The old saying goes “feed a cold and starve a fever”.
And this week I’ve had a stonking cold.
But while it was tempting to hit the comfort foods, I’m proud to say I resisted.
So I was a little disappointed (more than a little) when the scales showed I lost just ½lb this week.
I can understand why, having abandoned the gym mid-week to shiver on the couch.
Plus I lost track of what I was eating – so I probably served myself a few too many portions of the healthy stuff.
But feeling sorry for myself with a tickly throat, congestion headache and blocked nose, I just prayed for a miracle when I got on the scales.
I felt so deserving of a good weight loss.
But I’m determined not to be disheartened, especially at this early stage.
I’m back on track. And this is a marathon, not a sprint.
I’ve still lost 4 and a half lbs in 3 weeks.
As long as I’m losing, I’m winning.
Still this week’s got me thinking of reasons why I’ve failed in the past. Why so many of us fail at weight loss.
I read an article, in which nutritionists and doctors from the British Dietetic Association gave the top 10 reasons.
And sadly I can relate to all of them:
Thinking short term
Starving yourself for short periods will only end in failure – because it’s too difficult. Dieticians recommend a woman eat 1300-1500 calories a day to lose weight. Any less and you will give up and binge out of hunger.
Deluding yourself about what you’ve eaten
Many people forget that biscuit, or piece of birthday cake, or somehow hide from themselves the fact that they have eaten them. But they add up. Writing everything down – everything – both food and drink, is the only way.
Not including exercise in your regime
Exercise boosts metabolism, meaning your body burns calories faster.
And for each pound of muscle added, you need an extra 75 calories to maintain it, so toning up will also help you lose weight. Exercising for around 20 to 30 minutes a day will do the trick.
Banning certain foods
Denying favourite foods makes it unlikely you’ll stick to a diet. People should have an occasional treat, otherwise they will be miserable.
Skipping meals
You may think skipping a meal is a weight loss bonus. But you are only fooling yourself. Your blood sugar level will drop, making you crave sweets. Research has proved people who skip breakfast eat more calories a day than those who don’t.
Thinking healthy food is low calorie food
Even some healthy foods are fattening. A tablespoon of olive oil contains 100 calories. An avocado contains 190 calories and almost 20 grams of fat, and a handful of peanuts contains 150 calories – and 13 grams of fat.
Big portions
Weighing out food is one of the most off-putting aspects of dieting. But many dieters unconsciously go larger on portions after several weeks.
Not counting drinks
A standard cappuccino has 120 calories – and 8 grams of fat.
Alcohol and fizzy drinks are other big calorie traps. Alcohol contains as many calories as fat and boosts appetite (well, who hasn’t had the wine munchies?)
Weighing yourself too often
Getting on the scales too often can make weight loss more difficult. Weight fluctuates throughout the month because of water retention. And if you’re toning up, muscle is heavier than fat. Weigh yourself once a week at most and first thing in the morning.
I could add a couple of my own to this list.
Looking for immediate results is one. First sign of a setback like I’ve just had, and I’m usually reaching for the biscuit tin, telling myself “this isn’t working”. I’m impatient. I want to be slim – and I want it now!
Having friends or colleagues who struggle with their weight can also make you feel in good company. Especially if they’ve thrown in the towel, or they’re bigger than you are. It’s taboo to admit it, but let’s be honest here, how many of us have looked around the office, or the school playground and thought “Well I might be big – but I’m not as big as her”
It’s hard. If it wasn’t, we’d all look like Cameron Diaz.
And I can’t pretend I’m not bricking it over my next weigh-in. One bad week is enough. Two in a row is a serious head-f*ck.
Pray for me.
Good luck! Hope this week brings you the results you want (and more importantly, I hope you feel much better soon) xxx
Thanks honey. Feeling better now, if a little tired. Determined to soldier on
Hope you feel better soon Donna. Some great tips there. I have been keeping a food diary, I log everything even a tiny satsuma and it is working for me. I so want to lose my weight this year. Good luck with this weeks weight loss! x
And you are doing so well Emma. I find I’m more successful when I keep a track of what I’m eating through the day. Back into it now and keeping fingers crossed
Speaking frankly because I’m struggling with life at the moment, my weightloss is sh*t at the moment and I think I’ve put it all back on again. I really want another baby and I really need to lose weight, so why have I just eaten a large bar of Dairy Milk? Hope you get your mojo back
Been there, done that, got the rolls of fat to prove it! I totally sympathise honey. Would never suggest this as a long-term solution, but have you ever tried the Cambridge Diet? Did it for about 2 or 3 months in 2007. Got 2 stones off, then got pregnant with Blake and put it all back on again! But it served a purpose at the time.
*prays* You speak da truth lady! So much so I am being forced to give myself a good hard look and question what I’m doing to my health… Hope you feel better darling, and have a good one next week
xx
Thanks for the prayers Cas. Will let you know in a couple of days if they worked (if they don’t, I’m blaming you completely LOL
)
So tough
Only now do I realise how lucky I’ve been for the first 50 years of my life, now I’m afflicted by the dreaded middle aged spread and am having to seriously cut back on food. And it’s not fun! Hope you get the weight loss you hope this week x
You are lucky if you’ve never struggled with your weight. I’ve wasted so many years of my life feeling self-conscious about my size. Wish I could go back and give my 20-something self a good slap and tell her she looked fine and should enjoy being a size 12 – instead of lamenting the fact she wasn’t a size 10.
Don’t be disheartened, you’re doing great. I am supporting hubby in his weight loss and, although it is tedious, I am making sure I weigh absolutely everything. It’s incredibly easy to (wrongly) guess at the serving size, and i write everything down using My Fitness Pal. Keep going… and good luck x
Thanks pet. You’re the second one to mention My Fitness Pal to me. MUST check that out.
UGH. I just moved to somewhere near London (I’m fifty percent sure we’re in the northwest areas of London) from Hawaii and somehow during our three weeks of travel, I gained eleven pounds. Add that to the fact that I was still twenty pounds overweight from having my last baby (two years ago) and I’m just a big fat mess. And then I get to the UK and everyone is all stylish and thin and wearing expensive shoes and I’m just standing here all fat with flat hair because I’m cold and I wear a hat everywhere. So I’m glad I found your blog, and I just wanted to say hey. That’s how southerners from America (I’m originally from Mississippi) say hello. In case you were wondering.
Hello Jenn *waves*.
Well I live in Scotland, so I can’t say everyone up here is stylish and thin like those London types!! But I know how you feel when you look around and think everyone is slimmer and better looking than you.
Honestly, if you start watching your calories (don’t eat too little, about 1500 a day is a healthy amount) and trying to exercise (even walking instead of taking the bus) the lbs will come off. And slowly is the best way to do it, to keep the weight off.
The point is, we’re normal women and need to find something that fits in with being busy mums.
You’ve moved across the world. Don’t be too hard on yourself.