39 years young

Friday was my birthday, I'm 39, shocking!
I had a nice time and was very spoiled, the most touching thing was that the children were very anxious to get me lovely gifts and had many phone calls with Daddy at work discussing what they want him to buy, George wanted to get me a necklace and a ring and Izzy a dress and a coat! I have trained them very well!!

A friend also made me a cake in the shape of an iPhone as she knows I love mine so much, I was blown away that someone would take the time to do that for me and it tastes great!

With the above in mind the scale hasn't changed at all, still at 14st 2 (198 lbs) which is quite frankly depressing. I can eat much more just at the moment and bread doesn't seem to be a problem at all which is unusual for me, I think that this could be the exercise maybe loosening the band, would it be internal fat going? Have no idea and not sure I want to dwell on my fatty innards!

I have a fill on Tuesday, I'm ashamed to say that I'm about the same weight as last time I went which was about 3 months ago. My clinic has moved to Harley St which is off Oxford St which could be dangerous for my bank account!
I blew some birthday money yesterday on new gym kit, really needed new bra's and trousers and a top, I've blown the rest of my birthday money and much much more money on a black Mulberry Bayswater bag, I've just ordered it. I've considered this purchase for so long that I've just got up and done it, I'm bored of thinking about it now!

Am going out tonight for a birthday meals with my friends, this will be my last celebration, wonder if I can drop the 5 pounds intime for Tuesday??

How did that happen?

From my lovely low of a week ago I appear to have gained 5 pounds!
I gained a pound almost every day and yet I've done ok, I've been working out hard (for me at least!) at the gym and my choices have been mostly good although I have been guilty of having a bit extra and justifying it as I've been to the gym.

I've been trying to learn how to run, Nora inspired me to do this. Over the last few weeks I've been doing the odd minute running, couple of minutes to recover and then run again. Yesterday I manage 31 mins on the treadmill alternating a minute walking/a minute running the whole time, very pleased that I managed it, I then did 25 minutes on the cross trainer. According to the gym machines I burned 500 calories, why then did I gain 2 pounds over night? Must be my big bulging muscles under the huge layer of fat!

Did have a NSV though, I have a top I bought from H&M months ago, can't remember what size it is but I looked like a sausage in a skin in it, I've tried it on many times at the same weight I am now and it looked dreadful. I tried it on on Friday and it looked great, fitted but not skin tight so something is obviously working.

As of today I am going to get a grip on my eating, am eating cereal without measuring and am eating more chocolate than I ought to so will start measuring/not eating so much chocolate. I'll be going to the gym tonight and I'll be taking my vitamins as I've not done that for a few days which is bad.

It's my birthday on Friday, I'll be 39! 39!!! I still feel about 15, goodness knows why people trust me to look after children!
I'm not far away from my 2 year bandiversary either, 25th of March, would be wonderful to be lower than I am now, solidly in the 13 somethings would be good rather that jumping up and down!

Happy Sunday all x

Good morning

Thanks for everyone who advised about my aftercare decision.

I'm having a fill next month before my aftercare period is up, after that I'm going to leave it and if I feel I'll need more I might just pay as a one off or I may start the years contract, I don't have to start it immediately so I think that's what I'll do. I do like the idea of having the contract but I seems to take forever to get an appointment and that won't change even if I have a contract!

I reached another lowest low today, it's a slow road just now as I keep sabotaging myself with chocolate. I went to the gym last night and I do think that I could be partly dehydrated but the scale said 13st 11 (193 lbs) which is marvelous!

Lot's going on just now, we decided to put my car up for sale as it's terrible in snow and ice despite looking like a 4wd it's more like a ice skate. I didn't really think it through as had no idea what to replace it with, it's now sold so today is going to be spent running around trying to find a replacement!

Hope that everyone is well, am going to catch up on blogs now.

