Don't be so hard on yourself. It will serve no good purpose to beat yourself up everytime you feel you've screwed up.

I think cutting out all alcohol is going to be very hard for you. Is there a way to incorporate it into your dieting? I don't deny myself any kind of food. As long as it fits into my calorie range, I can eat it. This mentality really helps with cravings for me. I think the whole idea of not being able to eat it just makes me want it more. So if I tell myself I can eat whatever I want within moderation, I end up craving things less--especially chocolate. However, I will say that even though wine is relatively low in calories, there is something in alcohol that does slow down the weight loss process. So it would be good to cut back as much as possible. From what I've read, you seem to find alcohol somewhat comforting, and part of socializing. Would drinking something non-alcoholic like diet coke w/ a splash of grenadine work while everyone else is boozing it up?

Sorry you had such a rough trip to Spain! That sounds horrific. I think you deserved to eat and drink whatever you wanted that day..lol. And congrats on the weight loss. You are obviously doing something right. Your exercise has been good. So exercise more so you can eat more.

Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

enjoy yourself and have a good start next year.

;-)

x

Hi

Happy New Year

Sorry the visit to your mums didnt go as well as planned public transport!

Hears to a new year a new start and to reaching our goals

Sarah

Hello Auburn!!
Sorry to have gone missing for so long.
Between getting everything settled for us to celebrate the holidays and travelling to NYC things just got kinda crazy. That and there was really no where for me to get online while we were in NYC.
Sounds to me like you are doing just fine on this journey that your traveling. Like I have always said being aware of yourself is the 1st part of the battle. When you allow the mindless eating/drinking is when you will see negative results.
And from what I have read you are not mindless to anything that is going on with yourself. You are keeping yourself in check very nicely.
Just think if you had not come here and was not even trying to watch what you eat/drink where you would have been.
You are doing wonderfully. And the holidays are hard on everyone!
Oh and let me tell you..........FLAN is delish!!!! I love flan. Especially homemade. And I completely understand eating a bit here or there out of respect for the individual who created the treat. Jump to my diary and you'll read all about that!!! LOL
Well I just wanted jump in and say hi and encourage you!
Catch ya later!!!!!
Oh and Happy New Year!!!!!!

Thank you so much to all of you for your continued support and comfort. I'm so glad that I found this site!

I'm not going to list what I ate yesterday and today. I did what I could in difficult circumstances (if partying really can be considered difficult!!!) but I managed nearly 2 hours of walking, so that has got to help a bit, I hope.

Bikinibound, you're right that alcohol is very much part of our daily lives. As I've said before, I don't normally drink huge amounts, but one large glass of red wine is usual with my evening meal. I think that I should be able to eventually cut this down or out, but not until I return home from this week with my mum. However, the only way I'm going to be able to change my habits in a group/party situation is to simply say that I'm dieting so no booze. Like you said, choosing a non-alcohol/diet drink option should work out.

Thanks Angel for your New Year's wishes and all the best to you too. This will be our year, you'll see. In a matter of months you'll be slinking around in that red dress that you have as your avatar!!!

Hi Sarah, yeah, what a journey! There was one point where I'd rung my mum to say that I didn't think I'd make it on time to the airport but that my hubby, step-daughter and youngest son (who were in a different car) would be flying down without me and my oldest two! When I did make it to the airport, I realised that hubby and crew weren't there - they'd got lost!!! So the second scenario was that me and the older two would make it, but not them! Anyway, we did all eventually get here. So all's well...

Hey Bella, thanks for dropping by! To be honest, I've been completely mindless for the past 24 hours, but I hope to get things back under control tomorrow. It's not been really what I've eaten, just the quantity. At least I've done a bit of exercise, so I'll try to keep this up during the week.

Congrats on the 2hr walk!! That's fantastic!

Yeah, if you can limit the booze to once a week, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, reduce your large glass of red wine to a small glass...lol. I think the best thing would be to say that you can have X amount of alcohol per week, and stick to it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi Auburn

It is so often the case that I agree with Kimberly. The walking was great and sorting out a way of cutting down on alcohol will help.

I hope that you are continuing to have a great holiday with your mother and that your journey home will be a lot less stressful than your trip out.

I am convinced that 2008 will be the year when all our weight loss dreams come true. Tammy had a great phrase in her diary "looking fine for 2009" - I like that!

Take care
Love
Margaret

Yeah!
Or how about an even more positive way of thinking: ''Looking great in 2008''

Thats exactly what i thought LOL!!

''Looking great in 2008'' sounds brilliant.

Hello Auburn~
Hope your having a wonderful trip visiting with your mother.
And how awesome that you got in 2 hours of walking.
I agree with both Kimberly and Margaret on the wine thing.
Though I don't drink and really never had. I can only imagine that it must be very difficult being in the country that you are. Having it be so prolific. Especially at meals.
Well just wanted to pop in and wish you a good day!
Ciao

yep...this has to be our year! i dunno about the red dress. its far too small for my massive bones but there will be a dress which i will be slinking around in!!

;-)

x

ABBAgirl I love that Henry Ford quote! I forgot about it...it used to motivate me when I was younger! I am so happy that I ran across that today!

We will all reach our goals!

Well, I'm still at my mum's in Spain, eating fairly reasonably, but drinking far too much. However, seeing as I've now signed up to Kimberly's BL challenge that'll have to stop!!!

In terms of the booze, today has been managable. But tomorrow (Saturday) will be extremely difficult as it's my mum's 70th birthday and we're having a huge family meal in a posh restaurant. Perhaps I can gain some extra points on the exercise front during the day... or perhaps I can simply be strong-willed in the evening!

Sunday will also be tricky, not because of the alcohol, but because I'll be travelling back home. I'm going to try to prepare fruit and sandwiches, because otherwise it will be airport and service station food. Not good for this challenge!

4 January: today's eating and exercising:
WEIGHT: 81.9
Breakfast: bread, spread
Lunch: tomatoes & mozzarella salad, grilled vegetables & boiled rice, bread & just a bit of garlic mayo
Dinner:
Snacks:
Drinks: 7 glasses of water, a couple of cups of tea
Exercise: 60-minute walk

Hiya

Hope your still enjoying Spain!
I think alcohol is always difficult to give up esp if its part of your lifestyle/culture so you have done great, but its a birthday its not just a glass with any dinner I hope you have a good night though its all about making the better choice

A 60 min walk is great as well keep it up!!!

Take Care
Sarah