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!

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.

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.

Day 1 ... Progress Update

OK ... I'm surviving ... Just!

I will be honest ... it's tough ... I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to quit something like smoking.  You know how it is, it comes to around 2pm and you reach for that mid afternoon sweet snack to give you that energy boost to get you across the line ... Well that wasn't there for me today!

I don't feel hungry, I just feel that I am missing out on the sugar.  I think my addiction is sugar more so than chocolate.  But anyway, I determined to make this work and I'm taking one day at a time.

First Official Weigh In

Today is my first official weigh in .....

107.7 kgs (237lbs)

Holy crap I'm fat! ....

They say any journey starts with a first step.  I consider this my first step on my journey.  I hope that you can come on this amazing ride with me.  I'll post a photo at some stage if I'm brave enough.

7 day chemical diet

They say you can lose 6.5kgs (14lbs) in a week ... I'm not so sure, but I am going to give it a crack this week.  I love all of the foods listed her with the exception of Grapefruit, so we'll see how I go.

As I understand it, the basis of this diet is chemical and if I follow the diet to the letter for one week I should lose 6.5kgs (14lbs) on average (and possibly up to 9kgs, or 20lbs at best case scenario).


So what's on the menu?

Day 1 Breakfast 1 slice dry toast and grilled tomatoes
Lunch Fresh fruit (any amount)
Dinner 2 hard boiled eggs, salad, grapefruit

Day 2 Breakfast Grapefruit, 1 boiled egg
Lunch Roast chicken (any amount) & tomatoes
Dinner Grilled steak and salad

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

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

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

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

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


NOTE
Abstain from anything not mentioned.
Eat only what is shown or do without.
No substitutions allowed.
No eating between meals
No alcohol
No butter milk or fat

Drinks = black tea, black coffee, lemon tea, grapefruit juice, tonic, soda water or water only
Salad = lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and celery only

DO NOT DIET FOR MORE THAN ONE WEEK AT A TIME.

No More Chocolate!

I'm not sure I mentioned it earlier, but for me, it's no more chocolate ... you see I use to work for a large chocolate maker and chocolate was a huge part of my life.  I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't eve gamble, but I do (or did) eat chocolate ... and lots of it!  In a way, I guess chocolate is my vice, my comfort food, the thing I turn to in my moments of weakness ...

But not anymore ... if I only make one change, it will be to not eat anymore chocolate ... this alone should make me lose weight?  Here's hoping anyway!