2.6kg’s

That’s how much weight I’ve lost between Sunday and today! I’m feeling really proud of my efforts and super motivated. The reason for the weight loss is simple, its so simple and yet for so many of us, so hard to stick to. These are my basic principles:

1. Exercise! YUK! But whether I like it or nor, input has to equal output, right? I mean that makes perfect sense, if you load up on calories, you got to use them or they’ll turn to fat and sit on my hips and thighs. I HATE to exercise! I especially hate the gym, I’d much rather be outside walking somewhere, but its just not a good idea to be doing that at 05h00 in the morning, certainly not by myself. So I’ve resigned myself to the gym, but the only way to get myself there is to go first thing in the morning, before my brain has even registered I’m in the gym, I’m already half way through a work out. I get there at 05h00 and train for between 40 to 50 minutes.

2. Following a well balanced eating plan. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? But I’m a creature of habit and a serious emotional eater, food is my comfort, so its not always so easy for me to follow a healthy eating plan. I mean just look at Tuesday when I had to come home for the plumbers to replace our hot water cylinder, I ate a freaking chocolate and it wasn’t even because I wanted it so badly, but more because it was habit and I was stressed out. I think most importantly, I need to start recognizing these triggers and creating new habits to go with it.

3. No alcohol. I’ve only had one glass of dry white wine to drink all week. I certainly plan to drink a bit more this weekend, but will be sticking to low calorie dry white wine to minimize the effects.

4. Planning. Planning my meals is really important for me, its the only way that I can stick to the eating plan designed by my dietitian. So I’ve started doing weekly grocery shopping, on a Sunday, after planning all our meals for the week. This way I don’t do any impulse buying and try to stick to buying only what appears on my shopping list. I also find that not having junk in the house makes it easier to stick to as well.

5. Making myself accountable. Hence my Weight Loss Journal. Because I feel embarrassed when I cheat and have to admit it in the journal for you all to see. I have to be accountable to something other than myself beause for some reason I don’t really value my own accountability and find it quite easy to cheat myself. That’s also why I still pay to go to the dietitian twice a month for a weight in, it keeps me accountable. I hate it when I go there and I’ve either gained or not lost weight, I hate the disapproving look on her face, I hate the little chats we have to have!

Now of course is my true test, the weekend, lets see how well I can do throughout the weekend because that’s usually my downfall. A bottle of wine on a Saturday afternoon with chips while watching TV is usually my idea of a Saturday afternoon well spent. I’ll have to think of something else!

So W and I have a bit of a competition going for the one who looses the most kg’s by March. The winner will be receiving a free teeth whitening session at the dentist sponsored by the other. This is something we promised each other we’d do when we quit smoking almost 4 years ago and have still not done.

I like the prize, I hope I win the competition!