I’m a Pear ? the sequel part 3 - Wow!

Hi all, pleased you are all still doing reasonably ok, it’s that time of year when it gets harder to stick to a diet plan. I’m afraid I’m just about managing to maintain when by now I should be a good half stone less. Too many meals out and an afternoon tea for my mums 87th birthday and quite a few things that involve food and drink coming up. With regard to Christmas Karmalady this year I am out for lunch at a restaurant with my eldest daughter & family so no need for me to stock up for the big day. I no longer buy big tins of Quality Street etc as I just chomped away all day on them. I used to make a Christmas cake but found it hard to resist so that’s another thing I’ve stopped. Cheese, crackers & nuts will be my downfall over Christmas I expect.
The old fashioned sweets sound lovely fourormore I love an old fashioned sweet shop, my favourites are coconut mushrooms, chocolate limes or a mix of chocolate peanuts & raisins.
Sounds like you had a nice time with your grandson Whiff its lovely when they ask about family members and good that they learn about what their relatives did during the war. My youngest grandson has had to take in sone photos and info on relatives from WW1 & WW2 as part of his project and he was really interested in hearing their stories, sad as they were.
Like the cleaning teeth idea NanKate everything tastes awful afterwards so worth a try.
Have a good week everyone, it’s very damp here tonight so feeling the cold, got my hot water bottle in bed ready.

Hi Folks,

Back early from looking after the two boys. Eldest coughing and and ill during Sunday night DH sat with him from 2.00 - 4.00am, what a star he is, and yes the 11 year old has COVID! He refused all food, unheard of, but by lunchtime he said he thought he could manage a sausage sandwich ! His mother who lives nearby and who also has covid collected him and his brother later on Monday. We have come home and are keeping our fingers crossed we are Covid free. We are all jabbed up but could still be affected but hopefully not too badly.

Have not overindulged whilst away, to busy to binge 😉 but must seriously cut back as my trousers feel tight.

SachaMac glad you are enjoying yourself. It's always difficult to lose with Christmas coming and people's birthdays . But the main thing is you haven't given up the battle. And we deserved treats but know we can lose weight when we are strict with ourselves.

NanKate sorry your family has Covid hope you and your husband are Covid free. But at least having the jabs means if you get it it's not as bad as if you hadn't had the jabs. Don't understand why some people are still anti vaccine. My flu jab gave me a sore arm for 2 days and my Covid a headache for a couple of hours be ok after that.

It's sad to think because of heating costs more people will die from hypothermia this year than flu or Covid. I know I can't have my heating on all day like I would normally . 2 hours of a morning and hour in the evening. Have never had heating on overnight as I am always warm in bed. I do think it will be a bad winter this year because it got so hot during the summer. The bright side of it is because of the high winds here the snow never settles unlike in the Midlands went getting snowed in for a week was a common occurrence.

Take care and stay warm .

Yes Whiff I’m relieved that DH and I are jabbed up as DH proved positive yesterday so he has self isolated in his office and other bedroom. He is still eating so I put trays outside his room yesterday and then wiped everything down on collecting them.

I’m just about to take another COVID test to see if I have dodged the bullet again today. I’m taking the opportunity whilst DH is holed up, to change my diet to suit myself in hopes of losing the weight I have put on this year since having my thyroxine reduced. My DDInL is very slim but eats well. She avoids sugar as much as possible and I know that I too want to increase my protein and reduce my sugar, so here goes.

Thoughts and prayers as always NanKate you you and DH will be fine. Fortunately DH and I have had no positive tests at all throughout the entire pandemic (except the one that proved false) and no reactions whatever to either the flu or covid jabs.
Although we jabbed people don't get it as bad I have heard that it is still pretty rotten so I hope your DH recovers quickly and you remain clear. Doesn't it show how quickly it can get passed on?
Please take care as I know you always do

Hope you manage to avoid Covid NanKateand fingers crossed your husband isn’t too bad with it. It seems rife again and everyone’s affected differently. I dare say the colder weather will bring even more cases but at least we have our jabs, my booster is next week. Take care everyone.

