Week 17 – Journals and Photos

Week 17 brought an easing of lockdown; pubs and restaurants beckoned and it was to be a test of my resolve.

With hindsight, curry for breakfast may not have been the most sane decision that I’ve ever made.

Day 113:

Unstructured days really catch me out. I met a friend for lunch and took the soup and salad option over pizza.

Dinner was mum’s beef casserole with runner beans and potatoes grown by my dad.

I need to find a way to drink more water when I’m out and about. However, I get worried about not being able to find somewhere to wee. This is an important consideration for a woman of a certain age.

Day 114:

Lovely Girl #2 and I were feeling a bit fed up. We were stir crazy from lockdown and decided to go out.

We ended up going to see the Clifton Suspension Bridge, have brunch at The Ivy and go to the Bristol Aquarium.

I was expecting a proper brunch menu but when we got to The Ivy it was a strange limited menu of steaks, curries and general main courses. At 11am!

There were a couple of egg options but they all came with hollandaise sauce, muffins and thick chips. Tempting – but no.

I got the menu choices down to 2 options, a fish curry with broccoli or a smoked salmon starter with broccoli and a salad.

On reflection I should probably have opted for the smoked salmon – but sometimes I find the smokiness a bit overpowering and that it repeats on me. Anyway, I decided that I was going to shake it up with a breakfast curry. I don’t know what I was thinking.

When I got home I went off piste with some sultanas, cashews and a nectarine. Within 2 hours I was in a fructose induced catatonic state. I won’t be doing that again.

The whole potato-in-the-evening thing was getting out of control. My Dad grows the most amazing veg and freshly dug up potatoes are irresistible. However, they are becoming a habit and I need to make it stop.

Day 115:

After the indiscretions of the weekend – in particular the potatoes and the fact that I didn’t really eat enough, drink enough or exercise enough – I needed to get it together.

Today was much more organised. Ten portions of veg, almost 3 litres of water and a good workout. I’m calling today a win.

Day 116:

This morning I woke up feeling sore but everything loosened up after a walk.

I had a productive day at work but I did not want to get on the exercise bike at 5pm but I did it anyway. Just 45 mins, but better than nothing. Some days I just don’t gel with exercise. Today was one of those days.

However, I managed 11 portions of veg and a decent amount of water.

Day 117:

I simply could not face a spinach, cucumber and hemp powder smoothie this morning, so I didn’t. The fallout from this civil insurrection was that today was 2 portions of veg short of clearing the 10 veg challenge.

I’m not letting myself off the hook quite so easily tomorrow – before getting into my jimjams tonight, I peeled the cucumber in readiness for the morning.

My friends think that I’m a borderline psycho. They may have a point.

Day 118:

I was doing well on the veg front today until late afternoon. I was busy at work and had a massage with Michaela booked in at 7pm. The focus was to be on my legs which were rather tight. There was much swearing and Lamaze breathing but by the end of it, I felt amazing.

I didn’t have time for dinner before I went to Michaela’s and when I came back I didn’t feel like eating much – some rather dubious looking “scrambled” eggs had to suffice. They were much tastier than they looked!

Day 119:

The end of Week 17 was bursting with the promise of the forthcoming week’s holiday. I bloody love holidays.

Dinner was an attempt at clearing the fridge. I have always adored tofu sausages but the flavour was overpowering and I couldn’t eat them. I have a feeling that my taste is changing. I’m starting to find that I can’t eat the strong flavours that I used to like (and crave).

End of Week 17 Progress Photos:

After 17 week of bloody hard work I can honestly say that it has been worth every single squat, deadlift and overhead press.

I still have to remind myself about the rules of fat loss. I may have “only lost” a stone, but I’ve been gaining muscle. That stone (14lbs) of body fat that the scales tell me that I’ve lost is, in reality more than that.

I have to remind myself of this when I get on the scales each morning.

This week I have reached the point where I probably wouldn’t continue to weigh myself if I wasn’t writing this blog. I know that weight is totally meaningless and has no relationship with the way that I look.

We are constantly bombarded with the wrong messages; that we can transform our bodies in 28 days, lose weight by eating or not eating one mythical foodstuff and that drinking sugar laden drinks/alcohol will make us happier/sexier/more fun.

It is a really interesting process trying to disconnect myself from the bullshit that is constantly pushed at us.

Side Quest Progress Photos (Week 3):

I’m really quite pleased with the ‘side quest’ photos (particularly the side ones). Considering it has been 3 weeks I’m definitely changing shape.

There is still a long way to go but these photos make it all worthwhile.