So, I have a new hurdle (a rather large one at that) called money.
For those of you that haven't visited France - everything is extremely expensive, particularly in and around Paris. It's actually the 9th most expensive city in the world.
Now, combined with the cost of living, a series of unfortunate events have left me with pretty much no money this month, including things like having to pay an extortionate amount to have my birth certificate translated (as a translated copy is required to register for social security, which gives you the right to health care, something I should clearly have sorted out earlier then 7 months into my living here) and I also purchased my fabulous fancy dress outfit earlier this month through what appears to be a con website, where the owner has neither sent my outfit (2 weeks after ordering), nor claimed my payment on Paypal and isn't responding to my e-mails.
This leaves me looking blankly at my emergency bag of coins. It's the bag that you build up when you do actually have money, which you eventually intend to cash up and deposit into your bank account.
My bank account is dry (and over the overdraft), my emergency UK credit card has been closed because I live in France, as such I truely do only have coins to get me through the next 2 weeks!
This means I have only one diet option, the option whereby I take advantage of what is abundant in France; the Water & Baguettes diet.
Granted, I agree this isn't a great basis for a healthy diet! However without the luxury of finances this is the best we can do for 2 weeks (which is when I get paid), so we're going along a no protein/calorie counting line, with focus on the calories as bread is obviously a nightmare when it comes to that. Luckily, I respond very well to no protein diets (have lost 4 stone in 3 months living off potatoes previously).
And if it keeps the French thin there must be something in it that works!
x
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Monday, 12 October 2009
Time for change
Good news!
In view of the fact that night shift is slowly destroying my soul, work have agreed I can end it early and I am now back on evening shift! This is by far the shift where I am generally most productive and feel the most comfortable, so I now have time to collect myself and make some changes.
The first is of course going to be healthy eating, which is starting with immediate effect. The second is to put more effort into learning French and I intend to do this by doing an at least an hour per day of Rosetta Stone learning before work.
The third is with regards to my blog! I think the anonymity of my blog is making it far too easy for me to cheat on my diet, because it allows me to basically take no responsibility - Although arguably this would still be the case if I put a face to my blog, I think I would feel like the blog is more a part of my life if it detailed more about me and this in turn would encourage me to update it more regularly.
The fourth change is regarding blog content. Whilst this blog will still diary all of my weight-loss and french-learning efforts, as these are major parts of my life and areas where I seriously do need to keep a diary to keep track of how I'm doing, I think the blog would be more interesting for both me and readers if I threw in the occasional extract from my day. If something really cool has happened or really not cool that I would like to vent about, it seems silly not to do so while I'm regularly maintaining a blog, so expect more drama!
The fifth change is the aesthetics of the blog - it's ugly. It does the job right now however it really is just a black and white template with no effort at all, so if I want a blog I can call home I think it should be considerably prettier!
So, I have made a second blog (testing for the fat bitch), where I will be testing my severely under practiced web design skills to make changes which will then be implemented on this blog once they work correctly. Time to teach myself Photoshop I guess!
x
In view of the fact that night shift is slowly destroying my soul, work have agreed I can end it early and I am now back on evening shift! This is by far the shift where I am generally most productive and feel the most comfortable, so I now have time to collect myself and make some changes.
The first is of course going to be healthy eating, which is starting with immediate effect. The second is to put more effort into learning French and I intend to do this by doing an at least an hour per day of Rosetta Stone learning before work.
The third is with regards to my blog! I think the anonymity of my blog is making it far too easy for me to cheat on my diet, because it allows me to basically take no responsibility - Although arguably this would still be the case if I put a face to my blog, I think I would feel like the blog is more a part of my life if it detailed more about me and this in turn would encourage me to update it more regularly.
The fourth change is regarding blog content. Whilst this blog will still diary all of my weight-loss and french-learning efforts, as these are major parts of my life and areas where I seriously do need to keep a diary to keep track of how I'm doing, I think the blog would be more interesting for both me and readers if I threw in the occasional extract from my day. If something really cool has happened or really not cool that I would like to vent about, it seems silly not to do so while I'm regularly maintaining a blog, so expect more drama!
The fifth change is the aesthetics of the blog - it's ugly. It does the job right now however it really is just a black and white template with no effort at all, so if I want a blog I can call home I think it should be considerably prettier!
