New year, new start.... sort of!
I am going to try and write in this blog more often, at least a few times a week anyway. Even if its just me that reads it, it will be a record of my food and exercise and feelings, and a good way to monitor what is going on with me.
Over the course of the last few months I have put on quite a lot of weight, had to buy a size larger in work trousers, and now even they are far too tight. I am currently around 8 stone 8, from being 7 stone 13 at my thinnest. I also am at 27% body fat now, which is just too high. When I sit down my belly is hanging over the front of my trousers, and my 'muffin top' is hanging over the back.
I have been avoiding the issue, and also the gym for some time, usually just attending now once or twice a week but now my muffin top is really getting me down, as all of my clothes are now getting too tight and my confidence is reaching an all-time low.
Added to all of this my Mother has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, and this tends to put a lot of things into perspective. In the past, I honestly did not care what I ate as long as I was under my calorie allowance for the day and I lost weight. Now, as I am at greater risk of getting bowel cancer, I am reassessing my eating habits completely.
I have cut out meat entirely for January, just really to see if it is possible and I can do it. I have still been occassionally having fish, and so far so good. I did slip up at a funeral when my Aunty handed me a slice of ham & egg pie and I bit into it without thinking! Apart from that, its all going well.
I have also purchased myself the River Cottage everyday veg book, and have also restarted my Riverford veg boxes. I have been trying recipes out of the book and shock horror have even been trying some Green Smoothies!
I made my first with Kale, desiccated coconut, chocolate protein powder, frozen peaches and bananas. It was awful!
This is my first green smoothie, which to be honest was a bit chewy and Im sure they shouldnt be! Anyway, I tried again yesterday and the result was much better:
The second go at a Green Smoothie had, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, spinach and 2 bananas and 1 scoop of chocolare protein shake. This one was yummy and tasted just like a banana milkshake, I will definitely be trying this recipe again :-)
I MUST start doing exercise again, I have today decided to go to a class at the gym tonight, so hopefully Ill actually go this time! From going 5/6/7 times a week, I have dropped down to only once or twice, which is woeful, and is clearly contributing to the weight gain. I also find my moods and mental health to be a lot better when I do exercise regularly, so that is another reason I need to get myself back to the gym.
I am babbling now, so will be back tomorrow or later today with what I have eaten and the possible exercise I have done.
Bye for now