Day 2 - The Body Holiday - Le Sport

Well, it's day two and I'm writing this sitting in bed (my body clock's out and its only 6 am here). Yesterday turned out pretty eventful.  Not only did I have a nightmare catching my plane, but I didn’t catch my luggage at all!

With all the travelling I've done all over the world that has never happened to me before.  I knew it was too good to be true when that BA Rep who sold me the holiday told me that a 45 minute turnaround was manageable!  I'm planning one hell of a complaint letter to BA for when I get back.

That feeling of dread when you're waiting for your case to come through on the carousel is one I never want to experience ever again!  When it was clear that my case was missing, I ran (well hop skipped really cos I was wearing a rather clingy maxi dress) over to the info desk and the women knew who I was. "Your luggage wasn't on the plane Miss" ... Blimey, “no shit Sherlock!”  I had to fill some forms in and she said that my case would be here the next day.  I also got given £35 to buy emergency toiletries (that doesn't even cover 1 of my face creams!).

Now, for some reason (the reason being that I wanted to use the extra 6kg bag allowance to the full!) I'd actually packed a load of stuff in my hand luggage this time, which I never usually do.  I had all my bikinis - obviously THE most important things when there's a beach involved on a holiday - all 14 of them, one for each day (they weigh a ton by the way, with all the embellishments, sequins and bits and bobs) plus some beach dresses, sarongs and kaftans. 

So I wasn't as distressed as I might have been usually.  I also had a couple of tiny suntan lotions which were small enough not to have been confiscated when I did my second run through passport control, thanks to that stupid air steward.  If that hadn't happened, I'd only have needed to buy deodorant. I had a toothbrush and tiny toothpaste from the plane and obviously my bathroom at the hotel is full of luxury bath and shower creams and potions, so not really the end of the world ... I can't believe I'm saying that!

I trudged out of the airport to get the connection to my hotel.  When I went over to the desk, the girls there knew my luggage hadn't arrived.  I thought that was a bit odd, but someone had told them and they were very sorry for me ... which was nice I guess.  It seems everyone knows everything in the Caribbean!

On the transfer, there was only me and a couple from Texas who also had their luggage missing (though they hadn't come from the same airport) apparently it happens more often than you'd think.  The journey to the hotel was OK. The scenery was amazing and the company was good. It just took longer than I expected at 2 hours and I was feeling a bit frazzled and more than a bit fraught when I got here, what from the hassle at the airport and then no luggage...

When got out of the taxi, there was a lovely little welcome committee waiting for me with a cold flannel and a cocktail (God how I love 5*) and one of the ladies also knew that my luggage was missing.  "Don't worry Miss, it will be here tomorrow and we will take care of everything.  All you have to do is enjoy yourself". That I can do!

So I got exported to my room, which is beautiful by the way, and low and behold, was greeted by a fabulous display of exotic flowers, basket of fruit, a bottle of champagne and a tea shirt as a thank you for returning.  Yay! Now that really did make everything OK and certainly made me instantly forget my woes (well nearly).

I promptly unpacked my little case, emptying all my bikinis into a draw (I took a picture of that one cos it made me laugh – they filled a mahoooosive drawer) unpacked the sarongs, beach dresses and kaftans, did a quick change into a fab leopard bikini and matching kaftan and went off to explore - well, really I went off in search of cold champagne!  Priorities.  It's important in times like these to get your priorities right.

Since I was here last time, they've done a massive refurb on the place and it really is beautiful. They've done an amazing job ... Check it out is called Le Sport and is also known as The Body Holiday.  It really is an amazing place.  Absolutely stunning.

So I found the shop, bought some more suntan lotion and deodorant and then headed off to the bar.  When I'd order me champers and taken a huge breath in and out (saying "and relax" to myself) one of the spa therapists that I was friendly with last year and have kept in contact with spotted me and ran over for a hug.  We had a lovely little catch up and arranged to have lunch today.  Then one of the many fitness instructors came over for a chat and I said to him that I recognised one of the women at the bar from last year, so he grabbed me by the hand and took me over to her.  Turns out I do know her from latest year, her name is Julie and we arranged to meet up later.

