Slinky's exante diet - get back to under 10!

Day one. Challenge 1: mix banana milkshake without covering oneself and kitchen with same. Ok, lesson learned. I will not attempt this with an electric whisk and a mug in future!!! I don't know whether this fail tarnished my experience but I heartily disliked the banana milkshake, which was weird because I liked them last time. Perhaps because too much of the powder escaped and it was too watery? The choc orange bar was nice and a good size too. It felt like I was actually eating something! I think I must have added too much water to the curry because it was really sloppy. It was very salty, which worries me if the others are going to be salty. But it was great to actually be able to EAT something as opposed to just a milkshake or soup. Yes, truthfully I'm feeling my tummy rumble and am feeling like a lovely chilled glass of something, but I know that it will probably get harder over the next 4 days before it gets better. Hang in there me!

Day two in the operation slinky house. Had a red berry bar for breakfast/ morning snack. Bleurgh. These are nothing like I remember them. The red chilli at lunch was a pleasant surprise. I don't know if the hot meals are new since I did this last, but I am regretting now getting so many milkshakes instead of meals. Looking forward to trying the carbonara at some stage. But will have to order some more. Had a hot chocolate this evening and that is as I remember it, pretty bland. I need to mix things up a bit if I am to finish these milkshakes. I remember a million years ago being able to make microwaved biscuits from the milkshake packs but can't remember how. Anyway, enough dissection of the packs. Can you tell I'm obsessing about food yet?! Stupid m&s ads are killing me, everything looks so NICE! Felt a bit light headed this afternoon when out with the kids, which was a little scary. I'm drinking loads of water. And weeing. LOTS! Normally now I would be settling down to some cheese, crackers and a glass of wine. Not today, nosiree. Fizzy water is my friend. Must get some ice tomorrow, to make it seem more "occasion" as tonight it is straight from the neck. Cheers!

Well done in getting through the first 2 days I love the hot packs now, really don't feel like I'm missing out at all when I make hubby his dinner now I think it was quite possibly the endless soups that made me give up last time - bleugh! Although saying that I love the pasta ham and mushroom one they do now good luck, onwards and downwards!

I know what you mean about the soups. I always felt like I wasn't having a proper meal when having a soup when not on a diet as it is. ( and with that psychology is it no wonder I am overweight?!) as it is I'm a bit meh about the milkshakes. They are just upgraded drinks, which don't count as food right?! Anyway I have ordered some hot meals so we'll see how it goes.

Today's kitchen fail involved not putting the top on the blender properly. Lots of lovely toffee flavour milkshake and ice on kitchen walls. Hohum. It was nice though. Particularly with the crushed ice. Chocolate bar is interesting. Not sure I like it or not. It kind of has the texture of the nougatty bit of a Mars bar, particularly if stored in the fridge.

REALLY didn't like the apple and cinnamon porridge last night. Good texture but FAR too sweet and cloying. It was a real struggle to eat it. I had it in the evening as I wanted something warm and have run out of meals. (Some more ordered).
Had a sneaky weigh in this morning and I'm under 11 stone, which is fab. Is it too much to say that I don't EVER want to be over 11 again? When I am over 11 I really feel the difference. I feel ever so bloated and unhealthy. I am not somebody who carries weight well. I'm not one of those who are big boned. I am like a narrow little shrew, but a very plump one that can barely move. So whilst 11 stone is just right for many, on me it just clings to my face, my waist and my back. Yes. Back fat. Honestly, I have so much it makes me look like i have a hunchback. It's bizarre how different bodies can be. By nature I should be much lighter, so have some way to go before I get there. But this is me taking control. My body will never be perfect. I will always have narrow curvy shoulders and stumpy little legs, but at least I can get rid of the back fat.

Haha, I sound like an absolute supermodel, don't i?!?!

(Contains food references- sorry, most of my posts do! Be warned!!!)

