The Scales Begin To Move Again

Change the way you think before you change the way you eat.

I was going to talk about how challenging this year has been so far. Trapped indoors with snow. Missing birthday celebrations with both friends and family (seems everyone we know is born in the first six weeks of the year). No meals and drinks out. No regular half-term city break. How it feels really difficult to plan anything. But I've decided against it. Of course by not talking about it, I've actually talked about it. The irony isn't lost on me. But I'm not going into details. Instead, I'm going to focus on the positives, because we don't do enough of that. There are people having a far worse time of it than me, after all. My first world problems are inconsequential when compared to many.

Late January has really been the first time I've felt like saying 'stuff it' to the whole Keto way of eating for months. The scales haven't moved much and the beginning of the year (that I'm still not talking about) has been pretty grim. I think people who have weight and health issues have them for a reason and it's rarely physical. I don't think I'd be speaking out of turn when I say that for most people, their relationship with food will be a mental one. 

   

'It's mum's birthday today, let's celebrate with a Chinese take-away.'

'I've had a shocker at work today, I can't be bothered cooking, shall I order a curry?'

'I just don't know what I fancy for tea. Stuff it, let's order a pizza....With chips? Why not.'

I'd imagine most people can relate to one at least of those statements. In fact, there's been a lot of talk of 'cheat days' and 'guilt free indulgence' on social media recently. But it quickly becomes a much bigger problem. For me, at least. The Friday night take-away becoming the Saturday morning Full English becoming the Saturday night drink and kebab, all topped off with a massive Sunday Roast, all the trimmings, extra-thick gravy and a dozen Yorkshire Puddings. We all know this is how it works. Monday, after all is a fresh start.

The question I ask myself is simple. 'Will it make me feel better?'

The answer, shock horror, is simple.

'No. It won't.'

Okay, so we all know it's not that simple. But it's absolutely the reality. I've never eaten a Pizza and Chips with a side of Mozzarella Sticks and Onion Rings and felt good. I can't recall ever starting the weekend with a gallon of ale and a kebab, then waking up Saturday morning, soaking it up with a salad and going for a five mile run. But I have a vivid memory of uttering phrases like 'I can't continue like this' and ' fresh start next week', more times than I can shake a stick at. Whatever that means. A mentality I am still working to change.

Not. This. Time.

Given the absence of a magic wand or genie's lamp, I've decided that I'm going to have to make my own changes. Do things a little differently.

On Thursday I went for a run. Not very far, admitted, but a lap of the local reservoir and it's 'all weather' path. Safe to say it's anything but 'all weather', given the time it took me to wring my socks out, but that's another story. 

They're calling it 'Fitness February'. I'm not into these interestingly named months, if I'm honest. I mean what if I want to be sober in March? Or have a moustache in July? Maybe I want to avoid eating meat in June. Or post a picture of my transformation on a Thursday. It all feels very temporary to me. I'm sometimes a little mean to our friends about new years resolutions (sorry, Elaine) and I don't mean to be. I just think that we should do things when we are ready, not on some arbitrary date decided by an unknown individual, probably for financial gain. Yes, I'm a cynic.

Now here's the thing. I might run tomorrow. I might not. I might run every day for the rest of my natural life, or I may never run ever again. But I will wake up each day and decide. No pressure, no goal to run four times a week. No big push to do a marathon by the time I turn forty. Why? Because the 'big change' mentality hasn't worked for me the last thousand times. Why should it work for me now? I just don't need that pressure in my life. Not. This. Time.

It's the same with food too.

Friday is a pressure point in our house. My first born is a proud and loyal Scout. They have a zoom call at 6pm. My wife works later on Friday as well, so everything kind of happens at once. To make matters a little more challenging, my son takes said zoom call in the kitchen. So that rules out dinner before 7pm. By then I can usually hear my pub shed whispering, clashing with my one meal a day, which I'm becoming increasingly desperate for. Normally, I have a plan for this, a meal that's quick to make and also a favourite, to avoid temptation. But this week, for whatever reason, I hadn't planned anything. By the time we'd spend a good half hour going around in the endless 'what do you want for tea' loop, it felt like the best answer would be to order something. It gets worse too. I've been fancying a Chinese for a while. Not to mention a sweet fix as well.

The old me would struggle to deal with such a Friday. There's no doubt in my mind it would've been a take-away. Probably ordered while my wonderful wife plodged over to the local Asda for dessert. Problem solved.

Not. This. Time.

There was no escaping the take-away. That was a given. But it would be a very Keto friendly chicken kebab. While waiting for aforementioned kebab, I would look for a suitable Chinese recipe, which I would create on Saturday, along with keto cake, thus solving both problems. 

Now I'm not saying I won't have pizza next time, or a full Chinese banquet. Because that feels too permanent. Can you imagine never having a Chinese take-away ever again? Unthinkable. But I can live with not having one this weekend. Probably next weekend too. It's a mentality shift I'm happy with.

What was the title again?

Oh yes, the scales. They say Karma is a bitch. I disagree. I say Karma is brilliant. It seems all that time telling other people that weight loss isn't linear and to stay patient has paid off. Losses in early January were none existent, despite the fact I didn't falter at Christmas. In fact, I've not eaten a non-keto meal since Monday 7th September, according to My Fitness Pal. Anyhow, they're moving again. Fingers crossed, I'll be changing the little 4st down caption on my Instagram profile to 5st down by mid February. I might have a Chinese take-away to celebrate, but then again I might not. I've not given them up, after all.

Good luck for the week ahead!!!

Karl