First the raw numbers – 15stone 1.5lb (211.5lb or 96kg), this is a BMI of 33.3. So, only 21lb before I’m not obese any more!

This means I’ve lost 5 pounds in two weeks without even really trying, without feeling hungry all the time, without a rigorous exercise program. I suppose that isn’t a bad result! The real proof will be seeing if this continues.

Now, how well have I been following the “rules”? Not so well towards the end of last week. It all started on a business trip to Manchester. We finished our meeting at lunch time and I was getting quite hungry, but my colleague wanted to make a good headway into our return journey of 4 hours before stopping to eat. By this time I was ravenous and was getting a headache, which I put down to being so hungry. Despite my best efforts, I ate the whole thick cut sandwich. The knock ons from this continued for the next couple of days as I was getting hungry quite quickly and eating whole meals. I also stopped listening to the CD, not finding time to lie down for it.

I managed to get down the the swimming pool yesterday, and managed 20 lengths or 500 meters. This was mostly front crawl and boy, do I ache! But, it felt good to get physical again. I will be going once a week for the next few weeks to get back into the swing of it, and then upping the frequency a bit.

Now, I’ve been getting back into the routine and starting to follow the guidelines more closely again. It is still proving easy to follow, and just the tiniest amount of will-power is required to stop eating when satisfied. This is most difficult when eating things such as the delicous chicken fajitas Alison cooked the other night!

Oh, one other bit of good news – I am now able to get comfortably into my 36” jeans again, which is the sort of reward that makes it worth doing! Other goals waiting for me are the ability to wear my wedding ring again and my other suits that have been sitting the wardrobe.

Another thing – the chocie snacks in the office drawer are still untouched! Miracle.