Week Six
Nahid is on course
It's mid-point through the course here at Planet Good Vibes, it's been tops hoiked up over our heads as measuring tapes were being warmed up by willing hands. Ha! Did I paint a vivid Carry On Drop a Dress Size picture for you there?
So...my measurements are:
I have lost an inch off my waist and hips, half an inch off my thigh, nothing off my arms and thankfully nothing off my bust - I rather like my perky self. Check out my starting measurements in Week One. Other changes to my body include radiant skin that glows from afar and the cellulite on my bottom has disappeared - I can't believe I 'fessed up to that in public! - that's definitely the effect of the reduced alcohol. Out at a do this week, somebody rather cute and rather young guessed my age as 28 - I didn't give the game away by pulling an evil muw-ha-ha come-to-mama face.
I know I keep saying it but I shall say it again, it has been effortless the DDS food tips and exercise plan really works. You all know that I have been a bit naughty and strayed off the righteous path now and then. But the very next day I pull myself up immediately by ensuring my food intake is healthy and light. Do remember that it takes 20 minutes for your brain to send a signal to your stomach that it is full, so your meal should take at least 20 mins to eat. Keeping a food diary is important, not only so that you can see how you eat but also to tweak it day by day. This will help you to keep to good eating habits. I now make sure that I eat porridge every morning as in the past I'd go for a greasy option if I was feeling tired and wanted a treat.
Next week it's all about being a tad more stringent. I am invited to a few fashion week events, which is just perfect as no one will be eating or drinking. They'll just pout and look me up and down. I'm SO ready for 'em this year!
I have also given a few consultations to DDS clients over the week. Let's not beat about the bush here (am channeling Bangladeshi mother here) do you want to drop a dress size or not? Stick to the programme for the 10 weeks otherwise you are wasting your time and money.
It's all in the Good Vibes Bible, turn up for your 3 sessions of Power-Plates classes a week, follow the food tips to the letter (cut out the sweets and chocolate/take-aways/everyday alcohol habit) get out and power walk to get your heart rate up and sleep well. Be serious about this - it's worked for all of us so far at Good Vibes and it can work for you. But you do need to commit - so no more excuses!
If you need a bit of guidance then drop me an email to book a consultation, we will get you back on path. If you want a few ideas on what to eat at night to replace the carbs then do email me here and I'll send you over a few recipes including Rachel's famous soup. For us it's 5 weeks and counting - until we all get into our smaller dress size clothes. Join us!
PS Aren't the Good Vibes gals doing well - I am rather proud of them . This is what it must feel like when your children cycle off without stabilisers for the first time.
Rachel does soup
I was pleased with my measurements. I was quite surprised to see that I had lost an inch from my thigh. I don’t really think about my thighs much so I didn’t really notice that they were getting smaller although I have noticed that they are much firmer, buns of steel next. My measurements half way through the course are:
During the week I am quite good with the healthy eating. The weekends are not so good. I’m going by the 80, 20 rule with the weekends forming the 20%! By being really good during the week it means that I can relax a little at the weekends – without letting go altogether and going on a bender! I have been going out for meals and even a sneaky take away. But, I do try to make healthy choices. The sneaky takeaway was from a Lebanese place, so mainly salad and hummus- good work methinks.
I’m waiting to get bored of eating vegetable soup, but it hasn’t happened yet. When it does I’ll try my hand at a new culinary skill. Vegetable soup has been my dinner most nights after work. It sounds so boring but it's not (even my boyfriend said it was ok!)
My secret ingredients are coriander for flavour and lots of chilli! Spicy foods are supposed to raise your metabolism and they add a nice warming kick to everything. I've started putting chilli powder everywhere.
The other recipes from my extensive collection are frittata and vegetable bake. Nigella is definitely not my middle name. The frittata I make out of egg white and lots of veg with the chilli powder - natch. I’ve been making it and then having it cold for lunch. I’ve been trying not to have any shop bought things and I think it really helps as then you know exactly what you’re eating and have more control over the ingredients.
I had a few belated birthday drinks last night for little Ms. Wilding’s 25th and this morning I’m finding myself craving bread, whilst eating a very boring salad. As I was out last night I didn’t make my lunch for today and instead threw the contents of my salad draw into some Tupperware this morning. I’ve so far
managed to resist Darren’s offer of a peanut butter sandwich but had to go out flyering to resist temptation and work off those
cheeky voddies!
Kate's birthday boozing
Half way stage and I'm thinking I must do better. Measurement week was a bad week. First of all it was my
birthday and second I didn't really do any cardio and only 2 plates. So I was a bit nervous come Thursday. However, I am smaller. The trusty tape measure says so:
Monday (birthday evening out ) was a nightmare, I was out until the early hours drinking all sorts and eating burger and chips, eeek! The next day hangover from hell meant that I ate rubbish, stodgy carbs and processed food, it's a good job birthdays are only once a year. That gave me just a day before I had to measure myself. I did think about just writing off the week but I motivated myself ( actually it was the pressure of the other girls) to get on the plate. I felt quite rejuvenated afterwards so I had a fruit and veg day. As I have totally gone off salad, vegetables are a main feature in my diet now, particularly raw vegetables as they are quick and easy and stop me picking at naughty things.
I am loving the food diary aspect of the drop a dress size, I can monitor what I eat, reflect on how I felt on certain days eating certain foods and have lots of ideas for meals and foods for the up and coming weeks. Its so much easier when its there in front of you. I have even begged Rachel for her soup recipe that seems to be a common theme on her food diary. We like to share, so fingers crossed it works for me as it does our Rach.
I am back at uni now so no excuses not to use the gym there, the pressure is on for the next 5 weeks but strangely, I'm looking forward to it.
Steph's red wine ban
Looking over my food diary has been a real eye-opener! It's not until I saw it written down that I realised how crazy my eating habits can be!
My measurements this week are:
I really do love food. I think about it a lot, and have usually planned my evening meal by breakfast. But my diary kind of contradicted this. My meals are erratic! Some days I was eating so little it shocked me. E.g. Breakfast: porridge, Lunch: miso soup and fruit, Dinner: veg stir fry, but others (occasional naughty days) it was carb-central. I suppose my busy-ness is to blame - either I don't have time to eat a lot, or when I do eventually get home in the evening, I eat too much.
I have mostly missed cheese! Being vegetarian, it makes a lot of my meals a bit tastier. I've literally had to stop buying it so it won't tempt me. The red wine and bread have gone.
On the plus, I have introduced a lot of new things to my diet. I've been trying my best to kick the coffee habit by swapping most of them for herbal teas (cherry and cinnamon being my favourite, dandelion also - not for the taste but for it's stomach flattening qualities!) I've been bashing soup over the last 6 weeks as well, many of them my own recipes too! I've learnt what works for my body - I know for a fact I look a dress size bigger after pasta/bread/rice so I've really cut down on them. Bring on the next 5 weeks I am learning how to feed myself properly and will have it sussed by the end I'm sure.
Comments
"I stumbled across your page when I just started the PP at my gym (4 weeks ago). I'd just like to say I think you are all doing great and you are giving me motivation too! Good luck with the measure in. I'll tune in next week."
Sarah Hughes
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