Ah, how little things please my little mind

I've been wandering the internet aimlessly today...ok, so I should have been working or cleaning, but sometimes you have to have a lazy day...or week in my case.

I came across My Virtual Model - a site which allows you to create a 3d-generated model of your body shape.

It is well worth a try if you're bored or wanting to get an idea of what your body will look like when you reach goal.

Calling All Hedonistic Shoppers!

While I can endure shopping, I must confess there isn't the slightest bit of hedonistic pleasure in it for me. Somewhere between children screaming and ladies blocking the aisles with their trolleys, any zeal I had for shopping dissipates...usually around the veg aisle!

I have a tendency to go crazy in my local Tesco's and empty the crisp aisle into my trolley, even though I have only come in for a 'few bits' to buy like milk or bread. By the time I'm unloading the shopping, I realise that I have ended up with lots of junk food...again!

However, according to new US research reported by Medical News Today, it seems that not only am I not alone in this problem, but there is a way to avoid impulse purchases and stick to a healthy diet: Use a shopping list!

According to the study, the decision on what a shopper will purchase is stimulus-based, meaning what is placed in front of us. However, writing a shopping list prior to your weekly shop creates "memory-based" decisions. This causes you to recall store items (as well as your diet plan) before you plan out your meals for the week.

The researchers write in their findings: "We find that consumers who must generate options from memory are more likely to select fun, hedonistic, and sinful options over sensible options or 'appropriate" options.'"

Well, tomorrow is shopping day, so I'll break out the pen and paper and give it a whirl. Let's hope that it works!!

Today I have had:

Breakfast TOTAL: 2

Erm...Quavers (2)

Lunch TOTAL: 12

Chili Jacket Potato with butter (7.5), coleslaw (1), salad (0), maltesers (3.5)

Dinner TOTAL: 8.5

Ham sandwich with salad and coleslaw (5), Walkers baked crisps (1.5), banana (1.5), granola bar (1.5)

Comment

Didn't really get my day off to a brilliant start! Yes, Quavers hit the spot in between classes, however a banana would have been much better! I still didn't get any calcium in....thank god for vitamins, but I'll try harder tomorrow!

Swap Shop

While my ultimate goal is the elusive size 10 jeans, a large part of my motivation is health-related. I not only want to be healthy in size, but in body and spirit as well. Sacrifices must be made in any pursuit, however, it makes life more enjoyable when compromises can be found. I've an unlucky combination of sweet and savoury tooth which means my diet has become one big swap shop! While I am aware that more changes need to be made to further my cause, so far, my swaps include:
Semi-skimmed milk (1.5 pt) for skimmed milk (1 pt)
Butter - 2 tsp (2 pt) for Flora Diet - 2 tsp (.5 pt)
Full-fat chocolate mousse (6 pt) for Low fat/sugar chocolate mousse (3 pt)
Chinese takeaway (endless points) for Iceland sweet & sour chicken balls (5pt)

While portion sizes are being reined in, there's only one food which really bugs me as I can not honestly think of a swap - garlic bread. I've sold myself on the idea that I am best off without this more-ish delight as it causes stinky breath - and I'll stick with that. Oh and I am far too aware that one baguette is worth more than a day's allowance.

As the weeks rack up, I'm transforming into a points bore. The mere sight of a decadant treat sends the abacus in my head racing to calculate. Today, for example, I found myself drawn to the savoury aromas of pasties on the high street. Months ago, I wouldn't have paused for thought - however, when my inner accountant rattled off a score of 15 points, I quickly moved on past the many bakery windows. While I was momentarily fixated on them, I managed to quell the urge and soon realised it was hunger but greed rumbling my belly!

