Weight: 75.2Kg
Waist: 77cm
Hips: 101cm
Neck: 34cm

I admit it, I’m being a total floozie where weighing systems are concerned. Kgs, Lbs and stones have all been mentioned. But hey, that just means 3 times the number of milestones to celebrate! And celebrations mean shoes. Hurrah!

But big loss this week. I haven’t a clue what that’s about, but might be something to do with not having a cheat’s day. Be interested to see if this causes a long term stall or significant weight gain.

And one of the sterotypes about the Dutch is true! Cycling everywhere was great – having right of way on roundabouts moreso. Good cycle paths, the place being as flat as a table, and more than adequate places to lock your bikes up really is the way forward. Even if I did nearly fall off at every single set of traffic lights we came to, much to my sister’s delight.

Anyway, all this is leading up to the weigh in – a day late, as I just couldn’t face catching the train home yesterday. So, I now weigh…

77.1Kg A gain of 0.1 of a Kg isn’t bad at all I think (weighed at a different time of the day too.)

My sister took loads of photographs, and was really, really complimentary about how I looked. I still can’t see a change, but I’m starting to think that I was just lying to myself about how awful I looked in the first place.

Weight: 77.1 Kg
Waist: 79cm
Hips: 102cm
Neck: 33cm

I don’t know why I don’t want to move on – I like the program, I like Tony Horton the trainer. I don’t like the music, but you can turn that off, and I found having my own music on in the background perked my interest back up. I’m glad I wrote my feeling down at the end of the workouts, so I can see that I found this really hard when I started and not just about right for my level (though I sweat bucketloads and get really out of breath), which is how I feel now. So, I’m going to take a break for a week whilst I see my sister, and then see if I feel more ready to move on when I come back.

Oh, weigh in – 77.0Kg.

That means a total loss for 28 days of power 90 is… 1Kg. But much more muscle definition in my arms, legs and abs. Pictures to come when I finally buy new batteries for my camera! Oh, and I had 4 cheat days when I didn’t do anything. They’re ringed in red on my calendar, and I feel pretty guilty. Still, it’d have been easy to stop then, but I didn’t! Go me! Well, if I don’t say it, who will?

Well, on Sunday morning my scales registered a 76.9Kg value – which I make pretty much 2 stones down on my original weight. (All right, it isn’t really, but its close enough that I feel justified in treating myself to a few faddy and not so faddy purchases without feeling the crippling guilt that usually follows actually buying something. And yes, yes most of my purchases were quite faddy, but hey! What is weight loss without some strange and wonderful instant fix solutions?)

Had a small Big Try On, and you can see exactly when Dorothy Perkins introduced vanity sizes – of the 6 pairs of DP trousers I own (all a 14) one is a little big, 2 fit perfectly and 3 are still a touch too tight. Tres strange. My M&S linen trousers purchased last summer (size 16, alas) fit like a dream, without any of the pulling across the waist that I had when I bought them (naughty to buy them if they don’t fit, I know – but I didn’t have any clothes that fit last summer and going up to a size 18. Well, lets just say I would’ve rather been naked. Although I did once say that about being a size 16.

Although according to this article in the Daily Mail (I’m sorry!) Dotty P’s have a much more generous sizing option than good old M&S do. My only other trousers are from Gap (American sizes 10 – 14. I think. the size 14 could be the UK size one – its hard to tell, they converted during my buying spree!) and H&M which are also generous according to said link, and enormous on, (They’re a German size 44, so they really should be pretty loose. Though in fairness they were pretty big when I got them, but quite flattering with it. Quite mannish tailoring if you see what I mean.)

Unshelved comic strip archive

I love web comics. I read about 30 of the things on a daily basis. I can’t help myself. Even ones I don’t actually like any more I find almost impossible to give up. Ones that haven’t been updated in 2 years remain in my favourites list for decades in a “just in case” sort of scenario. Unshelved is one I really enjoy, and started reading just before I applied for a job in my local library. I didn’t get the assistant beginner junior trainee librarian post, or even an interview, but I still think working with books would be fantastic even if spending time with the public might not.

Anyway, diet is something of an overwhelming obsession of mine. I love food, but have no problems in using it purely as fuel. In fact, the only time I ever started to obsess over food was after being on SlimFast for 2 weeks, and the act of not actually eating was causing me some distress. And the bars were too, too vile to contemplate.

So, having followed the diet over on Tim Ferriss’ 4 Hour Work Week for a fair while now. I’ve certainly not lost 20 lbs of fat in 30 days, but I have lost 20lbs in the 2 months the husband has been away. So, I’m quite enjoying the low carb lifestyle, and having finally admitted to myself that strong girls are hot I’d much rather have a bit of muscle rather than being absolutely tiny and looking like my skin hasn’t been inflated all the way. You know what I mean, thin girls arms with no definition look like under inflated balloon animal balloons. Not that either situation is at all likely just yet, but one can live in hope.

Anyway, carbs! I’m quite high protein, low carb at the moment, but am wondering if I should be more high fat, moderate protein, low carb. To that end, I’ve been investigating Neris and India’s Idiot-proof Diet: From Pig to Twig and have been lurking over at the forums. I’m a size 14 UK currently (finally! I can stop looking at all my pairs of size 16 trousers wondering how that ever happened!) So I’m more on the lower end of the scale of where the authors wanted to end up. But then again, I’m 25 and don’t have children, so I should be in a better starting position!

So, it turns out low carb, high fat diets aren’t nearly a bad for you as I thought. The comments on the above Amazon link make interesting reading – most negatives are from people who read the book but never actually tried the diet because it was obviously rubbish, and the positives are form people who actually did the diet.

The comments on the Tim Ferriss link are even funnier, but more frustrating. The amount of people asking the same questions or modifying the diet so completely so as to be unrecognisable, then asking why they haven’t had the same results are heart breaking. For those people, I shall give some helpful advice. NO, you’re not allowed fruit. Yes, I know its good for you. But really, no fruit. And NO, you’re not allowed waffles. Of course they’re white carbohydrates. What do you think they’re made from if not flour? Did their basic breadyness not give it away? Its a diet, its supposed to be dull and restrictive.

Awww, boo. I gained from last week. Though I did eat far, far too much on my Sunday Cheat day – I’m not sure it was designed with 5 massive fatty meals in mind. And the amount of salt I must’ve eaten in amongst all that bacon and pizza is a little alarming too! So, cheat days are fine, just in a bit more moderation than last week. Plus, that was my first full week of Power 90, so that might’ve given my body a bit of a shock! Though I can already see a bit more definition in my arms. Hurrah!

Anyway, weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint and I didn’t put it all on in a week, so I’m not going to expect it to come off in a week either!

Right, I’m going to be brave and show my before pictures. Starting Power 90 today, so I’ve got Cardio 1 – 2 coming up after this. Wish me luck! Yes, I own more flattering swimwear, but trying to look pretty in these pictures isn’t the point is it?

A word of warning – Power 90 is an American thing, so won’t play in our European Region 2 DVD players, you need a region free player that can be tricky to get hold of.

I have now played so much Guitar Hero 3 that I think I may have broken my wrist.