Dieting in The Lockdown

 During the first lockdown, the process of cooking was a pleasant activity and a pleasurable diversion.  If we couldn't eat out, I cooked in and the pounds have crept on until the limit was the fact I could not fit into my clothes.  

Therefore I have to diet.  I have yoyo dieted all my life ever since my mother asked me to slim down a size for my wedding dress but that's another story.

BUT

The activity of dieting lowers my mood and the angry scales watching me from the main bathroom follow me everywhere in the house, I go to bed with gnawing hunger pains and acid reflux after my tablets.  I experience so much discomfort on 1300 calories with very little result

I decided to record and illustrate my frustration - image one - a pretty dress hides the truth May 28th 2020.  My birthday meal is not excessive but for me everything in my mouth puts on weight.

To express my anger with myself, here is image 2/3/4

I have been on diet five days and lost 1 lb. I have 18 months to go if I stick to a diet to lose correct amount of weight.  I have discovered that the BBC do free Keto recipes.  My son came over  and we had a nice chat, my hunger is irrepressible. Tim suggested that I try Keto with no carbs and lots of protein and veg for five days a week and have the weekend off with calories counting but some carbs. I am dancing to Michael Blube ten minutes each day, He is a the most sexiest and nice man and I am a  fan and that lifts my mood.  Tim suggests I walk with John when he goes to get his paper ,The Guardian and I get The Daily Mail  and arguing with John might fritter away the lockdown and introduce another exercise.  I might become part of the celebrity culture and get more followers on Instagram, who knows.  Tim is a great source of amusement for me as he has a great sense of humour.

So Week one weigh in 25/1/2021

I have lost 1 1/2 pound

I have to keep to my resolve,  I am cross with myself for having put on half a stone during this latest lockdown.  I have been eating chocolate biscuits which is a great no no for me.  The way forward in my opinion, is to give myself treats of some kind.  I like shopping so at the end of the week I shall go shopping. We went to the coop and food shopped  and then went to Chaplins where I bought some wool.  I am going to knit a large teddy, I did one before and it was a good success and they raffled it at my mother's  care home.  Maybe I can raffle it or give it to Jakub.

This might take my mind  off food in the evening when I am too tired to do very much.

I cant believe I knitted this six years ago! I hope the next one turns out as well.

Newsletter for the New Year

 

Newsletter from Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg  - new beginnings

 

January 1^st, 2021

 

During the last year Zoom has revolutionised relationships and social get togethers including zoom parties, quizzes, singing, art etc.  Part of studying with Falmouth University last term was to really look at skills sets and decide the best way forward. For example : I have in the past self-published my books.  It was suggested in a tutorial that people might look at how much energy expended and  how many results  there are from self-publishing and instead try to approach publishers with their work instead using the same amount of energy.

Domestika taught me that publishers now require a print ready photo of illustrations.  They taught me how to set up a light box and produce what is required.  Many illustrators go digital so that doesn’t require this photography process but publishers are tired of flat digital images and are turning to analogue images.

During the last year I have been practicing my Person-Centred Art Therapy skills with college students in America.  I was contacted by a friend to experiment with this and I was gifted not paid. However, it became very successful via zoom.  I now offer Person-centred art therapy session via Zoom via my website www.artythingsplus.co.uk

People know that I have for several yearsI have  offered creative writing skills in groups. This too has moved to zoom and sessions are also available on my website. www.artythingsplus.co.uk  I also offer a critique for writing under 2,000 words.

A friend of mine  Claire Jeanes who taught mixed media at The Brewhouse now offers online zoom art courses.  You can contact her at Clairejeanes@hotmail.com  for more information.

 

Please forward this to anyone who might in your opinion be interested.

 

Many thanks for your attention

 

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg