Firstly - 111 days and 15.5kg to go. To reach my goal pre-Xmas I need to lose an average of 800g per week. It's do-able, I know. I have been at this diet for almost 4 weeks. Weight loss - 3.5kg. Not bad.
I didn't blog yesterday because I was thinking, analysing and asking questions.
Here's the thing. I have been to the gym every morning this week - for around 45 minutes, twice with trainer Abi putting me through my paces. Results - sore ass (muscles), sore arms, sore legs and feeling quite heroic.
Here's the other thing. I have really stuck to the Dukan Diet - high protein, no carbs, no fat, three tablesoons of oat bran each day - every second day is JUST protein.
So here's the final thing. How healthy is it really to completely cut out carbs? (probably still getting some animal fats from protein, ie: cajun salmon steak for dinner last night). I have had a few bad headaches, and this morning while boxing with Abi I felt a little light-headed for a minute or two. She says some carbs are needed with increased exercise. And fibre - the oat bran did not 'move' me for four whole days until this morning. OK, I understand that there is less to move, but perhaps I am not eating enough? And how healthy is it to completely cut out fruit and many vegetables, such as carrots? Could one apple a day be that bad? (Ryan, I need your response to this).
I have done some reading and research. Most dieticians seem to he saying - moderation, portion control, three smaller meals plus two healthy snacks in between to keep the metabolism going. Drink water before meals to help with the 'full' feeling. This seems sensible but I must admit the Dukan system with clearly stated foods that are NOT allowed is easy to follow.
Conundrum. Do I ditch Dukan and follow something more balanced, like Weight Watchers point system? They have a cheap online program that helps you calculate daily points from foods and exercise. This would be easier than trying to calculate actual proteins, carbs and fats manually. It creates a food diary, which most experts say is important. If I switch to Weight Watchers do I still keep protein high and carbs low, but not totally cut out?
The one thing I do know is that I am totally committed to this journey. I want a little black dress for Xmas. I will stick with the gym. I will stick with a diet. But is the right one?
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 24 - NO BLOODY CHANGE ... AGAIN!
I went to the gym yesterday AND this morning - worked up a sweat - have lots of sore bits - stuck fastidiously to the diet - and the scales did not move! What the ...? Still 113 days and 15.6kg to go!
Explanation 1 : Have I increased my muscle mass in just two days? Explanation 2 : The bran has not 'moved' me since Sunday ... ? Explanation 3 : could it be that I am not actually eating enough, so that everything I do eat is being hoarded? (On the weight watchers points system I am only averaging around 15 points per day ... is that my problem)?
I had my two eggs, bran and tuna in springwater omelette again this morning - it really fills me up. (Mind you, it seems to take much less to fill me up these days). I have tuna for lunch and a couple of yoghurts in the fridge for snacks. John is cooking small beef roast tonight.
I really don't crave sweet things BUT I would LOVE a piece of buttered toast or a crumpet, butter and vegemite. Then I feel cranky and deprived when the scales don't move and I am sticking to the diet. Sob!
Explanation 1 : Have I increased my muscle mass in just two days? Explanation 2 : The bran has not 'moved' me since Sunday ... ? Explanation 3 : could it be that I am not actually eating enough, so that everything I do eat is being hoarded? (On the weight watchers points system I am only averaging around 15 points per day ... is that my problem)?
I had my two eggs, bran and tuna in springwater omelette again this morning - it really fills me up. (Mind you, it seems to take much less to fill me up these days). I have tuna for lunch and a couple of yoghurts in the fridge for snacks. John is cooking small beef roast tonight.
I really don't crave sweet things BUT I would LOVE a piece of buttered toast or a crumpet, butter and vegemite. Then I feel cranky and deprived when the scales don't move and I am sticking to the diet. Sob!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 23 - No change, but joined the gym!
The scales showed no change this morning - but I signed up at Fenix Nerang last night with Wendy - very nice and helpful - and had my first session with Abi this morning - they organise three personal training sessions to get you started - great idea! Now 114 days and 15.6 kg to go!
Abi tells me that doing weight resistance will build lean muscle - good for maintaining bone density as I move towards (evil) menopause and that muscle mass burns more calories. Sounds logical. I did squats, push ups, rowing, lateral pulldowns (I think), then 10 minutes on the bike. I am keen to try a few classes - RPM (cycle) and maybe pilates and boxing. They gave me two free passes for each of my daughters, so I am hoping that they will come to a class with me.
My diet was good yesterday - two eggs for breakfast and lean chicken breast with celery, cucumber and capsicum for lunch. I had a yoghurt in the afternoon. John cooked a sirloin steak for me last night - it was quite big and I had green beans and zuccini, steamed.