Hello all,

I've been here and reading fairly often, I just don't have much to say. Am doing ok, losses are slow but after gaining a little at Christmas and struggling a little I'm finally back down to 13.13 (195) I keep going a pound up then a pound down, am really hoping to get under this in the next couple of days!

My restriction is ok, not sure that my last fill made that much difference but I'm not sure that I actually needed too much anyway, I have booked my next fill for the 13th of March which was all I could get (so frustrating trying to get an appointment)

My 2 years aftercare is up at the end of March so I need to decide what to do next, I can either pay £45 a month which will continue my aftercare for a year (its a years contract) or I pay £150 per appointment, think I've been 3 or 4 times in the last year so I'm not sure what to do, maybe I'll see how things are after my next fill.

Hope everyone is well, I am reading!

13 something

It's 6am in the morning, I've just weighed in and the scale said 13.13 (.8!) which is 195 pounds, am thrilled, I've even changed the battery in the scale to make sure it's not playing with me.

We managed to get to London and it was fairly painless, the kids had a good time and the view from upstairs was amazing, it was a really clear day and we could see for miles.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is Isobel's birthday, today I have to make a cake for her, we've settled on a chocolate sponge with butter cream inside and around the outside with chocolate fingers the whole way around and raspberries on the top! Wish me luck for both making and not eating! I've had to negotiate this decadent cake as I can't make character cakes, I'm terrible at anything artistic. Ready made cakes from stores here tend to taste awful, I know mine will taste good but have no idea how it will look!

Have a good day all x


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Post fill update

Ooh, that sounds very official doesn't it? There is actually very little to report but here we go.

I went last Tuesday and had a fill of 0.2 to take me up to 9cc's in my 14cc band. I did 3 days fluids more or less along with some chocolate, well it turns to liquid doesn't it? Went on to soft food and was starving, I didn't think that the fill had made any difference at all and if anything I could eat more than normal.

The fill kicked in on Sunday evening of all times, am eating less, just need to cut the chocolate! Had such a busy day yesterday that I didn't have time for eating things I shouldn't and woke up to 14 0 on the scale today (196 lbs) this is my lowest low. My scale is fluctuating quite a lot before settling (ala Biggest Looser) but I jumped on twice and got the same number so I'm taking it. 13 stone something for Christmas would be amazing.

George is poorly again, big sigh, I'm actually wondering if he takes after his paternal Grandmother and is a hypochondriac! I've brought him downstairs early and managed to get him to drink some juice and have a biscuit, he didn't eat or drink at all yesterday when I was out.
I wouldn't be so bothered, he's not much of a morning eater anyway, but we're going in to London today to the BT Tower (tall and famous building in London) to meet Santa and then go up in to their revolving restaurant, this building isn't open to the public anymore and we're lucky to be able to go, just hope that he perks up, will give lots of meds! I would skip it and stay at home with George but Paul is scared of heights and high speed lifts so there is no way at all he would go up to the revolving bit which is the most exciting thing for the kids, Paul could stay with George and I'd take Isobel but it's to do with Paul's company and they wouldn't let me in without him, as it is I have to take my passport as the building is thought to be such a terrorist risk. As ever we have no option of leaving him with anyone so lots of don't moan/don't be sick/have a lovely time vibes would be appreciated!

Have a lovely Tuesday all xx

Hello Lovelies!

Can't believe that it is the 12th of December already, where is the time going?

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last miserable post, it really does mean a lot that you take the time to read my drivel!

Everything is going ok, George is now well although he did get an ear infection after the chest infection which resulted in a late night hospital dash. Isobel had a build a bear party on Saturday which all went well, just need to make her write the thank you cards (wish me luck) Christmas is almost sorted and the kids break up TOMORROW, TOMORROW!

My weight is ok, 14st 1 today (197 lbs) I'm going for a fill tomorrow, I really need one along with an afternoons shopping in London away from my children!

I've officially lost 4 stones, it's taken almost 2 years so I'm not poster girl for the band but I'm ok with it, I'm hoping that the next 2 stone or so will come off a bit quicker!

