Mediterranean diet? There's no such thing!

Kind of a vain post I guess, but still one I feel I should post considering my recent eating habits during the last few weeks.

Perhaps quite naively, I thought that by coming to Spain I would lose weight like that *clicks fingers*. As if by magic, by the time I'd return to Wales at Christmas I'd be fitter, healthier and - 'most importantly' - thinner. People would comment on my weight loss and I'd be able to sit there and bask in the attention with a Big Mac in hand - which would of course be allowed after 4 months of lentils and vegetables, wouldn't it? 

Stupidly I thought "well there's plenty of fruit and veg in the Mediterranean diet", "well there's not much bread in the Mediterranean diet", "I'll lose so much weight on the Mediterranean diet" ... But this is all a lie!!

Although it's clear to see that in general, the Spanish are a lot healthier and slimmer (try finding underwear above a, wait for it, C cup .. nightmare!), I really couldn't tell you how they do it. Having been here for nearly 7 weeks now I think I must have eaten my whole body weight in bread ... But it's not my fault!! Bread is EVERYWHERE, and if someone is kind enough to give me free bread then who am I to say no ...

But seriously, trying to lose weight on an Erasmus year is a nightmare. Take Smooy, for example. What's Smooy I hear you ask? Only THE HOLY GRAIL OF FROZEN YOGHURT SHOPS!

The one and only Smooy counter

Yes yes I know, frozen yoghurt is healthy and all that, but when there's also the option of brownies and pancakes and crepes and waffles .. Yeah well, you get the idea.

Add to this the countless bakeries (with croissants the size of, um, very big croissants), McDonald's (which are even better out here I swear) and OF COURSE the concept of tapas (free food - who'd say no?!) and you're left with a very big problem waistline.

But it leads me to the idea ... Is it right to spend so much time worrying about weight?! An Erasmus year is a one-time opportunity and should be lived to the fullest, right? Referring to a Daily Mail article from earlier in the week, in which a size-12 model was referred to as plus-size, it seems that we've become a nation obsessed with size/weight/body shape. As a size 12 too, would I really consider myself "plus-size"? 

Either way, you'll find me at the Smooy counter - mine's a waffle with white chocolate and strawberries please!