It was The Manager's Cocktail Party last night which is hosted up at the spa which is totally stunning at night when it's all lit up, it really is beautiful and I told Julie that I wasn't sure I could attend as my luggage hadn't come and I really only had beach dresses which I didn't think would be appropriate.  I said that I'd either meet her at 7.00 pm if I could or at 8.00 pm for dinner. It was 6.00 pm at this point.

She headed off; I finished my third glass of champers and thought I'd better do the same.  I got back to the room and had a good look through the few clothes I did have and found a rather beautiful maxi leopard (you may have guessed that I love leopard print by now) beach dress which is heavily beaded around the neck and thought "perfect". Unfortunately, as it is a beach dress, it's see through.  However, as luck would have it (by a complete fluke actually) I'd packed a black and a nude slip in with the beach stuff and when I tried them on, the black one looked perfect under the dress!  Yay!

You'll never know quite how pleased with myself I was at that moment ... I'm a bloody genius sometimes, even though I say so myself!  I darted into the shower, remembering to keep me face and hair out of it, I really don't have the equipment I need to deal with this amount of hair until my case comes as my hair's very long and blonde if you didn't know and can be a bit unruly without the right products and tools.  I also didn't have any makeup with me apart from powder and lip-gloss so I didn't want to get my face wet and my mascara or run!

I've gotta be honest here, considering my makeup was on for over 24 hours in a number of different atmospheres ie UK early morning, airport, 2 planes, air conditioned taxi and Caribbean humidity, my makeup really stood up to the challenge.  In case you're wondering which miracle products I used ... Smashbox primer, Estée Lauder double wear foundation, Lancôme's Deficils mascara and Lancôme blusher.  True hero products!

I jumped out of the shower, used the hotel's lovely body cream, patted down my face to get rid of shine, cleaned teeth, whacked on some lip-gloss, threw my dress on, gave my hair a quick finger comb (the curls of the morning when I set out where rather nice waves by now) gave myself the once over in the full length mirror (thinking "not too shabby coming from a standing start") and headed off for cocktails!

I had a really lovely night. I met some wonderful people (there are lots of singles here) and also bumped into a few who were here last year too which was nice.  We had cocktails and canapés (actually, I just had champagne and canapés, and then wandered down to dinner at 8.00 pm.   By 9.30, I was starting to feel a little worse for wear (well I had been up for 26 hours by then) and was starting to get a little squiffy from the alcohol, so said my good nights and headed off to bed, took my makeup off, cleaned my teeth and literally fell in to bed and fast asleep.

I woke up, wide wake at 5.30 am, that’s 10.30 am at home, so thought I'd catch up on my blog. So, what's on the agenda today? Well, I don't think I'll have breakfast as I've been eating the fruit from the fruit basket while I've been doing this, so I'll head off for my first spa session at 9.00 am, which happens to be a full body massage ... Nice way to start your first full day on holiday.  Then I'll plonk on the beach, do a bit of reading, may do a bit of snorkelling/swimming and may even do yoga at tea time (provided my case has arrived which has my workout stuff in it). Second thoughts, the chance of me doing yoga when I come off the beach with I could be at a beautiful bar drinking champagne ... The yoga is never gonna win that battle!

Right lovelies, I'm off.  More tomorrow so don't forget to tune in.  Until then, be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Day 1 - The Journey

Well you couldn't expect it to go smoothly could you?  Remember last holiday, my case zip broke when I was lifting it into the taxi?  Well you'll love this one...

When I booked the holiday, I was really dubious because there was only a 45 minute turnaround between landing at Gatwick airport to transferring out to St Lucia.  Usually when I have to do a long haul journey like that, I don't leave anything to chance and go down to London the day before.  However the very 'helpful' BA representative persuaded me that it would be fine and I'd have plenty of time to make the transfer otherwise they wouldn't be able to sell it ... Their computers would say 'No'.

So against my better judgement (and with the thought of saving the hotel fee not to mention the duty free saving ... I can easily spend upwards of £300 in duty free) I decided to go with it.  Mistake, HUGE mistake ... I bloody knew it would be.

