Dramatic living

I'm trying to avoid the obvious but it's going to be hard, I want to cheer you up not remind you of our new daily lives.

Sad news first. I've attended a family funeral this week and my grief has actually shocked me with its overwhelming intensity. However I won't go into details.

I also resigned from my job. The main reason being that driving for 3 hours for a 6 hour shift was a little bit crazy. I liked the job but I was beginning to resent the journey and it was starting to be tedious. It was also costing a fortune in fuel which was not conducive with my wages. I've been working my notice at home and I dare say I could have been paid for weeks at home if I hadn't left - but that would be morally wrong especially as it is a charity, fully funded by donations, and I therefore feel comfortable with my decision.

So. I'm unemployed. Proper unemployed! Totally scared that I'm going to put tons of weight on! The only jobs available at the moment is supermarkets. I tried but failed. And again, I'm happy because there are others who need the work more than me. So it looks like I'm going to bed for the next few months to keep me out of trouble!

I am taking advantage of some offers that have come from this situation. I've joined Davina on her website (30 days free) which has exercise, recipes, help and tips etc. It's really good. Did my first exercise programme yesterday and my muscles hurt to prove it! I was so sore today I just managed a bit of yoga. My lovely dog tried to join in. Yesterday she decided I was too sweaty and I needed washing, with her tongue! Today she did some yoga, but she only has one move - yep, the downward dog pose! I really enjoyed it. I'll probably stick with it after the trial!
https://ownyourgoalsdavina.com/

I also joined Noom (2 week trial - pay a donation). Have you seen the TV ads? American company through an app to help with weight loss using psychology and CBT. I've also thought this has been good, and potentially helpful. I've enjoyed reading the daily info and it reminds you to weigh yourself every morning and to log your food. I'm not sure I'll continue after the trial as it's £119 for 8 months, so not bad but don't forget that I'm unemployed now so can't really afford it.
https://www.noom.com/#/

So thank you for reading. Stay safe and take care xx


The difference between try and triumph is a little 'umph'

The results are in

This was my brunch on Friday when I was in Glasgow with my daughter. It's a double milk pancake with nutella, mascarpone, chocolate chips, caramel sauce and chunks of crunchie. It was 25 calories to look at it and 50 calories to smell it. Goodness knows how many to eat it! I couldn't finish it so they boxed it up and I had it on the train home. In fact I don't think I ate anything else that day!

I'm trying hard not to mention the C word. I think the world has gone mad. It feels like we've been plonked in the middle of a disaster movie e.g. Contagion. Why do the shops not have toilet roll? What is everyone doing with it? It's not even like diarrhoea is a symptom! And deodorant?? Why are people hoarding  deodorant? I'm pretty sure the bugs don't mind if you have body odour! Of course I'm not to be left out, I'm doing my own bulk shopping to see me through the next few weeks - Cadbury Creme Eggs, prosecco and sudoku books! I'm sorted!

So the results are in from my survey. Thank you to everyone that gave me their answers! I got lots. Firstly the boys (only a handful of males read) -

80% have never dieted. 60% felt their weight was fine. None of them had really good diets or really bad with 100% being healthy mostly or occasionally. Only 20% exercise daily with 40% weekly and 40% rarely but none of the men never exercised!

So without dieting, exercising or eating very well most of them are happy with their size! Interesting.

Now the girls -

Only 13% have never dieted! With 53% sometimes dieting and 26% often dieting. Leaving 7% constantly on a diet.
33% felt their weight was fine but 33% felt they are over weight. 26% said their weight was really bad with only 7% under weight.
Over half said their diets were mostly healthy. 26% sometimes healthy, 13% never and only 7% always.
Exercise - 33% do it daily, 26% weekly, 20% rarely and 20% never.

I'm not surprised at the weight figures. Fairly neatly spread over fine/over weight/obese which I think reflects real life. And the healthy eating seems about right too. Big well done to ⅓ of the girls who exercise daily!

Another thing I noticed was that lots of you named walking as your mode of exercise! And spring is springing so walk on everyone!!

An idea without a plan is just a wish.

Where do I start?

Good grief! Where do I begin? My week? Horrible! And yet quite nice at the same time. Let's start with the bad....

