Judith Wills
Has it occurred to anyone that all the shouting and bluster might possibly have been diversionary tactics?
If so - you might be right.
For my bathroom scales tell me that I am nowhere near losing those recalcitrant few pounds that will get me back to the weight I was when I finished my Saga Magazine Judith Wills Diet Challenge at the end of last year. They told me, indeed, last time I reluctantly stepped on them two days ago, that I have actually put on another two pounds since the last time I told you I was going to make a determined effort to get back to target. That original target was originally set at 10 st 7lbs. I made that, and even dropped another pound for my final November 2011 weigh-in, but by the end of the Christmas break followed by a January of ill health and no exercise, I'd put on four pounds.
A few weeks back, before our holiday to the Scilly Isles, I'd wimpishly managed to claw back to 10 stone 9 - after it, I was 10 stone 10. And now, I am 10 stone 12.
Six pounds on, an average of 1lb a month. If I carry on like this, I'll be back to my original loathesome 12 stone in another year or so.
I've never got back to my 'Challenge' exercise levels despite several promises to myself and despite knowing that, for me, activity is the main key to weight control. And I'm aware that I've been eating small but regular snacks and odds and ends that I don't need. Mainly, leftovers and things hanging around that were bought for visiting sons or others and not consumed by them.
The only way I am going to control this is to never, ever, buy anything that won't fit in with my own healthy eating ideals, to put a firm curb on eating out, and to find a genuine reason to get those pounds off and, this time, keep them off. Since the end of the Challenge, the reasons I've invented for myself just haven't been good enough to keep me on top. And just saying "I want to be fit and healthy" simply isn't doing it for me.
Luckily, I have two reasons now which may just be good enough. One, we have a big family reunion at the end of September. I want to look OK for that. And two, I've just been offered some work which will involve being seen by people I want to look good for, because looking good will boost my confidence and is an important part of what's involved.
So that is why this morning saw me on the exercise equipment, why I shall be on it again tomorrow and out for a walk as well, and why for the past two days I've been saintly re. food.
Ate last night: Monkfish, prawn, red pepper and mushroom kebabs with a little bit of brown rice and a large green salad. A proper, healthy, balanced slimmers' meal if ever there was one! And so easy it doesn't need a recipe. I just brushed them with olive oil to grill, then drizzled over a dressing made with more olive oil, a bit of lemon juice, a dash of chilli and black pepper.