Mastering the tightrope

I’m writing this in an effort to help anyone who is reading this piece, knows that they want to regain a healthy approach to food (and, for some, what they drink) yet needs some support.  Each year the advertising about festive food seems to begin earlier (and well before my Trafalgar Day birthday in October) and hits a crescendo on Christmas Eve.  Then, on Boxing Day, we are bombarded with adverts about Summer holidays.  Overladen tables heaving with saturated fat and excessive (unnatural) carbohydrates, as well as a bit of shimmer for good measure (remember Graham Norton’s entrance with a Golden Buche de Noel) give way to adverts encouraging us to strip off on the beach and look happy.  It’s a tightrope we all try to master.

I’ve no intention of trying to right the wrongs of product marketing, the psychology of advertising or the media frenzy which surrounds festive munching and over-indulgence (I’m simply not sufficiently experienced or qualified).  This morning I woke up to some much-welcomed sunshine streaming into the house and gradually recalled the TV programme I’d watched the evening before, “Around the World in Eighty Weighs” (Channel 4).  Yes, this was the next chapter in the trilogy – entice us to eat poorly, shame us with adverts about BMI or ways to shed pounds and then, hit home the messages of morbid obesity with “fly on the wall” documentaries.  But before I continue, thanks Channel 4 for supporting this group of fabulously frank individuals.

You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s a further rant coming yet far from it.  I simply wanted to share some of the eating challenges I’ve faced, as well as how successful (or not) I’ve been in negotiating or navigating my way around them.  I’ve written about this previously.  You may recall that my ambition to lose weight and dance on the table with two new knees on my birthday in 2024 began in late 2022.  At home I am not a patient person (typically masked at work).  The notion of a two-year adventure, let alone ambition, was a little uncomfortable.  Slow and steady wins the race has never been my preferred style.  Yet I knew that was the reality.

I began to research the options available.  Momentarily I investigated medical intervention, surgery as well as medication.  I concluded that neither sat comfortably with my love of food and cooking.  I heard some wonderful success stories and applauded those who spoke openly to me about their experiences.  I reminded myself of what I’d tried and what had worked for me previously.  If only I’d stuck with it and mastered the maintenance bit of the equation.  Hmm … definitely food for thought.

I’d tried those group weigh-ins and clubs before.  Did it work for me?  Well, obviously not although one Summer, my Mum and I supported a well-known brand.  The three mile walk home was invigorating.  Standing in a queue watching others remove jewellery (in case it weighed heavy) or listening to stories of addictions to Greggs Sausage Rolls simply didn’t do it for me.  And then there were the “group discussions” about sickly, over processed excuses for chocolate or desserts.  For some people, this is exactly the support that works for them and, on that basis, it’s worthy of further investigation, yet it’s not for me.  Am I a diet snob?  Yes, probably!

My (recent) choice of support was (and remains) weekly one to one coaching and a ridged eating regime.  No processed food, three meals a day and a focus on what you eat rather than what you weigh.  Ah, and just before you get too excited, every single morsel of what you eat must be weighed with precision.  It works for me although it may not be your cup of tea!  And apart from my coach, I have a fabulous husband who gets what I’m seeking to achieve.  He conjures up delicious and appealing plates of food, like salmon with asparagus.  So, here are a couple of top tips from me:

·       Research and evaluate support options available to you

·       Encourage a close friend or partner to collaborate with you on meal planning

My interest in food and eating out hasn’t waned (to my great disappointment on some days).  I still enjoy reading recipe books or articles about food origins and food history.  James Martin remains my Saturday morning hero, although other Chefs and their books are available.  And just to prove it, I watched every single programme about festive food hacks yet again last year.  I celebrated that I managed just one portion of Christmas pud’ and at the same time regretted that I’d indulged in its lusciousness at all.  Oh well, time to draw the line and jump over it.

Over the festive period I found it extremely difficult to keep to my daily allowances (food types and weights).  With a fridge crammed with goodies, it’s a tough call to say, “no thank you”  But I did (often even if not enough) and at the same time said, “yes please” to a couple of new swimsuits in much smaller sizes!  This was a bit like Risk and Reward, dare to say, “no” and then reward with something nice.

A few more top tips from me:

·       Remember to only buy what food you know you need to eat

·       Try to stay out of the kitchen, ask others to prepare their own food

·       Fade out the noise – “oh, a little won’t hurt you” … but it might

·       Think Risk and Reward – say, “no thank you” to wine and buy lipstick instead

·       Remember what you’ve achieved whenever you consider “giving up”

·       Avoid difficult social situations because you need to succeed (not please others)

·       Go easy on yourself and sing loudly (just like Adele …Go easy on me, baby … )

I’m no Joe Wicks and I’m not qualified or experienced to give health or nutritional advice, although I’m sharing some of my personal experiences by way of support.  If you’d like to discuss what I’ve written about, Let’s Talk.