Fit_Well_October_2017

66 FIT & WELL

My challenge

Will an online food diary help writer

Kirstin Chaplin get her diet back on track?

C

onfession: for

the past six

months, my

eating habits have

been appalling.

A combination of work,

studying and mum taxi duties

have meant I’ve skipped meals

and, some days, survived

purely on processed foods.

So could Instagramming my

meals, and letting the whole

world see how bad my diet is,

push me to be healthier?

Day one

I’m immediately struck by

how mindful the challenge is

making me. At a petrol station,

where I’d usually have bought

chocolate-coated rice cakes, I

opt for a coffee instead. Just as

well, because that night I stay

at my parents’ home and it’s

fish and chips for tea.

Day two

The day starts well, but by

3pm I’m exhausted by all the

restraint and have a Twix.

It’s downhill from there – that

night, at a friend’s house,

I devour a huge bowl of pre-

dinner crisps. When I post

to Insta, I’m cheered to get a

message from a new follower

saying #loveyourpost!

Words

Kirstin Chaplin

Photos

Instagram @kirstinchaplin

Day seven: healthy

brekkie to smile about

Can Instagram

make me healthy?

Taking up a new

challenge? Let us know

at facebook.com/

fitandwellmagazine

#F&Wchallenge

The verDIcT

Despite the odd slip, the

Instagram challenge did

make me think twice

about what I ate and

pushed me towards

healthier options. As the

week went on, I found

that resisting unhealthy

foods became easier

and I remembered the

importance of having

healthy foods prepped

and ready in the fridge.

Keeping an online food

diary is a great way to

stay motivated, but

I’m not entirely sure it’s

very interesting for

friends and followers!

Day three

Despite the #foodfails so far,

I am actually resisting a lot of

unhealthy extras. I worry my

Instagram feed is getting a bit

too foodie, so I use the option

of adding multiple pictures

to one post. With each post,

I gain new followers but my

overall numbers fluctuate –

my feed’s turning off as many

people as it’s turning on!

Day four

While food shopping, I avoid

buying anything I wouldn’t be

prepared to post online. This

is definitely a lesson I’ll take

with me once the challenge is

over. However, I’m shocked

when I look back at the day’s

photos. I thought I’d done well,

but had forgotten about the

slice of pizza I ate before

ordering a fish-finger sarnie

and chips at a beachside cafe!

Mindful of my mistakes, I have

salmon and veg for dinner.

Day five

I’m always looking for photo

locations. ‘Look at that ray of

sunshine!’ I’ll shout as I rush to

move my plate this way and

that. My kids roll their eyes,

but I’ve lost 1lb this week.

Day six

I have another good day, but

a late-night work call means I

miss dinner and end up eating

a protein bar instead. I notice

the number of likes for each

new picture is dwindling. Am

I officially a #foodbore?

Day seven

It’s my final day and I vow to be

a #foodinspiration. I breakfast

on yogurt and berries and for

lunch I have an immensely

Instagrammable prawn salad

in a jar. #winning.

Day one: fish-

and-chips fail

66 FIT

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Day four: making m

up for mistakes

Day two: unable to^

resist a Twix finger