Joodle and Dukan against the last 11 lbs!!!

Chris, I'm the one who needs help!!! Still only got a (big) toe in the water! Tonight is my first 'free meal' (don't like the term celebration for some reason) which is scaring/exciting me in equal measure!!

Jx

same here J, I cant understand why its taking so long to get my head around it after being so determined and positive in the first two phases
 
Hi folks,

The last few days have been hectic and will continue to be hectic I suspect! In a good way though.

THursday was day 4 on conso and I weighed in at 8st 5.6lbs after the PP day - amazing. Didn't eat much in the day, still sticking to normal PV plus a bit of fruit, and was v organised and packed a ton of stuff to take to the volleyball. Ended up being to embarrassed to eat it in the stadium (tofu salad is not exactly typical sport-watching fare) so snuck out in a break and wolfed down tofu and crab sticks and carrot and celery sticks. Feel my enjoyment of food has gone a bit - I was literally just eating to not be hungry, but I guess that's ok.

Friday - day 5 conso. For some reason, I decided to eat everything in the world yesterday. No idea why. Everything was Dukan but I just ate far too much of it. Big bowl of rhubarb and yoghurt, 2 apricots, a huge muffin my Mum made (I gave her the recipe after she tasted and liked one of mine, she'd have a fit if she knew it was Dukan...she thinks it's the worst diet in the world and has been quite vocal about it before - I have to hide my book when she comes down!), another muffin with chocolate mint frosting, a small skimmed milk latte, lettuce, egg and asparagus salad, weight watchers yoghurt mixed with total 0% and protein powder (more on this later), carrot and celery sticks, quorn mince cooked with tomato sauce and 1 babybel light melted on top, 1.5 quorn lamb steak, asparagus with lemon and shallots, roast veg.

I mean, that's what I was eating over 3 days before! I even think I missed some but since I got to target weight with weight watchers, my account has been cancelled so I can't use their online tracker any more. All that information lost! Grrr, they don't warn you when you call up to tell them you're at target. Still, I'm saving about £18 a month now so that's another bonus.

Does anyone else use protein powder? I bought some before I went to Geneva a few weeks ago, in case of emergencies, and I use it ever so often to up the protein percentage of things like yoghurts. They give it a nice, thick texture too, although it's the sort of thing I can imagine some people not liking. I was dead against things like powders and stuff but actually, they're quite useful. I wouldn't have them as meal replacements, but I like that I can add a teaspoon to a weight watchers yoghurt so it fills me up more and has a better protein/carb ratio. Anyone else got an opinion on them? The one I use is a vegan one from, um, wheat or something? It's 98% protein if I remember right.

Oh, and I'm being very bad about something. Not sure how, but I've let myself become addicted to sugar free sweets - having been so absolutely against them!! I ate a whole packet of sugar free mints plus some of the sugar free weight watchers gummie sweets and my tummy was not loving it - just really cramping. I have to stop having them completely I think as it's too easy to eat loads. Or maybe I'll let myself have up to 5 day just twice a week. I really hate having them as I don't think it's helping me lose my sweet tooth, plus, I think they're a contributing factor in how hungry I get. The more I eat, the hungrier I am for other food.

The other reason I ate lots today was that I was working on something difficult at work and that was always one of my patterns - eating things to somehow help with work. Am quite disappointed that I haven't managed to really change that mindset as for the 7 weeks I was on cruise, it really wasn't a problem. Will try to see this as a learning blip rather than a return to the old ways.

Had arranged to meet my Dad after work to go to a class at my gym. The class was cancelled (v annoying) so we just did our own workouts. Got to watch two cycling golds though - not bad for a one hour gym session!! It was funny, normally everyone is very focussed on themselves in the gym and no one talks to each other. This time we were all cheering at the screens and whooping when Rebecca Pendleton got gold. I nearly fell off the cross trainer! Was a tough gym session though as I'd eaten too much and had only left 2 hours to digest. Need to get that eating under control again!

