I’m a pear ? the sequel!

I've been keeping tabs lately by popping on the scales every morning as well...this also helps me being careful....I'm not obsessive about it but i seem to be in 'that place' where I am in control .....how long it will last who knows ???. The brain definitely is the ruler of the body isn't it?

At weekends I measure out Bacardi which I have with Diet Coke and a slice and ice....I am a wine drinker really but wine is a lot more calories ...they say the white stuff is lower , I don't like gin or vodka but enjoy a Bacardi and coke so that's my weekend tipple....I eat less calories that day so I haven't been over my allowance.

Shall be changing over to my warmer duvet now I think like you whif. I was wearing a cardigan yesterday and my warmer slippers lol...seems like it's been a short summer. Looking at next weekend appears warmer...we are away by the beach then so hopefully the weather map won't change by then.
Enjoy rest of weekend....I will be with grandchildren so I will be keeping fit ?⛹?

Shirleyw as well as putting my 10.5 duvet on the bed. I started wearing my vests again and retired my summer dressing gown for the year. Back in my warm fleecey one. If it doesn't warm up soon be putting my 40 denier tights on instead of my 20. Don't know about anyone else but had more hot drinks this week. Usually I have hot drink then next one would be water apart from dinner and it's always glass of cranberry juice. This week no water. Used to love a glass of St Emilion wine. But had to stop alcohol 32 years ago when I got ill due to tablets I take. There have been times past and recently I would have loved a drink. But being without it for so long a few sips and I would probably be drunk lol.

Good morning everyone, hope you have all had a lovely week?. There is definitely an autumnal feel in the air,which I love as it's my favourite season. Goodness the weeks are flying by!
I lost 1/2 a pound which was quite a relief as when I got on the scales mid week I had put on half a pound?. I must admit I'm still not being as strict with myself as I should be. I'm still not writing things down but I'm not having any high calorie treats either,well apart from Tuesday. I think I'm almost bored with food too! Well of my own food maybe.
Tuesday was a big day for me as ventured out into the big world for the first time since March. To be honest it hasn't helped that I dont drive and dont want to use public transport. I'm quite regal in that everything comes to me?. To be honest I've also been perfectly content and happily occupied. I think my youngest daughter was worried I might turn agorphobic. The area I live in is one of the lowest risk in the country but I am high risk due to diabetes, weight etc. It also meant car sharing which isnt really recommended outside of your household. Bit of a problem their as my household consists of two cats?. So,although the offer has always been there with my daughter its something I've kept in my mind as in case of emergency!
Still,now is probably as good a time as any. They thoroughly cleaned the car and we all wore masks and had windows down for 5 minute drive! I had a lovely sausage sandwich in our favourite local cafe with a side order of social distancing and sanitiser?. I went into the post office and bought stamps and then we had a trip to the beach. It was rather windy but nice. They have struck whilst the iron is hot and this Wednesday I'm having a hair cut. Up until recently my very short hair which was last cut in early March has been manageable with a retro use of rollers! Now it's not so manageable and a hair cut will be very nice.
We certainly live in complex times and how people view how to negotiate them is equally complex,a skim through the Gransnet threads shows that.! Some of us remain ultra cautious others live their lives as before. As a footnote my eldest daughter and grandchilderen were down last weekend. She is as cautious as you can be with two under fives. She stayed with her in laws who live nearby after much discussion and at their request. Their house is very well set up for social distancing and more child friendly so they always stay there anyway. We had lovely socially distanced visits in the garden. After her return home she felt quite unwell,clammy,tired,sore throat etc. Shes had a test the results of which were unclear,havent heard the results of second yet. Obviously I hope it's clear for her sake and my grandson who starts big school next week. She is very prone to chesty/ viral things. It did however make me very glad that despite the temptation we kept to the rules!
Well done Cocopops on the smaller dress size. I've always felt clothes are an excellent indicator of whether need to cut back. My work trousers are firmly in back of wardrobe but how loose or tight they felt was better than any scales! That's another problem with lockdown theres a tendency to wear more of our comfy clothes!
Well done MiniMoon on acting quickly, it's so much better to address the issue in relatively early stages. One of the few people I know who after years of yoyo dieting lost 4 stone and kept it off by always cutting back if she gained 7lb.
NikDumpling do you replace the sugar with anything? I wondered if changing proportions altered end result. I'm a diabetic and have been experimenting for years?. I found the powdered canderel gave a different texture. I also got quite frustrated with most low sugar recipes as although contained less processed sugar were full of dried fruits or honey which equally bad.! I have used Sukrin gold which is expensive but excellent. Recently I bought the unbranded version which looks like white caster sugar . It does however have a slight sherbet after taste. Not good in coffee cake but not so bad in lemon cake. Probably the best recipe I have found is the Slimming World weetabix cake. It tastes a little like malt loaf. Unfortunately although low fat it has dried fruit in so not very diabetic friendly. The diabetes UK website has some wonderful recipes on it ,very good for anyone who wants to lose weight or eat more mindfully. Every one I have tried has been delicious!
I hope your garden survived the wind and rain Whiff.! Its certainly a lovely sunny morning here. Have a good week everyone. I'm off to have a shower and put my rollers in. I have some brilliant ones. The only problem is unexpected video calls etc. I do have a headscarf but I'm starting to feel very Hilda Ogden. ..?

