My word

My word this year will be moderation, the definition sums up exactly what I mean.

(the quality of being moderate; restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses; temperance)

During my years of dieting when I was good I was very good and when I wasn't I was terrible, a real feast or famine mentality and even now, once I have something I shouldn't have I really struggle to not stuff my face with rubbish for the rest of the day/week/month.

So moderation is going to be the way forward for me, not just with regard to my weight, also in regard to money, I spend an enormous amount of money every month and I'm not entirely sure what it goes on, I'm always buying food but we never seem to have the stuff for proper meals which means that I go back to the supermarket and buy more stuff and end up throwing half of it away. So I'm going to meal plan and buy only what I need. I have also withdrawn cash for groceries and spending money for the month to make myself more aware of what I spend.

Scale was good this morning, 14st 11lbs (207 lbs) 1 pound over my lowest. 46 pounds lost, 14 more to go to meet my band anniversary goal.

Mrs Lisa C asked what fish pie was, I assumed that everyone had fish pie! Its basically white fish in a sauce with mashed potato, you can make it with any fish or seafood, I don't actually make it myself, I buy it ready made. I like it and its quite easy to get down.

Have done ok so far today, my kids are mad about drop scone/pancakes at the moment so I've made them a batch for lunch and just had a tiny taste, I have a chicken breast in the oven. As part of my grocery shopping plan I went to the butchers today which I don't normally do and bought some chicken and turkey, the chicken breast are enormous, much bigger than from the super market and much cheaper, not sure that I'll manage more than half.

Breakfast was 2 slices of toast with laughing cow light 250 cals 10g protein

cheeky pancake taste 50 cals 0

an enormous chicken breast with a little blue cheese 400 cals 50g protein

with 150g's of raw yellow pepper 40 cals 0

Hope to carry on the day like this, am going to try and get the kids out for a bike ride (them not me) later, we're going stir crazy all being stuck in here together.

Happy new year! Hope that everyone has a lovely evening.

Food

Probably not going to do this that often as writing it is dull, reading is must be dreadful!

Thanks for the green vegetables advice, I find that veggies really fill me up so I don't eat much, I realise how ridiculous that statement is! It never really dawned on me, I don't know how I would function without you guys to prod me!

Toast and peanut butter 300 cals 10g protein

tiny home made pancake 100 cals 2 protein

chicken breast stuffed with blue cheese 300 cals 40g protein

fish pie and broccoli 200 cals 10g protein

protein bar 200 cals 20g protein

milk, laughing cow light 200 cals 15g protein

Am quite pleased with that, I ate less than half of my fish pie as the broccoli was so filling, I'm still astounded by my stupidity. Chicken breast stuffed with a little Danish blue cheese was amazing, will have that again with some veggies on the side!

Being able to eat toast is a recent thing, it has to be well toasted and I have to be careful but I can do it, I'm really glad as its so easy, the bread I use has 3.5g of protein per slice I noticed today, stupid things make me happy, think that its the lack of sleep!

Thanks lovelies.

Very long post, proceed with caution

Morning lovelies,

There isn't much sleeping going on here, I'm even waking before the kids, awful. Without sleep I am a horrible horrible cow, best avoided really.

I think that I'm worried about Isobel's birthday party (on 23rd of January as too much going on at Christmas) I had a dream the other day that whilst the party was going on I was running around trying to buy a cake as I had forgotten to get one.

So I got up at 5am and have ordered books for the party bags, individual cake boxes for the cup cakes, lollies for the magic lollipop tree and have enquired about the invitations, hopefully this will calm me down and enable me to sleep. I've already booked the hall and the dj/entertainer, just need to sort out the table stuff, table cloth, plates and serving platters and then what food I am going to make.

I've probably mentioned before that her school friends parties have been in the main extravaganza's! I feel the need to try and keep up and I hate myself for it!

