Day 41

Weight: 12 st 12.4 lbs
Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.8 lbs in 5 days
Weight loss to date: 20.6 lbs in 40 days

Breakfast: 3 seafood sticks; mug of tea

Lunch: cottage cheese omelette; wafer-thin roast chicken; mug of tea

Dinner: chicken curry; onion bhaji galette; 1 rhubarb mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  Was checking out the salt content in some of this today - and the processed wafer-thin chicken proved a little hefty on the salt front - unfortunately so did the seafood sticks . . .  Bought some less salty chicken for future meals anyway, and will just have to watch the seafood stick intake!

Day 40

Weight: 12 st 12.6 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.6 lbs in 4 days
Weight loss to date: 20.4 lbs in 39 days

Breakfast: mug of tea

Lunch: fried egg and wafer-thin chicken; vanilla yoghurt; glass of squash

Dinner: chicken and mushroom stir-fry; oat-bran galette; strawberry yoghurt; glass of squash / diet coke

Verdict: Pretty pleased with that - at least it's looking relatively positive for the 2 lb target this week.

Day 39

Weight: 12 st 13 lbs
Weight loss: 0 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.2 lbs in 3 days
Weight loss to date: 20 lbs in 38 days

Breakfast: mushroom omelette and cottage cheese; mug of tea

Lunch: 7 seafood sticks; strawberry yoghurt; diet coke / water

Snack: 2 seafood sticks; mug of tea

Dinner: salmon fillet; oat-bran galette; light mayonnaise; glass of squash

Verdict: No weight loss today, but at least there was no weight gain either.

Day 38

Weight: 12 st 13 lbs
Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.2 lbs in 2 days
Weight loss to date: 20 lbs in 37 days

Breakfast: strawberry yoghurt; glass of water

Lunch: 8 seafood sticks; cranberry and raspberry yoghurt; diet pepsi

Dinner: home-made turkey burgers with mushroom, courgette and pepper; oat-bran galette; strawberry yoghurt

Verdict: Lost some more - only 0.2 - but at least its another loss!  My next main goal is to be under 13 st when I weigh myself last thing at night, then I'll really be in the 12 stone zone.  Still no problems following the diet - can't say I'm craving anything (although do sometimes miss a glass of red wine of an evening) - have just harvested a whole bunch of potatoes from the garden though so may have to indulge!

Day 37

Weight: 12 st 13.2 lbs
Weight loss: 1 lb
Weight loss this week: 1 lb in 1 day
Weight loss to date: 19.8 lbs in 36 days

Breakfast: strawberry yoghurt; glass of water

Lunch: 6 seafood sticks; vanilla yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: home-made beefburgers; oat-bran galette; strawberry yoghurt; glass of squash / diet coke

Verdict: Well there we go, assuming it stays off, have just lost the equivalent on last week's weight-loss in a single day!  Here's hoping for more of the same tomorrow : )

Day 36

Weight: 13 st 0.2 lbs
Weight gain: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1 lb in 7 days (week 5)
Weight loss to date: 18.8 lbs in 35 days

Breakfast: 1 apricot mullerlight yoghurt; glass of water

Lunch: 6 seafood sticks; 1 pineapple and peach mullerlight yoghurt; glass of water / diet coke

Dinner: smoked salmon omelette; herb oat-bran galette; strawberry yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  Well 12 st something didn't last long - feeling a bit discouraged as don't think I really overindulged this week or anything, yet somehow all I've managed is 1 lb weight-loss.  I guess I need to think that at least it is continuing weight-loss and hope for better in the coming week.

Day 35

Weight: 12 st 13.8 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.4 lb in 6 days
Weight loss to date: 19.2 lbs in 34 days

Breakfast: 1 apricot mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer thin chicken and a fried egg; 1 seafood stick; mug of tea

Snack: lettuce, tomato and 6 teaspoons of assorted greek vegetarian dips; glass of water 

Dinner: prawn oat-bran galette; blueberries and vanilla yoghurt; glass of squash

Verdict: Hurrah - the magic number '12' appeared on my scales this morning, so even though hitting my 2 lb minimum target is now looking unlikely, that's something.  Have a walk planned for this afternoon, so that should help my steps for the day, but after this last week don't expect much of a weight-loss tomorrow.  We'll see anyway!  Update - combination of walk and Wii-Fit takes me over 10,000 steps, so here's hoping for more weight-loss tomorrow.

