and said that some payed NHS rates and some paid private rates. Well how do you decide, I asked. It's up to the dentist she said. Say what? That just sent my bullshit antenna way up, but crippled by pain I was not in a position to argue too much. I grabbed an appointment and hoped for the best.

So today, appointment day, I got a basic exam and two x-rays on the same teeth that I had x-rayed just months ago and guess what? Both have full blown cavities that the dentist said had to have been developing for a while. That's why I've had pain not because I have sensitive teeth. So that other charlatan completely misdiagnosed me. Goddam him! That's three - four months of decay I didn't need. But that's not all.

The examination and x-rays were at the usually NHS rate of £15.90 but if I want this dentist to treat me then I have to pay as a private client which means that instead of paying the NHS rate of £43.60 per tooth, I would have to pay a whopping £100 per tooth. Now that's ridiculous to me but I can deal with it. What I couldn't believe was when he told me that the decay in both teeth was pretty advanced and so close to the nerve that when he goes in he MAY find that the teeth actually require root canals and crowns. Under the NHS, these would cost me £194 but as a private patient, I would instead pay £950 for one tooth and £1300 for the other = £2,250 for the two teeth. WHAT!!!

Let me break that down for you folks:
£2,250 = €3,226 = US$4, 558 = Can $4,443 = AUS$ 5, 191 = NZ$6, 153 = BD$ 9, 116

Now I have 32 teeth in my mouth and although I haven't had a cavity in years, I have in the past had fillings and 2 root canals and crowns(not done in Britain). I find dental work costly wherever I've lived, but I am sorry £2,250 for two teeth is just F**KING RIDICULOUS. The day I pay £2,250 to a dentist to fix two teeth, I hope a huge lightning bolt comes down from the sky and fries me on the spot.

So folks, if you hear a really loud blood curdling scream coming from the direction of London, it is me pulling my own two diseased teeth out with a pliers as other Britons you can read here in this Guardian article have been forced to do in this the fourth riches country in the world that refuses to properly fund its National Healthcare Service, but is happy to waste money dropping bombs on innocent people in countries they have no bloody business in.

I think I'm going to write to Gordon Brown and ask for 25% of my taxes back so I can buy my own damn medical and dental insurance. Urrrrrrr!!!!

Oh oh oh I forgot, this dentist ... this Satan also expects me to live on painkillers for the next two weeks because his practice doesn't have emergency slots for patients in pain.

B - 435
52 g oatmeal - 200
250g of soymilk - 155
20g raisins - 80

L - 550
200 g of cheese & onion quiche - 500
2 cups of salad - 50

S
250g of soymilk - 155

D
28 g cheese - 113
112g Dal - 291
3 cups of vegetables - 110

Calories - 1654 calories
Exercise - 1 1/2 hrs of tennis
H2O - 40 oz water

Day 189

I haven't been eating enough over the past few days which I know is really bad. When James is not around to cook, I take shortcuts because I'm just too lazy to cook. That will be my downfall if I'm not careful. I seem to be going through some phase since I started this new program where I can't stand to be in the kitchen for more than 5 minutes. It's really strange because I'm the one who use to do most of the cooking and now I just don't want to anymore. It's a little unfair to James though so I am going to have to start pulling myself together.

B - 207
18g/13 cashews - 100
1 mango- 107

S - 137
500 ml soymilk - 155

L - 187
140 g tofu- 137
2 cups soup - 50

D - 544
1 oz walnuts - 185
1 oz almonds - 163
60 g dried mango - 196

Calories - 1075 calories
Exercise - 1/2 elliptical trainer
H2O - 40 oz water

Day 190

Today is such a beautiful fall day. I love Sundays especially when I can use them to relax and regroup.

B - 262
250ml soymilk - 155
1 mango- 107

L - 325
50 ml goat cheese - 138
140 g tofu- 137
2 cups soup - 50

S - 137
250ml soymilk - 155

D - 409
140 g tofu- 137
3 cups of vegetables -162
1 tbls butter - 110

Calories - 1133 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 32 oz water

Day 191

I had a wonderful tennis lesson today. I really like my coach. She has a wonderful manner and teaching style and makes learning fun. I have only been learning for three weeks but I am working fairly seriously at it and am amazed by how much I have improved in such a short time.

