Day 57 (phase 2) - Feeling good

I have been away on a conference with work and have had many comments about my 'change' which have made me feel great, boosted my confidence and have reminded me of the many benefits of getting my life under control.


I have indulged in more food and drink than I should have so my weigh in will be interesting this coming Tuesday. Also, my regular gym exercise has lapsed a bit due to circumstances (me)

Well, what is the bad/good news? I gained 2.6 lb and was told off for letting my exercise regime slip and I know I have been letting the diet slip in one or two small areas. Going into week 8, I have to try some 'trigger' foods so it is important get a grip! I promise myself to do so.

This song is SO appropriate to how I feel now about me and my life. This has to be my current signature tune ad it is from an artist with a fabulous and unique style and voice, Nina Simone. If you have never heard this song, seek it out and enjoy the beauty that is 'Feeling good':

Title: Feeling Good
Artist: Nina Simone
Album: I put a spell on you
Year : 1965


Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin’ on by you know how I feel

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Day 44 (Phase 2) - One step forward (welcome back Kevin!)

A day overshadowed (for me) by the news that Kevin Keegan is to return to Newcastle as manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce. Great news and an instant response from the team with a 4-1 victory over Stoke City (OK I know they aren't premiship) in the FA Cup.

I am starting to get the hang of this eating and drinking lark and managing to eat plenty whilst (hopefully) maintain my weight at an acceptable level. On two meals a day now and finding this easy to manage and still eating plenty of fruit.
Weigh in for week 6 revealed I had gained 0.1 of a Kg so no real change.

This song is deducted to all of those who have read this blog and offered me support as well as those friends and family who have give me positive feedback on my journey and and kept me motivated.

Title: One step forward

Artist: Paul Young

Album: Secret of association

Year: 1985

I'm sending you these letters across miles and miles of water.

Tell Stevie that I saw his friends and mother that I love her.

Well, I know I haven't been here long and I know it seems much longer

but every letter you write back makes me a little stronger.

Everybody here has seen as many years as me.

It's only now they realise what they are here to see.

So I'll take my pen and I'll write you a note and send it off in a letter

and we'll hope that writing these troubles down will make me feel better.

One step forward or one step left.

I raise my gun and I take my aim.

I'm just a pawn in the government's game.

The first day I was posted was the longest I have known.

I can't believe the bitterness the human heart can show.

The hatred of another is a blindness in their eyes.

All I do is stand between them wondering why.

One step forward or one step left.

I raise my gun and I take my aim.

I'm just a pawn in the government's game.

Little boy stand with stones in hand and cold eyes of steel.

I wish I could throw my rifle down and tell him how I feel.

Well, I know I haven't been here long and I know it seems much longer

but every letter you post to me makes me a little stronger, stronger.

Day 37 (phase 2) - And I believe.....

Well another week of fruit and food. Enjoying both my cooking and my eating, but more importantly being in control of both.

Starting to understand how deal with the new lifestyle, partly mental management and partly just realising whether I am hungry or not.

Loving the fruit and after a weigh in find I have lost 1.5 lb this week. Amazing, probably don't to lose any more. Must eat more!

Now for a positive song expressing where I am in terms of my future and my own self esteem. Things are going well and I feel a change is starting to happen which will have long terms benefits for my health, my life and my happiness.

Title : I believe
Artist: Tears for Fears
Album: Songs from the big chair
Year : 1985

I believe that when the hurting and the pain has gone
We will be strong, Oh yes we will be strong
And I believe that if I'm crying while I write these words
Is it absurd ? Or am I being real
I believe that if you knew just what these tears were for
They would just pour like every drop of rain
That's why I believe it is too late for anyone to believe


I believe that if you thought for a moment, took your time
You would not resign yourself, resign yourself to your fate
And I believe that if it's written in the stars, that's fine
I can't deny that I'm a Virgo too
I believe that if your bristling while you hear this song
I could be wrong or have I hit a nerve ?
That's why I believe it is too late for anyone to believe


I believe that maybe somewhere in the darkness
In the night time, In the storm
In the casino
Casino Spanish eyes
And I believe, no I can't believe that every time you hear a new born scream
You just can't see the shaping of a life
The shaping of a life

Day 30 (Phase 2) - Can I tell you about my life...

I guess a week of some indulgence has to have an effect so this week I gained weight for the first time in four and a half months, a massive 1/2 pound! Oh well, having a little drink and stuffing myself stupid on fruit was worth it. :-)

Will keep going as my overall weight is good and I am starting to enjoy food and my overall diet.

As it is the start of a New Year, I have decided to go for one of my favourite songs. This is a rather sad song about a man who has everything but doesn't have the one thing he wants most of all, which is the love of a woman. I see many parallels with my own life in this song except I have been lucky enough to find my life partner.