Today, I've had:
Breakfast - TOTAL: 3 points
2 Warburtons Crumpets (2.5), Flora Light - 2 tsp (.5)
Lunch - TOTAL: 6 points
WW Turkey & Salad sandwich (4 ), banana (1.5), Golden Lights crisps (1.5)
Dinner - TOTAL: 10.5 points
Ham & salad sandwich with coleslaw (5), Walkers Baked Crisps (1.5), 2 chocolate mousses (4),
Snacks - TOTAL: 4 points
pink & whites x 6 (4)
TOTAL: 23.5 points
Comments: Lots of fruit and veg although I'm lacking on calcium. Need to point in some milk tomorrow - although it will be skimmed. Oh, and still having far too many treats! But, I haven't felt 'hunger' once which is definitely a good thing.

Is starvation causing delirium?

Well, I'm not sure if it's the evacuation of the remainder of the flu virus in my system or still being ecstatic over my loss, but I've been bouncing off the walls for nearly 48 hours now!

Several WW-ers have mentioned that the first 6 weeks of the plan leaves you feeling exhausted and to be honest, by week 5 of it, I was close to ending my pursuit of the size 10 completely! But, I stuck it through and am pleased to say that there isn't just a light at the end of the tunnel - it's quite damn beautiful basking in it. God, I'm making myself sick...for an eternal pessimist to feel so optimistic is quite off-putting.

I've spent the last few days concentrating on more fresh foods and here's what I've done:

Monday Total points used: 22.5 points
AM: Nachos from uni bar (7.5) Maltesers - Small bag (3.5) TOTAL: 11 points
PM: Stirfry with 90g organic steak (2points), 3 tsp olive oil (2.5 points), zero point veg including: cabbage, leek, red onion, red pepper, mushrooms (0 points), 2 healthy living chocolate sponge (7 points) = 11.5 points

Tuesday Total points used: 24 points
AM: Beef hotpot from uni (7 points), 3 potato wedges (4.5 points), carrots (0 points), maltesers - small bag (3.5) TOTAL: 15 points
PM: Stirfry with chicken breast (2.5 points), 2 tsp oil (2.5 points), zero point veg including: mangetout, broccoli, yellow pepper, mushrooms, garlic, red onion (0 points), soy sauce (0 points), 2 ww belgian chocolate mousses (4 points) TOTAL: 9 points

Comments - Quite good dinners however I need to choose slightly better during the daytime. Oh - and I think I need to curb my reliance on chocolate too :( Within the next two weeks, I will be reducing my points allowance further, to 23 points per day - and if I want to have a feeling of fullness, I need to try harder than this. Saying that, those stirfries are both tasty and filling! A bargain at twice the points! I highly recommend them!

Week 9 Weigh-in

Well, I've just had my ninth weight watchers weigh-in and was a bit surprised with a loss of 5 pounds! It could be down to flu or sticking to the plan, but it could be down to relaxing my obsession with food.

This week, I'm trying to wrap my head round healthy eating as a lifestyle choice rather than a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

In the news, we read stories about the 14-stone eight- year- old and it reminds me that I too was once in his shoes. Ok, so I wasn't that weight at 8, but I most certainly was by 10. In fact, I was 20-stone (280) by the age of 16.

My parents provided me with a healthy diet - albeit the portion sizes were a touch on the large size. My problem was the snacking which occurred on top of the healthy eating. I could, until recently devour a tube of Pringles at a sitting or a pack of biscuits.

At 18, I left home and the weight - quite literally - dropped off. Within a year, my weight had dropped to 12 stone (168lbs) - without really trying. Simply by replacing coke with diet coke, reducing my snacking and moving my body more, the flab dissipated.

Remembering this has helped me over the last few days. I know I can reach goal simply by not forgetting just how 'easy' it is. Perhaps a big part of the problem is the weight loss industry - particularly the cowboys - who set us up to fail with unrealistic goals and plans.