Today, I tackled my wardrobe. Ugghh!!! I don't have masses and masses of clothes but I did have quite a few stored in a suitcase so I wanted to sort them so I know what I have available as I lose weight. I was a little surprised to find that the bulk of my clothes are UK 6/US 4. I can't believe that I actually wore this size for many years. I kept these clothes because I always believed I'd return to this size. Little did I know it it would take such a long time. I also have one or two UK 10/US 8, one or two UK 14/US 12, and a few pieces for the size I am now UK 16/US 14.

One of the reasons I don't have many clothes in sizes above UK 6/US 4 is because when I started to put on weight I bought mostly stretchy clothes. I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN! Stretchy clothes though more comfortable allowed me to grow without the limitation of a set waistband to make me more aware that I was growing. Obviously, this is not the only reason I put on weight with such abandon but it did make it easier for me to distance my mind from what I was doing to my body. In any case, I think I have enough smart and casual clothes to tie me over as my body changes and I am happy about this because I don't want to have to keep buying clothes and end up with a whole bunch of clothes in every single size between here and 55kgs.

B - 235
250ml soymilk - 155
1 pear- 80

L - 443
40 g dried banana - 143
54 g of cashews - 300

S - 310
500 ml soymilk - 310

D - 187
140 g tofu- 137
2 cups soup - 50



Calories - 1175 calories
Exercise - 1 hr. tennis
H2O - 32 oz water

Day 192

B - 377
250ml soymilk - 155
1 pear, 1 mango, 1 persimmon - 223

L - 476
120 g mackerel- 426
2 cups veggies - 50

S - 137
50ml goat cheese - 137

D - 508
170 g hummus- 380
8 corn thins - 128

Calories - 1498 calories
Exercise - 0
H2O - 48 oz water

Day 193

I had a fruit binge this morning. I came home from tennis and was absolutely ravenous and kept eating and eating. It was so good and delicious. Good thing it was fruit and not something unhealthy.

I put on the black suit I bought for my Vienna conference last month and it is already loosening up. I love when previously tight clothes begin to loosen up.

B - 451
250ml soymilk - 155
1 pear, 1 mango, 1 kiwi and 2 persimmon- 296

L - 113
20 g cheese- 63
2 cups veggies - 50

S - 155
250ml soymilk - 155

D - 463
20 g cheese- 63
Dal - 290
3 cups of mixed veggies - 110

Calories - 1182 calories
Exercise - 1 1/2 hrs of tennis
H2O - 64 oz water

Day 194

Okay, so I have decided that I am giving up the gym because well frankly I HATE IT and I resent spending the money. I need to give one month notice, so I'll give that this month. This means that my membership will officially end at then end of November. Until then I will continue to go and make use of the facilities.

Now I'm not being impulsive here. I have been thinking about this for awhile and I do have a plan. Inspired by Sayre and Livy, I have decided to set up a little exercise corner in my home where I can do exactly what I do in the gym. So for the price of a month's membership, I am going to buy two sets of free weights and something for my cardio work and do my workout looking at the garden instead of facing a row of TV screens. Also I hope to be playing tennis regularly weather permitting and of course tango once a week.

B - 238
250ml soymilk - 155
1 pear - 83

L - 405
100 grams of mackerel - 355
2 cups veggies - 50

S - 177
50 grams of mackerel - 177

D - 460
110 g of Goat cheese and Butternut squash pie - 350
3 cups of mixed veggies - 110
1/2 tbls. butter


Calories - 1330 calories
Exercise - 2 hrs of tennis
H2O - 80 oz water

Day 195

We planted some red, pink and white heather and bright coloured flowers in these boxes on our balcony to stave off the gloom of winter. I love heather. It grows wild on the hillsides of northern England and Scotland. but we paid £3 for each plant.


B - 348
50 gs corn thins 160
1 tbls peanut butter - 188

L- 405
100 grams of mackerel - 355
2 cups veggies - 50

S - 155
250ml soy milk - 155

D - 452
20 g cheese - 63
20g corn thins - 64
Vegetable kiev - 325


Calories - 1360 calories
Exercise - 0 :(
H2O - 4 oz

Day 196

My new obsession!!! Just delicious and only - 155 - 175 calories per 250ml depending on the flavour consumed. 8.25 g of protein and 4.5 g fat. Compares well with semi-skimmed milk which is 150 calories per 250ml, 8.7 g of protein and 4.5 g fat. Of course it has a whopping 20 g of sugar compared to 12 g in the milk but hey... I'll just have to live with that for now.

