In a new weekly feature, Her.ie newbie Liz is going to share her weight loss journey. She’ll be filling you in on fighting temptation, her willpower struggles with the cocktail menu and taking painfully slow steps towards regular exercise. All in the name of a dress.
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Hanging on the wall at the end of my bed is the constant reminder I plan on shedding nearly two stone this year. I also plan on marking the trials and tribulations of ‘trying to be good’ – the favourite saying we all tout, and quickly replace when a cake is put in front of us.
Week 23: Catching up with myself...
I knew I’d been bold. I felt like the child with a ring of chocolate around their mouth furiously denying they’d been at the cake.
I was standing on the scales with a 3lb gain. And my leader was staring at me with a knowing look when I happened to have ‘forgotten’ to pack in my points diary that week. (It would have been amazing if I had produced one, considering it was Thursday before I realised I hadn’t put a pen to paper.)
So I couldn’t be surprised to know that eating cupcakes on a daily basis was going to reveal itself in a mini muffin-top.
I took my seat and buried myself in my phone, willing the class to start so I could do my time and leave.
Before it sounds like I’m in prison, it was nothing to do with my leader. She was lovely, and in no way showing any signs of disappointment in me. It was all my own doing.
I’d worked this hard and now I was letting it fall by the waistside.
With the latest motto ringing in my ear, “What you eat in private shows in public”, I wrapped myself in my hoodie and made a speedy exit out the back of the hall.
So I decided to give myself a detox week.
Now before anyone gets any crazy notions, I want to point out that not one green juicing detox diet has slipped into my routine. I also happen to love carbs too much to replace meals with liquid.
What I did do though was give my food presses a good clear out. And the 3lbs gain wasn’t all that surprising when I realised I’d quite the stash of “just in case treats”.
You know “just in case the girls pop ‘round for a cuppa” or “just in case I’ve a sweet tooth after dinner”, or a personal favourite “something small to nibble on while I watch this DVD”.
My press was like a loot from Halloween: curly wurlys, meanies, chocolate raisins, Nutella. And that was just for watching the Rose of Tralee. Don’t even pretend to judge me, you were watching it too.
Of course I had loads of fresh fruit and fat-free yoghurts in the fridge, but who are we kidding? I was hardly going to be throwing a feast with segments of mandarins.
With the clutter passed on to some very happy neighbours (mainly the kids who decide it’s appropriate to play loud chasing games when you’re hungover in bed on a Sunday), I decided this would mark a fresh week of eating healthy, balanced meals.
I made two recipes (a cottage pie and a pasta bake) and prepared a breakfast every morning. I also took some rather lengthy walks (admittedly one was because I got lost and couldn’t find my way back) and I even treated myself to a bikini wax to take a dip back into the pool. (The treat was more a necessity for myself and mankind in general, but you need to take little victories right?)
All in all, I’m not feeling too nervous about this next weigh-in.
Maybe it’s cause I’ve been working on my fit new figure, or maybe it’s because I dropped a bottle of wine in the kitchen so didn’t use my extra pro-points this week?
Whatever the reason, I know I’m back on track.
Which is just as well, because I’m booking a trip to New York in November, where I plan to replenish my wardrobe with a suitcase of size 10 clothes.
And I’ll need my gold card to be sitting right next to the credit card to ease the guilt.
This week’s stats go a little something like this -
Height: 5ft 8
Starting Weight: 174 lbs
Current Weight: 158.5 lbs (We’ll know the damage next week…)
Weight Loss To Date: 15.5 lb
Goal: 148 lbs
Feeling: Determined
The Dress in Question… NOW FITS!!
