Well, here as promised is an update on my weight-loss (I use this term loosely) regime.

I am mostly trying to follow Paul McKenna’s book I Can Make You Thin, which is quite a slim tome itself as it basically contains only five golden rules and then some stuff about reprogramming your mind to behave like a ‘naturally thin’ person.

The golden rules are:

1. Eat only when you’re hungry
2. When you’re hungry, you can eat ANYTHING you want
3. Eat consciously, and enjoy every mouthful
4. When you think you’re full, STOP
5. Listen to the brainwashing CD which comes with the book as often as possible.

I have to say that after dieting for my entire adult life, my mind is pretty screwed up when it comes to food. I’ve been following so many conflicting rules over the years – low-fat, no carbs etc. etc. – that the very act of eating makes me feel guilty. But I do love good food, and it was so refreshing to be able to take things back to basics mentally.

So, how did I get on?

1. I found I was able to stick to Rule 1 most of the time – which made a huge change because since I had the Minx I’ve been eating when bored or stressed rather than hungry. And I realised how much I had been using sugary snacks to get over the afternoon tiredness hump, because some days I had real cravings. But I’ve been trying to get more sleep which has helped.
2. I found Rule 2 unbelievably difficult. I’ve been so brainwashed over the years that it was difficult to think that it was actually OK to eat ‘naughty’ food like butter or cheese when I wanted it. Interestingly Paul McKenna is right that one naturally does gravitate to a healthy way of eating – surprisingly I didn’t actually want to eat chocolate all the time .
3. I also realised that having a baby was making it almost impossible to eat consciously and focus on every mouthful. I’d been stuffing in ‘fuel’ every so often during the day and hardly noticing what it was I was eating. It’s still almost impossible to focus when you have a toddler trying to pull the food from your plate but I shall persevere.
4. This was also very difficult as I think over the years my body has overridden the ‘full’ sensation so often that now I don’t feel it. And sadly it seems that I actually need only very small portions to make me full (I’m short so really should not be eating very much). But I’ve definitely been eating a bit less.
5. The CD was lovely. I’ve only been able to listen to it a few times, but it is incredibly relaxing. I’ve no idea what it says as I always drift off into something almost like sleep but not quite, but I do come round feeling more motivated and inspired.

But does it work? Well I’ve only lost about 1 and 1/2 pounds so far which is somewhat depressing, though the good news is that I have not felt in the slightest bit deprived or like I’ve been on a diet at all. And I have to say that I’ve been sticking to the rules badly overall. And I definitely need to add more exercise to the mix. So onwards and upwards.

I will report back.

I’m sure bloggers everywhere will welcome the availability of this new statistical report created especially for us by GapingVoid.

I think it’s about time we talked a bit more about starting and running your own business, particularly as a female entrepreneur.

I found this article (on Paper Bride – a cool blog by a woman in NYC who runs her own bridal stationery business) about handbag designer Lauren Merkin’s quest to get Oscars red carpet exposure for her handbags really interesting – mostly the fact that she spent over $30,000 trying to get a sleb to carry one of her bags and the fact that she thought it was all worthwhile (though she would say that wouldn’t she?) Though admittedly it has got her exposure on the mirror mirror blog, which will, I’m sure, send handbag sales soaring. (By the way, could the slebs have been put off by the definition of the word ‘merkin’? I’m not sure I’d want to be carrying a Merkin bag.)

mirror mirror has been invited to contribute things for goodie bags on a few occasions but we’ve always turned them down so far – mostly because it costs a fortune to give that amount of stuff away, and also because it’s unlikely that any celebrity is going to be photographed parading down the red carpet with a scented candle on her head (though that would surely get the paparazzi going).

The article reveals that the whole Oscars circus is even more of a racket than I had assumed and makes one wonder even more how celebrities (mentioning no names Charlize) can still get it SO wrong.

I thought we’d all appreciate a quick squiz at GQ’s Top Ten Best-Dressed Men. Purely in the interests of research of course.

Interesting that the emphasis this year is on the suit. GQ is calling this return to a more formal style ‘dapper masculinity’ (I shall pass this on to the Husband). And David Beckham is ageing very badly.