Managed to keep on the straight and narrow yesterday, don't normally write it down but if I do maybe it will make me think twice if I have to write it down?

toast and laughing cow light for breakfast 250 cals 6g protein

turkey chilli for lunch 300 cals 20g protein

protein bar snack 200 cals 20g protein

2 laughing cow light triangle snack 40 cals 6g protein

scallops and peas for dinner 200 cals 7g protein

protein bar snack 200 cals 20g protein

Scale was great this morning, 14st 12lbs, (208 lbs) this is 2 above my lowest, am going to do my best to get back there. Total loss of 45 pounds, am going to have lost 60 for my band anniversary on the 25th of March, so that's another 15 pounds to loose in just under 3 months, so doable if I just get on with it. My mini goal is 13st 11lbs which will be 60 pounds down.

George starts at another pre-school next Thursday, I loved his old school but it was just too far away (when we enrolled him we were planning to move house, this is unlikely to happen now) so he is moving to a preschool which is closer and attached to the school he will attend. He will be doing 4 mornings a week so this gives me more time for me, I should be able to get to the gym 4 days a week without a problem and this should really help my weight loss.

I tried to give blood on Boxing day but was turned away again as my iron levels are too low. They were even lower this time than last time and they're probably going to ban me from donating for a few months. Not sure how to address this, I do have a list of foods that help, they've also suggested that I drink orange juice whilst eating as this aids the absorbtion of iron, I hate orange juice and I try not to drink whilst eating.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I take a multi vitamin, I don't really want to take iron tablets if I can really help it.

Enough moaning for me today, have a lovely day all xx

I breeched it.

The scale said 15st today, I've just been eating so much rubbish, most of the chocolate is gone now, I'm going to get back to normal from today.

Nothing very exciting happening here today, have been trying to sort out the house now we have 2 tonnes of extra plastic rubbish in it! We have moved George in to a larger bedroom to try and house some of the stuff! I need to sort through Izzy's room and the playroom, there is so much stuff that they don't use. Isobel has started to get very attached to every soft toy she lays her eyes on, even ones that have not been looked at for a couple of years, I'm going to have to do this when she's not here.

We went out for dinner last night for Isobel's birthday meal which got cancelled because of the snow, she loved it and behaved really well, George was a pain! We have ongoing toileting issues and that was most of the problem, I'm so over toilet training just now! I was really good, had a chicken salad and ate all of the chicken and a little salad, had pancakes and ice cream for dessert (I know!) but actually it wasn't very good so I had a little ice cream and left the rest. Why then did I come home and eat loads of chocolates?

Anyway, today is another day! Happy Wednesday everyone!

Chocolate poisoning?

Hope that everyone has had a fantastic holiday.

We've had a fantastic time and were all thoroughly spoilt. I now have to find room for all the kids new toys! Think that we're going to move George in to a larger bedroom tomorrow and use it as an opportunity to get rid of some stuff.

My lovely husband bought me an iPhone, I have been after one for ages and Paul and I had many discussions about it, I have a mobile phone, a laptop and and iTouch, why did I need a iPhone, the answer is that I didn't need one, I wanted one. I almost upgraded to one a couple of weeks ago, but for some reason changed my mind at the last minute, as it happens this was the same day that Paul bought the phone, somehow I must have known!

I got lots of other bits and bobs, nail polish, 2 scarves, clarins skin care, an iPod docking station and some Joules wellies. My little brother also bought us a big box of chocolates! a huge box! I'm ashamed to admit that there aren't many left. I've eaten far too much.

My Christmas goal was always to stay below 15 stone (210 lbs) today I was 14st 13 lbs (209 lbs) my gym has closed for most of the holiday which is rubbish really but its cheap. We did go on a long walk with the kids so I could try out my wellies!

Off to catch up with your blogs, hope that everyone is well and happy.

Christmas eve musings

Thank you to everyone for your comments and support over the last 10 months, it will be my 9 month anniversary tomorrow! I have lost 46 pounds since being banded, not that much compared to some but I'm happy with that.

