..Well, not really.. I had to help the kids bake jam tarts and it was HELL! AND had to make pancakes this morning, arrgghhh that was hard. But, as usual, my keyword "Bikini" helped me stay on track and remember what really matters. When I start to feel a little (very?) deprived I just ask myself "what is more important? how I feel and look, or how much sweet stuff I taste and enjoy?" No need to say more, it's obvious and so far I have done pretty well. Weekdays are pretty easy, but week-ends not so much.
Tomorrow will be day 30 and my reward, as per my list, will be to buy myself a new top. I am even starting to feel a bit looser in my tops, not much but I can see my belly going down, what a relief..
I am going to stop typing, crisis at home, I'm surprised I'm not off the wagon given the atmosphere with the kids right now...
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Friday, 12 April 2013
Day 14: Will I ever see results??
OK, I am feeling sorry for myself at the moment. Work is hectic, my clothes are NOT getting any looser, quite the opposite, my bra is so tight today I'm wondering how much back fat I am producing.
I can tell I'm not breating properly, I have shallow breathing, I tend to panic a bit when I think of all I have to do.
And yet, I'm here, blogging, not doing the work, but I cannot not do it, I need to let some steam off a bit.
OK, what is worrying me:
I am not losing weight, even putting it on
I have so much on, I can't seem to cope
I think that sums it up, really.
so, the weight thing: if I coach myself, the obvious question is "what is really worrying you for the future?"
I guess I'm wondering if it is ever going to happen. And the answer is yes, of course it's got to happen, I need to give myself a bit of time and have faith, and, most importantly, not beat myself up.
I'm convinced that my body will get used to having no sugar and I will naturally eat less carbs and GL. until now, for week 2, I was mainly focusing on the no-sugar and trying to reduce the GLs. We are now in week 3, so is it time to start counting GLs again? Probably, yes, that might even help. That will also prepare me better for my Zest for life meeting next week. I don't want to give up Zest for life, I like that forum where I can share experiences with other women trying to achieve similar goals etc. that gives me the support network I need.
Writing helps a lot when I feel so out of control.
I think I need to listen to my body more, drink more water and herbal tea to avoid eating when I am actually thirsty.
Phew that feels better, now I'm ready to do some work!
I can tell I'm not breating properly, I have shallow breathing, I tend to panic a bit when I think of all I have to do.
And yet, I'm here, blogging, not doing the work, but I cannot not do it, I need to let some steam off a bit.
OK, what is worrying me:
I am not losing weight, even putting it on
I have so much on, I can't seem to cope
I think that sums it up, really.
so, the weight thing: if I coach myself, the obvious question is "what is really worrying you for the future?"
I guess I'm wondering if it is ever going to happen. And the answer is yes, of course it's got to happen, I need to give myself a bit of time and have faith, and, most importantly, not beat myself up.
I'm convinced that my body will get used to having no sugar and I will naturally eat less carbs and GL. until now, for week 2, I was mainly focusing on the no-sugar and trying to reduce the GLs. We are now in week 3, so is it time to start counting GLs again? Probably, yes, that might even help. That will also prepare me better for my Zest for life meeting next week. I don't want to give up Zest for life, I like that forum where I can share experiences with other women trying to achieve similar goals etc. that gives me the support network I need.
Writing helps a lot when I feel so out of control.
I think I need to listen to my body more, drink more water and herbal tea to avoid eating when I am actually thirsty.
Phew that feels better, now I'm ready to do some work!
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Day 11: evening craving!!
God I'm in a bad mood this evening, I was cranky with the kids, and I'm sure it's because I could murder for sugar tonight!!!
The apple compote (sugar free, apart from the natural sugar) helped, I had a couple of glasses of wine but I feel frustrated. The good news is that I didn't, at any point, question whether I was going to break my promise.
What didn't help, also, was wearing tight trousers all day. I felt really disheartened to have tried so hard for over 10 days and to feel even fatter than normal..
