Day 14 - Another weigh - don't try so hard

My second weight day on day 14 of the diet. Nervous, you bet your life I was! I am feeling great and managing so well but I am not sure how I would feel if it was for nothing.

Wow, I was not expecting such a great loss in my second week, nearly 10 lb, 9.9 to be precise. I am on cloud nine with my progress as this is a total loss of 1st 6 lb, nearly one and a half stone in two weeks....amazing. I feel GREAT!!!

A great song from the great Queen. Supportive and comforting and yet inspiring you to succeed but not to worry about trying too hard. In fact relax and do you best. Which is precisely what I am doing on this mission to change my life.

Title: Don't try so hard

Artist: Queen

Album: Innuendo

Year: 1991

If your searching out for something

Don’t try so hard

If your feeling kinda nothing

Don’t try so hard

When your problems seem like mountains

You feel the need to find some answers

You can leave it for another day

Don’t try so hard

But if you fall and take a tumble it wont be far

If you fail you mustn’t grumble

Thank your lucky stars

Just savour every mouthful
And treasure every moment

When the storms are raging round you

Stay right where you are

Day 10 - for the rest of my life

Going well and enjoying it all.

A tune from Mr. Collins (Genesis). These words, are I am sure, are about a relationship but they work well as an inspiration for us all to look at our lives and make the best of it, focus on the things that are important, as once it's gone, it's gone....nice sentiment

Title: All of my life
Artist: Phil Collins

Album: But seriously

Year: 1989

All of my life, I've been looking

But it's hard to find the way

Reaching past the goal in front of me

While what's important just slips away

It doesn't come back but I'll be looking

All of my life

Day 9 - no snack attack

Feeling good and managing well on the food front. Water intake still good.

Went to the pub tonight and drank fizzy water. No issue other than I got the most horrendous stitch for some reason.

Another day...no food...keeping it going

A topical, great bit of word play from the ex 10CC duo, Godley and Creme. This is just a snap shot from the whole song, but I think you can get the drift here.....


Title: Snack attac
Artist: Godley & Creme
Album: Ismism
Year: 1981


Gimme sausage, egg and beans and chips
Milkshakes, clambakes, fondue & dips
And sauces, horses, 17 courses
Of barbequed beef with asparagus tips
Rashers of bacon, bagels and lox
And tandoori prawns and a box of chocs
Spaghetti with mussels, palma hams
And deep frozen waffles with syrup & jams
My willpower's gone I'm down on my knees
Praying to the God of cottage cheese
It's no good trying I'll never beat it
`cos if it moves I'll eat it
So undo my trousers, let out the slack
Who cares it's a snack attack
It's a snack attack

Day 8 - have you seen the little piggies...

I was quite tired today late afternoon and felt a little down. Still, after my evening walk I perked up and enjoyed my evening soup and drink.

Tough day, but I got through it to diet another day.

No little piggies


A bit of tongue in cheek here with a funny little ditty by George Harrison. Although it is a social commentary song about money grabbing folk the words work in the 'eating context' too. Not a great graphic for the album cover on this one however! Enjoy....


Title: Piggies
Artist: George Harrison
Album: White Album (Beatles)
Year: 1968

Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in.


Have you seen the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts to play around in.


In their styes with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking.


Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.

Day 7 - A weigh off my mind - the weigh day!

Today is my first weekly weigh day and I am nervous about it. I am now 'happily' drinking well in excess of 4 litres of water a day and going to the loo about 1,000 times to boot.

Other than this I am feeling upbeat and generally happy with no major hunger pangs, in fact I feel quite bloated, probably due to the water intake.

My session results weighed in at a loss for the week of 10.4 pounds! Fantastic, what a boost for my ego and motivation.

A song from one of the best voices and guitarsts from the UK blues scene, Peter Green. After Fleetwood Mac he left the music scene for a while but came back with some haunting music and georgeous words. Look at this....it is fantastic poetry


Title: In the skies
Artist: Peter Green
Album: In the skies
Year: 1978

Oh, there’s a way to keep the dark from the light
And there’s a way to take the cold out of the night
And when I see it’s glow
The sun and moon are shadowed
By the everlasting day

When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive

There’s a place where rivers flow in the street
Where fruit and healing leaves are seen on a tree
Where emerald walls shine clear
And golden streets run far and near
Behind the gates where his angels names appear

When I reach up my hand
To the loving son of man
The bread of life will keep my soul alive

And he will wipe away the tears from our eyes
As we watch this old world fade when it dies
And a new one shall come
And it will be heaven
And it’s waiting for us there in the skies

Day 6 - no self control?

No self control? Not me. I have been able to manage well today on both the food front and the water front. I didn't particularly feel hungry and managed over SEVEN litres of water across the day. Something two or three days ago I would have thought impossible.

Tomorrow is a big day as it is my first weekly weigh in. Fingers crossed for a good result.

Today's lyric is again by one of my favourite artists, Peter Gabriel, and this is one of his best from his third solo album. The lyric just seems very appropriate just now! Hope I can maintain my self control......


