Je ne sais pas pourqoui...

...I put 4lb on this week!

After losing 11lb in my first week, I was very optimistic and fully expectant that I would lose the 3lb needed to get that stone off.

I had a good week, followed the plan and achieved my goal of one week towards body magic bronze award - I actually ended up doing around 3 hours of activity. I've had lovely home made bolognese, ham minestrone soup, lemon syllabub and pasta with tomato & veg sauce (all syn free).  I've made the perfect poached egg (as you may have seen in my last post!).  I really have been good.  I don't think I would mind so much about gaining weight if I had cheated, but I can honestly say I haven't (at least not intentionally).

To illustrate just how good I've been, I baked 2 batches of double chocolate muffins, iced them with vanilla buttercream & decorated with marshmallows  (pictures below) for my Goddaughter's 14th birthday and I didn't even have one of them. Granted, I had to lick a couple of smears of icing off my fingers when I'd finished, but that is nothing (and I'd hardly had any syns that day, so I think I'm covered)! 

At work, someone came back from a trip abroad and put a big box of chocolates in the middle of the office.  Every time I walked past the chocolates were winking at me and calling my name (at least it felt like they were) but I didn't cave in.  At one point I thought, "well, I've not had any syns yet today, so I could just have one", but I didn't because:

1. I wasn't hungry, so I would just be eating for the sake of eating
2. I didn't really want one
3. Chocolate is my weak spot and I was afraid once I started, I'd be opening the floodgates
4. I was being good and I had the will power to just say 'no'

Although I am incredibly disappointed to have gained 4lb, I haven't lost my motivation or determination.  I've still lost 7lb, which is still half way to my Christmas target of losing a stone and I've still changed my diet (as in eating habits) & lifestyle for the better.  Admittedly, there are certainly still changes to be made, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and likewise many stones are not going to be lost in 2 weeks.

On another note, I have seemingly lost inches already.  3 inches of my chest and 2 inches off my waist.  So there is a different kind of loss this week.

My class leader (who is fab by the way) suggested it may just be down to fluid retention - particularly if it's 'that' time of the month.  She told me that some of her attendees can vary by as much as 7lb for this reason, and that I shouldn't be too shocked as it will undoubtedly happen from time to time.  The problem I have is that I don't know when it's 'that' time, because I don't have a regular cycle (probably because I'm so overweight more than anything).  So far in 2011, I've had 2 periods. That's it. Now, at first glance, this may seem like a blessing (and in some ways it is), but it also makes the cycle unpredictable (therefore unable to gauge if I'm in a bad mood for a genuine reason or because the hormones are out to play) and worse, you imagine have 3-4 months worth of period all at once  (ouch).  Oh and did I mention they can last for 3 weeks!  Excellent.  I can tell you all just want to share them with me.  (What's that, silence?)

That's just another reason why I cannot and will not lose my determination just because I happened to put 4lb on.  I'm focusing more on the fact that I am 7lb lighter than I was 2 weeks ago.

I've not been very well the last few days - I've hurt my back (not sure how, just woke up with it hurting on Sunday) and on top of that yesterday and today I've been extremely nauseous and bloated :( .  I'm still sticking with the eating plan, and I'll be aiming to get a second week towards the Body Magic Bronze Award, but I may not maintain the same level of activity that I achieved last week, due to my back being so sore.

I had a reassuring text message from my class leader today who confirmed my food diary for last week looks fine but that I may just need to drink more.  I had already started drinking more yesterday (more to combat the nausea!) but have carried it on through today.  Makes you need the loo more, but then that's more walking to and from the toilets (and I have 8 steps to get to our office toilets so even more beneficial) - I'll just have to hope the colleagues don't think I'm on drugs or something!

I think I may have waffled on enough for now, so I shall leave you with my targets for this week:

1. Weight loss: any loss would be good, but I'd like to get that 4lb back off (although this may be a big ask).
2. Achieve a second week towards Bronze Award (Body Magic).
3. Stay motivated, on track and determined.

Thanks for reading and supporting.
Lots of love,
Hippy xx

Here's what I resisted this week!
Double chocolate muffins (before icing)

 Double chocolate muffins now covered in vanilla buttercream and marshmallows.

Don't forget, I didn't eat ANY of these!