This time last year I hadn't considered the band, not sure what I weighed but I guess that it was somewhere around 18 stone (252 lbs) I am sure that I was really unhappy as I'd gained the 40 pounds I'd lost a few months before, I felt like I was letting myself and my children down, this year I feel so much better.

Today has been a good day so far, Paul took the kids to the zoo this morning which meant that I could finish wrapping presents whilst I watched the end of season 6 of Grey's Anatomy, OH MY GOODNESS! McDreamy! I cried through most of it. Season 7 starts in the UK in January and I can't wait.

Paul and the kids came back and we made popcorn and watching The Snowman, it was lovely.

I've just found a new protein bar, we don't seem to have many things like that available here, I found one aimed at woman, called sculptress bars, it's 205 cals and 20g of protein which is great, I had one whilst wrapping and it was ok.

Scale today is sticking at 14st 11 (207 lbs) I'm really happy with that, would always like to loose more but that's fine.

Hope that everyone that celebrates has a very happy Christmas and people that don't have a wonderful day.

Christmas eve eve

Thank you for all your kind wishes for Izzy's birthday yesterday, this is her blowing out her candles, I love seeing the smoke on the picture. Her cupcake is pathetic but I will do her a big cake for her birthday party in January. She had a lovely day with her "best" friend and her family and my Mum. She got a couple of furreal animals, she had the cat anyway and has never been that bothered but got a dog and a monkey. They are quite weird, George is now obsessed with the monkey which is causing huge problems. I might go out and see if I can buy George a furreal animal for Christmas, gah, children!

I have to confess to not being great at the party, there were tiny pastries and lovely savoury things aswell as marshmallows, I say this like I didn't know! I bought the stuff!

I ate far too much, by some miracle I've not gained anything, perhaps it will show tomorrow, I'm going to be a good girl today. Weight is 14st 11lbs (207 lbs) Paul has just popped out for something, as soon as he is back I'm going to the gym.

Can't believe that its almost Christmas, I need to wrap a few presents as well as go and fetch George a furreal freaky thing, but other than that I am DONE!

Have a marvellous day all xxx

Good morning all

Today is my baby girls 6th birthday, this time 6 years ago I was under general anesthetic having a c-section. They couldn't get the spinal to work as I had so much back fat, awful, why did I let myself get that way? She was 10 days early and weighed 10lb 3.5 oz.

We've had some challenges with her along the way and I know that I have a moan here but I love her more than life itself and have noticed lately that she is growing in to a really nice little girl with very good manners.

We went for dinner with Santa last night, the kids ate and then had ginger bread men to ice and decorate and then finally Santa appeared, Isobel talked the poor man half to death, we just watched Elf and she wanted to know all about Santa's Elves. There was a sticky moment when Santa left George's present on the slay but luckily he went back and found it!

Band wise, I had a really sensible day yesterday and happily the scale said 14st 11lbs (207 lbs) today. We're having a birthday tea today and so there will be lots of bad food, I'm going to do my very best to be good.

Have a lovely day all,

My husband spent the night in a hotel with another woman.

My 5yr old daughter!

Sorry couldn't resist.

Well, they got to the party, had a fabulous time, the best party ever apparently. Paul was in two minds about going as he was concerned that they would struggle to get back so we decided that if they managed to get on the train, I'd book them a hotel. I booked a 4 star hotel just off Leicester Square, after the party the walked up and down Regent street looking at the lights and Isobel was thrilled. I can't help but think that I should have been me!

I'd planned to spend the evening finishing off my Grey's Anatomy series 6 box set (oh, Mcdreamy!) but instead my aunt called and stayed on the line most of the evening!

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday, I was very miserable, feel much better today.

Has anyone heard of the Portable North Pole site? http://www.portablenorthpole.tv I did my children fantastic Santa video's on here, Izzy thought that it was magical, you can do adult ones too, its really lovely.

Band wise, I did better yesterday, was trying be more aware of what I was eating and ended up throwing away some cookies, the scale showed 14st 12 (208 lbs) today, I'd love to be another pound down for Christmas day.

Still so cold here, I had to really force myself to get in the shower this morning!

Have a wonderful Tuesday all x

moan moan moan snow moan

Horrible moany blog post, probably best ignored!

I hate the snow, hate it. All our plans are getting cancelled and I'm stuck home with 2 kids and a husband who are seriously getting on my nerves.

Izzy is meant to go to Paul's company kids Christmas party today in London, Paul has dug the car out and gone off to see how the roads are, he left 90 minutes ago and is about 3 miles away stuck in traffic, the whole town is grid locked, its looking like they won't be able to go to the party.

The kids are waking really stupidly early, before 6am today, Paul can sleep through it, I can't so I'm not getting enough sleep and nor are they so the fight, constantly.

I've also just noticed that Isobel doesn't sit still, ever, she's watching tv in the room with me now and is just jumping up and down, its really annoying.

I've done lots of ironing and changing the bed today, everyone else seems to be doing their best to undo all the housework I've done. George (I think) has managed to get a mystery substance (actually I'm pretty sure I know what it is but its best not to share) on every stair, we have a sissel type carpet with a very deep weave, I have no idea how I'm going to get it off, Paul was going to do it but I know that I will end up doing it.

I'm really very miserable!

The scale was ok, 14st 13lbs (209) again, I wasn't too bad yesterday but still not doing as well as I ought, the cookies are killing me! Been ok so far today but its not even 1pm yet! Seems to be late afternoon/evening when I go mad.

I just googled and apparently 1 hours ironing burns 156 calories based on a person weighing 150 lbs, I did about 2 hours and weigh more than 150! I can't see how its true but this will be classed as my exercise for today!

Going to go and stare at my stairs! Have a good monday!

Well, it caught up with me.

Scale said 14 13 (209 lbs) today, thoroughly deserved and should have been more, I know that I'm picking because I'm not planning very well, I am addressing that now.

Thanks for the food ideas yesterday, I'm going to get some recipes together and be a little more adventurous.

I had scallops yesterday, I really liked them, they were tiny ones as its all I could get yesterday, will look for larger ones when I next shop.

Izzy by the icy river this morning.

We have loads of snow today, started yesterday afternoon and just didn't let up, Izzy had a birthday party and Paul had real trouble getting the snow phobic car home. We were meant to meet up with friends and go for lunch to celebrate Isobel's birthday today but couldn't get the car out, we could have dug it out but the roads look awful so had to cancel. Izzy is very upset, she'd decided that she was having lasagne for lunch so I've made one for her, she has ice cream for dessert.

Our village has "carols on the quay" tonight which should be nice and Christmassy in the snow but I'm so over it, we have lots of little plans for Izzy's birthday this week, I really hope that it doesn't spoil it for her.

Happy Sunday everyone.

One week to go.

Can't believe that this time next week will be Christmas day! It seems to have come around so quickly this year. Are you all prepared? I think that I have everything that I need but I have to wrap lots of gifts still but they are all bought, just have to remember where I hid them all.

Thanks for all your comments and advice yesterday, Amanda, would love some recipes when you feel up to it. Island bandit mentioned scallops, I've never tried scallops, I know that they are high in protein, will give them a go, thank you. I will try and be more adventurous with fish, we are a bit limited here with things like refried beans, I guess that I might be able to find them but they're not widely available, will give it a go thanks.

As for advice on the kids, they're fighting at the moment! Nothing works! Problem is that Isobel is a very bossy 6 (on Wednesday) yr old with a very set idea on how every game should be played and George is 3 and has recently become very stroppy so its a recipe for disaster!

I'm eating toast for breakfast this morning, I'm almost half a slice down and its ok, feels a little stuck so will leave it for a while, I just had to have lf peanut butter on toast this morning, I only have a tiny bit of pb on, not because I have incredible restraint but because it was almost all gone.

I did eat lots of rubbish yesterday, not sure what came over me, but the scale said 14st 12 (208 lbs) again, I'm very happy that it hasn't gone up although I'm sure that it may catch up with me, I can't help but think that had I had a good day I would have had a nice loss to show for it.

I'm going to the gym today, first time since Tuesday, its freezing here at the moment, its -4 which is about 25f. I'm going to leave it until it warms up a little, it rained a lot yesterday so I think it will be icy.

Have a friend popping by later and have some very ripe bananas so I'll make a banana cake later, Isobel loves it too, I normally have some and pb it so I'm going to do my absolute best to not have any, wish me luck.

Have a lovely Saturday x

Day 3 of the holidays.

And I've had enough, I'm finding my kids hard work today, they seem to want to play together, manage about 2 minutes and start shouting at one another and then hitting each other, its horrible.

Of course, if I was a nice mother I would take them out, I need to go and book lunch with Santa soon so will let them have a little run around the park soon, its soooo cold though.

Had a friend come over last night armed with flapjacks and brownies, I love flapjacks, they're oats right? Practically a health food! I did indulge but not so much, the scale is 14st 12lb (208 lbs) again today and I'm ok with that, I was a little worried about standing on the scale today!

I am struggling with high protein meals a bit at the moment, I don't eat red meat and I'm not big on fish. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

One of my neighbours knocked at the door the other day and they want to look at the house, they are coming this evening. I've pretty much tidied everywhere but the kids are doing their best to wreck it! Although the house is still on the market, we have pretty much decided that we are staying put, we've had no viewers in 2 months! Goodness knows what will happen, chances are we'll hear no more from them, fingers crossed!

Hope that everyone is well, thinking of Amanda, you will feel better soon lovely, honest. Barbara is in my thoughts and prayers.

Wednesday morning, first day of the school holidays

and my daughter is awake and singing at 4.40am, 4.40am. Lovely way to start the day. I quietened her down and went back to sleep for a bit but not for very long, feel very tired today.

Tiredness is a eating trigger for me, although I may actually use that as an excuse, I'm not sure.

Scale was kind today, I am pretty much back on track and the scale read 14st 12lbs, (208 lbs) I really hope to loose more weight this month but my goal is to stay below 15st even with all the temptations that Christmas brings. Remind me I said this when I'm reporting any huge gains please!

I seem to have a little less restriction but still enough restriction, I think that this could be the fact that I'm not making ridiculous choices which make me pb which irritate the band rather than any kind of loosening, I'm ok with it. I'm going to attempt more solid proteins now, I've been a little scared to try chicken as in a piece of chicken so will see how that works.

Really looking forward to hearing from Amanda (http://lifeofahopefulloser.blogspot.com/) hope that the weather improves so that they can get home.

Have a wonderful day all!

100 followers!

Goodness me, can't believe that I'm subjecting 100 of you to my boring ramblings! Thank you Kellie!

Thanks for all your potty training advice, I've bought some dry bed mat things to go under the potty, thought that if I used a new one every day and disinfected the area once I'd thrown it away was better for my sanity.

*tmi*There may have been a development with number 2's! Paul looking after George this afternoon, apparently he took himself away in to the play room, did the business in his pants, took off the pants, picked up his "business" in a wipe and brought it through to Paul! I'm glad that it wasn't me. Paul decided that this was a step forward, I'm not so sure.

Scale said 15st 1lb today, 211 lbs. Its ok but would really like to get under 15 stone again soon.

Izzy's school has their carol concert today, all the school were there (goes from age 4 to 16) and it was really lovely, we wandered off in to town afterwards for a coffee and happened upon a coffee shop which had no coffee, bought Izzy a donut there which seems to have made her ill, I made my way home with an ill girl crying. She seems to be much better now and is screeching away upstairs.

She breaks up for Christmas tomorrow, tomorrow! She's off for almost a month, expect lots of moaning.

Thinking of Amanda lots today, not sure on the exact time where she is (I'm from a small Island, I don't get this more than one time zone in one country business!) think that she'll be getting banded soon.

