Shelly Belly's Bridesmaid Blitz

[Dukanista]

Some people should just mind their own business, really! I always found it difficult to tell people I was on dukan. Easier to say 'I don't really do carbs / sugar / fat / alcohol than to put a label on it. There's a fair amount of negativity about fasting too, although so far I haven't told a soul (besides you lot!) that I'm doing it - strangely enough, no one notices if you're NOT eating, they just assume you've already eaten, or are eating later. But I've heard so much rubbish like 'starving yourself is counter-productive', or 'you can't skip breakfast, it's the most important meal of the day' etc etc.

Anyway, power to us for ignoring the uneducated masses

Shelly, you must be very tall... You seem really skinny to be above 10st! But you look fantastic already. And there's nothing wrong with losing a bit more than you planned - that way you can also give yourself a bit of a cushion if you gain a few pounds on stabilization.

Cx

 

[Dukanista]

Shelly have you tried barenaked noodles? I found those the nicest. But the eat water ones are pretty good too.

 

[Shelly_Belly]

Erg! Don't even get me started on the Haters! I have a friend here who is a LOVE, and has watched my struggle with my weight for the past 18 months, trying all sorts of "healthy eating" but the moment I talk about Dukan, she makes all this noise about how cottage cheese makes her feel sick... and all that meat... etc.

Usually I just say "oh, I just cut down on my carbs, I only have one portion a day, and dropped the alcohol".

Although I'm compiling a list of my favourite responses for the people who are like "OMG, have you lost weight? how did you do it??"
1. No, people just tend to always remember me fatter.
2. Yes (look them deadpan in the face), I had lipo, it was terrible.
3. I wonder why appearances are so important to some people?
4. Just been watching what I eat.

I watched the Men who Made Us Thin, it made me miserable, my Dad taped it for me and we watched it over Christmas. I was at my heaviest and struggling to find any balance. It made me lose all hope that I can ever change my body for good. But in the same way as we can get fatter over time, we can also get slimmer. Habits and attitudes to food can change. I really believe that. When spend time, or eat with my "naturally" slim friends, I do notice that they say things like "oh no bread for me, I had some this morning", or they have their coffee without sugar, or they scrape some of the cheese off their hamburger. In general, they are conscious of what they are eating, and yes, there may be some exceptions, but I think that we can relearn the habits. But it takes time and patience and there will be setbacks.

The Documentary: The Men who Made Us Fat is much better

Speaking of the long and winding road - today is my 4 months mark on the diet! If I am honest, I had expected to be already in consolidation by now, but there it is, it was slower this time, and there were bumps along the way. I still have a few stubborn pounds to go.

But I made a chart, and I think you will agree, we've come a long way!!



This process has been really empowering, it has made me feel like I am really capable of anything. I've started addressing other things in my life that I had neglected, like my finances, and my poor French skills and other things I enjoy. I really feel like a changed woman.

That said, sometimes, I really do believe that one day I'm going to wake up fat again, and I think I am still in a bit of denial about the fact that I have lost weight. I think this journey will be a long one, but thankfully I have the whole of consolidation to figure it all out

Shelly, you must be very tall... You seem really skinny to be above 10st! But you look fantastic already. And there's nothing wrong with losing a bit more than you planned - that way you can also give yourself a bit of a cushion if you gain a few pounds on stabilization.

True true, I just don't feel quite there yet. Will get to 10st then do a reassessment. I think I'm pretty muscly, which is maybe why my weight is higher than my body shows. Not necessarily a bad thing

 

[Shelly_Belly]

Shelly have you tried barenaked noodles? I found those the nicest. But the eat water ones are pretty good too.

I've got some in my cupboard from my last trip home - will probably try them next week

 

[Andi75]

Erg! Don't even get me started on the Haters! I have a friend here who is a LOVE, and has watched my struggle with my weight for the past 18 months, trying all sorts of "healthy eating" but the moment I talk about Dukan, she makes all this noise about how cottage cheese makes her feel sick... and all that meat... etc.

Usually I just say "oh, I just cut down on my carbs, I only have one portion a day, and dropped the alcohol".

Although I'm compiling a list of my favourite responses for the people who are like "OMG, have you lost weight? how did you do it??"
1. No, people just tend to always remember me fatter.
2. Yes (look them deadpan in the face), I had lipo, it was terrible.
3. I wonder why appearances are so important to some people?
4. Just been watching what I eat.

I watched the Men who Made Us Thin, it made me miserable, my Dad taped it for me and we watched it over Christmas. I was at my heaviest and struggling to find any balance. It made me lose all hope that I can ever change my body for good. But in the same way as we can get fatter over time, we can also get slimmer. Habits and attitudes to food can change. I really believe that. When spend time, or eat with my "naturally" slim friends, I do notice that they say things like "oh no bread for me, I had some this morning", or they have their coffee without sugar, or they scrape some of the cheese off their hamburger. In general, they are conscious of what they are eating, and yes, there may be some exceptions, but I think that we can relearn the habits. But it takes time and patience and there will be setbacks.

