17 lbs down

I am now 14 weeks into the challenge and I am 17lbs down.

The strange year that 2020 has become is helping my weight loss

I have been in Self Isolation/Lock-down for over 4 weeks and this has meant I can be more disciplined about what I eat and drink.

For the month of March I made a simple change

NO WINE
NO BEER
NO BREAD
NO CAKE.

This accounts for a big chunk of my extra weight loss
I have also been walking most days subject to the weather - I try and aim for 8000 steps which is about 3 miles

Happy this is working and I am on target for my goals

Week 5 update

Didn't want to call this one progress as I haven't made any this week - No weight loss so I am rethinking my food intake this week and having a week of no drinking to see if it makes a difference.

I have been busy with a big workload so got behind with my C25K but got back out there and have complete two of the runs from week 3 to try and get the weight shifting

Progress Week 3 and 4

Just a quick update as not much tell - I have lost a 1lb each week for the last two weeks - 4lb in total in four weeks so I am on target on my slow and steady weight loss journey.

 I have still been mindful about what I have eaten but I have been out plenty of times and enjoyed myself without restrictions so I am happy with this result and that it is sustainable ongoing

Progress Week 2

Another week another 1lb lost so on target

I reached my objective this week of eating better and have enjoyed all the fruit and veg I have included in my diet but there is still scope for improvement.

I had one social night where I ate more 'naughty' things than I should have and had some wine. The idea of this weight loss challenge, for me, is to still be able to do that and lose weight so I have something I can live with long term. At the moment this is working.

I had a heavy workload this week so I managed to talk myself out of running a couple times so I only managed two runs this week instead of the three I was planning.

This week I also added some creative activity to my day to keep myself happy and motivated. I am attending drawing lessons starting again next week so I am working my way through a 31 day - 1 drawing a day challenge. Once I have a few done, I will post up the results, Drawing is a great way of helping the eating less strategy as it keeps your mind occupied and your hands busy.

This week my plan is to do my 3 planned runs, continue with my healthy eating and try and fit some walking and cycling in.

Fruit and Veg

5 A DAY

This week I decided as my diet did not improve much last week, other than reducing the portions, this week I would concentrate on eating more fruit and veg.

Monday morning we took a trip to a local market which is about 20 minutes off the island I live on. It is always nice to 'escape' from the island. Even though it just a bridge across to the mainland. we don't really do it very often

The market is not in a tourist area and not many people speak English so I like to use my market trips to brush up on my language skills too.

We are lucky that the food here is very seasonal so you can only buy what is is currently growing (apart from bananas which are always available and imported!) I came away with bags of produce for just a few Euros and reminded myself I must do this more regularly as it is an enjoyable experience and saves money - what's not to love?

I came away with the following

Peppers, new potatoes (I like sweet potatoes but there were none to be had) carrots, celery, aubergine, courgettes, apples and bananas.

The apples and bananas I am using as snacks as well as fresh mandarins from my tree in the garden

The carrots and celery I am using as raw snacks if I feel like I need to grab for something.

The carrots I have also used this week as a cooked side dish.

Here is my recipe for Baked Local Vegetables that can make a meal complete without the need for potatoes as they are so delicious.

Chop the following into an oven dish

Tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, aubergine, courgette and then Feta cheese chopped and sprinkled over the top - this is salty so no more seasoning is required.

Then a spray or drizzle of you preferred oil across the vegetables - mine is olive oil. Bake in the oven until the veg is cooked through (about 30 mins at 180 degrees C) - Perfect. You can change the vegetables for what ever is in season, but it is the feta that makes it so delicious.

All of this is working towards making sure I eat my 5 a day, essentially the more of this I eat, the less of the unhealthy stuff I will eat.

Progress Week 1

It's the end of Week 1 of my challenge

Achievements

I lost 1lb -  1lb is my target per week so I am ok with this

I have eaten 'normally' this week and have eaten all the 'treats' that have come my way. This has included Birthday Cake, chocolate, party snacks etc. I have tried to eat everything that has come my way in moderation and mindfully and tried to eat less than I would normally. I have lost weight so this this minor adjustment seems to be working.

I completed the first week of the C25k challenge and threw a cycle ride in for luck. This is significantly more exercise than i would normally do in a week so really pleased with this achievement which again seems to have had an impact - probably more so than my eating.

I have been drinking water, lemon water and fruit teas instead of reaching for a snack

Actions for next week

Week 2 of the C25k plan
Eat more fruit and veg and less treats
Try and move more generally - my daily step count has been low if  I haven't been out running

C25K - Week 1

Completed Week 1 - Couch to 5K

I am proud to say, having never run in my adult life, that I have completed week 1 of the Couch to 5k programme.

3 Runs - 28 minutes - 20 minutes walking interspersed with 8 x 1 minute runs. - Complete!!
I did them every other day as suggested over the week.

Run 1 - was hard - I haven't really exercised for weeks so I was literally off the couch
Run 2 - much more comfortable and felt motivated
Run 3 - Felt harder although was it the same run, the last couple of running bursts felt like a real effort but I did try and run a little faster on this one

Overall I was surprised I did them all without stopping, I am pleased that I kicked myself out the door to do it and I am looking forward to next weeks runs.

Stay tuned