Had a bad few days.

Not sure why I decided that eating lots of junk was the way forward but I did and I gained weight, this went on for 3 days and I've gained 4 pounds, pretty impressive, hu? I think that my scales are a bit dodgy so that may contribute a small amount but most of it was me and chocolate.

Today I weighed 15st 2lbs, (212 lbs) ridiculous, this time last week I was 14st 10lbs (206 lbs) although I think that the scale was being a bit over generous.

So back on track today, I've cancelled my unfill for Tuesday, I don't think that I need it and haven't been stuck for a few days. I can't see how I can possibly get to Onederland for Christmas or even new year.

But, I am going to be positive and keep on going.

Non band related, still having potty training nightmares, he completely gets it now and uses the potty really well although number 2's are a bit problem and he's not managed one in the potty/toilet yet. My problem now is that the urine ends up everywhere, even though I remind him to hold it down! I've cleaned and disinfected the floor 8 times today, 8 times, the skin is falling off my hands! It's worse if he's on the toilet, I never anticipated this problem.

Goodness me don't I live a dull life!

The love affair is over

Somehow I've gained another 2 pounds! The scale said 14st 13lbs again today, 209 lbs.

I don't think that I deserve this gain and think maybe I had one or two artificial lows and maybe a little water retention.

Or, it could be that I've been hitting the ice cream and the biscuits, I'm not managing to each much proper food so I've been eating too much rubbish.

So, as of today the affair is over, I passed Ben & Jerry's on special offer today and didn't buy any instead I bought a weight watchers dessert, yum!

Have also been concentrating on high protein foods and think that I've been able to eat a little more today, might have to reassess my unfill next week.

Have hardly stopped today and didn't manage to get to the gym, have so much to do and didn't get half of it done, going to catch up on your blogs, hope that everyone is well!

a pound up

I seem to have gained a pound overnight, I had some salty foods yesterday which are probably to blame, I'm fine about it.

Still quite tight, am trying to eat some soup now which is really hard going, its not uncomfortable as much as I just feel very full. I had 2 cheese triangles this morning and felt like I'd eaten a 4 course meal!

I've booked an unfill for next Tuesday the 14th, I had .7 put in at my last fill, I was thinking about having .5 removed. I'm really grateful to everyone for your advice, I'm not sure that I would have come to that conclusion alone! I'm a bit thick.

Really need to finish my Christmas shopping, don't have that much to do, but do need to order some pictures of the kids for the frames I've bought my Mum and Aunt for Christmas, I also need to buy gifts for Isobel's teachers, I've not been overly impressed with them so I'm not going too over the top.

Glad that everyone likes the Boden coat, I think I'll have the damson colour, I wear a lot of black and that should go. I love the houndstooth, Linda, really hope you get it!

Maybe I am a little too tight.

Lovely Barbara has given me food for thought, maybe I am a little too tight. As long as I'm ok with liquids I'm not too worried short term but I don't want to cause any damage.

I can't get to the hospital until the 21st of December anyway so I think that I will make an appointment for then, if I don't need it I'll cancel it but I I think that I could do with a little coming out, maybe just .3. I'll just see how it goes.

Barbara asked how we react in the UK to snow warnings, if I'm honest we panic! really really panic, we buy up all the milk and bread and everything we can get our hands on. Lots of this is fuelled by media, last week they said that the petrol tankers wouldn't be able to replenish the petrol stations so everyone went out and filled up lots of places run out! Its crazy!

I heard a story on the radio today saying that the London Evening Standard front page story last week saying that the toys won't get to the stores in time for Christmas and they'll run out, apparently paragraph 3 admitted that all Christmas stock had been delivered weeks ago so its complete nonsense, but generally we read it, we believe and we panic!

I had terrible cabin fever too, I didn't leave the house from Tuesday morning to Saturday afternoon, I can't tell you how fantastic it was to leave the house with only one child!

