Weigh In results

I went to my WW meeting last night, cast of thousands attending and I cannot wait until my leader is back from leave. I will be changing to a Tuesday meeting and still having the same leader. Lost 0.5 which I think is reasonable but realised that I had ate about a container of peanut butter this week so 0.5 loss is good. I dont normally buy it and now know why. TTOM is due as well so considering everything 0.5 loss is probably quite good. I just love the beginning of a new week. A fresh start. Walked with Libby this morning, I dont enjoy it but I think the enjoyment factor will come in time and with weight loss. After all, carrying 45 kilos around on your back isnt fun. My Minestrone soup I have made for work this week has been great and filling and enjoyable. I worked out my menus (roughly) for the week and cooking meals for the freezer. I am hoping for a 1+ kilo weight loss this week - I will need to do some more exercise to ensure this happens. Anyway, this road I travel with WW is probably going to take a while, I am currently focusing on 1 day at a time and ensuring that the day's food is within my daily limits - when I do this I am much happier. Didnt sleep hardly at all last night - THIS INSOMNIA DRIVES ME CRAZY. I am really hoping that when I get to goal weight that my sleep habits improve. Anyway everyone, have a good week.

I am fairly pleased

Hi everyone. The weekend was so so but I am pleased to say my food intake was a lot better than it has been and when I weighed in this morning the scales had dropped which is good. I have also been staying in the office most days having my lunch and find I am not tempted so much and can concentrate on the food and I am more satisfied. I am heading out to Big W to find a waterproof jacket for my morning walks, Libby walks rain, hail or snow but I don't have a jacket so will invest in one. Anyway, the exercise needs to be increased as far as my intensity and I am hoping that exercise becomes my friend - at present I doubt. I have also, in conjunction with my online tracker, printed off and organised my food for the week and there should be no thinking just doing. I also may during lunch, when I have finished, put on the trainers and go for a quick walk. Anyway, hopefully I get some good results on Wed WI. I am thinking of swapping my meetings to Tuesday night at Glenelg as I find that Wed gets busy and i walk that evening with a friend of mine, Doreen my leader does that meeting and I may do t hat in the next few weeks.

I even walked in the rain !!!

Hi everyone. Well Day 2 of being back in the groove. So far so good. I have really good and have ate all my points. I again walked with Libby this morning - even though Adelaide is raining and it was sprinkling - I did it. Actually it was nice. I have a sore back at present so it is a bit uncomfortable so a trip to the physio might be in order, even so I did it. I am trying just to focus on each day and so far it doesnt take long to get back into the groove of things. I am going to the market after work tonight and to do my grocery shopping - I have listed my food menus for the next two weeks to coincide with my pays so I am hoping that I will have enough of everything and may only need to go to the shops for more vegies. Anyway, weigh in day I am hoping for a good result. Really, weight loss is about the power of the mind. Do I want to be a goddess? It is easy - Yes or No. The answer lies there.

The results are in. Hold onto your seats

Well everyone. I went to WW last night after a bit of a gap. I have gained 2.1. This is expected and I am not upset because I know I was bad, I am only upset when I have put a lot of work into the week and didnt score the results. Anyway, it does make you realise a few things. Mainly, that this is a lifestyle change and I need to get my head into that space. I can have treats every now and again but I have to get my head around that feeling that I am depriving myself. I woke this morning, went for my walk and came home and sat and had breakfast and made my lunch. I have had a good day but do need to drink more water. I have probably ate most of my points except 1.5 (plus exercise which I dont count) and have tried to eat something between meals to get the metabolism in gear. I am hoping with hard work and perserverance that this week I can see a good weight loss. I know I have it in me if I work hard enough. I may even get up early on Saturday and go for a walk. Anyway everyone, I am pasting onto this post a link (www.mcdonalds.com.au/McCafe_Nutritional.pdf) to McDonalds McCafe Menu with nutritional details. I for one tend to go there for a coffee a bit - there is one down the road from where I live and it is handy to know the points, I don't tend to eat the burgers - not that I dont love them but the eating fast food in public is a bit embarrasing when your large.

I know that I need to pull up my socks, work hard and focus on the goals I want to achieve, I need to start getting serious and saying no to certain foods, even when I feel like saying yes.

I do need to get back to basics, I have tracked and organised my menu for the next week with my social functions included. I am going out to Indian on the weekend and have planned what I am eating in advance - no wine that night unfortunately.

Anyway, this is all a learning experience and I am now going to try really hard for a fabulous weight loss this week. I know I wont lose the 2.1 I gained but if I can lose over a 1kg I will be happy.

Take care.

I am totally off track !! Confession time

Hi everyone, I know it has been a while. I don't know what has happened but I have been off the rails. I have had a few health issues and the latest being a cold which is still going on together with reducing my anti-depressant medication I seem to have just lost the plot and my emotions have been all over the place and have been doing the "woe is me" routine. I have been eating anything and everything lately, the more I eat the more I get depressed, the more I eat etc etc. I am back on the medication and going to my WW meeting tonight to get back on track. I am pleased to report that other than last week when my car was at the crash repairers I am still walking in the morning and that has helped me get up earlier on the weekends. On Saturday I was up at 7.30am - a minor miracle and started to get into some jobs. I have been an all or nothing girl. Either I am 100% good or I am 100% bad and then binge eating occurs. I have chatted to my darling friend Tania the other day and we have sorted some stuff out- I find that talking with friends a big help. Anyway, what is done is done and I need to just focus on the future. In the near future an old flame from Darwin is coming down - I always think of him so I am now inspired to really shed some weight for me - so that I can feel mentally positive. So today is the last day of me being bad. Funnily enough, I never intend to stop going to WW. I haven't been to my meetings for a while as my leader has been away or I have had stuff on so I must admit my lack of motivation is not helped by not attending meetings. I know I have gained probably 2-3 kgs but what is done is done. I am now walking to and from the tram stop in addition to my walk and where possible a quick walk at lunchtime. I know I need to keep increasing my exercise so that is something I need to work on. Why is it that when things get a little tough then the first thing we do is turn to food !!! I must admit I feel shocking. I am tired, bloated and self conscious, so I know getting back into the WW groove is a must. I know WW works and I just need to plan and focus on what I am trying to achieve. As must as I hate the whole concept of the biggest loser, I have of late been getting inspiration from the before and after photos and recently when they looked at their initial videos. An overweight person is a sad person. I know that mentally and physically I would be a happier person with 50 kgs off. NOW THERE IS NO EXCUSE. I need to focus on what I want to achieve. The choice is mine to be vibrant, healthy and happy or sad, fat and miserable. I whinge that men don't look at me. For what ever reason, this is how I feel. I know that weight is an issue, although we all can say that alot of men like a women with a few curves and quite a few of my friends have married lovely men and they have curves like me - but somehow I just dont attract them. Is it because I am not happy with myself - I think so. Therefore I need to be happy being Martine Marie Dally - owner of a wonderful dog, daughter, aunty, neice, legal secretary and this will and can happen with weight loss. I know I am more than a body and my weight doesnt define me as a person but I think society does. Therefore 50 kgs need to come off and I need to start focusing on the task ahead, being responsible for my own actions and being a master of my own destiny.

After all we are masters of our own destiny!

I feel really happy today - it seems to me that the discipline of WW makes me feel in control of everything else. Well everyone in blogger land. Day 3 without sugar in my coffee and I am doing reasonably well. Went to my weigh in on Wednesday and gained 1.2 which I am surprised by the large amount but have missed meals and not planned and find that personally missing meals is just as bad as a binge. BUT I am glad I gained - well not really but as I always say a gain makes you consider your overall food, exercise and water intake - for me I just consider and evaluate that I need to be a bit more organised. Got on the scales last night and had dropped significantly so I do think maybe a bit of fluid retention is happening and that TOM is due but that is no excuse - I just havent been as good as I could. After all I am the one in control of the driver's seat. I really am floored but how relatively easy it has been to go without sugar in my coffee after 45 years of it and I think overall this is a good thing - I do like a challenge. Tonight off for Thai at Glenelg with a friend so have planned for a couple of wines and my meal. Tomorrow Michael is over for dinner but am making my magnificent WW recipe of Bacon and Tomato Risotto so that will be easy to point and wont drink. Easter is fast approaching- I am not using this as an excuse to eat. I am lucky that Hot Cross Bun's just dont rock my world (thank god) and no one will be giving me chocolate so hopefully my only challenge is that I may be out and about and the wine intake but I am going to carefully point my food, if I have enough points for a drink - great, if not, then I can stick of mineral water quite happily. I AM DETERMINED and am visualising my weight loss next week. I know I can do 1.5 easily if I stick to it. If I lose any weight at all I will celebrate but I can lose what I gained and a little more I will be happy. The new WW site tracker is great and there are places for measurements. I am going to on the weekend take my measurements and check my progress. Anyway my lovelies.............I am embracing WW and the challenges it holds. After all the weight gain was a gradual thing and I am sure my fat is quite attached to my body but as I have said before this is not a race, it is a life changing way of life and I am not only conquering my love of food but the mental challenge of getting my head into gear which I am fast realising is coming along quite well. Anyway, please feel free to post a comment - it is nice to know that some people are interested in what I write .

I am so tired !!!

Well I am starting this blog off with a whinge. My feet are so sore. I inherited bad feet from my mother's side of the family. Lucky for her it skipped her and has come to me. I had a shoe party last night at the office and was on my feet for about 5 hours and as a consequence could barely walk to the car last night. I am hoping once I get to goal weight that the pain I suffer in my feet will be relieved somewhat. Although I was tired and exhausted I got up and walked with Libby today. Having an exercise buddy is really fabulous. You have to walk as you are meeting someone. So I am pleased with how that is going and considering my feet were burning this morning I still did it. Tonight is weigh in at Weight Watchers and I am not sure how I am going to go. I know I could be better and really as Libby and I discussed this morning it comes down to being organised. I know I need to have a few meals in the freezer that I need to just reheat. So that is my plan this weekend. Tonight I am going to the Madness Concert with my good mate Kath. I will be going back to the 70's and 80's when I was a groover and dancing in my seat. Hopefully between now and then I get some energy back. Sugar ...........my next best friend. I went to the dentist yesterday and have had major problems with my teeth of late. I had stopped a while ago having artificial sweeteners in my coffee as I believe that the equal tablets I was having somehow correlate with my insomnia. I was having probably 3 coffees a day with 2 tsp sugar and we found that as I sip my coffee during the day instead of having it fairly quickly then the problem was the sipping the coffee with sugar. My dentist says having sugar in coffee is fine as long as you dont drink it slowly over a longer period of time. Anyway, it was just what I needed to hear as I have gone cold turkey with the sugar/sweetener in my coffee and pleased to say it isnt too bad. I am now somehow this morning refocused on my task ahead. My birthday (29/8/09) is probably something that I can use as a long term goal and want to try and lose another 6 kgs (easily done I think) by that time. I refuse to set too unrealistic goals. Anyway my lovelies........have a good day. Wish me luck for my weigh in.

I have been slack and not organised

Hi everyone, I have been slack with the blogging - smack on the wrist for me.!!! Had a personal health issues a few weeks ago which have sorted itself out. and that had me off the rails abit with my WW journey. Now an update on what is happening. Didn't weigh in last week as I had a meeting after work. I think I might outline how I am going in topics. Food -well the food is probably 70% okay. I find that I am not organised at present. Mornings are hard as I walk and then come home and have a cat nap before work and then I am running late. I need to sort that out and/or take cereal to work and have it when I arrive. I am going to cook a few meals tonight and freeze them as I find that some nights it is just too rushed and I am not eating as well as I should, if I have food in the freezer that just needs to be reheated I shouldnt go off the tracks. Exercise - I am still walking with Libby in the mornings for 45 minutes and I walk for 70 minutes one night a week with Gill, normally Wednesday after WW. So I am pleased with how this is going. I have decided I just dont have time for anymore exercise at this point in time. Latter in the year I may join a gym. I have heard a rumour that a gym is opening where the new Woolworths supermarket is being built at Glenelg which is near where I catch the tram to work - so that is apparently happening in September 2009 and I may wait until then and perhaps get a special deal. No doubt it probably will be a fitness first. I find that exercising with a friend is not only social but a good way to exercise. My overall attitude is reasonably good I suppose, the last few days I have felt a bit out of sorts but I am sure that is because I have been slack with the tracking and not being rigid enough with my food - reasonably good is not enough - I need to be good all the time and when I am not as good as I should be those negative thoughts come in. I saw a photo the other day - and it was a SHOCKER and made me realise that carrying 46 extra kilos is just not good enough. Alright I could be better, I could have better weight losses but I am not prepared to give up. I love my meetings and leader and am prepared to go the distance I think I just need a bit more planning in the next few weeks and a good weight loss to just keep me going. Easter is fast approaching but I am not worried. I will try and make some really great meals that I am going to throughly enjoy and that way the meals will be the treats. I am not into Hot Cross Buns so that isnt a problem and shouldnt be given any chocolate unless it comes from work so I should be right. Whilst writing this blog, it occurred to me that I just need to do the following:

1. Go back to basics
2. Track
3. Water consumption
4. Right mental attitude
5. Walking (perfect at present).

The right mental attitude is the key to this whole weight loss journey. Tina in her blog is a classic example of this and her results speak for themselves. So I am going home tonight, to plan and organise my food. Hopefully, probably at the weigh in after next the results will speak for themselves. My WW buddy Karen isnt going to WW anymore but I am settled in my meeting and want to prove to myself that I can do this. I am sad that she isnt going but she has stuff she needs to organise before she can even attempt WW. Enough of me. I will post my food intake for the day on tomorrow's blog. I love any comments you may have, as they help and inspire me. I am going tonight review Tina's blog - I love that girl in that she is really in the zone and can understand her attitude. The journey is full of ups and downs but one that I can do.

An update

Here are a few pictures of my beloved niece Jess Scarlett and Oliver. Being an Aunty is just fabulous and the next best thing to being a mother. I have been very slack indeed with the blogging. Went to WW on Wednesday and stayed the same which was a relief. I had a bit of a bad week with something that was worrying me, which is now okay but the emotional eating happened. I havent been great the last few days either so I have had a stern talking to myself and fully intend to get myself into gear this week. I am still walking with Libby (even if I am tired) and am pleased to say that this is now a routine. I can start to feel my clothes getting a lot looser and fully intend to see this journey out for the duration. My leader confirmed she is now our permanent leader and as she works full time she may need to go away every now and again for business and will try and get our old leader back to fill in. She gave us her email address which I think is pretty good and amazing as I have never heard that before. It was interesting at our meeting in that she said that alot of people stop in Winter and the ones that keep going are in it for the long haul and usually get to goal. I left a little earlier as I walked 80 minutes with Gill to clear out the cobwebs. Have been reading a few blogs and everyone seems a little out of sorts - this journey is so full of highs and lows it is unbelievable but you just have to stay with it and ride out the storm. I am trying to keep up my water intake which has been shocking of late. I am so tired at present so this weekend is about me, my diet and just re-grouping.

.

Ooops I slept in

Hi everyone in bloggerland. Well it has been an interesting 24 hours. Last night I got to my car in the car park at work and found out that someone had hit it, luckily for me that someone (Rocky - gee I wonder if he is single !!) was honest enough to leave his details and an apologetic note. I normally take the tram to work but needed to visit the library and get my glasses repaired so it was easier to drive. Luckily for me the guy was very nice when I rang him but it just annoyed me and I am not so angry at him but just the situation. At least he was full of praise of me in that I didnt rant and go on. I always believe it is better to be nice and polite than rude. Anyway the car is being repaired. I couldnt sleep last night - WHAT IS NEW !!! So at 1-3am I am awake and planning my food for today's meal at Danny's Thai Bistro at the Parade and fluffed around all night. The alarm went off this morning and I can remember thinking about what exercise stuff I would wear - ie winter or summer and next thing you know it is 7am and I am an hour late. or more to the point slept through my walk. So I didnt walk this morning which really really annoyed me, as I all I can think of is that 3.5 points I could have earned. What did I say..........can I believe that in my head I have finally worked out exercise = points. So I am saying this now that I am going to make up for that walk by walking tomorrow sometime. My Sunday walking buddy cannot walk but I am still going to walk. Well must dash but will report in later.

Gold star for Martine !!!

By golly gee, you can just never tell how you are going to go on those scales. Went home after work last night and changed and weighed myself and thought realistically I may lose 300 grams and I would be happy with that, considering the Schnitzel episode on Saturday and TOM due. I get on those scales at WW and pray to the goddess that controls those scales and golly gee I lost 800 grams and I couldn't be happier. It isn't really the amount but when you put effort into the week (even with a slip up or two) you feel like you should be rewarded for embracing all things WW and walking at 6am which is you will note I have put in bold because I am proud of myself for doing that. I am happy to say that all things leader wise are going great guns, I seem to be in a good spot with her and I need to have a good relationship with her, basically because it is 18 to 24 month road ahead to get to goal. On the Weight Watchers site there is a link to me (http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=42871) which goes on about blogs. That is a huge thing for me to have that out there. I went on the Wok In A Box site and nearly had a seizure when I realised the amount of kilojoules in my PUD THAI (which you will note they insist on calling it Pud Thai instead of the proper term of Pad Thai). Anyway, wont be having them too regularly - 11 points for a small serve - honestly that is madness. Well, this week I dont have alot on socially but have dinner and movies tomorrow night, luckily my friend Gill is very careful what she eats, that is why she is a size 10-12, so we are going to Thai which is good as I enjoy that and a couple of glasses of Savingnon Blanc to finish it off. No choc tops at the movie for this girl. Last night's meeting was on the subject of being hungry, my walking partner and I often discuss the need to eat enough food as if you don't the scales somehow don't like it and I did query my concern that I didn't eat morning or afternoon tea purely as I am not hungry and don't want to eat if I don't have to as I would rather eat when I am hungry. My leader wasnt too fussed with that and I suppose as long as I am eating all my points etc then that is fine. I am tonight going to sit down and plan my meals for the fortnight, i find with my fortnightly pay that doing a shop fortnightly does save a huge amount of money. Hopefully I might try a few new recipes. Must dash. Stay happy.

You could have knocked me over with a feather

Well everyone, today is weigh in day and my period arrived yesterday so I am hoping for a loss, no matter how small and will just have to be patient and wait till 6pm tonight. Yesterday a minor miracle happened to me. I got up as normal to walk with Libby at 6am and feel saint like for even doing this considering my insomnia but walked again for 75 minutes at the end of the day with a friend and it was not because I had to, but because I wanted to. YAY for me. I have found the last few days that my energy levels have slightly increased, the more I investigate the link between weight loss/food consumed and exercise I believe the more exercise you do the more energy you have. Well everyone - I am hoping for a loss and would be delighted with 100grams purely because if I can lose at this time in my cycle then that is a great thing to happen. Usually on Wednesday night I use my points for a treat like food and have done that since I started WW. It can be anything but I allocate it with my points. Today, I looked up the points value for Wok In A Box and although slightly higher, I do enjoy it and have a 2 for 1 voucher so will get a serve of noodles and freeze one portion and treating myself each Wednesday seems to work for me. Anyway, will post a quick blog post tonight to confirm my WW results. Have a good day.

Gotta love those weekends

The weekend has come and gone. I had such big plans but didn't get too much done. A couple of dinners, one which was bad - I ordered a schnitzel as I hadn't had one for about 1 year and felt like one and must admit I did enjoy it. My period is due tomorrow so I am not expecting any great losses with my weight, if I stay the same I will be happy as long as I dont gain. I ate far too much carbs and skipped a few meals and I find the skipping meals as bad as falling off the food wagon. My water intake needs to be improved and I am trying to drink with meals and have planned water intake, for example with my three meals a day a couple of large glasses. Got up and walked with Libby this morning. I am really proud of myself considering I don't sleep well at all, it is a huge thing for me to be up and out the door at 6am. I must admit that I enjoy the walk and don't find it bad at all, it is good as the exercise is done for today. BUT saying that I am walking with a friend tonight just because I feel like it. I must admit that watching the biggest loser last night with the weight the contestants lost, especially my favourite Amanda losing 27kgs, trying to carry that around is hard and no wonder you have no energy. I am starting to realise that my chronic tiredness has to do with my weight and that with weight loss will come energy. Overall, I am really happy with how I am going, I am trying not to put too much pressure on myself and am happy that I am just consistently losing - for me it doesnt matter how much, just that I do lose. I feel that at the moment it is quiet easy, of course weekends are hard and I really need to plan for those. This week is pretty quiet and I want to just have a really good basic week. Tania in her blog was commenting on her sugar points. I am lucky I hardly have any as I find that anything slightly sugary just makes me crave sugar more, I keep my points for wine on the weekend and the occasional ice-cream, at the moment I am not missing chocolate that much. When I do crave chocolate I go to the McDonalds down the road from me and get a take away coffee and that satisfies me. The other day I walked down and walked back. I am giving myself time. I am running my own race and am lucky that I have a supportive leader who I have now bonded with and good WW buddies like Karen and Tania plus everyone in bloggerland. One of the things I have learnt from my leader is to gradually increase your exercise, at the moment I am happy with just walking. I will ultimately increase my speed and duration and them maybe towards the latter part of the year I might do some other activity. Anyway, I can feel my work pants getting loser, around the legs and my bum particularly. Of course, these aren't my bad body parts but I am sure my arms and stomach with show losses later on. Anyway, I am sure that this little WW adventure will be a long one, at present I am coasting along well. Alright my losses are a little under average but I am sure that in time and with motivation and visualising myself as a goddess that my weight loss will increase. I just have to think baby steps. Will report in tomorrow on my weight in.

Cant wait for the long weekend

Well, I havent posted all week. Have been walking with Libby every morning, that is going well and I am pleased to have a walking partner. We walk Monday to Friday and Sunday I walk with my WW Buddy Karen. Saturday I have a day of rest but funnily I still may go for a walk. I am tired in the evenings and I suppose it will take me a while for my body to adjust to getting up earlier, and with the insomnia, I am struggling but when I walk I think of the calories burned and proud of myself and it does feel good to get up early as it is done for the day. Went to WW on Wednesday and stayed the same, considering I had a big week as far as eating out goes I am pleased with that. Initially, I was a bit miffed but realised that at least I can eat out a few times a week and have that piece of cake and not put on. Our meeting was great and we just talked as a group as my leader didnt have her meeting information, one of the things raised was that it wasnt a race, just keep going and the importance of getting to goal and that your doctor can now certify your goal weight and Lifetime member ship is important. She also mentioned to be happy with any loss and don't let the scales dictate how you go. I suppose I feel in a good space, I am happy with my progress and realistically realise this will take a while and as much as we all like to lose 1kg a week this is not realistic. So I just focus on each day with tracking, ensuring I drink my water, exercising and adding variety to my diet and I don't feel it is a struggle at all. I think in order to achieve the goals you want, you have to embrace the WW journey. I at least now think about what I eat and even if I do eat that Mars Bar when I am stressed (like yesterday at work) I point it. I realise that when I get a bit emotional and am worried about work or my family I want to eat, I at least am aware of it and try to talk myself through it. Normally I would go and have a Wendy's 99.9% frozen yoghurt without topping and that satisfies me. With work yesterday, I adore my job, I just try to be perfect which of course is not possible. I made a few errors and the first thing i thought of was food - I was aware what I was doing and still had my salad and turkey sandwhich but did have a chocolate bar which was pointed. The difference is that I stopped at 1 chocolate bar and didnt on the way home stop via Coles and get a 2ltr tub of ice-cream. So that is progress for me. I really want to just run my own race, this weekend I plan a relatively quiet weekend and hopefully a walk along the beach with the world's best dog. Must dash. I am finding that I am enjoying my leader Doreen and as she does a meeting at Glenelg if I cant make Wednesday's meeting then I can go Tuesday.

Where did that weekend go

Well the weekend has been and gone unfortunately. Here is an update. Friday was my night out with Gill to Jolley's boathouse. It was a delightful meal, a tad expensive but worth the money. Had a rack of lamb with polenta and a beetroot salad, a small dinner roll - no butter, dessert was decadent and half a bottle of wine. I had a light day as far as food went on the Friday and had saved up some point - PLUS I was up at 6am for my 45 minute walk. Saturday I had my nail appointment and came home to do the housework. I must admit to noticing this weekend that I had more energy. I wonder if that was the exercise but I must admit I was tired at the end of the day. Didnt do much. Sunday I had a 21st to go to of my best friend's daughter. So I was up making my infamous layered dip which I am going to point out at some point. It is basically a layer of cream cheese and then avocado but then the top is parsley and coriander mix with sweet chilli sauce and overall I dont think too high. Joanne had a barbeque which was quiet good and salads, I was naughty in that I missed breakfast but did have dessert which I really didnt enjoy as I was too full and missed my evening meal. I know missing meals isnt good at all. Today I was up at 6am for my walk with Libby. It was hard this morning but as I am meeting someone it is great that you have to get up. I am tired when I get back but that will change. I do have an embarrassing problem in that halfway back from my walk I have to go to the toilet (no 2's) and so it is difficult to hold on. I try to go before I walk but somehow the walk gets things going. Now that I am in the routine of it I am sure that it will get easier and I am encouraged to walk at other times. I thought I might walk down to this cafe which is 20 minutes from my place in Maxwell Street near the tramlines on Saturday, have a coffee and walk back. Anyway, have no idea how my weight is going but will have to wait until Wednesday. I realistically dont think the walking is going to do that much but we will see.

The last few days

My Leader

Well, I am pleased to say I am "bonding" with my leader Doreen. She has been marvellous and encouraging of me and advised me on Wednesday she thought I was embracing the whole WW thing. I suppose I am and am pleased we are starting to connect. I enjoy the fact that she is interested in how I am going and after all, this journey will be a while till I get to goal. So overall I am happy and will be staying on Wednesday night.

Exercise

Libby and I walked again this morning. She meets me at Morphett Road and I walk back with her to Marion Road and she leaves me and then I walk back to Morphett Road. I timed myself this morning and it is a 45 minute walk, although on the way back today I was speed walking as I was so in need to go to the toilet I nearly wet my pants ! BUT I have done it and the waking and meeting her is going well. I am tired when I get back but at least the walk is done for the day and any other walking is a bonus. I still walk with Karen for an hour on Sunday morning and might leave Saturday as a day of rest. My mate Joanne's daughter is about to leave home and has suggested a walk night one night a week, so if I can walk with her that is a bonus.

Food

My food intake has been good and am pleased with how that is going. I didnt go out to dinner last night as I didnt feel well but as I hardly ate during the day I did have some gnocchi for dinner and it was great for a change. Tonight is my dinner at Jolley's so hopefully I can find a reasonable main course, I have saved points and as a treat will have a dessert. Overall not much to report, thankfully I am free on Saturday so I can have a good eating day to compensate for tonight's meal which may be a little naughty. Will report in on the weekend.

I would do a cart wheel if I would !

