Let's get started
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Hello Crackers,
Carole - really well done on the swimming. Hearing you talk about it is getting me enthused to swim again. I haven't been for ages. When I was a student in Edinburgh I used to live near the Commmonwealth pool and thought nothing of swimming 50 - 60 lengths every day. As that's a 50m long pool that was 2.5km minimum a day. No wonder I had no weight issues then!
New8 - how was Paloma? I hope you had a great time. You deserve a treat after the week you've had. I don't really know much about her music, but whenever I see her being interviewed she comes across really well and sounds super intelligent and as if she puts a lot of thought into her work. I would imagine she puts on a really creative show.
Well I've been out in the garden for the last couple of days catching up with the weeds. We dismantled an old, dilapidated shed yesterday and had a bonfire to get rid of it. We also cleared out an old summerhouse which is close to falling down and needs to be dismantled too. I should have put my pedometer on as it felt like I walked miles around the garden moving things yesterday.
Today I'm off to see my parents in Hertfordshire and tomorrow I'm meeting a couple of friends I used to work with in London. One of them lives in Australia now but is home for a visit so it'll be good to catch up. I was supposed to be fasting today by my Mother is insisting on feeding me so I won't have managed a "fast" at all this week. I haven't tracked any food or exercise either so when I get back on Tuesday I need to get back into a routine and be more disciplined. Carole, I need some of your resolve!
MITM, any news from Bracken?
Saffy, hope you are feeling better and that the family are better too.
BM - hope you are doing well.
Will be back on Tuesday.
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Hi LMV - thanks - you've given me more of a target!
I have to admit I'm taking more interest in the garden - I looked out this morning and everything is growing so well in my tiny little plot that I felt really proud (even though all I've done is a tiny bit of watering). I was slightly miffed when I got up the other morning and found that something had dug up a corner of the garden and flung earth all over the lawn. If I didn't know better I'd say I had a badger back in the garden. I had one a few years ago that lived under the shed in the garden at the bottom of mine and it dug a hole under the fence which as far as I know is still there. It was completely unimpressed when I turned the outside light on to watch it snuffling around the lawn looking for worms (and peanuts....). But it disappeared after 6 months. Still there hasn't been any further damage.
The sunshine seems to have made everyone feel a bit better on here which is great - although here in the East the weekend has been cloudy and chilly. I actually came home and put another layer on at one point yesterday.... Freezio!
Weighed in this morning and have lost another pound!
Carole0 -
HI,
Carole - well done on the lb! Great stuff, you are doing so well. Was very impressed with the swimming - I always forget to count/start off counting and then forget and lose track! I tend to swim more for a given length of time.
LMV- Hope you are having a fab time away! Paloma was fantastic - what a voice! We got stuck in heaps of traffic on the way down to London Friday evening but was well worth it!
Hope everyone else is well.
Im having a bit of a blonde day today and have sent Daisy off to pre-school without her lunch! So am going to do a quick trip out on the bike in a moment! Im not that hopeful of a weight loss this week, as I have a lot of eating out this week with friends. Anyway, must dash. xx0 -
Definitely feeling in need of a duvet day today. Feel very wobbly and don't know why. Perhaps I overdid it on Saturday night.
Need to go and do my shopping though as have several things to get from the supermarket and from the garden centre.
Hope everyone else is getting a good start to the week.
Carole0 -
OK so I've just done a little retail therapy - feeling much better. Visited Cotton Traders and found a beautiful maxi dress that fits my perfectly. Plus a sweat shirt (large not XL anymore) and a couple of pairs of cropped trousers. Very naughty and I'll probably regret it - but needed to cheer myself up with something that isn't food.0
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Hi Carole. Sorry to hear you are feeling a little bit down but that retail therapy has helped. Big hug. xx0
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Thanks LMV - feeling a little better this morning. And the sun is shining so that helps. But GP partner just called in sick (he's in a grump at the moment and I was half expecting it). No more singing after last night until Sept so Monday's will be a little less exhausting.
One of my cats decided to throw up a hair ball on my sofa last night whilst I was out. Hopefully, it hasn't done too much damage but I think I'm going to need to shampoo the seat.
Mammagram today too. the excitement knows no bounds!
Speak soon.
Carole0 -
Morning Crackers!
Apologies for my absence, I've had a busy weekend of working (which sadly burns no calories) but lots of movement of the jaws munching on crisps which adds up to calories galore.... So with some trepidation I stepped on the scales this morning and was mightily relieved to have stayed the same.
Same old story; good as gold Monday - Thursday following my eating plan and exercising (and I know I'd lost a further pound) then come Friday it's like a green light to step off the plan.
