Back On Track

It's been a while, but I finally have my motivation back on track.  I've come to realise that a weight loss journey is all about consistency and being honest to yourself. It's been hard, very hard! But so far the results are coming and I'm happy with how I'm doing it.

I must admit though ..... I miss ice cream! 

Myfitnesspal screen shot

New Years Update

Hey Weightloss wannabes ....... Just a quick update on where I'm at so far this year.

Weight ..... Currently down to 104kgs .... This is great news as my journey is now well and truly back on track as I am 4kgs down in the last 2 weeks alone!

So what's changed?

Two things really .... I have started a "Biggest Loser" competition in my office which makes me both accountable and on track.  So far so good.  The other thing I have discovered is the myfitnesspal app and what will sound like a shameless plug for a sponsor (which it's not), but this app is just amazing.  This is yet another thing that is keeping me accountable.  I can't recommend this app highly enough and if you want to lose weight, this is definitely the way to ..... Best of all, it's free!  I will do a complete and comprehensive review over the next few week, but don't wait .... As Nike says .... Just do it!

Happy New Year .... Resolutions time! Now Down To Work!

Ok ..... Happy New Year, .......

Let's go!  It's time to get back off my butt and start moving.  I have decided to run a biggest loser challenge at work.  WHY, you ask?  You see, I need that extra level of accountability to keep me motivated.  Often when I do it for myself I will waiver ... However if I lose weight as part of team .... I succeed!

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Ladies and Gentlemen ... I have been inspired!

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and the inspirational Joe (the juicer) Cross highlights the benefits of eating, or rather drinking, real food ... As in unprocessed and fully natural ...  Who would have thought a concept so simple could be so true or so positive!

I so want to do this ... as much to prove to myself that I can do it and as much to lose more weight ... This might be the kicker I need to get me under 100 kgs ... Stayed tuned ... it all starts this weekend!

See more ....   http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

So What's Next?

So What's Next? You might ask ... short answer is, I don't really know, but I am open to suggestions.  I am thinking of taking a week off and recovering to see what effect returning to normal actually has on on me.

Today for example, I had toast with butter for breakfast ... a no no on the Chemical Diet.  I followed it up with a steak sandwich for lunch followed by a roast chicken dinner with salad.  I also had a diet coke and a flavoured water.  All up I would say it's probably a slightly healthier version of a typical day for me.

It will be very interesting to see what effect that has on the weight situation.  One thing is for certain, I do not want to cave in and eat chocolate, nor do I want to drink the full sugar Coke that I used to ... I need to make adjustments.  The government ran an obesity campaign here in Australia a few years ago called ... SWAP IT ... I think that's what I will do ... I will swap out some of the bad things and replace them with healthy alternatives .... instead of hot chips (fries) I will have a salad on the side.

Diets are great, but being realistic, unless it is something that you can stick to long term, then they don't stand a chance.  Imagine if I had of made a straight line to MacDonalds or KFC for breakfast on the fast day back after dieting ... it would have just been unwise ... Speaking of KFC ... see below for the latest heart stoping (but delicious looking and yes I want one) monstrosity.  The KFC Double ... scary ... I think I'm getting fatter just looking at it.  Don't give in to this mouth watering temptation!

The official Weigh In

After seven days on the diet I have lost 5.6kgs .... A good effort and one that feels worthwhile ...

The Chemical Diet - Completed!

It's official ... I have officially completed all meals on the Chemical Diet.  Like all diets that take you out of your normal eating routine and habits  I have to say ... it was tough ... if I never see another egg, it will be to soon!

Having said that, I managed to stick to the diet almost in its entirety .. there were some life issues that got in the way, but I felt that I managed them well and responsibly.  The only thing that remains for me now is the weigh in.  I will be doing this in the morning at the same time as all the other ones ... that way I have a consistency.  I would really love to drop at least 5 kgs, but 6 or 7 would be great.  Only a good night sleep will tell.

Would I recommend this diet ... YES ... but only if you are prepared for the fact that it's hard and it won't be easy

Day 7 ... The Last Day

I am determined that going into my last day on this diet I will absolutely stick to it.  On the menu today is;


Day 7 Breakfast 2 scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes
Lunch 2 Poached eggs& spinach
Dinner Grilled steak & salad

I can do this!  Will let know how I go and post my final weigh in details tomorrow.

Day 6 ... The Wheels Feel Off ...

It started well then went down hill quickly.  I had to go to a social function today and it was very, very hard to make good decisions.  Let me cut straight to the point.  Here is what I was supposed to have had on Day 6;


Day 6 Breakfast 1 boiled egg, 1 glass grapefruit juice
Lunch Fresh fruit (any amount)
Dinner Roast chicken, cabbage, carrots

Here is what I actually had on Day 6

Day 6 Breakfast 1 boiled egg, 1 grapefruit (off to a good start)
Lunch 300g Eye Fillet Steak (no sauce, no chips just salad on the side), a beer (yes a beer), a diet Coke
Dinner Roast Chicken (cooked to perfection by my beautiful wife), a litte bit of stuffing, salad.

The result was no weight loss yesterday at all .... as in 0 .....  was it worth it?  Absolutely ... good times with friends and family for no net gain.  Was it in line with the diet ... absolutely not ... but I still think I made good decisions.  Let me know your thoughts.

Day 5 ... Did I Just Cheat Today? ..

The answer is maybe.  You see, today I had a team lunch and inevitably I had to order something.  I searched the menu for something healthy and i came up with the following;

It's a Coffee Club Citrus Salad ... It's not bad and actually tastes great ... Is it cheating ... YES ... Of course it is, but sometimes life gets in the way of even the best laid plans.  I went to lunch with my team and made a good choice ...

I didn't buy a cheeseburger, I didn't buy hot chips (French Fries for my American friends), I bought a healthy grilled chicken and salad option and surprise, surprise I loved it!

I am very conscious though that it will no doubt have an impact on my weigh in number in just 2 days time.  I feel that my decision was a good one, but time will only tell.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments ... good decision or bad?

Kirstie Alley ... Amazing Weight Loss At 60 ...

First of all, I can't believe Kirsty Alley is 60 ... WOW ...

Check out her story at the link below.  She's talking up her Organic Liaison business which looks pretty cool .... Let me know your thoughts ... Should I try it?

Kirstie Alley Lost 100 Pounds at 60

As I go through my own weight loss journey I look for people and things that help inspire me ...  You should do this to ...

Today when things got a little tough, I found this one, and it reminded me that it's never to late to start ... it's never to late to take that first step .... and you're never to old!  Go Kirstie .....

Day 5 Menu ... More Eggs!

What can I say ... I like eggs ... but seriously ... more eggs!


Day 5 Breakfast 1 slice dry toast, 2 poached eggs
Lunch 2 poached eggs & tomatoes
Dinner Fresh or tinned fish and salad

Looking forward to fish for dinner.  It will be the first real change on this diet with something new.  After today, it's only two more days to go!  Can anyone please suggest what I should try next ... I need to keep the momentum going!

Day 5 ... Sneaky weigh In!

I know I should wait until the end of the seven days, but I'm itching to know my progress.  So here goes ......

103.9 kgs (229lbs) ... that means in 4 days I have lost 3.8 kgs (nearly 1 kg a day) or 8.4 lbs ... So happy with these numbers.

I'm impressed by this given just four short days ago I weighed 107.7 kgs (237.4 lbs).  I think this is an awesome result especially given that all I have really done is follow the diet.  Other than one small walk, I haven't even exercised!

This makes my goal of getting under 100 kgs (220 lbs) feel really achievable. If I haven't mentioned it earlier, I haven't been under this weight since junior high school, way back in the early nineties ... Wow! That's like 20 years of carrying around this unwanted flubber ... what was I thinking!!!!

I can across the piece of brilliant inspiration the other day and I thought I would share .... it's kind of like that saying about 'how do you eat an elephant? ... one spoonful at a time' but I thought that one was probably not appropriate for a weight loss blog!  Anyway, it's so true ... you can do it ... just take the first step!  If you're trying to lose weight to, why don't you send me some feedback about your progress.

