Goooooaaaaallllll!!!!!

When I very first started blogging I posted a little list of things I wanted to achieve at some point.
Although I've never revisited, updated or added to it as planned, miraculously some of the things have managed to get done.

The one I'm about to report is a nearly there, take a reality check, really there.

I wanted to weigh 9 stone again - a number and an aim based partly on vanity and partly on a few health issues. Well, I'm not quite at 9 (because I actually now think that might be a bit too unmaintainable) but I am at 9 stone 1.5lb (a whole half pound lighter than my Weightwatchers goal of 9 stone 2lb).

Now most people embarking on a weight loss journey might choose to blog about it from the beginning, giving weekly progress reports, sharing healthy recipes and hints and tips. Me, I'm starting at the end and then pretty much leaving it there. Let's face it - who wants to become a diet bore?

The simple facts are:
I was right at the top end of what was a healthy weight for my height and all the extra weight seemed to be sitting round my middle - the most unhealthy place for it to be.
I'd sustained a few running injuries which I couldn't shake off. No running led to more weight gain, which in turn made running more difficult.
A few of my friends had been successful with Weightwatchers and then one opened just round the corner from where I worked so I popped in one lunchtime. That was 3 months ago - I've now lost 19.5lb, fit into all my forgotten clothes at the back of the wardrobe and am well and truly up and running again.

And it's not been that bad. I haven't had to live the life of a recluse or give up everything I enjoy. I've still been able to cook and experiment with new recipes. Now I just need to keep it off and not slip back into my old habits.

For me, food will always be much more than just fuel. I'm a classic emotional eater - food is my reward, my solace and my way of expressing love. It is very much a part of me, and one that I don't really want to change. So now I just need to be a bit more thoughtful about what I'm putting in my mouth and follow my new mantra: Eat, drink and go running!

Testing, testing...

...does this still work?
Oooh, yes it seems to - maybe I should get back to it, give it another go?
Why not? I mean, I enjoyed doing it at the time.
What's that? Lack of time, family and work commitments, having to fight with the children to get on the computer, the stress of the day job, fear of giving up again, nothing much to say, the negative voices that came up with all of the above?

None of them matter do they? I mean, I haven't posted here for two years and yet it all still works.
If I'm doing it for me it doesn't matter if nobody else reads it.
If I'm doing it for me it doesn't matter if I don't post very often.
If I'm doing it for me it doesn't matter about anything else at all.
Just that I'm doing it. For me.

Because there's still always cake...

Wired help

Lately, there has been little to bring a smile to my face at work.

But every now and again something comes along to lighten my mood - like the offer of another pair of hands to help me out with some of my more tedious tasks.

So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce my new assistant...

Unfortunately he's only temporary and is moving on to bigger and better things on Friday.

I shall miss him.

Two things...

... that have brightened my return to work this week.

Hoping that maybe, possibly, I might be in with a teeny weeny chance of winning this fantastic giveaway from Silver Pebble.



Her jewellery is so beautiful - do pop over and have a look. Be quick though - I think the giveaway ends tomorrow.

And then I discovered this story on another blog, and it has made me chuckle all day. If you need cheering up then go and read this - I can't get the vision of it out of my head.

Easter Sunday

Lots of chocolate eggs (I survived my no chocolate and coffee for Lent!) and cooking dinner for my mum and my in-laws.

Smoked mackerel pate (my very own made-up recipe):

Get out the food processor and whizz together 4 smoked mackerel fillets, 400g of cream cheese, a bunch of chives, lemon juice, horseradish sauce and black pepper to taste. Put into ramekins (this quantity made for 7 generous servings) and chill until ready to serve. We had it with crispy rolls and green salad.

Followed by Delia's roast lamb with onion and rosemary sauce and then Nigella's heavenly rhubarb meringue pie from How to Eat.

Wish I'd got a picture before it all got eaten.

Progress report

Readers of a nervous disposition please look away now - the following blog post contains pictures of a graphic nature which many may find disturbing.

Before:

Please excuse the mucky trainers - at this time of year I only tend to get my legs out when I'm going for a run.

After:

Let's just say Famous Dave's fake tan was not a resounding success. Please note the tide marks around my toes - believe me, it looks even worse in real life.

My legs look like they've been creosoted and my sheets are stained in a most disturbing manner.

David Dickinson eat your heart out.

It's arrived!

My parcel from the Beauty Bible:

Just look at all those goodies!

There's probably about £150 worth of stuff there, so that's my first concern put to rest - but I now have others to take its place.

Like I have to try a fake tan.

Right now.

We've been away for a few days (more of that another time) and I've already missed one of the deadlines for submitting my opinions, so today has seen me undertaking a major deforestation program on my legs a few months earlier than I was hoping for. Then there was the exfoliating and the applying with a special mitten to get my head around. Now I just have to wait until the morning to see if I've been tangoed.

By the way, don't let any impressionable young children follow that last link - apparently it may turn them into happy slappers (not to be confused with the unhappy slapper that I will look like tomorrow morning if this all goes disastrously wrong.