Sunday, 14 January 2007

A Little Background Info !

A week ago I decided to embark on the Cambridge Diet - why?

I've always said that my weight didn't bother me .... even although I'm 5'4" and 18st7lbs !
  • I have a successful career - my weight has never held me back. I'm Depute Headteacher in a school of 1000 pupils.
  • I can buy nice clothes ( in Evans etc) and think that I have a nice appearance.
  • I have lots of friends and my weight isn't an issue for them.
  • I've been a single parent since my two kids were 7 and 8 years old and my weight has never hindered me. They are now 17 and 18 years old and the biggest achievement of my life !!!!!!!!
  • I have a hectic lifestyle and I am happy.

So why change .... and why Cambridge Diet ?

Well ........... over the years I've tried lots of different diets, clubs etc (usually to lose weight for a special event or holiday. My attempts have been half - hearted, I admit - most I lost was 2 stone (and I was breastfeeding at the time). Meanwhile, I probably put on about half a stone every year. I read an article by Michelle McManus who said she had 'inverse anorexia' and never saw her real size when she looked in the mirror. That's me .... but I can't remember when I last looked in a full length mirror !

In October I was ill - not caused by my weight. I had a chest infection but thought it was a viral cough and soldiered on. It had triggered an asthma attack but I didn't realise this because I hadn't had asthma since I was about 10 years old ! I ended up in real trouble - steroids, antibiotics and a month of work ...... that scared me ...... WAKE UP CALL !!!!!!! I'd heard of people having heart attacks in their 40s and dropping dead .... I needed to do something about getting healthy and fit ........... starting with my weight.

So why Cambridge ? Well .... I'd tried most others. Problem was that I took the best bits out of each eg.

  • I'd eat a couple of slices of turkey ham every time I opened the fridge - unlimited meat (Slimmimg World)
  • I'd have maltesers or milky way or fudge as treats (points, checks .. whatever)
  • I love fish, fruit, veg, chicken, pasta, wholemeal bread ... but I also love butter, crisps, cakes, biscuits - I ate all the healthy food but didn't cut down on the others.

This time I needed to start anew. I needed to embark on a programme that would retrain me. I knew that it had to be something that I hadn't tried before - so that I was starting from the beginning, assuming nothing and thinking about what I needed to change in my life. Also, I needed to believe that it would work - ie no history of failure. Given that I needed to lose at least 7 stones to get to a healthy BMI - something fast would be better to start with. In the past one of the problems with other clubs was that losing 1lb didn't really motivate me, particularly when I wouldn't even lose that every week.

I researched VLCD, thought about my needs re counselling (I am reflective so didn't feel I needed a massive therapeutic input) and decided to try Cambridge Diet.

This blog will be a sharing of my adventure - I'm sure it will be eventful!

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