BRIAN'S BLOG IS ALSO ON OUTSIZECLOTHES.COM

My personal weight loss and diet blog

Blog start: - Mid Aug 2012. "Our general view on diets: - GET FIT, Stay fit by regular exercise, Eat plenty of fruit and veg - and forget about diets altogether."

Having earlier said the above in our weight help page, I have now been advised by my doctor to lose weight. I've had a series of blood tests for Cholesterol, as there's a family history of highish levels. My reading is over 6, with Triglycerides at 3.7. Having read negative stuff on them, I want to avoid having to take Statins if at all possible. My doctor says there's a reasonably good chance I can avoid them if I lose 2 stone. (Note Jan 1st : - and keep it off ). I feel writing this blog will keep me focused.

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Nov.10th 12st 7¼ lbs this morning, but this has been a very up and down 3 weeks. Around Oct 28th I was 12st 11lbs, threatening to break 13st. Just plain overeating was doing it. Very big helpings rather than anything with HFCS or sugar, and eating an extra bit going to bed late at night. Loads of peanuts, and other nuts, because of Halloween helped pile on another couple of pounds. Cold wet weather didn't help, as that stopped me taking a certain amount of exercise - and you have to watch what calories you eat AND burn them off. Then I got angry with myself around the start of the month. I went for a couple of days eating half portions of main meals, and filling up with nibbling fruit like small oranges, apples and bananas, and bits of raw vegetables like carrots and broccoli from the fridge. The result was a drop of 7lbs in a week, to 12st 4. Having now taken my foot off that accelerator, I've put on a few pounds again.
But I'll have to be careful, and try to match my calorie intake with the energy I'm using. I was bemused by listening to Sir Ranulph Fiennes on a late night chat show telling how he'd consumed 5000 calories a day on one of his polar expeditions, but still lost a huge amount of weight because he was burning 8500. He doesn't look as if he's ever had a problem dieting !

Oct 18th. After almost a month of stable eating, avoiding High Fructose Corn Syrup and white sugar, and not too much booze or chocolate, my weight is 12st 6lbs this morning. I've had another cholesterol test taken. Avoiding HFCS and sugar really is showing. My Triclycerides are now at a wonderful 1.2, although my overall cholesterol level is up again at 6.2. My doctor's not overly worried though, as he says that it's "good" HDL that's increasing, not the bad, sticky and artery clogging LDL. He recommended that I avoid high purine proteins though, to combat the continued gout type problems I still have in my toes, so I'm replacing oily fish in my diet with vegetables in olive oil, and eating a little less lamb, beef and turkey, going for a little more white fish and a few more vegetables. I've also started to add oat bran to my breakfast cereal, to help combat constipation, - and because it helps lower cholesterol.

Sept 23rd. The inflammation in my foot has started up again, so my doctor has prescribed more NSAIDs. The only trouble with these is that they result in constipation. I could also be retaining fluid. At least that's my reasoning for gaining 4lbs from the middle of last week when I saw the doc, to 12st 9½ by this morning. I haven't been overdoing it eating wise - except for a couple (and only a couple) of desserts. Mind you they both had loads of cream, and were very sugary.
1 year on from going below 14st and I'm still fighting to keep a regular, stable, weight.

Sept 11th After a stable fortnight eating-wise, my weight's 12st 6lbs this morning. Things are starting to wind down on the farm, so I'll have to watch out as sitting, not exercising, and snacking while doing these, are going to be my enemies over the winter. But at least my inflammation flare up has died down.