Dorsetcupcake61 well done with the loss. My weight has stayed the same. Managed to get in the garden yesterday. 3 hours flew by no wonder I was hungary when I finished. Could only put out seedlings and weed what I could reach from my lawn or off the rocks in my rockery , as the ground was far to wet to stand on. But my roofers came Friday afternoon and repaired the crack in my garage and started to paint clear weather shield onto the brickwork of my bungalow. It's waterproof and frost proof. Managed to do the front and part of the gale end. Came back yesterday afternoon and finished the rest plus put it on the garage. If you throw water on the brickwork waters runs off it. So now my bungalow and garage are all set for the winter. Have a good week everyone.

A loss of 0.6lb this week which is ok but as I put on a pound last week I would liked to have rid of that but hey ho!
I am disappointed in a way as I have tried hard this week but I am also resigned to the fact that I cannot go out swimming and walking etc. as I want to! As long as I remain the same (or in the same general area) I will accept that nowt much is going to happen for the time being.

Unfortunately circumstances dictate that DH and I still need to semi-isolate, but we would rather be safe than take silly unnecessary risks as more and more cases are occurring.

More than ever my message is keep safe - Dorset I love your posts and I can understand how you felt on your first expedition but it was lovely that everyone was sensible. I really hope your daughter's test is a good result.

We're also in one of the 'lower risk' areas - a neighbour of mine was in a supermarket this week and overheard visitors saying how wonderful it is to be in an area that's not been in lock-down and is covid free! She put them right in no uncertain terms!

Keep going fellow strugglers and we will get there - slow but sure! Good luck all!

One and a half pounds off this week. I’m really pleased with that and I’ve been helping a friend strip wallpaper today so a very active day. The same friends coming for dinner tomorrow evening, will I be able to resist the jam sponge and custard I’m planning for pudding ....

That's a good amount sarahmob, well done. That's still good fourirmore. Staying the same is good whif... Least you know you can maintain....you certainly keep active in your garden, that's just as good as an aerobic session I'd say.

I have lost 3 and a half pounds this week....still calorie counting...seems the way to go...also lowish carbs...not carb free though...makes me light headed if I do no carbs. So I have oats and sometimes 1 slice of whole meal bread for a small sandwich lunchtime ...I don't have pots with evening meal now though.

Saturday was a wash out weather wise but Sunday was nice...chilly though....we stayed at daughters for the weekend so I was kept busy with the gd's.
I'm on annual leave now for two weeks...we have a long weekend away planned but in the week I will be batch cooking and 'Autumn' cleaning...plenty of aerobic work there ????
Have a good week guys...

It's such a pleasure to read all your posts everyone, so interesting and encouraging. Thanks .
A loss of 1.4 lbs over the last 2 weeks. Weight = 132.2lbs.
I originally set a target of 130lbs but the flabby midrife bulge is sticking so I need to think about a new goal.
Enjoy your week friends.