The Documentary: The Men who Made Us Fat is much better

Speaking of the long and winding road - today is my 4 months mark on the diet! If I am honest, I had expected to be already in consolidation by now, but there it is, it was slower this time, and there were bumps along the way. I still have a few stubborn pounds to go.

But I made a chart, and I think you will agree, we've come a long way!!

View attachment 152529

This process has been really empowering, it has made me feel like I am really capable of anything. I've started addressing other things in my life that I had neglected, like my finances, and my poor French skills and other things I enjoy. I really feel like a changed woman.

That said, sometimes, I really do believe that one day I'm going to wake up fat again, and I think I am still in a bit of denial about the fact that I have lost weight. I think this journey will be a long one, but thankfully I have the whole of consolidation to figure it all out



True true, I just don't feel quite there yet. Will get to 10st then do a reassessment. I think I'm pretty muscly, which is maybe why my weight is higher than my body shows. Not necessarily a bad thing

Brilliant post shelly belly!!! Yes, I call my sister naturally slim, but then I went shopping with her once, and I looked in her trolley, not a crisp or chocolate in sight just loads of meat veg brown bread & she cooks every thing from scratch....I just always said, she takes after my dad, slim, and I take after my mum, not do slim so I do think you're totally right that most people who are slim work on it, just don't make an issue of it...hoping to be me soon

xxxx

 

[shezhoney]

The men who made us fat was definitely waaaaaay better. The men who made us thin must have been so soul destroying to so many people as it just seemed to end with once your fat your fat, just don't get fat in the first place. Hmmm mm helpful lol

 

[Madmission]

I love your chart! How amazing does it look that you just kept going down! I've also stopped talking about weight with anyone! If they ask me what or why I'm eating protein/oatbran etc I just reply " the same reason your eating a pasty! I like the taste!" Usually shuts then up! If I look like you at Xmas I'll be making a speech on dukan for all the haters out there! Xx

 

[shezhoney]

Ooh I love a mint julie

Isn't it funny how easy it is to sabotage ourselves in order to save other people's feelings? i think its something every one has done on one occasion or another. I think you deserve a medal for only those 2 slip ups. I would have gone all out and had a burger loaded with cheese at th at point lol

 

[Shelly_Belly]

Celebrations, confessions and committments

Let's start with the celebrations. 10st 3.5lb this morning. So awesome. This is my lowest weight for 18 months. I feel proud and brilliant and I am wearing my (very tight!) size 10 work trousers this morning! My food has been bang on all weekend, even after running 12km on my PP day, I had all my food ready for the day and planned out, so I didn't slip up.... But don't let me beam in this achievement too much, for I must move on to the confessions.

I HATE being a party pooper. That is the worst thing about dieting. I LOVE going out, for dinners, days out and drinks, and, for me, this is the hardest part. Although I have eaten to plan, I keep having the odd glass of wine, here and there. This week, it hasn't really shown up in my losses because I already had so much water weight to shed. But if it carries on I know it will do me some damaged, and I am wasting my time in cruise all week, then blowing it at the weekend with a couple of glasses of wine, here and there (and some beers, and some daiquiris (which I did make with Stevia )). Take Saturday night for example. Out with the ladies for dinner:
No thank you breadbasket, no thank you nondescript amuse bouche, Tuna steak for me, thanks, dessert? errr... what are you having? Lemon Meringue Pie, Ice Cream, Chocolate Torte? I'll have a coke zero please. Wine? oh yeah, tah very much.
I need to commit to really shedding these last few lbs, otherwise might as well move to consolidation, have a celebration meal once a week, and eat dessert with my friends. (Yes, I sat on a table with Lemon Meringue Pies, Chocolate Tortes and Ice Cream... and drank coke zero (and...ahem...wine ). But without the drive I was getting from the wedding (and also the excuse, because, frankly, I look slimmer now, and I'm worried that dieting makes me appear vain to my friends) I'm finding it increasing hard to pass up on the booze.

So this is my re-committment. I came here to get to 10st, and I will be damned if I slip up now, especially without consolidation, and risk gaining it all back again. I am gonna need your support guys!

So with my cuppa tea, I would like to propose a toast to a perfect week. We can all do this!
Cheers
I'll drink to that!

xoxox

 

[Andi75]

Let's start with the celebrations. 10st 3.5lb this morning. So awesome. This is my lowest weight for 18 months. I feel proud and brilliant and I am wearing my (very tight!) size 10 work trousers this morning! My food has been bang on all weekend, even after running 12km on my PP day, I had all my food ready for the day and planned out, so I didn't slip up.... But don't let me beam in this achievement too much, for I must move on to the confessions.