A stone is 14lbs.

Off to catch up x

Grumpy arsed post.

I have to preface to say that I have my period and it rarely fills my heart with joy!

I'm really fed up, George has been sick all week, really really ill, he's been on antibiotics and seems to have just started to get better, he's had some kind of chest infection and has been coughing like mad which means he can't keep anything down, hideous. He had about 5 days of good health before he got his current illness, the 2 weeks prior to that he had a sickness bug. Obviously he's been off from nursery and obviously I've been taking care of him but as much as I love him I've had enough now, I'm exhausted, I don't think I've had an unbroken nights sleep in a month and on top of getting up with George I'm really not sleeping very well. I'm also trying to plan Christmas and it's Isobel's birthday party next week.

My husband works really long hours and commutes in to central London, obviously, he can't do much. But, if he wakes up after a full nights sleep (having not heard George or been woken by Isobel to be told some fact or other) and tells me he is exhausted I will do him serious damage with a medicine bottle!

As he's been ill I've not been to the gym since Sunday and I feel guilty, I know that it's not my fault but I do. Paul has taken Isobel to a party and I'm planning to go to the gym once they get back, I also need to go shopping for yet another birthday present for another party tomorrow, I have ordered something but it's not arrived, such a pain.

My weight has been quite stable but I hit the peanut m&m's last night and am up a pound. My band seems to have shut today and I'm struggling through some salad and breaded camembert which is the first thing I've eaten today (almost 1pm here) I'm sure I'll be back down tomorrow if I keep on the straight and narrow today.

So that's it really, nothing constructive to say at all. If anyone knows him can Father Christmas send me for 3 days at a health spa with an enormous suite of my own with lots of beauty treatments and loads of trash tv to lay around watching please? Thanks

Back down

Pleased to report that I'm down to 14st 2 today, 198 lbs.

It's been going quite well but still quite hungry so I'm looking forward to a tiny fill soon. I've been doing quite well at the gym, about an hour on the bike/treadmill/cross trainer burning around 400 cals according to the machines, no idea how accurate they are. The machines at my gym have televisions on them and I've recently discovered that they also have games on them, the time passes much quicker playing mahjong but its really hard to touch the screen to play the game!

George is ill again today, we ought to have a big cross painted on our door! We're off to the Dr's shortly, he came down with croup last night and his chest is awful today, poor thing. No gym for me today, haven't had much sleep but will try and straighten up the house a little.

Have a good day

Still alive

Have had a busy few weeks, firstly George was hit with the worst stomach bug I've ever had to deal with, was awful and constant and went on for 5 days, followed by 3 days of upset stomach. He hardly ate during this time and was awfully pale and weak, he's doing better now though and finally went back to nursery after almost 2 weeks off.

This meant that I didn't get to the gym at all, I went back for the first time yesterday, was ok, thought it would be really hard after a week and a half of no gym but it was ok.

I have to admit to being bored to death during the long days of being stuck at home and I really missed my routine, a little bit of boredom eating did creep in, and I've gained a pound, this in part is due to a fabulous meal I went out for on Thursday night, quite small portions so ideal for a bandster, 3 courses with tiny morsels in between, was to die for, can't wait to go back.

So, I'm up to 14st 3lbs, (199 lbs) really feel that I'm ready to get back on now and think I'll be ok, am going to try and get to the gym later.

I'm really busy at the moment, the kids finish school on the 13th (the 13th!!!!!) and before then I have 2 plays and 2 Christmas bazaars and christmas decoration making morning and Isobel's school close early one day as there is a carol concert on the other side of town which we can't make as I have no one to watch George, plus, as usual we have a ridiculous amount of parties, 2 this weekend, 2 next and Isobel's on the 10th of December. This year I'm doing nothing, I'm taking 21 (21 bloody kids, I really hoped that I'd get some refusals but they're all coming) kids to build a bear and handing over my credit card.

