Fighting fit…or should that be fat? April 3, 2010

I’ve always struggled with my weight and been known as the tubby one (Hometree has nothing on my thighs) but never really been too bothered by it. I knew I should make a conscious effort to get fit and sometimes the comments did hurt but I still never quite mustered up the energy for it. I had a couple of attempts, I bought an exercise DVD, downloaded a couple of things off the net, tried to take up jogging but I always gave up. Maybe it was because I never saw results instantly, maybe it was because I love and enjoy food too much to go on a diet. This Jan however saw all that change. My dad had a heart attack.

Mum had one a few years ago and that was scary, but this was different. Dad is old but he’s incredibly active and never been ill. I suppose it was just a matter of time before something happened. There were other events around the attack which probably contributed as well but it was still a shock. And I know it’s selfish but every time I saw him at hospital I couldn’t help but think “That is never going to be me”.

From my past experiences with exercise/diet I knew what did and didn’t work for me (as well as a lack of determination obviously). I knew starting an intense detox/exercise regime the day after would not work. If I was to lose weight and become more healthy, not just to hit my ideal weight, I would have to make some changes to my lifestyle. Namely food. I love junk. Love it love it love it. All of it. Crisps, chocolate, biscuits, cupcakes, muffins, doughnuts, burgers, chips you name it I love it. I could eat a packet of Jaffa Cakes in one go, easy.

No more. This would have to change and this was where I started. I cut out snacks. At home this isn’t really an issue, I just had to stay away from the biscuit cupboard but at work this was a nightmare. My office is pure glutton. I always have junk in my drawers and so do others. The chocolate tin is amazing, especially if you work late and are the last one there…We work opposite a Greggs, a newsagents and there is a Tesco nearby too. Also because I have somebody in my office who always raids my drawers I have to make sure I double stock. You know, just in case there isn’t enough for me when that 4:45 twinge kicks in on a Thursday.

And that was it. Step 1. Sounds simple but changing a habit is really hard. After about 4 weeks I felt like my cravings for junk were no longer an  issue. Although I cut out all junk completely (with the odd exception) there was one thing I couldn’t leave behind. Chocolate. Me and chocolate have a special relationship and go a long way back. As a sort of compromise I have a small piece of Hotel Chocolat chocolate at 9:30pm sort of every other day. I know that sounds weak but I can’t leave it out completely. I just can’t.

When I felt like I had achieved this goal it was time for step 2. Hello Davina DVD, time to blow the dust off and try again. Approx 3 times a week for the past 4 weeks I have used this. I’ve found alternating between High Energy Five and Davina Fit is more interesting than just the one (luckily my sis came on board the DVD wagon and offered to buy another DVD so we could switch. She hasn’t paid me for it yet tho…hmm). The first time I did my legs I couldn’t walk for 3 days but after that I’ve been fine. I’m not sure if it’s making me fitter but it’s got to be better than no exercise at  all right?

Exercise incorporated, onto step 3. Diet. Ach the word is painful. I really do like food. Good food. However a lot of diets look like hard work. They involve cooking and buying stuff you’ve never bought before. It means either asking Mum to make me something separate or to do it myself. Forget that. I decided to go for the Special K diet, Special K twice a day and then whatever mums made at night. OK that’s slightly adapted but hey ho. Now the thing is the Special K thing says you have to have a BMI over 25 to do it. Mine isn’t. I think this is why people probably see results and ‘drop a jeans size’. To have a BMI significantly over 25 you have to be a heifer which means if you cut eating a whale out for breakfast & lunch and replace with some cereal you’re bound to see huge results. Ok that isn’t based on anything scientific and maybe I’m being bitter but I haven’t seen results equivalent to dropping a size  at all (I also only have it for lunch as I kind of miss breakfast, does a cereal bar in the car count as breakfast? If it does then I don’t miss it!). I have however lost some weight. 7 pounds. I know its not huge considering the timescale but I don’t care. I don’t have a deadline, I don’t want to have a body ready for the beach. I want a new me and I don’t care how long it takes to make it stable. However it has been a while and unfortunately all the weight I have lost is from my stomach/waist. That’s not where I want to lose it from! Who’s going to see my stomach? You can’t even tell I’ve lost weight as my bum & thighs are still killer! But I suppose its better than nothing  and it probably is healthier as it’s closer to my heart eh? It does actually feel quite nice having a flatter stomach. I don’t feel like I’ve lost a huge amount as I can’t see a reduction in my legs and I know I’m being silly. I’m sure if I continue it will one day happen. However it’s time for the next step.

Step 4. Herbalife. It’s basically slim-fast. I know someone who has used it and lost a lot of weight. He’s also jogging and eating healthily but I can do those too (well not jog I hate it, not only can I not do it, it’s really hard jogging all hijab-ed up. I’d rather be able to wear a vest but that’s never going to happen, not even at home with the DVD!). I started on Monday and it’s now Saturday. I will weigh myself again on Mon to tally up the change. Although I haven’t stuck to it completely (I forgot it was Easter weekend and I’ve also eaten out fairly luxuriously twice this week…oops) I do sort of feel a bit lighter and think I might actually fit into trousers a size below what I was as my work ones feel quite big. Ohhhh I’m dreading that shopping trip. Anyhoo I hope this works. If not I’m going to step the exercise up as I really can’t see myself making any other diet changes.

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