So, today is day 6 of conso and tonight will be my first free meal including my first drink of booze in 7 weeks. Eek! We're going to this fancy place for opera and dinner and we have to dress up and whatnot. We're taking a bottle of fizz for Dad's bday and will have wine with dinner - I have to be careful, it's not the sort of place you can end up in the gutter and after 7 weeks booze free, I'm expecting my (usually good) tolerance to be low. Will report back! I've been for a 45 minute run already so hopefully that will help. Went round Hyde park - so exciting with everyone amassing for the start of the triathlon. Usually have the place to myself at that time on a Saturday!

So far, conso has been ok. Weighted 8st 6.6lb this morning, so only 0.6lb above target which seems ok given I've been eating a lot more veg and everything. I will be keeping a strict eye on myself though! Ideally I want to get down to 8st exactly, so may revert to cruise for a few weeks if I want. I've not had bread or cheese yet either so need to reintroduce that. Can't see how I can do so without gaining a lot however. Am definitely hungrier now than I was in cruise and feel less in control, but I guess that's why conso comes before stabilisation.

I think I need to look on conso as being the same as cruise, just with more legal cheats. Still haven't read the blooming book though, just had no time. Will try this weekend, but seems unlikely with the amount that's on.

Ok, sorry, another mammoth post. We're heading off in half an hour so will try to catch up with diaries while we're on the road.

Have good weekends!

Jude x
 
I did not find any good protein powders.
I only used some a few times from Forever but those are so expensive and they contain other stuff too.

Me too I tend to overeat when I deal with stressful situations.

It looks like you're going to have a lot of fun today!
Yay for your first celebratory meal and the drink :)

You are doing great in Conso.
 
I would'nt even know where to look for protien products if I wanted them. Dr. D says they are handy on PP days if you are on the go.
Where do you get them? What are the product names (I pressume there are different ones), can you get them in supermarkets or is it health food shops?
It would be 'better to be looking at them than looking for them'.... one of my 'life' motto's.
 
Joodle, i do love reading your posts. There is always something to make me laugh. I had images of them finding your bag of food in the bushes and bringing in bomb squad to dispose of it LOL.

Happy birthday to your dad, mine next week LOL.

Conso sounds hard, and I'm still getting to grips with cruise, LOL
 
Hi Joodle. Its so interesting reading your diary and your take on Conso. I feel the same. Cruise was safe, but now I feel I have permission to eat the extras and feel a little out of control :(
Not having my bread yet, fruit and cheese now and then. Have my CM tonight...
I am weighing myself more now to check on any gains. I am a pound up this morning, although I have read its best to weigh on a Friday after the PP Thursday. I think I will keep a close eye on it :)
 
Hope your CM was lovely and your dad had a great birthday - running the london marathon - wooooohoooo - wish I could do that!! x
 
ill hopefully be back in conso in a jiffy.... once im there i will never eat bread .... its evil

So funny to hear you guys say that. Just today I was thinking to myself that there's no way I can have bread every day and stay at TW. I just decided that I'm happy enough to have it once (and then maybe twice) a week as part of my free meal. When I'm not eating it, I don't miss it so why make life harder?!
 
same here J, I cant understand why its taking so long to get my head around it after being so determined and positive in the first two phases

Chris, I really do think it's because we saw it as the 'promised land' and when we got here, we realised it was pretty much the same as home. Everyone still in cruise - take heed! Conso is pretty much like cruise, just with a little bit more freedom, so don't get over-excited! The good bit is that you're at TW so you look millions better than when you started on attack! Jx
 
I did not find any good protein powders.
I only used some a few times from Forever but those are so expensive and they contain other stuff too.