August 25th. Over 3 weeks since my last entry, and I really must try to keep up with what's happening, or not, with my weight battle. As a favour to a retired doctor who's a friend, I've promised to keep a daily food diary, listing what I eat and in what amounts. This isn't for weight control or monitoring purposes, but rather as a study of vitamin content and uptake - how much of the vitamins I'm eating are actually being used/metabolised and showing up in my blood. But there will be an approximate calorie count as well, so I intend adding the daily food intake here to the blog.
I've had another 'medical' problem develop since last writing too. About 12 days ago my right big toe joint swelled up, became red and inflamed, and I went to my usual health centre where a new doctor suspects gout. So I'm just finished a course of steroids and anti-inflammatories, with a uric acid test to come in 6 weeks time. I must say the steroids are mood-lifters, and seem to have worked very quickly. Thankfully I haven't felt the need to over-eat, although side effects can occur for up to 6 weeks according to the litrature with the pills. Nor have I retained fluid, and my weight is still 12st 7lbs

August 3rd. My worst fear about last week came to pass. Confronted as I was by loads of small cakes, sugar-iced buns, fizzy drinks and chocolates I gave in and tucked in. With even the fruit salad/trifles having loads of cream I quickly put in 3 days of over 3000 cals, and by Friday I'd put on 4 lbs. Having cleared all the sweet tuck out of the way, mostly through my eating it, I had to make amends. So this week I've been very good, coming back down to a 1800-2000cal a day pattern. With most of my family on a short holiday, I'm in control of the cooking. Which means that I can get away with overloading the vegetables on to 6 oz servings of meat, whilst avoiding carbohydrate starch foods like bread and potatoes. Atkins actually works very well in the short-term. Especially if you're counting calories at the same time. 12st 6¾ lbs first thing.

July 20th. Having avoided a baby-shower party yesterday, I'm now confronted with stacks of leftover food. Much of which is high sugar and high calorie. The "it's a shame to waste good food with people in the world starving" in me will probably win out over the "you know it'll put weight on you". All my life I've avoided waste - probably because I've been brought up by parents who've known World War 2, and Economic War, rationing, and who didn't waste anything.
Even though I've had a stable week, I'm going to find myself fighting the 2 lbs extra that finishing these leftovers will inevitably put on next week.

July 13th. Hot weather to the rescue ! After 10 days of 25C plus, with NO BEER OR CIDER, only a little wine, and loads of diet drinks and pints of diluted orange, and blackcurrant squash, I'm gaining control again. Eating salad is helping a lot too. I'm not adding fatty bacon bits or grated cheese, and I'm avoiding high fat dressings like mayo and Heinz salad dressing. Instead I squirt a little JIF lemon juice on my salad leaves if I want a bit of tangy sharpness, with sometimes mixing lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil for flavour.
I must have sweated a bucket load at Thursday night's fencing. I know I drank 3 pints of water after finishing work before going out to practice, and I hadn't to pee once ! Overall result - I'm now 12st 5¾ again. Long may the hot weather continue !

June 28th. After a particularly big day's eating, including sponge cake, chocolate, wine and a large battered fish and chips supper, I'm 12th 10¾ lbs. I'm losing this battle again. I must avoid sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and large amounts of high calorie fat !!!!!

June 25th. 12th 8lbs. A weekend of having Diane to myself, with both girls away for a couple of days, inspired a rich food and wine blowout. Why do calories taste so nice ?

May. 28th. Back in control, although it's taken a couple of days gardening, with weeding, lawn mowing with a walk-after mower, and carting rocks and bricks to build flower beds. That and making sure I didn't over-eat to compensate for the extra calorie burn-off. I've a sore back tonight though, so probably won't do as much tomorrow.

May 22nd. As a follow-up experiment, I weighed myself last thing yesterday before going to bed, and then first thing this morning immediately after getting up. The difference was 1½ lbs. So; - to be sure that you are getting an accurate weight, you need to weigh yourself at the same time of the day under the same conditions.

May 17th. After 8 days of being good, a funeral tea of rich sandwiches, buns and cakes, and a couple of fish supper takeaways with a few pints has seen my weight creep up to 12st 9lbs again. But this is a constant battle I can't afford to lose, so I'll have to watch calories next week. I've also made another funny discovery earlier this week. I weighed myself before and immediately after a shower, and discovered that I had lost 1¼ lbs. ( I'm putting it down to sweating in a hot shower - I'm not THAT dirty :-) )

May 7th. The May Bank Holiday's over, including a fish supper for lunch and 3 tubes of Chewits whilst standing at ringside in a cattle market yesterday. 12st 6lbs today, so I'm still within my self-imposed 'limits', although my wife Diane probably rescued the weekend's eating by making salads for dinner.

