Pets

Yay another pound off. It's going to be a long slog and at this rate it'll take me 18 months to get to target. But that's much better than being 75lbs over weight in 18 months! Slow and steady wins the race they say.

My lovely Labrador, Libby, has been such a comfort under lockdown, especially when I was alone. I love her more than anything (it's ok my husband and kids know where they fit in the hierarchy) but I thought I'd introduce my cats. (I apologise if you're not a cat person).

Bumblebee, the black one, is 13 years old. (Named after a transformer not the insect - he was nearly called Optimus Prime). He can be grumpy. If I pick him up for a cuddle and he isn't in the mood he'll tell me, with his claws. Is he is in the mood he'll stay and be cuddled for ages. He's the hunter - mice, birds, moles, rabbits and hares!

Mr B, the ginger one, is 5 years old. (Short for Mr Bigglesworth - Austin Powers movie). He's never grumpy. If I pick him up for a cuddle he'll not be interested but will stay and tolerate me until he can politely get away. He sleeps and sleeps and eats and eats and that is all he does!

Bacardi, the grey one, is Mr B's sister. She's my daughter's cat but came to stay before lockdown and now can't get home. She's a bugger but sweet with it. She can open ALL doors, internal or external, opening in or opening out. She will voluntarily come for a cuddle and she'll also climb my curtains. She gets onto the highest cupboards and climbs up the chimney. She will also play fetch with a ball. Hubby was fixing an upstairs window yesterday, she was up and out onto the roof before we could say 'cat on a hot slate roof'.

Libby loves them all. Bumblebee will tolerate a lick or two but after that will punch her in the face. Bacardi hisses at her and Libby wants to be close but runs away scared. Mr B loves Libby and they often snuggle together and lick each others faces for ages. So cute.

This week I have been sunbathing, weather's been fab. I was adjusting my bikini top straps to avoid white lines. Hubby suggested I just take it off, not like we'll get any unexpected visitors?! So I went topless - first time since 1989!! I was in Turkey and once a week all the Turkish men, day off work, lined up on the beach wall and ogled all the ladies boobies!

I've also sorted my chest freezer. It was chocker but actually there wasn't much needing binned. The animals loved the salmon, chicken and prawns! At least this week I know what is in the freezer though ask me next week and I'll have forgotten again!

I rescued some wine, it was trapped in a bottle! 

Cabin fever

Yay lost another pound!

At the risk of speaking too soon, something has clicked! I can't tell you how, why or when because I don't really know. But I have created a goal - to lose 75lbs. Within 1 year would be good, and within 6 months is probably doable and would be awesome, but I'm not giving myself a real time scale because let's face it, losing 75lbs over 5 years is still better than not at all.

I've made a wee tick chart (see photo) which I'm very excited about. Why have I not done this before? I've plotted weight loss previously in all sorts of ways but never with a visual end. I'm hoping ticking off the pounds will help keep me focused.

And I've also made commitments to myself. I'm not relying on motivation to get me through, that is an emotion, from my chimp, and emotions change all the time so is not reliable. I'm using my head, the alleged sensible bit, and I've chosen what I want, why I want it and how I'll get it, and I've written it all down, in black and white - I've even laminated it! We all know that I can lose weight, it's now up to me to get to my 75lb goal. Of course once I get there that's a whole different matter with some brand new rules! But let's not go there yet, one step at a time eh?

So how is everyone? I know some of you are struggling more than others. It's a very strange and stressful time. My husband has been working from home and was then put on furlough which was a shock and unexpected. I'm feeling very much unemployed. I'm trying to enjoy my time at home, and I'm mostly successful - as is my knickers drawer. I even got my ironing board out yesterday! I've a gazillion chocolate Easter eggs, and obviously I still have my children's eggs as I can't visit them. If they actually get them remains to be seen - depends on how my diet goes I suppose. I always allow myself a little of the sugary stuff no matter what plan I follow. It is a basic, I don't care what the government say!

All take care and stay safe.

When the world tells you to give up, hope whispers one more time.

My chimp

So desperate for chocolate I found this at the back of the fridge! He was good!