Started today with breakfast about 45 minutes after the gym - two eggs, oat bran and small tin of tuna in springwater, mixed up and cooked into an omelette. Tasty and filling. I have more tuna for lunch - and a yoghurt for the afternoon. Most of the time I do not feel hungry. Drinking lots of water and green tea.
I saw a little black dress in a boutique window on Chevron Island on Sunday - it is the style I aspire too (a little bit Melbourne Cup) - and I am now quite convinced that I will get there. Go me!
Abi tells me that doing weight resistance will build lean muscle - good for maintaining bone density as I move towards (evil) menopause and that muscle mass burns more calories. Sounds logical. I did squats, push ups, rowing, lateral pulldowns (I think), then 10 minutes on the bike. I am keen to try a few classes - RPM (cycle) and maybe pilates and boxing. They gave me two free passes for each of my daughters, so I am hoping that they will come to a class with me.
My diet was good yesterday - two eggs for breakfast and lean chicken breast with celery, cucumber and capsicum for lunch. I had a yoghurt in the afternoon. John cooked a sirloin steak for me last night - it was quite big and I had green beans and zuccini, steamed.
Started today with breakfast about 45 minutes after the gym - two eggs, oat bran and small tin of tuna in springwater, mixed up and cooked into an omelette. Tasty and filling. I have more tuna for lunch - and a yoghurt for the afternoon. Most of the time I do not feel hungry. Drinking lots of water and green tea.
I saw a little black dress in a boutique window on Chevron Island on Sunday - it is the style I aspire too (a little bit Melbourne Cup) - and I am now quite convinced that I will get there. Go me!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 22 - Losing weight, yay!
What a great weekend - John came home, I caught up with my very good friend Susie for her birthday yesterday and I LOST WEIGHT! Now only 115 days and 15.6kg to go! Unbelievable!
What has made the difference, I hear you ask. I am note sure but I think it is a combination of things. I did the walk-run-walk thing 3 days during the week and an excellent 40 minute pushbike ride with John yesterday. I stuck to the diet and felt fine. Went out to dinner on Saturday night - ordered an eye fillet steak with salad - all good! Had an omelette for breakfast yesterday then went to Susie's birthday lunch. I had just one course - a Japanese salad with crispy fish - the fish was deep fried (I hadn't realised that when I ordered it) but overall it didn't add weight. Everyone else at lunch had at least two courses - which was fine - but I actually did not feel like more. I also drank only water - also felt fine with that.
I am going to join fenix gym today - so I hope to go 3-4 times a week plus still walk other days with John and pushbike ride at least once at the weekend. My clothes felt a little looser today.
I also saw my other pal Sue at the birthday lunch, who has lost 8kgs, initially on this diet but now she is just 'being good' - very inspirational as she looks great! (Younger). I want that!
What has made the difference, I hear you ask. I am note sure but I think it is a combination of things. I did the walk-run-walk thing 3 days during the week and an excellent 40 minute pushbike ride with John yesterday. I stuck to the diet and felt fine. Went out to dinner on Saturday night - ordered an eye fillet steak with salad - all good! Had an omelette for breakfast yesterday then went to Susie's birthday lunch. I had just one course - a Japanese salad with crispy fish - the fish was deep fried (I hadn't realised that when I ordered it) but overall it didn't add weight. Everyone else at lunch had at least two courses - which was fine - but I actually did not feel like more. I also drank only water - also felt fine with that.
I am going to join fenix gym today - so I hope to go 3-4 times a week plus still walk other days with John and pushbike ride at least once at the weekend. My clothes felt a little looser today.
I also saw my other pal Sue at the birthday lunch, who has lost 8kgs, initially on this diet but now she is just 'being good' - very inspirational as she looks great! (Younger). I want that!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 20 - LOST 200g (.2kg) - Yay!
Enjoyed waking up this morning to find I had lost a little more weight - now only 118 days and 16.9kg to go! I called in at fenix gym on the way home - VERY NICE - 5 star facilties, nice people, easy parking. More expensive than all the others - $18.30 per week for a 12 month membership or $24 per week month by month. I would like to ask them if I can begin monthly- then if I like it I will transfer to full membership.
John is on his way home - yay! - should be here late afternoon. Can't wait to see him!
I have some work to do today - I want to be finished when John returns so we can spend some time together.
John is on his way home - yay! - should be here late afternoon. Can't wait to see him!
I have some work to do today - I want to be finished when John returns so we can spend some time together.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 19 - no change but feeling good!