April 30th. It's frightening how quickly weight can go on, and last week's scare has shown me just how easy it would be to 'accidentally' lose control. I've watched what I was eating and chose low sugar options where possible. I'm back to 12st 6½ lbs. I'm convinced avoiding sugar and fructose/glucose syrup is the key: - I've eaten both beef fat and olive oil in the last couple of days, - high calorie foods, yet still lost weight by avoiding nutritionally empty sweet foods.
I've more blood tests coming up as my doctor wants to be doubly sure that the good results last time weren't a 'once-off'.

April 25th. From an over-eating point of view I've had a huge lapse. I'm weighing 12st 10lbs this morning. Since I last wrote, as well as 'normal' eating, I've downed 3 bottles of red wine, ate 4 bars of chocolate, almost half a pound of Cashel Blue cheese, crackers, half a chocolate cake, 2 big bags of Walkers crisps, and 2 helpings of trifle and full cream. I've consumed at least 3500 cals a day, but now the weighbridge is showing me the effects of such a monster blow out. This is away above what I thought I would have put on, as I thought I'd now be maybe 12st 7.
I'll have to get a grip, or I'll balloon up to over 13st again. Loads of vegetables to bulk up my meals is what's needed, and I have to avoid the high sugar and very high fat food. I simply must start to keep a food calorie diary again too.
I read this morning that just 4 cans a week of fizzy drinks will up your risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%. That's the last thing a bigger person needs, but shows just how big an enemy high fructose corn syrup and refined white sugar are to the otherwise healthy person.

April 15th. 12st 4¼ this morning, so I'm not losing weight at anything nearly as fast as I'd hoped I would. It's getting milder this week too, so I won't burn as many calories just staying warm whilst outside. Hanging around the ringside at cattle markets, waiting to try to buy cattle, is a killer - it's all too easy to constantly eat sweets to relieve boredom. Perhaps chewing sugar-free gum would be an alternative - I must try that !

April 1st. I've completed my first ever chocolate egg-free Easter weekend. Mind you I did have a big slice of home made chocolate cake, (and very good it was) but managed not to over eat elsewhere, and was 12st 5½ lbs today first thing. A job well done !

March 29th. This morning I've weighed in at exactly 12st 5 lbs. I've been eating about 2400 - 2600 cals a day for over a week, but haven't put on any weight, simply because it's so cold outside that just doing my normal farmwork is taking, by my reckoning, 200 cals more than it would in warm weather. Avoiding a 3000+ calorie day this weekend might prove difficult. Easter, or should that be "The Festival of Chocolate", is a weekend where I'd usually eat at least 3 supermarket size milk chocolate eggs, and some of those are 1000+ cals.

March 27th. Had a day trip out with my family, but I was watching calories so didn't make any unhealthy choices until tea time, when we gave in to pester power and stopped off at KFC. They've started to put up the calorie content of all their meals, which I'd commend them for. What I wouldn't commend them for is that there's not a single meal option under 800 cals, and most "meal deals" are 1100+

March 25th. Fought in the Irish National's Men's Epee yesterday, one of the three "Category A" rated competitions. The now slimmed-down (compared to March 2012) version of me was faster than last year. So, despite carrying a wrist injury, I finished inside the top 30 in a field of 47.

March 10th. On the digital scale today's reading is 12st 7½ lbs. Dinner last night was a 10oz (520 cal) T-Bone steak, 2 medium potatoes, peas, sweetcorn, saute onions and garlic mixed, gravy (approx 700 cals) and 2 glasses (550 cal) of Tesco's "Simply Chianti". Considering that feed I think that last week's loss isn't too bad. My target loss for this week will be 1 ½ lbs, so hopefully I should be 12st 6lbs by next Sunday morning, again by keeping to the 2000 cals a day regime.