Title: Man of the world

Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Album: Greatest Hits

Year: 1971

Shall I tell you about my life

They say I'm a man of the world

I've flown across every tide

And I've seen lots of pretty girls

I guess I've got everything I need

I wouldn't ask for more

And there's no one I'd rather be

But I just wish that I'd never been born

And I need a good woman

to make me feel like a good man should

I don't say I'm a good man

Oh, but I would be if I could

I could tell you about my life

And keep you amused I'm sure

About all the times I've cried

And how I don't want to be sad anymore

And how I wish I was in love

Day 22 (Phase 2) - A time for others

A week more on food and fruit (yum yum) and at Christmas too. Wow, this weight-in is going to be interesting. Tried to be good and don't think I have done too bad...fingers crossed....well except for the two ports on Xmas day and Boxing day.

I have really enjoyed the introduction of fruit and am enjoying fruit more than I have ever done if fact I really feel this is one positive change I can make in my diet which will help me a lot, along with the water. Starting to learn new habits and new ways of coping with food intake. This is good.

So the resuls from the weigh-in? Amazing.....I had lost weight!!! Another 3.8 pounds and am eating quite a bit.

And now a song which for me has just the sort of lyric that come first to mind this time of year when we are all at home, safe with our families. These are thoughts of others less fortunate than me and my family.

If you read this then please spare a thought for those who are less fortunate than you (and there will always be some) and make a decision to do just one thing next year to help someone in some way, however small. In this way the world will be a better place for us all and especially for those help need help most.

Title: In the Ghetto
Artist: Elvis Presley
Album: single
Year: 1969

As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago morning
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto

And his mama cries
cause if there's one thing that she don't need
Its another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto

People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or hell grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me,
Are we too blind to see,
Do we simply turn our heads
And look the other way

Well the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto

And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal
And he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

Then one night in desperation
A young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries

As a crowd gathers round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
As her young man dies,
On a cold and gray Chicago morning,
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto

Day 14 (Phase 2) - Thank you

A good week with food and a sense of balance and returning to normal. Trying to get used to the feeling of "what full is like". This is fascinating as I indulge in real food for the first time in ages.

I have to say I am enjoying this new challenge and it is giving me the opportunity to prepare myself for normal food patterns. This is an area which has concerned me and caused me to doubt my ability to cope. I am beginning to see how to do this as I progress through this phase.

I can see how important it is to manage this phase as carefully as the previous one. In some senses this is a more important phase as I am learning a lot more about myself and giving myself the opportunity to test newly learned skills about food intake and portion management.

Going to weigh in was a bit of a surprise as I have lost a further 3.1 lb and I am less than one pound over 12 stone, a place I have never been since I was a teenager!

Guess this gives me room to increase food, or more importantly calorie intake, without putting on weight. I have not been hungry but if I can widen my scope of foods a little...then good.

Now a song dedicated to my wife, who is the inspiration to my change in life. A person who, after going through a life threatening health problem leaving her with a disability, inspired me to do something about my health so we both can enjoy the rest of our lives together in peace and health.

Title: Thank you

Artist: Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin II

Year: 1969

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.

When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Kind woman, I give you my all,

Kind woman, nothing more.

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of loves lost in the days gone by.

My love is strong, with you there is no wrong,together we shall go until we die.

My, my, my.An inspiration is what you are to me, inspiration, look... see.

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,

Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.

Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad.

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.

When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Day 9 (Phase 2 ) - Old red eyes is back! - before and after pictures posted

Click on this link to see the evidence...but please be careful, not a pretty sight!

http://jc-stuff.blogspot.com/2007/12/before-and-after-shots-oh-dear.html

And hopefully for the last time......

Title: Old red eyes is back

Artist: Beautiful south

Album:0898

Year: 1992

Old Red eyes is back

Red from the night before the night before

Walked into the wrong bar walked into a door

Old Red's in town

And sitting late at night he doesn't make a sound

Just adding to the wrinkles on his deathly frown

They're only red from all the tears that I should've shed

They're only red from all the women that I could've wed

So when you look into these eyes I hope you realise

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

Listen up Old Red

You never listened to a word the doctor said

He told you if you drank another you'd be dead

Old Red Eyes is back

His shoulders ache all over and his brain is sore

He pours a drink and listens to his body thaw

They're only red from all the thoughts unused inside my head

They're only red from all the things I could have done instead

So when you look into these eyes I hope you realise

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

Blue is a street without an end

Red is the colour of my hell

Blue is a greeting from a friend

Red is the colour of farewell

Old Red he died

And every single landlord in the district cried

An empty bottle of whisky laying by his side

A lazy little tear running from each eye

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue

They could never be blue