I'm only 11

05/01/12 - 11 stone 13 1/2 - yes, that is an eleven at the front of that number! Heaven only knows when I was last below 12 stone, probably when I was about 15.

So, all the Christmas poundage and more has now gone - remarkable in just 4 days of counting calories and being strict with it. I've managed to stay below 1400 cals most days, with one at just 1500, so it's clearly working.

Think I can safely up it to my maintenance limit now, and do 1650 cals per day (although once the Christmas cake runs out I'm not sure how I will eat that many calories in a day!).

I'll keep you posted :-)

600 Calorie Dinner - Mustard Mackerel

I've set a limit of 600 calories for my dinner (I'm finding it easier to plan calories per meal than for a whole day - it's a bit more flexible).

This is a picture of tonight's dinner - mustard mackerel.

It's a fillet of mackerel with dijon mustard in slits made in the skin and then grilled (skin side up only) for about 7 minutes. I had it on a bed of Mushroom Bulgar Wheat (Ainsley Harriot) with rocket, tomato and cucumber salad. I also made a bit of dressing with some of the left over mustard, 1 Tbsp of fat free yoghurt and 2 tsp of sweetener.

Really tasty - and about 18 minutes from start to finish - and that was the bulgar wheat!

Happy Days

So calorie counting seems to be working - I got weighed this morning and I'm back at my target weight! So all the Christmas excesses are gone, and it's on to maintenance with a vengance.

I've worked out my calorie plan for today, and had to make an important decision - do I have soup with my lunch or Christmas cake when I get home? Previously, I would have done both, but I don't have enough calories now, so I had to make a choice.

And yes, Christmas cake won! Well, it is homemade, delicious and needs eating up (in a controlled manner of course). Mmmmmm....

Calorie Counting

Found a great App today for looking up and tracking calories - and for tracking weight loss.

Myfitnesspal is a free app, and works on apple and android devices, and since it's web based, you can use it on multiple devices using just one log in (and it updates across devices really quickly).

Handy if you want to do your planning on your laptop, but want to be able to add something using your phone while you're out and about.

The numbers are a bit different from the big calorie bible I've got from clinic, but suspect this is down to selection of serving size.

I've changed the names of meals so that it reflects my 5 meal a day plan (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner) and then one for misc.

So far, I've been quite good on hitting my calorie target - 1326 yesterday and 1218 today.

Back to work tomorrow, so planning ahead will be important. I've already packed my lunchbag with fruit and afternoon snack bars for the rest of the week (so I don't have to remember every day!).

Good luck everyone else!

New Year's Day

It's definitely a day for relaxing - I think Arthur has the right idea. Wonder if the heat from the fire will melt my extra Christmas poundage!

What's in a number

When I was being styled yesterday (thanks again to Radio Manchester and the lovely Debbie from the Arndale Centre) we discussed high street clothing sizes. In some stores, I am a comfortable size 12, but in others a tight size 14. I know the cut of the clothes affect this a lot, but there really is a lot of variation out there.

So, if I want to stay a size 12, it seems there are some shops I shouldn't go in - or I will jump up to a 14 straight away! Alternatively, I could just use one chain as a size guide (the standard M&S sizing perhaps, as it seems the most universal) and not worry about what size I am anywhere else.

If it helps, here's what I've found so far:

Generous sizes
- M&S
- Next
- Monsoon
- Kew 159

Add a size
- Coast
- Warehouse
- Primark
- H&M
- River Island
- Klass

Add 2 sizes
- LL Bean (I think because they are US sizes anyway)

But whatever size you are, enjoy!

New Year, New Plan

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope you had a good night last night - I did, although today I am remembering how nice it was to not have a single hangover in 8 months. I didn't have a lot to drink, but I'm certainly feeling it today.

And now it's 2012, and the start of my new plan. Now that the strict part of the Alizonne diet is done, and Christmas is over with, it's on to the next stage; calorie counting and pre-planning. I have a calorie limit of 1650 cals per day to maintain my weight, but since I'm aiming to loose the pounds I put on over Christmas, I'm going for less to begin with (1300).

Today's plan is:
Bacon muffin (we have guests staying over) @ 400 cals
Grapefruit and sweetener @ 48 cals
Omelette for lunch (2 eggs) @ 256 cals
Rhubarb and fat free yoghurt @ 97 cals
Roast beef dinner, with 2 veg and gravy, but no potatoes or yorkshire pudding) @ 482

Making today's planned total 1283 calories. With just water and black tea to drink, that should be enough for today (being as I'm still a bit full after all the food at Christmas).

Have a great 2012 everyone!