After years of being deprived of food as a child by his ill grandmother, Craig is ready to tackle his demons with the help and support of
fiancée and Challenge partner Jodie
.
Update 10
Whoops! Didn’t find the time to enter my diary this week!
Update 9
Well, it has been a busy week with the Melbourne Opera show in its final stages. I am feeling really good about my weight loss and it is starting to show. I have not had much chance to do exercise during the show, but I am now getting back into it and I will do my best to lose some big numbers.
I love the fact that my clothing is getting loose. In fact, things look pretty huge on me.
Update 8
It has been a battle this week to find time to focus on my weight-loss challenge. Jodie and I have been snowed under with preparations for a forthcoming show. With everything that is going on, the only thing that has got me through has been Jodie; her positive attitude and support are an inspiration.
Update 7
Whoops! Too busy to fill in my diary this week!
Update 6
Well hello dear Diary,
It has been a great week and life is feeling great. It was so much fun to see everyone again in Sydney (especially Roula, the Second Chance Coordinator, as she is so nice). Some of the changes are amazing, especially in Ben, Kate, Conrad, Mick and Chris, who we have 'adopted' as of Thursday. This has given me the motivation to get going and see if I can take this thing out. I am starting to push myself at exercising now. I am now running and able to take it to the next level and burn some good calories. I am hoping to be able to run the time and distance that the army require for their fitness test of 2.5 km in 12 minutes very soon.
I am feeling good about myself, which I have not in a long time. I love the comments that I am getting from friends and people I have not seen in a while about my weight loss. I am enjoying being able to wear nice clothes again and not look like a circus tent on the loose. Jodie and I went to a great party for one of her friends on the weekend and we dressed up and I was able to wear a suit of mine that I have not worn in a long time. Jodie looks so great and looked beautiful on Saturday night.
Some other great things have happened this week, the main being Jodie getting a chance at last to be what she has always wanted to be; the principal female artist of the new show. It is so good to see Jodie so happy and positive. She has a new lease on life.
Well dear diary, catch you next week.
Update 5
Hello dear Diary
It has been an interesting week emotionally. I was able to wear a pair of jeans that I haven’t been able to put on in a long time (a couple of years) and my current jeans are now too baggy and fall down. Those jeans are destined for the bin as I will never wear them again as long as I live! I can now also wear my favourite leather jacket as well; it is close to being a perfect fit again.
I was so excited that Jodie took photos before we went out. I became very disappointed when I saw the photos though; everyone says how different I look but I know I still look so big. I hate this double chin and I can’t believe that I have let this happen to me. I was feeling so good about myself, but after seeing the photos I feel terrible again. I hate being overweight I hate being so fat and ridiculous. Looking out from my eyes at the world I still think I am that 88kg good looking soldier that I used to be but when reality hits, it is crushing on the psyche. That is probably why I hate mirrors and photos. Well, all I can do is cop it and push myself harder when I exercise and make sure that I never lose my control and my determination again.
The eating plan is going along nicely but it is not really a diet, but more about healthy eating. I find the diary really handy and love to be able to see how many calories are in foods and drinks and the exercise that is needed to work it off. It is a great tool and I mention it whenever I talk to people about The Biggest Loser Club site.
Hope next week’s diary brings more fun news.
Update 4
Hello! It has been a hard week once again this week but I have been careful about what I am eating and drinking. It would have been easy to splurge after being so focused but I intend to stay on track (including zero alcohol). I still have to be careful with the portion sizes, but have tried to make sure that I only put half of what I want on my plate as that will be what I need (as opposed to what I want).
Pushing myself at the gym and with the personnal trainer have been really enjoyable; I really am putting in so much effort with exercise. I know I am doing well but part of me is a little disappointed not to have lost more weight per week. This is silly as I have lost over 12kg but I still feel as if I should be losing more each week. I am not sure what I am doing wrong because I am exercising twice a day. I have not cheated with my food nor eaten anything bad and I have put everything down in the diary.