So, I have made a second blog (testing for the fat bitch), where I will be testing my severely under practiced web design skills to make changes which will then be implemented on this blog once they work correctly. Time to teach myself Photoshop I guess!
x
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Rain Check
Excuses time again!
This night shift is destroying my soul and consuming all of my energy I'm afraid people - I messed up my sleep cycle on the first day of my weekend which has lead to me getting 5 hours sleep over the past 55 hours and consuming whatever sugar and caffeine necessary to stop myself from sleeping at work!
I've only got 2 and a half weeks left of the night shift and after this I'll be on evenings, my preferred shift, until further notice - So, given my continuous attempts and failures since the creation of this blog at losing weight, I'm going to wait it out until the end of night shift before making a fresh attempt.
When back on evenings I start work at 4pm, have more energy, am able to walk to and/or go to the gym before work, am able to eat and prepare lunch at home, as well as breakfast, etc - It's much easier and I don't need to focus on staying awake.
So, disappointing I agree, but I just haven't been able to get enthusiastic about sticking to a diet plan while I've not even been able to think straight through sleep deprivation and I'd rather put 100% in to it and do it properly.
SO - Roll on evening shift, I'll be back! x
x
This night shift is destroying my soul and consuming all of my energy I'm afraid people - I messed up my sleep cycle on the first day of my weekend which has lead to me getting 5 hours sleep over the past 55 hours and consuming whatever sugar and caffeine necessary to stop myself from sleeping at work!
I've only got 2 and a half weeks left of the night shift and after this I'll be on evenings, my preferred shift, until further notice - So, given my continuous attempts and failures since the creation of this blog at losing weight, I'm going to wait it out until the end of night shift before making a fresh attempt.
When back on evenings I start work at 4pm, have more energy, am able to walk to and/or go to the gym before work, am able to eat and prepare lunch at home, as well as breakfast, etc - It's much easier and I don't need to focus on staying awake.
So, disappointing I agree, but I just haven't been able to get enthusiastic about sticking to a diet plan while I've not even been able to think straight through sleep deprivation and I'd rather put 100% in to it and do it properly.
SO - Roll on evening shift, I'll be back! x
x
Saturday, 3 October 2009
WAR
RIGHT! This is WAR!
I haven't had to buy any new clothes for about 6 months (and haven't wanted to either through the hopes of getting thinner and buying smaller clothes) - However I'm afraid I recently got to the point that all fat people get to relatively regularly, where the majority of your trousers have worn at the crotch through horrendous amounts of rubbing to the point that should you wear them again your trousers could split in half in public, a risk not worth taking.
This, naturally, sent me to the mall to buy a few pairs of Jeans. Ladies, gentlemen and divas, I remember when I thought a 36 inch waist (on a man) was far too fat, then at 38 I knew something needed to be done and when that broke to 40 I was thoroughly upset. Today I have come home with my 2 new pairs or jeans, both a 40 waist, and neither fit. I am a 42.
This was perfectly timed considering yesterdays post was titled "All of the will, none of the power" as believe me, I just found the power.
I'm setting myself an unhealthy target of losing 4kg in 4 days. Yes, yes, yes, we all know that drastic drops like that usually turn into binges when they go wrong and it's dangerous to lose weight too quickly - but this is an emergency, I have no trousers!
I'm going to wake up in 10 hours or so and nothing*, not a kebab, not a coke when I'm almost sleeping on my keyboard, not even a McDonalds breakfast is going to stop me from shrinking these thighs.
Current weight: 123kg
*except a 4 course of meal with Zachary Quinto should he visit Paris and offer, but even then I'll be on the water.
x
I haven't had to buy any new clothes for about 6 months (and haven't wanted to either through the hopes of getting thinner and buying smaller clothes) - However I'm afraid I recently got to the point that all fat people get to relatively regularly, where the majority of your trousers have worn at the crotch through horrendous amounts of rubbing to the point that should you wear them again your trousers could split in half in public, a risk not worth taking.
This, naturally, sent me to the mall to buy a few pairs of Jeans. Ladies, gentlemen and divas, I remember when I thought a 36 inch waist (on a man) was far too fat, then at 38 I knew something needed to be done and when that broke to 40 I was thoroughly upset. Today I have come home with my 2 new pairs or jeans, both a 40 waist, and neither fit. I am a 42.
