Well, here I am again. And again I haven’t been successful in achieving my (possibly too ambitious) goal.

So, back on June 29th when I last posted, I weighed about 11st 4lbs. I started the 12 week countdown at Slimming World, but it really wasn’t going well. I lost 1.5lbs, but then I put it back on again. And, in fact, this has been the general trend! My 12 weeks isn’t over quite yet; the lowest I’ve reached was 11st 0.5lbs, though last week I was back up at 11st 02lbs.

I know where I went wrong with the 1.5lb increase because the in-laws were up and I scoffed cake and biscuits and such like. Never good.
But, the losses seem to have come from using “Red Days” from Slimming World. The concept is quite simple, you can eat as much lean meat, fresh fruit and veggies as you like, but you have to limit the amount of grains and potatoes that you eat.
On my loss weeks, here’s a sample of the sort of thing I’ve been eating:

Breakfast
Fresh fruit salad topped with 0% fat yoghurt
Snacks
One Alpen Light bar (½ healthy B), banana, Options hot chocolate (2 syns)
Lunch
2 eggs, 0% fat cottage cheese, salad
Snacks
Granny Smith apple, one Alpen Light bar (½ healthy B), Options hot chocolate (2 syns)
Dinner
Grilled pork chop (fat removed), broccoli, cauliflower, courgette and carrots

Not bad, really. I’ve also had cooked breakfasts – my favourite is scrambled eggs with smoked salmon!

Unfortunately, it’s hard to stick to any diet when you’re visiting other people, or they’re visiting you. The weekend just gone, I was at my sisters. Even though she used to do Slimming World, I’m sure I was pretty far off plan – even just from the drinks! Oh well.
Next weekend we’re at the inlaws’ house, so it’s going to be all cheese and pasta again. I don’t think there’s much I can do about that though. Then my folks are up the following weekend, but I can make SW food for them with no problems.

I went to be measured for the bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding at the weekend too. I was pretty happy with the numbers she was writing down, which is good, although the dressmaker said that I had a very thin chest compared to the rest of me. I’m not sure whether she was suggesting that I have big boobs or a big bum (or both) but I do seem to have a long torso! (like I didn’t know that, always having to knit longer for things to fit right!) Anyway, the fitting for that is in January, so there’s something to aim for!
I’ve also promised myself that when I get to my 1.5stone award (10st 13lbs) that I will buy myself a nice new skirt like this one from Next. for work. I’d like to treat myself to something casual too, but I’ll get a lot more wear out of something for work. If I decide that something casual is also in order, I’ll probably get something like this dress or this cute tunic
At least that’s an aim!

Well, so while I guess I’ve not made it to 10stone this 12 week countdown, I will keep trying. I just need to stick to it, I think, and that’s not going to be easy for the next couple of weeks, but I think I can do it. If I manage to stick to it on the days when I’m not visiting or being visited, then that’s well over half of the time.

So keep positive, a loss – no matter how small – is still going in the right direction.