Version 2: 2kg lost, 3 to go

[Bonkers]

31 years old and have been overweight (or morbidly obese as I am now) as far back as I can remember.

I remember one aunt always saying "oh its baby weight. it will come off soon".... but that hasn't happened .

In college I started exercising and lost tons of weight ... was wearing size 14s and 16s. Which was really great and I was happy with my body - didn't feel the need to get any smaller.

Then came the big move to the UAE (broke off with my college sweetheart, quit college and basically couldn't live in the same country anymore - so decided to pack up and move and just start working!). Well, the move was a success - 10 years on and I'm still here. However, 3 years or so after the move I started piling on the pounds. It took me till 2008 to get to a doctor (after a whole year of not menstruating) to be diagnosed with PCOS.

With the PCOS came insulin resistance and risk of diabetes (family history as well ). I still didn't bother about my weight - was just being silly!

Fast forward 3 years and my insulin was getting out of control - went from 500mg Metformin twice a day to 850mg three times a day! Doctor recommended Cambridge. I got excited about the fast weight loss and decided to give it a try. Lasted all of 3 weeks before I fell of the wagon... tried a few times to get back on Cambridge (wasted money as I finally had to throw the packets away ) with no success.

A colleague was doing Dukan around the same time I started Cambridge the first time around. I didn't really consider it at all as I was already on a good plan. Two months ago I woke up and realized that my 26 blouses were tight for me! That was it... Decided to get on Dukan. The all you can eat philosophy was what cracked it for me. Two months later and I'm going strong with no cheats and loving it!

I must add - I am a horrible cook. I just hate going into the kitchen. The only reason I have lasted this long is my mum and sister. My mum lives with me and my sis and her family are in the apartment one floor up. They do the daily/weekly shop and cook and pack every meal I need. There is no way I would have got this far without them.

That's my mini story and now I'm off to warm up my lunch - chicken curry and steamed cauliflower (PV day today!). I love PV days .

 

[Bonkers]

Woke up to Day 3 of Week 2 of the Focus T25 program... I did a few more non-modified exercises so am well pleased.

A large skimmed cappuccino and I think 10 slices of low fat turkey so far... busy at work this morning and not had time to warm up my food yet.

Back to work and hopefully be able to eat soon

 

[lorlypop]

Cruise: getting my act together!

Must google Focus T25 and see what its all about, I am a bit fed up with the shred! Thanks for sharing your story Bonkers, it sounds like you're really in the swing of it.

I am a rubbish cook too, and I like the fact that I can dry fry pretty much all of the food that I eat on this diet, and jazz it up with herbs and spices! I'm amazed at what some people manage to make on here - they are so inventive with the Dukan recipes - I really wish that I had the skills and the patience!

How are you finding the weight loss, and have you been able to make any changes to your insulin? I love the all you can eat idea too, although I must remind myself that this philosophy does not apply to "all food" once Dukan is finished!! Good luck with the journey, please continue to post!

 

[Bonkers]

Hi Lorlypop!

I tried the shred ages ago and just couldnt do it! T25 helps with building up to the difficult routines so its easier for a big girl like me .

I know what you mean about the recipes... I'm going to try the Tofu Yogurt Cake today (found it in the recipe section). I have never eaten tofu and hoping it turns out edible

Weigh in on Sun so hopping for a bigger loss than last week. A week or so after beginning Dukan I felt light headed and dizzy. Couldnt understand why. Did some research and realised I was on too much Metformin for the almost 0 carb/sugar foods I started eating. So I experimented and cut down to 2 X 500mg a day... Regularly check my sugar at home... all within the normal (i.e. pre-diabetic range). I am dreading going to a doc for an official fasting sugar test as I dont want to "cheat" by drinking the glucose for the test. I'm afraid I wont be able to get back on.

However, I have decided to do the following once I get to the 90s (another 7 kgs):

1. Quit smoking!
2. Make appointment with doc to do an official blood sugar test and sort out metformin accordingly
3. Have a cheat meal

I know I will do 1 & 2. Not sure about 3... I told myself that I'd have a cheat meal when I dropped 10kgs and didnt do it... So maybe ....

Day has been good so far... Day 4 of T25, followed by my grande cappuccino, then dukan bread with cheese and just had chicken stir fry for lunch!

I know will end up eating some turkey slices or crabsticks in the next few hours so I can workout this evening. But as it is PV today I am looking forward to a big grilled chicken with veggies for dinner tonight!

From your stats you've reach TW (or close). How long did it take you? And how are you getting on after Cruise?

 

[Munchkin71]

Hi Bonkers, I wouldn't worry about a glucose tolerance test being a 'cheat' because it's a necessary one and probably won't slow your weight loss that much. I am an insulin dependant diabetic, and have been for almost 25 years and while doing dukan I have had to deal with low blood sugars on occasion and had to treat them with something sweet and carby. But like I say it was out of necessity so I would just carry on dukanning once I felt ok and wouldn't beat myself up about it.

