Post Espagna

Well I’ve been back from Spain a week now and have to say that I have been eating (and drinking!) pretty normally.

 

I have managed to stay pretty well the same weight (my lower weight) which I’m delighted with. I have still kept off half a stone!!

 

In addition I chatted to Anne from FRAME to see if they had received the money I raised from Just Giving. I am delighted to report that they have now got around £130 which includes Gift Aid money. I am so pleased, thank you everyone. Anne said I should do a before and after picture and whilst I had done the before I hadn’t done the after.

 

But you know because I never was that vast beforehand, from the before and after pictures it is not necessarily that obvious I’ve lost weight!! Hey ho and here we go!

 

BEFORE

 

 

AFTER

 

Hmm... not sure it definitely shows a half stone weight loss!! Anyway.....when you first register with Rosemary Conley at a class they get you to measure all sorts of areas. I have lost the greatest amount around my waist and both thighs (and put 2cm on my right arm??!) as follows:

	BEFORE	AFTER
Waist	77cm	72cm
Bust	92cm	88cm
Hips	87cm	85cm
Widest part!! (butt!!)	89cm	88cm
Right arm	25cm	27cm
Left arm	28cm	27cm
Right thigh	57cm	52cm
Left thigh	54cm	49cm
Right knee	36cm	36cm
Left knee	36cm	35cm

 

So there we have it. I feel great and I want to continue feeling great by going back to Rosemary classes this week and back onto the Week 5+ plan of 1400 calories incl one treat a day!!

AND most importantly FRAME have an extra few quid to help them achieve their aims.....Thank you FRAME for all you do 

Back in a couple of weeks:-))

 

Days 34 - 39

Day 34

Bank holiday Monday.

Well now. I'm writing my blog almost a week later  and trying to remember what i did on Monday.

Neil went to Nottinghill Carnival in the rain and i stayed at home with Mum. All the cleaning carpets and sculling had taken it's toll on my back and now can hardly move. Laid down on the sofa all evening drinking wine to dull the pain (yeah right!! any excuse) and eating throw in the oven past bake and not very much of it.

Day 35

So all the plans for my final week to keep fit, run around and diet sort of gone to pot as my back was acutely uncomfortable and had to go to the chiropractor 3 times this week. First visit poor chiropractor (he was one of the rowing Olympian chiropractors) couldn't even adjust (click!) my back as muscles spasming and so acupuncture helped them a little. Damn it hurts when he gives them a little flick in the muscle.

So that afternoon it was all i could do to go for a mini walk along the river front with Mum. I so wanted to go along to Bournemouth with Neil and the girls but just couldn't. Back achey - bad news couldn't exercise - good news - didn't feel like eating much as pain was all consuming!!!

Day 36

Wednesday my birthday -21 again!! After a light lunch of toast and marmite i had my lovely presents. The girls gave me a bronze horse and her foal. Mum gave me membership to National Trust. Neil's mum and dad the most splendid food blender you've ever seen and Neil a trendy Roberts radio that we got in John Lewis later that afternoon.

After traipsing around Reading later in the afternoon, i was given a treat dinner at Valentino's in Valpy Street in Reading. Quite a dim place, however the waiters very quiet, attentive and the food was wonderful. I had well done rib-eyed steak and a few chipped potatoes. I really thought that the cakes we were going to have were the cup-cakes Leah had made that day but in came a splendid chocolate cake, carried by the waiters with candles and everything. What a wonderful suprise. They were all in on the secret and kept it wonderfully.

I am a lucky girl and have a wonderful family. Fabulous presents and great birthdayx

Day 37

I weighed myself this morning and was pleased to see that my day's indulgence yesterday didn't make me put on any weight. It's all in the portion sizes amongst other things!!. Mum went home and i went to the chiropractor in the morning and he was able to do some back adjustments this time thankfully, although needed some more acupuncture. Took the girls to the park and bought them an ice cream (none for me!) while Chloe and Neil went to take Neil's dad to the hospital for a check up.

My friend Caroline came round for the afternoon with her 2 young children, Alex 4 and Lucy 18months. the girls loved playing with the little ones and kept them entertained whilst i made them all high tea, sausage, mash and gravy (Alex's favourite)....oh yes and experimented with strawberry and raspberry smoothies with new blender. Caroline and i had tea and cupcakes (yup not going to miss the extra large one made for me by Leah) and by the time Neil and Chloe came home it was almost time for the girls to go back to their Mum and the younger ones to go to bed.

Watched some kid's tv before they all went. Can't stand in the night garden. Think it insults children all that squeaking adn making funny noises. Sure the makers aren't on drugs like they were for the Magic Roundabout?? Freaky!

Anyway washed up the massive mess and ate remainders of sausage and mash with Neil once he'd dropped the girls off.

Day 38

Rushing around this morning. Going to Spain next week (yippeee) and busy getting everything done. Chiropractor again and quick stop as a guest to the Revive gymn with a jacuzzi. Have to pay as a guest obviously but hydrotherapy does the world of good for bad backs. Rushed to the weigh-in at a Rosemary class in some difficult to get to hall. Lovely ladies there and i explained i couldn't join in a class but could i weigh myself? So i did and guess what (she allowed me to take my shoes off bit cheaty!) I HAVE LOST 7 LBS OR HALF A STONE.

