Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us NowSongwriters: Diane Warren / Albert Hammond

[Johnny-One]

Well overall it has been a good week, although it has been “b****y” freezing as my mother would say. I often wondered why my mother would swear every other word but say as children we were not allowed to. Do not get me wrong she never used very foul language, just the “b” words.

I soon found I had a better grasp of the English language so could use much more eloquent words that meant the same, but could get away with using them in conversation. As adults, two of my four sisters do swear but, like me, the other two do not.

The disappointment for me came at the end of the week when I stepped on the scales and did all my other weekly health check routines. My weight stubbornly stopped the same as it was last week (exactly 13 stone 82.6 skilos), and my peak flow dropped below the 500 mark. Officially I should seek medical advice from my GP if my peak flow drops below 500, but as ever I will leave my lungs another week, because they usually bounce back after a cold week. C’est la vie.

For my weight I will drop to 1,200 calories a day from 1,400. I still have a little slack since I am still having a few treats I do not need. My breakfast is always less than 200, dinner (lunchtime) less than 500 and tea-time less than 400. I am so happy I have never drunk alcohol and am not allowed to eat chocolate (no caffeine); the calories from these food stuffs would add up too much. My four – five mile walk each day is great too.

Have a great week each of you. This week’s song is, “Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now” is a reminder that we are all on a great journey eating healthily and looking after ourselves.

…

Lookin' in your eyes

I see a paradise

This world that I've found is too good to be true

Standin' here beside you

Want so much to give you

This love in my heart that I'm feeling for you

…

Let 'em say we're crazy

I don't care about that

Put your hand in my hand

Baby, don't ever look back

Let the world around us

Just fall apart

Baby, we can make it

If we're heart to heart

…

And we can build this dream together

Standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers

We'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us

Nothing's gonna stop us now

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Do you always drop your calories to lose weight? Does it usually work? Maybe you could look at what you're eating, rather than how much. Engaging with the forum, particularly using the daily diary, could help.

As could this: healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

And this: healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[Johnny-One Visitor in reply to BridgeGirl]

If my weight sticks, I normally drop my calories. I have very unusual eating habits - I do not like meat, fruit or vegetables. Before you get too concerned, I never have done. One of my work colleagues reckoned I would be one of the few people in modern history who would die of scurvy. I do love dairy and cereal though, and my weaknesses are decaf lattes and sweets.

Breakfast is a bowl of cereal, usually wheat or corn based. I am not a big fan of the sugar coated varieties.

Dinner is usually cod, plaice, sausage (not real meat), or cod fish fingers with a potato derivative, e.g., chips, potatoes, croquettes, waffles. I could have a jacket potato with just cheese on.

Tea is usually a bread bun and cheese, with a boiled egg if I feel hungry. I may vary this with poached egg on toast, French toast, etc.

I am fairly boring with variety of food, I do not like anything with sauces on and definitely do not like anything like beans, pasta, spaghetti, etc.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Johnny-One]

And does that have to be the same forever?

I joined the forum with very fixed ideas about what I liked and didn't like. Gradually, and particularly as I started to think in terms of health rather than just weight loss, I decided to challenge these statements I made to myself about myself. Most of what I "didn't like" was based on decisions made years, even decades before. And most of what I could "never do without" came down to habit and lack of ideas and imagination. So I gave it a go. I bought ingredients I'd never tried, and had another go at ones I'd written off as "don't likes". Some have become regulars, some I could take or leave but there was nothing I had to spit out.

Why not challenge yourself? One or two ingredients you "don't like" but you know are core ingredients for a healthy diet e.g. vegetables?

No-one defines your tastes except you and just because that's always been the way you ate doesn't have to dictate the choices you make as an adult.

Here endeth the sermon

[Johnny-One Visitor in reply to BridgeGirl]

When I was a child, I ate practically nothing, like my mother, but over the years I have improved dramatically. For example, I now eat and love nuts, and garlic bread, and meringue, and …

Many of the foods I have started to eat since I became an adult, I would never touch previously but have found out I like. I have worked throughout Europe and worked on projects throughout the world; I have some amazing colleagues who have encouraged me to try what I consider some very exotic foods. I was also a produce manager for four years and as part of the role I tried all the fruit and vegetables that came past my department; I disliked nearly all of them. For example, I can only eat bananas if they are smothered in custard and cannot stand any of the multitude of variety of apples I have tried. I do like apple crumble / pie and like a date slice; but these would add unnecessary calories.

Sorry, several very close friends have tried to improve my appalling eating habits.