Tuesday 9 April 2013

Xenical struggles

Struggling today to keep on the straight and narrow. I am hoping that this blip can be put right with better planning.

Breakfast was ok but lunch and dinner I strayed above the 15 g mark - not excessively but enough for me to worry.

My eating has been quite off the cuff with lots of guesstimating of fat contents.

Alongside the poor planning I think it may be that time of the month quite soon. So I guess I should just be grateful that I have not gone overboard with chocolates.

Here's to a better xenical tomorrow.

Monday 8 April 2013

Xenical - What can you eat?

There is a vast difference between what you can eat and what you should eat whole taking Xenical... As I learned the hardway after eating a low fat paella which weighed in at about 19 g of fat. Cramping started about an hour after dinner and I am lucky that was it!

Xenical's side effects are quite well documented, so I have made a conscious effort to ensure that I am trouble free.

The rule of thumb for eating while taking Xenical aka Orlistat is to eat no more than 15 grams of fat at each meal.

So I have been eating simple, filling and healthy meals such as beans with whole meal toast, soft boiled eggs and toast, some soups and stir fry.

When I get peckish I look for fruits and vegetables. And when that is not enough? Pretzels are a low fat alternative to crisps and marshmallows reduce my sweet tooth.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Belly dancing my way to fitness: The health benefits of belly dance

First belly dancing class out of the way and I'm already feeling the results of shimmying away the calories. My posture feels stronger and I have to admit that my abs have a pleasant ache to them. It's nice to feel like my body is actually working!

Over the next 10 classes (and beyond!) I'm hoping to unlock the other health benefits of belly dance, such as:

1.) Reduced back and joint pain

Shimmies, back drops, circles and figures of eight work wonders at gently putting the joints and ligaments of the lower back and hip through the full range of motion. These repetive movements result in an increased synovial fluid flow - lubricating these joints. When done properly - with the pelvis tucked - you're at reduced risk of lower back problems. Improving the tone of these muscle groups not only improves your posture - it helps prevent the back pain which results from curvature of the spine which results from lordosis, or weak muscle groups.

2.) Stress reduction

When we are stressed, our bodies get tense - resulting in contractions in the neck, shoulders and back. This causes lactic acid to build up and reduces blood flow. By stretching and using these muscle groups while you are belly dancing, you increase this blood flow to these areas and help to flush out lactic acid. Instead of clenched, tense muscles, you will be limber and supple. In addition to its physical benefits, it reduces psychological stresses.


3.) Enhanced digestion

Work around the torso, such as belly rolls, encourage food to move through the digestive system more efficiently. While this is true of any form of exercise to some extent, belly dancing is especially good in this area.



Can Xenical help you lose weight?

Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough as I'm just starting my third day of Xenical to help with weight loss. A drug with an "anal leakage" side effect wasn't quite what I had in my mind when I spoke to the doctor about weight loss, but that - alone - is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow for now.

I'm not a newcomer to Xenical. When I took it previously, it was alongside a Weight Watchers diet (pre-Pro Points) which meant that I was taking in far too much fat - exposing me to some of Xenical's side effects. 

This time around, I'm taking Xenical, which is also known as Orlistat, on prescription, three times a day with meals. Thankfully I've learned a thing or two about nutrition and fat content since then. 

Well, 'learned' might be a stretch. Let's just say I'm making a concerted effort to check labels with the aim of keeping each meal's fat content below 15g. 

And so far, so good.  

Food-wise, I'm only restricted at the moment when it comes to fat - but I am trying to be sensible with this. (Marshmallows, I've discovered have only trace fat... Yummy for a snack, but NOT a staple.)

Typical breakfasts include: bagel with light spread and banana, 2 pieces wholemeal toast with 2 soft-boiled eggs and porridge. 

For lunch, I've been having ready-made salads (quinoa, orzo pasta, etc) that are low fat, alongside salad leaves. 

Dinners are kept light, too. Last night was BBQ beans on toast, and the evening before was twice-baked sweet potato with low-fat fromage frais, a very little bit of chorizo and spring onion.

To be honest, I'm following much of what I'd be eating if I was following the Slimming World eating plan. The only difference is that I'm not going for big syn treats and I'm relaxing my thinking on bread and milk. Within reason, of course.

Weigh in isn't until 29th April, so I'm going to have the keep clear of the scales. To stay on Xenical my doctor's said that I'll need to have lost 5% of my body weight within the first three months. At my last doctor's appointment, I weighed in at 19 stone 7lbs - so I'll need to show a loss of 14 lbs.

Alongside all of this, I'm going to get some more counselling to handle the issues which lead me to this point. This doesn't start until the 26th, so a bit of wait to find out how that this helps support weight loss.

More to follow...