I HATE being a party pooper. That is the worst thing about dieting. I LOVE going out, for dinners, days out and drinks, and, for me, this is the hardest part. Although I have eaten to plan, I keep having the odd glass of wine, here and there. This week, it hasn't really shown up in my losses because I already had so much water weight to shed. But if it carries on I know it will do me some damaged, and I am wasting my time in cruise all week, then blowing it at the weekend with a couple of glasses of wine, here and there (and some beers, and some daiquiris (which I did make with Stevia )). Take Saturday night for example. Out with the ladies for dinner:
No thank you breadbasket, no thank you nondescript amuse bouche, Tuna steak for me, thanks, dessert? errr... what are you having? Lemon Meringue Pie, Ice Cream, Chocolate Torte? I'll have a coke zero please. Wine? oh yeah, tah very much.
I need to commit to really shedding these last few lbs, otherwise might as well move to consolidation, have a celebration meal once a week, and eat dessert with my friends. (Yes, I sat on a table with Lemon Meringue Pies, Chocolate Tortes and Ice Cream... and drank coke zero (and...ahem...wine ). But without the drive I was getting from the wedding (and also the excuse, because, frankly, I look slimmer now, and I'm worried that dieting makes me appear vain to my friends) I'm finding it increasing hard to pass up on the booze.

So this is my re-committment. I came here to get to 10st, and I will be damned if I slip up now, especially without consolidation, and risk gaining it all back again. I am gonna need your support guys!

So with my cuppa tea, I would like to propose a toast to a perfect week. We can all do this!
Cheers
I'll drink to that!

xoxox

cheers!! I'll drink to that!!!

Well ill I have to say you are a lot braver than me!!!! I have so many trust issues with myself on a night out, I literally have to turn into a hermit on cruise. Which is sad I know....I didn't before because I had so much more to lose, so it was impossible not to socialise for 4 months, but I think 2 months is doable :0

You are sooooooo close....conso is nearly at your finger tips....then you will have celebration meal heaven for good..

I'm totally with you on the alcohol. That is the single most hardest thing for me. The food is a breeze. What I miss more than anything is a drink and that party feeling!!!

Tuna & coke zero will get you to 10 stone!!!! Well done on your re-commitment!

i know what you mean about drives and goals......in 2011 was the Christmas do...lost 47lbs....then erm no Christmas do.....gained 21lbs.....then in 2013 it was my Las Vegas wedding.....lost 21lbs....then erm no wedding....gained 21lbs!!!

but now there is no personal event in sight, only how pretty damn amazing I felt on both occasions!!! I want that amazing feeling back....and I'm sure you want to keep your amazing feeling too



xxxxxx

 

[Shelly_Belly]

i know what you mean about drives and goals......in 2011 was the Christmas do...lost 47lbs....then erm no Christmas do.....gained 21lbs.....then in 2013 it was my Las Vegas wedding.....lost 21lbs....then erm no wedding....gained 21lbs!!!

I hear ya, Andi!

Why can't the satisfaction of being our wonderful selves at our "fighting weight" (this is what my Best Friend calls her target weight - I love it) be enough. Like you guys, I am thinking of the Christmas parties, the little black dresses and the nights spent tearing up the dancefloor under a disco ball ( I dunno about you, but my staying power on a pair of stilettos is remarkably increased when weighing 10st as opposed to 12st). I just wish I was focused on the longer term and truely believed that this would be my "true weight". Imagine, planning a holiday, or being invited to a wedding and the first thought crossing your mind is not fear at: "eek, I better lose weight for that!". That's where I need to be.

I know it's a bit cliche to talk about thinking like a thin person, but I think that's what my consolidation is going to be all about. Changing my habits and my mindset.

I'm feeling good today. Work up feeling very slim. I have someone staying with me at the moment, and I've been a bit shy eating my food around her, but she's been pretty supportive, so I don't know why I'm so worried. The other night it was a PV day for me and so I cooked Chicken Breast and salad and I offered to cook for her too. When I dished it up, I had given each of us a Chicken Breast and filled the rest of the plate with salad. She said "ooh no, that's way too much chicken (and there was me thinking, If you weren't here love, I would have definitely had both of those...). It makes me a bit panicky and second guess myself. She put some of the chicken back, which unnerved me... but then went back and had it for seconds anyway!

I have really been enjoying Dukan Overnight Oats lately for a quick breakfast.
You basically soak your oatbran in low fat yogurt, a splash of skimmed milk, and stir in some cinnamon, vanilla and goji berries. In the morning, you just take it out of the fridge and gobble it up. Yumbos!

I also made Andi's sponge last night - I had a piece this morning - Delicious!! this is a new diet staple for me, definitely!!