I read in one of the blogs 'Diaries of an Nearly Dead Man';
'The truth is no matter what plan you use, what diet, what training you force yourself to do, you will gain back 73% of what you lost for one reason, and one reason alone; you stopped doing what was working.'
He also wrote in his profile;
'Do I eat my exercise calories? No. I eat the calories for the weight the Doctor wants me to be at.'
Which I found very interesting. I know if I buy a tub of icecream I'll eat the lot over the weekend but if I buy cornettos I remain in control. Tubs were on offer Friday so I couldn't resist. Normally I treat my daughter to a ring donut when I shop on Fridays, this week I saw 4 filled with vanilla creme on offer so I bought them. I also always buy 2 family sized bags of crisps for the whole weekend, a bag when shared between the 3 of us, works out at 300 calories. But this week it was buy 1 get 1 free and I ended up with 4 in my trolley!
I may have saved pounds at the till, but I ate all of the icecream, 2 of the donuts, all the crisps are gone and I ended up gaining that pound I had lost midweek! So I have to stick to what I know works for me if I want to get the scales to move again!0 -
Hi MITM
Have you considered changing your weigh in day to a Thursday or Friday. I think that has worked for me. The problem is its always more difficult at weekends as we tend to socialise more then which generally means food and drink. I've found that if I can concentrate to the weigh in day I tend to get focused and lose the weight but if its a busy weekend a Monday would be likely to leave me with a bit of a weight gain. Don't know if that makes sense - hope so!
carole0 -
CAROLE - you're quite right! Before we moved to this site I always weighed in on Fridays (only changed it after one very, very bad bank holiday weekend when I couldn't bear to have the gained weight hanging over me for another week!!) but whenever I lost weight, it often encouraged me to 'behave better' over the weekend, plus if I ever came out of a weekend still weighing what I did going in, I was on to a sure winner!! Anyway I've now lost 1/2lb which I've registered to spur me on but I shall change back to Fridays!!0
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I agree it does make you focus better over the weekend. But having said that, if I want to eat something less healthy on the weekend its easier to get back on Monday and do something about it.
Good luck!
Carole0 -
Afternoon Crackers,
Well it's been very quiet on here, probably the quietest I've ever known it! I must say I've been feeling very lethargic since my exam and there were lots of jobs to catch up on in the house and garden. Everything got ignored while I was revising so hard and I still haven't caught up with the ironing!
I've been feeling a bit fed up about letting myself down in the exam. I know it's silly as it doesn't matter at all and I'm only doing it for me, but despite that I'm bitterly disappointed that I didn't do better. That has affected my eating and exercise programme. I've had a bit of a don't care attitude and have eaten lots of things which I wouldn't normally. I've said yes to biscuits with a cup of tea which I NEVER usually do, I've had slices of cake when out in cafes, I've been drinking wine with my meals - a habit which I'd knocked on the head apart from once a week and I've had cheese and biscuits for supper when I wasn't really hungry at all. Added to all those extra calories, I haven't been exercising. I should have weighed in last week and drawn a line, but instead I thought I'd be good so I wouldn't have to see the gain. I was good for two days and then slipped again so I've compounded the damage and will see an even worse gain tomorrow. So as well as being disappointed about the exam, I'm disappointed in how I've been eating too. It's time to stop wallowing in disappointment though and time to do something about it. So here I go AGAIN, with a fresh start and a plan to shift this last two stone.
I am doing the race for life on 21 July which is 34 days away, so I have 34 days to get myself into good shape and to try and beat last year's time which was about 34 minutes. I am carrying a bit more weight than I was this time last year, but if I can drop 10lbs by then, I'll be close to what I was then. That's a big ask, but aim high, and I'll be happy if I've dropped half a stone.
I could do with some help and encouragement to keep me going Crackers - is anyone else up for the challenge of trying to shift half a stone by 21 July (or less for those with less to lose).
I plan to run every other day, and Jillian or Rosemary on the days in between. I'll keep a record of this on the exercise page. I'm going to prepare a food plan for the week and stick it on the fridge so that I know what I'm eating when and I will not get sidetracked. We don't have any visitors this week so I should be able to stick to my plan. I am going to see Hairspray in Cardiff at the week-end which may involve eating out but I'll budget for that in my foodplan.
So, time for action, hope you're behind me Crackers.
Bfn
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Good afternoon Crackers!
Well the good news first summer has finally arrived here in Austria... and I've come out of a weekend weighing the same weight as I went into it!
The bad news I'm actually 2lbs heavier than I was at my last weigh in and with the arrival of this sunny, hot weather I got out my summer pyjamas (the slinky little number I purchased last year at target), sadly weighing 5lbs heavier slinky has been substituted for clingy and tight!
