Restarting the Dukan diet. Kind of.

The Dukan diet helped me lose A LOT of weight. At least 2.5 stone. After that I decided to lose weight the healthier way.
Now that I have lost 4 and a half stone, The last 7-10lbs are not budging.
I have decided to do a dukan attack phase for 3 days (making sure I consume a LOT of water) and going into the cruise phase for 2 weeks.
It is my birthday soon and I'd like to reach my target before then. Wish me luck!

Before and after...again!

From 14.8 to 10 stone.

Should I try Dukan again?

If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know I was doing the Dukan diet. In combination with the fact that it made me lose a LOT of weight quickly and the fact that I wasn't eating enough...I suffered health problems (nothing too bad) and I stopped.
Now I am 10.1 stone and wish to lose 10lbs more (I currently weigh 64kilos and 141 lbs for confused people)
I have lost 2lbs in the past 2/3 weeks which sucks! It is my birthday in a month and I am desperate for a kick start!
Shall I do a week of fierce dukaning to restart my diet? What do you think?

I wear a UK size 12...but I feel like I look bigger?! (Pictures)

Hello all. Just thought I'd update you.
So I finally fit into UK size 12 trousers (that'a a 8-10 in the US? but I'm not sure)
... Sometimes I find myself buying small dresses too!
This may sound all happy and dandy, but for some reason I feel like I look bigger. I'm sure you guys will agree with me in these pictures. Can anyone explain why I look in the mirror and see something bigger than the size I am wearing?

Do you like my wedgie?

(On a side note I noticed in my 'Stats' that someone is viewing my blog from the Palestinian territories. This is amazing. Please let me know if you are! mydietdiary@hotmail.co.uk)

Skinny Jeans/Weight Loss update.

I have always loved skinny jeans...but have never owned a proper pair. Being a UK size 18/20 I had always worn skinny jeans but they never looked skinny, obviously because I didn't have the right frame for them.
I reached 10.3 stone today which is a HUGE milestone for me. I was stuck at 10.8 at Christmas and the weight would not shift. I think it might be to do with the fact that I started a new job and some pounds decided to drop!
I want to squeeze myself into a UK size 12 but I might be pushing it. Hopefully I can get to under 10 stone soon so I can try...

Losing 2lbs is progress...right?

Today I hopped on the scales after 3 days on my period and some extra dieting. It looks like I have lost 2ish lbs! It was playing on 10.5 and 10.6... so I will see where that balances tomorrow.
Yesterday I was so frustrated by my weight loss stall, I thought I was going to stay at 10.7 forever. I thought to myself, If I went from 14.8 to 10.7 in 6 months...I can surely go further.
Motivation is back! I hope I get into the 9's soon.

Fresh start.

As some of you may know I lost 4 stone since June 2011. I was hoping to reach my ideal weight for my height by March. So that means 1 or 1 and a half stone.
However, it sucks to be me right now since my weight loss has halted. No, before anyone asks, I am not at the ideal weight for my height. I am still overweight for my small 5'4 frame.

I have decided that starting from tomorrow I am going to do a weeks Kick Start. I will be eating similar meals to that which I ate during Dukan but include more of a variety. I think that's where I went wrong.

I am currently a UK size 14 in trousers and a 12 in tops/dresses. Not bad...certainly better than a size 20 that I was.
By March I want to lose another size. 12 on bottom and 10 on top. That's my ideal! Wish me luck.

Question from 'Moonday'

Q: "Hi Anna, from your pictures you look almost perfect weight. I am saying "almost", as they are not very defined, so it's hard to tell. Are you going by your own "weight-wishes" or by what Dukan says?
CONGRATULATIONS on an amazing job so far!!!!!"

A: Thanks! I am not following the Dukan diet anymore. This is how I am calculating my target weight. For someone my height, you have to be between 8-10 stone. I am currently at 10.8 which is slightly overweight. I want to get to about 9 or 9 and a half as it is the midway point.
Regarding the pictures, I have mentioned in other posts that people in my family have very narrow frames and we often look smaller than what we are. I just need to find a new diet to kick start my weight loss again :)

I'M BACK! 4 stone lost! 10.8 stone.

Hello all...

Forgive me! after a brief break from blogger I am now back. I have lost 10lbs since you guys last saw me and it has taken AGES.
I have one more stone to lose and it is not coming off let me tell you that. I am clueless as to how I should lose this last stone. I am currently slightly over the maximum weight for my height at 10.8 stone. I wish to get to 9.7 to 9.3 stone. Why must the last hurdle be so difficult :(

Any tips?

UPDATED Before & After pictures (part 2)

I'm back! 11.3 stone - Almost 50lbs lost

Hello all.
I have been a bit busy for the past month with my job and everything, so I haven't been able to update. I have been reading your inspirational blogs all that I could and have been dieting at the same time.
My weight loss has been slow which is to be expected at this stage. There were 2 weeks where I didn't lose any weight at all, so I am happy to be back on track and losing weight again. I dropped another dress size which is cool. I also don't notice it in my appearance as much as other people do... My legs feel very different but other than that...I don't see it.
Being 3-4 dress sizes down must mean I look different though? That's what is keeping me motivated.

So today I hit the scales at 11.3 stone. My original weight was 14.8 stone. To be near the 10 section is a little crazy! I have 2 stone and 3lbs left before I am finished. Ideally I would love to be finished by March or April but who knows!
December is my next target which is *drum roll* 10.8 stone (8lbs)  I hope I can do it...