I'm also trying to Christmas shop and sort out Christmas present for teachers, I hate this, both kids have what seems like 2,000 teachers and I have no idea what to buy. I have plumped for Cath Kidston mugs, filled with nice chocolate (Oops, it fell in my mouth, better buy some more) which will be wrapped in star covered cellophane. I have no idea why I feel the need to go over the top but there you go, I can't help myself.

I realised a couple of weeks ago I really need a fill, I've suddenly got really hungry, I called to book one and the only date I could get was the 13th of December, my provider is a nurse down and they had nothing at all available before Christmas but managed to shoehorn me in. Luckily Paul can take the day off to pick the kids up from school and I'll get some London shopping so I'm quite looking forward to it.

I've just read about Gilly's liquid diet and I'm very tempted, 10 pounds off would be amazing.

Have a great weekend, belated Happy Thanksgiving for all who celebrated!

I actually went away for the weekend

and I didn't gain weight!

Only to the inlaws, not to anywhere exciting! Paul's best friend was 40 and his parents threw a lunch for him, we were the surprise guests, was nice to see them and catch up.

I unexpectedly got my period whilst we were away and must admit to inhaling some lindt chocolate on the way home, not an enormous amount but enough to make me feel guilty and ensure that I went to the gym when I got home.

Today the scale said 14st 2lbs (198 lbs) which I'm delighted with.

On a totally unrelated note, I've just found out that my mad mother in law has bought Isobel a guitar for Christmas, this is my 6 year old, marvelous. I looked in to music lessons for her a short while ago as she would like to learn to play the piano and it will cost in excess of £100 a month which after 2 lots of school fee's we just can't afford. From about the 26th of December we will receive a daily phone call asking if I've arranged bloody guitar lessons yet, they drive me insane.

Argh!

I'm so crap!

Sorry, haven't blogged in a while. Unusually for me I've not gone off the rails, have just been really busy.

Kids were on holiday last week so we went away to be spoiled by my Aunt, whilst I was away I had the decorators in to do our lounge, it looks great, we've gone grey. This inspired me to paint the shabby playroom so i've spent most of this week doing it, it's pale blue and lovely, I'm very pleased with it, am thinking of doing the kitchen next but its a much bigger job and I need a few weeks off!

George has also started using the computer, he's 4, I want to encourage it to some degree but I also want to use it myself and he gets really cross when I try and get it from him!! He plays educational games on the bbc website.

I have managed to get to the gym this week as I brought 3 pounds back from my Aunts with me, am glad to report that I'm back to 14st 3 (199 lbs!)

Haven't managed to take any more photos, I hate having my picture taken! BTW, I have sunglasses on my head in the rubbish photo I posted, I don't have a massive square head, perhaps I'll do photo's when I'm finally 13st something!

Am off to see The Help at the cinema tonight, very excited as I loved the book. Just need to resist the popcorn and chocolate!

Am going to catch up with blogs now, hope that everyone is well.

I did it!

I stood on the scale this morning and it said 14st 3.2 lbs (199.2 lbs) am elated, this is my lowest low in such a long time.

To celebrate I went to my favourite horrible toilet (m&s) and took a photo. It's rubbish as it was busy and someone caught me just as I took it so I had to do the "what an idiot pressing the wrong button, who would take a photo in the toilet?" look.


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I can feel it coming

I think that I might see Onederland tomorrow, I might not but I've been very good, have been exercising (gym is killing me, seems so much harder than it used to, must be getting old!)

Today I weighed 14 st 4.4lbs (200.4) it might a couple of days but I think that it's coming.

I've had lots of comments about my weight loss recently even though I'm back at my lowest and have gone up and down by 7 pounds for the last 6 months, maybe the gym is toning me up, I don't know.

So, things are going well, kids are off for a week next week and I won't get to the gym, will try and do extra this week to compensate. George doesn't normally go to nursery on a Wednesday but has to go in tomorrow for an hour and a half to have his school photo taken, I'm going to run to the gym in this time and have a swim, I plan to do about 30 minutes.

