An update on my fitness regime

I thought it was about time I gave you an update on my fitness regime.

An earlier blog set out all sorts of resolutions for losing weight and getting fitter, having more energy etc, and I bet you all thought I'd given up didn't you, because it had all gone quiet?

As some of you know, I've tried loads of diets in the past. Old fashioned calorie counting (mathematically beyond me after a while and sooo boring) , diet shakes and soups (expensive and a waste of time), Weight Watchers (OK, apart from the collection of permanently lardy and weight obsessed women who go and their blinkered faith in weight watchers soup to help them lose weight - of course it doesn't, because you are so bloody hungry afterwards you eat biscuits!), Atkins (nice lots of protein but hardens your arteries) and detox programmes (disgusting food). None of it has really worked, and none of it has had a long term effect. So this time, I've just cut down, cut out the obvious bad guys (pasta, bread, fried food, fat itself and sugar), eaten more salad, fruit and lean meat and drunk loads of water. So far, together with my little quack herbal supplements (see below), it seems to be working.

Because, ye of little faith, as of last Sunday morning the bathroom scales tell me that in total over the past three weeks I have lost about 10lb in weight. The equivalent of 20 blocks of butter! Come on, that deserves a standing ovation, because it's a bloody good achievement and far more than I have managed at any diet regime whatsoever over the past few years. I am, as of today, feeling slightly smug and pleased with myself.

I think it's a combination of a few things. Smaller portions, no snacking, no alcohol from Sunday to Thursday night, minimal chocolate (I have had one Twirl bar in the last three weeks which has required an incredible effort of will, and nothing else chocolatey at all), no other treats and a bit more physical activity. The Zumba game for the Wii is great fun, and I have been back to the gym (can't afford to do that too often though). I have also been using the herbal appetite suppressants I blogged about a while back, and something called Colon Cleanse (I'm sure I don't have to go into detail about what it does, but apparently Cheryl Cole lost three stone using it, so it must be OK).

So feeling buoyed up by my success, I'm going to keep going. I have a goal weight in sight, and I intend to reach it by the time I go away in the summer. I know it will get harder, but I am more determined this time than I have ever been.

The trouble is, after a few weeks boredom tends to set in and that's when it is easy to stray. So it's probably a good job I am also skint, because that means I can't afford to go to Cafe Nero in the morning and buy a capucino and pain au chocolat, and I make do with a bowl of cereal at the office instead. Lunch is packed up the night before and taken to work, so no temptation to go to Maccie D's, and dinner is good quality protein and nice veg.

I'll keep you posted over the next few weeks, but super model status, here I come!