Halleluyah - Doc's appointment - Day 29

So, I'm almost halfway through Phase 1 of Alizonne and had my first doctor's appointment to get my blood test results.

Luckily everything showed up normally, so all good there. I've also lost 1.1% of body fat, which according to her is fantastic. She checked my stomach and the Ultrasound seems to be breaking up the fat on my stomach, so she's recommended keeping the treatment on there for another 4 weeks, after which it will switch to my thighs - which need some attention too.

Best of all, I managed to shift additional weight since my last Ultrasound and Endermologie session on Monday, and have hit 100.7kg (15 stone 12)! That puts me just 0.7kg above where I should be, but I am super super chuffed, particularly given how far behind I was last week.

SO, SO happy I can't even begin to describe the feeling.....

Weigh-in after day 26

It hasn't been a full week yet, as I went to Alizonne last Tuesday and today is Monday, but thankfully I've already lost 1.4kg (3.1lbs) since last week - hooray!

This puts me at 102kg, versus a target of where I should be at 100kg. I think it's unlikely I'll manage to lose 2kg in 2 days - which is when I'll be at a full 4 weeks, and also when I see the doctor at Alizonne for my monthly check-up.

Having said that I'm really hoping I will lose another 0.5kg or so to make sure I'm not that far adrift of where I should be - fingers crossed and I'll update then!

Measurement - after day 24

Measurements for this week are:

Bust - 105cm (0cm loss this week - 3cm lost in total - 16cm to go)
Waist - 100cm (1cm loss this week - 4cm loss in total - 28cm to go) - yay!
Hips - 124cm (2cm loss this week - 7cm loss in total - 29cm to go) - good to see the ultrasound is doing something

Been feeling a bit bummed about my slow weight loss, as it looks like I've only lost 1.5kg this week vs a target of 3.4kg to hit the target they set, but I guess some weight loss is better than nothing. Also, my full week ends on Wed, even though my appointment is tomorrow, so I'm hoping those 2 extra days will give me a bit of a boost and help me catch up at least a bit.

I posted about it on the Alizonne forum and most people are saying what I've lost is not unusual, and it's the exception rather than the rule to lost the big numbers I've seen some people posting. Doesn't make it better but at least I don't feel abnormal....

My Alizonne session is tomorrow, and am then seeing the doctor on Thursday morning first thing for my monthly check up.

Mixed emotions - Day 20

20 days in, I can't believe it.....

I had my Ultrasound and Endermologie treatment at Alizonne today. Thankfully the therapist was gentler with me, and it was nowhere near as painful.

Unfortunately, I only lost 1.3kg (2.8lbs) this week, ending up at 103.4kg - which puts me around 0.6kg below where I should be. They are estimating I should be at 100kg next week - which means I need to lose quite a massive 3.4kg in the next week to keep on track.

I'm feeling quite gutted, but still determined to keep going. I still lost something, in fact more than I have on many other diets, and I'm told it can be quite common for the body to hold on to fat sometimes.

I desperately hope things will pick up next week - please, please, please......

On the upside, my dreaded trip to Sweden, originally planned for the first week in Feb, has been postponed. I really didn't want to go given how difficult it would be to keep on track and not compromise, so this is fantastic news.

Measurement - after day 17

Measurements for this week are:

Bust - 105cm (0cm loss this week - 3cm lost in total - 16cm to go)
Waist - 101cm (1cm loss this week - 3cm loss in total - 29cm to go) - yay!
Hips - 126cm (3cm loss this week - 5cm loss in total - 31cm to go) - super big yay!!

Had a big cupboard clearout this weekend and created 2 piles of clothes now too big for me, and I can fit into a pair of trousers I bought years ago but haven't been able to fit into in years.

My Alizonne session is on Tuesday this week, so will post weight update then, fingers crossed!

End of week 2 - Day 14

So, end of week 2 and although it's going fantastically well I haven't felt great today. I've been really achy in certain areas where the Endermologie machine was rubbed over me especially hard, like the top of my hips, outside of my arms and sides of my thighs. I've also got a horribly sore shoulder muscle on my right side, completely unrelated, which has meant I'm in quite a lot of pain.

Never mind though, I managed to soldier on and even invented a new recipe for dinner:

Pre-heat over to 180-degrees
Place 2 large mushrooms upside down on a baking sheet and remove their stalks
Sprinkle salt, pepper and 1/4 tablespoon olive oil on each one
Separately, finely chop the stalks and pak choi
Mix up a sachet of soup (I used the thai curry), slowly adding a little bit of water until a smooth paste has formed
Add the chopped stalks and pak choi to the soup mixture
Season with garlic flakes, chilli and mixed herbs
Spoon mixture into mushrooms, pushing them firmly in
Grind some pepper on top and sprinkle 1/4 tablespoon over each mushroom
Place in oven for 10-15 minutes until mushrooms are soft and cooked

Very filling and I'll definitely have it again!

