Back on it! - Update

Hello my lovely dieters :)
After my fiasco of a 3lb gain after surgery...I can happily say those 3 little pounds have gone away. Phew! I am still having troubles in the poopy department due to meds but I hope it goes away soon....
So now I am back to square one. 3lbs away from a 2 stone loss *sigh*
The nurse who changed my bandage today really hurt me...so walking is going to be very slow.
Lets see how much I can lose like this!

I'm back from Surgery...

Well what can I say. Surgery was traumatic like I thought it would be. No not the actual wound itself...the anaesthetic was worse! (the thing that makes you sleep)


I woke up ill as anything. I watched other patients go in and out of the room, all recovering nicely. But the anaesthetic had made me ill. I ended up staying for 2 extra hours with extra anti-sickness fluid given to me. That being said, I magically gained 3lbs overnight. My guess is that the fluid they gave me from the drip in combination with not eating for an entire day & suddenly eating when I got home, not being able to....*cough* poop etc has made me gain this weight.
It is quite depressing and I hope that the 3lbs go away soon.

I can walk (yay) but I can't walk fast enough for it to be called exercise. Hence why I am nervous about gaining weight. Ah well...lets see if I can recover quick enough.

:( NOOOOO!!!! I'm having surgery.

Ugh...guys, I am having surgery tomorrow which means a lot of things wont be good for me.


1. I wont be able to blog for a while
2. I don't know how long it will take for me to heal up
3. I WONT BE ABLE TO WALK OR DO EXERCISE
4. I will be sitting down most of the time...I am scared this will make me gain weight.
5 I am going to fall way behind on my diet plan, which means it is going to take me even longer to lose the weight :(

This has totally disrupted my diet :( I don't want to gain weight and stop losing weight. It could take me a month or maybe longer to get better...

*Gulp* Before & After Pictures - Almost 2 stone

The before picture is the only thing I could find, because I rarely took photos of my body. I think the difference shows a lot more in person, but I'll show you anyway.
I still have a lot more to go if you read my previous post.

Putting these pictures up is a huge step for me! The After picture was taken at 21 lbs I think, so I have lost a bit more weight since then. I have currently lost 25lbs.

This is the lowest I have been since I was maybe...14? huge step!!!

Mini Goals :)

Starting weight 14.8 stone.
Current weight 12.11 stone.

I thought that it would probably be wise to sit down and figure out what comes next. My Dukan analysis told me that I would reach 10.11 stone by the end of November. Since I am only 5'4 and have a naturally small frame, I have to go a little more than that. I have to reach around 9.5 stone. I will be happy at 10, but health wise it would be better to lose a bit more.

Goals:

1. Reach under 11 stone by the end of November
2. From December till March, reach 10 stone. 
3. From March until June (1 year on from the day I started) reach 9.5 stone.

So that means I have to lose 2 stone by December. I think it's doable. I think it's always good to give yourself a realistic amount of time, because if you manage to lose weight quicker it makes you feel better! I am currently losing around 2-3lbs a week. 
Good news is I am 3lbs away from 2 stone loss!

If you guys have any goals you want to talk about, let me know in the comments. Happy Dieting!

Stretch Marks - follow up post.

I am sure some of you saw my stretch mark rant in my last post. I am very VERY thankful for your comments. I took each of them into account and have been doing some research! You all have very kind and reassuring words!

I was going through all of my old cosmetics and what not, when I found a tiny pink and white bottle unopened amongst my junk. It read 'Rio Rosa Mosqueta' and I remembered that my mother had got it for me after I had some scarring from eczema. I decided to research it and WHY HAVE I NEVER USED IT BEFORE? 90% ...yes 90% of people who use this see a difference. 

It helps:

• Scars
• Stretch Marks
• Fine Lines
• Crow's Feet
• Sun Damage
• Dry Skin 
• Wrinkles

(even if you already have them!)
So, I myself have dry skin, stretchmarks, fine lines, scars and developing crows feet. This product is perfect for me as a little goes a long way AND it soaks into my skin. I am using it once in the morning and once at night all over my face and scarred body areas. I have a few freckles from the sun and some rosacea. I will update you on how it is. Read the testimonials on the website, they help! My skin so far feels moisturised.

Stretch Marks.

If there is one thing that really depresses me, it is the awful stretchmarks I have developed over the years. If I was married, had kids and happy with my life it would not be that big of a problem. I am in my twenties, I haven't met someone yet. It will be a problem having to find someone my age who is comfortable with having a girlfriend with stretchmarks, as silly as it sounds. I have them all over my lower tummy, my hips, my lower back, my upper arms, my (ahem) boobs and the middle of my stomach. Great.
I don't exactly know what treatments are available, but it is highly depressing. I don't think I can wear a bikini. Anyone know of treatments?

Cinnamon Muffins

Vicki posted a cinnamon muffin recipe and i love love love them!
Recipe here <<<<click

Update + confidence.

Starting weight: 6th June 2011 = 14.8 stone
Current weight: 16th July 2011 = 13 stone

Hoorah. I have reached 13 stone. As soon as I lose one more lb I will be at my lowest weight within my teenage years. I am 21 now, and thinking about this is giving me motivation. Yes the weightloss IS slower, but that is expected.


