On the menu today - Day 1

Having had a lie-in this morning things started a bit later than usual, but today's food consisted of:


Breakfast (10.30am finish) - cheese souffle (slightly messed up as I couldn't find the instructions and ended up microwaving instead of sticking it in the oven so it ended up a solid lump). I was impressed to actually have a texture to the food though, as well as a cheesy smell. Luckily although it's cheese flavoured all the lactose has been removed so throughout I can eat any of the Alizonne foods - yay!

Snack (2pm finish) - on getting back from a Movers & Shapers session I had a cappuccino

Lunch (4.15pm finish) - HUGE 200g salad consisting of lettuce, green pepper, spring onion green and alfalfa sprouts, with a red wine vinegard, lemon juice, onion salt and mixed herb dressing; with a chicken curry soup

Dinner (yet to come but likely to be around 8pm) - potato pie with red cabbage and broccoli

Snack (to follow at least 2 hours after dinner) - one of my desserts - I'm feeling chocolatey so probably one of those

I also managed to call Alizonne this morning and got bookings for the remaining 2 weeks in Jan

All in all it's been a good day. I haven't even had any headaches, haven't been grumpy and best of all I don't feel hungry. I've even managed my 2 litres of water, although am now constantly going to the loo as it all drops out the other end :)

Hopefully this bodes well for the next few weeks, looking forward to weighing myself on Sunday and doing measurements to see if anything has moved

I'm on my way

I will post on food intake for day 1 later, but just wanted to post quickly about my experience yesterday at Alizonne.

I arrived for my appointment and had a few spare minutes to book in my next few weeks of treatments. Unfortunately I forgot my work diary at home so only managed to get 2 of the 4 weeks booked - leaving the rest to book the next day by phone.

I then got taken by a lovely therapist called Gloria to a treatment room, where I was told to strip down to my underwear. After weighing me (somehow I'm 1.5kg lighter than the first time I went!), I lay on my back on a bed so she could slather gel on and then strap a silicone belt over my stomach. Into this she slipped in plastic rods and then attached electric currents to the rods for the Ultrasound machine. Once she turned them on I was told I could feel itchy, but I didn't - this could be down to the stimulation I already get from the powerplate sessions at Movers & Shapers. What I did feel was small pin prick sensations - not painful just strange.

After around 20-25 minutes of this Gloria left the room and I had to take off my underwear and put on a full body stocking - not attractive I can tell you! I then lay on the bed while she used the Endermologie machine on me - basically a hoover type machine. The areas where I have the most cellulite were the most painful and she had to turn the pressure down, but the rest were ok.

All in all both treatments took an hour and 15 minutes, but we chatted throughout so it really flew by. Unfortunately I can't substitute skimmed yoghurt with soya yoghurt so will either need to find an alternative or live without.

Afterwards I picked up my pack of starter vitamins and food for the week (each box has 7 packs in):

• 1 pack assorted savouries
• 1 pack assorted soups
• 1 pack assorted desserts
• 1 pack cappuccino
• 1 pack hot choc
• 1 pack potato pie with herbs

I followed their advice of buying an extra pack as some I won't like as much as others.

Once we left we decided to have my "last meal" at Wagamama where I totally filled up.

Bring it on!

One day to go

With one day to go I called Alizonne today just to make sure they have my appointment in the diary, which apparently they do.

I've pretty much run the food in the house down now and am ready - or at least as ready as I'll ever be ......

First measurement

One day late (blame it on Christmas) but here are my first measurements (in cm):

Bust - 108 (19cm to lose)
Waist - 104 (32cm to lose)
Hips - 131 (36cm to lose)

Not as bad as I thought but I do wonder what I'll look like having lost just over an entire ruler length on my waist and hips .......

Monumental cock-up

Just as well I'm an organised person. I just phoned Alizonne to confirm my appointment, only to be told my appointment isn't on the system because they're shut!

For reasons known only to them someone booked me in when they shouldn't have, and instead of calling me to tell me they just cancelled it!!!!!! Can't tell you how "£$£"£$"£$ annoyed I am......

