And these are the photos that CG wanted me to upload here.
This is what CG wrote abt her boys:-
“Indy is red and white, Rocky black and tan, Bailey, old boy is a ruby red”

Oh so cute!! What gorgeous boys….no wonder you are so fond of them CG – they must be wonderful company 🙂

Hello team. Lots of interesting reads once again. CG your dogs are lovely. I’d post a photo of Pepper if I knew how. I cant say I’ve really tried. I hope your cold/ flu is just a figment of your imagination. It would be a right bummer if you had your op cancelled again. I’m holding thumbs. How great to be getting compliments on your appearance. Yes too thin is not a good look. I’ve three friends who are much too thin. Two of them actually look malnourished.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m not exercising due to ongoing crook knee but my weight has not moved for weeks. Possibly I’ve become complacent with weighing food etc. anyhow I’ve decided to try and reboot my metabolism by fasting for 10 hours between breakfast and dinner on my FD. So I had Lean Cuisine Malaysian Chicken Laksa for brekkie and will have Miso soup for dinner. I’m sure to get hungry but will have lots of fluids in between. I’ll let you know how I go and if it makes any difference. I’m also going to read Michael’s book again.
XX Doggy

Morning team (or afternoon/night?) how are we all. Lovely CG to see your boys. How gorgeous are they. Thank goodness you’re able to take those meds & let’s pray they do the trick.
Doggy you need to get that knee sorted I agree with CG been too long. And it’s not helping your cause so get it looked into. I do think it’s a good idea to read the book again Doggy really good reinforcement/motivation & sometimes you pick up things you missed (or is that just the old brain saying we haven’t read it before!)
FB glad you’re OK apart no doubt from being stressed out with all you’ve done & work piling up. Working the weekend is not something to look forward to but it’s often much better than the work piling up & the pressure with it! Hang in there girl.

Can’t turn back the page so that’s all I can comment on. Have a great FD team and don’t let the cold,wintry weather get to you or your determination. Lots of hot drinks when you think you’re hungry, grit your teeth and hang in there…and before you know it, another FD will be done and dusted! You can do it…you KNOW you can. And for those taking a wee break 5:2 will welcome you back with open arms when your headspace is right. suejen XXX

Hi Fb, cutes dogs, made me smile!

Might put up a photo of my gal, she who is frequently at death’s door, though more often at the bedroom door yelling to come in for a cuddle, its 5.30am at the moment, she’ll be here very soon!

Re work – Ive just bought ‘Eat that Frog’ or some such title, about prioritising – worth the read, especially as its a thin book. Just sorted my short term goals, work, personal and weight, feeling really focused though 40lbs further loss by New Year may be a tad ambitious, but hey reach for the stars eh?

Ive a notion to write a TV comedy, quite serious, even done a screenwriting course, but never found the time to write, now its a medium term goal to start next February – short term goal is to earn enough money to take the time to do it.

Also bought ‘The four hour body’ – quite a tome so if nothing else I can use it as a weight, might help my bingowings – interesting reading – it was mentioned by someone on one of the threads, cant remember who recommended it, was it someone here? There’s a bit on 15 minutes orgasms, must say a surprising and unexpected bonus??? to weightloss which frankly I had never suspected. Hope its not a disappointment, though not too hopeful as written by a man.

Gypsy, a cruise sounds lovely, in your company a little bit of heaven! Resd up about the waxing and waning moons – more old wives tales which make us old birds proud to be heading to the wisdom of old wife status.

Im off go Copenhagen tomorrow for three days, visiting antique and flea markets – hard work but it pays the bills – lol! best job in the world!!! And the bonus of airport discounts on face creams, Im suddenly becoming the high maintenance chick Ive always yearned to be, good job OH seems to think spending £100 on creams and serums for me means he can then justify spending thousands on his cars. And I get to feel almost as precious to him as the cars are. Wish we has a Priceline here, Lotus! By the way, much of OHs cash goes on HIS Lotus, if summer ever gets here at least I get to drive it, though an open top car in Scotland is a total waste of money, but it is cute and now I can fit into it comfortably. Hurrah!

Have a great fast day, and a fabby weekend, and looking forward fo seeing a photo of a one shoulder dress (hint hint!) Hugs to everyone, have to go, Wilow has arrived, yelling to come in for a dying cat she is certainly full of beans.

Milena – I read excerpts of the Four Hour Body book, and cheat-sheets one kind fan had made – interesting reading actually, but the diet portion in it and the rules for it, felt like something I would find hard to do (e.g., fat burning with cold showers – not for me thanks, LOL; and different multivitamin tablets taken through the day – again not for me). Having said that, it is enormously successful, if you try any points, report here – would love to understand from a different viewpoint. The diet recommended seems to be low-carb high protein, even withholding fruit. The chapter on orgasms – hmmmm, written by a man, and physiologically accurate, but misses the main point – the key to female O’s lies in their minds. Anyhow, enough on that, before I get booted out of this site!!