I am not going to beat myself up it will take the time it needs to take I just need to keep the GLs down as much as I can, I have reduced this week compared to last week so I'm definitely heading in the right direction. It will be all right in the end!
The apple compote (sugar free, apart from the natural sugar) helped, I had a couple of glasses of wine but I feel frustrated. The good news is that I didn't, at any point, question whether I was going to break my promise.
What didn't help, also, was wearing tight trousers all day. I felt really disheartened to have tried so hard for over 10 days and to feel even fatter than normal..
I am not going to beat myself up it will take the time it needs to take I just need to keep the GLs down as much as I can, I have reduced this week compared to last week so I'm definitely heading in the right direction. It will be all right in the end!
Friday, 5 April 2013
day 7: Yess!
First things first: big pat on my back! I have done 7 days, I do feel I have achieved my first milestone. I was not planning to be strict with my refined carbs, just sugar in sweet stuff. And it has worked (Ok, day 1, Saturday, was my birthday so I did have a few cocktails but no dessert so I will not be that tough on myself!).
So, this week has gone well, it wasn't too hard, except for the regular 3pm sugar craving and of course a WHOLE day on my own in the house, working from home. Usually my working from home days turn into a big sugary feast throughout the day, involving a quick spot of baking if needed.
I was sort of dreading Thursday as I knew it was a huge hurdle to go through. I decided to do some savoury baking to help me through this. And it was way too much! I made myself cheese and ham waffles, and I think I OD'ed on flour, basically.. It was not pleasant.
Today, I had cravings again, and I made myself macaroni and cheese (with chorizo). It was rather gross, the horrible feeling afterwards was not worth the carb attack.
So, I am absolutely not beating myself up, no way, I knew I couldn't do it all on week 1 but this time I want to review my carb intake so the cravings decrease too.
My plan is to make a meal plan for the week tomorrow, use the low GL cookbook and to contact my coach at Zest for life to confirm I will keep coming to the meetings.
I also want to start pictures of myself every 2 or 3 weeks, to monitor my physical changes.
Oh, I was going to forget: I'm starting Pilates tomorrow and I'm actually quite excited to think that I am going to really look after my body with this exercise. My knees and my back will thank me for it one day!
So, this week has gone well, it wasn't too hard, except for the regular 3pm sugar craving and of course a WHOLE day on my own in the house, working from home. Usually my working from home days turn into a big sugary feast throughout the day, involving a quick spot of baking if needed.
I was sort of dreading Thursday as I knew it was a huge hurdle to go through. I decided to do some savoury baking to help me through this. And it was way too much! I made myself cheese and ham waffles, and I think I OD'ed on flour, basically.. It was not pleasant.
Today, I had cravings again, and I made myself macaroni and cheese (with chorizo). It was rather gross, the horrible feeling afterwards was not worth the carb attack.
So, I am absolutely not beating myself up, no way, I knew I couldn't do it all on week 1 but this time I want to review my carb intake so the cravings decrease too.
My plan is to make a meal plan for the week tomorrow, use the low GL cookbook and to contact my coach at Zest for life to confirm I will keep coming to the meetings.
I also want to start pictures of myself every 2 or 3 weeks, to monitor my physical changes.
Oh, I was going to forget: I'm starting Pilates tomorrow and I'm actually quite excited to think that I am going to really look after my body with this exercise. My knees and my back will thank me for it one day!
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Homework, food for thought to manage my chimp
I am reading Steve Peters' Chimp paradox and am applying his advice on my sugar free enterprise;
so today I am identifying what will be essential, significan and desirable for me to succeed, as well as the hurdles, the barriers and the pitfalls.
1) Essential:
To list clearly why I am doing this, what are the benefits and why the benefits are superior to what I am sacrificing.
To be clear on what is allowed in my plan and what isn't. For example, fruit is allowed, fruit juice isn't (except for the occasional cocktail), sweets are not allowed, xylitol isn't either, at least not in the first 6 months. I can review this after 6 months, depending on how frustrated I feel not to be able to eat what I bake.
