My weight loss diary - Week 1

I can't believe I'm doing this.  I am actually going to share with you my vital statistics.  

I'm 5ft 4" and I weight 12 stone 7lbs.  

Basically that means I'm overweight, very overweight.  

This is something that I have never encountered before having my two younger children.  In my twenties I remained roughly around 8 to 8.5 stone except when pregnant with Samuel.  After Samuel had been born I went back to 8.5 - 9 stone.  

I then got divorced and dropped to 7 stone for a year or so, but gradually as my life settled I went back to 9 stone and fell pregnant with Oliver.

Then I ate too much.  I've never had a sweet tooth, but when Oliver was born I craved sweet things all the time, and I ate them.  I piled on far too much weight and then falling pregnant with Isabella so quickly after meant that I had no time to lose the baby weight and so just simply piled on even more.

This time last year I started a diet and lost just over a stone, I think I got down to 11 stone 4 lbs.  I stopped dieting after my Grandad died in February, but never got back to it and rather than maintaining I chose to comfort eat and the stone and a bit has gone back on.

So, here I am again.  This time determined to succeed and to lose enough weight to feel fitter and healthier.

I'm not sure whether to set an overall goal, or a small goal then work from there?

My way of dieting is calorie counting and lower fat intake.  I am also cutting out bread as this makes me bloat.  I am continuing to eat a balanced diet insofar as meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, and also carbs such as potato, rice and pasta, but I am taking care with portion sizes and weighing my food.  I am reducing alcohol intake and increasing water intake.

I hope to share in my weekly diary one of the healthy meals that I cook.  

Today I've made a quick Cajun Spiced Minestrone Soup.

1. Pour 1L of vegetable stock in a saucepan.  Add 400g of chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil.

2. Add 100g of angel hair spaghetti broken into small pieces and simmer for a few minutes.

3. Add 300g of frozen mixed vegetables, 1/2 teaspoon of cajun seasoning and a teaspoon of basil.

4. Bring back to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are cooked to your liking.  (I like mine a bit on the crunchier side).

This soup contains approx 150 cals per serving, based on the above making 4 portions.