 

[Bonkers]

Hi Katie

Wow! I would have used that as an excuse to forget about Dukan .

I feel like if I have gone down to the 90s I wont loose my way... And a 1.4 kg ( 3.3 pound) loss over last week! Yay! So now 5.5 kg to go before my first "major" mini goal!

Its been a crazy few days at work! Worked all weekend and most of last night ... tired!

Food has not been an issue coz my mum n sis sorted me out. And I got lucky that Sat/Sun were my days off from strength training and I managed to get my Focus T25 in both mornings before work. Could'nt do it today as I had to be back in the office super early. But I will also be leaving work early so I'm going to squeeze it in tonight .

Going back to work now.

Hope you all have a wonderful Dukan day!

 

[Bonkers]

So its been over a week since I've had the time to post...

Work has been super busy with long days -16 hrs, nap, shower and back.

Plus went off to visit my friend in Doha over the weekend with a project due two days after my return. So feeling battered ...

Have not worked out at all over the last week - no T25 or strength training. Feeling softer already

Stuck to Dukan all week and managed to drop another 2.5 kgs (5.5lbs) bringing grand total to 16.3 kgs (35lbs). In 10 weeks!

Getting back on the exercise track from tomorrow (need today to recover from last nights submission). Week 3 of T25 - here I come!!!

Hope you all having a lovely Dukan day

 

[Bonkers]

So I downloaded the iDukan app on my phone when I started thinking that I will need to constantly check to see whether I was on a PP or PV day. But as I'm doing 1/1 its become a way of life for me and I rarely go on iDukan anymore.

However, yesterday was lounging on the couch bored and opened up the app. It made me realize that I've been on Dukan 81 days (82 today) and have not felt it! The time has just flown by... even the phase duration went from 275 days to 199! Its so much closer now!

As to food and exercise - been a successful week. Halfway through week 4 of T25 and then one more week till I begin T25 Beta program - still cant believe I'm doing this!

 

[Maintainer]

Excellent weight loss Bonkers, and I'm enjoying ready your diary (and following your life!! we're a nosey lot over here!!).
x

 

[Bonkers]

Excellent weight loss Bonkers, and I'm enjoying ready your diary (and following your life!! we're a nosey lot over here!!).
x

Thank you Maintainer!

I had a very eventful last week ... Have not had time to post but will do later today. The highlight of the week - 20 kgs (3st something) gone forever!

and in second place - i quit smoking on Wednesday (its day 5 smoke free ).

I hope everyone is having a successful week...

 

[Bonkers]

Eventful last week summarized:

Sunday – Went in to see doc to get my sugar/insulin resistance tested. BP was high (170/100 or something silly like that) so doc panicked and sent me to specialist. I think it was a case of nerves.

At the specials BP dropped to 150/90 (see – nerves!). Anyway, specialist put me on 5mg of medication for a month and have been told to check my pressure twice a day (morning and evening) She also decided to send me to the ophthalmologist as the only question I responded positively to when she was checking high BP symptoms was “any change in vision?”

So in a space of 5 hrs, met 3 doctors, had two vision tests (which gave me such a headache) and was scheduled to come in on Tue/Wed (dependent on insurance approval) for the blood tests, urine tests and ECG.

Mon, Tue – normal 100% Dukan days (did I mention I was on local leave this week so spent most free times with my 2yr old niece).

Wed – 0000 hrs: last drink of water (10 hrs fasting blood sugar test the following morning) and as I was to find out – smoked my last cigarette!

Woke up the following morning (with a splitting headache and oh so thirsty) and at the lab by 10… spent 4 hrs waiting, drinking the glucose sign0137 when instructed, peeing, giving blood and having my ecg done.

2100 hrs: on a flight to visit my friend in Doha for the weekend.

Thurs – slept and recovered as friend was working, saw Thor 2 in the evening (can’t tell you enough how much I loved that movie!)

Fri – woken up at 9am by my doctor calling to tell me that my results were in and guess what? All normal – no cholesterol, no kidney liver issues etc. Even my insulin resistance has improved so much that my fasting and 1 and 2 hour sugar/insulin levels are normal!!!!! I have an appointment to see my doc later this week and will get copies of my reports then.


When I wrote above “and as I was to find out – smoked my last cigarette! ” it was based on a decision I had made to quit smoking when I reached the 90s (in kgs). My doc asked me to record my weight when checking my pressure. So when I woke up on Wed morning the scale showed 99.4… that came as a complete shock as the previous day I was at 100.5.

