Spring has sprung so Iwill too.

Another beautiful Spring day here in my backyard.  Probably also around the whole area and I will be able to confirm that when I get back from my bikeride.  Yep, I've started riding again.  Lets see how long this stint lasts!

I am just back from a quick 3km ride.  I have so much to do today that I very nearly didn't go but seeing as I have only just started again I thought I'd better.  A couple of eggs for breakfast then get the house back in order before husband gets home from a week away.  Yep, I've had a whole week but will try and get it done this morning.  Before spending time in the garden, before going into Vinnies and doing their banking, before starting on some whippersnippering.  

But!  The ride is done and I have a healthy breakfast ready.  

Back home and back into it.

I went away to Tasmania for 3 weeks and what with all the walking we did I came home lighter than I went.  There wasn't a lot of clean, healthy eating but even after eating Devonshire Teas, pancakes with jam and cream, and waaayy too many toasted cheese sandwiches I didn't do too bad.

I get home and weigh myself to see how much damage I had done and was surprised to see that I was actually a few kilos lighter than when I went.  How good is that!

Within days of being home I was eating crap and not walking, riding, anything.  Then it's Easter and *someone* brings out Chocolate, Easter eggs, Hotcross buns, TimTams...And we have a freezer full of assorted pies and sausage rolls..Some of them are nice...How would I know that!

I was starting to feel blah, weighed myself and of course was up again so decided that today would be a LCD even though I was going to be home and not at work.  And husband is home.  And it's cold.  And the fridge is full of chocolate.

So this morning I'm up by 6 and have a Coffee.
By 10 I'm hungry so munch on a Carrot.
Husband has come inside.  He had a pie, smelt so good...I had a small piece of chicken. 
There is an open packet of TimTams in the fridge, I took one out to eat. Put it back and had a piece of grilled fish instead. 
Husband wanted more food so I boiled up some eggs...and had 2. 
I will have a coffee then NOTHING ELSE until tonight. 
And now he is eating chocolate!! I'll stick with the coffee then nothing else.
Tea time so I have a carrot while deciding what to have.
I decide on a coffee.

An OK fast day I suppose, I have had better.  I have had worse.   I don't count calories so don't know if I came in under the 500 that this eating style advocates but I do know it's a lot better than if I hadn't of tried at all.  I even got the exercise bike out of the shed this morning and rode for 20 minutes while reading a book and drank a lot more water than I have been.  Feeling good.

It's now 6:30 and I have cleaned my teeth, this LCD is over.  

Going away so no LCD's for a few weeks.

I'm going away on holidays for a few weeks.  Going with the healthy eating daughter so hoping that the eating will be fresh, clean, unprocessed...And I know there will be walking, probably lots.

But we will also eat what we want to and I plan on trying a Devonshire Tea or two.  Or 3 if we come across that many places doing them.

It will be great if I can lose a kilo or 2 while I'm away...lets see how I go.

Tuesday Lunch Out.

Lunch out day so I tried not to eat beforehand...Caved and had a carrot around 9.  

We went to the Equinox in Busselton, had fish and chips with salad for lunch and once again, like most places that we have been to, the servings were huge.  Why can't restaurants have smaller servings for less money?  There must be so much food wasted because of too large serves.  I didn't eat all the chips and usually I'd bring them home *for husband* but I'd be the one to end up eating them, today I didn't.  Left them on the plate, wasted.  But not waisted.

Some time after lunch we went to The Goose for coffee and cake.  The 3 of us shared a piece of cake and just as well or we would have burst.  It was a really nice caramel cake slice thing.

I didn't want tea but planned to cook fish for the husband but he was home earlier than me and had bought fried chicken, chips, gravy...Pleased to say that I haven't had any.  I did cook the fish though and had some of that with an egg...and some potato.   Then finished it off with potato chips!  Not a whole bag though, that's something I suppose.   But I didn't need any of it and only ate that so I wouldn't eat the chicken.  Might have been better off with just 1 piece of chook...

Was umming and ahhing about LCDing tomorrow but think I need to now.

LCD x 4.

Mon 2/3/15.  Scales say the same as last week.

Fourth low cal day today, it is 4.30 and I am hungry.  Should go out and mow but...I'm here instead.

It's Monday so one of the days that I decided would be my LCD's but it's a public holiday here in WA so I was not at Vinnies like I usually would be.  I did need to go over to Mandurah this morning so it wasn't too bad.

6.30   Coffee
12.00  Carrot.  Could smell someone's barbecue...
2.30  Banana.  Home, hungry, it was there!
3.00  Cup of tea.
         Carrot
5.30 1/2 sausage!!  Husband didn't eat all his lunch and this thing just jumped into my mouth...really!
6.30 Salad  and fish.  Really needed this!
        Coffee.
Clean teeth 'cause husband is eating chips instead of his tea.

