Back on the Diet

This week, I imagine 90% of us are now on diets, are giving up smoking, getting more exercise, and generally doing the resolution thing. I’m on a diet, have been since the day after Christmas Day 2009, but it isn’t really a diet as such but a lifestyle change. I eat more healthily, take more exercise, although…yes, I slipped along the way a few times and didn’t meet last year’s target of being a UK size 12 by the summer 2010. I got into the size 12 but couldn’t do the jeans up. Bummer! So, my target is back in place, and on 1^st January I needed to lose 26 pounds to reach my target by the summer of 2011. This isn’t such a bad amount, because I thought that losing a pound per week was acceptable and easily done. So far, since 1^st January, I’ve lost 5 pounds. I realise that by getting back on the right track and cutting out all the naughty things I ate over Christmas, plus going back to drinking loads of water, those 5 pounds are probably just water loss. And I also know my body well enough after keeping a close eye on it this past year, that it has a habit of losing a chunk of weight then staying the same for weeks after.

Last year I did the Atkins diet, eating a portion of meat and low carb vegetables for every meal. I needed to get a massive chunk of weight off before I could change my eating habits and go on a “normal” diet. I lost 56 pounds then my body wouldn’t play the game anymore. It got used to the exercise, used to the food, and nothing worked in getting the last 26 pounds off.

This year I’ve gone down a different route. I’m eating lots of fruit, a “normal” meal at dinner time, and cutting out the naughty foods like cakes and whatever. I want to see if this diet change will fool my body and I can finally get those last stubborn pounds off. Then I have the task of keeping them off.

Why did I want to lose weight? Well, I’d gone into “comfortable” mode, where Hubby didn’t—and still doesn’t—mind what size I am. He married me for me, not what I look like. But, the day after Christmas Day in 2009, I stood scoffing something or other, and happened to glance down at myself. I looked awful. I put the food in the bin right away and said: No more! Also, I’d noticed I was going to need to go up a clothing size if I kept on, and already I was in a size I wouldn’t like to admit, plus I’d been getting out of breath. Quite simply, it frightened me. The weight was making my heart struggle to cope.

I feel healthier now. I feel more positive that I have a lot more years ahead of me. And I finally feel I’m getting back the body I was meant to have before I had 5 kids and let myself pile on the weight. I control food now, it doesn’t control me. And it feels bloody good!

Are you on a diet? If so, please share what works for you. I’m interested to know for when I hit that dreaded plateau again and need to trick my body into shedding more!

The winner of my book bundle from last week is LORETTA CANTON! Please could you email me with your 5-book selection at nataliedae@googlemail.com You can choose your books HERE and HERE. Congrats!