My Mumentum posts are getting a bit dull...since using the Slimpods my attitudes have changed and I'm no longer battling my demons, binge eating or embarking on the next yo-yo diet. The weight loss has slowed down but as I'm now in it for the long haul, I'm no longer stressing over the scales!
There are steps I can take to up the ante if I need to. I still have a biggish evening meal which I insist on finishing. I do feel full, but the part of me that has had it ingrained in me to 'clear my plate' can't quite bring myself to leave food. But as my meals consist of healthy veggie fayre, I'm not too worried about it. I just need to get the portion control sorted out using my Diet Plate. I think that holds the key to my next step!
As for exercise, I know I should try and find something that I can do to get the blood pumping. In the past I have done yoga, Pilates, holistic toning and attended the gym. However every time I have done exercise, I have put my back out. Even the back strengthening yoga poses have been known to do me damage. It was after I had Ella 15 years ago that I damaged my spine. X Rays showed I had slight scoliosis and her birth aggravated it to the extent that I found it hard to stand up and straighten my back. It took a year to get better, but everytime I did any exercise it flared up giving me pain and a weakness in my legs. It took me years to realise that my attempts to strengthen it were actually making my condition worse. Any twisting, jolting or anything that put any undue pressure on my spine would set me back.
Since giving up the gym my back has been fine! Oh the irony!! But I'm not getting any real exercise. Walking is the only thing left for me (I hate swimming and won't even consider that as an option!!). So I hope this summer I will get off my arse and do a lot more walking with the kids...not just around the local shopping centre either! I want to get out and about in the fresh air. So that is my resolve...to try and improve my fitness...without crippling my back!! Plus it'll be tonnes of fun!
Showing posts with label the diet plate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the diet plate. Show all posts
Monday, 4 July 2011
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Possibly the Bravest Post I've Done...Momentum!
I've decided that the only way I'm going to get motivated enough to really stick at the latest in a long line of failed diet attempts is to open up to everyone. I want to share what I see when I look in the mirror. I want to express the feeling of vulnerability and the desire to change. I want to write a post that inspires me to do it for the long haul.
Since having Freddy I've lost over 3 stone, although the last stone has gone back on and off over the last 12 months. It is that stone which is my problem. It is that stone that I want to shake off and put behind me for good. It is that stone that reminds me that I am weak, that I am undisciplined with my diet and that I am a failure. It is that stone which terrifies me, taunts me and mocks my attempts. But it is also the stone that I hide behind. The one that almost comforts me, as it strips away any expectations. It enables my gluttony. It is my feeder. It tells me "What difference does it make what you eat...you're fat anyway?" It manipulates, lies and smirks as I eat another piece of cake or two.
For every part of me that wants to change, there is an equal part that fears that change. It is ridiculous. But it is that that sabotages my attempts. Something buried deep inside that doesn't want to give up the greed and the comfort of limitless food. It holds on tight. I wish I could unearth why.
When I was younger I was thin. My eating disorders, my rebellion and my control, maintained a skinny figure. But I wasn't happy. I look at photos of me with that body...5ft 11" and sylph-like...and wonder why I wasn't ecstatically happy, confident and in control. Instead I was a depressed self harmer with no self-esteem who found myself single and pregnant at 18. We are promised by the media and told by the multi-million dollar diet industry that slim equals happy. We are told that the secret to happiness is to shed those last few pounds. We are shown images of smiling women, spinning round in floaty dresses and posing next to giant jeans that they used to wear. If only life was that simple.
Pregnancy and the birth of my son turned my life around and put me on the path to where I am now. My life has become a happy place where I feel content, safe and secure. My adoring husband is supportive, complimentary, passionate and he loves me regardless of what size I am. And over the years that we have been together, I have been many sizes!
Yet still this elusive weight related utopia beckons to me. I want it, I really do. These pictures show why.
Christmas 2009, and I'm stuffing in Ferrero Rochers in a "How Many Can You Eat In One Minute" contest with my family. I do well in these gluttony based competitions...funny that!