This was perfectly timed considering yesterdays post was titled "All of the will, none of the power" as believe me, I just found the power.
I'm setting myself an unhealthy target of losing 4kg in 4 days. Yes, yes, yes, we all know that drastic drops like that usually turn into binges when they go wrong and it's dangerous to lose weight too quickly - but this is an emergency, I have no trousers!
I'm going to wake up in 10 hours or so and nothing*, not a kebab, not a coke when I'm almost sleeping on my keyboard, not even a McDonalds breakfast is going to stop me from shrinking these thighs.
Current weight: 123kg
*except a 4 course of meal with Zachary Quinto should he visit Paris and offer, but even then I'll be on the water.
x
Friday, 2 October 2009
All of the will, none of the power
Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned.
I'm really struggling with getting my engine started and the ball rolling with this one - I think it has a lot to do with adjusting to night shift, as I've found these crazy hours have required all of my attention and everything else in my life seems to have become secondary for now.
This unfortunately led to another slip this evening in the form of a pita grek with chips (which is basically a kebab but healthier and less fat-drippy then UK kebabs). I feel really guilty about it now as I don't think I'm taking this whole diet thing seriously enough, I keep thinking about it and being motivated to lose weight without actually making a connection between those thoughts and what I'm putting in my mouth! Seriously, imagine a person preaching about weight loss to a crowd and how nothing's going to stop them achieving their targets, whilst they're biting into a donut between sentences and not actually realising this donut will stop them achieving their targets until after they've eaten it - well that preacher right now is me!
I actually feel really quite guilty for posting at all, because I've made a blog about losing weight and then made no effort with it to date, wasting the time of anyone that bothers reading entirely, so for that please accept my apologies!
On the other hand, I think that the fact I am even here posting an update says that I obviously have not lost sight of my goal to lose weight and I don't think I'm in (much) denial as I'm identifying and accepting my struggle to get started, etc, so it can't be all bad and says that good things will happen... eventually.
I've clearly ruined it today however definitely, for certain, I promise, the diet starts tomorrow. *nods*
x
I'm really struggling with getting my engine started and the ball rolling with this one - I think it has a lot to do with adjusting to night shift, as I've found these crazy hours have required all of my attention and everything else in my life seems to have become secondary for now.
This unfortunately led to another slip this evening in the form of a pita grek with chips (which is basically a kebab but healthier and less fat-drippy then UK kebabs). I feel really guilty about it now as I don't think I'm taking this whole diet thing seriously enough, I keep thinking about it and being motivated to lose weight without actually making a connection between those thoughts and what I'm putting in my mouth! Seriously, imagine a person preaching about weight loss to a crowd and how nothing's going to stop them achieving their targets, whilst they're biting into a donut between sentences and not actually realising this donut will stop them achieving their targets until after they've eaten it - well that preacher right now is me!
I actually feel really quite guilty for posting at all, because I've made a blog about losing weight and then made no effort with it to date, wasting the time of anyone that bothers reading entirely, so for that please accept my apologies!
On the other hand, I think that the fact I am even here posting an update says that I obviously have not lost sight of my goal to lose weight and I don't think I'm in (much) denial as I'm identifying and accepting my struggle to get started, etc, so it can't be all bad and says that good things will happen... eventually.
I've clearly ruined it today however definitely, for certain, I promise, the diet starts tomorrow. *nods*
x
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Night Shift
Well, night shift is doing it's very best to sabotage me by not giving me the motivation to think about anything other than sleep, however I have arrived at work with my tuna sandwiches freshly packed and I sit here typing while sipping a glass of water. So, in conclusion, it has begun!
I was having issues with continuing to learn French at home because my microphone was broken, which in turn prevented Rosetta Stone from understanding anything I was saying during our lessons, however that's also been resolved with a new headset so I will be able to start my lessons again and that ball will soon start rolling too.
Oh yes, all is well, time to stick to the plan and turn it into a habit. The great thing about Night Shift is you appear to not get hungry. There's something about it being the middle of the night that prevents my body from realising that it should eat at some stage - dangerous but beneficial!
x
I was having issues with continuing to learn French at home because my microphone was broken, which in turn prevented Rosetta Stone from understanding anything I was saying during our lessons, however that's also been resolved with a new headset so I will be able to start my lessons again and that ball will soon start rolling too.