Well, the taxi picked me up on time (5am), so far so good.  My beautiful new leopard print suitcases were immaculately packed and stored safely in the trunk of the car. I caught my flight to London easily, having had plenty of time to do a modest duty free shop ... That's when the fun started.

As I tend travel on my own I'm always a little nervous, even more so since I spent two hours one time being grilled by immigration officers after coming back from Dominican Republic.  That really spooked me, not that I'd done anything wrong you understand ... the immigration officers just thought I looked a bit 'guilty' ... I told them that's just the way my face looks and it's from years of having a Victorian style old school Methodist mother and years of Catholic guilt!  So, consequently I always make sure that I abide by the rules ... Suitcases weigh the right amount (usually), liquids in my hand luggage are the correct weight and in a specially designed plastic bag, all paperwork is in order, I arrive at least an hour before I have to etc etc.

Trying to be super efficient on this trip and knowing that my turnaround time was so quick, I booked a seat on the internal flight that was right next to the door so that I could just grab my stuff when we landed and leg it.  I told the air stewards that I needed a quick dart and they were very sympathetic and very helpful (or so I thought).

Now you've gotta remember here that I was already in a bit of a blind panic ... I'm such a control freak so don't always handle personal things (work is a different issue) as calmly as I could, especially when I'm on my own.  The stewards said that I had plenty of time and I  wouldn't need to go through customs again, I just needed to go to 'connections' when I got off the plane.

When the doors were opened, one steward then told me, "Oh you need to get on that bus ... There's a bus that's going to take everyone to the terminal.  You need to get on that"  I said, “Are you sure?”  She said, “Yes, definitely”

Following her instructions, I did exactly as she said (I've got to be honest, like I said, I was in a mild state of panic and didn't look at any signs ... well you’re supposed to trust air stewards!) and went with everyone else onto the bus. 

Biggest mistake EVER!  When I got off the bus and walked into the terminal I recognised it instantly ... ‘the luggage terminal’ and there's only one way out ... Completely Out ie have to go back through passport control to get back in!

In a blind panic, I ran to an attendant and said, "OMG help me, I'm due on a flight in 35 minutes and I need to get back to where I've come from!" His answer, "Tough love, the only way you're going is out!"

I thought I was going to faint.  I literally ran out through customs, dived in the lift (good job I knew where I was going) and got back in the queue to go back in though passport control.  Now, what I'd forgotten is that I had bought some bottles of suntan lotion, some perfume and a couple of other liquid bits when I was at the other airport (obviously not thinking I'd need to go through passport control again) and left them in my mini case and handbag.  It completely slipped my mind that I had them, so I hadn’t put them in the allotted plastic bag.  What did the Control Officers do?  Decided that because I hadn’t done that, they were going to go through EVERYTHING and I mean everything, right down to swabbing my camera and sunglasses for drugs. I don't think I've ever been in such a panic and shock in my life (which obviously made them think I was guilty of something).

They took every little thing out of my case and my bag, running some of it back through the scanners. They wanted to see receipts for everything I'd just bought ... OMG ... I'm writing this on the plane and I've still not calmed down!  When they'd finished, I threw everything back into my case (they confiscated the bigger bottles of stuff) and literally legged it.

As I'm writing this, I still have a nagging feeling that I've left stuff behind ... namely all my bikini bottoms ... Not much I can do about it now ... 37,000 feet in the air! I ran like the clappers (I'm so glad I did all that work in the gym now) and when I finally got to the gate just as they were about to close it, I was having the biggest hot sweat you ever did see!

I'm starting to calm down a bit now. Actually a drink would probably be a good idea,  however, my IBS has kicked off with a vengeance because of the stress of it all so I don't think that's a good idea!  I'm also really hungry, but don't want to risk eating anything in case my belly expands to the size of an 8 month pregnant woman!

Right, I'm off to watch a film and see if I can relax. Blimey, all that excitement and I haven't even got there yet!  More tomorrow lovelies, until then, be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jo

Good to be Back!

Hello lovelies!  Have you missed me?  I’ve missed you.

I can’t believe that I’ve had over 350 hits since I’ve been gone and I didn’t even post anything new!  Happy days.  Thank you.

