I’m a Pear ? the sequel part 2 !

Good morning lovely ladies?. First of all ,thankyou for your kind birthday wishes??. I really am in two minds about the big 60. I wasnt to keen on 50 and that only feels like a few years ago!
I suppose there is a hint of existential crisis behind it,it feels quite daunting! I'm also feeling quite grumpy in that a few years ago I would have been looking at retirement but now I have another 7 years?. I did find myself wistfully thinking of when I used to work part time the other day. Still,although I miss the time i had to spend on crafts etc i realise that i only definitely have this job until June 22. They may extend it,they may not. Either way one never knows what's round the corner and i dont want to wish the next 7 years away!
Well done on maintaining Sarahmob ?. Its interesting how our tastes and appetites change. Like you I find I tend not to have something just because I can or used to. The occasional treat is fine. On holiday I would probably enjoy one cooked breakfast,mainly for the treat of someone else cooking it. After that,as with many treats the novelty wears off! Have a lovely time at GS birthday ??
Cocopops, ooh peanut butter,I'm the same. Interestingly my daughter bought a jar a while ago but it's very gloomy,fortunately for both of us its sat in back of cupboard!
I agree about clocks going back,its much nicer leaving the house for work in daylight!
This may sound rather strange but does anyone else find the dark of winter evenings to "intense" for want of a better word? I have always been a big fan of Autumn/ Winter over spring and summer. I love the cosy nights and build up to Christmas etc. Last year for the first year I found I quite disliked how dark it was. I must admit I felt that was probably down to the pandemic etc. That said this year I find myself feeling the same,it just seems,so dark?. I dont think its SAD or anything like that. I can fully understand now how we celebrate festivals with light etc this time of year!
Thank you Nankate. I dont feel particularly young but I'm counting my blessings!
I'm not quite sure what I weigh this week! I got on the scales and the numbers kept going down-which was very exciting,then they went back up to what I would expect(nice whilst it lasted), then Err appeared! Initially I was reminded of the old cartoon when someone gets on a speak your weight scale and it says "get off". Hopefully I just need new batteries ?.
Have a wonderful week everyone ?

Autocorrect ?. The peanut butter was gloopy not gloomy ?

Happy Birthday Dorset - like NanKate said - you are a baby compared to us knackered oldies! I can't even remember my 60th!!! Enjoy your day however you are able to celebrate.

I lost 0.2lb last week but found it again this week so basically I have stayed the same. I'm happy with that as I have slipped a bit this week especially as it was GD3's birthday so we had to have KFC and birthday cake!

Next week is a new week and the weather looks promising for daily walks - we have been so lucky having beautiful sunny days in November??? I am thankful for every fine day as I don't 'do' winter and every fine day is a day nearer to spring!

Have a good week everyone - keep on with the battle and we will all get there!!!

I loved being 60 but like you Dorset mad as hell we couldn't get our pension . I am 63 get my state pension in 3 years no private pension. But the advantage of living in Merseyside men and women get a free bus/ local rail pass. I can go as far as Chester for nothing. But Covid put pay to my exploring last year and this year has flown by. Hopefully next year I will go exploring on the train.

Well done all the losers and the stay the sames. I have stayed the same weight this week.

Made 12lb lemon and orange marmalade this morning. It's a 2 day job. I cook the fruit the day before. I stopped shredding the peel years ago took to long so I blitz the whole fruit minus the pups. I don't use as much sugar as I should as I don't like it to sweet. Made it to give to my exercise class as a little Xmas gift. The instructors I will get scented candles for the women and something sweet for the men.

I love the darker nights and colder weather. It's the heavy rain I don't like. Love all the lights on and the curtains shut I feel nice and cosy. Living in the north west we don't get the snow I used to in the Midlands. Getting snowed in for at least a week some years was normal.

AF clinic tomorrow afternoon. ECG and blood tests as usual .

Enjoy your birthday Dorset life beings at 60. ??????.

Have a good week everyone.

Thankyou Fourormore, and well done on the balancing act with weight?.
I'm not really very good at preserves Whiff,although I did make a nice gooseberry jam in the microwave once! The marmalade sounds lovely?. I'm sure it will be very much appreciated. I too like my marmalade sharp. A friend gave me a jar of home made blood orange marmalade a few years ago,I was so looking forward to it but it was so sweet I couldnt eat it.
I got on the scales this morning and they were behaving and I've lost a pound!
I had my diabetic check up and it was the first one since February 2020! My blood pressure was down to normal,it had been raised last time. Best of all I am 7lb lighter than I was then! When I stood on scales I weighed 2lb less than on my scales which considering I was fully clothed etc! Still ,very motivating?.
Good luck with the AF clinic Whiff xxx

Dorset well done with the weight lose. And brilliant about your blood pressure. AF clinic was fine. The nurse was pleased with my ECG, had blood taken and haven't got to go to clinic until next month.

