May I suggest

 

I can't believe it's Friday already! I had a brilliant Xmas and my weight has remained the same which is definitely a win for me. 

And now we move on to the next celebration - Hogmanay! I do love traditions but I'm beginning to think that resolutions are pointless. Every year it's always been the same (and I bet for millions of others too) - lose weight, get fit, drink more water etc etc and I bet for the same millions nothing really changes, and yet it feels churlish not to make some. This year I've decided to tweak mine. Rather than resolutions I'm going to have suggestions. I'm going to suggest that I'm going to increase my walking and strength training to give me the best chance of hitting my target weight of 10 stones by June. I'm going to suggest that I will do this by dedicating an extra/specific day once a week to my exercise routine. To help keep me on track I will schedule said day on my new family organiser (thank you, Ellie) and to keep me accountable I will confirm post exercise here on my blog. I will suggest to you every week that my extra day of keeping fit has indeed taken place. I will also suggest that I won't forget to do this by mid January like my previous resolutions lol. 

Hogmanay/New Year's Eve really does nothing for me. Long gone are the days of partying and getting sloshed. I mean I may stay up for the bells as it is quite nice to see the new year in, however if I'm too tired to keep my eyes open I may just be in bed and asleep by 10.30pm. I suspect Ellie and Isaac will manage to stay up to midnight. Though I don't think they'll bother to go out partying either. Mark will be awake as he's on Nightshift. We'll have some nice food, a few drinks and some funny TV. Sounds like heaven to me. Just to be with my family is the best start to the new year! 

Whatever your plans for Sunday night and Monday I hope you enjoy yourself and have positive thoughts for 2024! In fact, you may even have a few suggestions of your own.

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.

Xmas

 

Look at all the chocolates and biscuits at work, and that's only some. I need to get through all of these by February! It's such a tough job but someone has to eat them.

My weight remained the same after my week away in the sun. And this week I've lost 2lb. Making me 11st 8lb and only 2lbs away from a 5 stone total loss. So close but no banana. It obviously won't happen next week, nor probably the week after. I mean it is Christmas in only 3 days! 

Exercise is now firmly on the agenda. Getting closer to the end of my weight loss journey I will need a little boost over the next 6 months. Do what you love and it won't feel like exercise? Isn't that the saying... Something like that anyway. If you know me well you'll know that I love to dance. I'm often found in the kitchen boogeying away, but I need more structure. Just moving my feet and hips in time to the radio isn't going to cut it, so I have a plan. Oh yes I do. I'm going to attempt to learn the steps to two dances. Wait for it..... 'Can't Touch This' by MC Hammer and Footloose. At this point I'm not entirely convinced that Footloose has a dance but if it has I will learn it. I might have to watch the movie lol. By next Christmas I'll be a pro, though no promises. 

Talking of dancing at Christmas it was my work party last Friday. I had a short green sequinned skirt (size 14) and a black silk t-shirt, black fishnets (absolutely against my daughter's advice) and black boots. I can't believe I don't have a picture, sorry. I felt nice but boy did I get loads of compliments from my colleagues. They were so sweet (some drunk - "you looking f*@king amazing!) And they all made me blush but made me feel awesome. Obviously I didn't go down this journey to please anyone else but myself, but validation like this is just the cherry on the top! 

Merry, merry Christmas to you all. I hope you have a lovely few days and that Santa is good to you! If he isn't, I can only presume it's because you've been naughty all year?! Love you all. 

I made a huge to-do list today. I just need to figure out who's going to do it.

Holiday

As I write this I'm sitting at Arrecife airport on Thursday afternoon, waiting for my flight home. Ellie and I have had a lovely week, just what the doctor ordered. The weather has been sunny and warm without being too hot and humid. The food has been good and the cocktails gooder. I have slept so well and feel rejuvenated and ready for Christmas.

This week I've also had some NSVs (Non Scale Victories). One of my dresses needed a strapless bra, which of course I'd forgotten. However, I could borrow Ellie's. Maybe a little tight but easily wearable! Whoop. Number 2 - you know after an exercise class you need to stretch? One being grabbing your foot behind you and bringing it up to your bum to stretch the thigh. I could never do this before, falling all over with bad balance and having to try to grab my sock and shuggle my hand down to my foot, looking a bit of an idiot. Well I can now do it so easily. Admittedly, I was in the pool which probably helped, but I'm still owning it. The third is that the hotel was built on a hill so getting from pool to room involved steps - 24, 18, 36 then finally 9! And a lot of walking up slopes. But I noticed that I did all these, several times a day, with no moaning or being out of breathe, or trying to use the lifts. Just walked quite pleasantly. You see it's all the small things that count.

So this week marked my 6 month anniversary since WLS. In that time I've lost almost 5 stones (70lbs or 31kg) and feel like a completely new person. So happy and healthy and fitter. I don't know what the holiday has done to my weight but I know I'm not worried at all. Such a good feeling! I am blessed and thank everyone who has helped or supported me on my journey. 

Beginnings are usually scary, and endings usually sad, but it's everything in-between which makes it all worth living. - Bob Marley

Elf

 

So elf on the shelf maybe for kids but Ellie has led my own elf (Einstein) into mischief! My giant elf has taken over the remote for the Christmas train, eaten a whole tub of chocolates and lassoed Mickey and Minnie! Of course, I'm just loving coming downstairs to see what he's been up to! See the photos above and below lol.

As you read this I am (fingers crossed) sunbathing in Lanzarote. We definitely landed on the Spanish island yesterday but can only hope it's sunny/warm enough for a bikini. The forecast is good so I'm sure we'll be grand. Ellie has finished uni for the winter break so we've jetted off for a week. Just a little respite and relaxation. Cocktails are a given even if the sun isn't. I can't believe how much time I've been away on holiday this year - making up for the barren COVID years when we didn't set foot on a plane.

I don't think I've lost weight this week but it's cool. I'm still feeling good which is the best bit. We had our residents Christmas party this week and served turkey dinner to them and a few relatives. I had a small plate and boy it was good! One roast potato, a slice of turkey, one pig, gravy and some skirlie. Biggest meal I've eaten since surgery! Yummy.

I wish you all a great week. More from me in Lanzarote next Friday (though I will be home and back to work).

When life gives you a hundred reasons to break down and cry, show life you have a thousand reasons to smile and laugh!