I would love to have a Lotus (car) too 🙂
Have fun in Copenhagen.
Your medium term goal of writing a TV comedy sounds suitable to you, you do have a dry sense of humour.

Hi Lotus

though never having read any of the shades of grey book, my life is not long enough for such education, mentioned the ‘O’ purely from the weightloss perspective, though may I relate a wee story?

My sis was VERY pregnant when we decided to go to an Ann Summers party – do you have this brand in your part of the world? – long ago, in the days of relative innocence. Well, of course we giggled through the fashion show of scanty knickers and peephole bras, ably modeled by gals who I suspect may have enjoyed at least the idea of sitting in a window in ole Amsterdam, after more than a few glasses of cheapo vino, and snorted at the various ‘toys’. Finally the sales girl announced we should all try a very special cream, she called ‘organism cream’. Sad to say, sis and I rudely fell about laughing, tears streaming, getting worse and worse as one, rather enebriated – convent girl, I think – began to relate that she has never actually had an um, organism.

This proved too much for sis, whose waters broke at that point, baby safely delivered just an hour later, not before we had both been told off for sharing the gas and air at the hospital, untouched though it was. Should do laughter for pain relief on the nhs – or at least orgsnism creams.

Of course only related as interesting from weight loss perspective!

Too right CG just follow your urges and no counting…and yes, let the pressure off until your op I’d say – apart from you FD’s. Mmm hadn’t thought about your lack of pain meds, you are going to be sore so give yourself a break. You know after your 20/25kg loss (can’t remember which!) that any you put on before/after your op will be gone in no time once you get back on the horse.
Had a good day today and looking forward to my Chicken, Bacon Casserole which has a lovely gravy from all the mushies/vegies in it and only 340 cals (bit more than I usually allow but managed to fit it in). Delicious for a cold night and it’s sure that here – think we made it to 13o today, and my bus duties were not pleasant in the rain. Hoping for a bus shelter soonish…well, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly as we know. I’ve complained so many times to my boss that he eventually did something about it! Might get it next winter hey?!
Other exciting news…after our year from hell which continues, we’ve booked a 2 week holiday to Vietnam first week of August. We will need it so much by then!! Lifted our spirits just planning it & booking places.
Hope everyone’s day has gone well (or yours tomorrow CG) & that you’ve managed to have a successful winter FD – way more difficult I find, than summer. suejen XX

Hi All!
CG – feeling a bit down is normal when you’re under the weather and you are probably right that your whole system has been affected by going off meds. You have buckets of positivity, strength, good humour and common sense to draw on…so please just keep focussing on being in good shape for your op and the recovery period; let your gorgeous boys cuddle up and cheer you up and before you know it, you’ll be firing on all cylinders again! 🙂
SJ – so delighted to hear about you proposed holiday; I believe it’s a beautiful place with spectacular scenery and wonderful people….enjoy, you deserve it. 🙂
Doggy – have to agree with everyone, get your knee checked asap so that problems can be nipped in the bud.
Gotta dash to airport with daughter now…check in later.

Doggy, just limp on into the quack and get an xray. If that’s clear, I suggest you strap it and try alcohol. Orally. xxx

Good Morning people!
Milena that story is a hoot!!
Gypsy – lived your post above, also next one with prescription for doggy – alcohol taken orally haha…
CG – hope you are feeling better and the comfort foods hit the right spot for you. I agree with others, at the moment, feeling ok and readying for operation is more important than the food intake, if you are able fast even once a week, it will keep you in steady weight and also ready to come back to it later… Apart from that don’t worry about the food too much… I had chips last night, and Indian style comfort food.
Fasting today, and yes, hoping to keep to a ten hour fast between meals…
Fit – love your post, hope you get time to learn piano- one more great skill…
SJ – I hope your holiday planning is started? I saw this post somewhere on the Net to pack for humidity . Will post it here 🙂
Happy fast day to all fasting today, and eat day to others 😉

Hi Lotus – you sure are up early! Would love to say there’ll be skill involved if I get back to the piano but I think that will be stretching things a bit much!! 😉 Have you any nice Indian food recipes you could share with us? I have never tried cooking Indian but would love to give it a go.
YY – great to hear from you again; sorry you didn’t sleep well but hopefully things will be better today. Take care.

