The weight loss journey is continuing. Slowly and with a few minor set backs but it is continuing. Sadly the list of foods I can eat without ill effect is getting rather short, particularly in the carbs section. Basically I’m down to quinoa, oats and potatoes. But I guess that’s ok. I suspect that dairy will be the next thing to go since my skins has flared up and my tummy’s been a bit unhappy lately. The trouble there is that dairy is one of y main sources of protein and my main breakfast food. Without it I have no idea what to eat in the mornings or how to keep my protein levels up. I’ll have to look into it. But it’s a worry. 

On the plus side though I’ve hit a number of PBs at the gym. My weights have all been going up lately. And I feel fitter on all exercises. Most notably are the following:

• heavy leg press – 140kg
• Single leg press – 50kg
• Hip thrust – 90kg and
• Stiff leg dead lift is now at 20 or 30 kg (I think – not counting the bar)

That’s all really good! Especially with the heat lately. I’ve not been sleeping well cause the flats too hot and it’s really noisy with the windows open. 

I think the extra workouts have helped too. I’m now consistently (for the last month or so) been doing at leat one but most 2 HIIT sessions a week on top of my 2 sessions a week at the gym with Rash. I’m trying to fit in yoga on another day cause everything is feeling a bit tight but it’s tricky with all the uni work and work-work I have to do too. Hopefully after this weekend once I’ve got my uni assignments in I can concentrate on fitting more stuff in and working out my food. 

Food wise (other than the intolerances) I’m doing ok. I’m mostly hitting my calories and my protein is always at least 100g (good for me). The problem is that my fibre and fat intake is low but carbs and sugar are high. Carbs very high in fact. I think cutting back there will help with the bloating so that’s good. But I’m not sure how to get fats up without sugar and without any more dairy. I will have to look at it all properly next week. For now I’m gonna concentrate on not snacking while I study 😊  3 more pounds to go before my birthday and I’ll feel good. 

I hit my next weight/fat loss goal!!! I am now under 11st for the first time in years (I think about 2 and a half but possibly longer). And I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of Rash.  It’s very exciting!!!

Plus with a few tweaks to my diet (cutting out rice) my waist measurement has finally gone down. I think the rice was bloating me. I have suffered in the past with an intolerance to rice but several months ago I found that my tummy could tolerate it again in small amounts. Since then it’s slowly been creeping into my regular diet. Mostly cause it’s quick and easy to cook (I cheat and buy microwaveable rice) and easy to weigh out properly. It’s not like pasta that’s vastly different weights before compared to after you cook it. I always get confused with pasta as to whether the nutritional whatsits on the packet refer to cooked or dry. Turns out I’d been eating portions over twice the size of what’s recommend (oops!). 

My weight and waist measurements being down is fantastic. Long may it continue! But I’m keen to stress to any of my readers that for me the fat loss is personal. I don’t need to lose weight or fat, no-one told me I had to do it, but I feel better in myself now that I am. Mostly it’s to do with having more confidence now that I’ve taken control of my eating and my health. I’m working out lots (3-4 times a week) more than I used to and I’m finally enjoying it. It took me years to find the exercise that worked for me. But I finally feel like I’ve found it. I enjoy weight-training. I like the challenge every session of trying to better my last. Of pushing myself a little harder. Plus there’s so much more variety in exercises than traditional cardio. I get bored running. I need an activity that engages my brain to stop it wandering off and doing other things. If my brain wanders far enough  then my body tends to follow (or head for home if I’m out for a run). 

I’m very excited about my latest achievement. Mostly cause it means I can now control my food and eating. I managed to do this while faced with a week long trip to the US l, several family events and constant cakes/donuts at work. Food no longer controls me which for me is huge! I do plan to keep going. I have a vague ‘ideal’ weight that I’m aiming for but to be honest I’m just going to see how I feel pound by pound (sorry I’m old-school and can’t do kilos). I remember liking being under 10st. So that’s where I’m aiming at the moment. It kinda depends how and where I lose the fat though. If my tummy fat is still being stubborn I may keep going. But if it’s evenly distributed and it doesn’t bother me then I may stay a little heavier. We’ll see how it goes. For now I’m just gonna keep on keeping on. 

I’m finally making steady progress. It’s been hard going especially with food cause I’ve been away a lot or had weekends with family (these usually involve eating out). But I’m now fast approaching another milestone. 

Only 4 pounds down from my last post but consistently 1 pound down a week for almost a month now. I’m hoping to push that to 2 pounds a week soon as I’ll have less social events his next month. I doubt I’ll hit my aim of 10 stone by my birthday but anything even close to that would be amazing!! Looking back over my food diaries and weight charts shows me that I haven’t been under 11st for nearly 2 years!! This week will be my week. 10st something is gonna show on that scale on Monday! And even if I don’t hit 10st flat at least I’ll be solidly in the 10s by my birthday. 

I’ve found it is very important to have goals but also to be kind to yourself if you’re not meeting them as quickly as you think you should. I’m still making steady progress, that’s all that matters. 

On the exercise front I have hit a few lift PBs recently. I’m never overly sure what weights in lifting as Rash tends to sneak more on there while I’m trying to breath in the breaks between rounds. But she always lets me know when I’ve hit a new high. Leg press is now up to 130kg (yay!!) and I believe hip thrusts were up too although if forget what. I feel slimmer and stronger and people at work have started to comment which is always nice. 

I’ve also started doing more at home on my own. While twice a week with Rash is awesome and she pushes me way harder than I would push myself. More was needed. So I’ve started doing some HIIT sessions in the week. So far just one a week but I’m hoping to fit another one in there somewhere. And maybe even a yoga session – although there’s no pressure for that one. Only if I find the time or need a study break. I do need to get back into the habit of regular stretching though! I’ve found my hamstrings are tight as are my glutes which I think might be giving me back ache. Hopefully a little more stretching and/or yoga will sort me out. Then hopefully my next sports massage won’t hurt quite so much (fingers crossed). 

I haven’t really set a goal for after my birthday yet. And I still haven’t really thought about where is ultimately like to be size-wise. I’m more concerned with waist measurement and it would be good to get back in the healthy zone there. I know a lot of the fat scales are rather subjective but it’s a good thing to aim for. Some of that will come down to diet and I will have to look more closely at what foods are not sitting well with me. I’ve cut out a lot of the ones I know I have intolerances to but there must be others. I fear rice will be the first to go and possible pasta too. Quinoa and potatoes are looking like carb friends now. Always seems to take more prep than pasta or rice! Never mind. It’ll be better in the long run. The aim is to be down on inches as well as pounds in Monday. Wish me luck! I’ll let you know how I do 😊🏋🏻