Day 29 - Little Voice
I can't believe that it's been so long since I last updated my blog but, in my defence, I have been feeling pretty unwell for about a week so I guess that's a good enough reason?!?

So, most important thing first - today is day 29 and I have lost 22lbs.

You'd think I'd be pleased with that but am actually a bit miffed as I only lost 3lbs this week and was hoping it would have been more. I'm still hoping to be able to have a little something to eat on Christmas Day and I do need to lose more than 3lb a week if I'm going to achieve that goal.

Since my last blog I've faced a couple of fairly major food challenges and am pretty proud to report that I passed with flying colours.

Challenge One - Sean's birthday night out. Drinks & a curry.
When we received Sean's text inviting us out for his birthday I have to admit that it did initially cross my mind to say no but I just decided that that would be a really stupid choice. Afterall, if I say no to that am I going to say no to every social occasion we're invited to just because I'm on this diet? I don't know, maybe some lighter lifers would do that but I just don't see the point in ostracising myself for the sake of a diet! That and the fact that I really wanted to see if I could do it. If I could sit in a restaurant surrounded by lots of my favourite food and not be tempted. My only concern was whether the restaurant owner would have a problem with me not eating but he was absolutely fine and even offered to make up one of my soups for me.

The day of Sean's birthday meal I had my staff away day. I'm guessing these are pretty common in most companies but, if not, an away day does pretty much what it says on the tin! It's a chance for all staff to get away from the office, get involved in fun, challenging activities and spend time with people they wouldn't generally interact with in a day to day basis. This year we went to Brenscome Farm, near Corfe Castle, in Dorset and after an hour or so of orienteering we were challenged to a bit of archery - somehow I don't think Robin Hood would've been keen to have me in his merry band of outlaws. Trust me, it's harder than it looks and I was happy just to hit the outer edges of the target. I did come close to the bull once but that was more by chance than skill - I coughed just as I was letting go of the arrow and 'accidentally' managed to point the thing in the right direction!!!

Next was rock climbing - which I love. Ever since I was a child I've been more than happy crawling over rocks & up and down cliffs at Portland Bill so I wasn't phased by this at all. The only problem was that as I'm used to climbing either bare foot or with fairly lightweight shoes I found it really hard to get a good toe hold in my trainers. Obviously, for our own safety, we were strapped to ropes and had to wear the most disgusting, musty, nasty smelling helmets - which was pretty off putting. I was first to go and attempted to fly up the wall like spiderman but came unstuck two thirds of the way up when I realised that I couldn't reach the next hand hold. I did try but it was just too far away and I fell backwards off the wall. Thankfully my anchorman, Paul, was awake and kept me from falling. He did, however, leave me hanging for what seemed like more than a reasonable amount of time and I suspect he only decided to let me down when he noticed how purple my face was going. Those bloody harnesses chafe like you wouldn't believe!! So I didn't make the top but was lots of fun anyway.

And last, but not least, we went riffle shooting. My last shooting experience was clay pigeon shooting and the kick of the gun left a massive bruise on my collarbone & chest so I wasn't looking forward to this but we only had to use pellet guns so was ok. My accuracy, however, wasn't. Frankly it was rubbish - worse than the archery - and i could work out why I kept firing off to the left. that was until Paul very kindly leant over said "You have got your right eye open and your left closed haven't you?" Let me tell you, it's amazing how much more accurate you are when you're actually looking down the barrel of the gun!!

All in all I really enjoyed the away day and had a fantastic team of people to work with - if ever there's a war I'm positioning myself behind the guys in my team who, I suspect, have all been snipers in a previous life!

And so on to Sean's birthday. Right off the bat I have to say that I'm not at all bothered about not being able to drink alcohol so that was never going to be an issue for me and I really enjoy watching people get drunk. You know what, the whole evening was a breeze. Ok, so I did flinch momentarily when the plate of popadoms were put in front of me - previously I think I could've eaten at least 4 or 5 of them, covered in mango chutney - but I didn't once feel tempted. I'd saved up a nut bar and just sat quite happily munching on that instead. And when the main meals came they brought over my soup - I opted for a mushroom foodpack - and it was the best soup I've had. I have no idea why it tasted so much better than when I make it but it did.

All in all is was a really great night - fantastic company, great conversation and the Edgar & Langdon comedy Show had me laughing all night - thanks guys. Unfortunately all the talking and laughing took it's toll and by the end of the evening I was starting to sound a lot like pre-pubescent boy who's voice was breaking!

The following morning I could barely get above a whisper and was feverish, coughing and generally feeling crap. CONFESSION TIME! Because I was feeling rough I just wanted some 'real food'. Nothing too fancy or fattening but something soothing, warming filling. Russell allowed me a small plate of scrambled eggs - which was just egg. No milk or butter and definitely no toast - but that was all I ate on Saturday so I think it probably wasn't too bad of a cheat. I really didn't feel well enough to have any of my foodpacks that day.

Challenge Two - Roast Dinner with the fam
Sunday lunch with the family is always a great event. The booze flows and the food is plentiful and always amazing. This time it was roast beef with all the trimmings and it was hard sitting there with my glass of water and soup whilst everyone else tucked in to the roasties, Yorkshire pudding &, my personal favourite, cheesy swede (mashed, buttery swede with a layer of grilled cheese on the top - gorgeous). I so wanted to cheat and have some food but everyone was really supportive and - typically of my family - made a big joke out of how horrible everything tasted and how I would have hated it all anyway.

The day ended with a mammoth game of Uno Extreme and although I had a really great time I do have to confess that this was the hardest food craving day I've had since the start of this diet. My 'adult' brain tells me that I was never hungry at any time but the mental cravings were a real bugger. When I come off this diet I am definitely going to relish a roast dinner.

So, apart from the above, the majority of the last week or so has been spent in bed recovering from being ill. Am still a bit coughy but, thankfully, my voice is back now and I'm feeling much better.

Some interesting changes.................
At the start of this diet I said that I hoped I wouldn't lose my boobs and that I would stay at a DD cup. I'm amused to report that I am no longer a DD. I say amused because, rather amazingly, as I've lost inches around my bust I appear to have increased by cup size and am now and E cup! Unreal.

The one thing I'm most happy about it my change in waist size which seems to be shrinking at ridiculously high speed.

However, bearing in mind the reduction in waist size & the increase in cup size I am starting to become a bit worried that I'll end up with a Pamela Anderson-esque figure. Oddly enough Russell doesn't seem too concerned about that!!!!!