Navigating the Doldrums

Starting weight - 17 stone 3 pounds.

Current weight – 16 stone 4 pounds

Loss to date – 13 pounds or 26 packs of Guernsey butter (approx.)

Thank you for continuing to follow my weight-loss journey as I mutate from being a fat ugly duckling into a drop-dead gorgeous swan!! So far so good although I am currently well and truly in the doldrums, and if I am to navigate my way out of this period of small, incremental weight losses then I need to address my mental strength. This is?the cognitive and emotional skill of reframing negative thoughts and adverse circumstances and getting a positive outcome. It can be hard.

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The first few weeks of a life-changing diet are great because you lose a significant amount in a fairly short period. It's mostly water. Very soon the rate of weight loss slows right down and the hard work of losing fat begins. Some weeks you might even put on weight!

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As part of my programme, I have regular appointments with my nutritionist who has developed a food plan for me. Last week I told her I was disappointed because I had only lost one pound, but unfortunately that is likely to be my long-term weight-loss rate moving forward. Any faster than that and I could be losing muscle rather than fat.

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Remembering that I have another two stone to lose to reach my target weight of 14 stone, this equates to 28 weeks - over 6 months!! But then I remember I am not on a diet. This is not some temporary exercise. In fact, I have changed my eating habits for life and I need to grow up and stop being so bloody impatient! Tough love!

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I have been allocated one ‘cheat’ day each week. On this day there are no controls, and I can consume whatever I like. The secret is to be sensible and not go over the top by drinking 12 pints of Guinness and a burger for lunch and fish and chips for dinner. I am being prudent although August is a busy time of year with lots of family visits and social occasions. It can be hard allocating a ‘cheat’ day when there are three or four contenders each week.

?I had another session on the brilliant Emsculpt Neo machine at Guernsey Skin & Beauty yesterday. If you haven’t heard about it, scientists have combined radiofrequency and high intensity focused electromagnetic fields to help eliminate fat and build muscle. I lay on a bed with two paddles attached to my tummy area and the machine does the rest. It’s like doing hundreds of sit ups without doing hundreds of sit ups! I can just walk in, have the treatment for 30 minutes and then walk out again. ?It's a completely non-invasive body-shaping treatment which does not require surgery, needles or anaesthesia.

The Neo is a brilliant tool for mums wanting to get back into shape and develop their core and floor aswell as sports men and women toning up. What I've noticed is the strength I now have in my belly. I have core strength there that helps me doing my long walks and cycle rides. Walking up steep hills is so much easier and of course, I have one stone less to carry.

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I am on this journey because I want to be a better version of myself, slimmer and more youthful. But the most important reason is to be healthier and hopefully live longer and spend more time with Jo, Jake and my lovely friends. The area of concern is the visceral fat I have around my internal organs. I googled it and this is what I found:

“Excess visceral fat can pose serious health risks, but when you embark on a healthy diet and exercise plan, this fat is often the first to disappear. This means you're likely to notice weight loss in your abdominal area first. Too much visceral fat can make your belly protrude.”

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Well, this is describing me exactly – skinny arms, skinny legs, no arse, but a large belly that on a good day can be seen from space.

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“Visceral fat refers to a type of fat that’s stored within your abdominal cavity and can build up in arteries. It can increase the risk of certain health conditions, such as diabetes, prediabetes, and heart disease.”

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The Australian website healthdirect.gov.au says:

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“Fat gets stored when you consume too many calories and have too little physical activity. Some people tend to store fat around their belly rather than on the hips because of their genes.

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“In men, age and genetics also play a role in developing visceral fat. Drinking alcohol can also lead to more belly fat in men.”

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So, there you have it. Visceral fat is my nemesis, blubberis non grata, my flabby foe, my enemy and I have declared war! (That’s more like it – Ed). Despite being in the doldrums I have to continue my long walks, limited alcohol and restricted food intake.

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I will soon need to take up a regular sport and I was thinking about padel. As a teenager I played quite a bit of tennis which means I probably will only be a bit crap at padel rather than totally crap. I will let you know how I get on.

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One part of my programme that I have yet to include is taking a course of Ozempic, a weekly injection that helps lower blood sugar by helping the pancreas make more insulin.?It is used to treat type 2 diabetes and some physicians prescribe it to be used for weight loss. Due to its popularity supplies are in short supply so that will have to go on the back burner for the moment.

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To enquire about the highly recommended Emsculpt Neo machine (as used by Kim Kardashian and Jim Delbridge!!) and the BTL Emsella chair, visit www.guernseyskinandbeauty.com ??