Am so bloody pleased with myself. Not always perfect especially with the wine but i have increased my exercise and fitness, eat better and general have a better attitude to food and drink. i.e i can cook meals and not rely on microwave meals even if from M&S and there is drink other that wine i.e yummie smoothies.

GOOD GIRL. Please be encouraged anyone who reads this. If i can, you can do it with a bit of help i.e Rosemary Conley classes etc....

I also found out that the £110 raised (£10 above my target) for FRAME is given to them every week as it is donated. So FRAME should have received everything by now. Just Giving close the particular page after 3 months but I would just like to confirm that FRAME got the money so will do that when i get back off hols. Sent a final reminder to friends and family that it's not too late to sponsor me and thanked everyone who had. I won't pursue sponsorship anymore for this challenge.

Some cleaning house in afternoon and washing with Kneel. Caroline's son asked if Neil was called Neil because he 'kneeled'down all the time! priceless. So he now has a new name. Drink of wine in the pub followed by salmon, new potatoes and peas with a dash of lemon.

Day 39 & 40

Well not much more to say but seem to have developed a liking for fried eggs on toast at the local cafe on my days off. Yum!! What more can i say. Day 40 not quite there yet we're off to Spain for a week and i can't wait. Hopefully lots of fresh food and fish. Adios for now as i end this blog and sail off into the sunset. My neighbour said today gosh 'you've lost a lot of weight' ...it's made it all worth it.

I will probably try and loose another 7lbs with 'Rosemary' when back off hols and up-date my blog on occasion. Adios amigos. It's been fun x

Days 31, 32 &33

Day 31

Well last day at work for a while. Lovely cafe stilton soup & summt else and i took the smallest peice of homedade bread and a piece of butter.

We had pork chop alla Rosemary and low fat curried yoghurt sauce with a few veg. 'Twas good

Day 32

Lots of house cleaning, gardening and drink in the pub. We had haddock for supper. Mum around. Haddock accompanied by runner beans and chipped potatoes from Co-op.

Day 33

Well don't refer any more to Rosemary's diet book so feel a bit like I have been educated in the art of eathing the correct things and have now been realeased into the wilderness!! We had roast pork, gray and veg for dinner after a hard days rowing (how beautiful on the river today just me the scull and the herons), and cleaning carpets. Had one potato and yoghurt. Not a lot. Not a lot. To bed.

PS Hopefully on Wednesday's weigh in i will have lost the half stone (half of my goal) and will aim to loose the half when get back from Spain -renewed strength and resolve!! Was very happy because on day 34 (day in advance) Mum's accountant (who came round to the cottage for a finance meeting) said he thought i'd lost a 'lot' of weight - his words! His wife and he have too a healthy 5 stone between them. Go fellow weight loosers go!!

PPS A week today will be my last blog for a whileand then catch -ups only :-))

Days 29 & 30

Days 29  

 

Oh er missus I need a break and it’s possible the thought of being on leave for 2 weeks in a couple of days is exacerbating this thought. Particularly as I am not really following the diet plan anymore ( I have finished weeks 3 & 4 1400 fortnight Fat Attack Booster Diet) and really just guessing the fat content and calories per day!! (being a bit bored and lazy!!) I do feel though I have adjusted my way of life to eating food with less fat and sugar and am to the most part sticking to the Rosemary diet.

 

To date I feel the overall ‘Rosemary’ experience has helped me to reduce both my food and wine intake (the latter by half even though not perfect!!) and increase my exercise! And I truly think I will stick to that forever. The Week 5 onwards FAB plan should also help (will read that over the weekend and apply it until we go to Spain). The diet does not feel punitive any more (used to feel quite hungry during the day) but just makes sense and I feel loads better. I hope that when I go to the next Wednesday mornings weigh-in I will have reduced my weight by 7lbs (am I becoming repetitive? This all seems vaguely familiar!!).

 

I am mulling over the idea (which means this is my full intention) that when I come back from Spain I will go on the Weeks 2,3,4&5 diet again and be a wee bit stricter to try and get the weight down still further and to get as close as possible to my goal of loosing a stone (more repetition??)

 

Well today I had a small salad from the canteen and some fruit and went swimming after work. Got home and had low fat small pizza with the girls (whilst they had the nicer and yummier looking full fat version!!).

 

Two more days and I’m on holiday and one more week until we’re off to Spain yipppeeee!! (from when I shall stop this blog  -Sunday 2^nd Sept and pick it up again less frequently when I come back).

 

Day 30

 

Thursday and a nice bowl of carrot and coriander soup and a piece of homemade bread and real butter from the café at work(what did I say yesterday about being good and having low fat food!!??).

 

After work went to a body balance class which was very stretchy and I’m not good at balancing on one hand and arm on the floor –hurts! Zumba afterwards, and lots of hip shaking and shimmying. It’s such good fun and builds up a real sweat.

 

Got home and Neil and I went for a quick half (or large glass of wine) to the local ale house and back home for shared weight watchers throw in the oven –sausage and mash and lasagne. The mixture of the 2 and a bit of salad was quite tasty. Just about managed the low fat chocolate yoghurt and complete with new developing cold lurgy dragged myself to bed exhausted.

 

Days 27 & 28

Days 27 & 28

 

As I write these on every 3^rd day I forget what happened 2 days ago.

 

Day pretty unremarkable I remember. Work as usual, spinning in evening (ye gads that hurts) and then diet lasagne put in the oven. Very nice, very tired and good night.

 

Day 28

 

Little more remarkable. So didn’t want to go to Rosemary’s (Sedges class) but glad I did. Without even trying madly in the last week because of going away I’ve lost half a pound (don’t knock it). I’ve officially lost 5 lbs. I’ve decided to go back next Wednesday am in the morning when I’m off to the original class to have a final weigh-in before the holidays. That should mean I’m 2 lbs lighter still , it being in the morning and if I work very hard in the next week at the diet may loose even a bit more. So I will have lost the target weight originally set 4/5 weeks ago – 7 lbs and maybe more!!! May not have been 7lbs in 2 weeks but because I’m slimmer than some it’s more difficult to loose –apparently!!. So if this can be sustained then however slow the loss 7 lbs is 7lbs. Presuming and hoping I don’t add any over my weeks holiday to Spain I can concentrate on the other half stone when I get back.

 

Oh boy there is nothing soft about these exercise classes, end up puffing, sweating, red faced and bleary eyed- but well exercised. Loads of ladies about 50 of us in this hall shimmying, kicking, star jumping and groaning. Got home hungry and happy.

 

Must look at ending my sponsor page or at least maybe one more email shot to folks and wrap up my Just Giving page. I’m delighted with the £110 that will go to FRAME. A win win experience

 

 

Days 24, 25 & 26

Days 24

I have that Friday feeling. More Philadelphia & Ryvita for lunch preceded by a swim –another 50 lengths despite feeling incredibly tired. Is it possible to overdo exercise?

In the evening ate the rice and prawn sort of risotto (low fat) made by Neil for the girls before they went home. Made with extra flavour to include garlic and onions. Was most impressed as it was something he came up with himself.

Prepared to go and see Neil’s family friends in Wigan.

Day 25.

Off we went to Wigan stopping off a service station on the way where Neil had croissant, his Mum & Dad hash browns (yum) and I a spot or 2 of muesli.

We got to Wigan and I was fascinated by Auntie Rose (Irish with gypsy blood) and Uncle Shiv’s (originated from Calcutta) house. Lots of dark colours, artex purple walls, mahogany window frames and largish (sort of not my taste) ornaments. I was also quite taken with Auntie Rose and studied her closely with her gold looped earrings (about 5 per ear) and array of gold necklaces. Complete with 5 chihuahua’s (yes loved them all as have felt starved of dogs company) and massive fish pond with the largest carp you’ve ever seen at a grand old age of 28 years and only one eye.

We had freshly baked vegetable samosas for lunch and boy were they good. I only had one and a half and felt quite constrained as could have eaten the lot (all 12 of them!!).

Lovely chats and quite a long snooze for me in the afternoon. A brief walk around their area was followed by the start of a long evening of drinking and eating. I could resist the 8% alcohol fruity white wine that went with dinner, however not the Chardonnay which followed. Even Chardonnay tastes good when the alternative is a bit watered down. I think we had ‘tea’ at 5pm really very early with curried chicken and vegetables and rice (all the while feeling worried that by 9pm I’d eat the whole lot all over again!!). More family came round and there was a lot of chat and merriment that lasted quite late into the evening with more samosas, sausage rolls and peanuts. I felt very content if not a little bit naughty with my overall consumption. What the heck it was a good day, especially the evening.

Day 26

Copious amounts of coffee and one fried egg on toast (with butter) for breakfast. Well it would be rude to say no!! A lot of sitting around and chatting and another mid morning snooze (gosh I feel rested – just what I needed after running around all week). For lunch we had pork chops, roast potatoes and beans. Despite Auntie Rose’s upset at the chops being a bit overdone we all tucked in. Chopped and fried marrow can be quite nice with a little cinnamon –you know. My neighbours had given me a massive marrow before going away and I was eager to pass it on or save it for the village show and pass it off as my own grown and hopefully get a ‘first’ rosette for being the firmest and plumpest marrow in Upper Baz. Well needless to say it ended up in Wigan with me being one of its consumers. Was nicely surprised as never one for courgettes or any of its derivatives. After a cup of tea and fond farewell we set off home. Home not too late (after 4 hour journey) and after a peace of toast and cheese (not too fussy about fat content) went to bed and slept oh so peacefully.

Days 22 & 23

Days 22 & 23

Desperately thinking back to Wednesday to remember what I did.

Oh yes fairly uneventful day at work.

Then went to visit Mum in Wimbledon and see her brand new kitchen taking shape! Because the kitchen was in the dining room and washing up would have involved washing dishes in the bath we thought we’d hit the high street and eat in the village.

We went to Giraffe. Easy, flexible, friendly restaurant with all-sorts on the menu. I have duck ‘chow mein hah-so’ noodle type dish with some sweet and chilli sauce. I don’t remember eating as was so hungry, think it was a hole in one in the end! Very tasty and washed down with a glass of wine (no surprise there then!). To bed

Day 23

Today zoomed by……. out at meeting, swimming at lunch time. Here there and everywhere!

No breakfast but made up for it with Philli-delphia and Rye-vita as I did yesterday at lunch time.

Now the 4^th weigh-in. Here we go again lost a £! Well at least it’s in the right direction, downwards; although sometimes you do feel –what do I have to do to loose more? Starvin’ ain’t an option!

What with end of day weigh -in compared with the original weigh-in first thing in the morning which accounts for another 2 £’s loss and take off the trainers and accounting for extra fluid retention (‘monthly’s’ as I recently heard them called – take off at least another 4 £’s for that J - I wish) and I would say that I’ve lost 6.5 to 7 £s altogether (confirmed by my scales at home – never have I seen them that low!) That’s half my goal weight. Yee-hah! Oh yes and it is more difficult to loose weight if you’ve less to loose as in my case.

Now on that note all shapes and sizes at Rosemary’s class. Another lady takes the Thursday class – not Sedge. She is very funny and the whole thing’s a hoot, bit like it is with Sedge. No embarrassment at this class. He made them big, bigger, short, shorter, big and short, tall and big and some slim ones, some with unusual Rod Stewart like hair-dos and others with baggy sports clothes; all with one common aim to be slim and keep fit. Puff, pant, puff pant, hard work for all including me. These classes always leave me red-face and perspiring (that’s sweat for the men). As usual I didn’t win slimmer of the week and the bag of fruit that goes with it, but hey I’m encouraged and damn it a £ is a £……… that’s 14 oz to you and me, so rock on.

Although elated after the class I know I want to loose more in the time that’s left. Although it won’t be loosing a full stone I would like to loose another 3-4 £s and I’ve got 2 weeks to do it in.

We’re going away at the weekend to friends of Neil’s so I will try and eat the right things without being rude!

Girls around tonight and macaroni cheese ‘put in the oven thing’. Full fat but didn’t eat loads. Fell into bed; sweet dreams.  Tomorrow’s another day x

PS Away for the weekend. Next blog on Monday

Days 20 & 21

Day 20

Bit cheeky because at lunchtime as had chunky potato and leek soup from the canteen -well you know it would be rude not to show a bit of respect for the  canteen on the odd occasion and the full fat soup with full fat home made crusty bread and a smudge or 2 or 3 of Flora.

Managed a swim after work and  when got home Neil and the girls cooked a gorgeous beef stew from Rosemary's Fat Attack Booster (FAB) Diet. It was just mouth watering lip smacking tasty.

A few veggies went with it- samphire delicious (a type of seaweed) and home grown beans - all 10 of them (between us all).


RECIPE -Lovely beef & beer stew for 4:

2 red onions
2 garlic cloves
400g lean diced beef
2 celery sticks chopped
10g sundried tomatoes chopped
500ml beer or stout
500ml beef stock
1bsp low fat gravy granules
250g small button mushrooms
1tbsp mixed herbs (parsley, thyme & chives)
Salt & freshly ground pepper

1. Dry-fry the onions and garlic in a pre-heated non stick pan until they start to brown. Add the beef, season with salt and black pepper and continue to cooking to seal the meat.
2. Add the celery, tomatoes & beer or stout and bring to the boil. Stir in the beef stock and gravy granules, add the mushrooms & herbs, then cover and simmer gently for 1 hour until the meat is tender.
3. When the meat is tender, adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding more gravy granules or water and serve straight away.

....washed down with the day's allowance of wine and a chocolate yoghurt which i feel may be pushing it. Anyway went to bed content.

Day 21

Worked from home today. Had cereal in the morning and nothing until dinner time (well not strictly true one banana) which was a bit naughty but wasn't really hungry .Was a bit grumpy too - it's a woman thang!! So for evening didn't really want to cook.

I had Rosemary's Solo-slim beef meatballs and potato with a couple of ryvita. Tasty but not as tasty as the spaghetti bolognese!

Right well I've decided that I will stop my blog on Sunday 2nd September (just before going on hols for a week to Spain), which is two weeks on Sunday. I'll be one week into my Personal FAB plan week 5 onwards - maintenance diet for life!! I see there's a mention of a Fat Loss Booster day a week if your calorie allowance is more than 12 calories - we'll see about that :-))

Anyways I've raised over my target £110 so far for FRAME. Thank you to all who have supported me. G'night

Day 18&19

Days 18&19

Saturday –spent hours out in the garden, gardening none-the-less and boy was it hot hot hot. Gorgeous day and once all the chores were done and Neil was picking up the  girls I had a great nap.

Feeling a lot lighter now and on my scales – first thing in the morning have lost 7 lbs. Yabadabadoo. Not sure what the weigh-in will reveal next week but for sure the exercise has helped.

 The girls sort of helped me to do the chicken curry that evening; however they’d had a long day. I orchestrated the entire proceedings managing to use every pot, pan, sieve, bowl and vegetable in the house. Neil’s Mum who was also staying then bravely washed up. Bless her she was there for hours tackling the almost insurmountable pile.

 Well was Rosemary’s baked chicken korma worth it? I was so hungry I could have eaten everyone’s portion.  Neil and Chloe bravely ploughed through and so did Neil’s Mum. The youngest girls however played around with their rice and went into their room after in almost disgust. Was it their tiredness or the fact that the chicken was accompanied with the most sour korma sauce known to man/woman? The sauce was mainly low fat yoghurt not renound for being the sweetest taste!!  Well we might not try that again in a hurry. The girls and everyone has been great in supporting me in my diet so next meal for them I’ll make sure is tasty!!

Day 19

Light breakfast and off we went to the pub in Dorney to meet Neil’s friends and families for lunch, dropping Neil’s Mum back home in Burnham in the process and leaving my mother doing her chinese laundry at our house (having her kitchen replaced back home in Wimbers).

Lovely lovely gathering kid’s, babies, new people to meet, solicitors (Chloe got lots of info re: what it’s like to be a lawyer), accountants, those running a marathon for charity, boozy people, sober people, drink, food (only had a caeser salad and a couple of wines) and friends and babies for Leah & April to play with and make.

 

6 hours later and time for home!!

 Not a mouthful was consumed that night as we watched the closing ceremony of the Olympics –just too tired. Waved Mum off back to Wimbers at 12.15am (when it all finished) and fell into bedJ)

Day 16 &17 - Only another 3 weeks to go

Days 16 & 17

Exercise, exercise exercise, today went to body conditioning after work followed by zumba. Zumba makes me laugh as I get all the moves wrong but I love it, arms flailing and also a bit of singing. Got home and for her – Rosemary SOLO slim pack of mince and pasta. Not had a proper Rosemary meal yet and it was very tasty. Did have my extra treats tonight slimline can of Schweppes and Gin and a -0.0001% low fat chocolate yoghurt.

Day 17

Another swim today at lunch time. Not sure I’ve not overdone it as had bit of a stitch. Increased my exercise massively this week so my body probably isn’t sure what’s hit it! I got on their ancient weighing scales you know the ones where you flick the balance across – it made me just about 60kg and in the dimlight could just about make out the conversion scales – 9st 6lbs. Don’t like you crummy scales. When no-one looking got rid of my towel – starkers (every extra ounce will do) –no change. Really don’t like you scales. Stick to the ones I know I think J)

Well a bit more about FRAME – Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments who I’m fundraising for. I’m nearly there at my £100 target and only a few more quid to raise, than k you everyone. I had a chance to read their magazine today. The question on the front page was “during Frame’s 40th anniversary year we have been asked whether FRAME had served its purpose and was no longer needed. They responded that “as long as animal experimentation goes on FRAME will continue its campaign”.

The organisation had already achieved a great deal: the introduction of the Animals (Scientific procedures) Act 1986; development of validated toxicity tests (need to look into meaning – I think LD50 which means the point at which 50% of animals die etc); promotion of the 3 R’s (Replacement, Reduction & Refinement) in the UK; and much more. However with all the changes taking place in research and legislation FRAME is needed as much as ever as the number of procedures carried out on animals is increasing every year. It seems not so much for fundamental biological research and veterinary and human medicines but creating ‘genetically modified’ animals for (need to understand why? – will look into). So FRAME continues its work, involving politicians and educating new researchers about the importance of the 3 R’s. The Frame Alternatives Laboratory (FAL) is also continuing to develop new ways to investigate diseases and potential treatments without the use of animals. One clever experiment was to use donated human blood cells to investigate one of the mechanisms of pain signalling and whether it would be a suitable target for analgesia. Already the FAL have identified an inhibitor which blocks the pathway of a specific pain receptor. Not only does this reflect the real thing i.e. more directly relevant to the human patient but by understanding the mechanisms behind pain and inflammation, it may be possible to identify therapies with fewer side effect that could be used to treat chronic conditions. Now that’s gotta be a good thing!!

Well back to the day – shopping tonight – more great recipes lined up and rainbow trout again me thinks tonight. Tasty and not too expensive!

Days 14 & 15

Well Day14 & 15

 

Went swimming today at lunch time and then a class in the evening with the lovely Sedge who runs the Rosemary Conley classes in Caversham - what a character. As we’re puffing and panting doing our aerobics she stops to do her own little jig making everyone laugh and in a nice way picking on those who are doing unusual moves. No wonder she’s in the final of Franchise of the year for Rosemary Conley. She has an infectious happy attitude. It certainly encourages everyone especially when the high kicks and star jumps are getting a bit much.