Title: No self control
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Album: Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt)
Year : 1980

Got to get some food
I'm so hungry all the time
I don't know how to stop
I don't know how to stop

Got to get some sleep
I'm so nervous in the night
I don't know how to stop
No, I don't know how to stop
I don't know how to stop
I don't know how to stop

Got to pick up the phone
I will call any number
I will talk to anyone
I know I'm gone too far
Much too far I gone this time
And I don't want to think what I've done
I don't know how to stop
No, I don't know how to stop

There are always hidden silences
Waiting behind the chair
They come out when the coast is clear
They eat anything that moves
I go shaky at the knees
Lights go out, stars come down
Like a swarm of bees

No self-control
No self-control
No self-control

Day 5 - reminding myself about the goal

Today someone said they thought I had lost weight already, but I didn't flatter myself too much with this as I think they were trying to be kind, but nice nonetheless!

Day 5 without any solid food and I think it might even be getting a little easier. It helps being at work and busy; I was too much at a loose end over the week end with Lesley (that's 'er indoors) being away too. Starting to come to terms with the 'water torture' and finding the 4 litres manageable now. Have felt a little tired for the last couple of days around 4 pm, maybe a little more water will help!

I am looking forward to letting Lesley know how I am getting on tonight, when she is back.

Today's lyric is from Paul Young. I started to enjoy his music because his voice reminded me so much of Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company) who I had long admired as one of rock's best vocalists. A great voice, a lovely song and a lyric which totally applies to me. I use it today as a boost and a reminder for me.

Title: Everything must change
Artist: Paul Young
Album: The Secret of Association
Year: 1985

I was never one to back out of an argument and say I was wrong
Even when I'd seen the other side, I'd hide my foolishness and carry on
But still I'd be embarrassed 'cause they'd see what happened and the'd play along
Until I backed myself into a corner, I would only realize when they had gone

And like a dream a life, a reason - everything must change
Every, everything, everything must change
And like a world this earth and seasons - everything must change
Every, everything, everything must change

Day 4 - keep smiling

The sheer lack of solid food is starting to prey on my mind. Also, my skin feels very itchy (maybe this is due to my post holiday tan recovering?), which does not add to my positive state of mind. I am committed to staying calm, collected and focused.

Also, with Lesley still away on holiday I am alone and don't have anyone to share my feelings with.

I am also really fed up with going to the toilet about 20 times a day. I was told yesetdray this will improve over the next few days and also ketosis will start to occur which should also improve my feeling of wellbeing. Just as well as I could do with a boost.

Today's lyric is from probably my favourite artist, Cat Stevens. I can relate to many of his songs and this one is nice tune althouth I am not to sure who or what it is about. Still it talks about wanting to live and that is very true for me....


Title: Northern Wind
Artist: Cat Stevens
Album: New Masters
Year: 1967

There is a wind, my Billy, and it's awful strong
Come for you, and anyone who's helped you along.

But I want to live, live, live and let the stars shine brigh
yes, I want to live, live, live and let it on alright

And when that bird sings from over that silver wall
I don't want to fight it, Billy, 'cause i want to go

Day 3 - My first weight check

I went for my first weight check today at the 'clinic' and wondered why I was checking so soon? First step was to go to the toilet first, of course, having already had my first litre of water of the day.

Anyway, amazed as I was, I have lost just over 5 pounds already in just two days. So no reason to have the blues as things are going well and I feel great!

Talking of the blues, I love blues music and this great tune by Big Bill is a cracking little number for anyone around my sort of age who is maybe beginning to feel old. I find this song inspiring as it reminds me not to feel old before my time and it is of course, great music.

Title: Getting older every day
Artist: Big Bill Broonzy
Album: String Dazzlers: Great Blues Guitarists
Year: 1940

You say you're gettin' old, Lord older every day
You say you're gettin' old, yeah you say you're gettin' older every day
Now you ain't but fifty, ooh Lord boy you shouldn't feel that way

Now when you get so old, you can't work at no mill
Yeah when you get so old, Lord boy you can't work at no mill
Now don't you make no date, ooh Lord buddy that you can't fill

Now if your luck don't change, boy don't you be sad
Yeah if your luck don't change, now buddy don't you be sad
Now you really gotta learn Lord to take the good now with the bad

Now when you get old, and your good girl don't want you around
Ooh Lord when you get old, and your good girl don't want you around
Now you know you done run out of commission, ooh boy I declare you are poorhouse bound

Day 2 - Keeping the faith

Got up early today (no booze the previous night, so had a strange wide awake feeling...wierd). Got into the strawberry shake and started the water torture with my first litre of the day.

Went to an all day meeting and ducked out for a 20 minute walk while everyone else was tucking into food at lunchtime. Everything still going well and taking on board more water. I have not been to the toilet so many times in my life. I am sure my trousers felt a bit looser but this may be just wishful thinking.

