10 Steps to Success

In my last post I mentioned that I'm now on Step 2 and realised that I haven't even explained what my steps are about! Basically, I was thinking about weight loss, how far I've got to go, where I want to be, how much I need to lose, etc, and decided it would be much more achievable with mini-targets.

So, I have broken down the weight I need to lose into 10 steps, each 5kg (approximately 11lbs) apart. Each of my 10 steps is going to be it's own 'diet' so that I don't get bored of doing the same thing. Step 1 for example was a bit of an ice-breaker, I didn't really re-introduce exercise, was still cheating here and there, but got the ball rolling.

5kg lost, on to step 2. In step 2 I'm trying to cheat less and get into a better habit of watching the calories and staying on track. That's where we are right now, with another 4kg (8.5lbs'ish) til we hit Step 3.

Now when Step 3 hits it's going to be a difficult time because it's going to be right at the start of November, which is when the British attack. Every weekend I have either guests coming over to visit me that want to to be wined and dined in a nice French restaurant followed by copious amounts of alcohol on the tiles of Paris, or I'm going going off visiting someone/something - One weekend I'm staying in a Disney hotel, another weekend I'm going back to England and am going to desperately want to eat the hundreds of foods that you can't get in France which I've craved tremendously over the past year (and we aren't talking apples and oranges, I mean amazing exploding-with-calorie food like Fish'n'Chips, a decent Indian meal, sausage rolls, cornish pasties, etc) and if we're honest, I'm not sure I'll be able to turn it all away. So basically Step 3 will be a long step where I work hard in the week while working to stick to the diet religiously, however may let my hair down a little at weekends to adjust accordingly with my calendar. If I manage to simply maintain my weight through such a busy social calendar and then get back on track with losing when it ends, that will be a success.

Anyway, that was the attack of the British which hasn't happened yet so let's move on to the steps!

Starting Weight - 125kg (276lbs / 19st, 10lbs)

Step 1 - from 125kg (276lbs / 19st, 10lbs)
Step 2 - from 120kg (265lbs / 18st, 13lbs) - Current Weight: 119kg
Step 3 - from 115kg (254lbs / 18st, 2lbs)
Step 4 - from 110kg (243lbs / 17st, 5lbs)
Step 5 - from 105kg (232lbs / 16st, 8lbs)
Step 6 - from 100kg (221lbs / 15st, 11lbs)
Step 7 - from 95kg (209lbs / 14st, 13lbs)
Step 8 - from 90kg (198lbs / 14st, 2lbs)
Step 9 - from 85kg (187lbs / 13st, 5lbs)
Step 10 - from 80kg (176lbs / 12st, 8lbs)

Target Weight - 75kg (165lbs / 11st, 11lbs)
Total loss - 50kg (111lbs / 7st, 13lbs)

You'll notice I haven't set dates or deadlines - This is quite deliberate. I might do this later but right now I'm happy just going in the right direction.

Yesterday I had a baguette and water. That's it, all day. Not exactly nutritious, but hell, it shrunk the belly without shrinking the already-shrunk bank account!

Today, as it's Sunday and for some reason in France they genuinely believe no-one will need to eat on Sunday and as such it's acceptable to close everything, I have made some pasta with pesto at home and eaten that. I'm already hungry after eating it and have to go to work and survive and entire shift so I'm not sure how well I'll survive this one.. I have a horrible feeling someone will lend me money to go to McDonalds (the only establishment that opens on Sunday and that happens to be next door to work).. let's hope they don't, I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to resist!

*edit* Just a quick addition - I've just walked to work (it's about a 45 minute walk) and every time I always have to have a rest about two thirds of the way through because there is this huge, steep, long hill with a bench at the top. Today is the first day in months that I've ignored the bench and kept walking - Smells like progress!
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