Should auld acquaintance be forgot?

As a proud Scottish women new year wouldn't be complete with a drunken circle of people with crisscrossed hands singing our national poet's famous poem: Auld Lang Syne.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?


Hogmany, New Year, was traditionally a bigger holiday in Scotland than even Christmas! My Grandparents and parents tell me that when they were young everyone would open their front doors at midnight and literally streets of people would wander to and from their neighbours' houses, "first-footing" with a bottle of plonk to pass round. (See alcohol is my heritage - I knew it wasn't my fault).


These days we hardly know our neighbours, and certainly don't like them enough to give them booze (bloomin' tax on alcohol)


And for a long time I always worked New Year - so I was never really that bothered about it. This year I'm off and going to my best friends house for a party. My parents are going to a dinner/dance and my brother is off to his mates to, and I quote; "get absolutely smashed" (heritage!!)


I am looking for to the party - namely because I have a beautiful slinky dress which I totally rock! (its a size 12 ECK!!)


And also because I am looking forward to putting 2011 behind me.


Broken relationships, the loss of family members, financial problems, general pi$$ ups....


Don't get me wrong - there has been some incredible highs: Graduation, Getting my Job, finding new friends, THAILAND, moving out, sparks of romance....

I've learned a lot this year - about myself I mean. I can be totally selfish sometimes, despite also being generous. I am too hard on myself, I analyse things way too much and sometimes I don't think before I open my mouth (or set my fingers wild on a text or facebook post...)


But....I also learned that I am surrounded by some of the most amazing people on the planet, my family and friends, and i am lucky to have every one of them in my life. I've learned to try and relinquish some control over everything, to stop panicking, to stop and breathe and just enjoy the here and now. 


I want 2011 behind me, not because it was the worst year of my life, but because it was a significant year of change and I am excited to see what new lessons and adventures and friendships and experiences 2012 will bring!


So in the wise words of Mr Burns: 


And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie's a hand o' thine,
and we'll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.

Good luck for 2012 and I look forward to talking to you all soon!


Happy New Year to all!! xxxxx

Festive Season: Sparkles, food, family and the flu!

Hey all!

I hope you've all had an amazing Christmas and are enjoying the rest of your festive season!

This is just a quick note to let you all know that my Christmas has been amazing! Not only have I spent time with all my friends and family but there is also a new romance on the horizon :)

Remember that leap of faith I talked about?? It involved a phone number on the back of a reciept - my sober, him sober...

So far we've had 3 dates and its all looking very well! A stone ago I would never had had the confidence to give a guy my number, especially a guy as good looking as this one. Fingers crossed it may continue :)

So anyways at this point in time I am very ill with the flu and therefore bored! On the other hand I just bought 4 dresses in the boohoo.com sale - and I know I am going to look amazing in them all :D

All that glitters is not gold!

Hello all!

Yes this is another Christmas lovers blogger's blog! I can't help it - its just such a super time of year! and I don't care if your a scrooge - as Fred (Scrooge's nephew) proudly states: "I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So A Merry Christmas!"

This weekend was up and down. We had the WeightWatchers of Inverkip (my old class) Christmas night out at the KipMarina Chartroom restaurant. I decided not to drink, partly due to expense and partly due to just not feeling the need. I also choose carefully: prawn cocktail to start, salmon main (I really love salmon) and chocolate mousse pudding. With diet lemonades the whole evening.

The best bit about the night was looking and feeling amazing, alongside other women who know exactly how I feel and what I am going through. (See the group mug shot above - great lassies - brilliant laugh). I had on my graduation frock - which fitted a lot better than at graduation. I felt amazing, I looked amazing and it was a wonderful feeling. I didn't need alcohol to feel confident, in fact I felt so confident that I took a leap of faith...which depending on the outcome I'll disclose at a later date - so watch this space!

Saturday I went shopping with my Dad. I wanted to spend time with him because Saturday evening we were having a memorial for my uncle who died through in Australia earlier this year. He has a daughter too - Katie, and for all I try I cannot to begin to image life without my Dad. So I dragged myself out of bed at 9am to go shopping with him.

The memorial was lovely. All the family gathered together and we scattered Uncle T's ashes on the river Clyde, as were his wishes. We all came back to my parents house and indulged in nibbles and I had a cider or 2.

Sunday, chilled with my family, had chinese, a baileys and watched A Christmas Carol (hence the quote). The good version with Patrick Stewart!

It was an amazing weekend and I spent all of it with family, which made it extra special and just makes me more excited for this weekend.

My presents are wrapped, my cake ingredients bought, my 2 days annual leave have been ok'd which means I finish on WEDNESDAY this week!

Could I be happier? Not on your Nelly!

Tis the Season to be Jolly....

....and after the week I've had and weighing in as STAYING THE SAME I am one jolly person!!

You may have guessed that I am feeling a little better today :D Between the hot water and honey, the MAX strength beechams, an early finish from work and Tim Burtons Alice and Wonderland I believe I am cured!!

oh and the ice cream....for medicinal purposes...the sore throat....honest!

annnnnd it is getting so super close to Christmas I am just getting so super excited it is unbelievable! TBH its not the food and drink which gets me all in a tizzy, but this is the 1st year in over 5 years that I will be off my work on both Christmas, New Year and the time in between! In my old job people still required you to assist them, Christmas doesn't mean someone can miraculously walk or get their own clothes on if they couldn't do it before. And don't get me wrong people still need social workers over Christmas - it can be a painful and depressing time of year for many.

but...I am just a baby social worker....which means I am NOT ALLOWED to do duty over the festive period. Next year I probably won't be so lucky SO I am happy to take advantage of my new job situation and enjoy my holiday.

More than anything else I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family this year. Living apart from them, so far away, has really hit home to me how much I love the people in my life. So although I am happily making Christmas puddings, cheesecake and other festive treats, I'm not too fussed about eating them, its who I am eating them with that is going to make all my Christmas wishes come true :D

I am SICK!!!

Yeah I have the bloomin' cold!

I was so determined to be really good this week. I made some really sensible choices at my meals out and only had alcohol the one night (albeit ALOT of alcohol, but still only 1 night)

Sunday I was still feeling pretty rough, and had cursed myself once again for over-indulging on the liquor at the weekend! In fact, I'll tell you something, since I have lost weight I CANNOT handle my drink at all. And for my friends who read this blog, yeah as in I'm even worse than before!