Dropped in on the company cricket match this evening, having no problem resisting the booze on offer....mainly because facing more drink was beyond me! However, things got a little mouth watering when the BBQ started up but I resisted....just. Had another drop of water (well a pint or so) and went home to enjoy my final two food packs of the day and bury myself in some TV and finishing the book I am reading.

Book - Just finishing Ben Elton's "Chart Throb" a micky-take on reality pop programs and it is very real and very funny. Written in the classic Elton style (a bit like reading a Blackadder episode) with uncanny attention to detail and picking up all the little jargon phrases used in every reality pop program you have ever seen and a few more besides. The characterisations are classic and readily identifiable with TV folk. It also gives a cynical (but probably very accurate) inside view of all the different players in the whole reality TV world, in front as well as behind the camera, picking up on the politics and arrogance of it all. Very entertaining and very funny.

Today's lyric from one of my favourite US artists with a clever, story-telling style of song writing and fitting for today's experience...

Title: Keeping the faith
Artist: Billy Joel
Album: The nylon curtain
Year: 1982

If it seems like I've been lost in let's remember
If you think I'm feeling older and missing my younger days
Oh, then you should have known me much better
Cause my past is something that never got in my way
Oh no

Still I would not be here now if I never had the hunger
And I'm not ashamed to say the wild boys were my friends
Oh
Cause I never felt the desire
'Til their music set me on fire and then I was saved, yeah
That's why I'm keeping the faith
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping the faith

Day 1 - the start if the rest of my life

Begun the program. Basically it is a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) and the four food packs a day I take give me 530 calories. This is only part of the theme, as I must also drink a further 4 litres of water every day. This is a lot of water!

So, here I am having had my third food pack and have managed to do the water, even though it meant going to the loo about 3o times. Just as well they were free when required as holding on would be tricky.

Feeling positive and awaiting for the Ketosis to kick in!

Lyrics from the one and only John Lennon (so the 'John' in this lyric isn't me but suits the theme). This song from his first real solo album which has many great tunes of which this is one.

Title: Hold on
Artist: John Lennon
Album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Year: 1970

Hold on John, John hold on
It's gonna be alright
You gonna win the fight

When you're by yourself
And there's no-one else
You just have yourself
And you tell yourself
Just to hold on

The day before the rest if my life

The final day before D-Day

Back from a break in Spain (and leaving my wife for a few more days) I have had a lovely time eating a drinking in the 'old style' me. I attend my first counelling session this afternoon and get my frst plan for the start if the weight loss program.
And so for the "lyric of the day"...bit of a predictable one here, but a great song from a great album by an artist who was in his prime at this time (and the album after). The words describe what I hope is about to happen to me.....


Title: Changes
Artist: David Bowie
Album: Hunky Dory
Year: 1971

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the stranger)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes (Turn and face the stranger)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

The preparation begins...

Sunday 5th August - Countdown to start of diet 10 days
Watched Man U beat Chelsea in the charity shield on penalties....not a good omen for the start of the footy this year. Mark was not too happy, I told him he should support Newcastle and then he would be used to disappointment by now. The Toon beat Sampdoria 1-0 with a debut goal for Alan Smith in a friendly today....there you go.

Anyway, down the road for my last Sunday night at home having a few beers down the pub for a while. Next Sunday I will be in Spain so that doesn't count :-)

So I told my friends about the diet...results:

"OK I am sure this will be fine for a while"...C....ignore at best

"Yes I understand but you will be back to normal later"....B...don't believe

"Yes we understand and will support you..and want to do this also".....P&J......we shall see

This is going to be hard, especially the social impact and getting support from friends.

I intend to be strong in this diet...whatever they say. In fact it is not simply a diet it is going to be a new way of life.

My final curry for a while at least?

Decided to go along to the Zalshah for what could be my final curry for some time. Barry and Jamyl busy with a large (and very noisy) group of young ladies celebrating a birthday.

Had a couple of Cobra beers (as the Kingfisher was not working apparantly) and order ny Lamb Rezalla, Sadj special salad and a couple of buttered chapatis.

I guess these also don't help on the old diet front!

Enjoyed it and watched Shaun of the Dead which was brilliant. Really got into Simon Pegg over the last couple of weeks with Hot Fuzz, the Big Nothing and now Shaun.

Bye bye bhajis for some time......

The visit to the doctor before the diet begins

Went to see Dr. J-V to get his sign off that he was happy for me to go on the diet. Cost me £38 for the signature and taking my blood pressure, I should be a doctor!

He mentioned he knew a couple of friends wh had used it and had worked well. His concern was that I needed to make a change for good otherwise the weight would just return. I know he is right, the issue being to reduce my alcohol intake. I am sure this would be a good thing for my health anyway.

Told J-V I was going to start on the 15th August, after my holiday. Guess this gives me a chance to get used to the idea!

Decided to have a little 'look' at the weight on the scales. Got the fright of my life, somewhere between 18 3/4 and 19 stone! More than 3/4 stone heavier than I have ever been...feeling depressed but glad I have decided to do something about it.

Make the best of the next 10 days or so, it's going to get tough soon....go to the pub!