Jumping puddles!

None of your baby steps this week - I jumped the puddle! A loss of 1.1kg and haven't I got a smile on my face.

Reviewing my week - in fact not quite as spot on as previous weeks but pretty damn close nonethless.

Alcohol - still none - 4 weeks now
Points - on or under every day
Tracking - entered every day
Walking - only managed 3 days this week
Steps - 49,000 - due mainly to the above
Water - 2l daily - it's been so bloody hot it's been an absolute pleasure!

I've had some problems with my back again so had to go to the physio two nights last week and that upsets my walking time - I just run out of time to fit it in. Then of course there was the hairdresser on Thursday night - more of that shortly and then on Saturday Bloss and I had ourselves a wee treat in the afternoon and evening so another missed day.


Ok - taaaa raaaa here's the new hairdo and colour - actually used to be around this colour a while back but I get bored and have to change the colour regularly so have been through all the coppers, red, browns, burgundies and back to blonde for a while. Might even go a little bit lighter next time - but Rob (my hairdresser) wanted to lighten it reasonably gently.

Saturday morning I got up at 5.30am to say goodbye to No 2 son who is off to London for however long he feels like - probably at least 12 months. He absolutely hates being farewelled at the airport but I usually exert mother's privilege and go anyway. But I decided to do as he asked this time and say goodbye at home. Felt quite sad and teary - it's been so nice having him around for a while but I guess I've always felt that with sons you have to let them go and give them their space and then they'll come back to you and so far it's always worked and we have a brilliant relationship.

Later in the morning Bloss came with me to do the food shopping - need to get him to help me at the moment as I find the lifting in and out of the trolley really plays havoc with my back. Then we decided to go to the movies and treat ourselves to the Gold Room - hadn't been there yet. We went to see Blood Diamond - great movie but not for the fainthearted! Those leather recliner chairs are just fantastic - they're huge - we had a couple of drinks - chardy for Bloss and mineral water for me and generally felt like the king and queen. Unfortunately the projector played up for about the last 5 - 10 minutes of the movie and the sound was garbled and the picture all wiggly. So guess what - the manager apologised very nicely and asked if we'd accept free movie passes - 'Oh yes that would be lovely' says I - thinking we'd get a couple of standard passes but.... we got two passes to go to the Gold Room again - now that's service! We then headed to the local sailing club for tea and rounded out a very pleasant day.

Big today for Josh, No 1 grandson - first day in Grade 1 so will be phoning him tonight to hear how it all went. He's been at pre school there for the last year and had several orientation visits so not particularly worried about it. Can just imagine him tonight - talking nineteen to the dozen!

Wishing you all as good a week as I've had and hope like me you're feeling very focussed for the week ahead. Watch out puddles here I come!

Just baby steps!

Well, third week over and another virtuous one. My loss this week was 400g – see what I mean about baby steps! Once again though the scales are playing with my head. Saturday and Sunday I was down 900g but back to just 400g this morning. As I think I have said already I’m in the midst of ‘many pauses’ and had a pause for the past three months but on Friday that changed so I got all excited and figured that was the reason for the little loss last week and supposed that this week would be a decent one – and it was until this morning. Ah well c’est la vie. I’m still feeling positive and the overall important thing is that I have lost 2.1kgs in the last 3 weeks. Just means that I’m travelling at 5mph instead of 50! Review of the week Alcohol – None - are you dazzled by the shine from my halo? Points – On or under Track – Faithfully Walk – 6 days out of 7 Steps – averaged just under 8,500 per day again – had a couple of days at workshops which makes moving around difficult. Water – managing 2 litres per day without too much hassle It’s funny but I’m not that disheartened – guess I’ve never been one of those people who lose that quickly – and as has been said on a few blogs last week it’s really all about where your head is at and at the moment mine is firmly focussed on doing whatever I have to do to get rid of these kilos. So I just feel like – Ok bring on next week. No 1 son, DIL and two grandsons arrived back on Friday afternoon – all well but exhausted. They all came down to us last night and we had a BBQ on the deck and heard all their stories and some pictures too. No 2 son is still with us so it was just perfect to have them all together. Probably the last chance for a while as No 2 son departs for UK via Melbourne this Saturday. Bloss’s eye surgery went well. He has a week off work as he needs to avoid dust and we work in a very dusty environment and he also has four lots of drops to put in four times a day. Anyway he’s promising to catch up on all sorts of chores round the place – we’ll see!! The travellers had been given a CD from my brother and wife as a going away present and my brother told them to let me hear it as I’d probably want to get it. Have only heard it briefly but think I’m going to love it – a young guy from Paisley apparently, by the name of Paolo Nutini and the album is called These Streets. Hairdresser this week – had it cut a couple of weeks ago and have gone for a shorter style which just needs the fingertips through it – anyway time for a colour again – going to go quite a bit lighter with lots of blonde foils – might even show you a picture next week. Till then – hope everything is well in everyone’s world and that you all have a week of good choices.