Day 34

Weight: 13 st 0.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1 lb in 5 days
Weight loss to date: 18.8 lbs in 33 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Lunch: pack of flame-grilled chicken slices; 2 seafood sticks; vanilla yoghurt; mug of tea

Dinner: chicken and onion 'curry' stir-fry; onion bhaji galette; 1 pineapple and peach mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Verdict: No weight-loss today :(  Hoping it's all down to water-retention or something, and that it'll pick up soon.  Made the effort to do an hour's exercise (a wet day so got on the Wii-Fit and did my 10,000 steps).

Day 33

Weight: 13 st 0.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0.8 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1 lb in 4 days
Weight loss to date: 18.8 lbs in 32 days

Breakfast: 1 strawberry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Lunch: 5 seafood sticks; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: prawn omelette; oat-bran galette; strawberries and vanilla yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: Yay!  Lost some weight!  Still it looks like it'll be a slow weight-loss week - still got another 1 lb to lose if I'm to make the 2 lb minimum target.

Day 32

Weight: 13 st 1 lb
Weight gain: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.2 lbs in 3 days
Weight loss to date: 18 lbs in 31 days

Breakfast: 1 apricot mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Lunch: 5 seafood sticks; 1 slice wholemeal bread; egg mayonnaise; 6 tortilla crisps; 2 mouthfuls of cake; cup of tea

Dinner: home-made beefburgers; oat-bran galette; diet coke

Verdict: Guess the temptation was too much - had put yesterday's weight-loss back on this morning : (  More temptation in the form of a retirement 'do', succumbed to a couple of sandwiches and slivers of cake (did have half an hour walk uphill to get there!).  Really hope I can lose something tomorrow.

Day 31

Weight: 13 st 0.6 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.6 lbs in 2 days
Weight loss to date: 18.4 lbs in 30 days

Breakfast: 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; cup of tea

Lunch: 2 slices wholemeal bread; egg mayonnaise; cream cheese; ham salad; chicken and vegetable kebab stick; 1 mandarin; handful of grapes; water

Dinner: turkey and vegetable casserole; oat-bran galette; strawberries and vanilla yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: Yet more temptation in the form of another work meeting lunch - more or less restrained myself - did have some fruit, and broke a corner off a chocolate biscuit thingy.  Otherwise, while I haven't quite got down below that 13 st point yet, my BMI now officially places me in the merely 'overweight' rather than 'obese' category!

Day 30

Weight: 13 st 1 lb

Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.2 lbs in 1 day
Weight loss to date: 18 lbs in 29 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: 10 seafood sticks (that was at least 2 too many); 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: turkey and vegetable stir-fry; oat-bran galette; strawberries and vanilla yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: There was cake in work today - did cut myself off a mouthful - it was very nice.  There was also left-over buffet - had 4 crisps - they were very nice.  It's rained all day - I don't think that helps - some nice stodgy hot carbohydrate just seems really appealing at the moment.

Day 29

Weight: 13 st 1.2 lbs

Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 3.2 lbs in 7 days (week 4)
Weight loss to date: 17.8 lbs in 28 days

Here's the four-week photo - think there's a waist beginning to emerge somewhere, although there's a long way to go.  The trousers still stay up - for now at least!

And what did I eat today?

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; glass of water

Lunch: 2 celery sticks (ugh!); small lump of cheese (maybe 30g); melon, seedless grapes, apple slices; glass of water

Dinner: chicken and mushroom stir-fry; oat-bran galette; 1 strawberry mullerlight yoghurt

Verdict: Temptation at lunch-time again today - another nice looking buffet - resisted the sandwiches, although did succumb to a small quantity of cheese to take away the taste of the celery (I'd forgotten how much I dislike it).  Didn't eat much when all is said and done, so hopefully the cheese and fruit won't have too much of a detrimental effect. 

Day 28

Weight: 13 st 1.4 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 3 lbs in 6 days
Weight loss to date: 17.6 lbs in 27 days

Breakfast: scrambled egg and smoked salmon; mug of tea

Lunch: pack of barbecue flavoured chicken pieces; diet coke

Dinner: oat-bran galette with smoked salmon and a teaspoon of light mayonnaise; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  We were out for the day and didn't end up eating lunch till gone 3pm, so weren't really hungry for dinner. Hit 3 lbs so happy with that - hopefully a little bit more to come off tomorrow - 12 st-something is looking might close! 

