The alarm went off at 5.00 am this morning. With temperatures still soaring, the dogs needed walking before the pavements became too hot for their little paws. At that point, everything was fine, but who knew I would be feeling Hangry in a few hours. I was awake, organised and ready for the day. I even had a cup of coffee before I left the house at 6 am to meet a friend for our walk.
Fast forward to 8.48 am, and if I'm honest, everything seemed to be winding me up.
I could hear myself becoming short with people. Thankfully, there was a gap between what I was thinking and what I was actually saying. That little filter was working overtime.
Then came the dog lead incident.
Both dogs jumped out of the car, managed to wrap their leads around my legs, and as I stepped backwards, I accidentally stood on Daisy's toe. She let out an almighty yelp, and I responded with a colourful burst of Anglo-Saxon. It was loud enough for everyone in the car park to suddenly become very interested in standing somewhere else. I used words that even a sailor may not have heard of, not my finest moment. OK, this may be the first sign of Hangry Weight Loss syndrome. Before you say anything, Hangry Weight Loss is a thing.
Looking back, I think I was simply hungry.
I'd already walked three miles before breakfast, and my body was telling me it needed some fuel, but I truly didn’t feel hungry. I made myself a bowl of Lazy Joes porridge cooked in the microwave. Feeling particularly rebellious, in a ‘what the hell’ moment, I even added a teaspoon of real sugar instead of my usual flavoured drops. Sometimes the little things feel like a luxury.
As I sat there eating, I’m thinking of tomorrow's weigh-in. I've worked hard this week. I've followed my plan, walked the miles every day, and made excellent choices, if I say so myself. I even filled in a diary sheet for three and a half days. Yet, if I'm honest, I'm struggling to see or feel any difference in my body. I am resisting stepping on the scales. I know I'm not the only person who feels like this.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if every really good week came with a guarantee? Work hard for seven days, step on the scales, press a magic button and... congratulations... you're suddenly a size 14.
Sadly, that's not how Hangry weight loss works.
This is Day 12 of my 100 Days of Focus. I have set some tough goals and am heading towards them. However, I've started to notice a pattern with my weight loss. I am also sure, I am not alone. I have discovered that my difficult days seem to arrive around Day 4. I often give in and have a few things not on my plan and then get cross with myself.
Get back on plan and then again around the two-week mark, it starts all over again. (Between you and me, I could kill for a bar of chocolate right now). These are the days when my motivation dips, patience disappears and even the smallest inconvenience feels far bigger than it really is.
I have had a few words with myself and have decided that today isn't about failing. It’s about recognising how I feel before it turns into an excuse to abandon my plan.
Tomorrow is weigh-in day. I hope the scales reward my effort, but whatever they say, Day 13 still arrives. And so, will I. If you're reading this and feeling exactly the same way, perhaps we both just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
If you would like to follow for more of my weight loss insights, please follow my diary entries. I am very active on Facebook as well, come on over and have a chat. To find out more about me take a look here. There is even a video!