One of the reasons I cut down!

However, by Sunday night - and more clearly at 4am Monday morning - I realised that my ill feeling was not a 2 day hangover, but in fact an actual illness.

So I'm sorry diet but its comfort food all the way!

I am not a good sick person. Some people just get on with it when they are sick, some accept defeat and die quietly. I am neither - I am a whinger! I will moan, and complain and go on and on about how sick I am.

So here I am....at home, early from work for 2 days in a row (I still go in - then go home....its a guilt thing) typing this blog from behind a mountain of tissues and endless cups of tea, plus any kind of comfort food I can get my hands on.

Tonight I had sloppy joes, and I am going to have ice-cream. Yes I know I have the cold, but there is method to my madness.....it makes me feel better :)

So no exercise this week, no tracking, its all gone wrong. I'll still get weighed tomorrow, no point in not going, may as well see what the damage is. But the virus is to blame for any gain...not the alcohol, or ice-cream, the virus!!

On the plus side = Christmas is a week on Sunday :D

Christmas food blog...and a weekend update!

 

I missed Friday theme blog...because it was a party weekend!

So to fill you in I had my Christmas night out with the work girls, which is resulted in me being extremely drunk and going AWOL. In my drunkenness I tend to just decide it is time to go home. Which I did lol!

However, I had a really amazing night out and really got to know the girls a bit better! Had a beautiful dinner in the Treehouse restaurant in Ayr. I choose the fruit starter, Salmon main and a toffee shortbread pudding. The last was a point killer, along with the gallons of bacardi I consumed, but I was good with my 1st two choices. I genuinely enjoyed the meal and the same changes in my choices mean that there was some level of damage limitation.

 Then last night I joined friends at the Athena restaurant in Glasgow. Having never had greek food before I did a quick search on WW E-source and discovered Mussaka = very bad! However, grilled meats = very good! So I had a spinach and goats cheese starter, chicken skewer main (see photo) and cheesecake for pudding. No alcohol as I was driving (and dying inside). Again the pudding was a treat but I am hoping my semi-sensible starter and main choices meant that I should be able to absorb some of the damage!

Like most people on here (those who have not abandoned the site for Christmas temptations) I am not being uber strict on myself. Its a party season - and good food and drink goes along with the season! I will enjoy it - but at the same time I don't wish to undo all the hard work so far.

As for my ideal Christmas dinner. Well this is am interesting question for me as I am not a huge fan of roast dinners, never one for meat with potatoes and veg any time of the year.

So for starters i would have a prawn cocktail. My favourite bits of the main meal is defo the roast potatoes and roast vegetables. Although I'd be happy with chicken or fish, rather than turkey.

Desert - would be all deserts. I am going to make another baileys and white chocolate cheesecake. I also love millionaires shortbread and trifle. Pretty much any pudding to be honest.

I like a wee baileys at Christmas as well. Although I have rather enjoyed being almost alcohol free the last few weekends - and my hangover on Saturday reinforced this again. Going to have some serious thinking about maybe trying a t-total period.

Anyways I am looking forward to Christmas very very very much! I am off the whole way through and am genuinely excited to relax and spend time with friends and family. Last night was an awesome dinner, relaxed, grown-up and pleasurable in every sense of the word. Friends make the occasion - and Christmas is no different!

Merry Christmas Everyone - I hope you have the time of your life!!

A blow to the positivity!

I haven't had a night out in 2 weeks, I have stayed within my accumulated daily and weekly pps the last 2 weeks, I have been to the gym 3 times the last 2 weeks and the only remotely naughty thing I did in the last 2 weeks was have a small portion of chips and curry sauce from the local kebab place on Saturday night!

Well...it wasn't the ONLY naughty thing I did at the weekend....lets just say the dating is going well and we'll leave it at that shall we. Don't want this to become a smutty blog (although that may boost the readership somewhat.....hmmmm?)

Anyway the point is imagine my utter disappointment, my dismay, my complete shock at my weigh-in tonight...

I stayed the same!!!

and the first person to say "at least you never put on" gets struck from the friend list quicker than you can say "look on the bright side".

Now, I had a good 20min rant to my leader about my points, about how hard I worked, about how good I had been. She told me not to worry, that sometimes the body has to catch up. Lower my carbs, up my protein and see how next week goes.

Oh yeah except I have my work Xmas night out Friday and a friends birthday night out Saturday at a Greek restaurant....no problemo boss!

This was followed by a rant, in the car, to myself, where upon WW and all its wisdom was F'd and S'd and C'd all the way home.

Now I am home, and I have re-read my blogs, as well as some threads about what the best greek food is for pps. Plus I have decided to swap my pate starter Friday night for melon balls...kill a few pps right there and then.

Also I am not going to drink Saturday night either...it allows me to come home and see my family before heading back to work on Monday, I don't really need it as the main focus of the night is the meal, and at the end of the day this is important to me so I have to give it my all!

And finally I am going to keep running, I am going tomorrow night, maybe squeeze one in at the weekend, and I'll be booking for Monday and Wednesday next week again!

As the irrefutable fountain of knowledge that is Dori from finding Nemo says: "just keep swimming, just keep swimming!"

Exercise mojo is back :D

Well guys...the proof is in the pudding! Oh wait, shouldn't say pudding on a WW blog...ok it's on the treadmill!

My recent bout of positive mind, positive body blogs have put a spring in my step because not only did I start my new running programme last Thursday I actually went back. Sometime the second session is harder than the first! Its great to be motivated to begin with, but keeping it up is a pain in the backside!

But I dragged my wee butt (it is actually wee...I have never had an **** , my jeans fall down constantly!!) down to the local fitness suite again tonight. Despite the pitch black and torrential hailstones! I did my 20min walk/jog...which will over the weeks build up to a 20min full jog :D

Never fancied myself a runner...but there you go!

Also after reading cookie_lou's blog (a fellow online WW), I decided to take my new positive attitude to my 27pps. To be fair cookie only has 26!! Her blog was great, as she explained how tiny changes allowed her to shave off those 3pps a day without feeling like she had to give things up! So this week I endeavor to do the same. So far I have actually been ok for pps, but I have relied on my weeklies to top me up every day. That is fine the last couple of weeks, but literally from now till 2012 (and a few weekends beyond) I have social engagements galore! Which is fantastic as I can't wait to get out there with my stone lighter body...but its going to use up my weeklies!