And look how much water I consumed today. A whole 10 cups = 80 oz /2.3 liters. It wasn't to hard either, I got the day started by downing 16oz then keep reminding myself before each meal to down 16 oz, and voila 80 oz/2.3 liters. Let me tell ya, that's a whole lot of peeing.

PS. As Abba pointed out, there is a picture of my honey in my Saturday the 13th post. I put it in as an after-thought long after I'd written the post.

B - 238
1 pear - 83
250 ml soy milk - 155

L- 300
125 grams of salmon - 250
2 cups salad - 50

S - 175
250ml soy milk - 175

D - 520
260 g of wild mushroom & goat cheese frittata - 470
2 cups of salad - 50

Calories - 1233 calories
Exercise - 0 :( I got caught up working, but I'll make up tomorrow
H2O - 10 cups = 80 oz /2.3 liters - Finally I had a good water day

Day 197

B - 339
123g grapes - 184
250 ml of soy milk - 155

L- 322
100g hummus - 160
27g cheese - 62
3 carrots - 75
1 cup salad - 25

S - 155
250ml of soy milk - 155

D - 416
56gs cheese - 226
2 cups onions, sweetpepper, eggplant - 80
125g chocolate/caramel soy desert - 110

Calories - 1231 calories
Exercise - rest day
Water - 4 cups

Day 198 - 7th Anniversary

Today my honey and I are celebrating our 7 year anniversary of not being married. People are often curious about why we haven't gotten married, our families probably more than anyone else.

James and I met when we were both working for the same company on Wall Street in New York City. Neither of us belonged there really and when we met we had the instant connection of fellow misfits. We were best mates for about eight months before he put the moves on me. We have had a remarkably easy relationship. I say "remarkably" because I had a pretty awful relationship track record before meeting him.

James is a good human being and I love and admire him for that. He is kind, gentle, honest, generous, emotionally available, reliable, socially-politically aware and active. extremely bright, financially responsible, adventurous, great fun to be with and most importantly he is completely devoted to me me me. I have never had anyone have so much faith in me and my abilities or be so nurturing and supportive ... not even my parents.

So why aren't we married? Well, James asked me about a year after we started going out and I said yes but we're rather bohemian and, as the English say, not really "bovvered" about being married or not so we really never got around to going beyond agreeing to marry and I don't know if we ever will. I think it's sort of like in that moment we acknowledged our commitment to each other and that's all we needed. If we wanted to have children, I'm sure we would have gotten married a long time ago, but since neither of us want to have children and the EU legally recognises domestic partnerships, we don't seem to have much incentive or reason to marry. Not a very romantic answer I know, but there you have it.

For our anniversaries we don't usually exchange gifts, just cards and tonight we will go out for dinner. I am going to eat very lightly during the day because I want to save my calories in case I want to have dessert.

B - 227
1 apple - 72
250 ml of soymilk - 155

L - 230
250ml of soymilk - 155
3 raw carrots - 75

S - 221
20g cashews - 114
30 g dries banana - 107

D
Appetizer - Goat cheese, date chutney & walnut bread
Main - Pan seared Halibut with mash and greens
Dessert - Sundae

Calories - 678 known calories and a gazillion unknown ones
Exercise - 1 hr. tennis
Water - 6 cups

Day 199

I've been really busy this week and am so tired. I am going to have to work through the weekend to finish a project, but I am making sure I get to tennis tomorrow.

B - 411
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1/2 small melon- 133

L - 362
40 g of Soya - 90
Bean and Vegetable Casserole - 272

S - 149
60g hummus - 99
Two carrots - 50

D
40 g of Soya - 90
4 crackers ?
200 ml pomegranate juice

Calories - ?
Exercise - none
2 cups of water

Day 200

Okay for the promised photos. I am uploading these now because I just know that tonight I'll be too tired to bother. I'll add day's food entry etc. later tonight.

I wore these pants hard before I started my regime because they were the only comfortable ones I had that looked smart enough. They were a snug fit when I started.