Yes, it would be lovely to lose 60 lbs in a month, but we just know it's damn near impossible - so why believe it just because you see it in print? Oh, I've done my fair share of diets and weight loss pills over the years including:

• Nutrisystem
• Jenny Craig
• Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution: The No-hunger, Luxurious Weight Loss Plan That Really Works!-
• The Fat Flush Plan
• The Zone: Revolutionary Life Plan to Put Your Body in Total Balance for Permanent Weight Loss
• The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet
• PowerNutra Hoodia Diet-Max Maximum Hoodia Gordonii Appetite Support Complex, 60 Capsules

Worryingly, the numbers of patients seeking bariatric surgery as a last resort is on the rise. It has been reported by the media that in the US more teens are putting their faith in the knife when it comes to shedding the flab.

While Weight Watchers is a plan, it is one of the oldest and most successful out there. There is a great deal of support both at meetings and online. Ready meals are available in the shops and stores like Tesco convert their healthy living products to points which helps a lot. And the cookbooks are out of this world!

My Vices

I've got a problem with the bottle...but before you start directing me to my nearest AA meeting, let me clarify - I'm addicted to Pepsi Max. I can easily pack away a 2 litre bottle of this fizzy aspartame-sweetened elixir in a day.

Dare I work out how much it costs me a year? £529 a year of phenylalanine - a bargain or what?

Seriously though, I need to nip this habit in the bud. Not only is it costing a fortune, but I find that I really cannot function without knowing that I have at least a bottle spare in the kitchen!

Aussie blogger Pepsi Max Kid set himself the challenge of weaning himself off the stuff yet he found that his focus on giving it up caused his consumption to increase.

What is it about diet colas in general which causes so many to be addicted? Dr Roberts of St Mary's hospital in Florida studied the effects of aspartame addiction. He concluding that: "Persons consuming large amounts not only may suffer aspartame disease, but also have difficulty stopping them because of violent and prolonged withdrawal reactions... the hallmark of addiction. Recovered alcoholic patients repeatedly stated that they felt worse after avoiding aspartame than alcohol, and asserted that they had traded one addiction for another."

Dr Roberts, citing recent studies asserts his conviction that aspartame: "can cause, aggravate or accelerate migraine , seizures, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and its complications, Alzheimer's disease, and even brain tumors."

Worryingly, soft drink makers Pepsi and Coke have retaliated. The New York Times reported the launch of their latest products: Diet Coke Plus and Tava. Both diet soft drinks are being produced with vitamin supplements included.

So, I have the choice ahead of me - a 'violent and prolonged withdrawl' or lupus, MS and migraine. Talk about a rock and a hard place. Me thinks I'll opt for withdrawl, but perhaps a long and drawn out one to save myself from a painful cold turkey!

The Joy of Veg

Well, I've just been through the contents of my refrigerator and its full and I've decided it's just not of the right foods! While there's low-fat everything in there - there just aren't many vegetables!

I've spent some time thinking about this issue to try and work out the hurdles to fresh fruit and veg and I think the main hurdles are my lazy cookery which leads to wastage. I have a tendency to go for the easiest and fastest meal solution for hunger. Nine times out of ten, it's a ready-meal.

I wonder whether our blustering waistlines could be down to us living in these fast food days. A 2003 study by the Food Standards Agency highlighted the extremely high levels of sodium in ready meals - so surely this should tell me that even healthy living meal may not be the best idea for eating heathily.

So, what's a girl to do? I've had a glance at the NHS 5-a-day site which gives some guidance into veg portion sizes...and I'm going to attempt to have 2 portions of fresh veg with every meal.

So - the plan for today is:

Morning: 2 medium tomatoes roasted in balsamic vinegar with oregano (0 points), 2 slices medium white bread (2.5 points), healthy living trifle (3 points), banana (1.5), walkers baked (1.5). TOTAL: 7 points

Afternoon: Omlette with peppers, mushrooms and onions (6 points) banana (1.5) TOTAL: 8.5 points

Evening: Stirfry with carrots, broccoli, peppers, onion, mushrooms, garlic (1 point) Weight watchers belgian chocolate mousse x 2 (4 points) TOTAL: 5

Tomorrow is weigh-in - 6am! Oh joy! I've had a sneaky peak and the scales are showing me as 15 s 4 which would be a loss of 3lbs this week. Fingers crossed!