Day 27

Weight: 13 st 1.8 lbs
Weight loss: 1 lb
Weight loss this week: 2.6 lbs in 5 days
Weight loss to date: 17.2 lbs in 26 days

Breakfast: somehow didn't get round to food today; mug of tea

Lunch: onion and red pepper omelette; glass of squash

Dinner: home-made beefburgers; oat-bran galette; strawberries / raspberries and a vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: Despite yesterday's temptations came out with a whole pound weight-loss today - really pleased. I suppose I didn't actually eat that much yesterday in the end.  No problem going back to Dukan today - did a lot of walking as well today, so hopefully can loose another 0.4 lbs before the end of the week.

Day 26

Weight: 13 st 2.8 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.6 lbs in 4 days
Weight loss to date: 16.2 lbs in 25 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt

Lunch: 2 slices wholemeal bread; egg mayonnaise; salmon mayonnaise; 1 mini cake; fruit skewer; glass of water

Dinner: 1/2 ciabatta roll, with a cheese and grilled aubergine filling; diet coke

Verdict:  Well I did weigh-in in the end - and was somewhat surprised to find I'd lost another 0.4 lbs even at 4.30am in the morning!  As predicted there was nothing Dukan-friendly on the table today, and with rushing to catch trains I didn't have time to shop for myself.  Did manage to restrain myself to 4 small sandwiches, the equivalent of 2 slides of wholemeal bread, but then succumbed to a cake, albeit an extremely small one - one of the 'decorative' kind caterers like to put on buffet tables.  Took another sandwich (but only one) to eat on the journey home.  Overall I'm hoping that it hasn't busted the diet too much.  We'll see tomorrow!

Day 25

Weight: 13 st 3.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.2 lbs in 3 days
Weight loss to date: 15.8 lbs in 24 days

Breakfast: 1 vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; diet coke

Dinner: pan-fried salmon fillet with a teaspoon of light mayonnaise; oat-bran galette; diet coke

Verdict: Steady weight-loss - don't think I'll do a weigh-in tomorrow though as it'll feel like the middle of the night when I get up and I'm bound to show a higher weight than I would do at my normal time.  Will just record a zero - watch for tomorrow's blog to see how I cope with the temptation of sandwiches!

Day 24

Weight: 13 st 3.6 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.8 lbs in 2 days
Weight loss to date: 15.4 lbs in 23 days

Breakfast: 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; diet coke

Dinner: chicken and mushroom stir-fry; oat-bran galette; strawberries and greek yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: I suppose the diet is getting a little monotonous now, but can't say I'm having any particular cravings or really missing anything - except of course that glass of wine!  I've got a meeting in London on Friday where there'll be no time to buy any Dukan-friendly lunch, and where a 5+ hour journey to get there will make taking anything with me a little impractical - lunch is provided, so I'll probably end up eating a sandwich or two.  Will just have to restrain myself to two slices of bread if I can!

Day 23

Weight: 13 st 4 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.4 lbs in 1 day
Weight loss to date: 15 lbs in 22 days

Breakfast: 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: omelette and tuna; diet coke

Dinner: turkey, mushroom and onion stir-fry; oat-bran galette; strawberries and greek yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: Pleased enough with today's weight-loss - another 4 lbs and a bit and I'll be below the 13 st - at which point we'd promised ourselves curry and wine, so we'll probably put at least a couple of lbs back on!  Something to aim for though - and then we can push for the next target, which will probably be another stone.  Up to now my other half's weight-loss has been on par with mine (except he had slightly more to lose overall) - he's beginning to overtake me now though so he may reach his next curry target a bit before me.  We'll see anyway!

Day 22

Weight: 13 st 4.4 lbs
Weight loss: 0.8 lbs
Weight loss this week: 2.8 lbs in 7 days (week 3)
Weight loss to date: 14.6 lbs in 21 days

Breakfast: 1 apricot mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: 9 seafood sticks; diet pepsi

Dinner: minced beef and onions; oat-bran galette; tomato sauce; strawberries / raspberries and a vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict: That's more like it - and I've hit my first stone in weight-loss.  Another 2 weeks and I should be below 13 st, and will feel more like I'm achieving something - I've been bouncing around between 13 and 14 st for a few years now, so to consistently be in the 12 st range will give me more of a sense that this is going somewhere.