Oh yes, all is well, time to stick to the plan and turn it into a habit. The great thing about Night Shift is you appear to not get hungry. There's something about it being the middle of the night that prevents my body from realising that it should eat at some stage - dangerous but beneficial!
x
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Sabotage
Well, I have some good, some bad and some ugly news divas & gentlemen. The bad news is that I have disappointed both myself and my one comment-leaving reader, Marilee (thank you for leaving a comment by the way, it has contributed to me coming back to try again!). I'm afraid I have disappointed us by allowing my life style to sabotage my diet attempt.
Unfortunately, for the past month I have been on an evil shift where I have needed to wake up at 6am and immediately leave the house for work, leaving no time to have breakfast or prepare a lunch. Where I work, the most conveniently located food outlet is unfortunately a McDonalds (or Death as we lovingly refer to it) next door, with all other lunch options being a good 15 to 20 minute walk (both ways) which means I lose most of my lunch hour to travel.
Whilst this a very weak sabotage as that 15 to 20 minutes walk would have been a great exercise opportunity, I could have prepared my lunch the evening before, etc, it appears it was a sabotage that succeeded nonetheless.
They say it takes a month to kick a habit and in my experience this is true. In previous diets where I have successfully got off the ground and stuck to the plan, I have found after the first month eating habits have changed and it suddenly gets easier. This leads me on to the good news.
Starting today I am on Night Shift for 4 weeks. Whilst on Night Shift, I will have no access to anywhere that sells food because it will all be closed at 4am and as such I will have to prepare my own lunches and take them to work whether I like it or not.
So, let's do it. Tonight will be a tad difficult because I've been awake all day and now need to be awake all night (I'm not very good at the shift change-over process), as such I will pretty much need to inject caffeine to continue functioning, however after tonight I should have adjusted my body clock and be ready to rock.
Night Shift also means I have a lot of time to waste online and as such, maintaining a blog like this should be a pleasant task and will further reinforce my motivation to succeed.
My initial eating plan is something like 2 slices of toast for breakfast, a healthy lunch (2 sandwiches and some fruit, through lack of cooking equipment at work) and I haven't quite considered dinner yet as I'm not sure what I'll want to eat at 9am after being awake 15 hours, I may just want to pass out in bed, we shall see!
So, let's start again and pretend the last month didn't happen. I have a guest visiting me in 6 weeks and I would like to make as much progress as possible between now and then, time to do it properly.
New starting weight: 125kg (the ugly news).
x
Unfortunately, for the past month I have been on an evil shift where I have needed to wake up at 6am and immediately leave the house for work, leaving no time to have breakfast or prepare a lunch. Where I work, the most conveniently located food outlet is unfortunately a McDonalds (or Death as we lovingly refer to it) next door, with all other lunch options being a good 15 to 20 minute walk (both ways) which means I lose most of my lunch hour to travel.
Whilst this a very weak sabotage as that 15 to 20 minutes walk would have been a great exercise opportunity, I could have prepared my lunch the evening before, etc, it appears it was a sabotage that succeeded nonetheless.
They say it takes a month to kick a habit and in my experience this is true. In previous diets where I have successfully got off the ground and stuck to the plan, I have found after the first month eating habits have changed and it suddenly gets easier. This leads me on to the good news.
Starting today I am on Night Shift for 4 weeks. Whilst on Night Shift, I will have no access to anywhere that sells food because it will all be closed at 4am and as such I will have to prepare my own lunches and take them to work whether I like it or not.
So, let's do it. Tonight will be a tad difficult because I've been awake all day and now need to be awake all night (I'm not very good at the shift change-over process), as such I will pretty much need to inject caffeine to continue functioning, however after tonight I should have adjusted my body clock and be ready to rock.
Night Shift also means I have a lot of time to waste online and as such, maintaining a blog like this should be a pleasant task and will further reinforce my motivation to succeed.
My initial eating plan is something like 2 slices of toast for breakfast, a healthy lunch (2 sandwiches and some fruit, through lack of cooking equipment at work) and I haven't quite considered dinner yet as I'm not sure what I'll want to eat at 9am after being awake 15 hours, I may just want to pass out in bed, we shall see!
So, let's start again and pretend the last month didn't happen. I have a guest visiting me in 6 weeks and I would like to make as much progress as possible between now and then, time to do it properly.
New starting weight: 125kg (the ugly news).
x
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