A couple of *shouldn't haves* but overall not too bad.

I am out for lunch tomorrow so will have to watch what I have for breakfast before I go.  Maybe I shouldn't have anything but that probably wont happen.

The Days After...

Thursday.
I had my third LCD yesterday and did OK even with the unexpected meal for tea.
This morning I weighed myself and was the same as yesterday.  I'm feeling a bit hungry, have had my coffee and now need to make husbands lunch so am hoping that I don't pick too much.  Hoping to be busy and mindful today.

6.00am  Coffee.
7.30  egg with veg.  Will now clean my teeth and do some jobs, nothing else until lunchtime as I will be busy or out.
10.00  Well the outing was cancelled so I decided I'd mow before it got too hot for me outside. *My* lawnmower is not here.  The green one wont start and the red one hurts my arms and hands too much.  I did a bit of whippersnippering instead but couldn't get into it.  Inside and had a bite of steak.  Outside again and had 3 figs and now back inside and I just ate a chop!!  It's not yet lunchtime, too hot outside, I will have a shower, a bowl of salad, do housework...
1.15  I was called out before I had the salad but had it when  got home.  'Twas nice.
1.45 Coffee.
Now for the housework!!
3.30  5 crackers.
          yoghurt and a couple spoons of fruitsalad.  Tinned so not as good as fresh.
Did a bit more housework then went outside again, got the mower going so mowed, weeded, raked.  Husband came home so I finished up and by 7.30 we were having tea. 
7.30   Chicken Kiev x 1/2 and vegetables.  
          Coffee.
10.40  Bedtime.  Pretty good day I think...apart from the crackers. 

Friday.  Weight hasn't changed.
Had coffee this morning then some vegies before leaving for work.  The veg had mashed potato mixed in and I added some grated cheese sooo...but vegies!
Home at lunch and another bowl of veg but this time I added an egg.  Better but still mashed spud.  Second cup of coffee.
4pm  Carrot.
I am out this evening and away for the weekend, housesitting and they used to have decent food in this house but the woman mentioned getting in a pizza and a box of snacks for me...will see how I go.   Husband will be there some of the time so he can eat the pizza.  Maybe...

I'm tired but that is probably due to late nights and early mornings.

Wednesday LCD.

I'm going to have another LCD tomorrow, this will be my third so it should be easier.  I'm not looking forward to it but not dreading it either.

In cases like this I think it's a pity that I can't sleep in for longer as getting up before 6 makes it seem like a longer day.  I'll have my coffee first thing, cause that's what I do, then see how I feel about breakfast.  Really it would be best to not have anything but I always *need* food a couple of hours after waking up.  Maybe an egg will be OK.

I am at Vinnies from 9 until 3.30 so won't be eating at all while there and I will make sure that there is a bowl of salad ready for when I get home.  That will save me from hoeing into anything easily accessible and a bowl of salad or veg for tea if I need to.  I will need to not eat the steak or chops that are in the fridge.  I have put them into containers so that they are not easily accessible but I am prone to eating things without thinking.  I will need to change that if I want this to work.  My worry is that I will just help myself when I get tea ready for the husband.  Can only try. 

I will come back tomorrow and post how I do but I am feeling positive.

WED 25th Feb.
Woke up feeling pretty good, weighed myself and I have a starting point.  Same one as the last 4 years but it was starting to creep up so it was good to see it back where it usually is.

6.30 black coffee.  Yep, had it black and enjoyed it.
Didn't have breakfast but took a container of salad to work. 
2.30  Had half the salad.  Was feeling a bit crook.
4.00 Home and so hungry so had the rest of the salad.
Was planning on steak and veg or salad for tea but.  Yeah, there be the but!  Son's girlfriend brought out some Chicken Kiev for us.  Lovely of her and the food was yummo.  I had half of one with a plate of veg.  Been drinking heaps of water.

NO idea of calories but doesn't matter.  I didn't eat much all day and only had half of the Kiev for tea.  Usually I'd eat the lot and feel yuk afterwards.  Now I can have some tomorrow as well.

I think I did pretty good regardless of the unexpected chicken dish and am looking forward to the next LCD.

Back To The Start.

6:30AM.  I had my second *fast* yesterday.  I think though that I will start calling it a LCD, Low Calorie Day, as to me a fast is where you don't eat anything at all.  People say there are great health benefits to having a real fast so maybe that will be something to aim for.   I am hungry now and looking forward to a small bowl of oats for breakfast. 

11:30AM.  I had the oats and have made up a jug of Nettle tea with an added teaspoonful of honey that I will drink throughout today.  It's nearly lunchtime and I have fish or steak to have with salad.   No idea yet what will be for dinner.  No exercise as yet apart from some yard work.  Inside now because it is getting hot out there!