Well, I had a wonderful holiday and for the first 5 days or so I wrote blog content every day.  I started doing it in the morning because I was still suffering from jet lag a bit and tended to wake up about 5.30 am.  However, as the week(s) wore on, I got more and lax ... sorry!  I’ll start posting them tomorrow ... they start with a rather exiting (and not in a good way) trauma at the airport on the way there ... did you really expect it to go smoothly?  But I’m happy to say that things settled down nicely towards the end of the first week, so literally, there wasn’t much to write that wouldn’t have just been repeating myself after that.

The Body Holiday - Le Sport - St Lucia

On the weight thing ... 4lbs is what I put on and I definitely can’t say that was through food ... I was really good and stuck to mostly protein with very (and I mean very) little carbs.  I didn’t do deserts either ... the only bit of sweet stuff I had was the odd homemade ice cream on the beach during the afternoon (very yum I must say ... cherry, strawberry, passion fruit – that was my fav).  So what put the weight on then?  Yep, you guessed ... CHAMPAGNE!  Woooohoooooo!  I was literally never seen without either a ‘Pick me Up’, a very aptly named champagne cocktail, or a strawberry daiquiri in my hand... and I have the pictures to prove it.  I counted one day how many ‘pick me ups’ I’d had that day and I think it was about 12. So besides the calories contained in the champagne I was also consuming the sticky, sugary loveliness they put in with the champagne too!

Calorie wise ... Ouch.  I calculated yesterday how many calories I must have been drinking each day and it couldn’t have been less than 1,200!  I think I have severely pickled liver now.  I’ve just been to the supermarket and bought a load of healthy foodage and I’m off to the gym in a bit.  I was quite determined to do some exercise when I got to the resort (after all it is called Le Sport and it does have a full timetable of wonderful activities each day) but I conveniently forgot my trainers!  I think it must have been a subconscious move.  I was told by a number of the fitness instructors that there were enough activities I could take part in that didn’t require trainers eg beach fitness (*shudder*) but I didn’t take them up on it.  Seemed far too much like hard work.

Still it could have been worse, weigh gain wise.  I could have really gone overboard with the food and put on at least twice that.  Ho hum.  No alcohol again for me for a while ... feel a bit shaky today, I don’t know if it’s jet lag or alcohol withdrawal!

I met some wonderful people on this trip, you’ll hear more about them when I start posting my daily diary (I’ll post lots of pictures of the resort too so that you can see how wonderful it is) and I was really sad to leave.  I’ll definitely be going back, I can highly recommend it.

So what have I been up to since I got back?  Well, not having any sleep on the plane, I slept 12 hours last night and woke up seriously groggy.  I’ve been trying to get all my washing done, but my heating and hot water has packed in ... lovely ... just what you need when you get back from holiday (I can just about get enough hot water for a shower then it shuts off ... that God for small mercies).  I’ve had my nails, eyebrows and pedicure done this morning (gotta get your priorities right), had a phone interview, cleaned the house and now I really must get off to the gym ... can’t put it off any longer!

Tune in tomorrow lovelies to hear about my made journey.  Until then, have a wonderful Friday and be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

End of my Dukan Diet (Yay!)

Hello lovelies. Well this may be my last blog before my jolly holidays ( I couldn't go away without giving you a final update on my dieting. Well, today (although I do have another two days to go, I've decided to finish the Grand Dukan Diet. I've had enough now.  I think I've been incredibly good.  I met another old friend on Friday night and didn't drink ...again! She's Irish and thought I'd completely lost the plot.  I think this diet is the first time I've ever not drunk whenever I felt like.  I really have done it religiously and can honestly say that I haven't cheated once. If you'e gonna do something, might as well do it properly. 

So, now much have I lost? In total, I've lost 8lbs ... Not too shabby for two weeks.  The reason why I've ended it today is, apart from the almost overwhelming cravings for carbs, I have this God awful taste permanently in the back of my throat.  It was worse than ever this morning ... My coffee tasted awful, so when that happens, enough is enough.  As you know, I love strong black fresh coffee so when a diet starts messing with that, it's definitely time to quit.  I can give up wine (never thought I'd hear myself saying that), chocolate, cakes, crisps etc but coffee? Nope. Never. That's just never gonna happen so it's definitely time to re-introduce carbs. 