Regular exercise to get that natural high
to reward myself once in a while on the changes I am making
To be told by others that they can see the change in me
To allow myself enough sugar from allowed sources (fruit)
2) Significant:
to plan my meals in advance, to take the time to make the right choices
to plan for the hurdles
To stock up on sugar alternatives: herbal teas, almond milk, oatcakes, fruits, nuts, red pepper, red pepper houmous..
To look after myself (skin regime, clothes, moisturising, make up, hair..)
Watch out for diet boredom, make sure I have variety, even in the fruit I eat.
Do the low GL diet once I am past the first week or so.
To cook something new every week
To go swimming more to learn to accept my body as it is now
3) Desirable
New clothes that fit me and make me feel good
Second aspect: Hurdles, barriers, pitfalls
1) Hurdles
Hurdles will be the 15/05 bakeoff event, the quiz night, Liz' bday party, Virginie visiting.
15/05 bakeoff event: warn everybody and tell them in advance that I will be bringing the food home or to the office
The quiz night: Bring a plate of fresh fruit as a dessert, leave it covered and uncover it at the end..
Liz' party: think about it closer to the date, maybe by then things will have become easier. but if there is dessert there will be other food before so I might be full by then.
2) Barriers (to be removed)
If Ermias ordered dessert it'd be hard to resist: ask him not to order dessert
Friends telling me I must have dessert just this once: just plan to explain to them that this is important to me and I know I need to do this to feel better; if they insist, ask them "if I was trying to stop drinking alcohol as an alcoholic would you try to make me drink?"
3) Pitfalls
Getting drunk and losing all willpower, or losing sight of why I am doing this: I can re-read the list of my reasons to do this, just before going out.
Replace sugar with alcohol: be more aware of it and watch my consumption
If I fail to meet a goal or a target, I will think of what happened, I will re-set my habits and start afresh. the biggest pitfall would be to have sugar once and not to re-set IMMEDIATELY!
My experience has taught me that if I fail once it will take a lot of effort to start again.
I need to remember my successes and failures with cigarettes.
If I am ever tempted to give up on this, then I have to think of how I will feel 6 months or 12 months later: how will I find an effective way of achieving what I want?
Have I prepared this well? I think so, I have read, I have tried it before, I have even started on the low GL diet which is complimentary. Because it is so simple there is no reason why I should fail, I just need to remember why I am doing this.
The beauty of it is that it is not difficult at all to find non sweet foods. Of course I am not that strict that I can't eat a sandwich when there is no choice, so effectively it should be easy. the biggest hurdles will be the family dinners/lunches where there is no fresh fruit salad available. Maybe I can bring it?
so today I am identifying what will be essential, significan and desirable for me to succeed, as well as the hurdles, the barriers and the pitfalls.
1) Essential:
To list clearly why I am doing this, what are the benefits and why the benefits are superior to what I am sacrificing.
To be clear on what is allowed in my plan and what isn't. For example, fruit is allowed, fruit juice isn't (except for the occasional cocktail), sweets are not allowed, xylitol isn't either, at least not in the first 6 months. I can review this after 6 months, depending on how frustrated I feel not to be able to eat what I bake.
Regular exercise to get that natural high
to reward myself once in a while on the changes I am making
To be told by others that they can see the change in me
To allow myself enough sugar from allowed sources (fruit)
2) Significant:
to plan my meals in advance, to take the time to make the right choices
to plan for the hurdles
To stock up on sugar alternatives: herbal teas, almond milk, oatcakes, fruits, nuts, red pepper, red pepper houmous..
To look after myself (skin regime, clothes, moisturising, make up, hair..)
Watch out for diet boredom, make sure I have variety, even in the fruit I eat.
Do the low GL diet once I am past the first week or so.