This is day six or is it day 5? No I think it is day 6. I'm well confused with all this dizziness. Anyway, I thought I posted with my thoughts on carbonara but can't see it. (Salty, watery, but actually not too bad). I'm not impressed with the new raspberry and white chocolate bar as it's too salty. What is it with the salt in these products? Do they add extra to replace lost salts from foods or is it just a taste thing? If the latter, blimey, they must love their salt! Not feeling hungry (in fact haven't for a couple of days) but do miss the texture and feel of food. It's the boredom of it. Mind you, having the meal replacement this time really helps. It's not forever, even if it feels like it sometimes! Had a vanilla shake/crushed ice/coffee frappucino this morning and it was very good. I wonder if I could use the chocolate shakes that way too?
faced some demons yesterday. Was out with the kids all day and apart from the various coffee shop breaks and picnic stops, we finished up in our favourite restaurant for dinner. Usually I'd be tucking into the naan bread, loading mango chutney onto the poppadums followed by a massive korma on pilau rice etc etc so it was a cognitive shift to have to sit there watching. At least I had the baby to feed to distract me. It also made me look less peculiar to the servers, as I had her dinner on a plate in front of me as I fed her!

Hi Slinky, welcome back.

You did very well resisting the food while in he restaurant yesterday. :clap:

I know what you mean about the salt. Must say that I have got use to the taste now. My favourite is the shepherds pie. It actually feels like you are eating proper food.

Yes its funny how all of our bodies hold fat differently. The bit I hate is just below my neck at the back. Looks like I have a bit of a hump there. I think some of it is part of a curvature to the spine but hope once I lose weight it will make a bit of a difference appearance wise. Makes me very self conscious when wearing some thing without a collar.

Two more days & your first week will be over. Well done on getting into the 10s already x

Thanks suzie. How did the graduation go?

Slinky_Malinky said:

Thanks suzie. How did the graduation go?

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It was lovely Slinky, happy & sad all at the same time if you get what I mean. Next week is the last week at home for my daughter before she starts her rotation. Bit scary really but she's looking forward to it. x

Day 7 in the slinky house. Almost made it through one week. Yay!
It's fab that I got into ketosis quite quickly and don't feel hungry, but I'm quite worried about the feeling faint thing. It has been going on a couple of days and hasn't subsided. So much so, that I resisted going for a long outing with the kids on my own again yesterday because I was worried I would fall over. I don't remember this happening last time. I'm not sure that I'll be able to continue on total solution on that basis, which is a pain as the weight is coming off and I'm not hungry or tempted to cheat (at the moment anyway!!!) I'"m currently on the sofa feeling totally wiped out but have a million things to do whilst the baby is having her nap. I wonder if I need to consider total plus or the other one , working solution,or will it make any difference. I am drinking lots. So pretty sure it's not that.

Hi just subscribing to your diary, you're doing really well and your kitchen disasters did make me smile

Hope you're feeling better today, I've got to say that ketosis gives me more energy rather than less, hope the energy bug hits you soon.

Thanks Katie. I have no idea you could subsbribe to diaries. I'm hopeless at this! lol! Well done on your weight loss so far, you are doing brilliantly.

I was very pleased with my "weigh in" yesterday morning. 9lbs! This diet really works! I *think* I look a little less puffy around the face too, and i could be imagining it but my boobs may be shrinking. Back fat is stubbornly hanging on there though! First thing to pile on when I put on weight, and last thing to go. How typical.

hello there! I keep on getting "cut off" by a baby who likes clicking the shut-down button on my computer. Fair enough. I suppose.
I'm still feeling very weak which is a pity as I thought it might have worn off by now. It could be because I am on my TOTM, but not sure. I have started on Spatone iron supplement, so hopeful that should help.

I really like the toffee caramel milkshake but have noticed that some others don't. I tried it today hot. Half a packet with some coffee, and it was delicious. Frothed up with a blender stick. So creamy!

I am truly amazed at how so far I am really not bothered by the food / drink thing. This time last time I did this, I was climbing the walls. Darling Husband announced how he was in the mood for a dial out pizza a couple of nights ago, and usually I would be on the speed dial before he had the full stop on the sentence. But no, even though for a moment I felt pangs of yummness, I just shrugged and said "well do it if you want. I'm not having any" (Whilst feeling ever so slightly smug, it has to be said!). He didn't, partly out of kindness (because let's face it, the smell would probably make me dribble) and probably partly out of shame! It could be the hot days. I'm not having any trouble drinking water. In fact if anything I worry that I am going over what I should. I seem to be constantly sipping. Sip. sip. Sip. Must be so annoying for everyone around me!
Saying that I have finished the sainsbury's still strawberry and kiwi which is allowed on plan. There is none in my nearby little local sainsbury's. I have it as a change from water occasionally, by adding a small bit to lots of fizzy water and ice, as it is too strong on it's own. Have also been having a coke zero every other day or so for a change.