 So i need to get into staying at my 27pps a day! That is this weeks mini goal, along with 2 more treadmill sessions!

Positive Mind Positive Body

So, today is usually my WI day, but strike action means the community center is closed. So I jumped on my scales (which usually indicate that I am about 2lbs lighter than the WW ones) and I look as if I've stayed roughly the same...so I'm just going to track that I did and aim for a loss this week!

So no stats today! And no work - as I too am on strike against the proposed changes to public sector pensions (I may be 25 but if we don't do something now then I will have to work till I am 80 and then taken into a field and shot!!)

So I did all - yes ALL - of my Christmas shopping today. Most of it online! I too am a super excited Christmas person!! And this year it is my Mums turn to host Christmas dinner! I said I would do the pudding, inspired by the Baileys and White Chocolate Cheesecake recipe in this months WW magazine! So today I figured I would do a trial run (rather than wait until Christmas and realise that I need to tweak things!)

Et Voila!! (Picture) One WW Baileys and White Chocolate Cheesecake! And can I just say that is the best looking cake I have ever done :D

In fact I realised today just how much I do enjoy making food - I am a terrible terrible cook, especially if I have to cook for other people. I just worry that I'm going to mess it up, and I'm too frightened to deviate - so I tend to stick exactly to recipes as well!

But I made pasta for lunch, just through in some peppers and light philly chilli soft cheese. Then I used the rest of the pasta to make up tuna, mayo and pepper pasta for tomorrow and Fridays lunch.

Looking back at my old blogs, when I would post pictures of my attempts at making WW recipes, I read my blog about being proactive. And I realised that I have slipped recently. I am slowly sliding back into convenience and not forcing myself into exercise either!

Well my positive themed blog season must have worked because I called up the local activity center and found that they have a very small fitness room, just one treadmill, cross-trainer and bike - literally a cupboard. Well, come on, the village has a population of about 50!! Now before I was saying that I didn't want to pay extra over my gym membership, the gym membership which is valid in Inverclyde...approx 43 miles from where I am Mon-Fri! So I phoned up (proactive) and found that I can hire this tiny fitness room for 30mins, I'd have it all to myself.....for just £1.50!!

Thursday at 6pm! See you there :)

Keeping a Positive Theme!

p.s. Date went fantastic!! I may have got beat at minigolf but I lookied bloomin' gorgeous at the time :)

So in the spirit of continuing a positive attitude I have choosen a new topic:

The 12lbs I've lost so far

Reason for negativity: Things have really slowed down for me recently - its taken 3 months to lose 1 and a half pounds overall (up and down and up and down) I was at a stage were I wanted to give up!

Time for the positive twist, reasons why although I am frustrated at the moment, this WW journey has not been a complete waste of time and money!

First of all I am almost a stone lighter than 8 months ago. Its a slow loss (although my holiday definantly put a large dent in the old figures) but its still a loss. I might still be a size 14, but to be painfully honest with myself I was really a 16 before, and could only get into 14s from shops which tend to be a little more generous with their material allowence anyway!

I am more comfortable in my body...and that refers to both with or without my clothes on ;) I'm not trying to bring the tone of this usually high quality blog down but its a very important part of life, particulary when your 25years old, not being so self-conscious has definantly lead to a discovery of inner-confidence....(lights on!)

I am fitter than before, ok the exercise has definantly been pushed (or rather nudged from a stagnated couch potato position) to one side. But I am living in the middle of noweher, its not safe or accessible to go out walking at night and I haven't got around to finding out about classes etc yet! This is Wednesdays task...until then there isn't much I can do...and accepting that is better than being nieve about it!


Finally....I am nearly a stone closer to goal. Regardless of little i've lost in means i have less to still lose! This is the thought which will triumph as I waddle, then walk, then jog, run and finally sprint to that finish line!

Positive Mental Attitude!

Weighed in today - lost 1lb! Just 21 to go till goal! woohoo!

However - I have now been reduced to a mere 27 PPs! WTF!?

However - like I said yesterday this is all about positive mental attitude - so today's topic is going to be:

Living away from home/in the deepest darkest country.

Reason for negativity: I was hoping to start running but its way too dark and I live on the A70 (literally) and there is no pavement AND i live with my aunt and uncle and am not yet at the stage where I feel comfortable Wii-ing (heehee) in front of them!

Right, time to turn this around - good things about moving and living here!

1 - my aunt and uncle are both thin, probably due in great effort to their tiny portions - which i have realised actually fill me up as well, and therefore are probably closer to normal portions that what I am used to! (Mums fault - its always Mums fault!!) So that is obviously going to help!

2 - I am just making excuses (already paying for a gym membership, too dark too run) so I have inquired and found a local zumba class on a Monday night, and that there is a small gym equipment room that I can hire out for an hour, so I am going to start doing that once a week, on top of my weekend exercise (when I bloomin' go)

3- I can choose (for the most part) what I want to eat. Although my uncle usually makes dinner I am responsible for buying my own snacks, lunches and breakfasts, so by keeping them low I can hopefully absorb my uncles (untrackable) meals!

So, that is that - moving away is a good thing for my weight loss because it has forced me to take account of my own eating and exercise in new ways!

oh wait:

4- living in the middle of NOWHERE means no McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut or Chinese (yip - I'm not lying, closest Chinese is in Cumnock - bout 30mins drive from here) There is a chip shop and kebab/chilli place in Coylton, that's about 20mins away! Not worth the detour! I haven't tried anything from a take away here yet, so I have no taste for anything! So I don't bother!!

but still 27 points man :S

The benefits of a 9-5

Ok so enough is enough with the negativity! Its time to start changing the mind set and creating a positive mental attitude to my life!

So today's topic: My New Job

Reason for negativity: I've went to a 9-5 office job which involves driving and computers and sitting about!

Right, so yes this job means little to no activity - its a job which involved brains (which I have lots of) and which I worked dammed hard to achieve! But all i've been harping on about is the fact I won't be moving around much!

However, the benefits of a 9-5 Monday to Friday job are numerous!