I’ve felt so awful with a bad cold that just lingered and lingered so I dread to think how awful it must be to get covid badly. I ‘m not sure if the cold remedies I’ve taken to help my runny nose and cough would help with covid but I bought some of that Bronchostop that I saw advertised and it did help. Along with a saline nasal spray. I thought at the chemist though how lucky I was to be able to spend quite a lot on cough and cold remedies; there must be a lot of people that have to think twice before spending so much on cough medicine. I tried out my sauna bag thingy for the first time today and am relieved to find that I didn’t think I’d wasted my money ( it was horribly expensive but then again I haven’t paid for gym membership for a long time). I do feel quite refreshed and the heat on my arthritic bits was very soothing. Whether it will help me lose weight is a different matter but at least, when I’m zipped into it I can’t eat! It isn’t the same as the nice sauna smell of the coals and the wood and I can’t have a cold shower and then go back into the sauna which was very exhilarating. I also can’t chat to people coming and going which I used to like, too. But it does fill a gap in my life because I missed going to the gym and having saunas more than anything.

Thanks Pears DH happy to lock himself away and listen to the radio. He’s drinking but not eating much. I was negative again today.

When I popped out wearing my heavy duty mask to do a bit of shopping I came back to find all the windows wide open as DH wanted to air the house for me. 😷

I’m taking this opportunity to cut back on my food as I am not cooking for DH at present. He only wanted half a sandwich for lunch. I’ve decided I eat too many sugary things and I need to cut back seriously.

The NHS gave a list of food to eat so I bought:-

Wholemeal bread which I will toast with a boiled egg.
Some fruit in tins with juice
A small malt loaf. I have just toasted a piece and it was scrummie 😋
Some all fruit jam with no added sugar
Plain rice cakes which I already have in

Any other suggestions Pears of low cal/sugar foods

I may have to go back to calorie counting but after 2 years of that I had had enough.

I am determined to lose some of my stomach fat. I’m definitely a pear 🍐

I need to cut out the sweet treats too NanKate, but sometimes only something sweet will do. I love an M&S meringue nest (50 ish calories) filled with raspberries and topped with plain Greek yoghurt or a squirt of aerosol cream or I make a sponge free trifle with fresh or frozen raspberries a sugar free jelly & a thin layer of low fat custard & squirty cream. I get so fed up of eating low fat healthy yoghurts!

I have an old Weight-watchers recipe somewhere for a tea loaf that’s really nice sliced thinly with a cup of tea, I must look it out.

That trifle sounds scrummie SachaMac.

The slice of toasted malt loaf with a thin spread of butter was delicious today 😋

My appetite is definitely decreased with COVID but it’s a horrid way to cut back on food.

NanKate have you got Covid as well as your husband. If so hope you both get better soon.

Like Four I have so far not had Covid even though I have been exposed to it several times. I do LFT regularly as part of my health care. But am up with my jabs and flu one.

Well by Wednesday I had lost 2lb but then the post came. It was the bundle from PIP there was a letter from them asking the tribunal to reject my appeal. I didn't get upset but got flaming mad. Emailed my solicitor who said they always do that and not to worry.

Wednesday afternoon I wrote 7 Christmas cards and have to have firm grip on the pen . Only can write lower case. Then my hand hurt so much had to have extra doses of both my pain killers never done that before and not supposed to do it. As I don't have anything high cal in stock had to bowls of low fat yogurt with my marmalade in it.

Thursday my solicitor had her bundle which is a copy of the one sent to me. She has to write a submission for the court and will send me a copy to approve before sending off. My hand still hurt so went to the pharmacy and got a pair of support gloves that come well past my wrist. Had nice time at craft group.

Friday had a text message from my best friend her husband died the day before. They had been married 36 years. I knew there was something wrong but thought she wasn't well as she goes quiet when she ill. Her health isn't good but her husband was fitter. He was 71. So binged out on porridge and jam.

We had been friends since we where 18 and they both knew my husband. It brought back all the feelings I felt when he died. So I know exactly what she is going through. Yesterday she texted and asked me to phone her Monday. They where never able to have children.

So my weight has stayed the same after what I have eat since Wednesday I am surprised.

Also heard one of my craft friends friend died ,another one had 2 clients die and a third when to a funeral.

Plus my roof has a leak and until it stops raining it can't be fixed. They came Friday but couldn't see the problem from in the loft.

Sorry this is doom and gloom.

Hope you all had a better week.

Oh and a close friend one of her cats died. She still has 4 but is on her own and never had children.

I was so sorry to read Whiff of all that's been going on in your life - they say it never rains but it pours but you have had a torrential downpour. I hope everything gets sorted soon and that you and your friend are able to support each other.

