Diet & Fitness 

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Diary of a dieter – week 12

Rachel Roberts weighs in for her last entry

It’s been a nightmare week. Starting a new job, deciding to move home and having a huge tax demand land on my doormat were just a few of the things I had to sort out. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention those three magical letters, PMT.

It could have been a disaster of a diet week too, had I let it. Because I’ve always been an emotional eater, in the past any number of emotions would have sent me running to the sweet shop. Whether I was stressed, happy, sad, lonely or just plain bored, little food treats have always made me feel better. And I have to admit, old habits die hard.

Several times this week, I’ve been tempted to say, ‘Oh sod it, I’m just going to eat what I damn well like!’ The mere thought of unlimited Bounty bars, white chocolate and salt and vinegar crisps has filled me with sheer happiness and made my mouth water.

But deep down, I knew my craving for these foods was just a reaction to all of the stress I was experiencing. I thought about it and then realised that bingeing and putting on more weight would only make me more sad and stressed out in the end.

It’s been the toughest week of my diet so far. The only way to get through it was by taking one hour at a time and trying not to be too hard on myself. The stash of M&S low-fat chocolate mousses and trifles in my fridge played their part too. These kinds of treats really are a dieter’s best friend. Because they are low fat, they are not going to do too much damage, so you can have a comfort fix without feeling horribly guilty.

Another tip to keep you motivated through a tricky time like this is to read other dieter’s success stories in magazines or on websites. I know it sounds corny, but it really works. When you read about Mary from Glasgow who lost 10 stones in a year, it makes you realise that what you’re going through isn’t really that tough and you feel inspired to stick to your eating plan.

Exercise helps too. Admittedly, I ran on the treadmill through gritted teeth a few times this week, but when my endorphin levels soared after my workout I realised that making the effort was worth it. It also got me through another few hours without my buying shares in Cadburys.

Window shopping is another great distraction, although it can do some damage to your credit card. Just looking at all those beautiful clothes that the new, slinky you will be wearing is a great way to keep on track and stay motivated. And it looks like my strategies worked – in the last week of my diet diary, I’ve lost another 2lbs.

Original start weight: 13st 7lbs
End week one weight: 13st 2½lbs
End week two weight: 13st 3½lbs
End week three weight: 12st 11½lbs
End week four weight: 12st 11lbs
End week five weight: 12st 10lbs
End week six weight: 12st 9lbs
End week seven weight: 12st 7½lbs
End week eight weight: 12st 6lbs
End week nine weight: 12st 3½lbs
End week ten weight: 12st 1½lbs
End week eleven weight: 12st ½lbs
End week twelve weight: 11st 12½lbs

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