For one I have regular eating patterns - when I worked shifts my eating was everywhere, causing binges then periods where I didn't eat for hours. The benefits of working the same hours every day means having the same breakfast, lunch and (more or less) dinner time! The past few weeks I have experienced a strange sensation around 11.30 and 5pm - hunger! I realised today when I had to go to an appointment before I got for my tea that I was really hungry! Lets face it - when you were fat, can you actually remember feeling physically hungry!?

I think this is a good thing - because it tells me that I am not over-feeding myself like I used to at lunch time. I have a fairly small lunch now, because I have to back to work straight away, with the old job I didn't start back till 4 - hence the 3 hour binging session!!

Second good thing is it is much easier to be prepared. Working out in the community and pretty much out of my car meant I wasn't able to take dinners etc which resulted in buying food and tea etc out of shops (baaad) now I have a microwave and fridge - roll on the fruit smoothies and microwave lunches!!

Third - I get to wear my own clothes. In my old job we had a uniform which included a thick and very flattering tunic (not the most fashionable of outfits but it gave you an amazing hourglass figure) Now I have nowhere to hide, and office wear is probably the least flattering genre of clothes imaginable (well, maybe except leotards or something). So now I have to think in the morning, decide if I look good, rather than this extra scrutiny getting me down - I feel better for it, more determined to keep pushing!!

Finally - I get weekend free - yes major risk of alcohol binge weekly pp destroyers - BUT It also means I can do normal weekend things. Like go on a date - like the one I have this Friday (see how I slipped that in there!!! heehee)

So now I get to go pick an outfit - an outfit 1 size smaller than the one I would have chosen 6 months ago :)

Sunday Morning Maddness.....but hangover free!

Hey y'all!

First of all apologies for the moaning, groaning, my-world-is-ending blog post the other day!! Half a pound is half a pound after all! And as my Mum forceably reminded me last week - its only half a pound since joining WW online, what about the 12 and a half pounds you lost before it!!

Truth be told I am feeling much better. Took a big decision this week to have an alochol free weekend. To be the fair it wasn't so much a decision as lack of alternative options due to funds being so low. But I still went out, took the car, saw a live band Friday and went to a party Saturday! Had a rather good weekend for it as well!!

And to be hangover free today! Well to be honest I can't remember the last time that has happened to me despite being out the nights before. And what a difference to my weekly propoints - its Sunday and I have some left!?! What???

So I have given it a lot of thought and I am going to follow this plan religiously until Christmas. Its not going to be easy - my calender for every weekend leading up to the festive holiday (and a good few weekends after) is looking pretty full! But you know what, I have to give myself an honest chance! I want my stone off for Xmas and I am worth the effort! I have to believe that!!

And do you know what - I haven't worked this hard all year to almost get to a stone and then put it all back on in a 4 week period. So I have decided that by sticking to the plan I will hopefully be able to maintain (or dare I sawy lose) over the period.

I can see a few more alcohol free weekends ahead....and do you know what - doesn't bother me at all :)

New Home, New Job, Same Old Me!

So I finally have internet access at my new home, which means I can track properly again (I much prefer the computer to writing it down and carrying all that stuff).

However it also means that my excuse has gone completely out the window!

A lot of change has taken place recently, I am now finishing up week 2 in my new job, and have lived with my aunt and uncle during the week now for two weeks. Things are going well, I am enjoying the job and my family have been an amazing support, I am really really lucky!

BUT..............oh you knew it was coming!

but one thing that hasn't changed much is my weight. IN FACT after inputting my 1 and a half pounds (and feeling all smug and satisfied whilst I was doing it) I was shocked and dismayed to find that over the last three month my total loss has been.....

a half pound!

a half frickin' pound!!

What the hell is that all about?!?!

That was it I was giving it up!! whats the point in paying this money and coming to the meetings and going through the stress if WI for a half frickin' pound!?!?!

In fact...I'm going to leave it there....answers on a postcard please!?!?!

5 things I like about me! (Plus a little about my week)

Sorry guys!!

This week as many of you know i moved! Its a part time baby step to independence which sees me living with my aunt and uncle in deepest darkest countryside for my new job as a social worker.

And although I am home for the weekends its been quite emotional. I've started somewhere new and not had my Mum and Dad there at night! A lot of change for me - and as I didn't have my computer or WW stuff the diet went out the window!

However, one of the first things I did was find out where my nearest class was and got weighed in on Wednesday (+ 1/2lb which I was mega happy with) so I am officially in the Coylton class on a Wednesday evening and the leader seems lovely.

One of my difficulties in my new home is that everything in this house is full fat - so I am going shopping on Sunday and bringing lots of stuff with me. If I can control BRK and L as much as possible then I should be able to absorb the dinner somewhat! Well I can't be rude and start asking my aunt and uncle to change things or weigh things, my dinner is on the table when I get home - what can be better than that! So I am just trying to keep my portion sizes under control!

On the positive side I now do a Mon-Fri 9-5 so have much better routine to eating than before (split shifts = nightmare!!) and I have noticed I haven't snacked nearly as much as I usually do!

Anyways I just wanted to let you all know that I am doing well and will be back to tracking this weekend and week as my computer is coming with me on Sunday (WOOHOO). So I will be able to keep better updated with you all!

So.... 5 things I like about me....this is easy ;-)

1. The people in my life! I have blessed to have some of the most beautiful, smart, funny, caring, generous, straight talking, sexy, intelligent, fun and fabulous people ever in my life. Not only that, but they are my close friends and family! So obviously I must be doing something right to attract all these people too me! (see photo)

2. My legs! I have amazing legs! Dancers legs! They have never gotten fat - even when the rest of me did! and the look stella with a bit of the old fake bake and some sky scrapper heels on!!

3. My desire to help others! My parents are generous and donate to charities etc, and my mum works in social care in a way. But I have an inherent desire and core belief that my position in life is so privilaged that it is my social and moral obligation to use my time/money and talents to assist others in this world. I became a social worker because I believe that the systems in our society - welfare, education, employment, do NOT favour the masses and create cycles of poverty and deprivation that trap people. I became a social worker because I know that things happen in life and some people cannot cope with these things. But I was ABLE to become a social worker because I was lucky by birth, because I am a white, middle class female who's parents were able to support her to stay in education long enough to get the qualifications needed to do this job! Bottom line however, is that I want to help people, and that is all me!

4. My sense of humour! I laugh at almost everything - I am not terribly funny myself, I always seem to get the timing wrong.....like now! But I find lots of things funny and that always gives the wannabe comic an ego boost! Spread the love people!!

and finally 5. I am dependable! Just ask any of my friends! If I can I will, and I'll do it on time and looking fabulous!

x

Wednesday - A little midweek Reflection perhaps?

There is something wrong with me today; not sure what - but I feel like I've been dragging myself, and another 5 stone, around with me all day.

My thyroid means sometimes I get really lethargic. Like my brain is active but I have literally no energy to physically move. Even keeping me eyes open can be a struggle - I could literally go for a nap right now, but I know it won't make me feel better,

I am getting apprehensive about the new job as well. I'm worried about being alone (especially in the evenings) because I don't want to start heading to the fridge every night. I'm worried about changing jobs, as I am going from a semi-physical job to an office based one - between less exercise and the abundance of cakes, sweets and other munchie crunchie opportunities I can see a ballonning in the future.

And worst of all I won't have my wee class there to support me :(

Today I stayed within my allowance, and went to Zumba. I've also looked up classes in my new home town and will be joining the nearest one next Tuesday.

Yet I still feel down.
I choose this picture because I remember being disgusted at the size of my resultant snow angel last year. If it snows again this year (and apparently it most definitely will be) then I am going to take another photo and hopefully find myself with a much skinnier snow angel this year!

Goodbye my Faithful Class! I Knew you Well!

Had a rather emotional weigh-in today at class.

Don't panic I haven't put anything on (STS actually)

But it was my LAST weigh-in at the class that I intend because on Sunday I am moving to East Ayrshire and will have to find a new class to join.

It's the new job - the commute is too far so my wonderful aunt and uncle have agreed to let me stay with them during the week. My class is on a Tuesday night so there is no way I could stay at it!

I have been advised that there is an award winning leader in East Ayrshire named Christine (if anyone knows her please let me know). So I will endeavor to seek her out and join her flock, with the hopes that she will look after me as much as Lena, my Inverkip leader, has done so far.

I have lost 1 stone at Lena's class, she taught me the basics, always with a smile on her face! She is funny and kind but can give you a verbal kick up the jacksie when you need it most! She has been a great leader and a great inspiration and I have been proud as one of her members!

I will still be attending the WW christmas night out with them! And I now have the motivation that I need to make sure I work extra hard to look great for that night. Because I definitely want to make Lena proud of me!

p.s. the picture is of me in the dress that I want to wear to said Xmas evening shenanigans! This was about 4 years ago!

Best Weekend EVER!

Well - haven't I just had the most mental, roller coaster of a last few days - its been unbelievable!

First of all I WI on Thursday - first since I got back from my holiday so roughly 2 weeks  - 4 wonderful pounds off! I only put on 5 so 4 off is super-dooper! Best Thursday EVER!

Then on Friday I get a call from my new boss in my new job - which I have known that I have for well over 4 weeks! Red Tape, disclosures and paperwork contracts - nightmare! So, anyway, she calls me to tell me that we are good to go and when do I want to start! So 1 week today I will be starting my new job as a social worker! Best Friday EVER!

Then on rolled the weekend! Now - I know that I am a 25 year old woman but I probably look forward to the Halloween weekend second only to Christmas (and my birthday). I love getting dressed up!! I love seeing everyone else dressed up! I think its so much fun, and I laugh more than all the other weekends put together!

As you can see from my get-up I was Jackie Sparrow - that's Captain Jackie Sparrow to you - and I was the s3xiest pirate who ever sailed the seven seas. I looked great and I felt amazing! Even at my biggest Halloween has always been fun simply because you don't have to look sexy!

So me and my trustworthy crew (consisting of an ompa lompa, a 1930s show girl, hannibel lecter, a firewomen, snow white and mechanic) set out on an adventure of a lifetime, drank copious amounts of rum and fraternized with the land-loving population! We had a super awesome time and I am reminded about the amazing friends that I have around me! Best Saturday EVER!

And finally we come to Sunday - where I lay on my friend couch allllll day - literally alllll day! I only moved to pee or to get food! Points.........pfffft......lets say about 4000! Best Sunday EVER!

So now Monday is drawing to a close and I get a chance to think about how lucky I am to be surrounded by genuinely good (most of the time) people! My friends and family are (most of the time) absolutly fabulous! They pick me up - they dance with me - they tell me to stop being a mean drunk - they get me drunk - they get emotional at the thought of me moving away (an hour and a half in the car) - they tell me to stop getting emotional over moving away - they support me - they show me love, tough and otherwise - they tell me off and they hug me when I need it (or even when I don't ask for it! or want it! Yes Jo I am talking to you!)

This weekend - my impending move to another part of the country - my new career starting has left me with a rollercoaster of emotions! One minute I am excited the next I get a lump of fear and anxiety in my chest! I start to panic, to analyse, to plan - then I tell myself to remember Thailand - that planning isn't always necessary and that sometimes you have to go with the flow!

When I was in Thailand I met an amazing artist who did beautiful paintings on cloth with motivation messages. I bought one which had this saying:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about dancing in the rain"

and I am going to dance, with my friends dancing right beside me!

66 days till Christmas - and a goal too far

Well as my fellow WW friend tomhicks said: it helps to have a moan - and have a moan I shall!

As entertainment news reported last week I was indeed on my holibobs recently and have since been weighed-in with a (not-too-bad-really) 5lb gain! Now considering I am usually on the wrong side of a half stone gain after a holiday I wasn't too dissatisfied with the result. Considering I never had many puddings and did a 3 day jungle trek and walked for miles around the markets I did expect a smaller than usual gain.

But I am not unrealistic - I ate more than usual - lots of lovely sauces and rice mmmm.... and as for alcohol - well - lets just say I have no idea how many points are in a MaiThai - all I do know is 2 of them and your lucky to be standing!

But I have been back from my holiday for almost 2 weeks and fear I have lost my weight loss mojo! I have had to sign millions of shifts at my work because as a sessional I don't paid for holidays and I am due to move soon for my new job - which I will hopefully be starting in a few weeks. This resulted in me missing last weeks weigh-in and this coming one too!!

There is only 66 days till Christmas - and more importantly 57 days till my weight-watcher Christmas night out!! I really need a firework up the backside and get this weight-loss attempt shifting again! I cannot let this slide away - because in a year or two years I will end up back on here - moaning because I am even heavier again and have some other important event to shift weight for!