March 3rd. Disaster ! The weighbridge I'm using isn't accurate. This last few weeks I've been keeping between 12st 4lbs and 12 st 8lbs, or so I believed. The family have bought a new, digital, Weight Watchers scales, which arrived today, and, of course, I just had to see if there was any difference. What a shock ! I'm 12st 9¾ lbs on the new scales, but only 12st 5lbs on the older 'spring' weighing scales ! I'm 5lbs heavier than I thought I was ! I can't afford to have any weight increase and risk cholesterol problems coming back, so it's the 2000 cals a day diet from tomorrow until I lose another five or seven pounds again.

Feb.28th. Finally got the "before" and "after" pictures up on site. I'm posing in my fencing gear, simply because the August picture was the most recent I had ! The 3½" smaller waistline is hard to pick up, but the losing of my fatter thighs and chubby cheeks isn't. The jacket, although a different make, is the same size in both pictures, so the extra wrinkles and sagging is due to a smaller body in the 'after' photo. But I've got older looking - a thinner face shows up more wrinkles, and there's less plump pink skin to counter-balance the grey hair.

Feb.12th. Back home after spending 4 days away from home on business, and finding myself in a small town with the only one decent restaurant. That said the restaurant in question was a Chinese with a fabulous "all you can eat", choice of 80+ foods, buffet at €15.90. Beef, Lamb, Chichen, Duck, Pork, Veg - raw and cooked, rice, potato, 20+ fish and shellfish, cakes, fruit - raw and cooked, and pastries. I quickly determined I was going to "do it justice" so I ate very small breakfasts, a banana and fresh bread roll from the supermarket, and then just had the buffet at 7pm. Not having eaten for most of the day, I was tempted to eat really fast, but countered this by choosing a small salad as a hunger killer starter and finishing this before going up for the main courses. Having written last week about taking 20 mins for your stomach's "I'm full" message to reach your brain, I was very aware of that fact. I kept going back for small helpings of more food, making sure I finished everything on the plate before getting any more, and thus taking longer to eat. I also deliberately avoided everything which I thought contained "high fructose corn syrup" and sugar. I stopped as soon as I felt full, having either a single glass of beer, or water, or tea, with the meal.
I'm delighted to report that, despite eating lots of food, with some of it very high fat, that when I stepped on my scales this morning I haven't gained any weight at all. - 12st 6lbs. Eating pattern does not seem to matter, - if you can keep the total daily calorie count down.

Feb.2nd. I've noticed that I now have lost much of the 'desire' (if it could be described as such) for snacking between meals. I now go into meals feeling hungrier, and there's a temptation to eat too much, too quickly, if I'm in a hurry. I try to find the time needed to try to eat slowly, so I feel fuller having eaten less. If I can't 'spare the time' to eat slower, I try to leave the table feeling that I could have eaten a good bit more.
I've been reading various pieces on stomach enzyme to brain communication. Although the vagus nerve sends a "your stomach's stretching" signal almost immediately from stomach to brain, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to recognise the CKK Hormone released that says " I AM full - STOP EATING !" This explains, for me anyway, why so many folk I see who eat fast, like lorry drivers, fellow farmers and office workers with shorter lunch breaks, tend to be heavier.

Jan. 30th. I'm a bit more relaxed about eating, having maintained my weight at between 12st 5lbs and 12st 7lbs for the last fortnight. I fenced the Northern Irish Men's Epee on Sunday, and came a respectible 20th out of 28. One of my opponents, who beat me well last year, but who I beat this year, commented "you're quicker at getting out of the road of an attack". It's true - the extra weight off does make a difference in speed and overall stamina, and I'm seeing this.

