Another 6 lbs lost this week!

At this rate I might just lose 5 stone by the end of the Foundation phase, which ends in only 4 weeks...

I'm noticing that I feel the cold much, much more now. I guess I'm losing my insulation, and at a fast rate as well, so it's taking my body time to catch up with the changes...

My biggest thrill recently was being able to get into a whole pile of clothes that I've held onto for about 6 years! I have a pinstripe trouser suit I bought in 2002/03 and haven't worn since. I was thrilled to get into it yesterday - and wore it today! Plus another (linen) suit from 1998/9, two dresses, several tops and a couple of skirts. No trousers (except pedal pushers for the summer) because I always wear them to rags. At this rate of weight loss I won't get much wear out of that linen suit. I hope the weather improves very soon!

It all feels a bit unreal as, even though I held onto those clothes, I seriously doubted I'd ever be able to wear them again. I now have a brand new (old) wardrobe! But, once past these sizes, I'm going to have to buy brand new - or from charity shops. And the great thing is, I will at last be able to get into clothes in charity shops - they don't usually have big enough sizes for me!

These past few weeks, we've been working on what Lighter Life calls "hot thoughts" and what I've previously known as "automatic negative thoughts". I have to confess that none of this is new to me, but it's still been interesting to look at it again. It's basically all about challenging these thoughts, working out if there's any basis in reality for them, and replacing them with more rational thinking.

This week we've been looking at the "drama triangle" of Persecutor, Rescuer and Victim. I first heard of this idea years ago from my therapist friend Kate, but the way it was applied today was new to me. The notion is all about recognising when you're in which role, and how to break out of it and act from your "adult" ego. Interesting stuff. We realised that within our own group, a lot of rescuing goes on! "Don't beat yourself up about your slip", etc!!

This past week I took part in some rescuing myself (as it was pointed out to me today!) and in a little bit of cheating (little being the operative word). Last weekend, grandson Jamie really wanted me to try his new rice crispies from Lidl. As he didn't seem to understand why I couldn't have any, I gave in and tasted only one! In this instance, I gave in - so that was me rescuing Jamie's feelings. Even though it was a conscious choice on my part, it was all about rescuing Jamie. Hmmm...!

I also liked that, instead of talking about "cheating" or whatever, our LL counsellor talked about how this food "wasn't part of my food programme."

I confess to another instance of eating/drinking something not in my food programme. My elderly friend Audrey died on 21 March and her funeral was yesterday. Afterwards, daughter Laurie and I went for a coffee at the Lochalsh Hotel, a favourite haunt, mainly (if not only!) because of the big squishy sofas and the view. I don't really like black tea or coffee (no milk on Lighter Life!) and realised I didn't have any peppermint teabags on me. I settled for an Earl Grey teabag from the botton of my handbag (I went through a very short phase of enjoying it black) and, having found I still really don't like it much at all, I ended up putting some milk in it. That was verrry nice. And that "slip" led to more when I decided to have some of Laurie's coffee and just have some milk with it too. Y-u-m! I must have drunk all of a couple of fluid ounces of milk, so I really don't feel too bad about it!

I've hit the 3 stone mark - and more!

My weigh in today said that I'd lost another 5.5 lbs - that's a total of 44.5 lbs or 3 stone 2.5 lbs!! Yippee!! I have actually already met my initial target!!

I got another photo taken tonight as I felt that last one wasn't quite showing the extent of the weight loss - and besides I'm now 11.5 lbs lighter than 2 weeks ago! Tonight's photo is much clearer, I think. Judge for yourselves!

27 January 2009 24 March 2009 - 3 stone 2.5 lbs lighter.
Less chin, no bum shelf(!), slimmer forearms, smaller tummy, smaller bust, cheekbones beginning to show, even my eyes look bigger! A total of 3" off my bustline, 6" off my waist and 6.5" off my hips.

And just in time for my 53rd birthday tomorrow!

Another 6 lbs lost

I'm just too busy at the moment to keep up with this blog properly but had to report the latest weight loss at least, while I wait for the boiled water for my CPAP machine to cool!

I've been very tired this week and am not at all sure why. I seem to have a couple of weeks up and then a week down, or at least that's been the pattern for the last month anyway. We'll see what happens next month!

Weight loss goes on, sometimes I get a bit fed up with it, but it's just a case of putting it to the back of my mind and getting busy doing something else and looking forward to the next food pack.

I've discovered "poppadums" made with the Thai Chilli soups and they're delicious! Unfortunately, the length of time they take to cook in the microwave can be a bit hit and miss depending on how much water you mix with them in the first place. The one I made tonight was a bit burned... It wasn't the first time I've had to eat a burnt one (though they're usually chicken soup ones...)!

I've also discovered chocolate shake "muffins", again cooked in the microwave. They're scrummy too but Thai Chilli "poppadums" are still my favourite for just now.

The weight loss really does keep up the motivation, I have to say, without it I might have wavered by now. Most of my co-Lighter Lifers have "cheated" at some point or other. I'm grateful that I have such a firm resolve about this and am watching the weight just falling off me.

I do notice quite a difference myself. Others have been commenting on it for a week or two but I'm now beginning to notice that my ankles are thinner, my face is different, my eyes are looking larger(!), my waist slimmer and a few days ago I looked down at my legs as I sat down and realised they look different. It's quite remarkable, really, but, for me at least, the quick weight loss is one of the strengths of the programme, especially when you have as much weight to lose as I do.

That's 2 stone 11 lbs / 39 lbs gone now. My scales read 19 stone 2 1/4 lbs on Tuesday so, hopefully, I'll be under 19 stone on my scales by next week. 18 stone something will feel very good, as it's a long time since I've been there!

Oh and here's the before and "after" pics I've been promising for a while.

Before starting on the Lighter Life programme:After 6 weeks and 33 lbs lost:

I've lost the "shelf" from the top of my bum. I can feel that myself, let alone need to see it in a photo. I'm sure my next pic will be even more dramatic!

I'm way behind with the news...

but suffice to say, for just now (as I don't have time tonight to write) that I've now lost a total of 33 lbs altogether - 5.5 last week and 3 this week - that's 2 stone 5 lbs. :-D

What seems to mean more to me is that my own bathroom scales say I'm now 19 stone 10 lbs (on Tuesday 10th, that is!). I'm sooo pleased to be under 20 stone again. Lots of very positive comments from lots of people about how I'm looking different. But no time just now to write about it...!