Reading all about 'Mimi Spencer' who on the Fast Diet (which she so obviously (not!) needed having gone down from a massive size 12 to a 8), has been left with a mountain of clothes that no longer fit 'anything over a 8 swamps her!!' However she also says 'she now understands the power of tailoring and fit. In the wrong size, I look like a kid on stage in Bugsy Malone.'
I'm not happy as I have nothing that fits either. I'm 1/2 a stone the wrong side of a size 10 and my size 12 clothes also 'swamp me'. At least I can pinpoint my problem and now I'm really going back to basics and I'm shifting these last pounds back to target, this summer, not next, this summer for good!
LMV - your last post was music to my ears and I'm with you every step of the way! I will see you first thing tomorrow morning on the exercise thread!!! Concerning your welsh exam, is it possible for you to retake the oral part again? Your excellent QOTW I shall give some serious thought to whilst pottering in the garden this afternoon.0 -
Have just realised 21st July is perfect for me, as my family arrive that date and I want to be at target again by then! So 34 days it is!0
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Hi LMV. If it's one thing us crackers know to do well it's to get right back on track after a slip up.
I have gained 7lb since the parents visited. I am going to lose 10lbs before 25th July which is when I am off to the UK for a month. Not too sure how many days this is but I am on a mission! As you say 7lb would be good but fingers crossed for 10! Let battle commence! x x0 -
That's four days after my Race for Life so I make it 38 days BM. Good to know I'm sharing this challenge with someone. We can do it. Funnily enough I just added a short comment on the exercise page and used the very same phrase as you.....I'm on a mission! We certainly are!
Once more unto the breach...........0 -
LMV - excuse me?! Did you even read my post I said I'm in too!!!0
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Oh dear have fallen off the wagon completely the last couple of days. Having a real carb fest. No chance of much exercise the next few days either.0
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MITM - so sorry, I did miss your post. I thought mine was the last one on page 3 and didn't see yours. I've read it now though and am so glad that you are "in" too to spur us on. It all seems so much easier when we do this as a team. It looks like July is a great target for all 3 of us and I think an end date helps with the motivation as well.
Shame about your slinky pj's. I remember you talking about them last year as they were a make or fabric I had never heard of but sounded glorious. You'll be back in them soon though.
Carole - we all relax a bit at times and with your holiday coming up that's probably what you are doing. Don't let it all go though, aim to STS and consolidate your fantastic weight loss over your holiday. Do as I say, not as I do - lol!
Nos da all
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Getting back on the wagon today! Fell in to the 'oh dear that won't last till I get back from ireland' mode and had some tortillas that needed using before going out of date - should have put them in the freezer. Anyway, Its just a case of putting it behind me and getting back to being sensible again.
Everyone seems to be gearing up their exercise at the moment - so well done. I have nothing but admiration for the gardeners among you - its clearly an exercise that uses a lot of calories. I still can't bring myself to do it though!
Portia is lying in front of me with her feet in the air. She looks like a little black balloon! She loves her tummy rubbed.
treated myself to a kindle at the weekend so looking forward to having a week when I can read.
Oh hear comes Bentley. I had to tell him off this morning for beating up Portia so he's sulking a bit.
Anyway, lots to do: clean the car, clean the house, find the car insurance/breakdown stuff just in case; start packing properly; do a final lot of washing. Then get to work and I have a meeting tonight so will be late home.
Carole0 -
Hello Crackers,
How was your day Carole? I felt exhausted reading your list of things to do BEFORE you went to work. No wonder you are losing so much weight. Your cats sound adorable. What will you do with them while you are away?
I woke up with an awful headache this morning after a really disrupted night's sleep so couldn't face exercising then. I went to Welsh class, did the shopping for our cookery evening class and then came home and got out into the garden. I worked quite hard preparing a bed for planting up and then getting the plants in. I'm really pleased with the results and definitely burned up some calories!
Having started out on my mission yesterday I couldn't fail to get my exercise done on the second day, so despite the fact that I really don't like exercising later on in the day, I had a session with Rosemary and salsasized. I'm glad I made the effort but I wouldn't have done if I hadn't thought about all of you on this mission with me. I didn't want to let you down. There was just time for a quick shower after that before heading off to cookery. I made a Mediterranean vegetable cobbler tonight and I must say it was delicious. The course finishes next week but I think I'll sign on again next year as I've tried some fantastic new recipes and it's a lovely bunch of people, most of whom want to carry on next year.
Weigh in was the expected terrible news - 4 lbs on. Disaster, but all my own fault. I'm determined to have a loss next week.