Jan. 16th. I simply must get around to the "before" and "after" pictures for this page. My local pharmacist, who hasn't seen me in a couple of months, commented positively on my weight loss today, which cheered me up. People who are deliberately trying to lose weight appreciate encouragement, be that a "well done" or a "you're looking well". I'm now 12st 6lbs. and into a slow and steady weight loss pattern again. I'm targetting 2000 cals a day until I get to 12st 4lbs, and then I can 'relax' into a 2300 - 2400 cals eating pattern again. I'm a healthy weight at under 12st 7lbs, my blood cholesterol is right, I feel fitter and more active, and so that has to be the target to keep below.

Jan.12th. 12st 7lbs first thing. So I'm back in control, but only just. I've now got to keep this up, without slipping into "bad days". The Northern Irish Fencing Open is coming up. I've gotta get fit, or I'll finish last !

Jan.2nd. The New Year's Eve party had great [ read:- just too tempting ] food, the wine was good and freely available, and this morning's weight reading shows yet another pound has crept back on. 12st 10lbs. There's still a load of lovely cheeses to be eaten, but I simply must get back in control. A 2000 cals target, with 2200 cals max for the next few days should do it.

Dec.30th. Christmas day and Boxing day are now over, and my weight has ballooned up to 12st 9lbs. I've actually had someone say to me this morning that they noticed I have put weight back on :-(
No exercise is as much to blame as overeating. Sitting in watching too much TV, playing board games, and not doing any physical work or playing sport or going for walks has probably reduced my daily calorie burn to less than 2000 cals. A little extra boose, some chocolate, and a lot of very nice, but very high calorie cheese has also increased my calorie intake by over 500 cals a day for last week. I've still the New Year's Eve party to go, but the New Year simply has to kick in with controlled calorie intake and more exercise. I'll have to definitely start keeping the calorie diary again.

Dec 24th. 12st 6lbs first thing this morning :-(
Not good. If I'm not going to sail past this 'end of the festive season' target weight I'm going to have to be so very very careful over the next few days. But there's sooooo much chocolate and boose has arrived as presents - presents that in other years I'd have wolfed down. So the choice faces me - don't eat and relax, or eat and drink, but exercise to take it off. I can see a couple of long walks coming up !

Dec. 19th. 1am Working late again. It's very tempting to have a nibble of something, but that's what often causes the extra calorie intake that leads to the pounds creeping on. First event over, and apart from a glass of mulled wine, nothing food wise was forced in my direction. 12st 3lbs, but a couple of 'big nights' in a row coming up, and the host can't be seen to be avoiding the food on offer.

Dec. 14th. The saying goes "be careful what you wish for: - you might get it".
After two and a half days of the Winter bug that's doing the rounds I've really lost weight ! (The local hospital has stopped everything except emergency admissions.) I stepped on the scales this morning and I'm 12st 2lbs. After bouts of vomiting and really watery diahorrea I'm just about back to feeling ok, but Wed. evening was awful, and yesterday wasn't great either. I'm eating normally today, but I feel I'd have coped better if I had had a bit more "weight against the infection". I normally fight any colds/flu/bugs on my feet, but this sent me to bed. Maybe it's time to stop losing weight, and start a programme of not gaining weight, - keeping at what I'm at. Having lost weight at 2000 cals a day, I might now try keeping to "under 12st 7lbs" by allowing a daily intake of 2300 cals. At least I'm now in a position to be able to attend a couple of functions this week and next, and not feel I have to count calories. That said, I'm not naive enough to believe that a couple of days eating and drinking normally, without bug, won't leave me back at 12st 6lbs again.