Now for the difficult bit – WELL weigh in I had lost ½ a pound. WHAT? So 3 and a half in total when should be 7 lbs. I was encouraged though when Sedge mentioned that my first weigh-in was in the morning and this time, as well as last, the weigh-in was in the evening when you can easily put on 2 lbs. Women’s monthly stuff can also add a bit (yes yes liking this) and as I’m slimmer than most being slimmer means loosing more weight is difficult. Really liking this. In fact next morning I weighed myself, added a lb to account for weighing trainers and I had indeed lost 5 lbs and that was conservative. Rock on

Feeling good and also onto Week 3 (inc Week 3, only 4 more weeks to go before hols and when I will be weigh! into the maintenance diet). Had Rosemary’s curry mince and rice for dinner.

Day 15 – went for a swim at lunchtime  -50 lengths of pool in 25 mins – pool about 20 m in length.

Feeling good and looking at the recipes for Weeks 3 & 4 where an extra 200 calories treat is allowed. Tonight will try cooking chicken korma and rice that comes from the recipe books this week.

Success –this is what it looks like –

22 Gold medals for GB and 5 days left, already exceeding the Golds we had for the last Olypmics at Bejing where we had 19. Team GB you’re an inspiration. Keep going and so will I!!

PS We went to the pub and I had my full extra calorie allowance with a glass of wine. This time instead of wanting another glass I was ogling all the lovely food, CHIPS, BURGERS, never has food smelled so good. Let us not be distracted!

Days 12 & 13

 This made me chuckle -the Tampax add!! Me on the left now and me in a few weeks:-))

Days 12 & 13

Was just too tired to write on Sunday as got so excited on Saturday night (after a fairly lengthy shop in Tescos picking out the low fat bargains! And planning recipes for the girls and us all over next few days) I think I wore myself out cheering. Well done Mo Farrow and Jennifer Ennis and on Sunday Andy Murray, can’t believe you’ve done it and won at Wimbledon. A well deserved gold ! My Dad would have been so happy (and I bet he is up there somewhere).

Although we didn’t go out on Sunday Neil and his girls were here and his parents and we managed to have an action packed day. I went sculling on Sunday morning and had a great scull was: out there for hours in a thunderstorm and trying to dodge the river traffic, boats, canoes, an elderly couple swimming 4 miles apparently – they didn’t get very far an hour later and were going downstream!!

The rest of the day we cooked, watched Olympics and had a bbq in the evening – me with my weight watchers sausages – very nice indeed. Leah and I used up some old strawberries, added some jelly (damn forgot to buy the low fat stuff and all they had was lime and raspberry), - which we blended, folded in some egg white and low fat greek yoghurt and put into small bowls for it to set over night (Rosemary’s recipe).

Well Monday today and look forward to eating the lime, strawberry and raspberry soufflé tonight – will tell you all about it. As Leah is the Cheffette of Neil’s 3 girls I have left her in charge of helping her Daddy to cook pasta carbonara bake (low fat and Rose’s dish again) so it’s all ready when I get home after spinning. Feel like a night off from preparing food.

Well tomorrow night (Tuesday) will be almost 2 weeks since I started with Rosemary Conley and I will go for another weigh-in and class –last on Thursday. I’m not confident I’ve lost so much weight in 4 days as done quite a bit of guessing (weights portion sizes too), not too much exercise and had a bit of the ‘ole amber nectar! However I am determined to pick up and keep loosing, by increasing my exercise and replacing the wine with low calorie and alcohol mixer drinks!! During weeks 3 & 4 you are allowed an extra treat and alcohol so this will be a good substitute!

Tonight spinning, tomorrow, lunch time swimming, and a Rosemary weigh-in and class tomorrow with Sedge who was there on Day 1. Goodness hope I can show her that I have lost some weight as intended and have to say already I have pretty well changed my eating & drinking habits; spent a lot more time preparing tasty and fresh low calorie and fat foods and increased my exercise. Feels goodx

Day 10 & 11

Day 10 & 11

All you massive amount of readers - Thanks Jo.

I need to learn how to increase my 'circle of friends' as Google calls it to extend my blog network!! I'm starting to feel a bit like my Mum when it comes too using internet software. Now how does this work ? What happens if i press this button? or this one - not a lot -so still trying to work it out!!

Anyway Saturday morning and how lovely to be able to focus on doing stuff at home and having a bit of spare time- love weekends.

Yesterday I had the first of Rosemary's soups. Heated it up at work in microwave and took it to my desk (should have eaten it in the canteen in hindsight!). The packet was quite deep and my spoon didn't always reach so got most of it over my fingers and the desk, but i was impressed. It tasted good. With less than 300 calories i was able to have some ryvita and low fat cheese with it. What with my fruit allowance it tasted good and was quite filling.