Day 4 ... Survived!

So I survived day 4 and I have to say I actually think things are getting easier.  I use to think it was impossible to lose weight.  When you are feeling this way, remember this great (and true) saying;

Day 4 - Hump Day

On the menu for day 4 is the following;


Day 4 Breakfast 2 slices dry toast, 2 poached eggs
Lunch fresh fruit (any amount)
Dinner 2 hard boiled eggs, salad, grapefruit

I don't know about you guys, but all these eggs!  They are driving my crazy ... I like eggs, but at some point enough is enough!

Anyway, here we go!

Day 3 In The Bag

I find myself wanting more food today ...  All that is listed in the menu is;


Day 3 Breakfast Grapefruit, 1 boiled egg
Lunch 2 boiled eggs and tomatoes
Dinner 2 Grilled lamb chops, celery & cucumber

The food today was pretty good, but I want more.  To top it off my two boys ate chocolate frogs in front of me ... I've never considered stealing candy from a baby, but today I came close!

Although I'm feeling a little hungry, I believe my energy levels are starting to improve which is good.  4 days to go and I can't wait to see my final number.

Food ... Glorious Food

Isn't it amazing how appealing food is when someone tells you you can't have something.  I have noticed how good things smell and taste.  Let me know if you guys are going through something similar.

Two Days In .... it's getting hard!

I must admit that as I type this update ... I'm hungry!  Very hungry!

You see, it is at about this time of the day that I would normally reach for a snack.  Today however, i have decided to do something a bit more positive and reach out to my keyboard to share my experience.  I won't lie to you, this dieting thing is hard!

So far today, all I have had to eat it is;

1 x Grapefruit
1 x Egg
100g x Roast Chicken
2 x Tomatoes

I am feeling a little tired, but hanging in there.  I guess this is the part that my body essentially has to burn fat in order for me to get the energy I need to keep going ... I can't believe I will be doing this for another 5 days ... I must admit though, I can't wait to jump on those scales and record my numbers ... Biggest Loser style.

Exercise

I'm not really sure about exercise.  I know I need to do it, but to be honest - I hate it!  What possible enjoyment can someone get from "pumping iron"? I don't mind a walk ... you know ... from point A to point B, but that's about it.

I go swimming when I'm hot, I ride a bike when I need to get there quicker than walking - don't get me started about treadmills ... Let's face it ... I just hate exercise!

Now that I have had my little dummy spit and rant.  I have decided to adopt the Nike motto

.... JUST DO IT! .....

I may not like it ... but I need to just do it ... If I am to get fit an healthy it is simply unavoidable and essential particularly if I want to become a fat burning machine!  So what's the plan I hear you say;


Step 1:  Start moving ... walking daily for at least 30 minutes (probably of an afternoon).

This is hard for me which I know sounds ridiculous.  You see I am up at 5.30am feeding my boys breakfast, ironing clothes, having showers and generally getting ready to go to work.  At work I need to  look professional and there is no way I can duck out to work, shower and be back in my work clothes, then I get hom, usually at 6.00pm just in time to bath the kids, make the family dinner and get the household ready for bed ... then I drop from exhaustion ..... WOW ... how good am I at coming up with excuses ... Like I said at the beginning .... JUST DO IT Wes!!!! Fit it in, you're worth it and it will save your life!!!


Step 2:  Get Wet .... I have a pool, use it at least every second day!

I don't mind a dip when it's hot so maybe I should convert a casual dip into a bit of a more vigorous swim ... time will tell.


Step 3:  Embed Steps 1 and 2 into my normal routine

I have come to a conclusion that the only real way to lose weight is not fad diets (even though I am on one) but is to have a long term routine that make a lasting change and a lasting difference ... Obviously there is no point going through all the sacrifice, just to go back to old habits as soon as the official dieting period ends.


Step 1 starts tonight when I'm home from work so I will let you know how that little adventure goes.