The Mistress of the Universe…

Last week I felt as if I had hit a bit of a plateau which was disheartening enough to make me want to reach for a few bars of chocolate, wash them down with several large glasses of chilled white wine and refuse to leave my sofa again. Ever.

It felt as if all the sacrifice was having too little effect: my waist had got smaller but not in direct proportion to my social life; my clothes felt slightly bigger but not in relation to the chunk of my time spent exercising.

So I went to see Nahid. She’s the Mistress of the Good Vibes Universe and so should have all the answers. (She’s also petite and has the best shoe collection I’ve ever seen). Nahid took me through my food and exercise diary and gave me some pointers.

1) Be aware of your food. Look at your plate, see what is on it and concentrate on it as you eat. This is a new one for me. I seem to have accumulated a Pavlovian eating habit; when eating on my own, I only ever seem to eat in front of a screen whether it’s my computer or a television. So I wonder if I’m missing out the enjoyment of my food because my mind is elsewhere.

2) Eat more slowly. It takes 20 minutes for us to feel full up so lower your portion size and take 20 minutes to eat it. Chew each mouthful and take some breaks. It also helps to drink water throughout as well. Based on point number one, the concept of time disappears. But I have a nasty feeling that I sit at my desk and wolf my food down in a manner that may alarm my colleagues.

3) No carbs after 6pm. There are opposing schools of thought on this one. But The Mistress is a big believer and when you ask for advice, it’s only polite to heed it. Plus I can see how the science might work. In reality, this is the one thing I had hoped to avoid. I comfort eat and the idea of a plate of mash of an evening can bring a tear of joy to my eye. But, Nahid is petite, she says it works. I need to give it a shot.

After less than a week I feel lighter, motivated once again and haven’t felt deprived of anything. I had initially wondered what on earth I’d eat when I removed carbs, but actually there’s lots out there. This week I’ve had: steak, mange tout and spinach in a mushroom and pepper sauce; meatballs; chicken, carrots and peas with a tarragon and pancetta sauce and frittata with salad.

So, I’m not reaching for the chocolate just yet, The Mistress recommends nuts and blueberries….

I drink, therefore…

 February 3rd 2008

Weight 9 stones 6lbs. Weight loss: 4 lbs.

I don’t drink enough water and it’s something I resolve to change every year, convinced by all those glossy celebs and work colleagues who swear by it. That’s why this video made me laugh. Water tastes of nothing, it makes me temporarily breathless and I just find going to the loo fifteen times a day a bit boring.

However, I’ve been forcing myself to drink water throughout the day. As expected, the benefits came after the outbreak of spots and the slightly bloated feeling, but I stuck with it and my skin has cleared up and I do feel better in general.

Personally though, I suspect feeling great is all due to laying off the booze. It wasn’t easy to start with and I must admit to a couple of lapses, but come on, I am also in the throes of a new relationship (and all of the additional benefits that brings).

The most I ever abstained for prevously was a month. On those occasions it’s merely been a case of postponing all social events until the next month, and hitting the first drinking day in a tequila bar, at noon, rapidly making up for lost time.

It feels vastly different this time. There’s no counting down the days because it’s simply too far ahead to contemplate. And I can’t postpone my closest friends for three months without boring myself to insanity on a sofa with just a cat for company. Incredibly, I have stopped drooling at the very thought of a glass of wine but admittedly I’ve been in bed at 10pm most evenings with a book and a mug of (low cal) hot chocolate .

But the success has continued this week. I’m down to nine and a half stones with my clothes and trainers on, my clothes feel continue to feel looser, there are two lines from my breats to my tummy, my bum is much tighter and I’m really enjoying my Power Plates and spinning sessions.

I think I’m due a reward this week as we come up to half way; I’m going to spend some of my saved beer money on something longer lasting such as a slinky top…

Feeling the benefits…

21st January 2008

Weight: 9 and a half stone. Weight loss: 3 pounds

Well, something’s started to work. Over the past week, I’m waking up from deep sleep completely refreshed; my energy levels have increased and even better, my clothes have started to feel looser. I’m sure it’s marginal (no one has commented as yet) but for me, familiar with every nuance of my own body, it’s a definite improvement.

It’s amazing what a difference shedding a few pounds can make; there are clothes in my wardrobe which suddenly seem more appealing; I feel like making more effort in the mornings; even better, I feel motivated to keep up the effort. ‘Success breeds success’ some wise person once told me.

And it has been an effort. The eating plan is great; I haven’t felt any hunger pangs and I’m enjoying the variety of meals. Even the alcohol deprivation has been manageable to date (only because I’ve been hibernating socially). However, finding time to do three cardio sessions on top of the three powerplates classes each week has been tough. Especially on these dark cold winter evenings when all I want to do is get home and loaf on the sofa in my pyjamas.

