The Bitch Is Back! And She Might Be Shrinking!

After yet more time in Lockdown, the time had finally come for getting out, having a little drink and letting the things come back in.

I was actually grateful that our first week of freedom on the island was free of bookings – I was absolutely desperate to get out and let my hair down and just have some fun, especially after the dreadful week I’d had in the office. I was totally ready to get shitfaced and not care for a few hours. We all need a blowout once in a while.

I’ve also been calorie counting and was curious to see how the numbers stacked up. Not to say I had any intention of rigidly following my new regime on the first weekend of freedom. After all, a blowout isn’t a blowout if you’re holding back. But strangely, it wasn’t actually that bad! I’d noticed during each lockdown a little swell in my waistline, so that needed undoing. As I say, I wasn’t being terribly religious about it, but I hadn’t had a night out where my step tracker was switched on, so I was just curious. The great thing about a night out is that there’s a midnight in the middle of it, so the booze calories get split between Saturday and Sunday, so that wasn’t too bad. Our traditional Saturday night for my friend and I involves me arriving at his place for a mini buffet while we watch ‘Casualty’ (terribly rock and roll, I know) and then I start putting my face on accompanied by some old episodes of ‘Top of the Pops’ (We’re currently just getting into 1990). During all this, there’s liberal vodka and/or Jack Daniels – This week I’d opted for Vodka to save some calories and gone for Coke Zero as it’s almost full flavour but without the calories, so that was all grand. The mini buffet wasn’t that bad either – We tend to get some of the little tapas items from M&S so they’re easy to track and we were on the reduced fat crisps anyway, which actually seem to have more flavour than their regular counterparts. The worst thing, calorie wise, was a Classic Dip Selection, but for the amount we had, not dreadful – and quite essential to any party spread, I can assure you. We’d also been on a 700 calorie walk, so we’d actually earned a little that day and all I’s had was a little slice of chocolate cake, a coffee and a few waters throughout the day, so I was delighted that I had pretty much all of my calorie allowance intact for the day by the time I got there!

I’m quite pleased that I’ve gotten into the habit of tracking my calories, as it’s stopped me just blindly shoving food into my face out of boredom. This is something that really really needed to happen – And I’m pleased to say, I’m noticing results already! I’d been starting to worry that when it was time to fit into my gowns again, I wouldn’t fit into anything, so that’s a relief! I appear to have a neck again! Yay!

Now, I’ve been saying for ages that ever since I started drag, I’ve felt much more comfortable in my own skin and have finally become comfortable with being on the more voluptuous side, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to actually gain weight! Heavens no! So, the time came to have a little intervention with myself. And truth be told, I’m actually enjoying in it! I’ve not had so many vegetables inside me since that night at… Maybe best not to tell that story. But it has changed my relationship with food for the better and I’m enjoying the keeping track. An hell, if I’m seeing results in three weeks, what’s not to be happy about? I have devised a little trick that I quite like when cooking my dinner – I’ve been counting the calories as they go into the pan so I know that once I’ve had my portion, the leftovers are already accounted for on my list for the day. This is fab, as it means I can satisfy my hunger safely knowing it’s already counted, which is brilliant as I’m most hungry at night.

And so, our second weekend of freedom came around and I was a strange mix of nervous and excited to be back to gigging. I started having these weird thoughts of “What if I’ve forgotten how to Vida?” Completely unfounded, I discovered, as the makeup went on as if I’d never had a break from doing it, which was a relief. I was slightly slower getting prepared, but that was my own fault. Once I got there, it was glorious! We needed a few moments to re-familiarise with some of the equipment (due to it not being mine) but it was great to have a microphone in my hand again. And it was even better to not feel the size of a house!

I’d not forgotten how good it feels to get back to what you love doing, but it did make me happier than ever before. Plus, it was ever so camp. I suppose at our monthly Rainbow Night, it has to be really! It was good to be back, I can’t say it enough and let’s hope there’s no more forced long-term breaks again, because it’s really reaffirmed that that’s exactly what I’m meant to be doing, what I’m best at and where I’m happiest. Could it be that the last year has actually brought my life into greater focus? Well, at least there’s something good! On top of that, if I’m going to be losing weight, I’m going to need some new gowns and as things are starting to open up, it seems like just the right time!

It’s great to be embarking on a new, more positive and slightly more slender period in my life – and also to get back to doing what I love! What are you most excited about now we’re moving. Back towards normal? Have you made a positive change recently? Tell us about it in the comments and lets celebrate each other’s success! Hope you’re all good. And until next time…. Stay safe, stay sane and stay… Vidalicious! X

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