Day 21

Weight: 13 st 5.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0 lbs
Weight loss this week: 2 lbs in 6 days
Weight loss to date: 13.8 lbs in 20 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: tuna and onion omelette; 4 seafood sticks; glass of squash

Dinner: stir-fried prawns and onion; oat-bran galette; cottage cheese; glass of squash

Verdict: Miffed that I haven't lost anything at all today - but I guess that's the way it goes - will just have to keep with it and hope for better results tomorrow.

Day 20

Weight: 13 st 5.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 2 lbs in 5 days
Weight loss to date: 13.8 lbs in 19 days

Breakfast: 2 egg cottage cheese omelette; mug of tea

Lunch: pack of barbecue flavoured chicken; 4 seafood sticks; greek yoghurt and 2 strawberries; glass of squash

Snack: 2 seafood sticks

Dinner: home-made chicken tikka; onion bhaji oat-bran galettes; 1 peach and pineapple mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  Weight-loss is feeling slow now - although I have at least got to the notional 2 lb weight loss mark for the week, which I'm basing my forecasting on.  At this rate of weight loss I've got another 20 weeks to go to get to my Dukan target of 10 st 7 lbs - which takes me up to the end of November (just in time to put it all back on again at Christmas! - well I hope not!!).  Haven't been very good thus far at distinguishing between Pure Protein (PP) days and Protein Vegetable (PV) days - maybe that would help.  In fact, looking back at what I've been eating, only about 3 of my days on 'cruise' would count as PP and on two of them I had strawberries. Time for a few PP days methinks . . .

Day 19

Weight: 13 st 5.4 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.8 lbs in 4 days
Weight loss to date: 13.6 lbs in 18 days

Breakfast: 1 apricot mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Lunch: greek salad; strawberries / raspberries and natural yoghurt; mug of tea

Dinner: stir-fried chicken, mushroom and pepper, with an oat-bran galette; strawberries and a vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Verdict: Well at least I lost something - still on track for a 2 lb weight-loss overall.

Day 18

Weight: 13 st 5.8 lbs
Weight loss: 0 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.4 lbs in 3 days
Weight loss to date: 13.2 lbs in 17 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: stir-fried prawns and oat-bran galette; strawberries and greek yoghurt; glass of squash

Verdict: Disappointing that I didn't lose anything - but then I didn't expect much after yesterday - I suppose at least I didn't put anything on!

Day 17

Weight: 13 st 5.8 lbs
Weight loss: 1.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 1.4 lbs in 2 days
Weight loss to date: 13.2 lbs in 16 days

Breakfast: 1 rhubarb mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: stir-fried chicken with mushrooms, onion and pepper; oat-bran galette; 1 toffee mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash; diet coke

Verdict: Really pleased with today's weight-loss, although I did weigh myself nearly two hours later than yesterday, so I don't know if that made any difference - tomorrow may be disappointing!

Day 16

Weight: 13 st 7 lbs

Weight loss: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 0.2 lbs in 1 day
Weight loss to date: 12 lbs in 15 days

Breakfast: 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; 1 mug of tea

Lunch: 2 chicken drumsticks; salad vegetables; teaspoon of mayonnaise; glass of water

Dinner: home-made beefburger; oat-bran galette; tomato sauce; diet coke

Verdict: Faced my first real challenge today - the temptation of a really lovely looking work buffet (pizza; samosas; bhajis; sausage rolls; real crisps; sandwiches) - wavered over the bhaji, but stood firm in the end.  Otherwise, a little disappointed with a mere 0.2 lbs weight loss, especially as I did so much walking yesterday.  Hoping for better tomorrow.

Day 15

Weight: 13 st 7.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 4.2 lbs in 7 days (week 2)
Weight loss to date: 11.8 lbs in 14 days

Here's the two-week photo - don't feel like I look much thinner but the trousers are getting a lot looser!  Only 3 stone to go to get to my Dukan target of 10 st 7 lbs!

And what did I eat today?

