The Priority Game: I've been given the key

Who knew? Dieting is actually all about priorities. You don't have to sacrifice the food you love but you do have to trade for it.

Let me be clear; how I see it is that there are two tasks ahead of me. Number one is losing weight. Number two is eating 100% healthily. The game achieves 90% number one and 10% number two. I am currently more focused on number one and when that task is complete I will focus on number two.

It is a good, healthy habit to learn that you can't just eat what you want and that balance is the key. However, the priority game isn't all healthy habits.

Over the past 2 weeks I've mastered the game. I have got through my Christmas parties full of food and drink in two ways; firstly, earning extra kcals through exercise and secondly, saving kcals by eating less through the week. 

It's not quite as simple as this because not only is the balance of eat more vs eat less important but it's also important not to eat too little to compensate. Your body is a complex machine and I'm only learning the first chapter of the manual. To take a very masculine example think of a car which as it runs out of fuel it makes you limit your speed and drive more smoothly in order to reduce fuel consumption. I don't profess to fully understand cars and neither do I profess to understand the human body in its entirety. However, I do know if you reduce the kcal too much you will not lose weight as quickly as you will with a more stable energy source. Think of it as the fire of the machine going out so that it can't burn anything else. 

That all said, if you put too much fuel in a car it spills. Fortunately (?!) this doesn't happen with food in the body, we just store it 'for emergency'. Alternatively, in my case, rather than emergency, my body just did it to annoy me! 

So, if we can't reduce very much then the only way to 'find' the extra kcal is to earn it - exercise. This doesn't always mean a run or an exercise class. As I've already mentioned I have fibromyalgia, so I'm in no state to go for a run. But I can cycle on my exercise bike. This is how I discovered the key to the game. 

I did cut 100kcal here and there but at my weight I was getting an extra 400kcal in 30 mins on the bike!! Why would I go hungry when I can earn the kcals in 30 mins!

I lost three lbs each week. 

Lbs lost 39

Lbs to lose 81

Party season - fun and stressful!

I'm having a lot of fun this party season, I'm feeling happier about the way I look and so enjoying the events more. Especially with the complements I'm receiving.

I don't know whether it is the weather, but today I'm feeling a little down and pressured as my third social event for Christmas is this evening (which I am looking forward to)!

I've already had two naughty days (Friday and Saturday) and yesterday I wasn't naughty, but didn't eat below my calories to compensate. I shouldn't feel guilty for this and I should just move on, but I have to say it is not always easy to make the body feel what the mind knows it should!

So, I'm going to try and convince myself that I am still doing good in a list:

1. I did limit myself at the xmas party on Friday
• I chose the better options (i.e. turkey)
• I didn't hover up the macaroons
• I didn't eat the not nice cheesecake (that wouldn't have stopped me in the past - I still would have eaten it!)
2. On Saturday, I ate well in the day to compensate for the evening, but I did go bad in the evening. I have to remember, that in the past I would have eaten normally then still gone all out in the evening. So this is a win.
3. On Sunday I only ate 1410 kcal. This is 30kcal over goal, but rather than lying on the sofa for the day
• I did some cleaning and I sorted all my paperwork - this is a win - I'm being more active and doing things I've put off for a long time
4. I'm making myself accountable on here

So yes, I was a bit naughty compared to the diet, but I was better than I was in the past!

I need to remember my own rules in my post 'Starting my journey with Jane Plan'

• Don't beat yourself up;
• Alter your behaviour as best you can;
• Be better, it doesn't have to be perfect; and
• Make up for it afterwards.

I suppose the last one is the one I'm struggling with due to the frequency of these events. I only have 3 days after today until the next! I think that I need to not try and come under my kcal on the days in between, but just stick to them. That will take the pressure off.

I'd love to hear how you are coping with the party season?

Christmas starts tomorrow!

The party season, for me, starts tomorrow!

First is my work Christmas party. I'm primping and prepping tonight (which I haven't done in a long time!). I'll be wearing a dress I wore 2 years ago but is 2 sizes smaller than I was wearing 10 weeks ago! The dress, for me, symbolises that I'm rid of the back pain weight! We work over a few offices so there are some people I haven't seen during the diet. I really hope they notice!

I've chosen my meals (we had to do this in advance); I've chosen salmon, turkey and a desert that's in separate parts that I can give away and just have a little. I think these are the best choices. As in a previous blog though, once the wine starts my motivation dissipates. I've saved up 1200 kcal through the week though so I'm feeling ok about this. 

I have another event on Saturday. I've organised it so I have to go! It's dinner with my fibromyalgia support group. I can just have a salad at this one (maybe a g and t as hair of the dog...or I wonder how many kcal in Bloody Mary...?). 

I then have drinks on Monday and the team Xmas party the following Friday. I know I'm being naughty at this one...I couldn't resist the pork belly!!! Need to save some kcals up in the week for that!

Happy party season people! I'd love to hear how you're getting through it. 

31lbs off 

89lbs to go 

UPDATE: so...my hangover isn't too bad thanks to the copious amounts of water. My tactic was to ensure that if I was holding a glass rather than drinking per se that it would be the water glass. I only held the wine glass when I sipped from it. 

I did let go on the food a bit. I ate the full roast turkey dinner with sauce. It backfired...I didn't realise how much my tummy had shrunk...I felt very sick after eating it. Fortunately a terrible tasting cheesecake stopped me eating it it but I did have 3 mini macaroons (though didn't have all the ones I would have had pre-diet that people didn't want - weirdos!!) but did get tricked by the mini mince pies. How are they over 100kcal each?!! I only had two but definitely wish I'd switched those for the rest of the macaroons. 

I work out I had 2900kcal yesterday. I'd saved 1200 over the week plus the 1400 I'm allowed and I only need to save 300 to make up. Although we start again for next Friday now! Overall though, a success.