So, I've now rebooked for Wednesday 30th December instead - talk about a mental rollercoaster

Setting targets

Although I mentioned to the people at Alizonne that my goal is to reach a Size 12, they have set my goals based on a healthy weight and BMI range - which is fair enough.

So, I've done a bit of my own research to help me track progress towards this in measurement terms, and this is what I've come up with (based on UK sizes):

Bust - 89cm (35")
Waist - 72cm (28.5")
Hips - 95cm (37.5")

1 week to go

So, with one week to go I am in full countdown and preparation mode. I am slowly but surely running down food stocks of things only I can have in the house, ie gluten and lactose free foodstuffs; and planning to only buy the bare minimum of requirements for Christmas to avoid wastage and temptation after the 28th. It's hard to believe that after waiting for what feels like absolute ages I'm almost there now.

The plan is to have my (wonderful and very supportive) husband measure me and take photos every Sunday. This, together with a log of my weight and food diary should provide an accurate account of my journey. For the sake of modesty I will not be posting photos here, but am planning to post the rest of my information.

Luckily my IBS has also calmed down a bit, so I'm hoping if I watch everything I eat carefully over the next week I should be in good shape.

Please, Please, Please let this work.......

Getting closer

It's my last day at work today for the year, and we had almighty snow last night - it all feels a bit prophetic really and I hope spells good omens.

10 days and counting - now I just need to get rid of this horrible IBS that has flared up again and then I'm all set.....

Hmmmmmm....dealing with January

I've been invited to a business lunch and gala dinner in January. Need to figure out how I'm going to deal with them both

2 weeks and counting

In exactly 2 weeks' time Christmas will be over - presents will have been unwrapped, turkey (or in our case goose) will have been consumed and family will have left for another year....... but this year there is something to look forward to - 28th Dec

14 days and counting

Countdown

Since I last posted I'm really pleased to say things have improved, probably as a result of me changing my outlook on everything going on at work. I'm sure the weekend break away also helped.

I'm also very inspired by a photo I saw today of a colleague's wife, who was also fairly large but has lost loads of weight and is looking fantastic. She hasn't been on Alizonne, but her weight loss proves it can be done and how the end result will totally be worth the pain.

I can't wait for 28th Dec now ...... 17 days and counting ....... bring it on .........

A mixed bag

The last few days have been really really tough.

On the one hand I'm excited, and for once can't wait for Christmas as that means the 28th Dec will arrive quickly and I'll be able to start the programme.

On the other I've had masses of crappy things going on at work which are really bringing me down. I don't think they will be fixed in the short term, but I really need to get rid of all this negative energy surrounding me right now in preparation for the 28th. All this stress has led to flare up of my IBS - again.

I need to be in a good place by the 28th...... but I don't know what the solution is.....

Switching gears

I've been absent for some time, mostly as I've been doing a bit of soul searching, which has resulted in 2 things:

• I've stopped seeing the nutritionist I was going to - it wasn't working, I wasn't feeling better and I started feeling like a kook
• I've started exercising consistently (yay!). After years and years of trying and failing at different exercises I started doing Power Plate sessions with my husband twice a week. These, together with wearing a pedometer linked to a website that sets daily steps targets have helped transform my fitness level and general wellbeing - although sadly has not shifted any more weight

So, what's next?

Well, I stumbled on a programme called Alizonne, which promises to not only help you lose the weight under medical supervision, but also monitors you for 12 months afterwards to make sure you keep it off.

I had my doctor's session this week, and have qualified for the programme. The day after I went for my detailed blood tests and I've set my start date for 28th Dec. I would have started sooner but with all the functions I've got on and a weekend away in Paris there's no point trying.

I'm feeling really positive that this programme, together with the consistent exercise, will get me there!

So, I've decided to change what I use this blog for. From 28th Dec my plan is to use this as a daily (-ish) diary of what I've eaten, how I'm feeling and off course documenting the all important weight and inch loss.