To cook something new every week
To go swimming more to learn to accept my body as it is now
3) Desirable
New clothes that fit me and make me feel good
Second aspect: Hurdles, barriers, pitfalls
1) Hurdles
Hurdles will be the 15/05 bakeoff event, the quiz night, Liz' bday party, Virginie visiting.
15/05 bakeoff event: warn everybody and tell them in advance that I will be bringing the food home or to the office
The quiz night: Bring a plate of fresh fruit as a dessert, leave it covered and uncover it at the end..
Liz' party: think about it closer to the date, maybe by then things will have become easier. but if there is dessert there will be other food before so I might be full by then.
2) Barriers (to be removed)
If Ermias ordered dessert it'd be hard to resist: ask him not to order dessert
Friends telling me I must have dessert just this once: just plan to explain to them that this is important to me and I know I need to do this to feel better; if they insist, ask them "if I was trying to stop drinking alcohol as an alcoholic would you try to make me drink?"
3) Pitfalls
Getting drunk and losing all willpower, or losing sight of why I am doing this: I can re-read the list of my reasons to do this, just before going out.
Replace sugar with alcohol: be more aware of it and watch my consumption
If I fail to meet a goal or a target, I will think of what happened, I will re-set my habits and start afresh. the biggest pitfall would be to have sugar once and not to re-set IMMEDIATELY!
My experience has taught me that if I fail once it will take a lot of effort to start again.
I need to remember my successes and failures with cigarettes.
If I am ever tempted to give up on this, then I have to think of how I will feel 6 months or 12 months later: how will I find an effective way of achieving what I want?
Have I prepared this well? I think so, I have read, I have tried it before, I have even started on the low GL diet which is complimentary. Because it is so simple there is no reason why I should fail, I just need to remember why I am doing this.
The beauty of it is that it is not difficult at all to find non sweet foods. Of course I am not that strict that I can't eat a sandwich when there is no choice, so effectively it should be easy. the biggest hurdles will be the family dinners/lunches where there is no fresh fruit salad available. Maybe I can bring it?
I am getting frustrated
This is day 6, it feels great to think we're coming up to a week soon, but today I feel frustrated.
Probably not because of the lack of sugar, but, rather, I'm feeling deflated at work, one of my staff is sending me negative vibes and it is really affecting me. Therefore, I have a sugar craving. I am quite pleased I can identify the link between the 2 so easily. It makes it easier not to give in. but I don't want to do it just out of willpower as willpower does not work in the long run. I will give in to my sugar craving with a pot of fresh pineapple. not very low in GL, but at least it's natural sugar, no processed sugar.
Also, I can't cope with doing well both with sugar and with GL in my first week off sugar.
I had chilli con carne for lunch and am pleased that I threw the container away before I finished the rice: I only had half of it. So that's an achievement, come on Nath, pat yourself on the back!!
I am suddenly feeling very low and am not sure why, actually those negative vibes are really really getting to me. I am going to have to do something about it aren't I??
Probably not because of the lack of sugar, but, rather, I'm feeling deflated at work, one of my staff is sending me negative vibes and it is really affecting me. Therefore, I have a sugar craving. I am quite pleased I can identify the link between the 2 so easily. It makes it easier not to give in. but I don't want to do it just out of willpower as willpower does not work in the long run. I will give in to my sugar craving with a pot of fresh pineapple. not very low in GL, but at least it's natural sugar, no processed sugar.
Also, I can't cope with doing well both with sugar and with GL in my first week off sugar.
I had chilli con carne for lunch and am pleased that I threw the container away before I finished the rice: I only had half of it. So that's an achievement, come on Nath, pat yourself on the back!!
I am suddenly feeling very low and am not sure why, actually those negative vibes are really really getting to me. I am going to have to do something about it aren't I??
Monday, 1 April 2013
Withdrawal symptoms
I'm so glad I started this at the beginning of a long week-end, with nothing special on, as I feel so lethargic this afternoon..