I need inspiration, I need scolding, I need to stop eating cheese and making excuses to not go to the gym!

So tomorrow morning (today is a write off - I had a leftover Chinese takeaway for lunch, white rolls at breakfast and am gearing up for a roast dinner for tea - pus 3 celebrations...oh no wait, 4 celebrations, that I got as a thank you gift for puppy sitting this weekend) so tomorrow morning is a new day, the start of 66 very good, fully tracked and verified days. My weight loss is always slow - but if i loose just 1lb a week between now and Christmas day that's still a total of 10lbs. That loss would bring my under the 12stone mark, in fact I'd be 11st 5lbs!

So that's the new target - 11stone 5lbs for Christmas - all I need now is for someone to lock up the chocolate, hide the cheese and handcuff me onto a treadmill!

Any volunteers?

Some Reflection

I saw this poem in a coffee shop in the Chaing Mai Airport departure lounge and I feel in love with it. So I wanted to share it - just as a little light Sunday reflection.


If I had my life to live over,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have on this trip.
I would be crazier. I would be less hygienic.
I would take more chances, I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,
and watch more sunsets.
I would burn more gasoline. I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who lives
prophylactically and sensibly and sanely,
hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I have had my moments
And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.
In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.
Just moments,one after another.
Instead of living so many years ahead each day.
I have been one of those people who never go anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a
raincoat, and a parachute.

If I had to do it over again, I would go places and do things.
I'd travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would play hooky more. I wouldn't make such good grades
except by accident.
I would ride on merry-go-rounds.

I'd pick more daisies!

Nadine Stair, 85

Entertainment News Update: Conway takes trip to Thailand for time out with friends!

Sarah Conway was spotted in Thailand this week taking a deserved holiday from her hectic schedule. The pictures show Conway looking relaxed and happy with her friends during the recent break. In addition, the self-confessed busy body was definitely showing signs of weight loss, and looked fitter and healthier than ever before.

As you can see; Conway is rocking a small summer dress from the high street: with an elasticated band and above the knee cut that could be a potential fashion disaster. Conway, however, appears relaxed and confident whilst out shopping with her friend in Bangkok in October this year.

Over the years we have seen the long term student's weight rise and fall drastically. Conway has confessed in the past to having difficulties with her weight, due to a combination of lack of exercise, a love of cheese and binge drinking weekends. Added to the difficulties of having an under active thyroid (which slows weight loss and makes weight gain easier) this young lady has, in the past, resorted to more extreme dieting methods. Having attempted the "no-carb, no-cheese, no-fat, no-fun" diet in the past, Conway has even been spotted at the consultation offices of a leading UK plastic surgery group, rumored to have been discussing liposuction.

A source close to the office diva explained that things have been rough: "Sarah has had a lot of problems in the past with food, and suffers from low body confidence and a lack of self-esteem." Apparently this is what lead the young woman to strive for excellence in her studies, but the well documented split from her long-term boyfriend earlier in 2011 gave her the wake-up call she needed.

"Sarah really felt at rock-bottom. She was around 13stone and drastically unhappy with her lot! That's when she decided to strive for change on a plan that would not only deliver results, but help teach her about healthy choices and encourage a fitter life-style - weight-watchers"

Conway has been following the plan for about 6 months and lost 1stone before heading to Thailand for a well deserved holiday and a chance to reflect on the past year. Although our sources tell us that Sarah wishes to lose at least 1 further stone the difference in her attitude is unbelievable: "Sarah is genuinely a happier person."

On holiday Sarah was not seen to be too worried about the pro-points (the system used by weight-watchers to help followers stay within a healthy limit each day) value of her meals or drinks. But unlike previous breaks she was more than active, and was spotted trekking in the mountains, swimming in waterfalls (aka in a bikini in front of people) and even having a go at white water rafting. "These are all things Sarah would never have done in the past, she would have her face in a book, on the beach, covered with a sarong. She would have fretted over photos. Now, she is active and trying new things, with much better results."

So a well deserved break and a eating plan which is showing impressive results. Overall, it can be said that Conway's future is looking much brighter for 2012.


n.b. We were unable to reach S.Conway for comment at this time, but she has promised an interview at a later date!

Naughty Things I Got Away with as a child....?

Ok - So on the weight-watcher community site there is a theme every Friday and I wanted to start doing the theme blog as its a great way for people to get to know each other, and luckily my WW friend Tom seems to always know what the Friday Theme is!

Unfortunately this is a difficult questions, namely because my pi$$ poor memory means that I hardly remember what I got up to last month, never mind as a child.

Overall I was a pretty good kid, although I did have this terrible thing where I just would not brush my teeth. Don't ask me why - I just didn't want to do it. I remember once when my Dad asked me if I had, and I lied, so he marched me down the hall telling me he was going to check to my toothbrush. I remember desperately trying to think of excuses: "maybe it's dried out already!"

You didn't get away with much in my house - take sick days from school, my head would have to literally have to be hanging off my head before my Mum would let me stay off school. And as an only child until I was 7 I had the full attention of 2 sets of eyes at all times.

When I got a bit older, and after my brother was born, I used to blame a lot on him. And I would steal his action men and force them to marry my barbies. Always did prefer action men to ken dolls - and today a bit of muscular roughness beats a pretty boy any day of the week! My brother used to go nuts!

My Dad said that one thing I always try to get away with was reading after lights out. This would often backfire though, when my Dad would shout up the stair and ask if I was sleeping, and I would shout back "YES!"

Ah to be young again!

Of course the naughty things I got away with when I grew up a bit....well lets just say that is a whole different blog entry ;)

Holiday Time :D

Well, I STS this week, at exactly the weight I wanted to be at for my holiday (5 days!!! ECK!!!) I still have a long way to go - but the compliments I have been getting have been amazing. The exercise is obviously paying off - because the difference in my arms, shoulders, chin (yes - only 1 chin) and face!

Check out my photo - see what you think - there is exactly one year between those photos - and my weight has fluctuated immensely between them. But to date on this WW attempt I am bragging a loss of 1 stone! Slow, sometimes painful, progress, hindered by an under active thyroid and a weakness for cheese and alcohol (although surprisingly never at the same time!).