Dec. 11th. My blood results are back. My Cholesterol is 4.8 - a really good result and now within the "safe" range according to my doctor, although it could go to 4 to be ideal. The Triglycerides are at an astonishing to everyone level of only 1.8. An absolutely brilliant result, and it definitely shows what cutting calories by mostly reducing white sugar, "high fructose corn syrup" and high carb foods can do to the levels of this most dangerous of blood fats. This result especially should mark a lifestyle change for me, but this result is so amazingly low I now feel I must research this more. Why over 50%? Why so much ? What exactly is to be avoided and can a life lesson be learned ? Especially as I still haven't lost my sweet tooth and desire for things chocolate or cheesy.
I'm also resolving to get a couple of "before and after" pictures to add to this blog. Now, can I lose a bit more ?

Dec.8th. Well and good: - my blood samples, having been taken on Tuesday morning are away for analysis, so now I have to wait until next week until my results come back. I managed to get 4 more pounds off, and entered the Clinic on Tuesday morning weighing 12st 6lbs. My doctor is delighted with my degree of weight loss, and says that it should really show with reductions in the undesired levels of "blood baddies".
I wish I was as happy losing the weight as he is to see the weight off, as it's taken real will power, and it's not fun having to do without all that high sugar, high fat, high salt but extremely tasty food. Artificial sweetners just don't taste the same as sugar!
Everybody now says I'll pile all the weight back on again inside 18 months, and that I'll just be the same as 96% of all the other plus sizes who lose weight very rapidly. So, having achieved my first goal in losing over 2 stone, I'm going to have to prove them all wrong by keeping it off, and keeping this blog going to document my progress. Normally I'd never look twice at what I was eating over Xmas, but this year is probably going to be different. It's going to be hard saying no to that second glass of wine, or bottle of beer, especially as I will always have a driver as Diane, my wife, doesn't drink. And as for those chocolates that are always passed around at every Xmas function, - that's going to be torture !

Nov. 24th. A freezing cold foggy Sunday - just the sort of day you want to sit in beside a roaring fire with someone you love, and eat something warm and full of calories ! But, especially being Sunday, temptation should be (and I know can be with will-power) resisted.
12st 10lbs again this morning. I can't figure out how so little refined sugar and saturated fat can cause so much weight gain. I'd been very careful for a couple of days, with extra walking and exercise, but I've had a "pig-out" a couple of days ago, and ate 2 bars of chocolate, crisps and cheese, washed down with a couple of beers, and all on top of my daily 2000 cal.
Eating 4oz of chocolate or cheese or eating half a pound extra of something very sugary, seems to add a full pound of extra weight. Maybe sugar, or saturated fat, encourage existing fat cells to expand - taking in more water or something. I'll have to Google that later, and do some serious exercise this week, along with watching calorie intake carefully again, to regain control and get back on the weight-loss track.

Nov. 19th. After a good 10 days, and an especially good [i.e. no nights out] weekend I stepped on the scales this morning expecting great things. And I got them ! 12st 10lbs ! But it's not easy. I've had to dump high calorie foods that would lead to the temptation to "use them up" or "finish the jar", as if I'd kept them I'd have just eat them. I know I just can't spread a little peanut butter on anything (it has to be a big dollop !) The same goes for Strawberry jam (or nearly all jam in my case). And the Cream Crackers to go with them - I could rack up a snack that I'd eat in 5 mins, but that would be more than a third of my daily calories.
The December blood test looms larger. Will all this weight loss actually result in a significant change ? Or will I have to go on pills ?

Nov. 8th. A new target date has been added to the calendar. I have been given an appointment to get my blood taken again to measure my Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels in early December. I'm really hoping that this diet has paid off in reducing both. I don't want to have to feed on chemicals just to stay reasonably healthy if there's a natural way to do it instead.

Nov. 6th. I'm back to my diet's eating pattern again - I'm eating smaller calorie counted meals, but eating more often. I chopped logs for a half-hour today, so that should help burn off 300/400 cals extra. Having earned it I might have a (single) bottle of beer later, or a couple of squares of dark chocolate. (and I might resist the temptation). I'm not going to weigh myself again until the weekend, and I might see enough change to really encourage me to keep this up. I wore my 38" waist heavy jeans today and they need a belt now, so that's good. People are noticing that I've weight off, and are saying so, so that's good too.