As I've done incredibly well (well I think so!) I don't want to ruin all my good, hard work so although I'm back on the carbs, I'm determined to make sure that they're good, soluble carbs ie porridge and sweet potato plus veg and fruit.  I know that's much healthier than what I've been doing anyway.  Hopefully if I stick to those and avoid bread, pasta, chocolate etc it won't have any adverse effect on my weight.

Would I do this diet again?  Hmmmm not sure.  I definitely wouldn't do it for as long as its been quite torturous, maybe a max of 5 days, however, I got the results I wanted. I've been going to the gym loads while I've been dieting and been doing a lot of weights, so with the almost pure protein diet, my muscles have shaped up very nicely and I'm happy to say that I now have my very pronounced abs back (yay - bikini here I come) and my body is looking more toned that it has done for a couple of years ... I guess that's another perk of a protein rich diet.

Another positive that I've think I've mentioned before is that it's shown me that I really done need all the carbs that I was having before. Therefore, I will in future definitely think more about he carbs I'm eating. I remember watching a show about diets once when the presenter went over to LA to have a training session with a world renowned fitness instructor to the stars who on, meeting the presenter, immediately told her that she had 'Carb Face'!  Apparently our faces (and everything else) looks puffy when we've had too many carbs!  That's why those A-listers all look so lean ... Lots of exercise and a high protein, low carb diet. Makes perfect sense I guess.

Right lovelies, another busy day today (I'm happy to say that the sun is shining in my part of the world today and it looks like it maybe getting warmer!) packing, shopping, gym, minx ... Have a wonderful day whatever you're up to. Until next time, be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Men's Bits & Bobs

Hello lovelies, well I don’t know what the weather’s like in your part of the world but I’m pleased to say that it’s beautiful here in my little spot of England.  Don’t know how warm it is though ... I’m guessing not very warm at all!

So, diet update.  I’ve only lost another ½ lb but I’m still doing it!  I must admit I struggled a bit last night and this morning with my carb cravings.  I walked into my local supermarket yesterday (I seem to be going on a daily basis at the moment, constantly looking for things that might inspire me) when I was bombarded, even before I got through the mail door, with muffins.  Gorgeous, juicy, tasty, carby, fatty, sugary muffins ... I could even smell them (although that might have been my imagination)! 

Now, like I’ve said before I don’t usually crave stuff like that (remember it was donuts the other day) I’d usually prefer crisps (chips for my American readers) but as I’m eating no carbs, no sugar and no fat ... that’s obviously what my body wants! Ooohhh it’s a tough gig.  However, as I’m still losing, I’m loathed to give it up now, especially as I only have another 6 days to go.  OK, I’ve more than lost the weight I wanted to, but there’s just something that drives you on ... Oh that’ll be the thought of being in a bikini in less than a week!

The one saving grace that I’ve come across during this diet is Lemon Cheesecake no fat yoghurt by Muller Light.  OMG they’re fabulous and I’m sure I would have folded long before now if it weren’t for those little pots of loveliness.  They’re decidedly yum.  My favourite pie is Lemon Meringue and I’ve gotta tell you that these yoghurts are as close as you’re ever gonna get to that scrumy yummy delicacy.  In fact, if I was given one in a fancy glass as a desert after dinner in a nice restaurant, I really wouldn’t turn my nose up.  I love lemon mousse too and these taste just like that but without the fat and the calories (101 in case you were wondering).

OK so, on to other things ... well, related things really.  I just had to mention this ... as I’ve been in the gym much more than I usually would over the last 6 weeks, I seem to have noticed a particular phenomenon that I either I haven’t noticed before, either that or I’d erased it from my memory ... Men adjusting themselves (down there!).

What is it with men when they get into workout gear that makes them have the need to constantly adjust their bits and bobs????? Now, I must point out here that I really don’t go round looking for it, I honestly don’t (although it could be a sub-conscious thing ... but if it was, I’m sure I’d see it outside the gym too but I don’t) I just seem to see it constantly in the gym and I’ve gotta be honest, it makes me cringe a bit, considering they then go on to handle the machines and weights that potentially I’m gonna use right after them.

