Thread: The journey to a new me!

Well I know most people would start a diary on day 1, but today is day 18 for me.

I started out on day 1 at 18st 3lbs. I usually measure in kgs, so that's 115.7kg. My first target set by my consultant was to get to 99kg (15st 8lbs) which to me seemed impossible but a target I would like to get to.

Some more background to me: I am South African, am 31 years old and have been married to an amazing man for 5 months now. (I weighed 107.5kgs (16st 12lbs) on our wedding day- the honeymoon was all inclusive so I picked up a lot afterwards!) I have always been larger than I should be for as long as I can remember. I lost 20kgs (3st 2lbs) in six months a few years ago on the Dr Phil Diet. I picked up about two thirds of that again over four years.

So.... When I visited my consultant for the first time, my BMI was 41.7, which meant I needed to get a doctors signature on the form before I could start. It took a week to get that, so when finally when this was obtained, I could start the plan on step 2. I was disappointed I couldn't go straight to sole source, but my consultant said it was safer to start with a higher plan and then move down once at a lower BMI. This would also hopefully avoid the withdrawal headaches of day 3 that everyone talks about.

She had also suggested that I begin drinking more water and eating fewer carbs whilst waiting for the signature. CWP recommends this as a week's detox, but few people have the patience for it and want to get stuck straight in to the plan. Because I had to wait, I did this route. (And to be honest I think it definitely helped!)

So... Week zero for me consisted of upping the water intake from zero (I hate the 'taste' (or lack thereof ) of water) to about a litre a day as well as cutting down on carbs. I love bread so again difficult to do, but I managed. I did get a slight headache during this time, but a few paracetamol helped with that. I also had to obtain the doctors sign off which proved difficult as I had as yet not changed my surname at the doctors surgery, the form showing my married name and the system showing my married name.

Starting on step 2 in week 1 was easier that I thought it would be. I had the full support of my husband, and having a small meal each day also helped. I had this for lunch as we have a canteen at work so didn't want to tell people at work that I was on the plan just yet. I had a small pot of cottage cheese, a boiled egg and either some cucumber or broccoli and sat to eat it with y colleagues. They all thought I was just trying to be healthy. Week one weigh in came on day 6 of the diet and I was happy that I had lost 3.2kg (7lbs)! We decided to stay on step 2 for another week before thinking about SS.

In week two, still on step 2, I found it difficult. It was Mother's Day and we were taking my husbands gran out for a meal at a pub. They had a full three course meal, while I watched them eat it. I had a simple chicken salad and about half my water for the day at that pub!!!

Luckily however I still kept on track, my husband is amazing, as he also has a canteen at his work so has larger meals during the day and then smaller ones that he prepares himself I the evening. Meaning that I don't have the temptation of snacking whilst preparing it for him! (I am a terrible snacker! My biggest downfall!)

Other noteworthy events in week two were a games evening held at our flat where everyone else ate fish and chips and I say having a bowl of soup.... Difficult but having gotten into the plan, surprisingly I didn't feel the craving to eat the fish or the chips! Personal hurdle???

Week two also brought a spate of treats at work. Two consecutive days at work saw treats, cakes etc. these are left on top of a cupboard and people can help themselves. VERY dangerous! I sulked a bit over these, but still managed to avoid having some!

Don't get me wrong, I was no angel during week 2. I did have the odd naughty thing, but when I did I tried my best to ration myself and to not go overboard. I caved at the games night and had a choc chip cookie, but thankfully stopped at one!

I was finding the weekends the hardest. Not having the reminder to drink water meant I didn't get through the 2.25ltrs required. This also then made me feel hungry so I had more of an inclination to snack. Hubby helped with this by always trying to say I am doing so well and that eating would mean I didn't lose the weight. It usually helped.

So weigh in after week two was on day 14. I lost another 2.7kg (6lbs)! Total now: 13lbs on CWP in two weeks! Very happy! I have now been allowed to go down onto SS as my BMI is below 40.

One thing to confess is that I (like many others) am a serial weigher... I weigh myself every morning! I keep an app on my iPhone to track the weight, and I love watching the line slowly creep downwards on a daily basis. So far I have had one day where I stayed the same, and two days that I have picked up 100g... (0.2lb). Some days are small losses, and the wham! A nice big loss. Those days are usually followed by a tiny or no movement the next day. It affects me each day, but I don't know if I would be able to stop from weighing myself!

Weighing myself yesterday I realised that I am ever so close tottering back to the weight I was on my wedding day! Now that's a good feeling! I hope to smash straight past it on my way to that 99kg target!

Had to decline a meal invitation out this weekend as it was to an Indian restaurant. Felt really bad, but want to keep on the straight and narrow. Lots of people on here talk about falling off the rails and find it hard to get back on so I am trying my best not to stumble.

I also suffered from mild constipation, so decided to get the Cambridge fibre pot. Been using it for three days now and it seems to be helping. Am only having one teaspoon a day so far.

In terms of the products:
I really like all the flavours of the shakes and I like the fact they become thick and creamy by just adding water!

The soups are less enjoyable but I like the fact that I can sit at the table with hubby and sip that while he is having his meal.

The chewy bars are nice. You have to chewy a lot to get them eaten! I don't tend to like the crunch bars.

I tried two porridges and decided they are not for me. My consultant said they are like marmite, either you love them or you hate them... Well I don't like marmite either :-)

Water intake for me is usually between 2 and 2.5 litres a day. Weekends are the hardest! I carry a bottle around with me and drink from that. This has however started the rumour mill amongst my friends as they seem to be convinced I am now pregnant because of it!