Nov. 4th. Just over 13st 3lbs, but it's been an up and down 3 weeks. It started well enough, carrying on with the diet, getting reasonably regular, if not weather interrupted, exercise. I had got to 12st 12lbs, but then I went on holiday with my family last week to the Westport Woods Hotel in Mayo, Ireland. It was a half-board package - breakfast and evening meal. My only problem was that the food was excellent. I quickly decided that the 2 meals in the day would do, and that I could then relax and eat all I wanted to. Big mistake number 1.
Having thus decided, I allowed I could have a 3 course meal at both meals. Big mistake number 2.
Because there was a swimming pool, and a well equipped gym, I also allowed that anything I did over-eat could be burned off, either through walking about the town, or in the gym if it was wet. Big mistake number 3.
Breakfast became an excuse for a full helping of cereal, followed by a nice healthy helping of either grapefruit, mixed fruit or prunes, followed by a bit of a breakfast fry. As the week went on the fry got bigger until it became, what I later counted, a 1000 cal plateful. Fried eggs, bacon, sausages, beans and buttered toast. Deadly !!!

The evening dinner wasn't as calorie charged as the breakfast fry, but here again I made the classic weight-watching blunder. Having already taken a starter like Spring roll with salad, and a 'normal' meat / potato / 2 veg main coarse, I then took either a dessert (full of sugar or chocolate) or their excellent cheese board. The cheese board alone was more cals than the 2 coarses before it. Compounding the putting on of weight was a glass of wine with every meal, adding another 200 cals.

This week will have to see a return to the pre-holiday eating pattern, and the diary is coming out again. It's proving too easy to undo all the weight-loss that the diet has achieved so far.

Oct 17th. I now weigh 13st 5lbs, but I've been doing quite a lot of exercise this week and really watching my cals, and I've started filling in a daily diary. I did the North West Open in Epee Fencing this week, and I fought disasterously badly. I thought I'd be much quicker with almost a stone and a half shifted, but you must lose muscle as well as fat, 'cos I was slow and found I lacked the explosive energy needed for speed on the piste. The other fencers were quicker, and I actually felt "fat and slow". Disappointed with a last place result, I was lucky I had enough cals left over for a glass of good red wine and a ( shared, so half ) 100g bar of dark Chocolate after dinner. Good old Sainsbury. Calories do give you a temporary boost, and make you feel good, but I'm constantly watching in case I go way over. On the day of the competition I allowed myself 250 extra cals because I felt I'd have burned them off during the 7 rounds of fighting. But it was back to the 2000 limit the following day, and I've stuck by this since Monday.

Oct 10th. Cold but dry outside today. I felt cold too - maybe the fat's disappearing and taking my heat with it. Definitely can see a difference in my belly bulge, and I put an extra hole in my belt this morning, although I think my rate of weight loss is slowing. 13st 9lbs this morning but only had 1820 cals yesterday. I was hungry last night late on, but resisted the urge. Probably should have grabbed an apple.

Oct 8th. Weighed myself this morning. 13st 12lbs, so back on track after last weekend's excess. Weight not shifting as easily now.

Oct 6th. I've been "good" for a couple of days now. 2oz porridge + an apple for breakfast, 2 slices toast with chicken or tuna and lettuce for lunch, and good beef, 2 veg and boiled potato dinners. Daily intake of calories now about 1900, and I've started to snack on carrots. I keep a big bag in the fridge, and if I'm hungry between meals or last thing, I eat one. I possibly might get a week away at Halloween, so I want to be able to 'give the diet' a small holiday too. I will probably weigh myself this weekend, although everything I read says not to weigh yourself too often, as, if you don't see change, you'll get discouraged.

Oct 2nd. Home after a weekend away at an annual gathering. I didn't over eat that much, but between chips, fried breakfasts, fast food and booze I know I've put on something. Possibly a couple of pounds. But I'm not going near the scales this morning.