I have had a mild headache since after lunch and have absolutely no energy: this looks, sounds and feels like withdrawal symptoms. Not very pleasant, but then, this means that the bad stuff is leaving my body, leaving room for my body to do without so this is great!
I love reading about other people's stories when they quit sugar. I just love the idea of feeling, one day, like I am at the right weight and all I need to do to maintain is to stay off sugar.
I read Rick Foster's story and I felt so empowered when I read his weight went down and then stabilised naturally after 5 months. This is what I want, I want to feel good in my clothes, good wearing a bikini or a sleeveless dress! I want to be able to forget about my weight and my shape when I go shopping, go on holiday, go out, do a presentation at work. All I want is to be able to focus on other areas of my life. I feel like I have everything but the peace of mind that being overweight does not let me reach.
I was wondering, earlier on, what makes some people able to have cakes, sweets, ice cream, wine, once in a while without becoming addicted. How do they do it if sugar is really addictive? Maybe it's to do with their personality? I have an addictive personality so here we go, the only for me is to go sugar free!
I have had a mild headache since after lunch and have absolutely no energy: this looks, sounds and feels like withdrawal symptoms. Not very pleasant, but then, this means that the bad stuff is leaving my body, leaving room for my body to do without so this is great!
I love reading about other people's stories when they quit sugar. I just love the idea of feeling, one day, like I am at the right weight and all I need to do to maintain is to stay off sugar.
I read Rick Foster's story and I felt so empowered when I read his weight went down and then stabilised naturally after 5 months. This is what I want, I want to feel good in my clothes, good wearing a bikini or a sleeveless dress! I want to be able to forget about my weight and my shape when I go shopping, go on holiday, go out, do a presentation at work. All I want is to be able to focus on other areas of my life. I feel like I have everything but the peace of mind that being overweight does not let me reach.
I was wondering, earlier on, what makes some people able to have cakes, sweets, ice cream, wine, once in a while without becoming addicted. How do they do it if sugar is really addictive? Maybe it's to do with their personality? I have an addictive personality so here we go, the only for me is to go sugar free!
Day 3: baking OK, eating the cake, not OK!
This is day 3, I'm still going totally strong, I have a slight headache, but no idea if it's related to sugar withdrawal symptoms?
Today my children (4 & 7) wanted to bake a cake as it was my birthday on Saturday and they don't understand how I went through that event without a cake.
So, I ended up making a chocolate cake with them, not licking the bowl (impossible effort for me normally) and knowing I won't touch it once it's ready.
Am I a masochist? Maybe.. I just want to do this while still leading a normal life: as my inspiration (http://myyearwithout.blogspot.co.uk/) said in her blog, if you live without any tempting sugar in the house, then it will be more difficult to resist when going out, or when invited at "normal" people's houses.
So, I am now sat here, smelling the chocolate cake baking in the oven, the smell is so yummy..
When I quit sugar for 3 months a couple of years ago I noticed that sometimes just the smell was satisfying, so I'll try this today again.
I went swimming with the kids today and this time I didn't worry about how I looked in a swimsuit as I am absolutely that soon the cellulite will have reduced dramatically!
Today my children (4 & 7) wanted to bake a cake as it was my birthday on Saturday and they don't understand how I went through that event without a cake.
So, I ended up making a chocolate cake with them, not licking the bowl (impossible effort for me normally) and knowing I won't touch it once it's ready.
Am I a masochist? Maybe.. I just want to do this while still leading a normal life: as my inspiration (http://myyearwithout.blogspot.co.uk/) said in her blog, if you live without any tempting sugar in the house, then it will be more difficult to resist when going out, or when invited at "normal" people's houses.
So, I am now sat here, smelling the chocolate cake baking in the oven, the smell is so yummy..
When I quit sugar for 3 months a couple of years ago I noticed that sometimes just the smell was satisfying, so I'll try this today again.
I went swimming with the kids today and this time I didn't worry about how I looked in a swimsuit as I am absolutely that soon the cellulite will have reduced dramatically!
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