Week One: Weigh In Update - 8th March 2017

The first 9 days have been successful - I've not strayed once, and the longer I've stuck to the plan, the less tempted I've been to break it. So much so that today, at work, when I sat with 4 colleagues each eating or sharing a Domino's pizza, my stomach didn't even stir at the offer of a bite.

I decided on Wednesday, 8th March, exactly one week since starting my DECHOX challenge, to do a weigh in and see what progress I'd made. The result shocked me - I'd lost 8lbs in 7 days, by simply adjusting my diet and changing my eating habits. I've been told successful weight loss is 90% diet, but I hadn't really believed it. They do say, "seeing is believing" so I reckon now I'm a believer. And more motivated than before to stick with it and see how much I can lose by the end of May.

To give a clearer, more distinctive understanding of exactly what I'm giving up on this DECHOX, I thought it might be worth writing it down in black & white, so here goes.

As of 1st March 2017, for an ongoing time period lasting until at least May 31st 2017, I am banishing the following from my diet:

• Chocolate (edible and drinkable)
• Crisps, chips, etc.
• Popcorn (cinema/ ready made)
• Junk Food
• Take Out/ unhealthy food options
• Starters/ Dessert 
• Heavy carbs
• Fizzy drinks
• Alcohol
• Unhealthy snacks

I'm taking on this challenge to raise money in the name of the British Heart Foundation. To show your support, please click here and donate on my page to this great cause. I haven't set myself a goal weight as I'm just looking to see that the result will be, but my challenge is to not stray from the diet at all before at least 31st May 2017.

After this date, we'll see what happens as, they say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so I may not have the urge to re-introduce the above into my diet again.

I'm intending to post an update weekly, with my weigh in update, so stay tuned to see my progress.


Comments welcome as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Dechox 2017 : Charity Challenge with a Twist

"Dechox? What's Dechox" I hear you ask. Well, DECHOX for bhf is a one month challenge introduced by The British Heart Foundation which challenges people to give up chocolate for the month of March for charity (de-CHOX - get it?) and, like last year, I've decided to accept and take on this challenge. With a twist.

I have to say I love the ads for the DECHOX this year. They've certainly grabbed my attention and kept me entertained, both of which mean they'll be memorable, so hopefully they'll also entice lots of people to join in the challenge (or encourage any that don't want to join in, to dig deep and sponsor those who do, instead).

The extra challenge I'm setting myself with this DECHOX, is that I'm not only going to be giving up chocolate, but also crisps, unhealthy snacks, popcorn at the cinema, take out, junk food and generally anything unhealthy that may be of temptation (my PT will be thrilled). In addition to this, I'm starting this challenge with an aim of starting it for the month of March and then seeing if I can keep it up with no cheating, to the end of May.

Don't get me wrong, I have willpower, but I do think this is going to be a challenge. Especially when it gets to around Easter time and people will be having lots of chocolate.

Today, the 1st of March and first day of my DECHOX challenge, has gone very well I think. I've not caved at all and even when going to the cinema this evening with two of my lovely friends who had chocolate and popcorn, I stuck with my DECHOX and snacked only on unsalted cashew nuts (only 1 handful) and dried apricots. So Day 1 is done, wish me luck for Day 2, 3, 4, 5..... you get the picture.

If you want to know more about what the British Heart Foundation do, you can find there website by clicking here. Should you want to join in the challenge, you can sign up to do your own DECHOX challenge here. Or if you'd like to show your support for my challenge and keep up to date with how it's all going, you can donate through my JustGiving DECHOX page by following the link here.

I'm also intending to post regular updates on this challenge and exploring if doing this has affected my health etc. in any way good or bad.

As always, your comments and likes are very much appreciated.