Back on track ............. just!

Well I’m pleased to report a loss of 1kg this week, so I’m nearly back to where I should be. I’ve had a much better week but as my title says I feel I’m not quite where I should be. I read with interest Ails’ post of 11 June in which she talks about ‘Maintenance before Goal’ and I think that sums up what has happened to me in the past and is in danger of happening again. You feel and look so much better having lost a sizable number of kilos, that you tend to slacken off and just maintain at that weight and don’t go that extra bit to where you really should be. I’ve been doing my usual review of the week and while I did a lot of good things, there were also some things I did (or didn’t) and these same things are what makes the difference and get you to the finishing post. I’m trying really hard at the moment to get back into that nice little headspace I had before I went to Hong Kong because I can see that if I don’t work at getting back there, I’ll just cruise through the next 8 weeks till I go on holiday again and won’t achieve any further weight loss – traditionally I’ll just faff around – 1kg down, 1kg up – sound familiar?? Anyway what happened this week– Exercise - got back into my daily 5am walk/run routine. I started over at Week 6 of the C25K – since I’d had almost a month off what with holidays and illness. The running went well and I did Day 3 of Week 6 which is 25mins this morning and felt great both during and after – as compared to last Friday when I did Day 2 – 2 x 10 min runs with a 3 minute walk in the middle. I wasn’t having trouble breathing, my legs weren’t sore – I just felt doughy, so it was heartening to feel bouncy again this morning. Tracked pretty well – logged on my WW online up to Friday and continued to track mentally over the weekend. Points – good during the week – a little bit up on the weekend Steps – 57,100 – just over 8,000 a day Alcohol – great during the week – didn’t have any, then Friday night Bloss and I had one of those nice nights where we had lots to share and discuss – mainly related to both our careers – we both work for the same company and some changes may be afoot for both of us. Anyway these discussions were very well lubricated with a couple of bottles of wine. Saturday night we went out for dinner with friends and I offered to be the driver so only had one and a little bit glasses but then yesterday we had a big day cleaning in the house and yard so I felt I’d earned one or five last night!! And that’s where my danger points come from – I count all the food points and they’re great but then if I add on the alcohol – not so good! Gym – I’m not back at the gym yet. The one I was going to closed down while I was on holiday and I need to set up a time with my Personal Trainer for an assessment and programme at another gym. Have now made contact with her so hopefully will get something organised this week

Water - brilliant during the week but bloody hopeless on the weekend So in the week ahead I'm just going to try try try to get my head back into the nice little groove. Having a 5th Avenue Collection jewellery party this Thursday night. I went to one that a lady who works for me had and she needed another party booking to get something super duper or whatever so I said I would have one. My thinking was that it would be a good opportunity to get a few friends together for some drinks and nibbles and if anyone wants to buy anything well and good but I don't really care. What is good about this one is that you pay and take your goods on the night. No me having to collect money from all and sundry and you don't get your stuff for a month. You remember the nice little red jacket I won on Ebay last week? Well it arrived on Friday and when I went to try it on there was a tear in the lining on the shoulder, then I discovered the hem coming down on one sleeve and then when I took it off the lining on that sleeve came out separately from the sleeve! I was a bit disappointed as although it was cheap there had been no mention of these faults in the description. Anyway rather than just jump in boots and all and leave negative feedback, I contacted the seller via Ebay messages expressing my disappointment - not at all nastily. I got a very quick reply from the seller saying that he doesn't sell faulty goods and if I could send him some photos showing the damage then he could arrange a refund if appropriate. I sent the photos and my bank details and then got a very apologetic reply and confirmation that my account had been credited with the full amount I had paid. So all round a win/win for both of us - I left positive feedback describing how well he'd handled the problem - so important for serious sellers and I've got a jacket for free which is rather nice and I'll just get my local dressmaking lady to fix it up for me. This is a classic example of how I have matured over the years - 20 years ago I would just have left very negative feedback - whereas now I think first and try to resolve things amicably and have discovered that nine times out of ten it works and everyone's happy. Mind you I can still fire up like a whirling dervish if the occasion demands it! All right good people - hope you're all focussed on whatever is important to you right now whether it be weight loss, family, holidays or even embarking on a new chapter of your life (as a few of you are) and that you have a great week.