The difference is much less obvious in these before and now photos, but I'm putting them up anyway as a visual record. I'm saving the head shots for the victory lap. :P

10th October 2007
Around the 27th August 2007


B - 411
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1/2 small melon- 133

L - 326
56g cheese - 226
2 cups veg. soup - 100

S - 325
56 g cheese - 226
24g dried banana - 90

D - 410
56 g cheese - 226
3 cups veg - 84
1 tbls. fat - 100

Calories - 1472
Exercise - 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer
6 cups of water

Day 201

Just a quicky

B - 411
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 cup kiwi -108

L - 376 (very strange lunch I know)
Strawberry soymilk - 155
30g seaweed nuts - 135
25g dried bananas - 89

S
? Seaweed nuts - 200

D - 420
50 g salmon - 70
100g herring - 300
1 cup soup - 50

Calories - 1407
Exercise - 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer
30 minutes of tennis
6 cups of water

Day 202

It never ceases to amaze me how my body responds to what I am eating. Not just in terms of losing or putting on weight but also in terms of how I feel and my body's ability to eliminate waste.

Last week and the week before I ate more carbs than I've been getting over the past month and I noticed that I began to feel bloated, tired and became constipated immediately. As soon as I eliminated the carbs and began eating fresh unprocessed foods, the feeling of being bloated began to dissipate, I began to feel more energetic and got a regular bowel movement again, which I'm sure you will agree is a wonderful thing. This is not the first time I have noticed this, so it completely amazes me each time I return to eating things that I know will make me feel comatosed and constipated. The same principle that keeps me from sticking my hand in fire clearly does not work here.

B - 473
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 cup grapes - 170

S - 225
23 g walnuts - 150
35 g apricot - 75

D - 480
50 g salmon - 70
120 vegetarian chicken in jambalaya sauce 200
3 cups vegetable - 160
1 tbls. butter - 50

S
Strawberry soymilk - 155

Calories - 1333
Exercise - 35 minutes on the elliptical trainer
6 cups of water

Day 203

"In reading the lives of great [wo]men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first." Harry S. Truman

I got back to the gym today. It's about time. Just did 35 minutes on the elliptical trainer. Was surprised at the ease with which I was able to do it.

We got our tennis racquets today. They look and feel great. Will go out tomorrow to get some practice if it doesn't rain. I am very excited. My food was back to normal today and I was very happy.


B - 491
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 cup grapes - 188 (holy cow)

L - 375
57 oz mackrel - 355
2 cups salad - 20

S - 252
Strawberry soymilk - 150
1 cup strawberries and banana - 102

D - 284
2 oz cheese - 182
3 cups vegetable - 102

Calories - 1402
Exercise - 35 minutes on the elliptical trainer
4 cups of water

Day 204

Today, my back, butt and arms are aching. I guess I was using different muscles yesterday than I do at the gym. Either that or I was working them harder.

This week I am going to tidy up my food. I have been eating a lot of fat and some carbohydrates and I don't feel as great as I did when I was just having fruit, veggies and protein. I have been feeling bloated and sluggish.

B - 386
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 pear - 83

L - 417
56 grams cheese - 182
275 grams butternut squash soup - 235

S - 325
Chocolate soymilk - 175
56 grams nuts - 150

D - 362
Curry vegetarian chicken - 230
3 cups vegetable - 132

Calories - 1490
Exercise - housecleaning
4 cups of water

Day 205

OH MY GOD!!! Today I had my first tennis lesson and it was FAB - U - LOUS!!! Who knew a sport could be so much fun? Initially my honey and I had planned to take the class together but the instructor kept moving the time around and the day she finally settled on was Sat. mornings at 9am. , well James gets in around 9:30am and needs to go right to sleep in order to wake up for tango at 2:30pm. , so he couldn't make that time. Well as he has played tennis before, we decided that I would go ahead and take the class alone and we can practice together.

So off I went this morning with great trepidation, because as I have explained I have lifelong issues with my body, physical activity and shame and discomfort. So I have to say first that there were three of us women in the class. They were the usual thin, tall and athletic types and then there was me. They had already done this beginners class the session before (don't you just hate beginners classes where no one but you is a beginner?) and I had never touched a tennis racket before - well, not quite true, I've touched one but not attempted to play. So of course, I didn't do so well. We learnt the forehand and the backhand and my balls were going all over the place, but at least I was actually hitting them 95% of the time which shocked the hell out of me.

The amazing thing though I have to say is that I didn't care and whenever I began to care I laughed and told myself, it just didn't matter. The net result is that I had SO MUCH FUN now I want to play all the time (compulsive obsessive alert) and after tango I am going to buy us two cheap rackets so we can practice, practice, practice.