The extreme example that lead me to mention this was, yesterday I was on the treadmill when this little stocky guy (read short), shaved head, tonnes of tattoo’s walks towards me (towards the treadmills) with his hands down his shorts adjusting himself.  He didn’t give a fig who saw him with both hands down the front of his.  He then proceeded to get on to the treadmill next to me (he was very small by the way ... in height I mean! ... That’s your dirty minds that is) started the treadmill then continued to put both his hands down his shorts again (God only knows what he was doing) for a good minute or more. Not that I was staring or anything, but you can’t really miss something like that when it’s right next to you.

He then took his hands out of his shorts and started messing with the controls on the treadmill.  OMG vom!  I really thought I was gonna be sick.  I looked at him, mustering my most disgusted face and he just smiled a cocky little smile (to give you the full picture, he had two teeth missing and one was gold).   That was it ... off the treadmill I went and did something else.  I don’t know if it’s the diet or what I’d just witnessed but I was feeling very very sick!

I remember seeing ‘Embarrassing Bodies’ one time (that’s a programme in the UK where people take their embarrassing bodily problems to a team of doctors who diagnose their issues and get them treatment) Dr Christian went to a gym and proceeded to take swab samples off machines and people’s juice bottles (the reusable ones that you take home and refill) and sent them away for analysis.

I remember being thoroughly revolted when they presented the results.  All of the swabs that came back (even those from the juice bottles) showing traces of faeces! Ewwwww – he said that was a combination of people not washing their hands when they’d been to the toilet and blokes fiddling with their bits and not washing their hands afterward!

GROSS!  Sorry if I’ve put you off going to the gym now, however, my advice is the minute you leave the gym you shower thoroughly and make sure you put your clothes straight in the wash.  Also, never use those re-usable bottles without bleaching them every time (you just don’t know what germs you’re picking up at the gym) and make sure you wash your hands after using the toilet (can’t believe that you have to say that) and men ... please don’t mess with your bits in the gym.  If you really have to, turn away and don’t do it in full sight ... no one wants to be seeing that!

I think I may give the gym a miss today after that ... I’ve made myself feel rather sick now! Lol

Right lovelies, that’s me for another day ... enjoy the rest of yours and I’ll see you soon.  Until then, be fabulous.

Lots of love

Jx

Eat Fat - Get Fat!

Well, before I get into my topic for today, I've got to say a HUGE THANK YOU again to all my readers.  Today is a momentous occasion ... I've just got 4000 hits!  Completely amazing ... I'm thrilled.  Thank you.  I now have readers from so many countries that I couldn't possibly list them all!  I can't believe it.

THANK YOU!  Here's to the next 4,000!!!

4000 Hits ... Thank You!

OK still on the diet theme (well it’s more to do with general healthy eating really) I had to tell you about this ... it’s so scary!

I read an article yesterday about the full English breakfast ... it turns out that researchers at Oxford University have found that fat from a meal converts to fatty tissue in just three house after being eaten!  OMG ... devastated!

OMG I could so eat this right now!

An average person can add the equivalent of two to three teaspoons of fat to their waistline in a matter of hours after their meal. The amounts increase in a high fat meal such as the full English (no surprise there then). While it is well known that fatty meals aid weight gain, scientists previously thought that the process was slow. Any excess fat was believed to be removed and stored around the waist, hips and legs, but this research has proved otherwise.

Volunteers were asked to eat foods that contained fatty acids. The scientists then traced the fat as it was first broken down in the gut and then absorbed into the gut wall before being turned into globules which then went into the lymph system and the blood.

Through their experiments, they found that the tissue around the waist caught the fat droplets as the bloody carried them and then incorporated them into the cells for storage to be used for energy when a person is exercising.  Therefore these droplets are only meant to be there short term. 

When we don’t exercise and use up that short term stored energy, it settles and stays there.  In fact, for someone who eats excessively without exercising, that fat then moved to the hips, bottoms and thighs (no sh*t Sherlock!) long-term.

The Professors who conducted the research found that exercise prompts fat cells to release fat that muscles can use. They also discovered fit people find it easier to burn fat.

Right ... I’m off to the gym! See you later ... have a marvelous day lovely people and be fabulous!

