13 Apr 12 Not Eating The Pudding

I know we can all talk about what we’re going to do. Make resolutions at New Year or any other time of the year come to that). Thing is, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Or in this case, NOT eating the pudding!

When I returned to the UK, I think most folks here thought that I’d have put on several pounds.

Actually, I did, but I had lost it, and more besides, by the time I returned.  At one time I was topping the scale at just over 17 stones (around 240 lbs). I started making an effort back then (around 2008) to lose some of this. No need to go crazy, and cut out everything you like eating that adds to your weight. You just end up being miserable, and soon giving up, and scoffing twice as much ‘bad’ food. I’m no nutritionist, but I reckon if you just cut back some that’s got to be a step in the right direction.

Diet plans? Nope, not for me. I reckon most of them just make your bank balance slimmer. Fads. Drink the juice of the lesser spotted oomegoolie tree three times a day, and you’ll lose 10 pounds a week. Yeah right. Pull the other branch, mister.

I think that the diet plan that the Daily Telegraph published some years back was about smack on track.

“Eat Less, Move More”.

So, I put one potato less on my plate at dinner time. Had two sausages instead of three for breakfast. One less sandwich for my lunch break. I still ate what I enjoyed eating.

I guess I’m lucky in some ways. I don’t eat sweet foods much. Cupcakes don’t appeal to me. Nor doughnuts, or sticky buns. I don’t take sugar in my tea or coffee. I rarely eat fast food take outs. I don’t drink any kind of soda, pop, or fizzy drinks (whatever you call it in your part of the world), as I simply don’t like the stuff.

I found a new tool online that really does work though. The Daily Plate. The most discipline you need here is to find a few minutes to log everything you eat, and be truthful to it. Set a sensible goal – whatever the diet ads say, you’re not gonna lose more than about 2lb a week on a regular basis. Some weeks your weight might go up a bit for no obvious reason. Keep at it. You can’t give up rowing just because the current gets stronger on that bit of the river. Row past it, keep going.

I got down to just under 190 lbs back in September 2010. I was walking regularly, albeit around the large back yard where I was living at the time. I was eating smaller portions too. I still had a burger every so often, and a few beers too.

So what went wrong?

I moved.

Back in the UK, I was a bit like a kid in a candy store.

Real cask English ales were again available. There are some wonderful American craft beers these days, and I miss those right now, but I’ve always enjoyed good beer (as well as good food). I indulged. For a few weeks I wasn’t working, so I had too much time on my hands. I re-discovered all the English foods I liked. Scotch Eggs, Sausage Rolls, British bacon, Meat pies and so on. It was winter time, so platefuls of stew were in order, as were mountains of mash too.

I have a sedentary job. I sit on my backside all day. Shift work means I go to work, and get home at weird times. I’m often tired because of the strange hours. So as I started doing the Daily Telegraph

So, it’s time to act.

I’m going to make an effort. I’m going to walk a bit more. I’ve ordered a pedometer today, so I can try and get more of those 10,000 daily steps in. I’ve rejoined  The Daily Plate, so I can actively check my munching, and my exercise. I want to get down to my original target weight of 170lbs. I’m now 220lbs.

Today, I went out for a brisk walk, and at the grocery store, I bought salmon and chicken breast, salad, and couscous. I resisted the sausages, and the crusty bread rolls.

It’s a start.

I know we can all talk about what we’re going to do. Make resolutions at New Year or any other time of the year come to that). Thing is, the...

Tags: bank balance, daily telegraph, diet plan, fizzy drinks, nutritionist, proof of the pudding, resolutions, sausages, sensible goal, step in the right direction, sticky buns, sweet foods, three times