Now that I have lost some weight, I feel like a tiny bit of confidence has crept its way back into my mind. I am just out of University and looking for a job. Ask me to search for a job one year ago and I would have been nervous as hell. I don't know if I am alone on this, but I always used to get that feeling that an interviewer would judge me too much on my appearance and refuse to give me a job subconsciously. Sounds silly but that's how my mind has adapted to thinking. At least now a smart outfit for work wont look AS bad as it did before. Once I am in the 12 point something range... I know that I am a lot closer to 10 stone than I was before.

I am due my period tomorrow. Going to have the time of my life as per usual (sarcasm people, sarcasm) ... I need to see if my period is as light as last month. My body is having a tough time adjusting to my new weight within a month. I am obviously carrying a bit of period weight, hence no weight loss today.

I am going to try vicki's cinnamon muffin recipe! I feel bad that my chocolate oat bran muffins did not work for everyone. I'm not sure why they only worked for me... I will try to update the recipe having read all of your tries at it.

Bad Breath? + Meal Diary

A kind of diet like the Dukan can lead to really awful breath. I wake up (with bad breath) brush my teeth, use moutwash, and wahey I don't feel it anymore! One hour later and it's back. AGHHH. I need to get rid of it but I am not sure how...

I haven't really posted any meal diaries, so maybe I can start here. I do include more protein vegetable days than just pure protein, and YES I eat carbs once a day. Only the good ones! And I am still losing weight. Kind of like my own rendition of the Dukan. Do what suits your body best I say!

Yesterday:

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs and one wholemeal toast. A mug of tea and a chocolate oat bran cookie (recipe anyone?)

Lunch: Chicken Salad (Cucumbers, sweet lettuce, tomatoes, french beans) and light dressing with WATER.

Dinner: Lean fillet steak, cooked tomatoes, leaks,  2 large mushrooms and low salt/low sugar ketchup. WATER.

That was all!

I am also on my 21st lb. Exciting :)

20 lbs lost - Month 2, Day 4.

This is a proud moment for me. Not too long ago I blogged that I had lost 17lbs. But finally, I have hit 20!!! <3
This is huge for me because in 3lbs, I will be in the 12's! well 12.13 that is...
I started off as 14.8 stone, I am only planning to go on with this diet until November for health reasons.
I have also started to eat one wholemeal toast every morning. I feel like the carbs are needed for our bodies and for now, this one carb is enough.

Everyone update me on how you are doing. I love knowing everyone's journeys. Please also tell me your average weightloss per week :)

"you have halved!" Compliments & Cravings

-I still can't comment on anyone's blogs fyi :( 

That's a direct quote from my brother. I hadn't seen him in months and he noticed my weight loss right away. He keeps telling me I have 'halved' but obviously I haven't just yet. I am on my 18th lb so far, which is HUGE for me. I have never been that good on a diet yet not slipped up once.
I keep thinking that at some point I will slip up...But I haven't yet...YET.
I am officially a size down in my clothes <3 and I can finally see a difference in my stubborn areas.

I stepped up my exercise. Walking twice a day now and more up hill!

I am REALLY CRAVING CHOCOLATE. I can't handle this. Even my Oat Bran muffins aren't cutting it since I want that melty...gooey goodness. argh.



Stay Motivated peeps!

1 Month Summary: 17lbs down

6th of June: Starting Weight 14.8 stone
3rd of July: Current Weight 13.5 and a half stone!
Total Weight loss: 17lbs in almost a month

I have almost reached the 20lb mark! Can't believe it!
I am just using this opportunity to update you guys on how I'm feeling, what I'm doing blah blah.
Currently, I love the fact that I don't need to hide my ass under a cardigan just as much any more. It feels good! Imagine how I'll feel in a month?
Last month my period felt VERY light, I am waiting for the 17th of July to see how my period is then. I'm guessing the weight loss has confused my body a bit.

I am getting to the point where recipes in my brain are not coming very fast. I'm getting stuck for ideas. I do not eat seafood so I am looking for chicken/beef/turkey recipes. Paste links of recipes that you like in the comments. It would help me a lot!

Don't you just love the fact that you can turn to someone in a conversation and say "Hey I don't eat McDonalds! or drink CocaCola" (Well I wouldn't suggest you drink CocaCola or eat Mcdonalds anyway, BDS)
But it's like, yeah, I'm healthy. Yay!

I'm also making some other changes. I am drying my hair naturally to let it grow out healthier. My hair used to be black/brown but from damage it's going brown. Not even joking lol.


Here are some blogs I am currently reading:
http://dukanmemoirs.blogspot.com/
http://dukanblogging.blogspot.com/
http://veerukka.blogspot.com/
http://alexasdukanblog.blogspot.com/
http://lebbok.blogspot.com/
http://lmcontrary.blogspot.com/

Happy Dieting!

CHOCOLATE Oat Bran Muffins! Get your chocolate fix :)

Ingredients:

11g of Baking Powder

50g of Hot Chocolate powder (Low in fat)

30g of Cocoa Powder (Low fat)

2 eggs

6tbsp of oatbran

One cup of milk

Sweetener (I used 5 tablespoons because my sweetener isn't that sweet. Use your sweetener according to taste)

Method:

Mix all of the ingredients (minus the milk) together until a paste. Slowly add the milk and mix more. (if you feel like it is becoming too liquidy, stop pouring in the milk!)
Put 2.5 tablespoons of the mixture into each cupcake casing. (Use silicone ones if possible)

Set the oven to 170 degrees Celsius and leave for 20-25 minutes.

If eating on the 2nd day, warm up your muffin for 10 seconds in the microwave.

Enjoy! Let me know if you try it :)