One of my friends asked why I weigh myself each day, telling me that I should only do it once a week. The reason, for me, is that I would worry that I was having slight gains without realising, so the daily weigh in keeps me focussed. Any thoughts?
Only 119 days and 17.1kg to go! I really hoped that I would be at least a 1kg down this week while John was away - he is due home later tomorrow and unless I drop a huge amount overnight, not much to report.
I didn't walk this morning as I had a breakfast meeting at 6.30am. Breakfast was runny eggs (yuk! I hate them runny) on toast that I couldn't have and field mushrooms on the side. Ate the mushrooms, drank black tea and ignored the plate of fresh fruit and another of pastries in the centre of the table.
Due to my early start I forgot to pack lunch and frankly did not have time to go out today - so I was left with a yoghurt in the fridge - which I ate. Really did not feel hungry until around 4pm - so I chewed some gum (seriously thought about swllowing!). I was offered chocolate and jelly snakes by a colleague, but I stayed strong!
I should be home around 6.30pm - so the trick is not to over-eat because I am hungry. I am calling into the Fenix gym on the way home. I thought the people at Goodlife were very nice last night, but the ladies change room was smelly - worse than smelly - it was lucky I hadn't eaten when I called in! They are $3 per week more than the Sharks gym too - doesn't sound much but it is $150 per year - and that's a pair of shoes!
Taking final proofs for the mag home tonight - need to do final checks tomorrow and write my Editor's Intro. Busy!
Only 119 days and 17.1kg to go! I really hoped that I would be at least a 1kg down this week while John was away - he is due home later tomorrow and unless I drop a huge amount overnight, not much to report.
I didn't walk this morning as I had a breakfast meeting at 6.30am. Breakfast was runny eggs (yuk! I hate them runny) on toast that I couldn't have and field mushrooms on the side. Ate the mushrooms, drank black tea and ignored the plate of fresh fruit and another of pastries in the centre of the table.
Due to my early start I forgot to pack lunch and frankly did not have time to go out today - so I was left with a yoghurt in the fridge - which I ate. Really did not feel hungry until around 4pm - so I chewed some gum (seriously thought about swllowing!). I was offered chocolate and jelly snakes by a colleague, but I stayed strong!
I should be home around 6.30pm - so the trick is not to over-eat because I am hungry. I am calling into the Fenix gym on the way home. I thought the people at Goodlife were very nice last night, but the ladies change room was smelly - worse than smelly - it was lucky I hadn't eaten when I called in! They are $3 per week more than the Sharks gym too - doesn't sound much but it is $150 per year - and that's a pair of shoes!
Taking final proofs for the mag home tonight - need to do final checks tomorrow and write my Editor's Intro. Busy!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Dukan Diet - Day 18 - LOST 100g (.1kg) - Must have been the jogging ...??
Love seeing the scales go down in the morning, even if it is only in increments. DOWN is GOOD! Now only 17.1kg and 120 days to go! Motivated myself to go walking again this morning - quite quick because I did the walk-jog-walk thing again. I'm sure I saw one driver laughing when he zoomed past!
Had a great night with Emily - she came with me to the gym which isn't really a Beachhouse anymore, it is now a Sharks and I was on the wrong website yesterday. They DON'T offer a free trial, which was disappointing. The gym is very newly renovated - all timber floors and chrome fittings. Looked fabulous if not a little daunting to a newbie. Emily was a bit overwhelmed by it - she thought we should try a smaller gym.
I have an appointment at the Goodlife Gym at Westfield Helensvale this evening - for a comparison. I'm looking forward to it.
Dinner was grilled cajun salmon - yum! Wanted calamari but Emi fogot to ask for it - Iwas really cranky when I realised then I had to apologise to her later and tell her it was the 'hunger' that was cranky, not me.
Had a hot bath and read my book for a while - feeling good about it all at the mo - and John will be back late Saturday, so I am looking forward to that!
Had a great night with Emily - she came with me to the gym which isn't really a Beachhouse anymore, it is now a Sharks and I was on the wrong website yesterday. They DON'T offer a free trial, which was disappointing. The gym is very newly renovated - all timber floors and chrome fittings. Looked fabulous if not a little daunting to a newbie. Emily was a bit overwhelmed by it - she thought we should try a smaller gym.
I have an appointment at the Goodlife Gym at Westfield Helensvale this evening - for a comparison. I'm looking forward to it.
Dinner was grilled cajun salmon - yum! Wanted calamari but Emi fogot to ask for it - Iwas really cranky when I realised then I had to apologise to her later and tell her it was the 'hunger' that was cranky, not me.
Had a hot bath and read my book for a while - feeling good about it all at the mo - and John will be back late Saturday, so I am looking forward to that!
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