Mmm, I'm still not 100% about the powder, although I only use it rarely. I got mine from a health food shop and per 100g it is 90g protein, 3g carb, 1g fat. You only use a tablespoon at a time though, max. It wasn't that expensive, can't remember exactly but £7-8 I think, and it will last for ages.
Thanks for your good wishes on conso! Jx
 
I would'nt even know where to look for protien products if I wanted them. Dr. D says they are handy on PP days if you are on the go.
Where do you get them? What are the product names (I pressume there are different ones), can you get them in supermarkets or is it health food shops?
It would be 'better to be looking at them than looking for them'.... one of my 'life' motto's.

It's called Pulsin' natural soya protein and what it says on the pack is "complete vegan protein powder for vitality and balanced nutrition" Pulsin' - Home page

It's the only one I've tried though and am far from an expert! Most of the others I've looked at in sports nutrition places etc seem to have a lot weirder stuff in them and usually more carbs and fat. I only ever use it when I want to up the protein ration of something, usually yoghurts,. Wouldn't like to start using it daily or using it to replace meals as that's just a bit spooky.
 
Joodle, i do love reading your posts. There is always something to make me laugh. I had images of them finding your bag of food in the bushes and bringing in bomb squad to dispose of it LOL.

Happy birthday to your dad, mine next week LOL.

Conso sounds hard, and I'm still getting to grips with cruise, LOL

Thanks DF! What day is your bday? And don't worry about conso - it's not so bad, it's just about getting your headset right.
Jx
 
Hi Joodle. Its so interesting reading your diary and your take on Conso. I feel the same. Cruise was safe, but now I feel I have permission to eat the extras and feel a little out of control :(
Not having my bread yet, fruit and cheese now and then. Have my CM tonight...
I am weighing myself more now to check on any gains. I am a pound up this morning, although I have read its best to weigh on a Friday after the PP Thursday. I think I will keep a close eye on it :)

Yep, Cath, the weekly weigh in after your PP day makes sense to me, will give a more accurate reading. We did cruise so we can do conso! Just need to remember not to go crazy....that's the hard bit!!

Jx
 
Saturday 4th August, cruise day 6

Super efficient start to the day, got up at 6.30 so I could go for a run and be ready before setting off for East Sussex. Knowing it would be a big evening meal I had quite a light breakfast and lunch but this meant I was starving by about 5pm and wolfed down another muffin as I didn't want to go into the meal starving - dangerous!

The drive down was fun - Dad was driving and I was providing minute by minute Olympic updates from the (frankly brilliant) BBC Olympics app. Poor Mum requested the back seat as she couldn't bear it! Funny how easily you can fill 3 hours when you've got the Olympics to play with!

The meal was good, but weirdly, I can't say I enjoyed it more than some of the meals I've had while on Dukan. The best bit was probably having champagne and snacks before the first half of the opera - I'd packed little jars of all my favourite snacks - goat's cheese flavoured popcorn (oh yeah), salted corn kernels (don't try them if you never have...addictive....), these amazing crunchy crisp things you can only get in France that are just soooo bad for you and in the same sort of league as crack cocaine, then Mum packed some fancy smoked salmon bites from M&S, mini quail eggs (oh so Dukan and therefore not so fun....) and then a couple of glasses of fizz.

The meal started positively angelically. Bear in mind that I picked my menu at the start of June, just a couple of weeks after starting Dukan and was positively petrified about having a blow out meal when I didn't even know if I'd have reached conso - I was therefore extremely cautious about what I chose. In a way this was good....in another way I was cursing my early-Dukan self for being so good!! My starter was asparagus with a few (undressed) salad leaves. (Can you get any more Dukan friendly???) Then I had grilled and tempura halloumi which was far too salty to be enjoyable, plus, I'm not a big fan of batter. Hmmm. However, it was served with a small portion of triple cooked chips which were divine! I also had a small white bread roll with butter. Mmmm, butter, that was delish.