It is a great to feel my clothes becoming looser. People say things like ‘Oh, you look so different!’ I am staying focused and I can’t wait to see what I look like at The Biggest Loser Finale. See you next week!
Update 3
Well this has been an interesting week. I have been really putting in with the exercise and trying to do at least some form twice per day. Going for a walk and going to the gym, that kind of thing. I am starting to feel a real difference with the weight loss and am not lumbering around as much as normal. I am not getting out of breath as easily as I used to and I don’t look like I need to visit the coronary unit at the local hospital either!
I made some good food choices this week, but once again I battled with that little bit of my brain that wants to eat as much as is humanly possible. I still haven’t managed to assure my brain that I will get to eat again so I don’t need to gorge, just in case! It was an effort, but I made sure that my portion sizes were right and I didn’t go back for seconds or thirds, which I would have done before. All-in-all, I think I did pretty well.
The one downer for the week came when I was feeling good about my weight loss and as I was walking through the office and I caught sight of myself on the big security camera TV. I was again shocked to see how big, fat and lumbering I look. It really is still so hard to believe that that person is actually me. I see a different me through my eyes and it is a jolt to see what the reality is, to be reminded of what I actually look like as other people see me. I suppose I can look at things in a different way – I can use it as a good way to motivate myself to change. Well bye for now dear diary.
Speak with you next week!
Update 2
I have been really enjoying the new diet but I have had trouble trying to eat all my calories for the day. Before, I would have consumed all my daily calories in one sitting by eating a pizza or some other rubbish. I still love the Meal Replacement Double Choc Shake flavour.
I feel so much better from not eating as much bad food; I do not feel as lethargic. I have started to eat kangaroo meat; it is really nice and so good for you. I have also noticed that I have been able to get my saturated fats down to the recommended intake via the summary in the online diary. The diary has been great as it really has made me more aware of what I am putting into my mouth.
The exercise side of things is great, too. I have been going to the gym and seeing the personal trainer. Jodie and I did boxing with her and I was amazed by how much Jodie enjoyed it. We’ll be doing that again for sure! We were exhausted by the end of it but I am not as sore, generally speaking, this week as I think the muscles are starting to remember what they are there for! I still feel as if I need to be doing more to get greater weight loss but slowly and surely I intend to increase the amount of exercise I do. I am looking forward to being able to play the sports I haven’t been able to play for a while, like ice hockey, cricket and generally whatever I want. Having this in the back of my mind is a really good motivator.
The only problem I have has been with my eating. I know that I am full when I eat, but I have a psychological problem. My mind is always looking for more so I can find myself eating a huge meal (which I eat quickly in case it is taken away) and my brain keeps telling me to look for more and more. I know I have to really work on this as it is a major issue for me. I must work hard to get over it. I just want to be able to enjoy food in a normal way.
Well, these are my thoughts for this week. See you next week. Bye for now dear diary!
Update 1
It has been an exciting time being part of The Biggest Loser Club Second Chance Challenge team. I have enjoyed trying the new Meal Replacements and was surprised about how tasty they have been (I know from experience as I have tried other brands). I am in love with the Double Choc Shake. I haven’t been hungry so far as I am eating all the healthy food that I had been missing out on before. I have not eaten all of my calories for the day so far, which has surprised me. Drinking a lot of water has helped to keep my appetite under control.
I love the online diary. It is a real eye opener to see the calorie content of different foods and how much of my daily percentage some foods can add up to. Plus, to be able to see how much exercise is required to work the food off is truly a bit scary. Having looked at the calorie content of some of my favourite foods (of the past, of course!) I think I need to walk for some time to work all of them off!
I look forward to starting the exercise part of this weight-loss journey. I am very motivated – public humiliation is a great motivator. After having photos and footage taken that will been shown publicly, I will be so embarrassed for myself and for Jodie if I don’t lose the excess weight. I know that I will do my best to try and lose as much as possible and really try to win this competition.