Day 0

Well, here we go - another diet blog to add to the thousands probably already out there (including at least 2 with  a title very similar to 'What Sarah Ate Today') - I hope that this one actually lasts past the first couple of posts!

I've been trying to lose a bit of weight off and on for years now - largely without a great deal of success, although Weight Watchers does work for me if I have the willpower to resist eating too much!  This year the diet has however been particularly unsuccessful, and if anything I've managed to put about a stone in weight on.

I know what I'm doing wrong, I know what I should and shouldn't eat, it's just doing it . . .

Anyway, came across a new diet in the local bookshop the other day - The Dukan Diet - despite the tag line ("5 million French people can't be wrong" = not really the way to sell something to the Brits!) did end up buying it (although for a much cheaper price on Amazon).  I liked the idea that it takes you through the dieting stage, to a diet designed to consolidate your weight-loss and keep the weight off in the long term.

Tomorrow will be Day 1 on the so-called 'Attack' phase - where you can eat as much as you want of '72 protein-rich foods' - i.e. meat, low-fat dairy, fish, and eggs - no carbs at all - and for me that means none of my three favourite things: bread, red wine and potatoes.  I'm hoping that these kind of strict rules will keep me on the straight and narrow!

I'm planning on sticking to this for five days, before moving on to the 'Cruise' phase where you alternate pure protein days, with protein and vegetable days - again you can eat as much as you want, but no fat, alcohol, or starchy foods such as my beloved bread and potatoes.  Have already decided on one cheat though - in that I'm going to allow (in moderation) certain verboten foods that happen to be growing in my garden at the moment - strawberries primarily to start with, but also peas in due course, and potatoes (the latter I'll have to be particularly careful with).

Anyway - we'll see how this goes.  I've made this blog public in an effort to keep myself honest - kind of hope nobody ever actually reads this!!

Wish me luck.  S

P.S. Should have said - have spent the last couple of days indulging all my carb cravings - bread; pizza; cake; mashed potato; chips; red wine (although that's not exactly unusual); curry; Pringles; etc.  As someone pointed out to me, there is something rather perverse about stuffing yourself with a bunch of fattening foods prior to starting a diet!  I enjoyed it anyway, and feel ready for a little self-denial - so we'll see . . .