Breakfast: scrambled eggs and cottage cheese

Lunch: pack of barbecue chicken slices; 1 strawberry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Dinner: home-made beefburger; herb galette; tomato sauce; strawberries and a vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Verdict:  Two weeks down - within striking distance now of 13 st 3 lbs (which rather annoyingly is what I got down to earlier last year and maintained all the way through to Christmas) - I'll only feel like I've really got somewhere when I get below the 13 stone mark!  Back to work today - went ok, cooked myself a proper brekkie, and took my lunch in, no problem.  Did a lot of walking today as well, including walking in to work, which takes just short of an hour - so that should alleviate the strawberries somewhat.  We'll see what tomorrow's weigh-in brings, kind of feel that today's was lower because it took place a good two hours earlier than during the holiday.

Day 14

Weight: 13 st 7.6 lbs
Weight gain: 0.2 lbs
Weight loss this week: 3.8 lbs in 6 days
Weight loss to date: 11.4 lbs in 13 days

Breakfast: oat-bran galette with 2 slices of chicken-style quorn and a teaspoon of tomato sauce; 2 mugs of tea

Lunch: 4 slices of chicken-style quorn; 1 seafood stick; 1 mandarin mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Snacks: 4 seafood sticks

Dinner: pan-fried salmon steak and prawns; teaspoon of light mayonnaise; glass of squash

Verdict: Had really hoped I'd lose something today so a little disappointed, but not entirely surprised.  Hopefully I can at least lose the 0.2 again tomorrow, making a total weight loss of 4 lb for the week.  Haven't felt so good today - think it's the quorn, don't know why I bought it really as it's not always agreed with me in the past.  Back to work tomorrow as well - it'll be interesting to see how easy it is to keep this up in light of the temptations and frustrations of the workplace . . .  Just also 'gone public' on the Dukan Diet Forum - so hi to anybody who has come to see what I'm up to - thought it might help to keep me on track . . .

Day 13

Weight: 13 st 7.4 lbs

Weight loss: 1.4 lbs

Weight loss this week: 4 lbs in 5 days

Weight loss to date: 11.6 lbs in 12 days

Breakfast: 1 slice of dry wholemeal bread; 2 mugs of tea

Lunch: scrambled egg, smoked salmon, and salad; 1 strawberry mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Snack: 3 seafood sticks

Dinner: chicken, courgette and mushroom 'curry'; onion oat-bran galette and cottage cheese; strawberries and vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; pint of squash

Verdict:  Well yesterday's austerity has yielded results on the weight-loss front - not that this was intentional.  I don't know if this means that tomorrow I won't lose much at all but we'll see . . .  Had the forbidden bread for breakfast to try and shift something stuck in my throat (not sure it's worked though unfortunately).  Had an early lunch, and as a result was actually quite hungry by dinnertime (didn't eat till nearly 7pm).  More forbidden food with the strawberries as well, but it hasn't really affected the weight-loss thus far, so hopefully should be ok!

Day 12

Weight: 13 st 8.8 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 2.6 lbs in 4 days
Weight loss to date: 10.2 lbs in 11 days

Breakfast: 1 rhubarb mullerlight yoghurt; glass of squash

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; 3 seafood sticks; glass of squash

Dinner: trout and an oat-bran galette; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  Didn't feel like eating much this morning  - steady weight loss still.  In fact didn't eat that much today at all - the trout wasn't that large but by the time I'd dissected it for bones it took me forever to eat it!

Day 11

Weight: 13 st 9.2 lbs
Weight loss: 0.4 lbs
Weight loss this week: 2.2 lbs in 3 days
Weight loss to date: 9.8 lbs in 10 days

Breakfast: oat-bran galette and cottage cheese; 1 cherry mullerlight yoghurt; mug of tea

Lunch: wafer-thin chicken and salad; mug of tea

Dinner: chicken and mushroom stir-fry; strawberries and vanilla mullerlight yoghurt; diet coke

Verdict:  Beginning to get a bit sick of eggs for breakfast, although a galette and cottage cheese is rather bland - the yoghurt was nice though. Don't know what I'd have done without the good old mullerlight yoghurt on this diet - although I know I should avoid the fruit ones if possible.  Otherwise enjoyed my food - did have a teaspoon or so of the strawberry jam I made this evening, but it wasn't much!