Lots of love

Jx

Dukan Diet Update 2

OK ... full diet update.  Friday was a toughie ... as you know I was meeting some school friends and would have dearly loved to join in the wine tasting, but I was exceptionally good (I’ve NEVER done that before ie have the opportunity to drink yummy wine and not ... EVER!) and drank four large glasses of diet coke (which is allowed on the diet) instead of my beloved wine.  If you actually know me, you’ll know how rare that was ... not that I’m an ol’ alchie or anything, but I do like me sparkly stuff!

So the 4 diet cokes, coupled with the large diet coke I had at the pictures earlier in the afternoon, plus the two cups of coffee and 1.5 litres of water I’d drunk throughout the day made me feel very odd.  Friday night I had the worst night’s sleep for ages ... in retrospect, it can’t really have been the food but the amount of caffeine I’d consumed!  My total daily intake of caffeine is usually restricted to 2 large black fresh coffees in the morning ... can’t function without them, but I’d obviously had too much.

Saturday I woke feeling incredibly sick and oddly, incredibly thirsty!  During the whole day I felt really sick, lethargic and thirsty (the thirst didn’t wear off all day, no matter how much I drank) and I proceeded to drink 3 litres of water, 2 coffees, 2 cans of no calorie cream soda!  I don’t think I’ve ever drunk that much in one day in my life!

Sunday, I felt fine.  No massive thirst and I think I actually wasn’t anything like as hungry as I’ve been on previous days (sometimes I wake up with the most horrendous hunger pangs, even if I’ve gone to bed feeling relatively full).

As for the food ... I haven’t cheated once, not once ... I’m on day 7 today and can quite honestly say that I haven’t cheated even slightly and not one thing has passed my lips that’s not on the ‘allowed list’.  I’ve also drunk at least 2 litres of water every day and exercised 5 out of the 7 days.  It would have been 7 but as you’ll recall, I hurt my leg and really didn’t want to do more harm than good by continuing to exercise on it cos it was really painful.  Actually, it’s probably done my body good to have a bit of a break so I’m not beating myself up too much about that. 

So, I started the diet a week ago tomorrow, what’s my total weight loss in the first week?   Well, in total I’ve lost 3.5 lbs (I have fluctuated a bit, up and down during the week which was a bit hard to deal with at times!) which is pretty much what they predict (at 3-7 lbs) for the first week.  I can’t lie, I’ve done other diets where I’ve lost more in the first week, but then again, I’ve practically starved myself on those and can quite honestly say that I haven’t really been hungry on this because you can eat whatever you want from the list whenever you want it, so there’s no need to go hungry. 

The only downside is that every now and again, I do feel a bit sick (a horrible yucky sick feeling) but that passes quite quickly and I seem to be weeing more than I’ve ever done in my life, even though I always drink 2 litres of water each day whether I’m dieting or not.  In the book it says that all the toxins will be being flushed out of my body in the first week, so maybe it’s that!

I do occasionally get the yearning for carbs and where I always previously craved bread when I wanted a carb fix, I’m now craving donuts ... which I don’t think is a good sign because I’ve never been particularly fond of them before.  However, I could quite happily steal one out of a child’s grubby mitt right now I’m so desperate for one ... Even if it was covered in baby spit!  THAT’S how much I want a donut! Lol

So am I gonna stick with it?  Well considering I only have a week to go to my hols, hell yeah I’m gonna stick with it.  Could I do this diet long term?  Nope.  I still think the best way to lose a lot of weight (I only wanted to lose 5lbs ... but quickly!) is the Paul McKenna weight loss programme as it deals with the underlying issues that accompany weight gain (there weren’t any underlying issues with my recent weight gain other than I was a bit greedy last weekend!).  This is just too restrictive for me and I really couldn’t deal with not having carbs long term.  However, it’s been perfect for me for a quick bikini diet and actually, I did need to reduce my carb intake and it’s shown me I can do it and I don't need them as much as I thought I did.

Well, lovelies, busy busy busy as usual.  I’ll keep you updated on the whole diet thing.  Until next time, have a wonderful day and be fabulous.

Lots of love.

Jx