Thank heavens for sunshine

By Tuesday I had lost a pound. But then it was my birthday on Wednesday.. Say no more! 

When I realised a few weeks ago that I'd be under lockdown for my birthday I was pragmatic and thought the day would be dull and pass mostly unnoticed. How very wrong I was. I had such a lovely day. Bucks Fizz in bed, social distanced cuppa in the garden, in the sun, with a missed pal. Meeting on the shared driveway with my neighbours for birthday cake and Pimm's. My favourite homemade pizza for supper with champagne. A zoom birthday quiz with my kids and hubby's family (my team won). And then a couple of White Russians as a night cap. I received cards and gifts and so many birthday messages I felt blessed and loved. 

I think we've all been counting our blessings these last few weeks and appreciating the small things. Here's my favourite small things - 

• The sun shining and the lovely warm weather we've been having just recently (even in the NE of Scotland)
• My garden swing seat. It was a bargain a few years ago and I love it.
• A hot bubble bath. With or without candles/prosecco/book/TV. So relaxing and peaceful.
• My silk nighties. I have a couple and I usual wear them with my cashmere or merino wool cardigans, or the gorgeous shawl my daughter gave me for Christmas. I've mentioned this before, and swanning around like a princess. I don't feel like a princess anymore because I wear them everyday, after a bath or shower, sometimes as early as 3pm. But I love them. They make me feel special and sexy and just decadent.
• Oranges. Out of the fridge - cold and juicy. Simply bliss!
• Podcasts. My current favourite one is Off Menu. Yes of course it's about food! But it's entertaining when I'm sunbathing or cutting the grass or relaxing. It's funny, though like everything some are better than others.
• I'm tempted to put Fry's Chocolate creams but then I feel I'm not giving proper attention to Smarties or crunchies or toffee crisps etc. So let's just settle on chocolate. Thank you chocolate for being there for me at times of trouble.

Now these are only small things. There are also big things that I've not mentioned, like the health of my family, my pets and friends, and my hubby still having a job. Just think about your own small things. Might make you feel better xx

Tears are words that can't be spoken.

Cheers!

Getting to me

I love Fry's chocolate creams - I love the green ones, I love the blue ones, I love the orange ones! And then I saw the pink and red ones out shopping the other day. Well obviously I had to buy to try. (They're nice but not a patch on the aforementioned ones).

I've lost the second half of last week's pound plus another pound. So that's now 7 squares ticked off my chart. Half a stone in 7 weeks. Slow, very slow, but steady. Yay

What a week I've had. The scales just refused to budge. I was getting very disenchanted. On Tuesday I had a mega strop and just decided to eat! It wasn't a total binge but I had a chocolate bar and wine and cake with double cream! Next morning I was a pound up but I got straight back to business and today I'm happy enough!

Lockdown must be getting to me as this week I've been gardening! The only type of gardening I've done before is watching my hubby doing it as I sit and sunbathe. I mean I do mow the grass but that's my total limit. But this week I've been (drum roll) raking moss. We have got an electric raker which was fun but I actually enjoyed the manual one. It was very satisfying and much more physical which is a bonus. The weather was warm, not windy and not very sunny so it was perfect to be gardening rather than sunbathing! Bingo. Don't expect this every week though. I don't think it'll become a thing!

And you know what? I've done no baking this week at all. Obviously too busy gardening!

If you don't build your dreams someone will hire you to help build theirs.

Another week in lockdown

I've lost half a pound but I'm not counting it as I can only tick off full pounds from my chart. But I am now in the 14 stones rather than the 15s so that's good!

This week on lockdown I've made lemonade, cashew nut milk, shortbread, chocolate cake and doggy cupcakes! Of course the problem with this baking is the eating that follows. So far I've resisted the doggy cupcakes lol, Libby and her boyfriend (a spinone called George next door) have shared them. The lemonade is diet friendly anyway and I've only had a wee bit of cake (I mean you just have to test it before you let others) and a couple of wafer thin shortbreads. But I am a bit worried about the nut milk. Shop bought milks are low in calories but I'm not sure about my homemade version. Quite a few cashew nuts went into it!

I received a couple of nice messages this week. My sister congratulated me on my steady loss. And when I complained about the time it's going to take me to hit target she reminded me that 18 months will fly by, and that I've been writing this blog - and not getting anywhere near my target weight - for 4 years! That did put the time scale into perspective and I was suddenly much happier with the situation. The second message was from my brother in law. Whilst he is happy for me that I'm losing weight he wanted to ensure that my character won't change because he 'loves me the way I am'. So I felt twice as happy.

Now, what I'm about to say might not be popular, but it's my opinion. I don't think anyone suits fat. Some carry it off better and often believe they are happy fat but I think most people are kidding themselves. For example, Dawn French - looks great but looks better when she's lost some weight. Adele, who always said she had no intention of dieting looks amazing now! Have you seen the pictures? Proper slim! Well done Adele! It is also my opinion that being too thin isn't attractive either. Simon Cowell - he's done brilliantly but now he just looks like a lollipop, his head is huge compared with his body! Lots of stars on TV or movies are too skinny and it's not a nice look! Eat a bloody doughnut!!

Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it, time will pass anyway.

Serious research

Warning! Contains swearing from the off set!

Another week, another pound. 5 weeks, 5 pounds. Just 70 more of the fuckers to go! Not too shabby! I wish.

So I've been undertaking some important research on your behalf this week. You can thank me later. Look left! And yes, I tried all 4! My findings -
White - I'm not a lover of white chocolate but the button was the biggest, always a bonus.
Milk - this was the original button. Cadbury milk chocolate is always a winner! Though it was the smallest button and a little too sweet for me.
Dark - some strange people don't like dark chocolate!! Weirdos. I love it and in a button it is so good!
Darkmilk - if you haven't tried these buttons you really must! What can I tell you? The perfect solution and it is sublime.

So my free trial with Davina ended. As predicted I signed up as I really like the site. The exercises are varied - dance, boxing, Pilates, yoga, HIIT, toning etc. Workouts for beginners, intermediates, advanced. Recipes, info sheets. And as a bonus I could get it half price for a year. Hubby has even started to join me. This is kind of good because he encourages me and as he wants to do it first thing I get it over and done with! Yay. But he has no coordination at all! It's so funny watching him, basically just making it up, I end up just laughing at him! Which is a wee bit off putting! The weather has been lovely so I've managed to exercise in the garden which is really nice. Yesterday was so sunny and warm - and believe it or not the forecast is for snow on Sunday morning! Crazy

I've been baking again. Brownies - amazing (not my words, honest) and Vicky sponge with jam and cream. I have partaken but only a taste! What else are we supposed to do during lockdown?? I keep thinking I've had enough and I want it all over! Though truth be told I really must wish it had never happened at all!

Take care and stay safe everyone xxx

If at first you don't succeed do it like your wife told you!

Dangerous topless-ness

I've lost another pound. Very happy of course but like most slimmers I want it off quicker! I know they say doing it slowly means you have more chance of keeping it off long term but I'd still rather lose more! 2lbs, come on, that's doable surely.

So I've discovered that sunbathing topless is dangerous. I don't mean, surprisingly, cars crashing as men ogle me, because no one sees me except my hubby and he doesn't bat an eyelid. I'll ask him if I have nice boobs and he'll reply 'aye, lovely. Do you know were my wrench is?'. If I push I maybe get something like 'they're fine, not too big and not too small - though if they were bigger they'd disguise your belly a bit!' Anyway, going back to topless sunbathing. I burnt a boob. And not sunburnt. I was getting something out of the oven and I caught it on the pan. Ouch! My right breast has a nasty burn now. Not pretty!

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary. 21 years. I decided we'd have a night away - to the spare room! It was cool. We had a lovely day, eating and drinking, walking the dog, watching TV and just being lazy. Ok, so not much different from everyday this last few weeks, but come on!? It was difficult under these current circumstances. The important bit is that I didn't cook and we had a bottle of fancy champagne that I was given for my 50th last year! Very nice. And the place we went to had a gym (the living room) so we got some exercise and a pool (we shared a bath) and a health spa (we massaged each other). They even put rose petals on the bed and candles in the room (that was me not him silly). Perfect!

I pulled my back at the weekend. Just the smallest manoeuvre did it! But very sore and I struggled for a few days. Exercise was not possible but I kept my eating healthy so I am happy with my loss. I'll keep at it and hopefully I'll surprise everyone with a 2lb drop next week! Whoop whoop!

There will always be a struggle in a relationship, the trick is picking the right person to struggle with.