Awful pain - Day 49/50

Last night for unknown reasons my IBS flaired up, and I was in absolute agony - I even had to sit out of some of the exercises in my powerplate class. My stomach completely bloated and I felt sick. I don't know whether it's because I had one of the juices and possibly didn't mix it very well, it tasted really grainy when I had it; but as that's the only different thing I had that I don't usually have that's the only thing I can assume.

In desperation I took a Colofac - no idea whether it's allowed or not but with the pain I was in I frankly didn't care at that moment.

I called the Alizonne clinic today and managed to speak to the doctor, who said that Colofac does have some fibre and sugars in, and will slow down weight loss on the day/s I take it - but if it makes me feel better I should go ahead and take it, especially as I generally only need 1 or 2 to make me feel better.

Luckily I didn't take any this morning, just a Panadol to relieve the pain, so hopefully the one I took last night hasn't done too much damage.

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!

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.