UPDATE Almost 40lbs

Hello all. I am almost at my 1st target! I am currently at 38lbs lost, and want to get to 40 by next monday...
I am carrying a bit of period weight which may delay this slightly!

Starting Weight: 14.8 stone (6th June)
Current Weight: 11.12 stone (22nd Sept)

NEVER in my life would I have imagined to be in the 11's! I have to wait for my period to be over before I can go further...

I'm back!

Hello all. I have had a busy couple of days, no time to blog at all...
My health has been really awful...a blood test result showed my body is not doing well.

Anywho! I am finally in the 11's! I am currently at 11.13 stone for the 1st time in my adult life. I thought being in the 12's was cool...
I am buying clothes 2 or 3 sizes smaller which is great! Buying dresses slightly shorter and denim!

Starting weight: 14.8 stone
Current weight: 11.13 stone.

Happy dieting!

New Recipes to try

Here is a list of new recipes I want to try. My point in posting this is you guys might get some ideas from it too!

• Gazpacho! (cold spanish tomato soup)
• Fruit protein shake
• Poached eggs on a roasted vegetable salad
• Tofu noodle pasta (If I can find a place to get them from)
• Chicken shawarma with wholemeal bread
• String bean and beef stir fry 

Any new recipes you guys will be trying? 

Update

Starting weight: 14.8 stone
Current weight: 12.1 stone

Hello all! So now that I am on my 35th lb I decided to think about my goals again.

I am losing 1 lb every 4 days (sometimes 3 days) so here are my next few goals:

Lose 1 stone by November: 11 stone
From November - January: 10 stone
From January - March: 9.5 stone
From March I see where it goes! 

I made the goals quite far apart to make them more realistic. At the moment I seem to be ahead of my goals.
I hope these goals are doable!

New diet routine

I just want to say a big thank you for all of the comments on my last post. It's amazing to know I have the support from you guys!!!
I am still eating oatbran, I think it's a good substitute for when I want to make cakes etc...
I am still losing weight on this new way of eating I have been trying.

I am currently on 34lbs. This is a typical day for me:

Breakfast:

Oatbran pancake with a banana, apple, and strawberry smoothie.

Lunch:
Lebanese style chicken shish taouk, a side salad and garlic sauce

Dinner:
Either a beef steak with roasted veggies, or my healthy version of moussaka.

For snacks I eat fruit or raisins!

As you can see this is not too different from Dukan. I will still check back with the book every now and then for tips. I am adding in hair friendly food, fruit and spinach.

Saying bye to dukan...

Well, I don't know how to quite put this. I'm no longer following the Dukan diet. I was taking out my hair in clumps this week, which is caused by fad dieting. My hair is looking paper thin and I am truly upset. I am going to carry on dieting as normal, but I am going to do it the normal way. This diet has potentially ruined my hair, so thanks for that!
If you feel like you only want to follow this blog if it's dukan related, unfollow if you like! But this will be a healthy diet diary.
I respect anyone who wishes to do this diet, but it's just not for my body in particular. Has anyone had symptoms out of the ordinary?

30lbs lost (13.6 kilos) Month 3, Week 2.

Hello Dieters. Just a quick post to say I have lost 30lbs now. I thought I was stuck at 12.10 stone earlier on in the month when I had surgery. Phew, I am now at 12.6. A couple of lbs really do make a difference to your appearance. It's a weird feeling seeing your body wasting away.

On a quick note, the stretchmarks on my hips seem to be fading for no apparent reason at all. With all of the research I did on the topic, I never saw that losing weight could help the appearance. I am not sure about the ones on my lower back since I am all bandaged up. But let's see soon!

Measuring.

I thought I'd do a different post today. Non Dukan related.

I regret not measuring my waist before I started dieting. I wore a UK 38C bra but I am pretty sure my waist was a little bigger than that. I have to say I am probably more on the B cup side now. I'm not fussed though!

Today I measured my waist and I am 34.5 inches! I can only estimate I was around 39 inches before maybe? Maybe more? 40? who knows. I guess I never wanted to do it for obvious reasons. I always had a really small waist comparing to my hips, so it was not really an area I focused on measuring.
I have sisters. One of my sisters who I am most similar to is at a normal weight. She is 8.5 stone and looks a really good size. If she weighed anymore than 9.5 stone she would look chubby. Her waist is around 30-32. My aim is going to be 32 if I am already close to 34. I honestly thought I would be 34 at the end of this diet, now I'm shocked! I forgot everything has to do with your personal frame.
Let me know if you guys have done any measuring! I regret not measuring more parts of my body. My legs look so different too. I know my aim is 9.5 stone now. Before, it was 10 stone.

Weigh in - Month 2, Week 1

I have been really careful recently considering the fact that my weight loss is suddenly much slower. I thought to myself "If I am still at 12.8 stone tomorrow I will be really sad and know that this diet is not for me"
Well thankfully today I am at 12.7 stone! It seems as though I lose an lb every 3 days now instead of every 2 days like before. That's normal I guess!
I'm just a bit of a perfectionist... My starting weight was 14.8 stone. Um...I have just noticed what a difference that is. I think once I get to 12 stone or even 11.13...It will hit me that I have lost a lot of weight.
Yesterday I was food shopping for my diet needs and I saw a girl from my old secondary school (age 11-18 school for those of you in the US) she stopped and stared at me for a second...and gave me the oddest look (we weren't exactly 2 peas in a pod) but that fact that she looked me up and down meant something I think.