Hi everyone, my name is Julie, or Jules as everyone calls me. I am 42 years old (very soon to be 43) and live in Harwich, Essex. I started the Diet Chef plan this morning.

My weigh in this morning was 12st 9lbs, my heaviest weight yet!!!! I gave birth to my third son 20 weeks ago and I am heavier now that when I was full term with him and still have the stomach to show for it!!!! I am also due to be a bridesmaid at my brothers wedding in August in St. Lucia so as well as my goal of fitting in a decent size dress I also want to be able to flaunt my body in a bikini (I haven’t worn one in more than 10 years).

I had my first dress fitting last month and had to opt for a size 18 (ouch) as this was the only size that I could zip up the back. Despite the shop owner saying that the dresses come up small so we had to opt for the next dress size up, this still makes me a size 16!! The next fitting is not due now until July and my aim is for the shop to have enough dress material left over from taking my dress in to make another one, here’s hoping.

I have tried various diets before, from Slimfast, Weight Watchers and even the Atkins. The Slimfast I felt deprived of food twice a day drinking the shakes, Weight watchers I didn’t always have the time to prepare the meals and the Atkins, athough I did lose a stone, I missed the fruit and put the weight straight back on once I stopped following it.

I was browsing the web one day, as you do, and came across the Diet Chef website. Reading the stories of people who were following it spurned me on to join. I like the fact that it is real food and ready prepared for you, short of someone actually coming into your home and cooking every meal for you, this is ideal.. The convenience of warming them up in the microwave means I can either take them out to the office or take them in a flask for lunch. My job since returning from Maternity leave varies from working mostly from home to travellng to and from meetings at the office and various other places, so I can take a flask with my lunch in and also my breakfast if I need to set off early, which I sometimes do. The cost of the plan is also very reasonable and it’s nice to know I have meals for the next 4 weeks and the food was delivered less than 24 hours after I ordered it, how good is that???. With 3 boys under 7, as well as my husband Jeff , I have my hands full working full-time and looking after them as well. Jeff sometimes needs more looking after than the boys!! You have to meet him to believe this!!

I had the Granola for breakfast which I carefully weighed out. I must admit I was a bit disappointed with the amount that was in the bowl, but I added 5 sliced strawberries and ate it with skimmed milk. It was delicious and I felt full until 11.30 when I had an apple. For lunch I had the Parsnip soup which again was delicious and quite filling, a generous portion size as well. My downfall is never knowing what size portions of food to eat which is probably where my weight gain comes in.

I am limited in exercise activity due to a back condition, (ankylosing spondylitis) which is basically an athritic condition of the sacro-iliac joints which can be quite painful and can lead to stiffness and immobility. I also have 3 degenerative discs which I have had 3 operations on, all of which were unsuccessful and as a result I suffer from Sciatic quite a lot. However I have ordered the new Wii fitness which arrives this Friday which I hope to use regularly doing some light exercise (cheaper than going to the gym). Providing that is, I can get on it as my other 2 boys are always on it when not at school.

Have put the Mushroom Stroganoff aside for dinner tonight which I will have with Spinach and broccoli. If it tastes as good as it looks on the packaging I won’t be disappointed.

Well I will sign off now for today and will update you later on in the week on my progress.

Good luck to all you others on the plan.

Jules