So, it's the end of a long hard Sunday. Traditionally the 'day of rest', for me it's become the day of 'do the rest of the stuff you don't find time to do during the week'. Which means cleaning, washing, trying to have some family time, but very little relaxing.

One really positive thing, thanks to you guys, is that I actually managed to keep my food intake under control. Well, not exactly UNDER control, I suppose sitting down beside me control, but anyway much better than usual. Let me explain; my Mother-in Law is a fantastic cook and is also capable of feeding a horde of starving vikings without so much as working up a sweat. I suppose bringing up 5 hungry children has something to do with this, but the down side is, when her son and I are coming to lunch she tends to overdo it slightly.
We sit down to a massive bowl of homemade pasta, something light like tortellini in brodo with lashings of parmesan cheese, followed by a second helping, (come on they need eating up!). And I dutifully do my bit. The there's 'secondo' a recently killed chicken or cockerel which got two big for its boots or a steak or a stew with floury potatoes, succulently cooked in the juices, tender carrots and then the vegetable course a wide range of fresh vegetables in season. At the moment it's artichokes, so we are offered them grilled and stuffed with garlic breadcrumbs, steamed, boiled and then simmered in rich tomato sauce, in an omelette, and you think to yourself, they're only vegetables, what harm can they do?
After this there's the salad course, fresh fennel crispy and cool, to cleanse your palate. freshly cut rocket from the garden, or a ripe tomato and onion salad, liberally doused in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
And to wash it all down there's home made wine, cool and refreshing, home baked bread for mopping up the sauce, and
just when you think it's all over, out comes the dessert, two types of ice cream, various cakes and tarts baked fresh by her or by friends, so you just have a little taste to be polite. Finally there's a small Italian coffee, with a bit of easter egg to finish you off!
And now I think you'll understand why I am almost 20 kilos overweight, and hubby too complains about his michelin man appearance.

So today, it went quite well, I avoided second helpings, kept the oil and cheese to a minimum, didn't drink any wine and managed to have only the tiniest sliver of cake with my ice cream. Furthermore, I ate a lot of fresh fennel and rocket leaves which made me feel as if I was seriously healthy.

For our afternoon 'passeggiata' we went to a shopping centre, where I stupidly tried on a dress. I have two weddings to go to in June and am desperately seeking something to make me look better than the truth. I found a size 48 (size 16 UK readers), turquoise, simple dress, when I pulled it on, it felt pretty good too. Until I stepped in  front of the mirror.

As all women know, shops don't help themselves gain customers. I mean, put some flattering lighting, get a slightly convex mirror which makes subjects appear slimmer!  What does it take?!
But no, the mirror is your worst nightmare; and this one made me look like a particularly attractive German Wurstel tightly packed in blue shiny material which had had a rough journey in someone's shopping cart and had dents and bumps, lumps and creases.

Or maybe I really did look like that.

 My husband tried to cheer me up, 'It'd be ok if the material was slightly different, or if the dress was a bit bigger, you know.' Yeah, I know. Let's change the subject.

So anyway, food wise today went well, but no exercise, except a bit of housework and a walk round the shops.

Here's hoping my fat cells start to give up the right to party!
I wonder how much weight I can lose before June when I go to these weddings, any bets anyone? or sensible advice? It's  8 weeks away, what is a sensible weight loss in that time? I would say 8 kilos but that feels very optomistic!? Maybe it'll be  better to measure my soft flabby body and work on toning and shaping rather than losing weight only...

Well, off to sleep on it, and tomorrow I'll hopefully have made a decision!
Night all!