Day 18: Stuck in a rut

After the rapid weight loss of the first nine days (4.1kg, or 9lbs), it has slowed dramatically over the subsequent nine, to a further loss of just 0.7kg (1.5lb). I think this is for a number of reasons, and I shall address them (and their possible solutions) in turn.

Increased fat intake
I have written before about the "sneak eating" of almond butter that has gone on for the past week or so. I have also been over-using olives in my salads, I think, and perhaps avocados, too. I am beginning to find that it is getting too rich for me to have a big bowl of salad with half an avocado (to the point where I sometimes can't finish it), I think it might be the over-abundance of olives that are tipping it over the balance.

Solution: Stop putting so many olives in my salads, and fill up on more fruit and veg at meal-times so that I don't feel the urge to snack on high-fat foods, but can happily choose an apple or a cucumber instead.

Reduced green smoothie intake
Due to my unwillingness to keep on washing that damn blender, I have been remiss in my green smoothie intake. These are such an important part of the BES plan (and all raw vegan lifestyles, really), and I am ignoring it in favour of a single banana for breakfast!

Solution: These smoothies are tasty, filling, hugely nutritious and take an hour or two to eat, giving my digestive system a chance to go at the meal properly. Suck it up, make a smoothie and do a little washing up!

Reduced reliance on BES menu plans
And this one's the kicker. The overall reason for the problems mentioned above? I am not following the BES menu planners anymore. This is mostly because of the lull I felt in the recipes (shock, horror, about nine days ago) and the change I made toward making up my own raw vegan meal options. Now, the BES Divas are perfectly happy for us to make our own way and be flexible with the planners according to our own lifestyles and needs. However, I have been following the letter rather than the spirit of the law here, and focusing less on the dark leafy greens that are such a foundation to the success of a dietary lifestyle such as this one.

Solution: Don't ignore the menu planners entirely because they failed me once! Use them, and modify or change single meals rather than assuming I won't like the recipe at all and not even check it out.

Current weight: 77.3kg (-4.8kg)
Current body-fat percentage: (36.0%)
Current feeling: Rejuvenated in commitment to the BES