I do wish I could shift this weariness though. I should be doing a lot more with the kids because it is the summer hols, but I just find myself going very slowly and avoiding anything adventurous. In this heat I could pass out in a matter of seconds simply crossing the road.

Note to self: Do not embark on an afternoon baking extravaganza with the kids when on a diet. It is not a wholesome and productive activity if the end result is gorging oneself on cheese scones in the name of "experimental recipe" tasting.

Talk about self sabotage!

Had a spag bol tonight and again I was quite impressed with it all things considered. I am currently doing a shake for breakfast, 3/4 of a bar for lunch and a hot meal for dinner, with the other 1/4 of the bar for when I am feeling like a boost.

Still feeling whoozy, so I am going to have a rethink over the next few days and consider whether to do another plan, either 3+ meal or 5:2. I am meeting some friends for dinner tomorrow so I will not be 100%, but will make good food choices and not drink. We will see what the scales say on Sunday.

2lbs down this week, which is not bad considering I took a day and a half off the plan. I was an extra 2lbs down earlier in the week, but it looks like the curry on Friday night added it on again! I'm not too upset. I knew that this was coming and I planned to eat. I am not telling anybody apart from my other half that I am doing this. I made sensible food choices, and had 2 glasses of wine on saturday but none on the Friday, which, for me, is quite angelic. So back on the plan now. I am noticably less faint now than I was, so the couple of days food seems to have made a difference. The spatone iron supplement is quite disgusting without hiding it under fruit juice. Hopefully another 2 and half weeks of this will get me under the 10 stone, which will be such a milestone for me.

Blimey, that pasta carbonara is so SALTY. It is demoted to my least favourite of the hot meals. But actually they are all not bad. I'm almost looking forward to getting back into ketosis/on plan properly.
I ordered some dresses from *a well known online retailer that features frolicking young British ladies with woven picnic hampers with names like Daisy and Hyacinth* in sizes 14 and 16. They arrived yesterday. The 16s are still in the plastic wrappers, and I am considering requesting size 12s because some of the 14s are a little loose!!!!! But saying that, because of my body shape, my boobs just stretch the top bits and don't look nice but the bottom half hangs off me.

Naturally I'm delighted that I am sizing down, but it got me thinking about clothing choices. When we are sized a bit larger, we really put up with a lot of rubbish from clothing manufacturers don't we? I mean, it's not like we (those of us who are more than size 10 and without legs like skyscrapers) are a minority customer or anything is it? And yet these clothes seem to be designed by a bunch of blokes with no concept of a person whose boobs may not tick the same box as a hip measurement. And another thing: Those tops with "secret support" or whatever. I end up just chopping out the "secret top" bit, for the simple reason that unlike all the models in the catalogue/website, my boobs don't defy gravity. They head towards the equator and drag the so called secret support with it, leaving me with an extremely saggy cleavage. This is also the case for all of those otherwise flattering tunic styles that apparently "skim over the tummy".

It is not just that I have ridiculous boobs. They used to be nice when I was a size 8 and childless and 20something (although people tended to talk to my chest rather than my face) but after 3 kids, and 40 something I am tired of having a surplus of body in that area. I would resent paying the cash to do so as there are so many other things in my life and others that would benefit from the cash, but if I won the lottery tomorrow I think I would consider having them reduced. Because even when I am not overweight i feel like they are just out of proportion. Honestly, I look like I could keel over at any minute, or at least I would if they weren't now hanging down somewhere near my knees. Don't get me wrong, I don't waste my life brooding over it, but it is just one of those things I get frustrated about occasionally. Particularly when I am trying to find something nice to wear apart from jeans and an ubiquitous safe t shirt.

It is genuinely really hard to find something nice that doesn't end up looking like a sack on a tomato when you are short, apple shaped with large boobs and a tummy. It would be lovely if Claudia or Penelope from *that catalogue* occasionally featured a little variety in the body shape department when modelling their clothes, but I don't see it happening any time soon. It is a pity because if somebody made some clothes that looked lovely on all body shapes, I think real women would vote with their pounds. In fact, there would be a stampede.

I'm still here! Just busy with school hols. Away on holidays for the next fortnight, so I am going to take a break from the plan, but fully intend to make good food choices and go back on total solution when we get back. Hang on in there everyone!