I'm Karen. When Kate mentioned the 3 week diet to me I volunteered to test it out. I have a family wedding in the summer and I really want to be able to buy a lovely dress, surprise my family and look good in the photos.
For me the weight has crept on gradually. It started in my mid 30s and I've steadily increased in clothes size since then (I'm 46 now). I've tried a few of different diets, but they've never worked out well. I've also tried exercising and that's been good for a few weeks until something happens which makes it difficult to fit into my crammed schedule. Then the exercise gets dropped. After all, it's not like I enjoy it 🙁
So now I'm the biggest I've ever been. I really notice that all my clothes are tight. My blouses gape slightly across my bust if I stand with my shoulders back, so I have to be a bit round shouldered to preserve my modesty. I'm on the end hole of my favorite belt. And when I bend down to tie my shoelaces, I have to undo the button on my waistband! I suppose more that that though, I just generally feel lethargic, and slightly out of sorts. I put it down to carrying all this extra blubber around.
So I'm hoping for a significant weight loss. I know that after dieting a few pounds usually creep back on, but if I lose enough weight even if I gain a few pounds I'll still be much slimmer than before. And 21 days is doable. Although I don't have huge amounts of willpower, I think if the weight drops as promised, then I'll be able to keep it up.
At the initial weigh in I was resigned to learn that 44.7% of my body was fat. I know that for optimum health it should be 20% – 30% for a woman so I have a way to go. My BMI of 31.5 was also solidly in the obese category. If I can make it to merely overweight by the end of the 3 weeks, it'll be a good start!
If you want to follow the diet with me, you can get it here
Intial Weights and Measures
Weight
Stones/lb | lbs | Kg | |
Weight | 13st 12lbs | 194 | 88.18 |
Fat Loss Monitor Measurements
% Body fat | BMI |
44.7 | 31.5 |
Tape Measurements ( I measured in cm and have converted approximately to inches)
Waist | Belly | Thigh | Upper Arm | |
cm | 90 | 110 | 70 | 35 |
inches | 36 | 43.5 | 27.5 | 13.75 |
Body Fat Measurement Notes
Of course the measurements depending on where round the body I take them, so for the arm and thigh I've picked handy moles as markers to try and ensure that I measure always in the same place.
For the body fat measurements, as you can see in the picture above I have one of those little machines where you enter your vital statistics, hold the handles and it uses a tiny electric current to measure your % body fat and calculate BMI. It's not suggested in the 3 week diet plan instructions, but I thought it would be interesting – and perhaps add motivation.
The one I have is very similar this Omron Body Fat Loss Monitor from Amazon – but a much older model.