In the evening we had rainbow trout with a dash of lemon, salad and new potatoes. The only extra for me was some low fat butter in my trout! and for him - some Bernnaise sauce which i had to have the minutest taste you understand:-))

Now my big news is we have an addition to the family!! I have just adopted a Capuchin monkey (female) called Mickey who resides in The Monkey Sanctuary in Looe. I feel like a kid and very excited. And no the picture is not me below, although i do feel a bit of a monkey when i have that naughty glass of wine. See the picture below of Mickey. She was rescued from a home (in England i guess) where she had to fight for food amongst her other primate companions. She was undernourished and is showing the first signs of diabetes; common for animals in captivity. Anyway she's now in the family as it were and can't wait to go with Neil and the girls to see her.

Will write again on Sunday meanwhile today more shopping and a careful plan to eat the right things and cater for the girls who may not appreciate Rosemary's tastes!

"Mickey"

Days 8 & 9

Day 8 & 9

Well yesterday pretty unremarkable apart from discovered my mince was off - what? it had another 2 days to go. Wasn't impressed!!

So with the pork i had for the next night i have to admit i made the best meal mixing and matching Rosemary's recipes. I made a sauce - some low fat yoghurt & cheese, mushrooms and onions with a smattering of curry, ..............lightly fried the pork and coated it with the sauce. Together with some sweet potatoe and veggie it was a'hit' success. Well it was for me:-)) tasted that good

Now for the good news - Day 9 I went swimming at lunch time and aerobics with Rosemary (well not her you understand) in the evening. All shapes and sizes at the class. I was a bit snobby and thought i would breeze my way through the class. Not so..... puffing and panting like an old lady (and an unfit one|) i made it to the end. HAPPY and why - my weigh in 8 days later i achieved the first week goal and LOST 3lbs - happy happy happy. YEEHAHA!!

Oh and delighted that we have won the gold in rowing ladies pair and Bradley Wiggins the time trial around Hampton and the Judo lady and bronze the first time in 100 years for the gymnasts (when they did sack racing in those times) and the shooting (sorry forgotten your name) and Sir Chris Hoy again - you all rock and are amazing x

Day 7

Well now

What can i say? No exercise, as busy at work and decided to leave the weigh in to Thursday night to maximise effect (the brain is very clever and a bit devious!!)

Haven't been so good or disciplined today either in terms of wine or food- i 'll leave you to guess! Tomorrow's another day so have written off Day 7. Not the greatest and feel a bit of a flop BUT -onwards and upwards!!

PS Very pleased we won the bronze in gymnastics yesterday and have high hopes for medals in the rowing finals

PPS My Rosemary Conley weekly supply of food came today - 'SOLO slim' and not cheap. Packets looks good but what on earth is in the cheese to mean it doesn't need the fridge?

PPPS Tonight  on the menu - low calorie ready meal for 'her' -fish pie and ordinary calorie fish pie for 'him'

PPPPs Thanks for all the greatfolks who have either supported me in this or sponsored me x

Day 6

Day 6

Well today did 45 mins of spinning and almost fell off my bike with effort!! -not been to the gym for quite some time. Very brief blog today as feeling very tired and shopped out. More Rosemary shopping after the gym.

Stuck to the diet today with my stomach rumbling and competing with the squeaky photocopier where i sit at work. I did discover how to measure dried spaghetti though. I have a set of measures and Rosemary says measure your spaghetti through the 'green hole'! After checking out my green measure i found the hole on the handle. About 1cm total circumference  - what so i stick the dried spaghetti through there do I? (very mean measure) oh yes and what happens if you have fresh wobby spaghetti as i had bought. You guess and perhaps give yourself slightly more than you should. Yum -bon appetit:-)

Weigh in tomorrow

PS Oh my god just seen the recent Syrian massacre (because that's what it is on a daily basis) on the news and the children suffering and peppered with bullets. Makes this whole diet thing seem so irrelevant. Am speechless

Day 3,4&5

Days 3,4&5

Well what can i say, the excitement of going to the Olympic rowing at Dorney on Saturday meant that being hungry wasn't quite so difficult.

Rumbling stomachs were replaced (momentarily) by thoughts of going to Dorney Lake!!

So Friday evening packed to go away for the weekend. First stop Neil's parents who live about 3 miles from Eton & Dorney. Packed with Rosemary Conley measures, weighing scales and fresh food we set off (me with the usual 5 bags + 1 extra for Rosemary, Neil with 1 bag).

Had a lovely dinner there, lots of fresh veg and pheasant (for me i think as strong Indian food ain't my thing, though i do try and eat it!!). It felt good because i didn't have to get out the measurements (besides that's rude at someone else’s house!!) and it made me think that just being aware about food not so high in fat and sugars is half the battle.

In the morning Neil’s Mum Shova had bought some low fat cereals and coffee bless her. We made the Rosemary sandwiches (chicken, tuna, a little dressing, spring onions, cucumber in a generous brown roll – 2 for Neil) and off we trotted, the walk to Dorney to see the Olympic rowing. Security was very quick, the weather fine and all was very easy. What a great day, watching the start, sitting at the stands for the finish 2km further up, watching Mr Singh come a respectable 4^th in the single sculls and Mrs Iran (complete in headscarf and no flesh showing & going through Ramadan apparently) a respectable last. Alan Campbell from GB came first in single sculls and so did the Brits in a pair. Come on GB….we won most although N& I missed the 8’s queuing up for a coffee (40mins!!) so not sure what happened with those. COME ON GB!! What a privilege to be here. So sandwiches, a few grapes and blueberries (yuk won’t be buying them again!!) later it was all over or at least for us!!