Four things about me

I accepted Sharon's tag. Things you may not have known..... A) Four jobs I have had in my life: 1. Waitress 2. Secretary 3. Office Manager 4. Training Advisor B) Four movies I would watch over and over: 1. Gone with the Wind 2. Tim 3. Saturday Night Fever 4. Titanic C) Four places I have lived 1. Drymen, Scotland 2. Perth 3. Mandurah 4. Gladstone D) Four favourite T.V. shows 1. Big Brother 2. Biggest Loser 3. The Master Quiz show 4. Border Patrol E) Four of my favourite foods: 1. Sour cream 2. Lindor chocolates 3. Cheese and Onion Chips 4. Cheesecake (all forbidden fruits except for WW sour cream) F) Four places I would rather be right now: 1. Actually quite happy here at home but ..... 2. Travelling anywhere overseas 3. Having a little chardonnay with friends 4. Playing with my grandsons if they were here G) Four friends I think will respond: (sorry blog mates!) 1. Julie 2. Anne 3. Suzy 4. Isobel

From little acorns.........

So week 2 is over and how did I do? Well I’m not exactly ecstatic but remaining positive. I lost a miserly 100g! I suspect there’s a bit of fluid balancing happening – I’ve been down 100g since last Thursday, dropped to 500g yesterday but back to 100g today so that’s what I’ll have to take. Hopefully next week I’ll be off with a bang again. I have been exceedingly good again this week – guess that’s why I’m a tad disappointed – don’t mind not losing much or not losing at all if I know I’ve been messing around but I truly have been an angel! Points – on or under all week Alcohol – not a drop has passed my lips Water – at least 2 litres every day Walking – again managed 6 days out of 7 Steps – wore my pedometer all week and managed just under 59,000 steps for the week – a daily average of almost 8,500. Anyway this isn’t about one week – it’s a plan for several months so upwards and onwards! Been reading lots of your blogs – and trying to comment on as many as possible in line with the National Delurking directive from Leighanne and Brooke! Congratulations to Paulene, Simon and Caleb on the birth of their new son and brother Talyn. Must admit Simon had me worried as he took sooooo long to update with the news and I was imagining all kinds of things, so I was over the moon when the good news came through. Busy week ahead – the physio tomorrow night who says that if I’m still good he’ll let me graduate – meaning no more visits. My back has been pretty good lately but only if I keep up the walking and avoid sitting for long periods either at my desk or in the car and I find food shopping plays havoc with it – I think it’s all the stretching, lifting in the trolley, out the trolley, back in the trolley – you all know what I mean. It’s just such a bloody pointless time consuming inefficient process. Roll on the day when internet grocery shopping comes to central Queensland! Sorry ….. I’ll get back down off my high horse now! On Friday Bloss goes in for day surgery for his cataracts – he’s already had one eye done in November and it’s made a huge difference to him. That same afternoon No 1 Son, DIL and 2 grandsons arrive back from their Scottish trip. I’m hoping that everything will pan out – I’ll take Bloss to the hospital, around lunchtime I think then zip out to the airport to see the returning holidaymakers then back to the hospital to pick up Bloss. Meant to say last week that I have discovered Blogroll – what a marvellous little invention! I always used to laboriously cut and paste URLs into the appropriate spot in my blog template and then have to republish the template. This Blogroll makes it all so easy – love it! You can see how much by the long list of blogs I now have in my sidebar! Ok must away and get on with my day. Hope everyone has a great week with lots of nice things happening and big losses!

