Firstly – get your minds out of the gutter. I mean, Puulllleese, as if… and surely (given my oversharing habit) you’d be in the know if it was likely!

Secondly, although I’m not due to post over the weekend, I thought it might be prudent to check-in now that I’m a week into my new healthy-eating-and-exercising-lifestyle (that I’m trying not to call a diet).

After a pre-Christmas consultation with an exercise physiologist, Liz, from Last Chance Training (more on that in a post which will be published next week) I’ve increased my calorie allowance from 1200/day (which was the allocated amount on my weight loss program) to 1400 – 1500 calories. While ‘in the zone’ during the first round of my program last year, I had no trouble staying within the 1200 calories… but less so in the second round. I hope that the higher calorie level will be more sustainable, and this way I can cut it down if (as) I lose more weight.

And, so far so good: I’ve been a bit under the calorie limit on a few days; and I’ve gone over once so far (42 calories over… thanks to 500 calories in wine!).

Food-wise I haven’t eaten anything I’d classify as ‘junk’ food. No chocolates, chips, cakes, biscuits or the like, although I had popcorn for dinner on Friday evening (pre-planned ‘treat’ within my calorie limit).

I’ve breakfasted on my usual toasted poached egg and 97% fat-free bacon sandwich each day. I’ve lunched on either leftover grilled chicken breast or bean salad. And I’ve dined at night on fillet steak / fish / chicken and vegetables (oh… and popcorn once too obviously!). My only snacks (other than the wine!) have been almonds (I count 10 of the damned things out) or skim milk and diet chocolate sachet (Jarrah) before bed.  I’m not an eater of fruit, though probably need to make some effort! I also need to ‘up’ my intake of vegetables a bit.

I’ve exercised the five weekdays as planned, with a mix of cardio and strength… though 3.5 days of cardio and 1.5 of strength (the 0.5 being a circuit class which is a mixture of cardio and strength). I’m not planning anything for the weekend, although MAY go for a walk if the mood takes me.

Other than the slip up with the wine on a weeknight; my only other ‘failing’ this week has been on the (vanilla) diet coke front. I’ve had it each day. In fact, on two days I had 2 x 600ml bottles. It will be something I need to work on as January progresses as it churns up my stomach and makes me feel hungrier than I should. I recall (back in June 2011) discovering that I NEVER felt hungry once I’d cut out diet coke. (A lesson there.)

On the mindset front, I haven’t been too tempted, although I’ve tried not to put myself in temptations’ way – though some is beyond our control. Huge boxes of fund-raising chocolates in every kitchen at work. Social Club chips and the like at work. Passing by the myriad of delicious-smelling fast food places near where I live. The aisles of chips and chocolates near where I buy my soda water at the nearby corner store. But… today I finally went and did a much-overdue grocery shop. I avoided the store which stocks my corn chips and chocolate koalas (though will need to go there tomorrow for some things) and I wasn’t tempted to throw anything into my basket that I shouldn’t. Phew!

So, there you have it. A quick check-in. Finally and better still is that I’ve lost 2.5kg (5.5lbs in 6 days) and am ALMOST back to what I was when I started Christmas holidays (I think I gained 4kgs / 8.8lbs in the 10 days). I’m not actually going to count that 2.5kg towards my 5kg loss goal for January, as it’s just post-Christmas weight which SHOULD have come off quickly. The 5kg goal starts from now. So wish me luck!

Leaving you with a weekend funny