The diet starts again

Each year I start my diet again on 1 February, as every year I have put weight back on. Starting on 1 January is far too much of a cliché, and there is always lots of Christmas food, and chocs, and biscuits still to eat up. January is also usually far too busy to think of dieting.

Last year, I managed to lose 1st 4lbs by the summer, but since then I’ve gradually put it back on, so I’m starting only half a stone down from where I started this time last year. I’m also thinking this year is going to be a struggle, as I have holidays booked much earlier. I’m away for a few days in a couple of week’s time, and then am going to Egypt at the end of March.

That’s my first real target, for I need to lose at least half a stone before Egypt, so that some of the clothes I have bought look good, rather than tight. I like to have a dress to ‘slim in’ to, and this year I bought a couple of lovely dresses in the sales which are at the moment, frankly a bit ‘snug’.

As before, I’ll keep you updated on here. Only, as you’ll have noticed, once the diet tails off, I do tend to stop talking about it.

On reaching targets

Training

I walked 9 miles this weekend. Not without a few stops, but still, 9 miles in one day. I know that for some people that doesn’t seem much of an achievement, but for me, that’s something I never thought I’d be able to say. I still haven’t done 10 miles, but, as J said, we have to leave ourselves something to aim for.

I was still ‘testing out’ the leg, so we chose somewhere fairly flat. Pretty villages in East Yorkshire, across bright yellow fields, under a bright blue sky, for suddenly, we had hot weather. Idyllic, as we often say on our walks.

Of course, we did have coffee before we started, lunch in the village of Kilham, and afternoon tea at Burton Agnes Hall. Having completed the ‘walking’ part of the walk (7 miles) in under 3 hours, we felt we needed to top it up with a little more walking, so headed home, and then did another two miles round another village, before finishing at a pub.

I’m still thinking those refreshments stops are going to be essential on 20 June* though.

Diet update

You might remember I set myself a target back in March. To lose another half stone before the end of May. And then things went a little quiet, because I was working away a lot, and eating out, and basically nothing was really shifting. This wasn’t helped by a four course Chinese banquet the other week, so I really had to set my mind to it to reach my target, and didn’t think I was going to.

However…when I got weighed on Sunday, I’d made it. I’ve lost a stone since I started in February. Admittedly, that’s only 3.5lbs a month, but it’s still half a stone down on this time last year.

For my next target, it’s another half stone, ideally before my holiday in July. A tough one this, as it’s only about 6 weeks, but I’ll try, for I’m bound to put weight on when away. And then that’s it, I’ll have reached my target.

*If you haven't sponsored me yet, it's only three weeks away. Here's the link

Diet Update

When I began this diet at the beginning of February, my first target was to lose half a stone by 21 March, so that I could get into a new dress for Dean’s birthday meal. It hasn't been easy, but I've tried, in the main, to cut out my usual 'unhealthy' snacks, and replace them with things like fruit, and where I can, to stick to around 1500 calories a day. Although there were quite a few lapses, I made it.

I ate, and drank, quite a lot at the weekend. Cocktails, champagne, a fabulous meal, fish and chips, more chips, and crisps. But I also did quite a bit of walking. The good news – at my weigh-in this morning, I’ve still lost half a stone.

For my next target, I want to get another half stone off. To set myself something to aim for, I want to lose this before the end of May.

Here goes!

Diet Update

Four weeks in

Pounds lost: 6 (and that's despite the fish and chips on Weds night)

As my target was to lose half a stone by the weekend of 21st March, I'm quite happy with this. Can't afford to slacken up though!

Diet Update

OK, so I’m not going to do this every week, but:

Week 1: weight lost 2.5lbs

I’m pretty chuffed after the 5 scones and the cakes and the champagne!

Just got to keep it up now.