I have yo-yoed since then...stone on, stone off, but I am wearing size 14 clothes now. The jeans are actually way too big and I always end up looking like a builder...not a good look. I got brave and bought myself some size 12 jeans for Cybermummy and they fit well. But they do unnerve me a little...since buying them I've been back to my old binging. I've put on 5 lbs!
I've just embarked on a Thinking Slimmer Slimpod Trial to "Lose 2 Jean Sizes" (available in Autumn) alongside a "Chocoholic Cure" . The hypnosis MP3's have worked for me before, until my subconscious came along and sabotaged my success. I had a phone call with Sandra (the founder of Thinking Slimmer) and discussed my 'problem' at length and this latest combination of Slimpods could help me on my way. I am feeling more empowered. My other weapon is my Diet Plate which helps immensely with portion control. It is an excellent tool for making sure you don't over eat at meal times. I'm also priveleged to be friends with some lovely ladies on Twitter including the lovely Liska who have the MomemTum group. Support from other women sharing the same experiences is very powerful and motivating.
Cybermummy is so close now! I want to feel full of confidence as I walk in! I want to look nice. I don't want to hide beneath a baggy top. I was tweeting last night about what to wear...I really want a gorgeous top. But I don't even know what a gorgeous top would look like. I hate clothes shopping. I wish I had a Gok Wan to give me a hand!! First things first though....diet starts NOW!!!!!
Since having Freddy I've lost over 3 stone, although the last stone has gone back on and off over the last 12 months. It is that stone which is my problem. It is that stone that I want to shake off and put behind me for good. It is that stone that reminds me that I am weak, that I am undisciplined with my diet and that I am a failure. It is that stone which terrifies me, taunts me and mocks my attempts. But it is also the stone that I hide behind. The one that almost comforts me, as it strips away any expectations. It enables my gluttony. It is my feeder. It tells me "What difference does it make what you eat...you're fat anyway?" It manipulates, lies and smirks as I eat another piece of cake or two.
For every part of me that wants to change, there is an equal part that fears that change. It is ridiculous. But it is that that sabotages my attempts. Something buried deep inside that doesn't want to give up the greed and the comfort of limitless food. It holds on tight. I wish I could unearth why.
When I was younger I was thin. My eating disorders, my rebellion and my control, maintained a skinny figure. But I wasn't happy. I look at photos of me with that body...5ft 11" and sylph-like...and wonder why I wasn't ecstatically happy, confident and in control. Instead I was a depressed self harmer with no self-esteem who found myself single and pregnant at 18. We are promised by the media and told by the multi-million dollar diet industry that slim equals happy. We are told that the secret to happiness is to shed those last few pounds. We are shown images of smiling women, spinning round in floaty dresses and posing next to giant jeans that they used to wear. If only life was that simple.
 |
| As a Teenager |
Yet still this elusive weight related utopia beckons to me. I want it, I really do. These pictures show why.
Christmas 2009, and I'm stuffing in Ferrero Rochers in a "How Many Can You Eat In One Minute" contest with my family. I do well in these gluttony based competitions...funny that!
 |
| Christmas 2009 |
My sister got married in February of the following year. I lost nearly 2 stone in 2 months. I bought an outfit and some new wardrobe staples in size 16. Within a few weeks, the new wardrobe I bought was too big. Unworn size 16 jeggings still languish in my wardrobe.
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| February 2010 |
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| May 2011 |
I'll leave you with the physical embodiment of the extra stone. My belly. Five pregnancies and an adulthood of yo-yo diets have resulted in something resembling over handled dough. It's not attractive and it hangs over my waistband when I sit down. I want it gone. Now I've shown everyone what lurks beneath the baggy jumpers...I have a duty to get rid of it.
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| What lurks beneath! |
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Glorious Skinny Soup
Glorious! is a fabulous range of soups and cooking sauces that have bold, unexpected flavours from around the world which are convenient and easy to prepare. Perfect for busy parents who want something a little bit different!
The people at Glorious! sent me a selection of their Skinny Soups for me to sample. Being vegetarian, I was delighted with their fantastic recipes. Asian Tomato, Rice and Ginger, Goan Spiced Tomato and Lentil and New England Butternut Squash.
