Hey Margaret,

Its nice to see everything is well. Sounds like you had a hectic day! I hope you have a great day tomorrow.

Trevor

It's true what you said Marg, about it taking a while to be comfortable with our bodies. I've been losing weight for three years and just now, I'm starting to feel remotely comfortable with myself. I'm not completely satisfied with my body, and it will probably take me a while until I am to an extent of high self-confidence. Perhaps in time, we'll both feel really, really good about ourselves together.

Have a great Sunday, honey. (((big hugs)))

That may have been true then, but people are a lot heavier in general now than they were in the 80s.

I'm glad you had a good if not busy Saturday. Meeting up with friends you haven't seen in awhile is always fun.

Hi, Margaret! Come on over and see some new pics I posted in honor of hitting the 50 lbs down mark! I posted in my diary and also a new thread on the Now, then, and In between part.

Xo
ABBA

Thanks for visiting. I am sorry that I havent been around much and am so late in replying.

Had another busy day Sunday when we went to see some good friends of ours that live in a rural area about 40 miles out of Newcastle. We had a really enjoyable time - but for the second day running I did eat in a way that did certainly not adhere to my normal food plan. I enjoyed the food and hopefully it will satisfy my naughtier food cravings for a while to come. I could try to justify it by saying that a refeed will help perk up my metabolism - but in all honesty the food was there and I ate it without holding back. At least I did my long walk in the morning and in addition my friend and I went out walking her dog for an hour and a half in the afternoon. I will not count it as exercise for the challenge - but it was really nice to go walking all around her village.

Trevor

Nice to see you again here. As you can see we had another hectic day.

Rae

It will be great when we accept that we are the size that we are now.

Kimberly

We always enjoy going to Newcastle and seeing our friends. We were so rushed we could not see everyone - but it was great seeing the people that we slotted in. Graham - that we saw on Saturday - is arguably my oldest friend. We grew up in houses next door to each other and our mothers were the closest of friends. We literally remember building towers with our wooden blocks together as very small children. In so many ways it is like we are related.

Janice

Your photos are amazing. You look so slim - no wonder that you are so near to goal.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Looks like you and I had similar Sundays Marg. I too ate in a way that was not on my food plan and rather indulged myself in my food cravings. I'm trying to take it as optimistically as I can. I'd like to think yesterday's rampid feeding will compensate me for the rest of the week, but I cannot make promises, knowing myself. I am currently trying to envision the food I crave with a cup-ful of maggots on top, and let me tell you, I don't want to touch ice cream or brownies. It's so gross to think about. The crazy thing is, my imagination really is stalling my sweets craving. LOL.

We're just going to have to get through our guilt like we always do, with our heads up. At least you were able to exercise yesterday which certianly does help!

Happy St. Patricks day, deary! Don't go too overboard on the Cornedbeef tonite! LOL.

Hi Rae

Happy St Patrick's Day to you too!

I have already paid penance for my eating of yesterday. Tonight has been salmon for our main meal. This meal has a great track record for helping me drop weight so we shall have it tonight and Good Friday (hubby actually requested it for Good Friday!!!)

I am pleased that your imagination is helping you deal with food cravings. I really didnt have a "good calorie" chance this weekend. My friends are such excellent hosts that they always put tons of really delicious food in front of me. My problem is that I really cannot resist something really nice if it is put in front of me - I suppose that I am a bit weak-willed. Therefore Saturday I ate blueberry franzipan and on Sunday it was toffee cheesecake with cream. I will eventually get around to copying in my diary pages for the last few days and you will see the extent of my excesses.

In some ways it is a blessing that we do not currently eat with friends too often - it is much easier to eat according to the food plan at home where there is some control over the temptations. I have no wish to ever be the dinner guest from Hell - who analyses every bite put in front of them - so I suppose that it is good practice for the challenge of maintenance that lies ahead. We can learn how much exercise we can use to cancel our excesses.

