Health Adviser

I was asked via the gym if I would like to consult the health adviser with regard to my diet. As I previously stated I jumped at the chance as these opportunities do not get presented too often. A couple of days later I got a phone call from the health adviser called Paula. I had my first appointment on 18th September 2014. 

I must say that I was more worried/nervous about this appointment than I was about the gym. My first session with Paula the health adviser consisted of being weighed and measured. She then went on to tell me how many sessions I would be entitled to and what would happen in those sessions. I was asked what I thought was the cause of my weight problem. We then discussed the various diets I have been on and why they had not worked long term.  I was then given a British Heart Foundation book about losing weight. For the rest of the session Paula talked me through the book. My next session was booked for the week after. I was given a sheet to record my food diary for the next week.

Typically the next week was a really bad one foodwise. We ate out & had take aways A LOT that week as it was a very busy week . I wrote everything down even though I knew it was bad because I thought that was the whole point. If I was not honest about it there would be no point. 

The next week, 25th September 2014 I had my next session. I was weighed and was told that I had put on 2lbs.   I gave Paula my food diary. I knew it wasn't good and she would not be impressed but her reaction floored me. She told me in a tone that I found upsetting that my food diary was the worst food diary that she had EVER seen. She went on to tell me how many years she had been doing the job and how she had lost count of how many clients she had seen over the years. I did point out that it was not a normal week but the foods listed in my food diary are the foods I like to eat. 

Paula then decided to go through my food diary properly having the occasional dig as she went along.  I was told that I did not drink enough especially water.  This is something that I get told constantly by my parents and my husband. I really need to work on this. We went through all the foods that I like. This was a really useful exercise. I have been told nearly all my life that I am a fussy eater. I am terrible with vegetables. What did become apparent as we were going through was just how many vegetables I do like. The thing is with me is, I prefer to eat most of my vegetables raw. If you put cooked carrots or cooked spinach in front of me I would not touch them. If you put raw spinach and carrots in front of me I could sit and eat them without complaint.

We discussed how convenience is a major factor in what I eat. Half the time I would leave salad off my sandwiches just because I could not be bothered cutting the lettuce up half the time. I came up with the solution to this myself. I said that when I buy salad items in future I would cut everything up and put it all in tupperware containers as soon as I get my shopping home. 

She asked me to start making an effort to drink more water and prepare my salad as discussed.  We booked my next session for a fortnights time.  I left this session feeling really deflated though. To be perfectly honest I just wanted to cry.  I had expected to leave the session feeling excited to get started but I felt the opposite. 

My next session was 9th October 2014. The first thing that happened was that I was weighed again. This time I had lost 4lbs. Paula was very happy about it. We sat and discussed what I had done over the past fortnight. I had basically done what she had suggested and tried to drink more water. She tried to persuade me to have breakfast which I never do. I told her that there is no way that that would ever happen. She was happy to let it drop. She asked me to explain to her about what my days are like and what sorts of things I do. After I explained she said that she felt that she understood me a bit more. We agreed that I needed to work harder on drinking my water. I said that I would try.  I left this appointment feeling much more happier and positive. My next appointment is 7th November 2014.