Week 10

Ok, wasn’t sure whether to post or not but since my last weigh-in 10 days ago, I have lost 2.5lbs. This now means that there is another half a stone certificate on the front of the fridge and another shiny sticker on the front of my book. I wasn’t sure whether to post because some might think that I had a really crap Christmas. It could not be further from the truth. It was probably my best for years, in as much as I didn’t put on half a stone and fall into a massive low thereafter and as an added bonus, I remembered it all. I have also been swimming a little more which has probably helped. I have pushed the boat out and bought myself a new cossie this week. Although, to be honest, it is quite snug and makes me susceptible to the odd wedgie. No pain, no gain.

 Anyway, I think that achieving this weight loss over really difficult time is down to a couple of fundamental things.  Firstly, I was not hosting Christmas or Boxing Day. There were no leftovers in my fridge calling to me and no overnight guests. Secondly, I nominated myself driver on both days, actually I was nominated by my hubby. There was no way he was going to drive on either day. Anyway, this lead the way for controlled alcohol intake. I was careful with puddings and cheese but didn’t hold back on the mains. A stunning piece of beef cooked on the BBQ to compliment the Christmas day turkey and a boxing day which really did bring back all my childhood memories of cold meats, pickles and cheesy mash. So I had what I loved without the drunken stupor and I am the first to admit I never thought this would be an option. Having a good time at Christmas without lots of wine, really never seemed to fit into my vocabulary and if we had had this conversation last year, it would have been a very different story. Very, very different.

So moving on, I am so very, very lucky with all members of my family and particularly my chef of a brother in-law who let me completely violate his extraordinary modern music system with my choice of dance music. Ok, alcohol played a massive part in this takeover and clearly I waited for my moment as he hit the port. But really, what psychological damage can be laid at my door with the lion sleeps tonight (tight fit – my sisters choice), YMCA (the village people – which my sister and I thought it might be just the right dance for our synchronised swimming, upside down of course, fully waxed, in water), dance yourself dizzy (liquid gold) and the Benny Hill theme tune. I bring class to the party, my little chicka dees, pure class.

Did I also tell you that he, (my brother in law) is helping me do the LIDBA cycling challenge in June? He is a top bloke cycling enthusiast who doesn’t break a sweat after a million miles. Now, I haven't been on a bike for sometime and was relatively shocked by the size of the saddle on his bike. No room for nothing and certainly no room for bits or bobs if you know what I mean. They better do a significantly bigger one before I mount and ride or it will be a short sharp experience ending up with some kind of medical intervention thereafter. Anyway, after the New Year I shall be a work in progress and I bet that he is delighted that he offered his training services.

So, moving on to something a little different. I have to say that very few people really, really agitate me. But on Boxing Day morning down at the pool (yes, I know what you are thinking - how bloody righteous I was for going swimming on Boxing Day) I had a ‘small talk’ conversation with a lady in the changing rooms which I am really struggling to process. I know that this may lead the way to lots of differences of opinion so let me fill you in.

After swapping pleasantries, we moved on to what was in store on Boxing Day. I covered our family gathering angle and she launched into detailing the organised shoot she was going on at a friend’s estate. I probed further asking if it was a clay shoot and she said no that it was a live shoot. At this point I wasn’t really shocked as organised shoots on Boxing Day have been a tradition for sometime, indeed my Daddy (whom I love very much and who, now, would NOT EVER dream of killing an innocent animal) used to shoot regularly. It was only when I became an adult that I realised that Pigeon, duck and rabbit are not supposed to be crunchy. It is the added buckshot that makes them that way. Anyway, back to my conversation. I asked the lady what she was shooting and her reply was ‘anything that we find. Squirrels, rabbits maybe a fox or a deer, but with our luck it will probably be just be a pigeon.’ She then continued the conversation by saying this year is going to be great because the children will be able to enjoy the day and shoot as well and it will be great experience for them. Of course! Why didn’t I think, silly me. Great experience? I always thought that children would derive more pleasure from traditional family board game time rather than blowing apart an animal for the fun of it. Oh yes getting grumpy. Look, I understand organised shoots, I understand the culling of animals but I do not understand the cavalier, non responsible attitude of people killing our wildlife just because they can. That’s my piece said. I have chewed this conversation over for a couple of days now and think that I am nearly ready to confront this lady again in the only adult and responsible way I can think of....by sitting on her in the deep end of the pool. Sorry about the moan.

Well, I hope you are all having an amazing festive break and if you are looking to embark on a New Years Resolution of a diet plan then be kind to yourself. Don’t look for the quick fix, the VLCDs –Cambridge Diet or Lighter Life. They are just not a life solution. I know. They nearly destroyed me. My closest friends and family warned me away but I was so desperate and head strong that I didn’t listen but I guess you already knew how head strong I can be as I started this blog ten weeks ago talking about a Gastric Band.

My next weigh-in is on Tuesday 8^th January and blog shortly thereafter. Have an amazing New Year everyone.

So here we go then, ready to launch into 2013...Twenty two pounds of fat left behind in 2012, forty eight pounds and counting. Sx