But I have a brighter horizon now - literally - Thailand in 5 DAYS! Uber excited! I am nervous about destroying all my hard work so far, but this isn't a lie-on-the-beach-all-day-get-steamin'-every-night kinda holiday. We are going shopping, trekking, white water rafting, to see shows, to walk and visit places. A year ago - 6 months ago even - the idea of a 3 day jungle trek would have struck fear into my heart! Now, I cannot WAIT to try it out!!

And most of all - I am looking forward to holiday were I can capture the great, funny, beautiful moments and memories on camera - and not burst into tears when I look at them later!

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller

the pout is on purpose!

My last blog may have had...well a hint of depression. I was so frustrated and upset last week it was atrocious!

However, I went out for the 1st part of my birthday celebrations on Saturday, surrounded by good friends and looking rather fabulous is my little black dress (if I do say so myself!) and I realised that at times life is going to throw curve balls at me and eating is not the way to overcome these things!

When I saw the quote from Helen Keller - an American educator and author who was both blind and deaf - it really spoke to me! Things in life are not going to come along without any work on our part, good things don't come to those who wait! You have to want, go out and get and most of have faith that you will!

I have pretty low self esteem - until I have a few drinks - with my inhibitions sufficiently lowered I strut myself and chat to guys without any reservations. I truly believe I am beautiful!

What I need to do is channel those feelings into my everyday - have faith that I will get to the size, shape and weight that I want to and deserve to be! I am worth all this hard work - I am worth the cheese ban, the sweat at the gym, the change of lifestyle! I have to believe it!!

So today I took 2 WWmagazines and I stuck my face over the cover girls! They are proudly pinned up on my door in my room so everyday before I leave I look at them and say - that is me!

My goal is no longer a weight or a size - its to feel confident every day! It's to get on the cover of the WWers magazine!!

What goes up??

Must come down.....

As you can see from my last post I knew that last week would be a dozey - I had way too many nights out and lunches and dinners with mates - But I was at the gym 4 times! Put on 1lb....

Problem this week is my motivation has completed pi$$ed right off! I haven't been on the computer, I haven't been tracking, I haven't actually cared! I had a fantastic night out on Saturday which turned into a complete nightmare involving my friends. Sunday was a wash out and I could not lift the depression all week. My world - my friendships - and the images and beliefs I had about them - has been blown wide apart. There is no healing that, not with food, or cigarettes, or alcohol, or conversation - and trust me this week I have done them all!

I haven't exercised, I have ate cheese, white bread, biscuits, chocolate, crisps - I have SMOKED which I am so so so so so so so so so so raging about it is unbelievable!

I am off the rails - and its only Saturday!

The last four weeks have been difficult - I have worked my ass off, and tracked and lost a bit, then put it on, lost a bit, put it out - maybe its the workouts - maybe not!

Tonight I am heading out for the first half of my birthday celebrations - there is going to be alcohol - lots of alcohol - and I am just going to write off the remain 30wpps I have left for it (and then some). I am going out feeling fabulous - surrounded my amazing friends and I not going to care about this! I have never been the fat person who doesn't go out on the night out - I have always been the fat person who breaks down when getting ready for the night out but once I am out - I don't give myself a second thought! So I will enjoy tonight - regardless - but tomorrow I have some serious thinking to do!

Good things come in threes....

And so, unfortunately, does the bad! Why is it that a you never have a week where you have one meal out or one lunch date or one (insert a food-related potential weight-watcher nightmare here).

So this week I had a conference that I wanted to attend - I love a good conference, you get to listen to interesting people, network, thrash out potent social issues. I actually met an academic hero of mine, nearly keeled over when I realised who he was. Shamelessly introduced myself though during on the tea breaks and gushed about how influential and useful his work was....to me anyway. I tell ya something - academics LOVE it when that happens. Steven Hicks has a groupie HAHA!!

But alas conference lunches are another matter (EVIL THING 1) its all mayonnaise - lots of mayonnaise - and PASTRIES!!! I used to love a conference lunch but my head knew that I had to make a sacrifice somewhere and dinner was more important. So I stuck to the ham salad sandwiches and took a 1 point yogurt and some fruit with me, drank tons of water and tried to avoid the PASTRIES!!!

Having successfully navigated that particular minefield I then met my friend for dinner, at an Italian (EVIL THING 2). Now I know....I know....that I should have chosen a tomato based sauce - I know! But di'maggios fusilli espanola is just too delicious: chicken, chorizo, white sauce and cheese....to die for! And of course my friend had just pasted her masters degree so a large glass of wine was required....

Then of course there is the pudding.....like the example shown in the picture. The example which was also the pudding that I had at this dinner!!

.......................................................................moving on then!

The difficult thing with eating out is when you do decide to have a blow out the points are a nightmare to work out. So I scanned the eating out guide and picked a similar white sauce pasta and ice cream sundae and that is the best I can do I'm afraid. Need to hope the exercise I am doing - because I never touch those points - is making a difference!

What's that? Oh EVIL THING 3 - I have a night out for a friends birthday on Saturday night, and only 22 points....6 drinks - which where I come from, is the warm up session!!

Weigh In? WAYHEY!!!

Well it was my weight in tonight - the first since I joined e-source...

I LOST 1 WHOLE POUND WOOOOOHOOOOO :D

I needed a weight loss this week, I needed to know that the blogging and tracking and pain from exercise was worth it. 1 whole pound - happy as larry, couldn't be happier! (scottish people will get that quote)

That brings my total up to 11 pounds off! On this it's only a pound, but I had been going to classes for 3 months before. I got to 11 pounds about 4 weeks ago, but I slipped up, my head didn't listen to my heart, and I put on 3!!! So that's me back to the 11 = 12st 1lb.

This is important - namely because I have a terrible habit of getting down the 12st mark and not shifting, then increasing and ending up on the wrong side of 13st again. Fast forward a year of yo-yo fad diets and there is me walking back through the doors of weight watchers to start all over again!

NOT THIS TIME BUDDY!!!

So this week I have set myself the huge target of a 2 POUND weight loss! That's right, me, who cannot loss more than 1lb on a great week, is aiming high and I've already started!

You see, the class me and my mum attend is at 7pm on a Tuesday evening. And for the first wee while we, like many others in the class, saw a Tuesday night as "cheat night". Tracking began on a Wednesday morning, and you got weighed at 7pm, ergo the time between 7pm Tuesday and 7am Wednesday was FREE........

