My name is Graham. I spent 2013 trying to lose weight with some success. In 2014 I ran 2 half marathons before piling weight back on. In 2015 I aim to slim back down. Follow my progress
Yesterday I wasn't sure of what to expect from the scales today. Over the course of my last few posts, the theme has been doom and gloom, annoyed with myself for letting things slip with a few hefty meals over the weekend.
I don't know how it has read to you, but all my pontificating has probably placed me close to the diva in the snickers advert.
And so here I am on a Wednesday reporting on my latest weigh in and feel something of a fraud. I've not gained weight, nor have I stayed the same. I'm 3 lbs lighter than I was this time last week.
That is 16lbs gone in total in 4 weeks. A fantastic start to the year and something to build on in the coming months.
February will present challenges. In less that two weeks I'll become a dad for the second time. In normal circumstances that is enough to dispense with regular eating habits, but as those of you who are close to me will already know, there are some difficult days ahead.
I'm therefore very pleased with my progress to date which will allow some breathing space over the next month on the diet front. I plan to eat as healthily as possible, but will only be able to do so where practical.
Still another 12 days left before life changes. 12 more days to keep up the good work.
For the first time since starting this diet (a whole 28 days ago!) I'm looking at Wednesday morning with a sense of trepidation. In previous weeks I've expected to lose a few lbs but following my weekend excess I'm really not sure what to expect tomorrow morning when I climb on board the scales for my weigh-in.
Clearly things can go one of three ways. 1) My body responds to Chinese, Pizza and Enchiladas by adding some numbers to last week's reading. 2) Equilibrium, things stay the same and I'm thankful to have got away with a couple of bad days. 3) Something bizarre happens and I manage to have lost a lb or two despite breaking from the diet.
I'd certainly settle for option 2, but I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning for the outcome. Whatever way it goes, I'm pleased that after my temporary deviation I appear to have got things back under control. Two days of discipline is nothing to shout about, but better than than two further days of reverting to pre-January form.
That was the weekend that was. I'm quite disappointed in myself for letting things slip, but I'm determined that I am going to put things behind me and get back to what has worked for me so far. Diet discipline with sensible meals. Already though I can feel it is going to be tough day. I'm feeling hungry which stands to reason given my stomach will have expanded through the weekend.
This rather brings home that dieting isn't something that I can turn on or off at the flick of a switch. It also serves as a reminder that with all the will and motivation in the world, external factors can and will affect my ability to reach my goals. I can't control those, and there will be days to come in the very near future where I may need to seek out comfort food to help get me from one day to the next. But what I can do is make sure that on better days, I'm in control and working towards where I want to be.
With that in mind, I'm putting this past weekend behind me. I can't change the fact I ate poorly but I can ensure that the week starts off on the right foot. Bran flakes this morning. Lots of water. Lunch to follow. More water. Simple dinner tonight. It sounds so easy typing it out. Just a small matter of psychological battles to win along the way.
To use musical metaphors, where I want to be right now is Nina Simone Feeling Good.
It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good
However, where I am today is more akin to Pantera's Yesterday Don't Mean Shit
Cause yesterday don't mean shit What's over is over and nothing between Yesterday don't mean shit Because tomorrow's the day you have to face There's no rewinding time Yesterday don't mean shit Yesterday don't mean shit
Both songs are about forgetting the past and recognising that things start afresh from today. One is quite beautiful, the other an ugly snarling record grimacing through gritted teeth. That is certainly where I'm at with my diet today. I'm going to win this battle, but it sure as hell isn't going to be pretty.