I am British and spent the good part of one day looking on the internet at 4wd vehicles, started with Fords and Nissans and before I knew it I was lusting after a Porche Cayenne! Complete over reaction to 4 snow days really!

I get the impression that most other countries deal with it much better than we do, what happens where you are?

I went to the gym today, it was ok, I wondered if I might not do too well as it was a week since I went but it was ok and it was very quiet. I have my reassessment next Thursday, I've lost 20 pounds since my last one!

I bought myself a new cardigan today, I'm not much of a coat person, much prefer to layer and I'm fat and I get hot even when it's cold. I've been looking at this cardigan for a while, tried it about 2 months ago in UK size 22, then about a month ago in UK size 20, went today and no 20's or 22's so I bought it in an 18, it looks ok, not too small although wool is quite stretchy. This is the first 18 i've bought!

I have decided on my goal garment! Does anyone else have a goal garment? I want a velvet coat from Boden, like this http://www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Coats-Jackets/Coats/WE269/Womens-Washed-Velvet-Coat.html?NavGroupID=2 I figure that when I'm at "goal" I won't get so warm in a coat and I really want one of these.

I actually left the house!

It's nearly all gone, am so pleased but maybe a tiny bit sad too, its so pretty. This meant that I could take Isobel to her party and see some of the other mums, actually talking to people face to face who are not my immediate family was great. I also got to visit the supermarket! This is a chore for me most of the time but yesterday was an exciting adventure. Isobel was with me and insisted that we went to a more expensive supermarket, she's such a snob!

I really struggled with food yesterday, I wouldn't say that my band is too tight, I think that I keep aggravating it. I had wheatabix for breakfast which is very mushy so it was fine. I stole a couple of George's potty training jelly babies and then half an hour later I tried to have a boiled egg, managed most of one but then was really really sick, horrible and very sore. Had a tiny piece of cake at the party which was fine then came home and had nacho's and houmous, managed some but it was quite uncomfortable, then I managed a healthy portion of B&J's fairly nuts, that was fine! How have I never eaten this flavour before? It was great.

(Really mean mum bit) Izzy is allergic to peanuts and therefore she has to avoid all nuts, I generally don't give George nuts either just in case and Paul isn't much of a nut lover so its all for me!! Rumours that I bought a nut ice cream for this very reason are completely true!

So, I stood on the scale this morning and it said 14st 10lbs (actually 14 10 and 3/4's) but I generally ignore the bits at the end. That's 206 lbs, total loss of 47 pounds and 38 pounds to my goal.

I am a tiny bit worried about how quickly its falling off at the moment, if its just fat that's great but I don't want to damage my health.

Will be going back to the gym today, I was meant to have a reassessment last week but had to cancel due to weather, hopefully will rebook that for next week.

Hope that everyone has a lovely Sunday!

Escape is possibly possible.

We seem to have a thaw, yippee! Paul has fetched the car and its ok except a wonky wing mirror. I went out earlier to go to the Christmas farmers market in the village, managed about 10 steps and came home as the road and pavement is thick with ice, despite Paul telling me it was just wet, it isn't, its about 2 inches of ice and I didn't want to risk falling over.

I'm hoping that it will continue to thaw and I may be able to leave the house later ON MY OWN. I can hardly contain myself. I need to buy some slim fast, my band is so tight that I'm not able to eat that much and so I'm not getting much protein. We are really limited as to what protein drinks we can get hold of here and I've run out of the protein shakes I bought from my surgeon, I could buy more but they have a huge minimum order so I thought that slim fast should do the trick.

The scale was kind again today and I weighed in at 14st 11lbs, (207 lbs), only 8 to go to get to my Christmas onederland goal!

Snow filled hell hole, I mean wonderland!

We're still stuck in the snow hole, all 4 of us in one house, I can't begin to tell you how much I'm enjoying it, I'm really really really hoping for a thaw.

So Dad and Janis are not coming, Dad was coming from Bournemouth which is on the South coast (the English riviera allegedly) and Janis was flying from Glasgow, she is completely snowed in so its not happening, I'm really sad about it, I really like seeing them and the kids love Janis. Not sure that we'll get to see them before Christmas now.