33 days to go......so far, so good!
Bfn
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Hello Crackers. I've just had a quick skim through this thread after posting on the Exercise one but this thread looks like Cracker Central so I'll leave a note here to thank LMV, MITM and Saffy for asking me to friend them- I just found that on my e-mail but it came in under Junk (!!) which I do not always check. The request looked to me as if it were for a Brackenh which I discovered existed when I chose my name so now I am Brackenmh. I look forward to hearing what to do next.0
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Oops, Bracken, I have left a message for you on the exercise thread! I am still trying to get to grips with this site, but am really enjoying it. MITM has explained to me how to "friend" now so I will try again to friend both you and Carole x x LMV your cobbler sounded lovely. I would so love to do a cooking course. It's difficult over here because I still have such trouble with the language and accents. It is on my to do list for the future though. I have enjoyed hearing the different things you and your Husband have cooked. xx0
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Morning All,
It's a beautiful day here in Wales and I managed to be up and out early so I could get my run done before it gets too warm. Exercise done and dusted for the day and I'm just back from my check up at the dentist which wasn't too bad. One teeny tiny filling has come out so I'll go back on Monday to have that done. I was really pleased as they told me that my "Dental hygiene" is very good - I assume that means I clean my teeth to their standards!
I must say I am feeling very motivated today. I stumbled across The Biggest Loser Australia last night which is obviously still in its early stages. The competitors had to complete a type of assault course last night across 2km. An awful lot of the course appeared to be mud and I could only look on in admiration as this chap who was over 30 stones dragged himself around. His weight caused him to sink deeper and deeper in the mud and the effort he expended to complete that course was absolutely amazing. His team mate was so supportive in helping him, just as the Crackers are. It made me think though, if that chap can complete an assault course, then I can definitely get out of bed at 7 and go for a run. I've put a series link on the programme now so I can follow what happens to him.
So, on my run this morning, no sheep which means we must be due a high tide, but I noticed loads of yellow Iris Sibirica which have suddenly flowered. This Iris likes wet conditions so grows around the creeks in the marsh. Masses of them have flowered and I'm sure they weren't there when I went out on Monday. I also saw a mother duck with 3 chicks swimming in one of the creeks, that was a lovely sight.
Right, must get on, lots to do today. We're finally going to go and open up our caravan today so I'll have to give it a spring clean and there will be some gardening to do as well no doubt. The husband is off on a walk with his mates from the caravan park tomorrow which will probably end with a BBQ tomorrow evening. They usually go away walking for a few days at this time of year but for various reasons it hasn't happened this year so they are walking the length of Gower tomorrow.
Be good Crackers, and those of us doing the July challenge, stay focused!
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Ps Bracken, great to see you as I said on the exercise thread. I love your term "Cracker Central" so I think we'll have to adopt that as the name of our chatting thread.
You still aren't showing as a friend in my profile. You have to accept the friend request which I think you do by going to your profile page. I'm a bit confused though as I know MITM and I did send requests to Brackenh some time ago as we thought it was you and if it's come through to your email it must be you! Are you absolutely sure that sometime in the past you haven't set up an account as Brackenh? I know I set my account up ages ago when TD recommended me MFP as a means of checking the calorie content of an item they couldn't help me with.
Anyway, whichever account you choose to go forward with, you need to accept our friend requests.
Good luck!
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Evening Crackers!
CAROLE - Well I've decided Wednesday will be my new WI day because I always seem to get my best results midweek, when I have my sneaky daily weigh ins!!
And today I'm back to what I was last official WI so BRACKEN's 'Thin for Life' re: QOTW really works wonders for me! So back to 3.5lbs from target again, yes!
The daughter rang at 7.20am to inform me her italian class had been cancelled and that she'd be finishing at midday. Glorious day promising to be 30°c+ so I decided we would head for the outdoor pool again. 8am got out the bikini collection - didn't get this far yesterday. Well if slinky PJ's become tight and clingy at 5.5lbs from target, the bikini bought and worn at target weight +3.5lbs - it looks as if I've now got a baby muffin top. Last years lovely number did nothing for me anymore. So I chose the next size up, which flattered me better but was slightly too big (usual story...) although I will say thanks to Jillian my legs appeared to look slimmer!
Got to the pool, it was so hot I decided I'm going straight in rather than perch on my sunbed. I did 1 length and my bikini shorts were sagging. Did 6 lengths in total and I was fighting to keep my knickers up, so I had to give up. I should have taken my sensible swimsuit but it's just another reason to lose the last of my pounds - it could be a long hot summer ahead and I have a perfectly, lovely bikini waiting in the wardrobe to wear.