Sept 26th. Under 14st for the first time in years ! Took a 3 mile walk to celebrate. I might be sleeping more soundly too, as I seem to be waking up feeling better rested.

Sept.17th. Ate the last of the chocolate last thing, but I was only 200 cals over my limit as I'd saved calories from earlier. It helps if you can bulk up with some fruit or veg at lunch time.

Sept 13th. Weighed myself today. 14st 6lbs. I was hungry last thing last night, so had half a bar of Lidl's dark chocolate late on. I managed to stop myself eating it all. A big drink of water helps, and I'm starting to buy "no added sugar" diluting cordials, which usually only adds 10 cals to a pint of water. But a carrot would have been better than Choc.

Sept 8th. Trying to work a 350 cal breakfast, no morning snack, 350 cal lunch, no afternoon snack, and a really good 1300 cal dinner. So far, so good, but it's a bugger without snacks.

Sept 1st. - The diet starts in earnest today. I'm 14st 13lbs after my shower first thing this morning.

Aug 29th. I've researched calories, and drawn up the list at page bottom. I normally have breakfast, 10-o-clock teabreak, lunch, 3:30 snack break, dinner at 6pm and a snack at bedtime. I have drawn up a "hit-list" of high calorie foods I eat. I'll try to avoid or substitute lower calorie foods (& drink) for these. I could possibly cut out the in-between meal snacks to save 400 cals. I'll try this to start.

Aug 25th. Having researched diets for years as part of my work on plussizeclothes.co.uk, OutsizeClothes.com etc. , I'm now going to try what I think will work best for me. I'm going to find out the calories in everything I eat, publish it below, and I'm going on a 2000 calorie a day diet.
As I think I'm reasonably fit and active as I farm, and fight Epee as a sport once a week. This diet should, by my calculations, lose about 3lbs a week for me. So by early December 2012 I should have lost 2 stones
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Calories in foods I would normally eat: -
High : - Chocolate 3oz bar = 500 cals, Jaffa Cake 1 = 45 cals, Popcorn 5oz = 700 cals. Peanuts 10oz = 1500 cals, Cheese 3oz = 350 cals, Chips 10oz = 800 cals , Pasta or Fried Rice 10oz = 600 cals, Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon = 120 cals, Butter/Marg 1" cube = 100 cals, Bread - Ciabatta 1oz = 80 cals, Brown or White loaf, 1 slice = 90 cals, Burger Bun = 160 cals, Chocolate or Fruit or Sponge Cake, 3oz slice = 400 cals, Pringles 5oz = 1200 cals, Square Cream Cracker 3 = 100 cals, Jam Doughnut 1 = 250 cals, Jam 1oz = 80 cals.
Pint of Beer or Cider, or a medium Glass of Wine = 200 cals.

Medium : - Minced Beef 6oz = 400 cals, lean Beef or Lamb 6oz = 320 cals, Chicken or Turkey 6oz = 280 cals, Salmon 6oz = 370 cals, Sardines in oil 6oz tin = 310 cals , Porridge 3oz = 300 cals, Black Seedless Grapes 25 =100 cals, Boiled Potato 10 oz= 280 cals, Boiled Brown Rice 10oz = 340 cals, Sweetcorn 10oz = 330 cals, Heinz Beans 1 can = 330 cals, Fried Egg 2oz = 120 cals, Soya Milk 1pint = 250 cals,
Bacardi or Vodka & Diet Coke - 2 pub shots (a double) + 1 mixer can = 150 cals.

Low : - Sardines in Water, Haddock, Tuna, Flatfish, 6oz = 220 cals. Boiled Egg 2oz = 90 cals, Orange, Apple or Medium Banana = 90cals, Orange Juice 10floz = 150cals, Cabbage, Kale, Broccoli, Carrot, Onion, 6oz = 70cals, Tomato, Peppers 6oz = 30cals, Lettuce, Mushrooms 6oz = 25cals, Water = no cals at all.