Day Twenty-Nine: Nearly the End

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 24

So I’ve made a big decision. The big house move looks like it’s going to happen this Friday, and with over a week off work, I’ve decided to skip the consolidation phase. I know, BIG GASP! This could be a risky decision but I know that I’ve come to far to throw it all away and I also know that I really don’t want the diet to overshadow what is a really exciting time in me and the boyf’s lives (it’s our first house). Namely, the obligatory champagne, the sandwiches made by my wonderful mum for everyone to tuck into in between lugging boxes out of the van we’re borrowing… I don’t want to be having to plan my meals and have the restriction when there’s enough going on to be worrying about!

So it seems that I’m reaching the end of my journey about a month and a half early and while I’m in two very different minds about what might be considered giving up, I think it will make me happier in the long run – and I’ll be keeping a close eye on my weight to make sure it doesn’t start creeping up again.

Breakfast

Oatmeal with skimmed milk. Unusual to just have this on a weekend morning but I was gearing up for…

Lunch

Smoked Haddock, poached and served with 2 poached eggs – why didn’t I think of this sooner?!

Dinner

Lemon Chicken and some king prawns fried with garlic, chilli and (a bit too much) paprika.

Going to have a bit of strawberry yoghurt in a bit too while I watch the organisation I work for on the National Lottery Awards – quite exciting!

END OF DAY 29

Weight: 10st 2lbs – just 2 lbs to go and 6 days to get there. Don’t want to feel smug but this has got to happen surely?!

Can I Dukan?: Yes! I’ve lost a whole stone in less than a month, which is a result I never thought possible.

Day Twenty-Five & Twenty-Six: My Body’s Crying Out for Balance

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 20 & 21

Going to keep this short as I’m absolutely wiped out today. Had a really really bad emotional breakdown tonight which at first I thought was in response to stress of work and of house purchasing but on reflection I don’t think was helped by me not having indulged in/even come in contact with carbohydrates, fats or sugars for nearly 4 weeks. There’s a lot to be said for a balanced diet!

Day 25
Breakfast 

Surprisingly – oat bran with skimmed milk

Lunch

Tandoori Chicken with slices of chicken, breasola and crab sticks + can of Coke Zero to keep away hunger pangs and to try and stop me craving something more substantial (i.e. a danish pastry from the cafe)

Dinner

Following an idea from @stevenixon on Twitter I made burgers – lean steak mince, fried onions, garlic and chilli, a few drops of Tabasco and a splash of Worcestershire Sauce bound together with a couple of beaten eggs and OAT BRAN! Was reaaaaaaaaally good (and honestly couldn’t taste the oat bran at all, thankfully). However, it looked much better on my boyfriend’s plate where his burger had melted cheese on top and was on a sesame seed bun, with lettuce, tomato and ketchup. The wedges with lashings of mayonnaise on the side didn’t make life easier either. But never mind, the burgers WERE REALLY TASTY.

Day 26
Breakfast 

Same as usual! From now on I don’t think I’m going to bother posting my breakfast unless I have something more than oat bran!

Lunch

Miracle Soup

Dinner

Chicken Marengo with Cauliflower Souffle and cabbage, with non-fat cherry yoghurt for dessert!

END OF DAY 26

Weight: 10st 4lb

Can I Dukan?: Fingers crossed that by this time next week I will be rejoicing over reaching my target weight! Worryingly this is overshadowing my horrendous mood swing.

Day Twenty-Three & Twenty-Four: A Whole 1lb Down!

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 18 & 19

FINALLY! The scales have relented and I’ve dropped a whole pound! Really noticing a difference now, I put one of my staple work dresses on this morning and it is definitely skimming and not clinging anymore. The finish line is definitely in my sights, and despite a mega-stressful day at work and finding out there’s a bit of a set back with the house we’re buying, it never even occurred to me to turn to THE BAD STUFF.

Yesterday breakfast was smoked salmon and scrambled eggs Dukan style and I accidentally ended up skipping lunch. Dinner was steak and leftover garlic chilli prawns – love a bit of Surf and Turf action! A few chips wouldn’t have gone amiss though I must admit.

Breakfast

Oatbran with skimmed milk. I’ve made my peace now that I won’t ever get round to anything more substantial than this during the week!