Not anymore - determined to shift this bulk I have started going to a heavy duty circuit training class (we are talking 50mins of high intensity activity points btw) on a Tuesday night, 9-10PM!! Don't get me wrong I am knackered, but it stops me cheating, it stops me eating and I can say with the up-most confidence I can already feel my body beginning to tone up and tighten in places I never even knew existed!

2lbs off EASY - I'm not even frightened about dinner (at an Italian) on Thursday or the friends birthday night out on Saturday. My head and my heart are finally singing of the same hymm sheet: *spotlight on me*

The Singer: Gabriella Cilmi
The Theme Tune: On a Mission

Altogether now: *SING* "I am a woman, on a mission, WHO-O! Nothing can stop me I'm stronger than ever! I'm gonna see this throooooouuuugggghhh"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company my Class is with - talk about tough love!

If you are interested in working out with the personal trainers at PersonalBODY-train then Click Here

Chocolate Pineapple CheeseCake.....YES PLEASE!

   Ok so this week I have been a little.........frivolous with my weekly PPs....i.e. I had none left by the Saturday (my WI is on a Tuesday....oops!)

I can't help it - there was chocolate cake at the restaurant, and EVERYONE was having a pudding *hangs head in shame*.

I do exercise though - Zumba yesterday and BodyCombat later today - so I am racking up some serious activity points, but I don't like to use them: 1) I think there is too much room for error and 2) my weight loss is more the weeks where I exercise but still within my limits.

So I have really worked hard - reeeeally hard, to stay within my 29 daily points allowance and by jove I have done well. Last night my Mum made fish, chips and beans for tea - but because I knew my points were running low I skipped the chips and had a pile of salad instead. This allowed me to have my banana muffin that I made as well.

The sugar addiction sorted I wanted to try and make something quick and easy for pudding today as well - I love a pudding and sugar free jelly with 0% fat yogurt does not hit the spot for me at all I am afraid.

And there it is (see photo) 1 chocolate and pineapple cheesecake - which took all of 10mins to make and if you make 8 portions, its only 5 pps! I posted the recipe to the recipe swap board if anyone wants it! And trust when I am looking forward to a bodyCombat, a hot shower and slice of cheesecake and a hot cup of tea - who said this diet malarkey was difficult anyway?

Zumba Maddness and the Joys of Baking!

It's all about being proactive! I got fat because I got lazy - I choose to buy a pre-made sandwich at the deli counter because I am too lazy to make my own, I choose a ready meal or take-away because I can't be bothered cooking, and I choose the car wash because I am too lazy to wash the car!

Oh wait - and I live in Scotland - which means that the rain never stays off long enough to let me do it - but you get the jist of what I am trying to say!

The last few weeks I have weight gains and tiny losses - because I am reverting to the old me, the lazy me - that's why I joined e-source, because I am on my computer every day - but I can still be proactive!

So today was my 1st WHOLE day off work (I do a lot of split shifts) in 14 days! The old me, the lazy me - would have went on the bevvy last night and had chinese or chips, kebab sauce, cheese and donner meat (yes - all together!) and lay in bed watching films!

The new me - the PROACTIVE me - signed a tuck-in shift last night, which meant working till 11pm - rather than going out for the sake of going out! The new me, the PROACTIVE me - had her well deserved lie in but also went to the latin exercise class known as ZUMBA 3-4pm! 5 activity points, thank you very much!

And I didn't stop there - the new me, the PROACTIVE me - nipped into the local Lidel and picked up the ingredients for the Iced Banana Mini Muffins (recipe on request) and made them after dinner! A giant mug of tea - 1 muffin (2pps) later and you have one content lady!

Long may the PROACTIVE me continue!

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!!

Feeling like I have conquered the cigarette mountain having been a non-smoker for 7 weeks I have decided to turn my attention fully to my weight loss and fitness gain goals for 2011!

Some people tell you not to make too many new years resolutions - because its easier to stick to one! I, on the other hand, prefer a divide and conquer technique! Make lots of resolutions and statistically I should at least be able to complete 1 by 2012.

Stopping smoking was a biggae - and I am well an truly on the right track with that! I have also been complimented on my outreach work - giving more hugs! Its a running joke amongst my friends that you don't hug Sarah - Sarah doesn't hug! I'm not dead inside or anything - just enjoy personal space.

So with two resolutions firmly under my belt (providing I keep them up until 2012 - I am looking at the next one - weight loss! As you can see I was a heavy starting weight - and at a sad 5Ft 5In my BMI was technically obese when I was 13st.

But to be honest that wasn't the upset - I am on the break-up plan. Having ended my 3 and 1/2 year relationship in March this year I found myself single, stressed, unhappy,  lacking in confidence and miserable - and at 24years old - that is a horrible place to be. I was fed up going to another wedding or another party or another holiday and having the time of my life then being physically nauseous at the sight of the photographs. I carry almost all of my fat between my boobs and my hips - my non-existent ass has been the same non-existent ass that I have had since I was about 16! This results in what fashion gurus call an apple shape. I call it: can't-wear-jeans-because-they-dig-in-and-cut-your-belly-if-you-sit-too-long shape!

So I joined weightwatchers and was determined that this would be the last time I have attempted to lose weight! My mum joined too, not because she had to lose but she was feeling a bit uncomfy and I needed the support. We've been on the plan for 3 months now and weight is (slowing) coming off - the best way (so I am told!).

But the last few weeks I have began to drift away again - which is my usual course of action once I near the 12st mark! I begin to feel comfy and see change, so I stop sticking to the plan, with the result being a 1st weight grain and re-initiation into diet world once more! As my blog was a hugely important tool in my stopping smoking I decided to try it for weight lose.

This is a selfish act - not only do I get to vent but all you lovely people have now entered into a contract of never-ending support and encouragement for me to hit my goals :D

So my next goal is for 8lbs before my holiday (which is in 5 weeks and 2 days!) This is an optimistic - but not unachievable goal if I work hard. The reason I have choose 8lbs is because that would bring me to 11st 8lbs - and I will have physically lost 10% of my starting body weight!

So come on! Get encouraging - or just read, laugh and enjoy! (and if I meet you for lunch - you hide the desert menu! Drag me physically away if you have to....)