Well done to fourormore, Sarahmob, Shirleyw and Cocopops on your losses. Brilliant achievements.

It was lovely and sunny yesterday but freezing. Had a lazy day just reading and crafting.

The pictures of Adele with her flat stomach after losing 7 st is misleading. What she doesn't say is she has had surgery to remove the excess skin . At least Lisa Riley has been brilliantly honest about how she lost weight and the operations she went through and the problems she had healing.

I know for a fact after losing 7 st the skin does not go back. Especially if you had been fat for decades.. I hate it when people in the public eye aren't honest about their weight loss it gives people false impressions. Like Fern Britten who only admitted having a gastric band fitted when she was outed by a newspaper. She had said she did it with diet and exercise. Pet hate of mine . It makes a lot of people feel like failures when they try time and time again to loss weight and fail. I was one of those people so speak from experience.

May have stayed the same weight but have done my exercises everyday apart from my 3 hours in the garden. Can't do both on same day.

Have a good week everyone.

No weigh in for me this morning. The scales battery is showing lo and no matter how many times I got on and off it wouldn’t show my weight. I must remember today to change the battery.
Anyway not to worry as I know my weight will be up as I had some birthday celebrations last week.

On we go, good luck everyone. ⚖️

Well done to all for their losses, I had a really active day yesterday helping a friend who is preparing to move house (stripping wallpaper as they are renting their house out and it has to be decorated first). Slightly lazier day planned today and then tomorrow I have my 3 year old DGS for the day so that will be another active day. All the activity I’m doing I should be seeing this weight melt away ?

Out to eat twice last week so consequently my weight had gone up. Of the 2 1/2 lbs I lost last week, I've put on 1 1/2 lbs.
Must try harder!

MiniMoon it's a blip. Start of a new week. After giving my bungalow a thorough clean moving furniture to tired to exercise. Suppose I've had my workout. Off to have my soup. And relax this afternoon.

Hi, I would like to join you please. I am starting a diet (again) from today and have at least a couple of stone to lose. My downfall before has been planning, so now I attempting to plan a week's meals at a time,making sure I have all the ingredients so there are no excuses.
I like the way the group supports each other.

busyb you will find plenty of support and friendship here. I have. I find counting calories works for me. I weight and measure everything I eat and drink and write it all down. Even on the days when I eat more than I should. But it works for me. But everyone is different. You need to find what works for you. And remember in it's a marathon not a sprint. Took me decades to learn that.

Thank you @Whiff. Yes, I've starting writing down what I eat, I'm ordering shopping tomorrow so I've written a weeks worth of food - no snacks though these are always my downfall.

Had a fashion dilemma. Ordered a cord a line skirt from m&s size 16 on line. It fit but didn't feel confident. So my daughter took me to M&s today and exchanged it for 18 and brought another one. Navy and burgundy. Tried them on felt fine and looked good but took photos to ask my daughter her opinion. As she is very honest. She liked them and thought I looked good so I will keep them. Even after going from 32 to 16 still think I am bigger than I am. Do others feel that way?

I think its extremely common Whiff. I sometimes see photos when I was three stone heavier but cant see any difference although my daughter always insists there is! I think when you've lost even more weight you almost need a personal shopper (wheres Gok Wan when you need him?)or a reliable friend who can make you try on things you would never consider before! I think mood also is a factor I can feel very different in the same style of clothing on different days even if my weight is the same!

Dorsetcupcake61 Gok Wan oh no! He likes women getting naked. And afraid everything is heading south nowadays.

3 & 1/2 Pounds off this week means I hit my first stone off! As I’m sure you can imagine I’m very happy with that. All the exercise I’ve been doing must be having an effect. Found an over 50s walking, cardio thingy on YouTube and I quite enjoy it so got 3 sessions in this week. Hope that everyone else is going in the same direction this week ?

Well done Sarahmob. I would be dancing around the room ?

Good morning everyone?. Well done Sarahmob,excellent.! Welcome busyb and hope it's gone well minimoon and everyone else.?
Not a very good week for me as I put on 2lb. Only myself to blame as I really dont think anyone has been force feeding me cheese sandwiches in my sleep?. Think my downfall was probably pastry as was feeling a little stressed and made a mince beef and vegetable pie from scratch. It was lovely ,typical comfort food.! I didnt eat the whole thing by the way ?! I've definitely taken my eye off ball, porridge made with whole milk etc. Still sometimes I just have those weeks when motivation not there. Still I will keep at it as the need to lose weight has never been more timely!
Friends visited with cake yesterday which was also lovely. Fortunately the weather was kind for a garden visit. Technology is wonderful but there is something unbeatable about face to face!
I also ventured out and had a hair cut,my first since the beginning of March! I have a short hairstyle and did have highlights which I used to call my Mars Bar look as mix of caramel and dark blonde. I dont think I've seen my natural colour for decades! For a very long time it was a case of experimenting with over the counter brands until I got it done professionally. It's been quite interesting over the past months seeing my hair grow to its longest in living memory and my natural colour appear.! For the past week or so even the rollers have failed to contain it and it was starting to annoy me. So off to the salon i went,all was fine and very safe. I still can be quite surprised by things I'm sure a lot of people are more used to,such as having a temperature gun aimed at me? ! So all my highlights have gone,as has what my daughter described as my Jimmy Saville look! It's quite strange not having hair to tuck behind my ear but at least the sight of me in rollers wont scare the poor man from Amazon. I'm not sure that leaving the parcel on the doorstep, ringing the bell and running for the van was purely to do with social distancing!
My origional hair colour has surprised me,its quite a dull lightbrown with a lot less grey than I expected. A head full of highlights may not be practical over the coming months financially or due to the time spent in a salon but I will see if I get used to it!
My eldest grandson started school. He has been to preschool so it wasnt totally new, but he enjoyed it. Hopefully he's keen tomorrow! I was chatting to my neighbour whose daughters are 12 and 14 and theres so much uncertainty about how school is going to go I do feel sorry for them. I count my blessings that if ever there was a favourable time for me to live through a global pandemic it is probably now!
Ah Gok Wan Whiff! I always thought his makeovers were very brave but ,hed struggle to get me in a sleeveless dress let alone as nature intended! Still I suppose the lesson to take from it is to be at peace with the body you have whilst doing your best to make it as healthy as possible.
My youngest daughter is an excellent advisor on style. She was diagnosed with Aspergers when younger and maybe not the person to ask " does my bum look big in this " when all you want is reassurance as she will tell you the unvarnished truth?. On the plus side if she tells you something looks good you can wear it with confidence!
Have a brilliant week everyone ?

Sarahmob well done. My weight has stayed the same. Ok with that. Had a bit of an emotional week. Wednesday afternoon was bad and yesterday awful. Having to deal with things that have brought up things I thought I had dealt with those feelings long ago. So not be sleeping well. Been awake since 2 . Got to finish what I am dealing with today. Just hope once it's done I can forget and have a full night's sleep. I am so tired . Have a lie on the settee and hopefully have a nap.

Sending you hugs and ? Whiff. Hope things improve soonxxx

Oh Dorset I do love your posts! I wish I had your energy!
Well done too Sarahmob that's brilliant and well done Whiff for staying the same! When going through dodgy times it is so easy to comfort eat or maybe just have a little treat
Move over now folks while I get my head through the door!!!
I have had a strange week (including a crisis with sick relative thrown into the mix) but I decided to cut out all bread and potatoes. Instead of potatoes I've had more veg. To be honest it has been hard as I do love toast and the smell when hubby has his is gorgeous but I stuck to it Monday to Saturday inclusive.
The nearest thing I had was seeded wraps filled with salad bits so not too sinful!
Today on the scales I have a loss of 2.2lbs!
I am still well over 13 stone though so I can't get complacent - I am tempted to do the same this week but possibly include a jacket potato meal? I'll have to see what my catering officer thinks
Today is 'Sinday' and no one has Sunday lunch without roasties - That is the point of my Sindays - it gives me something to look forward to and makes 'being good' the rest of the week slightly easier!
Good luck to everyone - onwards and downwards