Lunch

Tandoori Chicken salad with some celery sticks

Dinner

Steamed Plaice with green beans and leftover Cauliflower Souffle with a non-fat yoghurt for pud.

END OF DAY 24

Weight: 10st 5lb – FINALLY!

Can I Dukan?: With not much longer (I’ve got everything crossed that this is the case!) to go, I’d be an absolute fool to give up now.

Day Twenty-Two: Come Onnnnnn Weight!

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 17

So relieved to say that it seems like the worst is over (famous last words?). Feeling a lot more upbeat about the diet now, and feel like I’ve definitely got the strength to keep going. Weight is still not budging but I don’t care, even though it’s been about a week since I saw any difference on the scales. It’s going to go down – it has to – but it’s just a question of when. I can wait… for now!

Still drinking more water than recommended because I’ve got a feeling that this will help get my weight down. Went to the cinema this afternoon (saw Tintin, which I would sooooo recommend, lots of fun!) and hopped over the road to the pub afterwards. Boyfriend had a pint, I had a diet coke. Oh how I miss red wine. There were also peanuts… I was going to have a couple but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stop there so I abstained completely. Felt such a weird combination of smug and sorrow afterwards!

When I came home, I did 30mins of step aerobics on the Wii – feel that that’s a valid substitution for the walking. I’m so sick of the walking!!!!

Breakfast

2 poached eggs + 2 slices of chicken

Lunch

Cauliflower Souffle – an interesting one, oddly when I was eating it I realised I’d really missed cauliflower. The rest was meh – have a second portion waiting for me, but I’d much rather have cauliflower cheese!!

Dinner

Tandoori Chicken and Indian-style Aubergines. My attempt to compensate for a Saturday night takeaway! Mildly successful.

Non-fat strawberry yoghurt mixed with 2 tbsp oat bran

END OF DAY 22

Weight: 10st 6lb. Whatever, I’m over it now… Weight will drop eventually.

Can I Dukan?: Yup!

Day Twenty-One: Getting Back

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 16

First of all I have to report that I am feeling much better today. A massive thanks to people who took the time to tweet me yesterday or post comments on here, it genuinely did make a difference and gave me a huge boost.

I’ve taken a combination of advice from different people as well as the book – have drunk 2 litres of water and had 3tbsps oat bran rather than 1.5 litres and 2 tbsps. I don’t feel as blocked as I did yesterday and I’m a lot more comfortable… I’m not 100% back to normal, but at least I know I’m going the right way. It hasn’t even bothered me too much that my weight has failed to go down yet again. I just keep thinking that surely there’s got to be some change tomorrow?!

Already I know that my first celebration (aka eat whatever you like) meal is going to be a Chinese takeaway. I have others planned up my sleeve as well! Right now, that is like the sun coming up over the horizon – it’s what I’m aiming for and I cannot wait to get there. All I can think about is what I’ll be able to eat once I’m out of the Cruise Phase. Even the 2 slices of wholemeal bread a day will turn my world around! Really hope that with 6lbs to lose (and this having been the case for the last few days) that by this time next week I could be on the verge of the Consolidation Phase.

Breakfast

3 tbsp oatbran with skimmed milk (getting beyond a joke now really!)

Lunch

With it being a protein only day and a complete lack of motivation to prepare anything last night, today’s lunch was cobbled together with a real assortment of things I found in the fridge – 2 slices lean ham, 2 slices breasola, some leftover chicken and 4 crab sticks and a non-fat yoghurt.

Dinner

Lemon Chicken (made with just the soy sauce and omitting the salt from the recipe this time!) and lovely juicy king prawns sauteed with a bit of garlic and chilli – yum yum yum

END OF DAY 21

Weight: 10st 6lb – surely for the last time. SURELY!?

Can I Dukan?: I’ve got a new found determination. Yes, I can Dukan! I won’t be beaten!

Day Twenty: Explanations… or Why I’m in Such a Bad Mood

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 15

Ok so I put my hands up. I’ve lapsed over the last few days with this diary that I was so positive that I’d keep up. But a couple of days ago I just came home and my mood completely crashed, I was really really really down. Like just going to bed and lying in the dark down. At 8pm. I can’t explain what tipped me off but suddenly everything collided and I just broke down… Tired from work, bored of diet, boyfriend was late home after I’d been cooking dinner and I was starving. Really nothing massive, and I totally know that it’s nothing to cry about, but I couldn’t be consoled. Ironically, this was the day after I was so upbeat and full of tips on how to conquer the Dukan diet.

