Three month review

I've tracked my weight and measurements on the first of the quarter, on and off, since the nineties. Some years I skipped it altogether, others I managed every six months instead of every three, but on my computer there's a file tracking my dimensions for the past decade and a half. At the top of a series of tables is a summary: my highest and lowest weights and measurements.
The lowest weight is from 1991, when I did the now-defunct NutriSystem program - they supplied a week's worth of (predominantly synthetic or canned) food and conducted weekly weigh-ins. Having a history of an eating disorder was a warning flag that meant they needed to consult a physician before signing someone up, but that slowed down the sale not at all. It should have - I lost maybe 8 kilos in about seven weeks, but relapsed into the bulimic behaviour that characterised parts of my adolescence. My initial weight gain (some 30k in the time between leaving high school and dropping out of uni) is at least partly attributable to stopping the purging but keeping the binging. Fortunately I decided I'd rather be fat and relatively healthy than thin and regurgitating.
My heaviest weight was three months ago today.
I'd already decided to start Lite'n'Easy, the latest in a long line of short-lived life changing resolutions; seeing 118.2 on the scales did help a bit with the impetus. Having food automatically delivered every week has been a big part in sticking to it - I've fluctuated with my compliance on the exercise front, but stuck to the calories very well.
And it's paid off - though I'm sure my progress would be faster if I walked more consistently, and had more days beginning with a workout instead of half an hour (that inevitably stretches) online or with a book, the weigh is still coming off. That, of course, encourages me to continue. In thirteen weeks I've lost a shade under a kilo a week, or 12.2k to date, which is no bad thing. I'm trying to focus on that, and the smaller vital statistics, rather than the very long road ahead, not always successfully.
There are many things I've so far enjoyed about Lite'n'Easy - the food is varied, filling, tasty, nutritious and convenient. the two most useful aspects from a weight-loss perspective, though, are that everything's portion controlled (a serving of corn chips is a lot smaller than my usual consumption!), and the delegation of decision making. The only time I make any decisions about eating is when I place an order, and even then the choices are limited - though I have a wide selection of dinners to pick from, when it comes to lunches I can pick either the popular (default) meal or the optional (usually less interesting) alternative. That's it.
As I'll explain tomorrow, I've reconsidered my original plan because of that aspect. Instead of a three month lifestyle change kicked off with three months of Lite'n'Easy, followed by the Real Age weight loss program, prioritising my long-term health, I'm sticking with what's working for now. I need to put back the exercise, too, and that's coming. But for now, looking back, I'm going to focus on the fact that I've been sensible, that I've lost a hair over 10% of my starting weight in three months, that I'm eating two servings of fruit and at least five of vegetables every day, and that I'm stronger and have more stamina than I've had in a long time. - Alex

Week 13 - day 7 (day 90)

Though there's be a long gap between entries, I haven't (entirely) fallen off the lifestyle-change wagon. I think I've pretty much got the eating part down pat, but the exercise aspect is proving considerably easier to stop and vastly harder to restart, with the unhappy result that I've barely done anything more energetic than an amble in the past month or so. And I know this is a recurring theme, but I'm three months in and don't seem to be doing any better. On the other hand, and I think focusing on how well I'm doing as well as where I need to improve is helpfully, I'm around 8k down; though I'd rather be averaging over a kilo a week instead of just over half that, the goal is that I'm losing, consistently, at an achievable pace, and I'm track with those objectives. - Alex

Sally Symonds: 50 steps to lose 50kg and keep it off

From the back of the book-

In 2002, Sally Symonds was a professional success but a personal failure. Weighing in at 106.5kg and wearing size 24, Sally devised her own easy but highly effective way to lose weight that saw her drop a staggering 45kg in 33 weeks. Unlike many others, Sally not only kept the weight off, she lost even more.
This book follows the step-by-step approach she adopted to transform herself from a food-loving, exercise-loathing workaholic to the happy, healthy and (mostly!) wholesome person she is today.
Refreshingly honest, Sally’s mixture of creative yet practical strategies show you fun and worry-free ways to efficient and effective weight loss.
This book is what everyone needs to follow in Sally’s footsteps.

I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated of late (somewhat of an understatement there), so when I saw this book in my local library I borrowed it hoping to find inspiration. After all, it’s subtitled The inspirational story of how one woman halved her weight and doubled her life.
Unlike many weight loss stories this one isn’t pimping any particular program. In fact, one of the things that attracted me to the book was the author’s statement that, to paraphrase, she hadn’t included a lot of food and exercise information because most serial dieters already know that stuff. I also shared her frustration at the lack of stories from people who are confident and successful in other aspects of their lives but simply couldn’t lose weight. In short I thought I’d finally found a story I could relate to.
That is until page two where she admits to having a 250g chocolate block a day habit. And there she lost me. If anyone goes from eating that much chocolate a day to none at all of course they’ll lose weight, even if they do nothing else at all. That is not to say that she didn’t overhaul her entire lifestyle, because according to her book she did.
Still this wasn’t going to be the book I had hoped for. You know, one for those of us that have a mostly healthy diet and exercise regularly and still struggle to lose or maintain weight.
Much of what she says we’ve all heard before (and on a personal note I’ve done in the past or currently do). So unless you’re taking your first steps there’s nothing new here.
I can’t say that I didn’t get anything from this book but it was more of a refresher course than anything else. Like so many mothers I don’t have the luxury of being able to put myself first but it seems, from this and other stories, that the only way to succeed with weight loss is to make it your top priority.
It’s an attitude (and attendant behaviour) I have to consider very seriously before I apply it.-Lynn

