An update and a new feature.

To all of you on the interwebs who have taken to reading this blog. Thank you, so very much, for your continued support. I haven't written in over a week because this has been the busiest week of my life. I've had assignments due, week one of archaeological excavation and a run of 'Little Shop of Horrors' to contend with. As such, an update. To those of you who have been watching the lilyslim ticker on this blog you may have noticed I've lost another pound. I've had moments this week where, because of time constraints and stress, I've felt like my world was falling to pieces. Now that this busy, hellish week is over I know that I was being far too negative. Losing that pound, making sure I went to the meeting on Thursday (covered in mud and soaked through from digging all day, I should add) was my way of maintaining some control.

A few more stats:
Since starting this weight loss programme I have-
Lost 9 pounds
Lost an average of 4cm on my waist, bust, thighs, arms and hips
Have purchased a dress in New Look (albeit, in their plus sized section. I'd never even bothered before as I felt so very out of place)
Walked an average of Nine Thousand steps per day
Had comments (either in person or online) from 12 different people about how 'inspirational' or 'motivational' this blog has been
Had comments from 5 people about how much trimmer I am looking.
Had one negative comment from someone trying to be supportive (I think we covered that well enough in the last post)

It's more than a little bit amazing. My friend Piers has shared my blog with his friends and he comes to dinner and tells me that they're all talking about it. People I've never met/ am only acquainted with send me emails saying that I've somehow given them the push to lose weight or simply do something for themselves. Something that makes them happy and more fulfilled. And I have to say, I couldn't be more thrilled. This was, ultimately, the entire purpose for this blog. To inspire one person. To let people know that they are certainly not alone in their feelings or worries.

As such, as a way of rationalising all of the support and positive energy, as well as the misplaced negative energies which will happen (thus is life, there will always be people who get their jollies from getting others down) I have been inspired to start a new feature. I was talking with my friend Maddy and she said that simply reading this blog over the last few weeks has opened her eyes to a variety of different issues that come upon people losing weight. Now, Maddy is an intuitive, intelligent young woman and if these are the kinds of things that would simply have passed her by, it stands to reason that it will have done the same to others. Together she and I came up with the idea of my writing different 'myth busters' over the coming weeks. Most of these will be formed from personal experience but many (where the science-y bit is involved) will require a bit more research so I do hope that you will bare with me as they take form.

The topics I have for discussion so far are:

1. Changing your diet (as opposed to going on a 'Diet') means you can't have certain foods. A.K.A 'WHERE IS ALL THE CHEESE?!'
2. Changing your diet means you've got to 'cut your calories in half'
3. The difference between a 'Diet' -six weeks till your sister's wedding and changing your diet
4. The concept of maintenance OR 'Coping at war. Have your exist strategy at hand before you go in'
5. What it actually means to eat 'Healthily'
6. Coping with outside forces OR 'The dinner party means my 'Diet' is over' scenario
7. Unsupportive support.

I hope that you will find these myth busting episodes interesting and, where possible, I'm more than happy to take requests. If it is within my power to answer, I will certainly do so.

Until then.