Excitingly, Glorious! Soups have been approved to feature in the new Government backed publication called "You and your Family" which is endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians, The Soil Association and the NHS. The products selected have been chosen to help guide mums (and dads!) into making good choices for their family in terms of health, nutrition and wellbeing.
The Skinny Soups contain approximately 150 calories in a half pot serving and give you one of your five a day. They are truly delicious with intense authentic flavours and textures. They are also very filling. Perfect for those of us still battling the baby bulge. They are convenient, quick and easy so there is no excuse for not having a wholesome lunch, even when your routine is demanding!
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| New England Butternut Squash Soup in my Diet Plate Bowl! |
Find GLORIOUS! on Twitter and on Facebook and join in the chat!
Saturday, 19 March 2011
A Day in The Life of My Diet
I'm now a couple of weeks into using my Diet Plate and I really am impressed. The whole issue of portion control is at the root of many people's diet failings. Underestimating calorie consumption is a real stumbling block to weight loss, and it leads to real frustration as you believe that you are not consuming too much food.
It is the cereal bowl which I think illustrates this point most effectively. In the mornings I'd grab the first bowl to hand and mindlessly pour in the cereals without thought. I'd be blissfully unaware that instead of the 170 calorie breakfast I thought I was eating, I'd be polishing off up to three times that amount. Having a bowl that rations my cereals is the first step to gaining control and knowledge over what is passing my lips.
The plate's clearly defined areas for protein, carbohydratess and vegetables makes sure you don't ignorantly eat too much of the more calorific elements of your dinner. It really does educate you into what you should be eating for a well balanced 1300 calorie a day weightloss plan. There is no pressure to leave any food on your plate, so you can scrape your plate without any feeling of guilt. This is definitely working for me and my appetite is being sated by the free vegetables and the fruity snacks that are allowed.
I lost 4 lbs on the first week which is a great start to a new lifestyle! Keep this up and I'll be svelte by the time I attend Cybermummy in June!
Here is a video diary of "A Day in the Life of my Diet". You can see how easy it is and how it fits perfectly into family life. No need to exclude myself from family meal times, and no tricky meal plans to follow. Just serve and enjoy!
Check out The Diet Plate Shop to find out more!
It is the cereal bowl which I think illustrates this point most effectively. In the mornings I'd grab the first bowl to hand and mindlessly pour in the cereals without thought. I'd be blissfully unaware that instead of the 170 calorie breakfast I thought I was eating, I'd be polishing off up to three times that amount. Having a bowl that rations my cereals is the first step to gaining control and knowledge over what is passing my lips.
The plate's clearly defined areas for protein, carbohydratess and vegetables makes sure you don't ignorantly eat too much of the more calorific elements of your dinner. It really does educate you into what you should be eating for a well balanced 1300 calorie a day weightloss plan. There is no pressure to leave any food on your plate, so you can scrape your plate without any feeling of guilt. This is definitely working for me and my appetite is being sated by the free vegetables and the fruity snacks that are allowed.
I lost 4 lbs on the first week which is a great start to a new lifestyle! Keep this up and I'll be svelte by the time I attend Cybermummy in June!
Here is a video diary of "A Day in the Life of my Diet". You can see how easy it is and how it fits perfectly into family life. No need to exclude myself from family meal times, and no tricky meal plans to follow. Just serve and enjoy!
Check out The Diet Plate Shop to find out more!
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
The Diet Plate
I have blogged before about my yo-yo dieting efforts and how my weight fluctuates between two points a stone apart from one week to the next. I seem to literally be able to lose or put on half a stone overnight! I've used hypnosis with some positive results but my problem is my refusal to leave food on my plate when I feel full. I don't know if it is the conditioning from my childhood where I was told to finish all my food because there were starving children in Africa who would be grateful for the food that was put in front of me! My relationship with food has been a real love/hate affair. I love stuffing down the cake, I hate what it does to my body! I am constantly on the look out for a way to get to grips with my appetite and my diet. I was offered the chance to review a meal replacement shake diet but I turned it down as these quick fix programmes just don't work on me. My friend swears by her slimming club, but I'm not someone who thrives on the support group mentality and the counting Sins approach to my weightloss.