Oh yeah - weight on Day 13

So, had my Ultrasound and Endermologie treatment at Alizonne today. For some reason the Endermologie was really painful, even after the therapist turned down the intensity. She thinks it could be because I just finished my period, but I don't know - all I know is afterwards I already had a bruise coming up on my left thigh, ouch!

On the massive upside, I've lost another 2.4kg (5.28lbs!) - bang on with the 5lbs minimum I wanted to lose each week. So, since starting I've lost 3.5kg - over half a stone at 7.7lbs! Doesn't sound like much but it has only been 12 full days.

I also swapped a few sachets for some additional pizza, one pancake, leek & potato soup and a caramel dessert - which I haven't had in an assorted box before. I still have a few to swap, but they didn't have anything else I wanted to I'll store these until next Monday when I'm next there.

Measurement - after day 10

As with last week, I'll update on food later but measurements for this week are:

Bust - 105cm (2cm loss this week - 3cm lost in total - 16cm to go) - I can definitely feel this one as I'm wearing bras that were a bit tight comfortably now
Waist - 102cm (3cm loss this week - 2cm loss in total - 30cm to go)
Hips - 129cm (2cm loss this week - 2cm loss in total - 34cm to go)

Best bit is I tried on 2 pairs of jeans that have been sitting very tight and they fit like a glove - hurray! Now I just need to wear the hell out of them before they get too big for me, but that's a good problem to have as far as I'm concerned ;)

My Alizonne session is on Tuesday this week, so will post weight update then, although home scale says I've now lost 8 pounds!

Day 10

Feels like a bit of a landmark day today - 10 days!

Went to Movers & Shapers this morning and it was measurement and weigh in day, which they do every 6 weeks. I was so chuffed when they weighed me and said I'd lost 3kg!!! I'm actually hoping his underestimates actual weight loss, as their machine doesn't do half weights. I also lost inches on every area of my body except thighs, although as I'm using my husband's measurements for this blog and tracking I'm not going to use theirs - although waist was 5cm down from the last time they measured and hips 1cm.

Breakfast (10.45am finish): pancake with apricot jelly - yum!

Snack (1.45pm finish): we went to Nero's for coffee after our Movers & Shapers session as we needed to do grocery shopping before heading home (couldn't drive because of the snow so we had to walk) and wouldn't had time to finish this and get home. I had an Americano mixed with a hoc choc powder, which was actually quite nice

Lunch (4.30pm finish): finally tried the fish soup, which tastes like Lobster bisque and is quite nice, with salad

Snack (7.30pm finish): choc dessert

Dinner (9.45pm finish): pizza (yum!) topped with garlic powder, mixed herbs, olive oil, tomato, mushrooms, spinach and red pepper. Very nice but next time I'll make it with a bit of chilli

All in all a good day and at least I've got over the starving hunger I had yesterday. Can't explain it but I was SO hungry all day.......

And so it continues – Day 8

This was yesterday's post but my web connection went down so here goes....

I think (and hope!) I've settled into a sort of routine now, although today was impacted by MASSIVE period pains - but on the upside at least it will be done and dusted by the time I have my appointment next week.

Breakfast (7.10am finish): oatmeal - think I need to add more than the 75ml of water they recommend as it's a bit too thick

Snack (11.30am finish): hot choc

Lunch (3pm finish): mushroom soup with salad

Snack (6pm finish): choc pudding

Dinner (8.45pm finish): bacon omelette made up with pak choi, mushroom and tomato plus spices

I don't know where this came from but a colleague at work saw me eating my choc pudding and commented I've lost weight. Could it be! Could it actually be noticeable??!?!?!?

I also got some responses back from the Alizonne patient forum and everyone seems certain I can have Swede, so I'm going for it. Sprouts are apparently only allowed later on, but no one seems to know about kale.

Clueless and menu - Day 7

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday and to be honest can't remember what I ate - one sachet day kind of blends into another ;)

So, wondering about whether I could have Brussel Sprouts and Kale I asked my therapist if I could have them on Monday - she didn't have a clue and suggested I call during the day. Today I called and they don't know either - they just took a high and mighty "you should only eat from the list you're allowed, everything else is banned" view. When I explained that Swede is for example on the list but I'd been told I could have it, she haughtily said no - that's only on Phase 3! Clueless or what?? In desperation I'm going to post on the Alizonne patient forum tonight in the hope someone actually knows the definitive answer out there......

We had a completely snowy day with 5 inches of snow falling so I ended up working from home. On the menu:

Breakfast (8am finish): pancake with choc spread - yum!

Snack (12pm finish): hot choc

Lunch (3.30pm finish): veg soup with salad. I've decided they only salad dressing I can actually manage is to split my olive oil allowance and have half a tablespoon in the dressing and keep the other half for dinner

Snack (6.30pm finish): fruits of the forest yoghurt

Dinner (8.45pm finish): beef and onion soup made into a broth with mushrooms, red pepper, pal choi, garlic flakes, chilli and mixed herbs

It's the end of my first week!!