I do have good news though, the scale told me I was 14st 12lbs (208 lbs) today! I've never ever got to this weight before, only when I climbed past it as a teen I guess. I've lost a total of 45 pounds and have 40 pounds to go until I get to my goal weight of 12 stone (168 lbs) I'm very very happy.

I am going to challenge myself to be in Onederland for Christmas, I have 9 lbs to go, and there is 3 weeks until Christmas so I need to loose 3 pounds a week, it's doable if I leave the junk alone, I'm hoping that this will inspire me to make good choices.

My poor car is still stuck goodness knows where on a hill, I worried that it will become a bit of a target and it will be a real state when I get it back. Paul was looking on the internet last night for 4wd cars, I was looking at Nissans and Fords, not Paul, he was looking at Mercedes, Porche's and BMW's, pre owned 4wd's in these makes aren't nearly as expensive as I would have guessed at, I guess that the running costs and insurance is the killer with them, fuel in the UK is ridiculous prices. Part of me quite fancies being the stereotypical private school mum, being very skinny in an enormous flash car, I could do that! But my sensible side says no.

Thank you Justawallflower for your kind offer, I do quite like the Ford Kuga (do you have them in the US?) but as we're in the UK we probably wouldn't be able to use your discount, you are lovely to offer.

Think that I'm going to read blogs and then do a little ebay shopping, UK size 2o is getting a bit big now, I'm going to look for some UK 18's!

Have a lovely day xx

Can someone turn the snow off now please?

We've had it with the snow now, I've never seen anything like it in this country before, maybe as a child up north but we're in the East. This is Izzy posing in the garden, we tried to build a snowman but its so cold that the snow is too dry, was very frustrating.

I looked out of the window at 6am and it was snowing, it hasn't stopped since then. Paul decided that Isobel would be fine to go to school, got about 3 miles away and had to abandon the car (my car) as he got stuck, they had to walk home, luckily a friend passed them half way and picked them up. I have spent the morning internet shopping for a 4 wheel drive vehicle, considering a Nissan Juke, doesn't someone in blogland have one? Would love to know what you think of it.

With regard to my band, I really need to learn that there are lots of things I can't eat, especially not banana cake which I made yesterday, why did I try to eat it at least 3 times which led to a being stuck and pb'ing. Why have I had some more today with the same result? Why don't I learn? I'm really tight and sore now, can't even face my soup for lunch, have had some houmous, was very nice too.

Scale was good, back down to 14st 13lbs, (209 lbs) would still love to see onederland for Christmas, better leave the cake alone then.

It's December!

How did that happen? I traditionally have a big panic about Christmas presents but I'm doing ok so far, just need to get a few bits and Isobel's birthday presents.

Isobel is off school today, our village roads are really icy and I wasn't going to take the risk. So far we've found a make your own doll set that Iz got for her birthday last year, we were going to do it together but she managed about 6 stitches and I did the rest, it looks ok, bit frankensteiny but she's very happy with it.

We have about 4 inches of snow and its snowing still, I love it if I don't have anywhere to go but I normally do. My Dad and his girlfriend, Janis are meant to be coming over for the weekend, Janis is flying on Friday, I'm worried that they won't be able to come which makes me really sad.

Scale still up a little, I ate fine yesterday but did miss the gym so its just one of those annoying bounces! fingers crossed for better tomorrow.

Ooh, (touching wood with fingers firmly crossed) George seems to be getting the hang of potty training, I've been pushing it for about a week and only in the house, its 1pm here, he's been in pants today since about 6am and we've not had one accident and he's been taking himself off to use the potty, think that we have a way to go but I'm really pleased with him, it costs me a jelly baby for every wee, we've not even approached doing number 2's on the potty yet, might need more luck for that!

Hope that everyone is well, I know that there are a few people struggling, you're all in my thoughts x