Then I had a cheese plate for dessert because again, I figured that was safer than sweet stuff if I hadn't yet reached conso. It was fine (I'm a huuuuuuge cheese fan but these weren't my favourite kinds of cheeses) but I was really wishing I'd gone for something chocolatey. Ended up wolfing down a few spoons of Mum's rhubarb custard thing which was way too sweet but pretty darn nice and a few spoons of the summer pudding (not my favourite dessert really) which the lovely staff brought out with a candle for Dad when I secretly told them it was his bday. Then I was too full to have the chocolate that came with the coffee! Dammit! I have stashed it away though, never fear!

Felt absolutely stuffed afterwards and with all the salty stuff before the meal, I expect a fair old jump in the scales tomorrow. I really must remember that I prefer feeling comfortably full to feeling stuffed and it is so worth it to make sure I stop eating when I'm almost full.

Got back from the opera around 11pm and Dad and I snuck off to catch up with the athletics. Amazing results, go Team GB!!! Am really quite gutted to have missed being in London and part of a crowd watching all that, would have been an amazing atmosphere. Fabulous stuff, especially Jess and Mo. Wow. If I take up javelin, high jump, shot put etc tomorrow, will I be ready in time for Rio? What do you mean it's too late to take up the heptathlon at the age of 38? Boo.

Sunday 5th August Conso day 7

The B&B did a full breakfast but I was very restrained. Had a small portion of melon, then scrambled egg and grilled tomato and mushrooms. No toast, nuffinck. Just had a milky coffee for lunch (sitting out in the sun, bliss) but was too hungry when I got in and gorged on the piles of fruit Mum and Dad had brought down from their garden. Given we're meant to have no more than one portion a day in conso, I probably had enough for the week. But home grown raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries. Oh my!

Cooked a whole bunch of stuff while waiting for the athletics, including marinated salmon kebabs, muffins and stir fried Chinese cabbage. Might even see about making a protein cake I just read about too, even though it's getting late. Need some safe food to take with me tomorrow - back to the Olympic park for the men's 3 metre diving prelims. We're going to get there early so we have tons of time to soak up the atmosphere and hopefully watch the big screens if it's not chucking it down, as forecast.

Feeling a bit bloated from the fruit so didn't have a proper dinner, just some yoghurt. I need to keep a real close eye on this conso business, I can see myself slipping (like with the fruit) already. Must. Stay. Strong.!!

Jx
 
PS Marathons...yeah. I love running although I'm not very fast. Problem is that about 18 months ago I picked up a hip injury which meant that I could barely walk for 3 months and have hardly been able to run since. Lots of scans and X-rays and specialists and phsyio and acupuncture....it's slowly getting better but definitely not there yet and it still causes real pain sometimes.

I think it is what triggered my weight gain - if you go from running 4-5 times a week and marathon training then stop suddenly, it's quite hard to reduce your calorie intake back to an appropriate level, especially when you have to stop walking as well as running. So the pounds crept on and then even though I got the go ahead to start using a gym back in November last year, no amount of exercise was helping with the weight. Really, reducing food intake is the only way for me to lose weight - the exercise can speed things up a little bit and definitely makes you look and feel better, but you can't hope to just exercise and eat the same and lose weight. Well, that's my experience anyway!

So yes, marathons in the past but not for a long time and am just hoping and praying that I can get rid of this injury and be able to start up again. The thought of never being able to run distances again is quite distressing so I try not to think about it - probably why I've not mentioned the marathons before now.

Jx
 
Wow Joodle, you are busy at the moment, the meal sounds nice in places, but you did really well sticking to it as much as possible. Love the little snack pots :D

Would love to spend any time in the park, it all sounds fabby. Just amazing watching on tv and the three of us getting to our feet or edge of seats and cheering. Its definately inspiring and not just the next generation LOL
 
these amazing crunchy crisp things you can only get in France that are just soooo bad for you and in the same sort of league as crack cocaine,
Jx

:D Joodlebob, shift over girl I'm moving to London! You literally crease me up every time I read your diary :D :D

P x
 
Bloody Nora!

I'm off Minimins for a few days and I have several chapters to read lol!

Well done in Conso, I'm so glad I'm not there yet as it seems rather complex :eek:
 
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