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