Hope that everyone is well

Alison

I felt quite good today

I wore some new bright pink tights with a black dress and black knee length boots. I tried to take a photo of myself in my favourite scabby Marks and Spencers toilets to share with you all but got caught in the act!

I did embarrass myself, when I've worn this dress in the past I have always worn leggings with it, I kept forgetting that I didn't have leggings on, leaning over to undo the kids car seats was interesting, pulling the dress right up to pull up the tights was a complete mistake!

The gym is going well, I've been a few times, will go back on Sunday as I'm busy tomorrow. I still ache from my visit on Thursday.

Weight is holding steady at 14st 5 (201 pounds) my period came this week so I seem to be holding, am hoping that it will start to go down very soon. Right now I feel ok about everything, I'm looking forward to seeing 14.3 (199, onederland!) I am desperate to see 13.13 (195 lbs) have been 14 something for ages.

I'm happy to say that for the first time in a while I feel less stressed, school issues seem to have calmed right down, I've even been for coffee with some of the Mum's this morning. We still may well move Isobel but will probably leave it until the end of the academic year. I do have a very frustrating eBay issue going on but if that's all I have to worry about it's really not the end of the world.

Again, I'm sorry for not commenting that much, I do read, I just feel I have nothing of value to add.

So, I went to the gym

and the man said that you actually have to attend and exercise in order to loose weight and get fit, just having a membership card being enough was a cruel joke.

I went today, paid my money and filled in 3,000 forms. As "Adam" guilted me in to it I went for a swim. I've not swam on my own for years and I've hardly swam for years although I've been in plenty of pools with the children. It was ok, the first 6 lengths were awful but after that it wasn't so bad and I did 30 lengths without stopping, this took me about 25 minutes, I'm not a fast swimmer at all but I am a plodder!

Not sure on my weight today as my biggest looser scales we're flicking around, I've ordered new batteries as I couldn't be bothered searching the shops for the right one, could only find a batch of 10 batteries but they were dirt cheap.

So, that's all there is to say, I'm still doing ok, I'm still peeing alot.

It's suddenly become Autumn here today, we had a scorching weekend and now it's cool and windy although still bright.

I did good

Alison in "blogging twice in one month shocker!"

Hello, hope that everyone is well today.

I have stuck to all my resolutions, I didn't buy any chocolate. I ate well and I called the gym and am going in tomorrow to re-join. Just as I hung up the perky young man said "don't forget to bring your gym kit or your swimming gear so you can work out after doing the paperwork" yeh, great, thanks for that I thought! Does not just owning a gym membership card mean that you loose weight, tone up and get fit? I feel cheated!

I liked my scale today, although I think that it's going a bit biggest looser on me. I'm pretty sure my weight is 14st 5lbs (201 lbs) but when I stood on the scale for confirmation it dropped down a couple of pounds but first showed about 3 different weights! I think it could need a battery, will see how it performs tomorrow.

I'm noticing since being "good" that I keep peeing, I must have retained gallons of water!

Thank you for all your kind messages on my last blog, it means a lot!

Right, time to get my arse in to gear

I've been pretty bad recently, sort of holding at the same weight but not loosing anything at all. I've had some kind of epiphany this week, after gaining 3 pounds over the weekend (think that salt was to blame as much as anything) I realised that it's time to get on with it. So this week I'm joining a new gym as my old membership has ran out. This week I'm not buying any chocolate, this week I'm following the bandster rules. From now on I'm going to blog, I need the accountability.

Weight today is 14st 7lbs, a day of being good has got rid of the excess.