So, in order to try and maintain some enthusiasm, I’ve been going to gym classes.  You don’t much feel like slacking when everyone else can see you. Spinning has been my class of choice; a bike, a dark room and some loud, go-for-it music.

I can’t contemplate exercise without music, whether it’s spinning or my weekly 5k run. And just in case you wanted some recommendations on what gets me through the pain barrier, here’s my top 10 exercise playlist.

1) Insomnia - Faithless

2) Standing in the Way of Control - The Gossip

3) Born Slippy - Underworld

4) Ooh La La - Goldfrapp

5) God is a DJ - Faithless

6) Hung Up - Madonna

7) She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult

8.) Love is in the Air - John Paul Young

9) Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

10) There She Goes - The La’s

Onwards and upwards (or downwards..) Rebekah x

The figures on my figure…

Friday 10th January 2008.

Weight: 9 stone and 10 lbs 

So, it’s started. My new diet plan and exercise regime officially began yesterday. I wish I could deny any final binge drinking or general chocolate gluttony but there were things left over from Christmas that had to be ’put away’. Think Twelfth Night of food; it’s bad luck otherwise or something.

I had my first Powerplates class at Good Vibes at lunchtime, but first I had to fill in my vital statistics. The primary goal for the programme is on toning and not necessarily losing weight (muscle creates weight, you see?). I have to measure again in 5 weeks and then again at the end…The current dire situation then:

Tummy (around the belly button line): 32″ (although my actual waist is 28″)

Hips (line of the hipbone): 36″

Thigh (halfway between knee and hipbone): 18.5″

Arm (halfway between shoulder and elbow): 10.5″

Bust (in line with nipples): 35″

Apparently, the natural female shape has an approximate 70% waist to hip ratio and a 75% waist to bust ratio. I’m sporting a 77% waist to hip ratio and 80% waist to bust ratio is and I am determined to get back to my defined hour glass figure; with a waist to hip and bust ratio of 75%. I’ll live longer apparently! If you want to know, the mathematicians claim that the perfect ratio is 70%; unsurprisingly Jessica Alba is the example that the geeks have cited..

My BMI is 24.1; phew, it’s just within the ‘normal range’. I’d like to be firmly within it so this needs to come down too. Apparently, men prefer a BMI of 20; however, it’s not realistic for me but it’s interesting that their ‘desire’ decreases only slightly on BMI’s higher than 20 as opposed to less.

So, I’m on my way. I feel really optimistic. Ok,  it’s probably just the novelty factor at this stage but I’m looking forward to cooking healthy food in the evenings. Plus I’ve just seen some underwear reduced to half-price that I really ought to treat myself to if I have a good two weeks…

Sigh. I need to drop (at least) a dress size…

Jan 2nd 2008 

Height: 5′3, starting weight: 9 stone and 10 lbs, target weight loss: 10lbs

It was only when I saw the photos from my holiday in India that the harsh reality hit me; I need to lose some weight. Although it’s the size of my arms in particular that have made me vow never to be in the same room as another Pringle again, I think I generally look like a weeble in every single shot. 

It seems unfair that although I abide by ‘the rules’ ; go to the gym at least twice a week, walk up escalators, get off the bus a stop early and am as scared of crisps as I am cockroaches; it has come to this. I can no longer deny that being in my 30’s means that my metabolism seems to be going even slower. (I’m not actually sure how that can be possible, it’s been the last-in-the-class-to-be-picked-for-sports-day of metabolisms all my life). 

But I can also no longer deny that after the split with my partner last year, the tendency to cook in the evenings has plummeted exponentially with the increase in drinking and eating out. Add that to Christmas and a general winter apathy and it’s no surprise that for the first time 15 years I’m on the verge of leaving my comfortable size 12. It’s time to draw in the reins; and the belt buckle.

I don’t have the time to massively increase my gym hours and the PowerPlate claims to give you the equivalent of an hour’s workout in just 25 minutes. So I’m going to put the team at Good Vibes to the test! Starting next week I’m joining their 10-week Drop A Dress Size programme.

I will also be following the Closerdiets healthy eating plan. As I’m not terribly into feeling hungry - and for the sake of my colleagues who shouldn’t have to cope with too much misery and anger - I’ve chosen this programme which allows me the wheat free option I need. But no alcohol. Argh!

So with three 30-minute Power Plate classes each week, an eating plan and some recommended cardio workouts; I’m hoping to feel fantastic in time for my trip to Sri Lanka in March!

By the way, did I mention I have to give up alcohol?

Come back next Friday to see how my first week went.

Rebekah x