So I would like to introduce my chimp. Those of you who know me well have met him several times - for this I feel I should apologise. My sister lent me a book 'The Chimp Paradox'. The psychology is that we have three brains - the chimp, the human and the computer! Now this is a big book so I'll do my hardest to abridge to a very short, but literate, paragraph. So the chimp thinks independently to the human, it's reactive and emotional, has its own agenda and rarely agrees with the human. The worst thing is that it thinks and takes action 5 times faster than the human! I'm sure you all recognise this to some degree? Those days when you know you should go for that run because it's good for you and you'll feel great after it, but it's raining and cold and you really want to stay in bed? A recent example of mine is when 3 loyal friends removed themselves from the blog what's app group. My chimp was immediately distressed because they don't like me any more, they hate my blog, they think it's not worthwhile! But my human (a few seconds later) realised that it might just mean they are so dedicated to my blog they don't need the weekly reminder. Or even if they did decide not to read it anymore then that's ok as it's not for everyone - and they have been reading it for 4 years now!

Anyway the book it about managing your chimp (you can't remove him) and stop him from sabotaging your goals, dreams, day to day living! It's the chimp telling me to eat chocolate even if my human is full, and trying to lose weight!

So I've lost 1lb. Meals are being controlled but I'm still struggling with the sugar. I'm carrying on with Davina's workouts, HIIT and yoga sessions. And doing strange lockdown things like cleaning the fridge and throwing mouldy cranberry sauce out! And, of course, I've written a Covid-19 poem! Enjoy xxx

This plague wraps round the world complete.

A passage in history we won't delete.

Officials say to stay at home

For some this means weeks all alone.

Every day we devour the news

We need to know if we win or lose

So many now have lost their life

A child, a father or someone's wife.

For those ignoring the warning call

Putting all at risk, and more will fall.

This virus takes with no regard

Your sex, your age, an inch, a yard.

So open your door and breathe the air

Let the wind blow through your hair.

Dance and sing and eat some cake

Strawberries, ice-cream with chocolate flake.

Squats, lunges and the yoga pose

Feel the grass between your toes

Rejoice the sun, the wind and rain

Our strength of heart will never wane.

The life we had we took for granted

Losing sight of things that mattered.

When this is over, and it will end

Embrace your family, your neighbour, your friend.

By Gilly Wilson

5 April 2020

If it doesn't challenge you it won't change you.

P&P

So the unspeakable, though expected, has happened. I've hit an all time high! 15st 5lbs. This is devastating obviously. Not a moment goes by without me thinking of my weight and my eating. I've been reading the Noom app daily (psychology to help you diet). I've been doing my Davina exercises. I've eaten salads and oat milk and fruit and veg, but I just can not control it. I even opened an Easter egg (not mine - oops!) because I really needed some chocolate! PMT but I'm sure that's just an excuse!

I was excited to watch a Channel 4 programme called Beat the Fat last night, but it wasn't shown. I guess a change of schedule - can't be helped. The description in the TV magazine said that the average Brit goes on 179 diets in their life time! Yay, I'm average. You'd think in this day and age, with all this amazing technology, someone would have invented the magic pill (not necessarily literally a pill but you know what I mean). This is something that affects so many people and is so important to so many people!

I knew being house bound would be an issue regarding my eating. I'm sure plenty of you agree. I've tried so hard to keep busy - cleaning out kitchen cupboards (see exhibit A), baking and cooking (minestrone soup yesterday), exercising (yes, honestly), housework (I do not enjoy this). But I'm alone and the day is long. I'm thinking of painting (walls not pictures) with whatever paint is in the garage. I'm not naturally a busy person. I quite like sitting watching TV, lots of us do. Yesterday I decided I was going to have a P&P day. I meant Pride and Prejudice (the BBC drama series with Colin Firth, not the movie with Keira Knightley - a very substandard second). My husband thought I meant PJs and prosecco! What a fab idea. So after my cleaning and cooking this morning I had a P&P&P&P afternoon!! Awesome! And I didn't even eat - except for a beef stew supper!

I planned to introduce my chimp to you today but I've ran out of room. Don't want to bore you with too much Gilly. So I'll keep him till next week.

Everyone keep safe!

Don't look back, you're not going that way!