Work now know I am on the plan, and other larger ladies in the office have climbed on board and we have started a diet club! We all provide weigh ins on a weekly basis and we will track how everyone is doing. If you gain weight in a week you have to pay a fine. All money at the end of 20 weeks goes to the person with the biggest %body weight lost! We also do a lap of the work site (mapped out to be 1km). We are working towards making this two laps! They are doing diets such as dairy free, wheat free, calorie counting and going to the gym. It's definitely motivating me! :-)

Keep going you are doing great I'm on my 7 th week of doing just sole source start weight 17.11 now I'm 15.3 so it does work must be honest though takes some serious will power to only have shakes as I don't like porridge or bars
But last night I did have the chicken and mushroom soup and it takes just like chicken cuppa soup so think I will have this again
Good luck on your journey x

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Thanks missymorris!

I don't like the porridge either, but the soups make a nice change to the shakes. Also I tend to add more water to the them so they also make a nice time consuming meal to eat.

Well done on your weight loss! Glad it does work, I look forward to get to my week 7 so that I can also have that kind of weight loss! Good luck for the next 7 weeks! May the weight loss long continue!

So today is day 18 for me, and today I think has been the hardest day of the whole plan! I have just had to watch my husband eat his way through his dinner of tacos with salad, guacamole, cheese and sour cream! I feel like really low and just want to cry! All I want to do is eat some myself! Not even eating my soup while sitting with him has helped!

:sad: :-( :-(

You will get past this what day are you on? Or week? X

Sent from my iPhone using MiniMins

So day 19 started fine. I weighed myself this morning to fond that i weigh less now than i did on my wedding day. 5 months ago! really happy with that! 2 kg more and i will be the least i have been in +-7 years!! the only problem is my mind is yelling me its nit enough.

So today: I had my shake as normal and began drinking my water. I managed to drink quite a bit today. Am on bottle 5 (500ml each) plus one glass of water so far. However I am on a three day course this week and they provide tea coffee and lunch. Managed to steer clear of lunch but caved and made myself a tea in the afternoon. Little milk and only half a sugar. Tasted horrible and I didn't enjoy it nor finish it.

Came home, and bought a Chinese chicken stick which said it was 94 calories. Naughty I know but I reasoned to myself that it was chicken and on the allowed list so at least it wasn't cake etc. also raided the fridge but didn't find anything exciting so was saved a little there I think.

Feel really down for caving. :-( this week is proving to be really hard. Maybe SS is not for me and I should go to SS+...

Right. Day 20 and I am going to be as good as I can possibly be! No cheating, no snacking.

Originally Posted by sunflowerlady

So day 19 started fine. I weighed myself this morning to fond that i weigh less now than i did on my wedding day. 5 months ago! really happy with that! 2 kg more and i will be the least i have been in +-7 years!! the only problem is my mind is yelling me its nit enough.

So today: I had my shake as normal and began drinking my water. I managed to drink quite a bit today. Am on bottle 5 (500ml each) plus one glass of water so far. However I am on a three day course this week and they provide tea coffee and lunch. Managed to steer clear of lunch but caved and made myself a tea in the afternoon. Little milk and only half a sugar. Tasted horrible and I didn't enjoy it nor finish it.

Came home, and bought a Chinese chicken stick which said it was 94 calories. Naughty I know but I reasoned to myself that it was chicken and on the allowed list so at least it wasn't cake etc. also raided the fridge but didn't find anything exciting so was saved a little there I think.

Feel really down for caving. :-( this week is proving to be really hard. Maybe SS is not for me and I should go to SS+...

Hey sunflower do you think you would get on better with 810? the losses are nearly similar apparently and then your not depriving yourself of food completely? xx

Hey alibongo,

I am going to try for as long as possible on SS and if not I read on another thread that someone put a bar I the fridge and nibbled in that though our the time they were craving. My consultant had mentioned that to me as well, so might see if that is a possibility for me.

Problem is: I'm not hungry... Just really want to eat for the sake of tasting good food! Think that's my problem and until i learn that I shouldn't just eat for eatings sake, I will never keep the weight off.

Two more days before my week three weigh in so here's hoping its decent. X

Originally Posted by sunflowerlady

Hey alibongo,

I am going to try for as long as possible on SS and if not I read on another thread that someone put a bar I the fridge and nibbled in that though our the time they were craving. My consultant had mentioned that to me as well, so might see if that is a possibility for me.

Problem is: I'm not hungry... Just really want to eat for the sake of tasting good food! Think that's my problem and until i learn that I shouldn't just eat for eatings sake, I will never keep the weight off.

Two more days before my week three weigh in so here's hoping its decent. X

I'm feeling exactly the same... so hungry today! I am waitin til Friday for my WI which is also my 3rd, fingers crossed for you too xx

Think I am feeling a bit better today, have a new resolve to stay away from snacking.

We have a diet club at work and up to now I was convinced I would lose the most. It was week one weigh in today and I only came third out of 6! Pretty shocked! I guess it is because I started my diet earlier and lots the big weight before the diet club began. The others all started because of the diet club so lost a lot more than me! Made me more determined to stick to it!

Now if only something like that could happen everyday!

Looking forward to my mushroom soup for dinner :-)

Right so day 20 was a successful. 100% SS and no cheating :-)

Going to make it two days in a row! Bring it on!