Yesterday I had a RDO off and it was delightful. Got the car serviced and was going to start the spring cleaning ! That didnt happen. Caught up with my WW mate Tania and we chatted over a coffee about all things WW and how you cant let the scales dictate your success. Areas of improvement for me are exercising and water. I drink water but need to be a bit more consistent with it when I am at home. Went to my meeting today. As I had a big weight loss last week I was concerned about gaining weight. Low and behold I lost 0.4 and was thrilled with that result. Today's subject was exercise so I put my hand up and advertised for a walking buddy to walk with me at 6am and FOUND ONE. Libby who is a bit of a talker, yes more than me is going to meet me at 6.15am in the morning for a 30 to 45 minute walk. I am thrilled as it is hard to get up to walk by yourself and am hoping that this will become a regular event. I am just so happy about this as I need to have a walking partner to get into a routine. I SMS'd my WW mates - Tania and Karen and it is great to have such support and vice versa. Well, I am so inspired for another week. This week I will continue to track my food. I have three nights out eating. Tomorrow with Jo and Mike at a Thai place -so can track points for that and a few wines, Friday night at a 5 star restaurant but they have the menu on line so I just need to study that and my other Joanne's daughter is 21 and we are having a sunday lunch which may be a BBQ so I can handle that and will take some mineral water and hold off on the wine. I just need to calculate how much these meals out will be point wise and work around that. I am proud of myself, alright I would like the loss to be more but I am honestly happy that I am in the groove and have the weight loss headset starting to happen. I now think of my Wednesday result first before I eat, most of the time if it is something naughty then I say no because I want to lose weight more. DID I SAY THAT. This is a journey of self discovery for me. Oh, my friend Joanne (I have three) and I meet for coffee each Wednesday, although she is my best friend she isnt aware of my weight loss yet - I want to wait for a while yet but anyway she comment on my complexion. I normally have good skin at the best of times but it has improved and is so clear. There you go another benefit of healthy eating. I have my clothes out for my 6am walk. Yay for me.

Monday again

I for one do not like Mondays. I couldnt get out of bed this morning and would have rather cuddled up to the wonderdog Vince. Anyway, the weekend food wise wasnt too bad. Saturday I did go over my points but that was me not being able to tell Michael that I didnt want pizza. But there is a lesson to be learnt. My water intake was dismal and I must try and improve that. I am focused on the week ahead and finding that I am enjoying more and more my fish meals and trying ways to cook them. Friday night I am going out with my mate Gill and we are spending our 2008 lotto winnings and going to Jolleys Boathouse for dinner. Jolleys Boathouse is one of the better restaurants in Adelaide so I am trying to preplan what I can eat, luckily they have a menu on line. Not much to report but just focused on the road ahead and being kind to myself.

Thank God it is Friday

Well Friday at last. It is always a good feeling. I am feeling a million dollars today. It is surprising what a good weight loss will do for a girl. I am so inspired and determined to have another good week. Tonight babysitting the kids so am going to try and pop past a Coles on the way and get a WW meal so that I am good and a diet yoghurt. Michael is coming over on the weekend for dinner so I thought I might try one of those stir fry recipes in the lasted WW magazine - he does not know I am on WW and although it is nothing to be afraid of I want to be well on the way before I blurt out what I am doing. Somehow this is a personal crusade. I have Tuesday off work as my RDO so other than having the car serviced I am going to do a spring clean. Whilst I am waiting for the car to be serviced I am going to walk down to McCafe from the car service centre and have a skim latte - no food and then walk home and get stuck into it - that will burn some extra bonus points. Anyway, this weekend somehow doesnt faze me - I just realise if I plan and track I cant go wrong.

Weight loss results

Well went to WW last night and recorded a weight loss of 1.4 which I am absolutely thrilled about. A lot of effort went into this loss. I have tracked every morsel that went into my mouth, planned like you wouldn't believe and focused 100% on the task ahead as I was shattered by last weeks 600 gram gain. I also ate more. There you go - the results speak for themselves and that result is with 3 meals out this week. It just motivated me all the more and determined to try for another reasonable week this week, I am aware the week following a big loss should be small but will do exactly the same and try for a loss of any description. I am babysitting the niece and nephew tomorrow night so will take a WW meal with me and that way it makes life a little easier. I suppose what I learned this week was the valuable lesson of eating enough and tracking. I knew exactly where I was this week with what I ate. I find e-tools such a valuable tool to use. Anyway, I plan to proceed with the week as I did last week. On the leader front the new leader actually came up to me and chatted and I feel a little better about her, she told me not to focus on certain amounts each week and trying for big numbers as overall it does balance itself out and really it isnt good. I found her to be compassionate and helpeful so now I am in two minds about the move to a new leader. Karen is happy to do whatever I want to do, I may stick with Doreen for a while and see where I go. I do find the meetings go off track a bit but as much as this sounds horrible there are alot of joiners at the beginning of the year, in a few months I have no doubt numbers will dwindle. Enough of me. I am a happy little camper.