CG – love your list of things to do to distract or cheer ourselves up. I’d also advocate home pampering – facial, mud-pack, hair mask, manicure/pedicure etc; they put in the time if you’re stuck indoors and you look and feel gorgeous afterwards. 🙂 What do others ADers do? Share your favourite pick-me-ups and we’ll soon be happy campers again.
RE – your ‘play day’ with hubby sounds intriguing and could be on the list! 😉

You’re so right, CG – we have to spread the positivity as well as the support. You are very perceptive and always strike the right note. XX

Greetings all. I did not post yesterday as we had the most atrocious weather. I live at the coast and this latitude is not called the Roaring Fourties for nothing. We had gale force winds with driving rain for much of the day and into the night. The whole of the North Coast of Tasmania lost power. So my WFI was down. No hot water to make a cup of tea. We have a generator which hubby connected long enough to make some toast for lunch then it ran out of fuel!
Reverting back to a few pages ago. I grew up using imperial measurements too. I’ve sort of got used to
Kilos but have no idea how tall I am in metres. Just can’t visualise that sort of measurement.
I’ve just got back from doing my weekly grocery shopping. A bloke was in the supermarket checking people’s blood pressure. – if they wanted it done. I got chatting to him and told him my BP had come down a lot since starting the 5:2 diet. He’s a social worker and was very interested. He asked me if I was willing to go to his place of work and speak to some of his patients about the diet. So I’m going to do that. I won’t get too technical but just outline the basics. Our closest town is predominantly a low social economic area and there are far too many very obese folk about. If I can convert just one I’ll feel I’ve down my job. Needless to say I will give Michael all the credit.
XX Doggy

WOW Doggy, You are a star!!! What a great opportunity to take part in changing some one else’s life n health for good. I am clapping here for you. It is so nice of you to have accepted this guy’s invitation for the talk. Well done!!!!

And really hope that the damage done by storms is fixed asap. Hopefully everything is back up n running for you now. Have a safe one!!!

Great posts team! Its a beautiful day in Sydney, looking longingly out the office window – I wanna go out and play!! 🙂 Went for a bit of a walk around the block, so can’t complain.
FB – Apparently plateaus are when our bodies are adjust to a new set point ( yours is probably 70 kilos atm), seems the only way to get out of it is keep doing what we are doing. Soon. sixties for you ( and SueJen!) – how exciting!!
Not thinking about chocolate, FD today for me.
I had my (usual now) middle eastern salad bowl with some warm grilled chicken on it. Came to about 200 cals, I have 300 more that I can “spend” wisely 🙂
Doggy – great work on your part, I do hope many people are inspired by your talk. Indeed, by the transformation in each one of us.

Some of my methods to beat the blues…. call a friend and share a joke, volunteer or help someone (have you noticed the high we get when do a kind act?), watch people and fashions (shallow but great fun), talk on this thread!, fake it till you make it – sometimes if we start out acting cheerfully, then the effect carries on – and vice versa, if we start out doom and gloom, its bound to affect our day, if alone at home, put on some peppy music and dance to it…

HI all,

sorry been awol and don’t have time for an epic catch up post!

This week for me has been ok. FD Monday did well. Supposed to do a fd today and just didn’t feel upto it. kids have had colds / ear infection etc so I think we are all just run down.
I decided I am going to give myself a mental break from the FD today and try again tomorrow. luckily this is a marathon and not a sprint and flexible enough to do this with!

Trying to stay positive and just eat well today 🙂 I think its the gloomy weather that isn’t helping!

cheers M.O.M

Lotus, my lowest was 69.5 kilos in Feb before i went overseas. I know its only half a kilo less than 70’s but I so wanna see those 6’s on scales. I am strange, am I ???
LOLsss

Just going bk home from work dinner. Was not that bad, had some turkish bread fingers with hummus, one beer n pumpkin rissoto… And said a big NO to dessert.
Fasting tomorrow now before I go for a movie date with hubby on Friday. So drinks n dinner on cards before movie 🙂 🙂

But hinestly, I am getting frustrated with tge plateau now. Seems I have come to the same stage when I used to feel helpless. No matter what I do this has refused to budge any lower than 70.5kilos.