Hi Whiff. Glad clinic went well.?. Thankyou. I think what was so positive for me was that since my last check my weight has been up down and stayed the same with times when I have felt as though not any real progress. To be made aware that I had lost 7lb despite the roundabout journey was so positive and motivating.
There was the usual chat about weightloss. At the moment you can be referred to both WW and SW. I said however I am a member of an online group that gives the best support available ?♥️xxxx

Dorset the pears is better than any professional weight loss group. No one to make you feel bad if you haven't lost or put on. When I went to a group long time ago I they made me feel awful about myself. Plus it doesn't cost us anything and made really good friends. ☺️.

Caught the earlier bus today for exercise class. There are 9 of us now. Did some new exercises. Having a party on 9 th Dec with all the other classes. Food,fun and games. Can't wait. Will give my craft group a miss that week not missing a party.?

I totally agree Whiff. I did attend WW group initially and found them very nice. I have heard nightmares about SW though. I think after that I just attended until I had all the info and relied on doing it myself or with a friend. I know some really need the pressure of being weighed to keep on track,my daughter certainly does.
Maybe we have all realised that there is no point kidding ourselves. As pears I think we are an awesome group ,friendship and genuine support ♥️.
Your party sounds lovely!

Pears rock❤️. Had an email to book my Covid booster having it on the 26th. Booked to have my hair cut on Tuesday morning. I don't know how my life got so busy but love it. Last green bin this year on Monday so hopefully it will be dry on Saturday so I can get the leaves up ,weed and anything else that needs doing.

The party should be fun as it's all the active ageing classes in South Sefton. So should be noisy and lots of laughter.

Good evening again dear Pears

A belated happy birthday, Dorset. We are very nearly the same age- I’ll be 60 in March, and it doesn’t seem 5 minutes to me either that I was turning 50. I hope you had a great day and that the next decade brings all good things. You and Whiff were comparing notes on that 70s bread that was more air than bread- could it have been “Slimcea”? I remember it from my first diet ( aged 9- possibly ruined my metabolism, and certainly played fast and loose to my attitude to food. I was a heavy child, but not enormous - I think these days my mum would have received more dietary advice, and I would have been left to “grow into” my weight. Anyhoo…)
And Whiff, I adore Aldi, for all sorts of things, but I don’t think it is as cheap as it was. Slowly noticing prices creeping upwards, but I always do some Christmas food shopping there, and at Lidl- German gingerbread and stollen- just the smell is essence of Christmas!
I hope your GS’s birthday and party went off well, Sarahmob. I’m discovering yet another benefit of being slimmer and fitter in looking after our own little GS, now 6 months old. We looked after him for two days last week while his mum was asked to do a task for work (from home) to help her prepare for her “back to work”. Ummm. She was made to feel she couldn’t refuse, yet she still has 3 full months of maternity leave. Well, long story short, we were both (DH and self) absolutely wiped out by the experience- we have grown soft since our two were little! We did the tried and tested buggy walking til he falls asleep routine….it worked the first day, but not so well the second. Ah well, I expect we’ll toughen up, we did the first time around. Anyway- it’s great to be able to walk for 2-3 hours - certainly couldn’t have done that 5 years ago.
Haven’t weighed self in last couple of weeks- have been a bit up and downy food wise ( some family stress rocking my emotional boat, but I think I’m back on a more even keel now, to labour the boating metaphor!)
Well done Shirley, Cocopops and Fourormore for maintaining. It isn’t easy in this world full of tempting snacks. Had a chocolate croissant on second walk with dear GS- and paid for it- stopping the movement of the buggy to buy it woke him up, and he was extremely unimpressed to find himself a couple of miles from mummy and her boobies. Well, that taught me.

Hope you all have a good week.

Pears is the best group out! I think we’re all such experienced dieters that we know how to do it but the encouragement and support of our lovely online friends is the motivation we need to keep at it. I’ve had a good week this week in the loss department with 2lb off, but not such a good week in other ways. Cuts to the education budget have affected my part-time teaching job and work has been scarce, but there’s a couple of days between now and the end of November so that’s better than nothing. We had a lovely time at my DGS birthday - time goes so quickly, I can’t believe he’s now four. Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Fab photo Sarah. It’s wonderful being with our grandchildren, most of the time!

We are looking after our 10 and 8 year old grandsons for a few days. Exhausting but fun.

I said I was going to buy some milk and would have trouble carrying back 3 bottles because of my arthritic wrist. My 10 year old, who was about to watch some footie on tv said’I’ll come with you Nan’. He really is growing into a lovely lad.

Have a good weekend folks. ?

