Ask and ye shall receive...

...well ok, that's hasn't worked so far for my long standing request for my numbers to come up as the winning line in the lotto however, I stated at the beginning of this year that I want/need to lose 4 stone (56lbs) and that I want to do it by the end of this year!  The reason I published it for my world to see is because if I keep it a secret then I've left myself a massive amount of room to creatively convince myself that I didn't really want/need to do it.  I've put it out there and now I've got a lot more people to answer to (in my head).  However there has been a surprising and very welcome consequence to my declaration...and that is the offer of help and support!

My mate Jamie (Music Man) has stepped forward to take care of the exercise motivation, even though it has to be done remotely as he lives abroad now.  It's a big task to take on, but I'm sure Jamie's bravery has not gone unnoticed by the gods and he'll be rewarded in heaven!!

Then the offer to help me with the food side things came from an old school friend of mine, Lisa, whom I haven't seen since...well leaving school back in 1948 or whenever it was that we spread our wings and took to the skies of adult life.  We became friends on Facebook a wee while ago and it was through fb that this most generous offer of help was extended in my direction.  Lisa is a real adult.  She's working in the field that she got a degree in (I KNOW...who does that?!) and that happens to be nutrition!  Lisa had read my blog and all the moaning I have done about the whole being intolerant to all good food (today's a dramatic day) and got in touch to say that she can help!!  I've now started the "Lovin Lisa" Club...and YOU should become a member!

We met up for a coffee (which extended to lunch and some more coffees...well we had a few years to catch up on!!) and WOW this girl is good!  In the past I've been referred to dietitians and when I've met with them they've pulled out a picture of a plate looking like a pie chart and then spout off about what percentage of the plate should be veg, meat, dairy etc.  Eh hello?  I'm not stupid, I know what food to eat and not eat.  Here's the thing, that's not what I struggle with.  I struggle with motivation when PMT kicks in or a bad day/week/month comes along or if I fall off the bandwagon and forget what I was doing.  In addition I'm struggling with what food I'm reacting with and what food I'm not.  So Lisa has started to work her magic.  We are focusing on the mental aspect of eating...habits, triggers, motivation etc.  It's fascinating.  I've been given homework, which I'm doing religiously, and I'm very much looking forward to our next meeting (esp. since I know I've done what I said I'd do...always makes the next meeting that much easier!!).
She has her own website www.dietitianscotland.co.uk which I urge you to check out if you're wanting/needing to lose weight like me or are having reactions to foods and are looking for good advice & support.

Of course, like everything that one wants in this world, the effort and work has to come from the individual...but damn it is sooo much easier when you accept help & support from those that can offer it.

I am determined to succeed, therefore I shall.  But you know what?  I feel even more confident now...so let us all wish Jamie & Lisa good luck because if I fail then it's going to be their fault!!!
Mwahahahahah....(JOKING!!!)

You go to get blood tests & the next thing you're standing on scales...

...crying (or wanting to!).  So who knew not doing any exercise & over-eating would result in weight gain?  I know...it's beyond belief really isn't it?!

I went to get blood taken because I have finally found a doctor who has agreed to give me food allergy tests, after I took in photographs to show what happens when I eat (I look 8 months pregnant, stomach rock hard...really, really quite uncomfortable.  See -->) and I explained that even though I've discovered wheat & yeast are oot the door for me, there's something else and I have not managed to identify what it is.  The doctor I now have is brilliant, she not only listens but she discusses different options and informs me of the potential benefits/downfalls of an option.  For example, getting allergy tests done will only show something up if I'm allergic, doesn't show up intolerances.  So...these tests are really just to make sure that I've only got intolerances and not allergies.  Then after that, she said she can refer me to a specialist dietician to help me work out what it is I'm reacting with.

Anyway, when I was at the nurse today she asked me to 'hop on to the scales' (after reading my weight, it's just as well I didn't 'hop' onto them as they'd now be broken!!).  I took off my boots (was pretty much gonna strip naked and ask her to hold my boobs then I would've been prepared to 'hop on the scales') and stepped on.  Oh dear lord...what have I done to myself??  Why have I let myself get this fat?  This over-weight & unfit?  I could give a few different, well thought-out excuses....but you know what?  I'm bored with my excuses, because they are just that...excuses!  Dull, dull, dull.

So, I am publically announcing that I will lose at least 4 stone this year.  No excuses (other than things outwith my control...eg. severe illness where I'm bed ridden and am looked after by a feeder, or I'm kidnapped by a supporter of the 'ch' food group and they force feed me all the ch's).

I'm thinking of having a photo diary, but I probably won't publish it until the weight loss has happened, because I don't want to throw myself into some kind of downward spiral into a pit of dispair before I even start.

So with 359 days left of 2012 I've worked out that I need to lose 0.1559888579 of a lb per day...that doesn't seem so bad now!!  Hell that sounds positively simple!!  HAHAHAHAHAHAH *Oh Oh*