BRACKEN - it was such a pleasure to read 2 posts from you, it made my day after my disappointment with the swimwear! So pleased that you are back with us again.0 -
Hi,
....so challenge is to lose 1/2 stone by 21st July.....Im up for that!
I apologise as I have just skimmed over all the posts this evening. I havent been running to plan this last week. Friday I gave blood, and it didnt go too well - my iron was well up, then I had leakages when they shoved in the needle(sorry if anyone is squeemish). That evening I was feeling lethargic which is normal for me so got an early night, and was still lethargic Saturday, then mother nature kicked in and I felt rotten for much of the weekend. I am hoping that this was just because my body was recovering and then the added hormonal sway threw it off balance. Anyway I am now better, and managed to fast Tuesday, but this will be the only fast day this week. We had my daughters preschool trip today, so I couldnt cope with a fast day and 15+ 3 to 4 year olds! Tomorrow we are at a wedding too, but I am not drinking to avoid the calories!
Todays scales showed a 2lb loss, but that counteracts the 4lb gain at the beginning of the week. I am planning to fit in some more exercise to get to the 1/2 stone target!
So I have just been online spending my reward vouchers on days out for summer rather than TD - I have managed to get a trip to Legoland, Dinosaur world, Cadburys(!), Theme park, Safari park and Prezzo vouchers for me and Daisy over summer holidays. It will just be me and her, as Hubby will be working 6/7 days a week over summer(he;s a carpenter who fits out school/laboratory furniture, so summer is our manic time), so I want to try to do a few trips to fill up the weeks and keep her entertained.
Bracken - I too will friend request you. You should be able to accept friend requests on profile I think?
Right going to go and get a cuppa now, will get back here over weekend to update on all that exercise! x0 -
Slowly getting on board. Thanks to all for the welcome back. Today was very busy with Nellie waking me up at 6:20 but it got me up for an early morning walk. I then went strawberry picking and got 6 quarts, some of which are for the freezer and the rest I used this afternoon when my sister, her husband and two children and a boyfriend of the neice were here for a mid-afternoon tea. This family is from the West and were here for the past week for the daughter's graduation from university- she is now a fully qualified optometrist. Our family had a large gathering honouring the grads in the family but I haven't mentioned this in detail yet, I think. I managed to get to the stable for a nice ride. However, I still have to finish preparing the strawberries for the freezer and after reading the exercise thread, I am determined to finish the walk distance I set for today. So must off now.0
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Hi all, just thought I would mention a site I have found courtesy of MFP. It's called weightgrapher.com. Don't know if any of you use it. It has helped me because it puts in perspective a day or two when my weight rises. It is not the usual graph, it shows your weight trend, and being a "serial weigher" I record my weight on it every day. It has already shown me a pattern to my eating so now I am NOT going to worry re a gain on Monday, rather I will look forward to seeing Friday's result! Just thought it may be worth you having a look x x0
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Hi all,
BM - I have logged onto the weightgrapher site, and been told that I have fallen behind! Was a bit gutted, but think that more measuring will even this out, and also know that my big 4lb gain threw the graph off balance!
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So tomorrow I am getting back to it again, as I have fallen a little off track lately (as i sit here with my coffee munching on chocolate digestives!). I think that by only having 1 fast day last week, and a busy social calender has sent me off track. Next week is a lot more 'normal' apart from a trip to Newmarket races on Friday with my cousin, but im driving so no calories lost to alcohol! This evening I will be menu planning and exercise routine planning, but thought I would come here first to get me in the zone!
How was everyones weekend - mine has been a quiet one really. We went to a wedding Friday afternoon/evening which turned out to be a bit of nightmare wedding. Unfortunately, our friend had cut a lot of corners with the organisation of it all. Anyway, come the evening reception it turned into a scene from Holby city with at least 5 of guest I know of falling sick in an instant at 8pm (an ambulance needing to be called for a friend of mine). They had done their own catering, and Im pretty sure that with how the sickness struck it was food poisoning. Thankfully, we were ok, but I felt quiet sorry for the bride and groom, as its not how you want your wedding to be remebered. Then yesterday and today have just been 'pottering about' days. Daisy had her swimming lesson Saturday morning, and I am so pleased with how she is progressing - it was the first time she swam without her woggle and just a tummy float. Very proud!
Hope you got your steps in Bracken. What are you planning to do with your strawberries? We visited our strawb farm on Saturday, we are getting quite regular there at the moment, as Strawberries dont last with Daisy around! I also got some gooseberries from there, but am undecided what to do with them? Any ideas?
Right, off I go to menu plan - thinking Hairy bikers might get me back on track?
Speak soon. xx0
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