I am sorry gang if I am whining too much. But cant help it!!!
🙁 🙁 🙁 and you are my best friends to download my emotions. Apologies again!!! Sob sob

So Hi, gang, don’t know if this transmission will work, am on my laptop plugged into a cattle station satellite connection. I admit I had a blue day visiting the ruins of my families time in the Ewan Hills area,(which I fully intend to share with you) but one cannot be in the company of feral galahs without sucking it up! And the day has deteriorated from wallowing, to:

“… Yeah, but do you remember when we chucked crackers at the mule train so he couldn’t deliver our correspondence lessons….” and other nefarious deeds of a misspent youth (avoiding progressive modernization in them thar hills…)over the obligatory rum…. and whatever’s available…. and we ran out of coke early in the piece…so it’s cows milk straight from the source at this point. (definitely over my TDEE, but I’ll no doubt be quite happy to fast tomorrow!) It occurred to me that y’all might get a cackle out of my method of ‘curing the blues’….so since it’s a bit unusual, photographic evidence seemed a good idea(fact is stranger than fiction) I will try to take you on my travels. Expect foul ups. I am having a ball! Next stop is the outback pub that caters for all manner of ferals for the “Muther’s day, feast”! (I assure you, this has nothing to do with child birth!)

Anyway, I can’t read up all your posts in this situation and am taking a risk on the generator, but I do thank you all for caring. I am well and the Belle is holding up much better for my weight loss. love to you all xxx gyps

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/gypsybell3/My%20life%20051_zpsgoyfb

My Hidden Valley Home

Hidden in the valley
Old memories of home
Still hold the heart of me
Wherever I may roam

Through the red gums
O’er the ranges
To the silver iron barks
Where the running river flows
We were children – free as larks

How fare you now, my friends?
For I am old and worn
My heart cries for the mountains
For the land where I was born

At least, I think I was
But I cannot be sure
For all I know of me
Are the mem’ries that endure

Through the wilderness of time
I hear laughter by the creek
The ghosts of children playing
Hidden Valley hide and seek

The Glenderman’s – The Furbers
the Reddy’s from the Fox
The Hansons the Joneses
chasing poddys through the rocks

The tinkling bells of mule trains
Rumbling lorries hauling logs
The cooees of a parent
Calling us from chasing frogs

Sadly, sadly gone now
I should have let it be
But I went and walked the ruins
And found no trace of me

What shall I say is mine, then
When I can roam no more?
Just an echo through the hills
And the mem’ries that endure.
nwx.jpg
http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/gypsybell3/My%20life%20048_zps3tb9bulm.jpg

Hi All!
Loving the ideas for getting over the blues and keeping ourselves on track….especially dancing around to your favourite music; will work off a few cals too so win/win!!
Suejen – going shopping is definitely a pick-me-up; don’t we all love something new in the wardrobe, especially if it’s in a smaller size! Well done on approaching the 60s…you’ll be there soon 🙂 Also, agree about the porridge; it keeps me warm and full for hours and hours.
Doggy – hope you’re safe and warm and that the storm has passed. I think you’re amazing to be spreading the word about 5:2 to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to turn their lives around….good on ya!
Oh FB – I so empathize with you about chocolate (you might remember my losing battle with a certain Toblerone!!!). Well done you for changing your mindset. As a friend said to me; “don’t reward yourself with food (chocolate, in my case!), you’re not a dog!!” 😉 Don’t give in to the plateau blues; it’s very common and you will get through it. CG is right, there are other changes going on in your system and you will be on the move again soon. Enjoy night out with OH xx
CG – sounds like you have the right idea for staying cosy in the bad weather. Off to my french class soon and then ballroom dancing tonight with my sister – the first one since last December, when she had to stop because of shoulder surgery. I’m sure we’ve forgotten all the steps by now!
Lotus – you are right about going through the motions until the mind catches up and we can really feel as good as we act. ‘Make the physical mental and the mental physical’. And fashion watching….what’s shallow about that?!!!! 😉
MoM – sorry to hear about the illness in the family. Well done on FD on Monday; that’s a success. Just keep going, a day at a time 🙂
Keep posting the uplifting ideas – it’s great fun xxxx

http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/gypsybell3/media/My%20life%20051_zpsgoyfbnwx.jpg.html

Must apologise, don’t know if anything got through, but think if it did it was in triplicate! really don’t know how this picture thing works only comes our as links to me??? but does that show (to everyone) the entire pics I put on the app?