Just stole this from another blog, thought that it could be a good reintroduction

A _ Z

A - Age 38
B - Bed Size - King size
C- Chore You Hate - Ironing but actually most of them!
D - Dogs - I used to have 2 shih-tzu's but I like most dogs
E - Essential Start to Your Day - Coffee, although I'm drinking more tea recently
F - Favourite Colour - Tricky, depends what for, I'm just about to decorate my lounge grey, I wear a lot of black, blue and lots of stripes just now.
G - Gold or Silver -Silver
H - Height - about 5.5-5.6
I - Interests - Reading (have just finished The Help and loved it), movies, walking. I'm hoping that in a couple of weeks going to the gym will be my favoured hobby!
J - Job Title - Housewife and mother
K - Kids - 2, girl 6, boy 4
L - Live - Colchester, Essex but originally from South Yorkshire
M - Mother's Name - Penny
N - Nickname - Lots, Ali, Alice, Liz, Muuuuuuummmmmm is a current favourite.
O - Overnight Hospital Stays - 2 nights of each birth, 1 night for my band op.
P - Pet Peeves - Other parents at my daughters school, bad drivers, strange villagers, rubbish trains.
Q - Quote From a Film - You're terrible Muriel.
R - Right or Left-Handed - Right
S - Siblings - Brother 40, sister 35 and brother 24
T - Time You Wake Up - often through the night with the horrors, alarm goes off at 6am
Underwear - Whatever is in the draw! Have just had to buy new black knickers from M&S as I was wearing a dress the other day and everytime I walked I could feel my knickers falling down!
V - Vegetables You Hate - sprouts
What Makes You Run Late - I'm very rarely late, always super early.
X - X-Rays You've Had - Dental and band
Y - Yummy Food That You Make - I don't find anything that I make that good, I'm an ok cook, not great though. Am just about to make leek and potato soup.
Z - Zoo Animal - Aardvark

Terrible blogger

I have been a terrible blogger, I've been reading every day or so but I really don't have very much to say.

Nothing has changed, I didn't manage my challenge, surprise surprise! I'm about the same weight and everything is ok.

Most of my energies are going on finding a new school for Isobel, I am so relieved that we're doing this, as anyone who reads this blog would know this has been a cause of much upset for us. We had a meeting with George's school on Friday and it all looks really good, it's co-ed which we feel would suit Isobel well. She is having a trial day in a couple of weeks, she doesn't know anything about this yet as she loves her school. I'm a bit worried about her reaction but think that she will settle well.

Typically this year with a much stricter teacher (which I always maintained that she needed) she has settled well and so far (7 days in) there have been no problems. Still, I think that 75% of the problem is the other parents so moving is the best thing. It will mean that the school run is halved for me and I'm going to one school not 2 which will be great.

Band wise all is fine, or it would be if I would stop eating chocolate. I'm quite tight at the moment, tried chicken twice yesterday and got stuck both times, this could be hormonal.

Hope that everyone is well, I have been reading, I just don't feel like I have anything of value to add.

Day 3 of challenge

And not much to say! I'm down a pound (14st 5lbs / 201 pounds) I need to loose another by Wednesdays weigh in.

We have a busy weekend, tomorrow we're going to the first birthday of the daughter of one of Paul's friends, we've not seen any of these friends for about 5 years and I don't know them very well. I'm having my normal, whatthehellwillIwear panic! The weather in the UK is so changeable at the moment it's really hard to plan. It's rained all day here today and yet on Monday I got sunburnt! I went shopping today wearing Uggs as it was so cold! I do have my Boden tunics that will do aslong as its not too hot. Today I wondered in to Monsoon and went through the dregs of the sale stuff, I got a cardigan, linen trousers and a top for £30, they originally retailed at £120 so I'm very happy. The trousers are much too long so I will have to take them up, I'm 5ft 6, these are regular length and they are at least 3"'s too long!

On Sunday we're going to see my friend N, who also has a band. I posted the other day saying that she possibly has a hole in the tubing. She went back yesterday and all seems to be ok, I'm very relieved for her.

Below is a picture of Isobel, she is obsessed with Scooby Doo just now, so obsessed that she's fashioned some 3d specs to look like Velma's, Velma is her hero! She didn't want the photograph taken, that's why she's looking sulky, the glasses make me laugh, a lot!

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