Oh dear, I’ve not had a good week. And it’s been much too long since I wrote my last post. Sorry!
But I’ve learned some good lessons. Everything that Pete Cohen says about habits is true and learning new ones is the key to making this whole thing work properly.
This past week was half term for my three children. That meant no dropping off youngest at school and then taking the dog for a walk. Dog stayed at home with older two and youngest went to the Freedom Leisure club all week. He really loves it as there is so much to do and lots of other children to play with. But that meant my routine went to pot. No dog to walk meant no walk for me – and coupled with the atrocious weather and having to be on a train at 7am one morning up to London – I really didn’t do the physical activity I should have done. I’m feeling very guilty.
However, I did go horseriding on Saturday and was lucky that it didn’t rain although was so cold my feet went numb and it started to snow just as we finished. But that was a good hour of exercise – lots of rising trots to get my thighs and tummy muscles working hard. I was amazed that afterwards my jodpurs felt really loose and seemed to be slipping down, so I guess I must have lost some inches through toning the muscles even if I haven’t lost any weight, which I haven’t checked yet (very hard to resist those scales but I’ve done it).
Last Monday’s meeting was good – the rest of my group are doing really well although most admitted to not having had a great week. But Russell our trainer was so positive and encouraging that no one went home feeling they were wasting their time, me included.
Russell helped me realise that one of the tools I had chosen – to drink 2 litres of water a day – just was not right for me and that I should change it for a different one. Although I had all the right intentions to drink the water, I found it nigh impossible to do. I hated the feeling of all that water sploshing around in my tummy and the constant need to use the loo was infuriating! I can’t think of any day when I actually managed to drink all 2 litres anyway. So Russell was gentle but firm in saying I should change tack and that not all tools suit everyone. The trick is to find the right one for you personally.
So I’ve moved on and now am working on cutting out sweet and stimulating food/drink and that seems to be working well. I’ve found some lovely Redbush Earl Grey tea in Waitrose (Dragonfly brand if you want to try it) as well as their regular Redbush tea and even my husband likes it, so I’ve got him onto it too. I’ve cut out coffee – although only drank one cup a day anyway – and seriously cut down on the wine intake. My regular glass of red with the evening meal is no more. That said, I went to a wedding on Friday night and so drank my whole week’s worth in one evening! But I guess that’s still less than if I’d had a glass every night too. And the hangover on Saturday morning really brought home to me that not only should I not mix champagne, rose and red wine in one evening but that when you’re over 40 the pain of the next day is not worth the gain of the evening before, whatever that gain might have been.
I’ve now officially got to day 21 – the end of the first 3 week period. I’m getting there – slowly but surely – and am really pleased that we have another 21 day period before the course ends as I think I do need that to consolidate the things I’ve learned and to get my new “tool” firmly established. I’ll also have another 3 weeks with no school holidays to wreck my routine!
Hopefully I’m going to start using the relaxation tool as well – I do lead a very stressful life and am sure my cortisol levels have a major impact on my weight. Russell has lent me his CD as I’ve not been able to download the MP3 from the website, but we don’t seem to be able to copy the cd either. I’ll have to get my 15-year-old son on the case as he seems fine with all things technical.
I’m looking forward to the meeting tonight to see how the others have done – four of the others are involved with schools and so have probably had the same problems as me with the change in routine. I hope for their sakes they weren’t as bad as I was!
Russell said he’s going to change the exercise routine tonight – something about body confusion. Apparently if we do the same exercise all the time our body gets used to it and it’s not as effective, so we have to confuse our bodies by changing things around. If that hasn’t confused you, you’re a better woman than I. I’ve just about got my head around the squats and lifts and not dropping the weights on my own head when I’m so tired I can barely lift the things. Tonight should be fun!