GYPSY- thank you for you and sharing your childhood and your heartfelt poem…. search hard and I am sure you will find something of you ….. not only childhood memories of innocence. What G8t pics of you … so slim well done !!! you fabulous you !
FIT- yes!…. of course you detected something naughty…. would you expect less from a tresure? NOOOOOOOO not toblerone!!!!!! will it help my sore throat? YOU BET!
SJ- welcome to size 12 or M …. if it is better than before enjoy the beautiful feeling of the clothes showing off the new you. So proud of your success …well done.
Going to the bede…….hugs to all…..GO GALxxxxxx

Dear FB, don’t worry, just because the last times you gained weight, you felt frustrated and helpless, does not mean a small blip up (or staying same) will change the new you. The difference, you have found a sustainable, flexible tool to help you. I am hanging around in 73-74 zone for the past couple of weeks too… It’s frustrating, but hey, like SJ, we can shop average (not L or XL!!) most of time! I think your dress size may be changing even if weight static. It’s just the body thermostat setting dear.
I tried on some trousers that were too tight before and found them loose! That’s my feel-good for today 🙂
Have a great time at dinner tomorrow – good times = less stress= weightloss in the next few weeks 😉

Fit – great posts, and looks like you are having a ball of a time 😉 stay well!
GG – you sound a wee bit better , hope the flu passes soon
SJ – great shopping for new clothes in medium that too. Well done, you !

Good morning all 🙂 Happy fasting . Wow! There is so much for me to catch up on, I cannot wait for the weekend to come around again. Lol – I’m a tad lazy.

Oops, couldn’t edit the last line, I actually meant to write, that on days the above strategies to fall asleep don’t work, I have come to accept it as par for the course.

Men – my husband can lose weight just by few days of cutting back on grog or working out more – its just not fair sometimes LOL
woohoo on the jeans Lacie!

Hello team. Once again there are so many interesting posts to read. Without mentioning anyone specifically, I think I’ve hit the plateau too. Ip when I first started, four months ago I was losing a kilo a week. Now This slowed down. I had a peek at the scales this morning and seem to be stuck on 67.5 kilos. Taking into account my starting weight was 78 I’m doing very well. I know I will get despondent at times but will carry on and give my body time to adjust.
Lacie I have suffered from insomnia for years. This is my solution. Years ago I bought myself a iPod. I have quite a lot of audiobooks on it. This I keep on my pillow. When I go to bed or wake up in the night I listen to it. Always a story I’ve heard before. I set the sleep timer. I find this stops the mind from going into overdrive thinking about 101 things. One can also find relaxation / self hypnosis tapes.
FD here again. Hubby went to the Asian grocery shop for me when in the big smoke so my weekend is going to relvove around cooking up some low calorie meals using the said ingredients. Yes he too does not need to watch his weight. It’s not fair but there are some things we just can’t change. BUT we can change the way we eat. Chocolates yes my downfall too. I just don’t buy them as I’d eat the whole slab in one sitting.
XX Doggy

