So, Is this it?

Grapes vs Sweets?

What a depressing question right? Well I’m not talking about the whole of my life but an area of it that is fast getting out of control and threatening to become the definition of me! Oh yes you have probably guessed that I am talking about my weight or indeed my desire to lose some of it. 

What has prompted this blog entry is that today I was walking past my colleague friend who just happened to be eating grapes, and it made me recall how a couple of weeks ago the Slimming world consultant had passed some frozen grapes round during class. apparently these are likened to boiled sweets, when i mentioned this to my colleague she said that they used to get them in the canteen while she was at school, - she schooled in Australia. Apparently this was done because of the heat.  Now that i can relate to, but trying to substitute them for sweets, really? This got to me, its that that made me think .so is this  its?  So sweets will forever be  a no no or what? I mean i could syn them, as in they will always be at the expense of something else,  ( yes I know gluttony is one of the deadly sins) but it was and still is quite depressing, I have to be honest I could not see the positives in that moment , I mean this should be seen as a way round sweets, surely that is a positive yes?  I am pretty confident that this thought pattern and negative feeling was a major contributing factor towards my bad behaviour this week and I got what I deserved. 

I would say that its one thing to want to eat frozen grapes, but its another when they are a substitute for something else. Now dont get me wrong,  I am not against making substitutions for the greater good of my desire to lose weight, after all no pain no gain right?  I mean i would defy anyone and I mean anyone including Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsey and the likes, not to like SW chips! In fact not only to like them but to prefer them to the full fat version! And SW curries are amazing.

I have long accepted that  choosing to cook and eat the slimming world way has effectively been a lifestyle change, but the realisation that barring a wonder pill i am going to have to be so focused  and considered in my choices does at times get me just a little frustrated to say the least. So if I appear to t be on the scenic route to my target, please judge not!

So, why not weight loss

So, I went to SW yesterday and I had put on 2 lbs which to the honest was expected, after the way I have been behaving towards food, recently. i also again have to be honest about the fact that i am buckling under the perceived strain. i find it difficult to focus, difficult not to just pick up a birthday donut and eat, difficult not to have a ( what i consider to be a) decent size bowl of cereal when i fancy it, i could go on and on, yes I have even taken to having a hot chocolate in the morning on the way to work.. can you see where Im going  this?  In my last blog post, i stated that it was time for action and i had taken a break from the war against indiscipline series! look what happened. 

At SW, there is a tool that they offer when you are struggling in this manner, I mean it has to be borne in mind that i cook amazing slimming world food, so there is not problem there, its what i do in-between meals that is my biggest downfall. Basically the consultant asks you to write down a for and against ( i.e. the pros and cons). You don’t have to share it with the class, but I’m sharing here, and the list was surprising and disappointing

The case for

1. Easy plan
2. it works, so you would lose weight
3. health benefits
4. Access to a wider range of clothes when you have lost weight
5. It will improve my self esteem
6. I enjoy the class and image therapy
7. i love my SW consultant
8. I like the ethic of the company 

The case against

1. It can be restrictive
2. Can make you feel like a party pooper
3. It makes me think ( sometimes over think) what i am going to eat i want to be free.
4. Indiscipline takes over
5. Its hard to sustain
6. The cereal portions are too small
7. The bread portions are too small
8. The cheese portion is too small

So maybe my brain is not in gear, am not sure, because when I sat down to write this it never occurred to me that I would find as many reasons against as for. That was the surprising bit, but it was also the disappointing bit.  I mean how could i find so many things against something that is so  good? I don't get it. 

At class this week, our consultant talked about the little voice in your head that tells you you can do something.  I felt my voice told me that actually it did not matter.  I was talking about this at lunchtime with my friends and they said that maybe i have two voices, as the one that says its alright is really the negative one, as it allows you to sabotage your plans, where as the one that tells you you can’t do it in actuality would spur you on as you would want to prove it wrong. This for me is very evident in my attitude to Tae kwan do, this is an activity i love a lot, and i have been to grade to attain a black belt 3 times and on 3 occasions i have been told no, you are not good enough. I still plan to go again. So why the spirit there and not in my quest to lose weight. I have upped the anti on my fitness, thats improved,10 fold just by going to zumba and walking more. I dont know that answer,  maybe because food is something that comforts, and rewards, in a way that belt, a certificate, a pay rise can’t. I don't know that answer, I don't know yet how or  what i am going to change in order to turn things around The one thing I know for sure is that i will still continue to attend SW, regardless of this list, as i am certain that things would be mighty worse if i did not, I hope that I can re-connect with my will power. 

My personal war against indiscipline, the hiatus: it's time for action!

Ok  I think it's time to take a break from the WAI series, don't get me wrong, I'm still struggling, still facing difficult challenges, I've spent a long time lamenting about my struggles, but in actuality it would appear that that is all I have done! 

 I still attend SW, I am still a great lover of it and I continually try out new recipes and foods and I am right up there on the platinum level for body magic ( that's exercise for my non SW friends), so why isn't this all translating into positive results on the scales? Ok so I've gone down a skirt size that could be a big plus except I'm skeptical about shop sizes!  So if you have read my previous blogs you will know what my weaknesses and excuses are, so there is the answer! 

At work I have been participating in a loser's challenge and the facilitator  included this lovely graphic in one if her emails which I just have to share, - probably dosed with lots of opinion you know me! 

10 tips for losing weight

So 

1. Go for a walk, quite clear really

2. Stop eating out as much ok, I take umbrance  with this one, so what does life stop just because you need to lose weight? Rather than caution you to go where you can make good choices,a feral there is more to eating out than Chinese Indian or Kentucky!  

3. Eat breakfast! Yep I can vouch wholeheartedly for this one as I definitely don't pick as much when I eat breakfast, so even better if it's a healthy SW one!

4.Eat smaller portions? - really I'd say join SW they know a thing or two about portion sizes! 

5. Do yoga!  I could not possibly comment

6. Spend more time outdoors, very good because the. You'll be more active, burn more calories and to be honest generally feel much better! 

7. Build muscle! Hmm I need help but I can see the rationale for that! 

8. Measure yourself regularly! A good way to keep track better than weighing yourself it's not as psychologically damaging and you are likely to have noticed some results in this area already especially if you have been exercising!

9. Stop drinking Soda! Hmm on SW diet soda is free as in you can drink as much as you like but I have heard members say they've lit more weight when they've stopped drinking it! Not really sure about the rationale behind it. 

10. Eat fruit! Well enough said, yes? I mean when reaching for the cadbury's reach for an apple instead? Right? 

These tips are from freefitnesstips.co.uk