Hi fellow Ex Pats

I have lived in Florida for the last 9 years - different from both Denmark & Mali, I am sure. At least I get to speak English (ish) but still no Marmite!

Not trying to lose a whole lot of weight - really waiting and hoping my Plantar Fasciitis improves enough that I can start running again.


Steve

Hi you to
First Happy Thanksgiving to Steve and his family hope you all have had a great day :happy: . Where are you from in the Uk Steve .
Jaajh is Alton towers fun park close to where you come from ? I have never been :sad:
How do you two cope with Christmas away from the UK ? One thing i find difficult here in Denmark is that all presents are opened on the 24 Christmas eve, I hate it, Father Christmas comes on the 23 and the poor children have look at the presents all day :ohwell: they are opened after a traditional christmas dinner in the evening . so christmas morning to me feels so flat and empty . so we have both a danish christmas and an english one :happy: Happily my husband likes the english tradtions aswell.
Well tommorow Iam making a christmas pudding, and on sunday the christmas cake is to being put together MMmmm... not good for the diet :embarassed:

Hello everyone,

My name is Phil and I'm moving from Sunderland to Shanghai in a couple of weeks with work so firstly I hope I'm not too early to join. I've been told by my colleagues that I will struggle to find clothes in China so I thought I'd use it as the kick up the backside I needed to stop the yoyo dieting and start to lose weight the 'proper' way! I've lived in both California and Australia previously so I am used to living abroad but I've never lived in a place so different from the UK as China!

I was so happy to see there was a group on here because it's hard enough lose weight without actually knowing what on earth you're eating! Also I'm usually better at giving encouragement than encouraging myself when it comes to healthy eating so I hope I can be an asset to the group (that sounds like I'm applying for a job doesn't it! :laugh: ) in exchange for a friendly ear somewhere in the world. Congratulations to you all on your weight loss so far you're doing really well...perhaps we could do a challenge in the new year to help motivate us?

Hi all, this is my new account. Sorry, I put myself down as 'female' instead of 'male' and there was no way of changing it so I had to start again! Sadly my boods are still the same size though!

Thanks guys for the warm welcome, muchly appreciated. I've only been out here 3 months so still adjusting, not quite as settled as you must be after 15 years! Looking forward to getting to know you guys :happy:

Fabulous! Hi All - my name's Max - nice to meet you! How are you?

I'm a Brit (from Bedford, born in Leicester but lived in Sheffield 4 years and always wanna die a yorksihre lass). I got married last year to another Brit, grabbed one of our cats (Leo) and we are currently living in Cairo, Egypt ......but about to pack and move to Dubai, UAE in the next 3-4weeks. Our other cat was left behind with hubby's kids...long story but not a 'bad ending' one.

Ahhh you marmite munchers...wos wrong with ya - heheeee! My hubby and Leo love the stuff, but nope, not for me. Before you speed dial the RSCPA, Leo's never offered marmite, but he steals my hubby's toast, not mine Though considering I'm overweight, maybe the cat should be tempted with my plate more often - hehee.

Living in Egypt - its very difficult to get pork products so I do hanker for a bacon buttie sometimes but we usually bring over 'supplies' for the freezer which are rationed;) I do miss a decent fish and chips too but again, best not to dwell on that too much considering we're on MFP..urgh!

So how long are you all planning to stay away from the UK? Seems some of you have been away a long time - guess its a permanent thing?

It seems Dubai is full of health and fitness obssessives quaffing vitamin juices and the restaurants aren't full after work - the gyms are for hrs after the offices close. I need to find a job there urgently, and can't fit into any office clothes (haven't worked for 1.5yrs unfort as political issues in Egypt) so tryin to exercise and eat a lot less...and would love to socialise too...hence on here.

Feel free to get in touch when you're staring very still and intently at that doughnut/ plate of chips/ pair of trainers......;) I'm lookin frwd to being kept on the straight and narrow! Chat soon I hope,

Luvlies

Max

Hi Ali,

Thanks for replying, wow you've been away from the UK a long time but what an adventure! Going back to the UK will take a bit of getting used to - will be great but also a bit strange ehh? Everything familiar but different. Its great you manage to get back one in a while.

You're doing fantastically on your weight loss - very impressed! You're like me - enjoy circuit training...well I say enjoy, but to me its the lesser of other fitness evils - heheee! I do enjoy boxing too and try and run once a week.

Yes living in Cairo is great and the Egyptians are fantastic people - very kind, friendly but most of all, they have a great sense of humour:) Its a shame to leave but yes, political situation has influenced us a little. We feel safe here, though it has been a bit wild...especially recently when we had 5 armed robberies, one each day of the week, car jackings, kidnappings, muggings, shootings but still we felt fine being here. I think the bigger problem has been that my husband was here to grow the business but he ended up having to shrink it drastically as the political instability was strangling industries. Now the business is too small for his capabilities really so they're moving him on. It also means I'll be able to work (very difficult for me to find work in Egypt).

I agree with you, I've finally realised at the beginning of this year, that weight loss/management isn't a passing phase, I'm in my 30s and it'll have to be done as a part of my daily routine forever more. Love your profile photo - you both have matching smiles!

Thanks for the friend invite:)

Have fun today, chat soon

M