Day 19
Up at 4.40am and left for Paris on the Eurostar after a hearty breakfast. Getting used to not having bread although still adore the smell of it. I wanted to see as much as I possibly could in the day I had here so I took a bus tour to orientate myself with the city and then walked miles in the galleries and cathedrals. I had to get my exercise steps up if I am to stay on target so took the challenge to walk to the top of the Eiffel tower. Lucky I did as two ticket offices were closed and the queues were completely backed up on this hot Parisian morning. There were only a few silly souls who were prepared to try the steps. I found out an interesting thing about myself as I kept climbing to an uncomfortable height: my body produces unnerving tingling sensations and I felt like sitting down and hugging the inner wall – but I didn’t come this far to chicken out. (674 steps!)
I finally reached the second platform and thankfully that’s where the stairs ended. My face glowing over the city like a beacon as I snapped a photo to prove that I had actually made it.
The photo I didn’t take was of the ice-cream I had when I reached the bottom. It is my first deviation since beginning the programme. Funny, it didn’t taste as good as I had expected. A record 32100 steps today!!
Day 20
Really tired today and have a headache. This is a combination of arriving back to London in the wee small hours and my poor body systems in shock. Had a lazy day but still went down to the gym for a light workout. I thought a sneak look at the scales would make me feel better but I am gutted as the reading was up…! I only had one ice-cream! Maybe it was the aroma of French-baked bread in the air in Paris… Feel worse now, depressed, all that hard work? I would normally go and blow it completely… at least that might help my headache. I didn’t this time and for many reasons, one being I am writing this and have to stay focused!!
The educational session today was an in-depth look at the complicated procedures the body has to go through to disengage all the mechanisms and supporting structures to the thousands of fat cells I am trying to off-load. Told sternly that it had taken years of scoffing to get to this size we were lucky it takes such a short time for the body to adjust back to a svelte shape. The hardest part, and why so many people fail is, when it comes to weight loss, patience really is a virtue. I want it yesterday!
Day 21
Feeling more positive today. Up at the crack of dawn and went for a run around Kensington gardens and Hyde Park with Anne. (Such a beautiful area.) We had to walk up and down all the escalators and, as unpleasant as the tube can be, it is a great cross-country exercise course given some imagination.
Back for brunch: eggs, tomato’s, tofu, mushrooms courgette and peppers. If I stand up too quickly now my pants fall down, yeah!! To protect my dignity Anne got out her sewing machine and took in some seams.
Down to the gym in the evening for a back, shoulders and ab work out with 30 min cardio. (22113 steps today)
Day 22
Off to Spain on Sunday so going hard out in the gym to get some credit points up. I am being encouraged to try some classes to keep the body on edge. With, “if you do the same you stay the same” ringing in my ears I try a spin class. I enjoyed it although the seats certainly weren’t made for comfort.
I was allowed to have low fat oven chips today with a large colourful mixed salad. Ideally you can dip them in a pot of boiling water to remove extra fats and then crisp up in the oven – a bit like mini-roasties! They tasted great. I am learning how to be aware of the food I eat and the marketing influences that go along with our choices. A lot of the old favourites can still be had – just modified and, as with exercise, lots of variation.