Have good days guys xoxo

 

[Shelly_Belly]

I had been putting it off for a while because I was really stressed about it, but I just had my work health insurance check up. I had to have 3 bloodtests and 2 vaccinations. I have really low blood pressure and so I often faint, and I have found that having some sugar beforehand usually helps.

Unbelievably (and this shows how crazy my relationship with food has been in the past) I would use this as an excuse to have a big sugary breakfast (think croissants and orange juice) to try to prevent the fainting. This time I just had my Overnight Oatbran with Goji Berries before hand and I'm happy to report that I stayed conscious throughout (although the nurse did lie me down). It's made me realise that you can really make a million excuses for yourself to cheat on your diet: I needed the energy, I didn't have time to prepare anything, I didn't want to offend so-and-so, I was having a bad day, It's free, It's my TOTM... etc, but if you are dedicated and consistent, this eating plan is one that you can stick to no matter what obsticles you face.

So I'm feeling lovely today

But maybe it's just the typhoid going to my brain

 

[Andi75]

I had been putting it off for a while because I was really stressed about it, but I just had my work health insurance check up. I had to have 3 bloodtests and 2 vaccinations. I have really low blood pressure and so I often faint, and I have found that having some sugar beforehand usually helps.

Unbelievably (and this shows how crazy my relationship with food has been in the past) I would use this as an excuse to have a big sugary breakfast (think croissants and orange juice) to try to prevent the fainting. This time I just had my Overnight Oatbran with Goji Berries before hand and I'm happy to report that I stayed conscious throughout (although the nurse did lie me down). It's made me realise that you can really make a million excuses for yourself to cheat on your diet: I needed the energy, I didn't have time to prepare anything, I didn't want to offend so-and-so, I was having a bad day, It's free, It's my TOTM... etc, but if you are dedicated and consistent, this eating plan is one that you can stick to no matter what obsticles you face.

So I'm feeling lovely today

But maybe it's just the typhoid going to my brain

Yep you are bang on there shelly!! Well done on doing the tests I don't envy you....great strategy!! It's the new you....ah yes the good old excuses...I've got about a million...you can tell your so strong mentally now and in a different mindset...

all this his positivity is definitely catching!!!

xx

 

[Shelly_Belly]

I hopped on the scales this morning as I was feeling skinny... 10st 7lbs (INSERT EXPLETIVES!!!)
I felt like chucking my scales out the window. They may be broken. It's a cheap Asian imported digital set. And I hate them.

But yesterday I was REALLY HUNGRY

It was a PP day, but at lunchtime, I had to eat out with a client, and so I did have some courgette and tomatoes (was planning to even this out by doing PP tonight at dinnertime)

In the evening I had some turkey burgers, that were really salty and nasty. I had a wild hankering for burgers, and there were none in the chiller section, only in the freezers. So I bought these ones. And I had eggs and some (probably too much) yogurt. But this is one hell of a gain considering I maybe overate, but did keep it all dukan friendly.

I feel so cruddy. Sipping on green tea today.

Telling myself to stay focused.

 

[Madmission]

Fear not! i ate pre done burgers last week, got on the scales the next morning and had gained 4lbs! ye right! i drunk 4 liters of water and weighed the next morning and id lost 5lbs! dont painc, drink green tea until you cant drink anymore and eat clean protein today and it will be gone! i promise! xx

 

[Andi75]

Yep.... Stay focused...it will all come out in the wash/week (easier said than done)

you know you haven't done anything to deserve that shocker, so it sounds like a blip on the scales to me...good advice from madmission..

big hugs

xx

 

[Shelly_Belly]

Aww Ladies! You guys have made me feel a world better!
Blasted burgers, blasted salt, blasted cheeky weigh-ins.

xooxo

 

[MattR]

Power through, stay focused, the the needle will move in the right direction before you know it!

 

[Shelly_Belly]

10 - 4, 10 - 4!!!
Yippee! Thank you so much for the great support yesterday! I felt like I was truly losing my mind!

But perseverance won through! and we seem to be back on track today. I drank 2 pots of green tea yesterday - and in the evening I went protein-tastic, and made load of Stevia vanilla meringues (2 egg whites worth) and gobbled them all up!

It's Friday! Today is all about this tea that a colleague brought me back from France -


When she said, "I got you a present", I was a bit worried that it would be food (Like a big, gorgeous tray of macaroons), but this tea is very welcome. All of the flavour, none of the naughties

PP day today - I have lunch out, but there's a new place doing (turkey) ham omelettes that we're going to try, then a BBQ for dinner

Weekend is looking good, heading out of town Saturday for some beach time and R&R, so nothing to complain about. I really need to spend some time going through my wardrobe and re-uniting with some of my old clothes. It's a good feeling.

FOUR pounds to go!!!

 

[Shelly_Belly]

(Like a big, gorgeous tray of macaroons)

There is a recipe for macarons on the Dukan website... I will definitely be trying that soon!