Menu and weight - Day 5

First day back at work today so it was always going to be interesting to see how I got on, but all things considered it went very well:

Breakfast (7am finish): herb omelette

Snack (11am finish): hot chocolate

Lunch (2.30pm finish): vegetable soup with salad including skimmed yoghurt dressing. Again, my stomach felt fine which is great to see

Snack (5.30pm finish): plain chocolate dessert. I made the mistake of trying to mix this up at work which didn't really work, so in future will make this up at home and take it in refregerated which should work better

Dinner (9.30pm finish): cheese and bacon omelette with sauteed pak choi, tomato, mushrooms and red pepper - yum!

I also had an ultrasound and endermologie appointment at Alizonne this evening and the good news is I've lost 1.3kg in 4 and a bit days! Don't know whether this is good or not, but the therapist seemed pleased and based on my calculations I think I'm on track (hopefully!)

I also bought food for the week, again with an extra box for variety:

• 1 box assorted savouries - although I'm going to have these mostly for dinner rather than breakfast in future
• 2 boxes assorted soups - to be used for lunches and as broths and sauces for dinners
• 1 box hot choc - don't think I need to say anymore on this one ;)
• 1 box vanilla dessert - ditto - what can I say ;)
• 1 box plain choc dessert

I also exchanged 6 of my cappuccino sachets, as I haven't really enjoyed them, for a few new things to try:

• Oatmeal
• Pancake with apricot jelly
• Pancake with choc spread
• Pizza margharita

Just need to figure out what I do about a work lunch on Friday now - either bail out, don't eat anything there or try to get them to cook something.....

Menu - Day 4

On the menu today:

Breakfast (10.30am finish): cheese omelette - bit salty but ok

Snack (12.45 finish): hot chocolate

Lunch (3.30pm finish): beef and onion soup, which was creamy rather than brothy surprisingly. Had this with a salad similar to previous day

Snack (6.15pm finish): lemon dessert which I didn't really like, too lemony and it repeated on me a bit so I won't be getting that again

Dinner (9pm finish): delicious Chicken curry soup made with veg and chilli into a Thai Curry using a recipe I found on the Alizonne patient forum - thanks Jo ;)

Feeling much better today, only had to take 1 Panadol and managed my 2 litres again. At least the weird feeling I had last night has gone, so maybe all I needed was a good night's sleep.

The real test will be tomorrow, when I'm back at work and need to make everything work there. I've packed my little bag of tupperwares and things and fingers crossed, but I'm really glad I've had a few days at home to get into the swing of things before going back.

I also have my appointment at Alizonne tomorrow evening, and will hopefully be on my way weight loss wise - would be great to have that as a morale boost.....

Measurements - after day 3

I'll update on food later but measurements for this week are:

Bust - 107cm (1cm loss - 18cm to go)
Waist - 105cm (1cm gain! - 33cm to go)
Hips - 131cm (nothing lost - 36cm to go)

I will post weight update tomorrow after my session as although my home scale says I've lost it was showing up a different starting weight to Alizonne, so to be consistent I will use theirs.

Day 3

On the menu today:

Breakfast (10.15am finish): Smoked bacon omelette, which was quite nice and really looked like real egg once cooked in the frying pan

Snack (1pm finish): mug of Hot Chocolate

Lunch (3.30pm finish): mushroom soup (yum) with a salad of lettuce, green pepper, gherkins, runner beans and alfalfa. Dressing was made with a bit of red wine vinegar, onion salt and lemon juice

Snack (6.20pm finish): banana dessert

Dinner (9pm finish): potato pie desiccated and then mixed with baked aubergine, spring onion, red pepper and mushroom

Also managed my 2 litres of water.

Only problem is I feel really strange this evening, but can't say if that's because of the diet. Right after dinner I started feeling really hot in the face, cold in the body and my stomach is making funny noises - I REALLY hope I'm not coming down with anything and this just my body adjusting...

Day 2

Still seem to be feeling ok, although I did have a headache this morning and had to take some Panadol.

On the menu today:

Breakfast (10.30am finish): Lemon and salmon blinis with topping - tasted ok but again quite salty

Snack (2.30pm finish): mug of hot chocolate - yum.....

Lunch (5pm finish): Tomato soup with a salad made of lettuce, green pepper, 50g tomato, alfalfa, seasoning and a tablespoon of skimmed yoghurt. This has lactose in so we'll see how my stomach copes but at the time of writing this I was feeling fine

Snack (7.30pm finish): Vanilla pudding - absolute heaven, tastes just like custard ;)

Dinner (9.45pm finish): Potato pie mushed up to resemble cous-cous mixed with 140g of the leftover red cabbage from last night

All in all a good day, and I managed my 2 litres of water too.