I weighed myself this morning, it looks like I am back to my starting weight.  I am pleased as I have weighed the same, give or take 500gm for too many years but over the last couple of months I have been eating way too much crap and the weight was going up.  Up 3 kilos when I weighed last week which is what triggered me to try this.  Now seeing as I am fat and unfit anyway putting 3 kilo on wasn't a good look.  That extra is gone now and it must be somewhat due to the 2 LCD that I have had.   Today is a normal eating day and tomorrow will be another LCD.   I'm not dreading it which is a good thing.

I have joined a Facebook group with people following the 5:2 Diet, some of their stories are really motivating, maybe one day I will be a motivating post for someone.  That would be pretty cool!

My friend around the corner has lost more weight on the program that she is following, it seems to be coming off her really quickly.  Some would say too quickly but she looks really well.  I have chosen  a slower way but I will be able to eat the foods that I enjoy and not have to take supplements and that is important to me.

Choosing To Try The 5-2.

After rereading my tale of two women I have decided, again, to give this lose weight get fit thing a go.  I am leaving for 3 weeks holiday in less than 2 weeks time so I have left it a bit late for that but as a long-term thing, never too late.

This time I am going to do the 5-2 way of eating.  Eat properly for 5 days a week but *fast* on 2 days.  The *fast day* allows you to have 500 or 1/4 of your normal body calorie needs so for me it will be under 500.  

The second woman in my story is allowed 500 calories every day plus a whole pile of supplements on the program that she is following and though she looks great and says she feels the same that way is not sustainable for me.  This way could be but may not need to be forever.

Most of the foods that we grow are not allowed on her program but with the 5-2 I can still eat what I grow so it will be sustainable.  I don't want to give up fruit, root vegetables, oats...Not even to get to a healthy weight and a decent looking body shape.   I believe that I wont need to. 

Today, Monday the 23 Feb 2015 is my second *fast* day.  I will eat low cal on Mondays and Wednesday because those days I am out of the house and busy until close to 4 oclock.  I feel that I will need to be busy and out of the house for this to work.   And committed, I will need to really want this too.  Lets see how I go with it.  And you know what?  Even if this too *fails* I am still a nice person, I am still worthy, I will still like myself.

Does anyone reading this eat this way?  Have you heard of it, thought of it, anything?  I will add links later but right now...I shouldn't be here!

The Tale Of Two Women...

A friend around the corner has been following a weight loss program and has lost 17 kilo over a few months.      She is healthier, fitter, slimmer, more energetic. 

I have done nothing and lost nothing.   I have not been eating healthy.  I have not been moving.  I have not been filling in my chart.   I am none of the above.

And there be the story of 2 women, both wanting to get lighter, healthier, fitter.  Both having the same incentive.

One will have a holiday in Italy where she will not get out of breath when she tries to walk.  One will be comfortable in nice well fitted clothing.   One will look good in any holiday photos.  

One will be gasping for breath in Tasmania, wearing too tight clothing and not wanting to be in any photos.

Her choice. 

My choice. 

New Year

In 64 days time I will be getting on a plane and going to Tasmania.  I have known about this for quite awhile, at least a month and probably longer. You'd think this would be a bit of incentive to eat less and move more wouldn't you but so far it hasn't been.  Since I made the chart last week I have filled it in once, on the first day.  I'm sure that I have done the things, pretty sure anyway, I know I was going to...and I would have done some moving.  And eaten some vegetables...But without filling in the chart I will not know how much or when.  So.  A new year.  A new chart.

Day.	5min Ex	5min Ex	5min Ex	5min Ex	5min Ex	5min Ex	Veg serve x 5.
Fri 1st.	walk	walk	walk	walk	walk	mow	1. 1. 1. 1.
Sat 2nd
Sun 3rd
Mon 4th
Tue 5th
Wed 6th
Thu 7th

This morning, thanks to T and J, I went for a walk, not fast but more than 20 minutes worth.   And some mowing this afternoon.  I munched on a couple of carrots and had vegs and eggs for lunch.  Cooked up some steak for tea and was going to do more veg to have with it but...Husband came home with chicken and chips, I am weak willed, we will have steak and veg tomorrow night.

I will buy more carrots tomorrow and have a bowl of veg ready to go so there should be a good chance that I get the 5 in over the next couple of days at least.

The fridge has been cleared of chocolate.  Yes, there was quite a bit in there but this lot is now in the freezer in the shed.

This lot didn't make it.  I will say that there weren't many Maltesers left as husband had most of those but 14 was still too many for a fat person wanting to get healthier.  Especially on top of the other stuff.

So, New Year, New start, let's see how long I last this time.