ABC of Me

A is for age: 51 B is for Beer: Boags, Steinlager or Crownies C is for Career: Training Advisor D is for my Dog's Name: Zanna – I borrowed it from her! E is for Essential Item I Use Everyday: Mascara and Moisturiser– woulldn’t be without either F is for Favourite T.V. Show: None really don’t watch much – Biggest Loser new series probably G is for Favorite Game: Trivial Pursuit H is for Hometown: Drymen, Scotland I is for Instruments I Play: Piano J is for Favourite Juice: Orange K is for Whose Butt I'd Like To Kick: Can’t think of anyone – mine sometimes when I lose focus L is for the Last Place I Ate Out: Breezes M is for Marriage: Twice, one for 20 years, this one (we eloped) for almost 4! N is for Name: Anne, Anni, Possie, Mary and course Zanna O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: Twice when I had children P is for People I was With Today: My workmates, my husband, my son Q is for Quote: "Life isn’t a dress rehearsal” R is for Biggest Regret: Can’t think of any – too busy looking forward S is for Sport: Walking and Gym when I manage to schedule it T is for Time I Woke Up Today: 5.15am – usual time, I get up at 5.30am U is for Current Underwear: Black lace V is for Vegetable You Love: Almost any - I love most just as much raw as cooked W is for Worst Habit: Drinking alcohol – but not at the moment X is for X-rays I Have Had: Teeth, Arm, Foot, Abdomen, Pelvis Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today: WW Mushroom and Bacon Pasta (last nights leftovers for lunch today Z is for Zodiac: Virgo on the cusp of Leo Thanks to Leighanne for the meme.

So how’d I go?

Well, the start of another week. But first a reflection on the one that’s gone. I said I would : Not drink any alcohol – and I didn’t Walk at least four times – and I walked six times Stay on points – and I did – even a bit under a few times Track every day – and I did this too Drink at least 2 litres water every day – and I did and consequently had to get up at least once, usually twice every night! In addition I wore my pedometer for six out of the seven days and clocked up an average of just over 9,000 steps a day for the six days so I’m pretty happy with that. I’ve also joined the Easter Eviction Challenge – see the link on the sidebar, so I’ve got a multitude of little prompts and incentives happening. And the scales said ………… a loss of 1.6kgs and I’m ecstatic with that. It’s been a good week for me – I do like to be in control and when I eat and drink properly I feel so much better and it’s like I’m in the driving seat not being driven by these impulses and notions that make me want to eat the wrong things, have a wine, not bother going for a walk etc. I’ve had two meals out this week and conducted myself admirably both times –just made clever choices from the menu. On the walking front – I got an MP3 player for my birthday and I’ve collected a group of good walking tracks and put them all in a folder. I find that walking to fast music really gets you going in a way that you don’t without it and makes you continue even when you’re struggling ‘cos you just think you’ll make it to the end of the track. And of course the other Zanna thinks it’s absolutely brilliant! On the blogging front I made a decision that in 2007 I would cease lurking (as some of you know I do comment but not on nearly as many as I read). Anyway I’ve been sprinkling little comments far and wide and the result is fantastic – I get all these wonderful comments back. Just goes to show, as my Granny used to say, you reap what you sow!! What’s also been delightful is how many of you have welcomed me back with open arms – thank you all. On the family front – No 1 son, DIL and two grandsons are currently in Scotland visiting my family (Mum, sister and brother) and are due back in about 10 days – have really missed them. No 2 son returned from his world travels in August and since then has been working all over Australia on shutdown work and based himself with us in between jobs – in reality he’d be home for a couple of days or a week then gone again. However he’s bought another couple of investment properties and has been renovating them ready to rent so has been with us for about 6 weeks now – really lovely. What has been gratifying is that all the hard work I put in to him as a wee laddie is still very evident – helps prepare tea, clears up the dishes, does his own washing, and is generally very considerate. Mind you his room is still like a bomb site but I just shut the door! He leaves again on 25th of this month, heads to Melbourne to spend a couple of days with his father then flies out to London on 30th for probably about 12 months. He’ll be based in London and working there – easy for him as he has two passports – European since he was born there and Australian through his father. Ok waffled on long enough and I’d better go and do what I’m paid for. Hope everyone is also having a good week and let's all stick to our promises again!

Now this is No 1 and the fun has just begun....

Happy new year to everyone. Had a lovely evening with our friends and brought in the new year with a drink or two - my last as I embark on the dry spell! I've awakened this morning all set to embrace my new strategies ... so here goes. Have included a poem which I found on the WW forum courtesy of Cassie - it seems to sum up where we tend to find ourselves at this time of year. Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). I'd remember the marvellous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt--- I said to myself, as I only can" You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!" So--away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip Every last bit of food that I like must be banished Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie--not even a lick. I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore--- But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet! Let's make it one to remember!