Morning or nearly afternoon all as back from my usual Pilates class & then a physio session. I’m really thankful that we had a relief physio for 2 weeks & he actually hit the nail on the head re the source of my referred pain. It’s muscular & coming from my hip/butt as I have weak muscles there or have got lazy in using them…so all my RHS is tight as & getting referred pain. I can tell you that when he worked on my piriformis muscle (butt) I just about hit the roof. But I’m sleeping through better & much less pain. Now have to work on those squats!
I had a MOMENT this morning at pilates. There is a large mirror at the side so you can check technique. So I’m wearing my stretchy black pants & a sports top…..I’m standing up from an exercise…look in the mirror…..and think….My goodness I just about look slim! Now I’ve still got a long way to go but it just hit me full-on how far I have come with 5:2 & how much it’s changing my shape. Dontcha just love those moments. And for anyone who’s on a plateau….wonder what YOUR next one will be, because there WILL be one down the track. Just hang tight and persist aaand I know it’s hard, but be patient with yourself and your body. It’s working so hard for you you have to give it time.
So another FD today. HB eggs are boiling as OH stole some! Hope you’re all doing well and managing to stick to your 500 or 600. AS CG says it’s so easy now for most of us as we know the routine and what works for us best. And dream about what you might eat tomorrow – just not too hard! suejen XXX and thx for the encouraging words girls.
PS yes OH is the same…stops eating cake with his coffee for a couple of days & bam.

Hello all!

Doggy – I listen to meditation tapes too sometimes (had bad insomnia for a couple of years, but over now, thankfully). I like guided meditations like Yoga Nidra, or, oddly enough, uni podcasts (Dukes and other Unis do free podcasts on Apple University – Apple Store)- just enough learning and then sweet dreams, teaching voices are auto sleep inducers for idjits like me 🙂 LOL
FB – The tummy control briefs are great, (as the sagging tummy and other wobbly bits need help in a dress or skirt 🙂 ) but the stocking was an epic fail – yes, you are right, could have bought cheaper ones that I normally do wear for much more comfortable results, but the chemist that was closer to the office and sold me the stuff (“this is a much better product”, she said!). Oh well, one lives and learns 🙂

Hi All!
Sunny here this morning but still quite cool..temps in the single figures and it’s supposed to be summer!! Out to lunch today with some lovely ladies who used to share in round the clock care for my dad in the last few years of his life – we do this once a month, as we grew very close during those difficult times and they were so good to him; treated him with such respect, care and dignity. So, it’s supposed to be FD for me but reckon this lunch is more important.
FB – you’re welcome! I’m sure things will start to move for you soon, especially if you are a little more careful on non FDs – I know that worked for me when I got stuck. Don’t be too hard on yourself; you are genuinely beautiful as you are and if your OH is also ‘eye candy’!, you sure must be a handsome couple! I am thinking of dropping hints to my OH how easy it is for men to lose weight in this wol and I would be thrilled if he decided to give it a go.
SJ, Lacie – it’s a great feeling to see and feel the changes in the mirror or clothes and makes this all so worthwhile. Even clothes that I’ve been wearing before the loss just sit and look so much better on me now, that I feel as if I almost have a new wardrobe….much cheaper than buying new clothes!
Sleeping is an issue for me too; I think I have had broken sleep nearly all my adult life due to various factors – small babies, stress of the job, family cares and now, menopause and night sweats….it never ends. I have just accepted that I will never sleep properly, but maybe I will give the magnesium a go.
Doggy – I’m sure your plateau will end soon too. I like the sound of your exotic ingredients and hope you enjoy making some tasty dishes; you can do this!
GG – hope you’re feeling better soon, sounds like you have a right dose – however, your OH seems to be doing a good job nursing you through it! 😉
CG – glad you’re keeping safe and warm; soups and stews will certainly be your best friend. Look after yourself xx
Gypsy – have to keep going back to read your poem; it’s so heartfelt and moving, I really love it. Hope you’re renewing your body and soul on you travels <3
Take care, gang, and happy weigh-in tomorrow!

Ha ha ha GG, he is a happy dappy duck to hear that you did not notice any extra weight on him.
Fit, i reckon you are right, more disciplined NFD may be the answer.
I was fasting until 7pm, then a friend called up, went to meet her at shopping centre and decided to have dinner together, followed by a donut . All up still remained under TDEE of 1200 cals as I did not eat anything during the day. I think, i may do my third fast for the week on Sunday and then Monday will be first fast of next week. Looks like another B2B is on cards…
Nighty Nite Gang… See you all tomorrow.
FB