John sees a biokineticist twice a week to learn how to engage his core muscles so on those mornings I do core exercises at home. I got some videos on youtube but I find these exercise extremely difficult to do so feel a bit despondent today.  Why, oh why is there never allowances for chocolate and ice-cream.  I feel like I'll never get to have any of that ever again and I'm not even the sweet tooth.  Made us some couscous tonight for the first time and we both liked it.  Gotta still try out the bulger wheat and quinoa. It is quite a task to plan out menus for each day of the week seeing as we're only allowed three fats and three carbs a day. Gone are the days of the dagwood sandwhich or willy nilly cooking with oils, cream and butter.  Tomorrow morning it's up early again for our walk. It's also weigh day. I'm very proud of my husband who, even though he's the one with the sweet tooth, has not given in to any food temptations. In fact he says he craves nothing. Amazing.

We had a massive treat last night. Apparently cheat has bad connotations, so we treat ourselves. Went to Browns Restaurant with a colleague of John's and his wife. I said no to the beautiful little baked bread and butter and felt very noble. Then everybody ordered starters and I only wanted my main meal and the waitress asked if I wouldn't like a small salad seeing as everyone else was having a starter and I decided on the Asian calamari steak instead and then I also decided to have some red wine. The guys wanted to order a bottle but didn't want to get one between the two of them alone, so I helped out by volunteering to have some as well. I had been fully intent on staying within the program but I felt like a party pooper saying no to this and to that, so I just enjoyed my starter, which was very good and then had chicken and a yellow pepper stuffed with rice as my main meal. Fortunately we didn't have dessert as well.  I'm becoming super aware of the carbs and fats present in what we eat and drink. I know from trying to lose weight before, that alcohol is a big no-no. One glass can easily reverse a whole week of healthy eating benefits so I avoid it. I was a great treat though. I would recommend Browns in Sandton anytime.  I could've stayed well within my daily allowance if I'd wanted to.

Last weekend we visited my daughter Natalie and John picked up something, we're not sure what, and sprained a back muscle.  He was in so much pain that he had to go for physio. She explained how these injuries happen and why.  There being no core muscles to support the muscles needed for actions like picking up things, these muscles go into spasm.  That decided us to do something once again about our weight but not only that, to live a healthier life.  Lent seemed to be the right time to do this as we've given up alcohol and a lot of carbs and I love my bread.

Well, we're well on our way.  John sees a biokineticist twice a week and we walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week.  We've also seen a dietician who gave us a program to work on and it's looking good.  No hunger pangs.  In fact the proteins we are allowed seems too much to eat in a day.  We're eating lots of veg and salads.  Salad dressings are minimal as we're only allowed 3 fats a day and one serving is like 1 teaspoon of oil.  We've both lost over 1 kg since starting last Thursday.  Yippee.

We're both feeling good and energized.  I pray this lasts and becomes a way of life and not just something we do for a few months and then fall back into bad ways.