Week 9, day 6 (day 62)

Dinner tonight was my first run at quite tasty sausages and gravy, with peas, corn, cauliflower and mashed potatoes with gravy - the flavour and texture were pleasant, and I've ordered another meal for next week. The rest of the food today was fine, though I had only part of the Mediterranean-style snack pasta.I retired for the evening with a mug of hot milk with cinnamon and vanilla, which was comforting and helped me get off to sleep.

I've been having a little trouble sleeping lately, though I'm not sure why - I don't feel particularly stressed, and I've been doing regular exercise, but I'm tossing, turning, and waking up unrefreshed. I know insufficient sleep increases my likelihood of eating extras, and reduces my inclination to get up and exercise, but somehow this knowledge does nothing to dismiss my (hopefully temporary) flirtation with insomnia. - Alex

Week 9, day 5 (day 61)

Dinner tonight was sweet and sour chicken with not-fried rice - it was quite pleasant, and I think I'll have it every few weeks from now on. I wasn't great on the exercise front, in part because I haven't been prioritising sleep; I had an abbreviated walk instead, and only took a couple of flights to work. - Alex

Week 9, day 4 (day 60)

Tonight I tried the seafood pasta dinner for the first time - it combines fettuccine with salmon and asparagus. Though I like all these ingredients, it was a little disappointing, mostly because the asparagus was (after the initial cooking and then microwave reheating) a little un-crisp. It was fine, just not something I think I'll be ordering every week.
I ended the evening with a low calorie but comforting mug of hot milk with honey, cinnamon, and vanilla essence.
I had a very good exercise day, too - I did the Michelle Bridges Tight, toned and terrific DVD that I see I haven't reviewed yet, and managed to complete it. I walked for half an hour, including the Killer Hill, and then took the seven flights of stairs to work. I just need to keep this up and I'll be golden! - Alex

Week 9 - day 2 (day 58)

Once again I didn't sleep well, but at least my scant four hours were in the morning, so I should be awake but not exactly crisp overnight.
I had the chicken schnitzel for dinner, around 3AM - this was my first sampling of this dish, and I quite enjoyed it. The tomato concasée was flavourful but not dominant, and the chicken was really tender.
Breakfast was vanilla crunch cereal with low-fat milk and an apple. It was also supposed to be two slices of grain and oat bread with margarine and Vegemite but, though I decided to follow the program to the letter, I think transfats are bad. Instead I had one of the slices with my post-stroll fettuccine bolognaise, reserving the extra sachet of cheese and later toasting that, with a little basil, on the second piece of bread. The other snacks were a slightly dry citrus sultana biscuit washed down with milk (to bring me up to the daily quota) and a chocolate muesli bar.
Lunch was new, Greek meatballs with Roma tomato and fetta salad. The meatballs I've had before - they're juicy and full of flavour, and though there were only two that was plenty. The salad was predominantly legumes, a combination of chick peas and lentils (which I've chosen to count in the vegie tally below). It was filling and quite pleasant, and certainly a change from the frozen bowls of rice, pasta etc.
I did the CardioWalk workout, which wasn't as exhausting as yesterday's killer circuit but which I had a little trouble keeping up with. I think this was partly because my muscles are a little fatigued, and partly because it was really humid today - warm, with a near-constant drizzle interspersed with outright rain.
I went for a walk in the rain, and voted in the state election. There was no queue, so I only stopped moving long enough to number the boxes. I popped in to the supermarket on my way home, and bought truss tomatoes (once I smelled them I couldn't face the bland ones provided, and will take them in to work instead) and basil.
I also bought a dozen Cadbury 40-60g chocolate bars, which were on sale at less than half price. I'll mail a couple to my sister overseas, where they don't have Snack; the rest I'll keep for when I modify my diet. In the past I've bought bigger blocks because they're cheaper per gram than the smaller varieties, but over the course of a day or two I'd nibble away the whole thing. This way I'll have recourse to a small treat every now and then, without eating an entire days' calories.
I intended walking the Horror Hill and the twenty 'cool down' (or 'try not to look I-spent-a-day-at-Kooyong-and-forgot-my-sun-screen scarlet') walk from there to work. I was also going to take the stairs. But I took a nap, and bed was too lovely to leave after only 80 minutes, and it was raining. So no extra walk, hill or stairs, today. - Alex

Fruit: apple, kiwi, sultanas, citrus peel
Vegetables: green beans, carrots, celery, chick peas, corn, cucumber, lentils, onion, sweet potato, tomato, tomato puree
Energy: 1713 calories
Fibre: 38.5g
Exercise:40 minutes CardioWalk DVD, 2 x 30 minutes walking on flat surface, 5 minutes walking uphill, 5 minutes of stair climbing, 20 minutes of hand weights