A lovely arm full, Sarahmob. I used to teach part time too- I was the Mfl coordinator in a local primary. The importance of my subject in the curriculum diminished sharply after 2010, and I was happy to retire in 2016. I am a much less stressed bunny now, even if the money isn’t coming in. In actual fact, being able to holiday out of season has nearly made up for what I used to earn! ( Not that we’ve been abroad in the last couple of years!)
And what a thoughtful young man your GS is turning into, Nan. I often think that kindness is the yardstick to measure by. My mum used to say “Do as you would be done by”, and I think 98% of us try. It’s the other 2% that make the headlines, sadly.

I used to teach too in adult education. I wonder if we are a group of teachers as well as losers ?

Definitely not a teacher here NanKate and JoMarch - I wouldn't have the patience
It is great to read everyone's news and all the words of encouragement.
I am well ##### with my scales as they are playing silly bees!
Over the last three weeks I have been down 0.2, up 0.2 and today up another 0.2. I know it's a hiccup and as DH so eloquently puts it, one good $#*#&#$#*#@#*# and it will be gone!!!!
Maintaining is fine though so I'm ok with it - I just want to lose that last bit that refuses to budge - perhaps it likes me!!!
Good luck everyone as we all continue our mission!

JoMarch I remember Slimcea it was awful that along with ryvita and PLJ yuck.

Looking after young grandchildren is exhausting but so much fun. I always fall asleep on the sofa long before bedtime on a Friday. The grandsons I see are 1 in 2 weeks and his brother will be 4 in January. I go for lunch them playtime and then just me and the little one for a hour while his brother has a swimming lesson with my daughter. Been doing it since May. Because until 2 years ago August I lived over 100 miles away missed at lot of early growing years. Only seeing my grandson's every few months. I have 5 . Used to my son's 2 eldest every week since moving here but my son decided he doesn't want his mom in his life since May last year. He's eldest is 5 ,then 3 and the youngest is 1 . I don't even know his name or exact date of birth only knew he was due in July last year. He wanted zero contact he's got it. He has hurt me enough.

But with my daughter's son's see them every week since I have lived here. The youngest I saw when he was 4 days old. It amazes me how they change from week to week. I had forgotten that .

Lovely photo Sarah and well done with the weight loss. 3-4 year olds are so much fun. They understand more and the things they come out with are so funny. It's when they are seriously telling you something which is funny but you have to keep a straight face . My mom would say old head on young shoulders.

NanKate what a lovely thoughtful grandson you have. I think it does children good to realise people have health problems and need help doing some thing sometimes. My children where 4 and 6 months when I got ill. So have grew up with a better understanding I don't class myself as disabled but medical profession does. I just say I have problems with my limbs. All my grandson's where growing up the same. All love playing with my walking stick. And walking like nannie. But understand if I am not well.

Four I am still fighting the scales put quarter pound on this week. Still want to get to the next stone mark by Christmas only 6 weeks away. Don't think I will make it but will try my hardest.

Last green bin of the year tomorrow so did 2 hours in the garden this morning. That's the garden done for the winter.

Have a good week everyone ?

Good evening pears! Oops nearly 3lb on but then it has been a bit of a celebratory week! Chocolates,a take away and yesterday a surprise cream tea with 30 friends organised by my daughters! A lovely afternoon with wonderful friends and gorgeous food! Tbh think I'm still getting over the surprise.!
I did try and make healthier choices in between but for this week I lost the battle! Back to work tomorrow. I feel quite tired but then realised I've been drinking decaffeinated coffee all day?.
Well done all in the battle of the bulge. Lovely photo Sarahmob. I must admit my favourite celebration this week was hugs with my grandsons♥️.
I have a PGCE to(PCET)!
Good luck all! Xxxx

Good to see we are all still battling on together.
Thanks for posting your photo Sarahmob.
Good to know your diabetes check went well Dorset.
Text messages and photos have been bouncing over the pond from my son in the UK. He has adopted a cat from a rescue shelter. Here is a photo of her. She was found pregnant and had 3 kittens. Homes have been found for the kittens but no one wanted the Mother so she was fostered until my son adopted her on Thursday. She's one year old and after considering lots of names she's now called Lily. One eye is blue and one is yellow.
My weight is the same. Still have the last stubborn 2 lbs. to shift.
Have a great week everyone.

Cocopops well done maintaining. Lily looks beautiful. I don't know if your son has has a white animal before. But when my brother had a white dog they had to put suntan cream on his ears as apparently white animals can get sun burnt .

Morning all. Stayed the same. Pleased as we entertained over the weekend, could of been a lot lot worse.
Lily looks lovely. Pure white cats are hard to come by too.
Rescue animals are the best.

Yes, I remember slimcea and nimble. Do you remember the nimble ad, wasn’t some woman sitting on a swing, flowers in her hair and the swing went up in the sky? The song was Fly like a bird in the sky ???. Was like eating air too lol…..

Have a good week guys.