Then, I saw a press release for a product on the market called The Diet Plate. It offered the Complete Weight Management Solution using "the plate that counts calories so you don't have to". I was intrigued!
The system comprised of a plate and bowl which takes care of portion sizes, whatever you cook. This practical and visual weight loss programme can be used everyday instead of using a diet sheet, counting calories, fat grams or allotting points. There is no messy or demoralising weighing of food and you can eat with the rest of the family which sends an important message to your children regarding healthy eating.
The Calibrated Bowl is designed to provide a 200 calorie serving of any breakfast with semi-skimmed milk. You just serve up to the correct colour band for the cereal of your choice. It also works for soup by filling the bowl to the colour band for the soup you have chosen, it insures you keep your calorie intake in check.
The Plate is divided into sections for each food group. The patterned plate has an area for protein, starchy carbohydrates and unlimited salad and vegetables. There is a measuring area for combination meals such as curry and rice or spaghetti bolognese and even a cheese cube area if you want to include a piece with your meal. It works for a vegetarian diet too.
The portion control element of the plan is the key to weightloss. The non-dictatorial programme means no food is out of bounds which helps stop cravings...but obviously healthier low fat choices wield greater results!
The Dinner Plate is beautifully decorated with encouraging positive thinking slogans and made from quality fine earthenware. The system includes a comprehensive handbook with a detailed 8 week plan covering topics such as food groups, setting goals and the psychology of diets.
I was so impressed with the concept of The Diet Plate that I contacted the creator and director Kay Illingworth to discuss the possibility of me testing the system and writing about my experience on my blog. She agreed to send me the Female System in return for my commitment to the programme. So here I am about to embark on this unique and exciting way to lose weight.
Check out the website http://www.thedietplate.com/ for details on their other products which are also suitable for men and children. Read the amazing testimonials from satisfied customers, one of which has lost an incredible 17 stone! I'm sure you will be equally impressed!
Follow me to find out how I get on with The Diet Plate!
Then, I saw a press release for a product on the market called The Diet Plate. It offered the Complete Weight Management Solution using "the plate that counts calories so you don't have to". I was intrigued!
The system comprised of a plate and bowl which takes care of portion sizes, whatever you cook. This practical and visual weight loss programme can be used everyday instead of using a diet sheet, counting calories, fat grams or allotting points. There is no messy or demoralising weighing of food and you can eat with the rest of the family which sends an important message to your children regarding healthy eating.
The Calibrated Bowl is designed to provide a 200 calorie serving of any breakfast with semi-skimmed milk. You just serve up to the correct colour band for the cereal of your choice. It also works for soup by filling the bowl to the colour band for the soup you have chosen, it insures you keep your calorie intake in check.
The Plate is divided into sections for each food group. The patterned plate has an area for protein, starchy carbohydrates and unlimited salad and vegetables. There is a measuring area for combination meals such as curry and rice or spaghetti bolognese and even a cheese cube area if you want to include a piece with your meal. It works for a vegetarian diet too.
The portion control element of the plan is the key to weightloss. The non-dictatorial programme means no food is out of bounds which helps stop cravings...but obviously healthier low fat choices wield greater results!
The Dinner Plate is beautifully decorated with encouraging positive thinking slogans and made from quality fine earthenware. The system includes a comprehensive handbook with a detailed 8 week plan covering topics such as food groups, setting goals and the psychology of diets.
I was so impressed with the concept of The Diet Plate that I contacted the creator and director Kay Illingworth to discuss the possibility of me testing the system and writing about my experience on my blog. She agreed to send me the Female System in return for my commitment to the programme. So here I am about to embark on this unique and exciting way to lose weight.
Check out the website http://www.thedietplate.com/ for details on their other products which are also suitable for men and children. Read the amazing testimonials from satisfied customers, one of which has lost an incredible 17 stone! I'm sure you will be equally impressed!
Follow me to find out how I get on with The Diet Plate!
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