What I am hoping is that I will find a few activities that I truly enjoy, so that when I reach my weight loss goal, I can DROP the GYM (which I HATE) like a hot potato and just do things I enjoy - so far I have tango and tennis. Next stop KICKBOXING.

Food for today:

B - 386
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 pear - 83

L - 450
Seaweed nut salad - 450

S- 233
1 slice of wholewheat bread - 115
1 tbls. peanut butter - 118

D - 450
Seaweed nut salad - 450

Calories - 1529
1 hr. tennis & 1 hr. tango
6 cups of water

Day 206

Just my food today. It's kinda rich:

B - 386
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43
1 pear - 83

L - 760
1 tuna melt sandwich - 600
1 small salad - 100
1 tbls. dressing - 60
(had lunch away from home so I am averaging calories here)

D - 303
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43


Calories - 1449
30 minute walk
4 cups of water

Day 207

To answer a few questions I've gotten: Sayre - I only weigh myself once a month because that's all I can stand. So my 11lbs. loss is over a month period.

Abba - I do find that walking with raw nuts and dried fruit in my bag helps me because when I am running around I'm not always able to get a full meal and I don't want to do what I've done in the past which is grab sugary foods, so a few nuts and apricots work well for me.

Spidey, just for you I will upload a photo as soon as I can grab James to take one. It won't be my front, back, side photo since I thought I'd save those for 10kgs. losses or ... maybe I should take the front. back, side photo now. I'll see.

I kid you not just as I finished responding to Spidey, a giant spider ran across the floor. I love my apartment, but giant spiders are always showing up and trying to crawl on me. I've never encountered so many spiders in one fricking place in my entire life. I HATE all things that crawl, slither, etc. I'm here trying to write my post in peace and a giant spider has just appeared from nowhere to traumatise me. Mind you the little fuckers never show up when James is around. They don't bother him. He never see them. It's always when I am alone that they come out and run straight for me. what is that about? Is it some sort of omen. Jesus man. Now I have to pluck up the courage to kill this woman eating beast. Okay, I dispatched of bugger with one of James's shoes. I'll leave the mess for him to clean up. I can't face that.

Back to business. I've recently changed my food plan, adapting it to one an old nutritionist recommended. She gave me a plan that consists of 5 meals, but it is really hard to follow because I feel like I'm always having to remember to eat and I keep forgetting to, so things are not running smoothly. I think tomorrow I am going to go back to what I was doing in the past but I will keep the slice of wholewheat bread and one tablespoon of peanut butter for variety, because I like that and it's filling.

Anyway, today I had:

B - 233
1 slice of wholewheat bread - 115
1 tbls. peanut butter - 118

S - 303
1 cup of yogurt - 260
1 tbls. agave -43

L - 452
1/2 a mozzarella and sweet pepper sandwich

D - 334
28 grams of cheese - 114
2 cups vegetable soup - 110
30 grams Japanese crackers - 150


Calories - 1322
45 minute walk
6 cups of water

Day 208

Ooops! Thanks Christine for pointing out that there was no post. Going away in the middle of the term has really thrown my schedule off and I've been cutting into my sleep a bit to get things back on track. I was so falling asleep as I posted and I don't know what I did.

Well, I'll just write what I ate yesterday.

B - 233
1 slice of wholewheat bread - 115
1 tbls. peanut butter - 118

L - 365
1 cup of yogurt - 263
1 tbls. of agave - 43
1 nectarine - 62

S - 264
28 grams of cheese - 114
30 grams japanese crackers - 150

D - 245
Chickpeas in curry sauce = 130
3 cups mixed vegetables - 11

Calories - 1107
Exercise - 0
4 cups of water

Day 209 - 5 kgs/11 lbs. Weight Loss

Okay, I was so focused on my trip that I forgot to weigh. So I finally weighed and I lost 5 kgs/11 lbs. Yes!!! I can live with that number.

My food is a little off still but we did a big grocery shop today so I should be back on target tomorrow.

B
Yogurt
Dried figs
Agave

L
Nuts
Apricots
Pomegranate Juice

D
120 g Curried chickpeas
3 cups Cabbage and carrots

Am quite tired so I'll go visit a few blogs and hit the sack.