After we travelled home today - I quickly got ready and went out for a 7 mile walk based on my normal morning route. All we can do is try to get back onto the food plan and get the exercise in.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Thursday 13/03/08

General Data:

Morning walk = 6.3 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 11st 1.6 lbs (i.e. 155.6 pounds)
Steps = 23,079
Distance = 8.92 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
Continued my creaming regime – missed one bio-oil massage.
Continued ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

For challenge I need to eat 5 cups of cabbage during the week:
Saturday – 1 cup eaten
Sunday – 3 cups eaten
Monday – 1 cup eaten
Tuesday – 1 cup eaten

Basic eating plan

1 banana
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 pear
1 pear
Lots and lots of grapes
2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola

Roast chicken, gravy, carrot, swede, onion, celery, Brussels sprouts

Friday 14/03/08

General Data:

Morning walk = 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 11st 1.2 lbs (i.e. 155.2 pounds)
Steps = 25,062
Distance = 9.69 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
Continued my creaming regime – missed one bio-oil massage.
Continued ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

Basic eating plan

1 banana
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
pork loin steak
1 clementine
1 clementine
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
some grapes
2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola

Roast pork, gravy, carrot, swede, onion, celery, Brussels sprouts, apple sauce, 1 small piece of roast potato
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies

Saturday 15/03/08

Surprisingly - the feta did not have an adverse affect on my weight. There was only a very small amount though - but it was fine.

General Data:

Morning walk = 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 11st 1.0 lbs (i.e. 155.0 pounds)
Steps = 23,202
Distance = 8.97 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
Continued my creaming regime badly – missed both bio-oil massages, body lotion massage, night time moisturising!
Continued ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

Basic eating plan

1 banana
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 clementine
1 clementine
1 pear
1 pear
2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola

1/6 of a circle slice of garlic bread
Greek salad (including feta)
Coriander chicken, potatoes, carrot, broccoli, green beans, asparagus
blueberry franzipan

Sunday 16/03/08

General Data:

Morning walk = 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = walked 1.5 hours with my friend and her dog
Weight = 11st 0.0 lbs (i.e. 154.0 pounds)
Steps = 27,056
Distance = 10.46 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
Continued my creaming regime – missed one bio-oil massages
Continued ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

Basic eating plan

1 banana
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 large handfuls honey Shreddies
1 Chinese pear
some water
some diet cola

Pork sausage casserole, rice, sweetcorn, peas
Toffee cheesecake with cream

2 turkey and Branston pickle sandwiches in bread roll
2 chinese chicken open bread roll sandwiches
4 chicken bites
crisps - various types / flavours
herb flavoured crackers
cherry tomatoes

Congrats on the new low!!!! You're less than a lb away from being under 11st!

It looks as though your bit o weekend naughtiness didn't set you back any.

I'm glad you were able to see Graham and have a nice visit with other friends.

Thanks Kimberly

If only I could have resisted temptation - I might have got under 11 stone. On Sunday morning I was 11 stone 0.0lbs so if I had been good it might have gone down. Having said that - if I was that good at resisting temptation - I wouldnt have got to 21 stone in the first place.

I think that most of us would have difficulty resisting yummy dessert if it was put in front of us.

It was great fun catching up with our friends. They were all a bit surprised when we said that we would probably move north eventually.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Margaret I think it is fine to indulge every now and then. Because this is for life and you don't want to stop seeing your friends right?
With my special dietary needs I always fear I will be the insufferable guest at a party. I used to be the one who would eat everything and love all food and now I can barely eat anything people make (and I have to ask an awful lot of question beforehands too...).
I have a friend who refuses to eat all fruits and vegetables (except potatoes). Obviously she is never invited to dinner parties, because she won't even touch anything I make (which is mostly vegetables) and it is really annoying to have someone so picky in your circle of friends because it sort of ruins the whole atmosphere.
OK all that to say: being polite (and indulging at the same time) is very important and I think you chose correctly. You will lose that extra pound left for 10 stone mark soon anyways, this way you are still popular !!!

Have a great week, Camy

Margaret, you are doing awesome! You'll be to the 11st mark in no time.