It's another very quick hello from me...

So true about falling off the rails and getting back on track. It happens to ALL of us and it's hard to stay on track when things are particularly eventful and stressful. The thing that I find soothing is my gym time, and I've only been once this week, so my added work stress gets a bit hard to deal with. Plus the whole single mum to teenager and return to school issues... I'm not sure when it gets easier??

BUT I do know that by sticking to my nutrition plan, I'm likely to end the week tired and feeling good about myself... Rather than tired and hating myself (again) for overeating.

So if one thing has to fall by the wayside, just make sure that the other thing (food or exercise) doesn't.

It's NEVER too late to pick up where you left off

Feb Fast.. Hmmm... Good idea, great exercise too!

And good news about Claude getting a bit closer. He'll be sitting on your lap watching TV in no time at all!!

Good morning everyone!! I am back!!

What a beautiful morning it is in Sydney. Just glorious!

I'm sorry for not being around much this week. Had some really busy days at work, plus a few family dramas at home thrown into the mix and then have been out and about since Friday night. I had a late night last night, but wasn't drinking (although I ate too much) so I'm bright and perky this morning but let me tell you I am FEELING the effects of too many social lunches and dinners, drinking and late night nibbles and generally being lazy with my routine and exercise. No more!!!

I started this group because I needed something to give me focus and get back on track after Christmas/New Year. So far I've been pretty on and off about the whole thing, started with a fire in my belly but kind of lost it already and it's only the end of week 3 :embarassed: Oopsiedaisy... I didn't even read my goals this week. They would pop up on my phone as a notification, and I'd just glance at them and think "yeah yeah". That's NOT really the right thing to do, especially when losing focus.

So it's time to get back on track. I'm going to use today to get some much needed stuff done at home, do the grocery shopping (fresh food only) and make my plan for the week ahead. I will 4 early mornings at the gym Monday - Thursday and have a rest day on Friday. I'm also going to keep this weeks daily calorie intake to an average of 1500. I'll be going out for dinner on Friday night (Valentines Day ) but that will be my only planned splurge for the week.

Time to take action!

For everyone else... If I can fall off the wagon and get back on again, then if you have fallen off as well, please join me... I'll throw out an arm and pull you on board as the wagon passes by, there is lots of room for everyone

Ok, so this week - Honey (Nelle), gains can happen for all sorts of reasons. If you know that you have been eating well and exercising and doing all the "right" things, it's probably just water retention. Stick to your plan and you'll get there.

Helen, sounds much like my week has been.

Sweetys (Megan) OMG - laptop death!!!! NO!! I'd have to be out getting a new one the next day. I can still get online via my phone or iPad, but if I need to do a lot of typing it's SO much easier on a keyboard.

Terri, I'm glad to hear that you are on track and doing so well!! Like Mich said, the gain could definately be from DOMS - water retention in your muscles to help them repair. If everything else is going well just go with the flow and the scale weight will come off. As long as you are trending down, that's good. Roller derby sounds scary!!

Bird (Ricki-Lee) good idea saving up for Valentines Day calories Hope you have a great weekend "off bush" sounds like it's going to be an active break, so I'm sure you will be ok at the end of it, and as you say, starting again is always an option. Life happens.

Mich, good work!!!

Gemma of course might not read this as you are off to Bali, lucky you!! Have a great time and I'm glad you had a good weekend at the wedding I love weddings, everyone is so happy and it's just a really nice day.

Ray you are on fire!! Well done on the love handles disappearing, glad you are doing so well. Shame about the gym being closed, I swear I would have been there on Christmas Day if mine were open. Mine was flooded recently and closed for a day, it was a shock to to system not to have it open and available, that's for sure.

Lou - me too!! I've been super busy, not going to the gym in the morning, therefore up later at night and then the snacking starts... I thought I had gotten rid of that very bad habit months and months ago, but here it is, back again. Must stop. At least you have kept your exercise up, so that's good.

I also find that the scales stuff me around a bit. I've put them away for the meantime as I can TELL I have put on a little bit of weight (some clothes feeling a bit snug) and I know if I step on the scales and see a number I don't like I'll be totally demoralised. That's not good for my head - so this week I'm going to concentrate on my nutrition and exercise plan and I'll weigh in next week.

Mungo (Robin) I agree with you on the whole calories in calories out deal. Yes, I do think that it has some bearing on the overall equation, but I also think it's much more about the quality of food rather than the quantity. If I'm eating fresh food and cooking it all myself I'm a lot less concerned if I go "over" my calorie allowance. Whereas if I'm eating stuff out of packets, I think it's going to affect me a lot more and better to keep the calories within reason... Mind you, if I'm eating stuff out of packets, my mindset is likely not to give a stuff!

Good news about being in contact with your DD, unfortunately we can't make choices for them, just have to love and support them and ride the wave. As far as your son is concerned, perhaps just don't buy the binge foods he likes and have lots of fruit or things available to snack on that's a healthier option. My DD snacks on ham and raw carrots if I leave them cut up and on the top shelf of the fridge where she can see them. Or meatballs, easy things that I can cook and leave in the fridge for her to have when she gets home from school. As for getting him there - well, I've had issues with that myself, you just need to find what works for you.

Emotional eating is a big thing for me too. I eat when I'm happy, stressed, sad... you name it!! I found that keeping my blog helped me a lot and at first, just getting rid of all tempting type foods. Plus I have a list on the side of my fridge with a list of wise snacking options for when I'm feeling peckish for no real reason... (I should put that on the front of the fridge this week, I completely forgot it was there until I started to type this paragraph).

Ok, so that's it from me this morning, it's almost 10am and I need to get showered and dressed. Going out today but I'll be back tonight to set up the Week 4 threads and I'll message everyone to remind them that it's never too late to re-start our engines!!

Have a great day everyone :flowerforyou: