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!

AAARGH! just jogged, shuffled, dragged myself around the block in my tracksuit pants and running top which strangely seems too small for my bumptious curvey bits which wobble around like a tsnami in the bathtub. It's boiling outside, I'm guessing at least 25C today and while that's positive, cos it got me sweating, I don't make a very attractive picture sweating and bouncing and trying to keep my blubber from falling out all over the place.

I just say to myself it is the beginning of a new me, and while those guys outside the cafè are smirking as I run/drag myself/shuffle/sweat past, in a few weeks they'll be smirking on the other side of their faces as I effortlessly glide past, with my sleek shiny ponytail doing the only bobbing up and down...

Now, sadly, I'm going to make a cake mix because it's my birthday in 10 days and I want to make a cake with my dream house on top. but I WILL be strong and try not to lick the bowl...

Back in the saddle

Hi folks!
Back in the saddle after years out! Well let's recap a bit, lost loads of weight and in October 2011 got down to my goal weight 64Kilos or 10st1lb! straight after LITERALLY we discovered I was pregnant! Great joy of course at it had been one of the motivations for dieting.

But now, 18 months and one bouncing baby later, I now tip the scales at a massive 83Kilos! That's 13 stone for my UK readers! Ouch!

So here I am back on the blog, which was motivating and fun and kept me focused.

Just thinking about what I have to change...

Portion sizes- they went out of the window with the pregnancy! I had nausea all day every day and the only way to keep it at bay was to eat...(that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

My new hobby- cake baking and making! just have to be careful about scaping the bowl, and giving my creations away!

Drink more water, and thus less tea/coffee which call out to have biscuits dunked in them...

EXERCISE the big one, with a new baby it hasn't been easy to find time to get off my butt and out of the house, but I promise now I'll start going for a brisk walk with the pushchair every morning. I did a salute to the sun the other day and felt like I'd been run over by a truck the next day!

I am still breastfeeding, and would like to continue for as least another year if possible, and I am worried that cutting down my calories will reduce milk production, we'll have to see about that.

Ok, so here goes, I'm aiming to lose 19 kilos, which is 3 stone, I reckon I should give myself a year, so that for my 42nd birthday I'll be on form!

Sorry for the silence

So long since I really wrote, not only because I seemed to be making no progress and slumped into a deep depression requiring tubs of chocolate icecream and family sized bags of M&M's, but mainly due to the fact my husband (who is a legend in his own lunchtime) has stopped going to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday nights, effectively robbing me of my 'alone' time which I used for writing and also experimenting with mud and cling film.
it is also true I have been ill on and off for about 5 weeks but now feeling pretty good again, the days seem to be brightening up and the rain, at least for now, is holding off. Yesterday i had another tennis lesson and i have to admit, I enjoyed it. I even made grunting noises like Martina Navratolova and had to run a few times! By the end of half an hour I was  bright red and sweaty, but feeling ever so happy with myself!
This last week also managed to haul my lazy ass out of bed in the morning and take the dogs for a walk so they are happier and less stressed than usual and life is good.
The good news worth broadcasting is that I am still under the 80K mark even if I haven't been follwing my own advice, so here goes again for the big push! I'm signing myself, dogs and hubby up for a fun run on Sunday 28 March! Photos to follow...

weighty subjects after dinner

Hello folks, sorry about my absence. Partly due to time restraint as working like a dog (which would be great as my dogs quite frankly do less than nothing), and mostly due to this crappy flu-cold thing which is consuming all my energy.
On the plus side I can't taste anything and eating is really hard work so maybe I've lost a bit of weight thanks to the blocked up nose and respiratory problems! The downside of course is no stretching or exercising of any kind as any jerky movements make my eyes feel as if they're popping out of my head.
One of my lovely friends has suggested I give Weightwatchers online a try, I am open to all suggestions but will hold out for independence a little longer as I have an aversion to authority (especially when I am not the authority).
I'm reading a great book called 'Why the World is Fat' and is a scientific breakdown of the changes in culture starting with the introduction of labour saving devices and going up to fast food and convenience food. Right now I'm at the bit where she explains that just by buying a dishwasher you'll find your self 2lbs heavier at the end of the year! Washing up burns approx 10 calories an hour, supposing you spend half an hour after every meal washing up in a year you've used 5475 calories which you'll stop using if you buy a dishwasher! She adds up all these tiny changes and claims that it is for these reasons the global population is quickly becoming obese!
The other interesting thing she says, which weightwatchers also teaches, is that previously we drank only water when we were thirsty. Now we drink soft drinks from childhood, putting into our bodies hundreds of calories every day which don't help sate our hunger. I must admit, when I stopped drinking wine with my evening meal I did lose weight easier. But it's not easy to forgo!
I promise I'll get back on track with new stats on Monday, even if they're bad news I'll air my dirty laundry and carry on the valiant fight!
Adios amigos!

rain, rain go away!

Sitting here after that fantastic cake and no exercise because of the rain! So still not losing weight and my time is short so I haven't been slapping mud on although I have been using the roller machine I mentioned before, I don't think it is particularly efficacious but it hurts a bit...
I did weigh myself this morning and the damage wasn't too bad I suppose, tipped the scales at 79.6kg hey ho it's a long and dirty road I'm walking...
Haven't been able to play tennis due to rain stopping play and anyway have a stiff neck, and a terrible cold which reminds me of being 5 years old and worrying about how to eat without opening my mouth to breath. There began my career as an underwater swimmer methinks!
Would like to note that when you feel as if your head is a size 14 bowling ball it's difficult to follow all those top tips I mentioned earlier, so please forgive me for the time being and rest assured as soon as service resumes I'll keep you infirmed (I meant informed).

Valentine's day uhoh!

Well my true love went out today and bought me a massive bouquet of flowers for which he was placed quite firmly in my good books for the week, yes I know I'm generous, but flowers have that effect on me! And then as I got out of the car I noticed an interesting container form the patisserie in the back ?
'ohmygiddyaunt what have you gone and been and done?! You promised NO CHOCOLATES!' I couldn't shout because obviously I was weeping inside for the cellulite, but was secretly crying with joy, 'don't worry darling,' was his suave reply, it isn't a chocolate cake, it's ricotta cheese.' Oh my favourite!! 1 kilo of cake between two of us, needless to say I won't be standing on the scales tomorrow...
Happy romantic supper!