Shirley well done maintaining. Thinking about those adverts wasn't there a hot air balloon or am I thinking about the Wallace and Gromit film something with loaf in the title. About baking bread. ?

On a positive note my exercise classes must be working. Since having my new kitchen 2 years ago I haven't been able to bend down low enough to put the salt in my dish washer. My daughter has been doing it for me. The salt light came on. So thought this morning could I get down to do it and low and behold I could. ?. There are 10 of us in class now. For months there has just be 2 of us. Emily our instructor gives us a workout but I laugh for most of the hour. The others are so funny. Still the youngest at 63 the oldest is 93. But laughing works your facial muscles extra workout.

Had to go too AF clinic today. They have taken me off the heart tablet as the consultant wasn't happy me having it with my tablet for nerve pain. So prescribed a new heart tablet. Which I start next week as I have to let this one work its way out of my body. Go back to AF clinic in 3 weeks and if they are happy the new tablet is working they will discharge back to my GP's care as my GP can prescribe the new tablet. The old tablet could only be prescribed by the hospital.

Have a good weekend everyone. ?

A very early good morning pears. It's my Saturday to work in the office so early riser today!
Its lovely to hear how you are all getting on,I always check in daily even if I dont have time to comment?.
Well I have lost 3 and a quarter pounds. I have to bear in mind I put on 3 last week though?. So on positive side am still a quarter of a pound down!
After a lot of self reflection I have got down to it this week.
I think one thing we pride ourselves on as Pears is our honesty.
I had my call back from the nurse about my blood results.
Sugar and cholesterol levels higher than they would like but not dramatically so.
Talking to nurse did make me think hard. The amount I eat has meant maintaining and occasionally losing but not particularly healthy a lot of the time. 5 launched a week at work have often consisted of a sandwich in some form. Often these have fitted in with calories but have been processed meat such as a sausage or occasionally cheese. There have been treats such as chocolate and a chinese etc every week or so. I always try for the healthiest option but not healthy enough!
Lunch is an ongoing problem. I know exactly what to have for a calorie controlled lunch but I have two issues. One is lugging it into work on the bus, silly I know but with laptop and handbag every little I dont have to carry helps. Secondly I dont particularly want to eat in the staff break rooms . Not because I dont like staff,they are lovely. More down to Covid. The rates in the area are very high and the week I was off several staff tested positive. I much prefer to be outside! Obviously the weather changing wont help!
I must admit I'm not particularly hungry either during the day!
Ideally I probably would make do with a protein bar,something just to keep energy levels up! Maybe a small pitta or home made sandwich.
I have however increased my exercise by getting the bus five out of the six days I'm working. It means a much earlier start but I'm getting used to it. I save the taxi for rainy days!
Hey ho,we live and learn. I think it is important to reevaluate every now and again and make sure we are actually doing what we think we are doing! Good luck everyone. Have a lovely weekend?

Dorset have you thought about taking a container of home made soup . One that keeps it hot. If so could you have it at your desk? As I assume you are allowed to have hot drinks at your desk and it would sort of be the same. Fully under your not wanting to eat in the canteen . But are the tables spaced out and we'll ventilated ? I image you have to wear a mask until you get to a table then can take it off to eat back on to leave.

I have eaten in cafes and felt save even though Covid cases are on the rise. We don't wear masks at exercise class and then sit together for hot drink and biscuits. But we are all double jabbed some already had booster and flu jab. Including instructors. Had my flu jab about 3 weeks ago Covid booster on Friday.

Brilliant weight lose by the way.

Not feeling very well today. Had to go to AF clinic on Thursday they have stopped my heart tablet as the consultant didn't like me taking it with my tablet for nerve pain. Won't get my new heart tablet until my GP gets a letter from the hospital and they can prescribe it. As the old one could only be prescribed from the hospital. Having a lot of muscle pain so had a couple of pain killers. Going through withdrawal. I checked with my pharmacy what I was feeling is normal.

Feeling sorry for myself and I hate that . Whatever life throws at me I get on with it. Times like this I want my husband . Sorry feeling a bit teary. But it's better to talk about it than bottle it up.

Probably feel myself tomorrow. ?

Good morning Pears, whiff I’m sorry to read that you are feeling poorly and hope that the new medication will be available soon and start to work quickly. In the meantime, be kind to yourself and take care. It’s good to hear of all the losses and maintaining and Dorset you proved that gain was just a blip with your loss.
I’ve maintained this week, which after such a good loss the week before I’m not surprised by although it could also be due to a burger consumed yesterday at Sandringham food and craft fair. It was so busy there, I started to get a bit twitchy with the crowds of people in the tents. There were loads of people not wearing masks but I wore mine so … Mr mobile and I had our boosters on Friday evening - no real effects apart from a sore arm so I’m pleased with that. Hoping you all have a good week ?