Thursday, February 24, 2005

Week 7

Hello again. Come to check up on me?

I have to say that this (self-imposed) requirement on me to report my progress every Thursday, if not keeping me on the straight and narrow, is at least keeping me on the slightly-bendy and soon-to-be-slender. This week has been really tough, not least because of eating (and drinking) out twice. I think I've also established - blokes look away now - that the third week out of every four is likely to be particularly disrupted. Although, as one friend enquired, Hormones can't weigh that much can they?

But the knowledge that you, dear reader, would be calling by today spurred me on to face my demons (and turn my back on the choc ices in the freezer). And so I really am happy to say that this week I've lost one pound. It might not be as much as I wanted but it is half a bag of sugar and it does mean I've now got a quarter of my way towards my target, having lost 1½ stone.

Ruth's Weight Loss @ 24 February


Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.

Ogden Nash

Monday, February 21, 2005

The end to all dilemmas

Now I know that many of you will have spent hours pondering on the vexed issue of how many calories you would burn off if attacked by a shark while skin diving. Well ponder no more! This site will tell you. Similarly, should you find yourself harvesting wild rice from a canoe and, say, are of a similar build to myself, I can inform you that you would burn a significant 347 calories in an hour.

Now I know where I went wrong. Instead of learning to play the flute as a child, the trombone should have been my instrument of choice. It burns off 75% more calories!

But there again, the site informs me that I can burn 2,273 calories merely by sleeping for 24 hours. And I can’t eat while asleep. I think I see a niche in the market for a new diet book. A very short diet book – but bound to be profitable I’m sure you’ll agree.

Unfortunately there is no entry for calories burned whilst brilliantly solving the Independent on Sunday’s cryptic crossword. I’ll just have to use “Reclining – reading, writing or talking” as a guide.

And of course, skin diving while being attacked by a shark is a wonderful way to lose weight in more ways than one….

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.
Mark Twain

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Week 6

Good morning one and all. Yet another seven days have passed and I'm happy to announce that I've lost a further 2 lbs, meaning that in the last six weeks I have shed 1 stone 6 lbs in total.

As a new treat for the Pounds for Poverty Graph Fan Club (known as GLADYS for short), I present Ruth's Weekly Weight Loss, The Movie...

Ruth's Animated Weight Loss


I fully expect a last minute Oscar nomination and would welcome any support that you, my reader, can give me in attaining such a just reward.

Now you may be wondering why my weight loss hasn't been greater this week, given my significant success in earlier weeks. Please believe me when I say I don't want to blame anyone. It is irrelevant that my boss generously treated me to a delicious three course calorie-laden lunch in a local French restaurant late last week in celebration(?) of the 3rd anniversary of me taking up my current post. I acknowledge that I was entirely responsible for my own actions and that I didn't need to eat the hollandaise sauce, the French bread or the cheese. So I don't for one moment blame him for scuppering any chance I had of losing a full 3 lbs this week. He may, however, feel it appropriate to examine his own conscience and I merely mention that sabotage is a very ugly word...

P.S. Graph Lovers Anonymous Do Yt Scientifically...

No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good, but all you could do is run for public office.
George Bernard Shaw

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Week 5

And the weight continues to come off - surprisingly fast this week even though I've been eating loads. But I've also been walking a lot, not only to and from work, but also some longer trips at the weekend. I recommend Walking London by Andrew Duncan for some free weekend entertainment. I'm going to see how many of the 30 walks I can do this year.

Does anyone recognise this landmark from my walk a couple of weeks ago?

Tower House


Oh - you want to know how much I've lost? Are you sure? It's rather a lot actually... another FOUR POUNDS! Woo hoo!

Graph for 10 February


I exercise every morning without fail. One eyelid goes up and the other follows.
Pete Postlethwaite

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Week 4

Ruth's diet was going surprisingly well


It's that time again and haven't I felt anxious over the last 18 hours in anticipation?! Well, to put you out of my misery, I can announce that loads of you now owe me money. Hoorah! Another 3 lbs weight off means my first stone has gone. Only 5 to go...

Scales 3 Feb


I'm particularly impressed with myself (oh come on, I'm allowed to be...) as I've been unwell since the weekend and unable to exercise. On Monday, I ate my exercise calories anyway - so went over. But the last two days I've diligently stuck to this week's allocation of 1,493 calories. And those of you suggesting that that might be because I'm cooped up at home with no access to tasty morsels, shame on you!

And not to forget, the weekly graphical evidence. And contrary to e's suggestion, no I can't stop just because the blue line has passed the goal line...

Diet Graph 3 Feb

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Famous for Fifteen Minutes

This is getting scarey. I was busy girding my loins - or whatever you're supposed to do at such a time - in preparation for the publication of our staff newsletter next Monday.

This was going to feature my little adventure in calorie control, bringing it to the attention of the c.450 staff who were yet to be nobbled by me for sponsorship.

But then a charming young man - with whom I will be having words - went and published it this morning! With me all unprepared...

And now they all know the dreadful secret! I wonder if I'll be able to show my face at work again, with everyone but everyone looking at me and whispering to their neighbours:

"See her. The one over there waving her pedometer in the air. I don't know how to tell you this, but... she actually likes Brussels sprouts!!!"

The shame of it...

If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.
Dawn French