Well got back from the Olympics and then set off for my Mums in Wimbledon (more Olympics tennis though not going to see that) to help her move kitchen stuff on the Sunday (as she’s having her new kitchen put in next week). When we got there again no measurements needed for dinner, a tasty light white sauce in chicken with hint of curry with spaghetti and accompanied with veggies.

Now here comes the confession, I have had about 1 to 2 or probably 3 (glasses of wine - size shall not be discussed) more than I should have had (avoid alcohol for 2 weeks says RosemaryL). Now I remain guilt ridden and a bit flob-a -lob. So I have tallied up the extra kCalories I have had and the total comes up to about 650-700,aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!. BUT this is about a journey and apparently the biggest reason for people giving up on a diet is if they feel they have ‘messed –up’ and then 'give-up'.The journey continues and so does the challenge. So now what do i have to do?

Well, apart from running up and downstairs at Mums (taking kitchen utensils up to the 3^rd floor and down and power walking to Dorney and back), what i have to do now is…..work out how to burn off those extra calories!!! Acording to ‘Fitness for weight loss’ on the internet ‘You will have to bike at a 10 mph pace for approximately 45 minutes’ if you weigh 150lbs (not saying how much I weigh but that is the lowest weight they give this direction for!!). So to loose the 700 Kcalories I put on (cripes) I’ll have to exercise for 1.5 hours on a bike. Spinning classes at the gym here I come. So here’s a thing on top of normal lunch time power walk tomorrow I will now do spinning at the gym tomorrow night, followed by spinning at lunch time the next day and the weigh in and zumba at Sedge’s class on Tuesday!!. You don’t get something for nothing you know, so if you sin a bit you have to put in a bit of extra effort to pay back the loan. I guess I’m lucky though as I love exercise, it gives you a good feeling so the thought just encourages me!! I wonder if I’ll be saying that tomorrow??

Sunday’s meals are planned today. Toast, bit of low fat cheese and marmite for lunch, and roast pork (about 100g), with veggies, a roast potato or 2 cooked in olive oil spray and a measure of mango chutney for tonight. It’s not only the calorie counting, but portion size and foods with less than <5% fats which is all important.

The first test will come on Tuesday at the weigh in, not forgetting that my aim all along will be to finally demonstrate to me (and others in a non-smug inspirational sort of way!) that being the correct weight, keeping fit and eating and drinking the right things and right amounts should not be a hardship, but fun and all along lead to an increased feeling energy and wellbeing. And something that can be maintained……………………..!!!!

A domani x

Day 2

Day 2

Well attached the photo but not much choice where to put it. Dollop right at the top of the page. Well a friend suggested I did a before and after. So here she is before looking suitably frumpy with a sad face (you wouldn't think i was excited about the new diet would you?). Of course the 'after' will be standing up straight, shoulders back, tan, smile, (bit like they do in the magazines after taking a super slimming pill) .....might even substitute me for a stand -in with same coloured hair :-))

So Day 2 was a .....success. Decided i'm not much into blueberries and ate my mid afternoon snack with my lunch so pretty hungry by dinner time. Afternoon's will be a struggle and i have to admit a nice big fat juicy chocolate biscuit  would have gone down a treat with a cuppa tea. Anyway did a power walk in the sun around Green Park where i work at lunch time and walked up and downstairs twice at work much to the amusement of one person. Classes, zumba, spinning etc all next week.

Dinner was a low calorie thing you chuck in the oven....was a good solid meal, but Rosemary will you forgive me i think i've gone about 62 kcalories (whats the difference between this and calories eh?) over.  That's nothing about 1/8 of a mars bar and i'm worrying about 62 kCALORIES!!! Still resisted wine ha! so that will do.

Probably no post from me tomorrow as away. Going to see the olympic rowing on Sat morning complete with my Rosemary Conley salad. Very very excited

Night night

Day 1

Well today's the day i started my Rosemary Conley diet. FAB - Fat Attack Booster ooh er!!! for 2 weeks

Went off to first dance class with the teacher called Sedge in morning (day off). What charisma, character, fun, alive and inspirational the lady was. Got weighed -yuk! (with shoes on even more horrendous) and did the first class for an hour. Hot stuff and 30 degrees outside. Was exhausted along with the 30 other ladies.

Then had a coffee at Asda, planned the shop and off i went. With the most healthy shopping cart in Berks i purchased my goods and went home to eat lunch. Tasted good. Dinner was a bit of a pain! lots of veggie chopping....not used to that but again tasty although the 'low fat' feel whilst munching became more and more obvious and veggy chewing abit dull.

Overall i'm excited that one day soon i should feel a wholeload better, slimmer and fitter. Bring it on Rosemary

PS She didn't think loosing a stone was a goal just yet but 1/2 a stone is good for me!!