So you may remember that I had a tooth out? Well after posting last week's blog I was straight back to the dentist. I had an infection and boy was it sore. So armed with a strong antibiotic and lots of painkillers my week began.

Now some of the good....

Hubby and I went to Glasgow to a nice hotel and spa for a couple of nights relaxation! We had a lovely room and enjoyed the spa. That's me (eyes left) on a heated bed! It was bliss. We had a massage and the usual use of pool, hot tub, sauna and tropical shower!

Back to the bad...

I couldn't drink alcohol at all because of the drugs! I was in pain the whole trip and talking alternative paracetamol and ibuprofen like they were Smarties! To rinse my mouth with saline I had to steal salt from the dining room. I also alternated between having a nice time in a lovely hotel to crying my eyes out because I was so miserable with the pain!

And the good...

Stopped off at the indoor real snow slopes for a bit of skiing! At least the ache in my thighs distracted me from my mouth! Small mercies!!

Got home on Tuesday night. Straight to dentist Wednesday (I now have a dry socket - cleaned with antiseptic and packed with cloves (my mouth tastes like Christmas, which is much nicer than the disgusting taste of infection) and sent on my way with a prescription for diclofenac). Then on Thursday got the train back to Glasgow with my daughter for a night at the theatre! But the good news is I was back on the sauce in time to have prosecco watching the play.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my survey. Not had time to do the maths and work out the stats, so you have another week to get in touch with me with your answers! Thank you so very much!! (Remember no names will be stated).

The 5 simple and quick questions -

1. I have dieted? - never/sometimes/often/constantly (this means to deliberately try to lose weight).
2. I think my weight is - under/fine/over/obese
3. My diet is healthy - always/mostly/occasionally/not very at all.
4. I exercise - daily/weekly/rarely/never
5. Gender - what you currently are, not what you want to be!

Thank you again for letting me know! Private messages ONLY please xx

The best way to do something is to begin!

Ouch!

My front garden this morning lol.

There are a couple of illicit cheats in the world of slimming, that are not discussed. Mainly because they are deep and dark, and don't work. And I have experienced one this week. Before I tell you about it I'll reveal the first cheat - a tummy bug!! A few days of vomiting and diarrhoea, without being able to eat can do wonders for the scales. Now we all know that we just lose lbs of fluids not fat, and as a diet tool it's crap! But if you embrace it as if it was a few days of fasting, and then maintain a low calorie diet immediately it can make the adjustment period a little easier! Resist the urge to slowly go back to pre vomit eating and bingo! Your diet has kick started.

The second one is having a tooth extracted! I kid you not when I tell you it took almost an hour for my dentist to pull out my back molar! It was brutal! I half expected her to put her foot up against the chair to get more leverage! But perseverance paid off and boom! So now I have a mass of broken and soggy gum with a huge hole where my tooth used to be. It hurts in there so you'd think an ideal opportunity to kick start the plan. I can only eat soft food after all. First meal was great - homemade leek & potato soup, very low calorie. Then some custard, ok not great but tastes delicious. Next meal is porridge - super nutritious - except I add dark chocolate! Then, Rice pudding, with added white chocolate! And let's not even discuss the coconut ice cream! Even with a sore mouth I still manage to get all my calories! Oh Gilly, oh Gilly!

Something for the weekend -

I would like to do a quick survey of my readers, by asking you to answer a few questions please.

1. I have dieted? - never/sometimes/often/constantly
2. I think my weight is? - under/fine/over/horrendous
3. My diet is healthy? - always/mostly/occasionally/pass the chocolate
4. I exercise? - every day/weekly/rarely/I do not understand
5. Gender - male/female/other (I don't think any of you are other but I wanted to be politically correct)

Please get in touch with your answers. I'd very much appreciate it. PLEASE personal message me. What's app or text or whatever. But please do NOT reply in the group. Feel free to send anonymous messages (use someone else's phone?). I will only be publishing stats and no personal details. Thank you thank you thank you x xxx

He who fears he will suffer, already suffers because he fears.

Please note - the above is not intended to be taken as real dieting advice! Don't be so daft. Do NOT catch a bug or pull out a tooth to help you diet!