Then after that I haven’t been feeling too well. The much-hyped constipation (I’m so sorry for bringing this up) about the diet has finally caught up with me. I’m pretty uncomfortable and it’s really getting to me. On top of that my weight hasn’t gone down since I went down to 10st4lb and went back up to 10st6lb. It’s been stuck there for the last 4 days.

Something isn’t right and I don’t know how to get back to normal. I’m not going to bother posting what I’ve eaten today as all I’ve had is 2tbsps of oatbran with skimmed milk. Because of my current issues (see above, not going to reiterate!), I’m not even particularly hungry now, and it’s gone half past 6. “Breakfast” was at 7 (and I use “”s because it just doesn’t fully count as a meal, it’s barely a snack). I took lunch to work with me, and I brought it back home with me. Really didn’t fancy it or at any point feel like I needed it. If anyone reading this has been through the same thing then please get in touch either through the comments or on Twitter. I’m feeling pretty desperate right now.

END OF DAY 20

Weight: 10st 6lb – seriously, for how much longer?!

Can I Dukan?: Somehow I’m still determined not to give up, but the longer this goes on the more I can’t justify putting myself through this. I am thoroughly miserable and tonight I have to plan another week’s worth of Dukan meals.

 

Day Seventeen: Making the Dukan Work

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 12

Well it was inevitable. After gorging myself on the naughtiest bits of chicken yesterday I had gained 2lbs when I got on the scales this morning. Managed to take this in my stride – firstly, I knew it was going to happen and secondly, in the back of my head I knew that the 4lb weight loss of the day before was always too good to be true. So really, I’m probably where I should be now. (And I swear I’m not just saying this to make myself feel good!)

Now today at work, someone asked me if I was getting bored of the diet. And the truth is – no (at least that’s my state of mind today!) The protein days are a bit of a pain, but I find it much easier once I’ve got it in my head that that’s what I’ve got in store for the day. I tell myself that’s it. No negotiations. Just don’t put a whole roast chicken in front of me.

What’s worked for me is planning my meals for the week in advance and making sure that I’ve got everything that I need. That way, I know what I’ve got coming, I can make sure there’s plenty of variety rather than having to fall back on the same thing over and over – and most importantly, when I get hungry I know that the food is there for me to eat so I don’t have to starve/binge on bad things.

Breakfast

Oatmeal and skimmed milk – might be the start of a new week but still can’t get up in time to have anything more substantial!

Lunch

Leftover roast chicken – good bits only this time + a few forkfuls of low-fat red pepper cottage cheese and 4 crab sticks. The old faithful.

Dinner

Now the recipe calls it Grilled Sea Bream, but to avoid confusion we had it as Baked Sea Bass which was gorgeous. We’re having it again on Weds and I can’t wait. I tried the eggs stuffed with shrimp too which were really tasty.  I barely even noticed the new potatoes smothered in butter on my boyfriend’s plate! I’m being completely honest – for a self-confessed carb-lover this is a massive breakthrough!

END OF DAY 17

Weight: 10st 6lbs (booooo)

Can I Dukan?: Yes! Bring on the sea bass!

Day Sixteen: Step Away from the Chicken!

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 11

Great news and not so great news today. Got on the scales this morning to find that my increased toilet stops of yesterday seem to have resulted in an overnight 4lb weight loss! I actually rubbed my eyes in disbelief. That’s 12lbs in 15 days. Amazing! I’ve been smug nearly all day. However, I fear my actions of this evening will lead to my weight creeping back up again…

So we had roast chicken. And I had a sneaky bit of skin. Unlike the last time I did a chicken, I showed absolutely no restraint when stripping the leftover meat. A bit more skin, then a bit more… and the odd bit of just really fatty meat. Oh my God, I had so much bad stuff.

Now I’m sitting down typing this and I feel massive and a bit sick, probably a combination of overindulgence and overwhelming guilt. Lesson learnt. Not looking forward to tomorrow’s weigh-in.

Breakfast

2 poached eggs + 2 slices of lean ham

Lunch

Cod and spinach with white sauce… and just for fun (and some welcome crunch), a few radishes on the side.

Dinner

Roast chicken with tarragon (less said about this the better) with broccoli, cabbage and carrots.

Non-fat yoghurt mixed with oatbran

END OF DAY 16

Weight: 10st 4lbs

Can I Dukan?: In the scheme of things I know it’s only really a minor blip but I feel like a failure. This diet is psychological torture at times! I will do better tomorrow. I can do this.

 

 

 

Day Fifteen: Too Much Liquid?

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 10

After the inner turmoil of yesterday I was determined not to dwell on it today. Despite it being a pure protein day. And a Saturday.

I’ve just made sure to keep myself busy to avoid thinking about it. For some reason, I’ve been having to go to the loo like every 30 minutes. I don’t think I’m drinking much more today so I’m just hoping that this means the scales will be kind tomorrow!

Oh and in case anyone was wondering, the Walking Dead experiment has had to be postponed. I was so exhausted that I knew I wouldn’t stay awake during the whole thing and I want to watch it in one go… so will have to wait until another day! I’m just as excited as you are.

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs a la Dukan with smoked salmon

Lunch

1 can tuna mixed in with “alternative oil-free mayonnaise”. As a big mayo fan I’ve been really hesitant to try Dukan’s version. I mean obviously it was never going to be the same, but it was a bearable substitute. Yes, bearable. This was not one of my better lunches – I have zero imagination right now.

My boyfriend came back from the shops with some M&Ms. I consoled myself with a few forkfuls of low-fat onion and chive cottage cheese. And a couple of crab sticks. Excellent alternatives. Sigh.

Dinner

Rib-eye steak (yum yum yum) and Sauteed Prawns

Only just realised as I sat down to type this that I’ve had no oat bran today, so have just quickly had it with some skimmed milk. Pudding! I’ve also done no exercise today. Will endeavour to make up for it tomorrow.

END OF DAY 15

Weight: 10st 8lb

Can I Dukan?: I’ve got much more motivation than yesterday – only 8 more lbs to go. I can do this. I can…

Day Fourteen: Teetering on the Brink

Status: Cruise Phase – Day 9

Ohhhhhhhhh dear. I’ve been doing so well but as I type this tonight, my willpower is feeling incredibly shaky. I think it started this morning as I stood in the cafe at work. There are some gorgeous looking cakes and cookies there. I just want a treat, and the fact that really the only sweet things I can have are yoghurts and coke zero is really starting to do my head in.

Then after dinner, I just couldn’t (and still can’t) get rid of the need to eat something that I would really, REALLY enjoy. With tomorrow being a protein day I’m not sure I won’t end up giving in, as these are the days when I struggle the most. All that is keeping me going is the knowledge that the diet is making me lose weight and the prospect of having to write on here that I’ve crashed. Although my rebellious binge stories would probably make for more entertaining reading!

With the cravings for something “bad” in mind, tonight I’m going to conduct an experiment. A first for this blog! I’m going to watch The Walking Dead on FX (if you haven’t seen it, it’s AMAZING). My theory is that it will gross me out a bit and deter me from wanting to eat or alternatively scare me enough to distract me! Will post the findings from the experiment tomorrow. It’s all very (non) scientific.

Breakfast

Oatbran with skimmed milk (yep, a relapse to barely anything again)

Lunch

Tuna salad – with salad leaves, tomato, red onion and a hard boiled egg, with the old-faithful, a non-fat yoghurt to finish

Dinner

Leftover Chicken Marengo (sp?) with courgette and green beans. Within about 15mins and due to immense cravings for something naughty I went and polished off a pathetic amount of Miracle Soup that was left in the fridge. Didn’t really do the trick, but it satisfied my need to eat something extra.

END OF DAY 14

Weight: 10st 8lb

Can I Dukan?: With a potential 3 more weeks left on the Cruise Phase, today I’m genuinely worried that I won’t be able to keep it up. I’m not even half way. But in the words of Scarlett O’Hara – tomorrow is another day! Perhaps I’ll find fresh strength there, or perhaps I’ll find out I can’t Dukan.