All the time I spent at the lab on Wed, I kept thinking that the scale just reflected the lack of food and water (I tend to drink loads of water in the night). And I was contemplating waiting till official Sun weigh in to see if I actually did drop to the 90s and smoke smoke smoke till then. But then I realized, I was just procrastinating and if I didn’t just do it, I wouldn’t do it the following week and keep finding excuses not to quit. So I quit! 20 Nov first smoke free day and today is day 5… I'm glad I did coz the scales showed a further 500 gm loss since Wed.

Now I'm just going to power through the next month (aiming to get to the lower 90s before Xmas and hopefully fit into size 22 ).

 

[Maintainer]

Gosh Bonkers - wow!! I'm thrilled for you. x

 

[Bonkers]

Thanks Maintainer!

Its been a difficult week - today is day 7 absolutely cigarette free - although there have been the odd times I have felt like just grabbing cigarettes from people while they are happily enjoying their break ... .

Food wise and exercise all good. I complete Week 5 of T25 on Friday so looking forward to that and moving on to the next phase.

Have a lovely day everyone

 

[Maintainer]

Hello there Bonkers - I quit using Allan Carr's book (but don't race out and buy it cos you've already done the most difficult thing... you've stopped smoking). One technique of his that I still use sporadically, I'm sorry to say, after almost seven year's nicotine free, is: "pity the smoker". When I see someone smoking (or, rather, SMELL it...), I pity them... poor things! awh! You get the drill. (I only wish it worked as well when I see people eating cakes!!). Another thing is to remember that an urge only lasts I think something like ten seconds. So you only have to fight the urge for ten seconds, and you're out the other side. OK at the outset, the urges can come on hard and fast, but they do space out... trust me. (If only I could go cold turkey on food!)

Keep that exercise going - I swear my morning hourly walk helped me no end with my cravings. Also try to change habits. If, for instance, you always sat in a certain chair in the kitchen/garden wherever having a cig, avoid doing that as you'll only miss what's not in your hand!!

So tell us what you're eating and what you're up to

 

[Bonkers]

Hi Maintainer

You are the second person here to mention Allan Carr's book - Bev over in the Cambridge area also asked me if I read his book.

Honestly - never heard of him till yesterday, and personally, my inspiration and motivation comes from people like you - real life - self help books have never been my thing.

"pity the smoker" :giggle: - will remember that one!

Its funny you mention changing habits - I was just talking to a friend of mine, telling him that the one thing I do not know how to do anymore is take a (smoke) break while at work ! I have been getting up and wandering around aimlessly, hoping to run into someone to have a chat (small office and most are away at meetings during the day). He suggested I go out for a walk. The weather is good here now and that may be what I end up doing ...

To day is PP day, so menu (in no order as I eat whenever I feel hungry):

- skinny cappuccino
- boiled eggs
- canned tuna
- chicken curry
- lean mince cutlets
- yogurt
- SF jelly

I also accidentally discovered how to make me Dukan choco biscuits a couple of weeks ago, and i have a bath of them made up for the times i crave something naughty.

Its the Dukan Fondant recipe - just microwave till hard and then it breaks off and gets all crunchy just like a real cookie! I love it :drool:

Off to do some work now.

Take care xx

 

[sididd]

wow what a week xxx congratulations on all accounts, being a ex smoker myself....best thing you could have done for your health. And as for Dukan your doing so well xxx congratulations

 

[Maintainer]

and the additional walk will have benefits on your weight loss too... a win win situation!!

 

[Bonkers]

thank you guys

altho i havent started the walkin yet... the weather change here has given me a stuffy nose and i couldnt get out of bed to work out this morning... figured one missed day not going to affect my losses that much. going to start the 5 mins breaks next week.

as im monitoring my pressure, i also have to record my weight and i have not seen any further drop.. now this could be coz of increased exercise (started doing a bit of kettlebell swings in the evenings)... but i have this nagging feeling that i have hit my first plateau

i was hoping to lose a further 10lbs or so before xmas (to get into the size 20 ) but may not happen... oh well...

4 more hours and then im on a plane - off to see my friend in Doha.

Hope all you guys have a wonderful weekend xx

 

[Bonkers]

i was so off in my assessment - lost 1 whole kg (2.2lbs) - am now a teeny bit over 50% to target!!!! :bliss:

this weekend I decided to take the plunge and have a bit of a cheat - i had chips with my grilled chicken and veggies Sat afternoon... oh how delish!

but did I regret it - the meal just sat in my tummy and i felt so heavy that i could barely walk to the car... its gonna be a while before i do that again! it took me a long while to just get back to feeling normal and being able to move again.

im glad i did that - it allowed me to see that i have managed to develop a bit of the will power to just get back on plan from the next meal... and to see a drop despite those chips - just perfect!

and i did get into a size 20 blouse - so next goal almost done (altho wanna wait to get into a slightly tighter size 20 before i tick that off ).

still no smoking, sticking to plan, changed my exercise routine to shake it up - life is going good right now!

 

[Bonkers]

Ooooo - i just noticed - I am no longer morbidly obese - just class 2 obese