I have had a good week- Hopefully I have emerged from the black hole that I seemed to be living in, Restarting my life by going back to my Church duties etc. has certainly helped. This week I intended to sort out the Christmas presents but once I laid them all out on the table I decided it made sense to wrap them while they were sorted. All the presents are now got and wrapped!
This coming week I must start the cards as I send lots out. So many people I know either live alone, are housebound or lonely so they really appreciate a card through the post. They do take a lot of writing though so I can understand what Whiff means and feel for her as that must be painful.

The bonus this week is that my I managed to go without any sweeties or biscuits! It was hard with DH as I don't want to stop him having them but I was really strong willed and today's result is that I have lost the 3lb I put on over the weeks by giving into the sweets that the sweet shop was selling off! I cannot brag because I am where I was 3 weeks ago but it has given me the incentive to be strict again this week and see if I can budge a little bit before Christmas.

Today is Sinday but, although I will have my Sinday treats I will be careful. Good luck everyone else who is struggling! Have a good week everyone - my best wishes are sent to dear NanKate, Whiff and anyone having a rough time at the moment.

I hope you all have a better week. Not had a good few days myself and went in for some comfort eating. Couldn't face the scales!

You will face the scales when you are ready Coco - there are times when we need comfort eating to survive when things are not good. You have recognised it and even if it lasts a bit longer, you will come out the other side.
Stay with the pears as we all struggle at times but support each other through thick and thin!

Thanks four. I'm OK now. I was worried about the technical side of a Zoom meeting I had with Canada Immigration today.
The video ceremonies replaced the in person Citizenship events because of the pandemic. Phew!! It was a meaningful ceremony, my Canadian citizenship application was granted and I will soon hold a Canadian passport and dual citizenship.
It's my birthday today so a memorable one methinks. Will celebrate with a meal out with family this evening. The scales can wait!

Good for you Coco - enjoy your birthday and spoil yourself and celebrate! I'm delighted for you!

A very happy birthday Cocopops for yesterday. 💐

Yes I’ve got COVID but it is now on its way out. The positive thing is that I haven’t felt hungry, I wish that feeling would last, but not the coughing.

I’ve taken the moment to weigh myself the first time in about 6 months ☹️ and as I suspect I have put on 6 lbs and feel horrible with it. So I have taken myself in hand and and controlling my eating I suspect I will have to calorie count, but let’s see.

Happy belated birthday cocopops, hope you had a great day

Hope your feeling better nankate.

My eating habits have still not picked up.....it was my birthday Monday so all the family were down at the weekend so you can imagine no healthy eating then LOL.
I need a kick up the rear to get started again.

A belated happy birthday CocoPops, please your Zoom meeting went well. I hope all who had a rough week last week are having a better week & are feeling better.

What awful weather it’s been, I was picking one of my GC up from school today and was literally soaked to the skin even got through my so called waterproof coat!! The roads around here were just like rivers in places. On days like this I just want to hibernate with a supply of goodies but must resist temptation. I put a 1lb on last week!! I’m off on a day out to Chester Christmas Market at the weekend so hoping the weather improves. Have a good positive week all ☺️

Shirley especially for you 🦶🦶😉

Happy Birthday for last Monday *Shirley”. Back on the wagon.

Thanks nankate….in my head I was saying to myself, back on the nhs lose weight section and logging everything down….portion control…so now …after my my ‘rear kicking’ 😅 todays the day to put it in action, I can’t wait till after Christmas or another stone would go on easily…..
Have a good week guys

After my good loss last week I had hoped if I continued to be really strict with myself I may knock off a bit more this week?
Sadly no - I have stayed the same, but I'm ok with that as I have kept the excess off. Hopefully another strict week this week may have a better effect?
Keep with us Shirley you will get back onto the wagon!
Good luck everyone as we all plod on

Belated happy birthday to Cocopops and Shirley. I didn't read everyday like I usually do so sorry I missed them .

Four glad you have given your life a boost by going back to things that give you joy. Well done with the loss and staying the same weight that's an achievement in its self.

I have stayed the same weight for 9 weeks. Proves I can maintain a weight just not the weight I want but hey ho it's been a few tough weeks.

Cocopops dual citizenship that's a big deal. Bet you had a lot of studying to do for it. My daughter in law has dual citizenship. Glad you can use zoom as I haven't a clue how that works. When I had a zoom appointment with my neurologist in January my daughter set it up on her tablet for me . I do everything on my smartphone. Hope you had a great celebration meal.

NanKate hope you and Mr N are fully recovered from Covid. 6lb over 6 months isn't that much to put on. If it was the old me it would have been 2-3 st. But you know you can lose it.

Christmas only 4 weeks away 😱. Good job I have written all my cards and presents are wrapped. Posted my cards as we are in for a lot more postal strikes. 2 days again this week. With all the strikes it's definitely the 70's all over again.

SachaMac last week it was heavy rain mixed with hail most days. Hope you had a great time at Chester Christmas market. My daughter took me in 2019. Here men and woman get a free bus/ local train pass when 60. So I can go as far as Chester free. Must make an effort to use the train more next year. But planning a journey for me is like a military operation. Because if my HPX I have to write down every bus stop or train stop and keep watching so I don't miss my stop. Even buses I use every week have to keep watch so I don't miss my stop. Because I can phase out only for a few seconds I forget if I am going out out or home. At least it's not me being weird but the HPX as all the others with it do it. When I go on long train journeys have always had travel assistance apart for once but it was only for a day out. Was sitting on the train when I asked a fellow passenger if the train was going to X you guess it I was on the wrong train good job there was 10 mins before it moved . Never went without travel assistance after that

Have learnt and still learning more about it because of our closed Facebook group. Like GN we help eachother . Think collectively we know more than most neurologists as we talk about everything and ask questions. Someone always answers. I have found 2 professors at the Neurological hospital in London one has 20 HPX patients and the other is a geneticist specialist in HPX. Seeing my neurologist in January and will give him their details.

My fight for PIP continues . My solicitor is writing the submission at the moment and giving her as much information about HPX as I can . The Brain Charity have been wonderful. In fact the lady I deal with phoned Friday just to check how I be was doing. Hav had to buy a pair of fingerless support/ compression gloves to help my hands and wrists. They are great but can't wear ordinary gloves on top because of the grip dots.

Found why I drop things daily it's not because I lose grip but my hands stiffen. Same as when I choke on my salvia or food it's not just me being an idiot but my thingy becomes with O can't think how it's spelt goes into spasm.

Spoke to my best friend on Monday and found out what happened with her husband. She found him collapsed over the bed phoned 999 and did CPR . 5 paramedics came with all their equipment so she had to wait in the next room . After 20 mins she heard are we all agreed and her beloved husband was dead. Because he had missed 3 appointments at the drs there was a possibility there may have to be an inquest but later in the week she let me know their GP signed the death certificate he died of an acute heart attack. So all the funeral and wake are arranged for the 14th my daughter is going with me. She has known them her whole life. It's a burial never been to a burial before. Had to tell my friend she couldn't control who attends the funeral as the church is a public place but the wake can be invite only. Which is what she has done. Luckily she has good friends near by luckily one is a neighbour who lives couple of doors away. She has no blood relatives but her husband has a brother and they have a niece and nephew. They couldn't have children. But we are the closest thing to a sister we can each have. Like I told her it's better than blood as we chose to love eachother. She and her husband knew my husband. In Fact because we met at college when we were 18 she knew my husband from then. We are both 64. At least I know exactly what she is going through. Hopefully I am helping her as I have helped others.

Anyway change the mood. I have The world of cross stitching mag and was reading the letters page and thought someone pinched my idea for 2 cushions then realised it was me🤦 . I had forgotten I sent the pictures in with text via email last year. So I am published . Life's my spirits. My youngest grandson was 2 last week. Went to theirs and there was a note from one of my exercise class. She knew where my daughter lived as her house is on the corner of the road she lives in. So I text her and been invited to a cheese and wine lunch on 9th the others will be there. Have missed them all. But still haven't found a class I can do that isn't 2 buses away. Hopefully in the new year a new one may start up I can go to.

Saturday going to see Santa with my daughter and boys then back to mine for them to decorate my tree for me. I will put it up on the 1st like I always . Just put on the lights and the bell decorations my brother and sister in law brought me from Belgium they are fragile so go on the top. However the tree gets decorated it stays that way. I spent a very long time doing the tree myself after my husband died. So it's lovely my grandson's do it.

Got some baking to do this week as it's the schools Christmas fair. But will start today and freeze things and just get the out on Thursday. Just do a couple of things a day as I get very wobbly standing for long so have developed short cuts for everything.

We'll have a great week everyone.