Morning Determinators….Well after last week doing 12hr fasts and then back home doing FD yesterday I have remaind at 71kgs. There is something to be said about leaving your comfort zone and routine.Still the clothes are saying positive things and one cannot be negitive about that.
GYPS- have an awesome time with your festivities …sounds very special. Your verses no doubt will bring a smile to all!. Hope there was not too much damage done in the stormm to your plants.
FIT- yes enjoy that sunshine and start playing the piano soon.
YUM YUM- so glad to hear from you. I’m another one who did not sleep well last night. It was cold here on the coast and Oscar (the dog) was taking all the warm spots with OH.
MILENA-I LOL so much … your story is priceless.
SJ- lucky you with your proposed trip to Vietnam. I believe it is an amazing country to visit.
I am off to lunch today to catch up with friends for their birthdays from last week….promise to go easy on the SAV.HAHA
Team have a wonderful day its POET’S DAY …….P.ss off early ,tomorrow is Saturday!Hope the force of those blinkin scales are in your favour……GO GAL XXXXX

Thanks, Lotus – will have a look at the recipe thread and try something simple…my OH will be delighted if I try my hand at more cooking. I did the spanish chicken dish again today and it went down very well with my daughter who was home from England and hadn’t tasted it before. She’s gone back again already – those few days flew past. I probably won’t see her again until August so feeling a bit in the dumps now. 🙁

Morning GG – enjoy catching up with your friends and don’t worry about the sav……it’s all in a good cause….spreading joy! 😉
CG – as usual, you are very perceptive and picked up on my motherly blues….I know I’ll be fine tomorrow and at least, I know she’s happy and loving her life at college. Have you seen the news about the Irish students in California who fell from a balcony which collapsed due to shoddy building work….six 21 year olds are dead and seven more are severely injured, two critical. They were all over there on working visas for the summer before coming back to college – it’s just horrific for the families who have travelled to the US to bring the remains of their children home. Such an awful waste of precious young lives.

OK for Poets Day – how about try our hand at writing a Haiku?

“A haiku in English is a very short poem in the English language, following to a greater or lesser extent the form and style of the Japanese haiku. A typical haiku is a three-line observation about a fleeting moment involving nature.”

I am going to amuse myself at lunchtime thinking about a Haiku for you all 🙂

Good Morning Gang
Thanks Gypsy, I am indeed sleep deprived, so will try n relax.
Lotus, will look forward to read your Haiku later in the day.
I fasted twice this week, and remained strict and calorie counted on non fast days. Only ate upto TDEE on non fast days and no alcohol.
Weighed in today at 69.5 kilos. This is my new plateau…. I planned to fast today as well, but Na, not feeling upto it. So, will fast Sunday now.
I am so irritated with my weight being stalled. I am at this weight and up n down by a kilo since end of Feb now.
OK, I see the body changing, however, this weight needs to move eventually. After approx 4 months its still there. So, people, officially, I have plateaued at this weight for 4 months now. No matter what I do, 4:3, 5:2, cheat days, calorie counting on non fast days, no alcohol, still it doesn’t move.

Not complaining, but putting out a pattern there.
I have come down to 69 kilos from 84.5 kilos, so cant complain. But the last 6 kilos are a nightmare. BTW, my goal weight of 63 kilos is far from attainable now.
Off to work… Love…
FB

Thanks FB – I’m sure the experts will come up with much better but it’s fun to try! 🙂 Hope work not too stressful. I’m off to bed so night, night!

Clap, Clap Fit! great Haiku! well done. Nighty night…
Doggy – Hopefully your knee will get better with warmer weather (on that note, will warm poultice work?), and that’s all that’s wrong with it.
FB – I can so relate to your post!! I feel the same too, stalled at B***dy 73.1 since April 30. I am grateful for losses so far, but, can it please move on again!! It’s frustrating. On the up side, I am hoping the net result will be a body that shrinks steadily and we don’t have unsightly sagging common to fast weight loss. I am going to try LCHF next week on and to see if that helps move the weight a bit too.
On a philosophical note, am I too attached to my excess weight (thinking about it, talking about it constantly), so that is why its not leaving me?? I am so ready to kiss you goodbye excess weight 🙂

Clap, clap, sez the lotus
“It’s udderly grand”
Fit’s on a roll in leprechaun land!

Ok all you dog lovers, since you woke the beast and it IS poet’s week…… this was one of my early works, from my ‘family fables’ collection, under the category of ‘short stories in long verse’. definitely going now, or I’ll be late for the party! XXXGyps

THE DOG

I first heard about the dog
From a friend who whispered low,
That the dog had caused the drowning,
And the dog would have to go.
The guilt could not be sworn,
But the dog was wet and muddy,
And the baby’s body found
With an arm all bruised and bloody.

The dog had been a pet,
A companion for the boy.
The two had been great pals,
To watch them was a joy
The dog had seemed so gentle
No one would have dreamed
That a vicious streak was lurking in his heart …
Or so it seemed

My man had heard the tale
And he found it rather strange
“Unless the dog had reason ….
Funny he should change.”
He begged to see the dog
And I fear I was annoyed
I agreed with all the rest
The dog should be destroyed

The dog, when I first saw him
Was tethered to a post
And he eyed me up and down
Like a tender juicy roast!
Big and mean and awful
I declare, a vicious beast
One step closer and I knew it
He would have me for a feast!

He never made a sound
But his eyes were shot with hate
He was headed for the pound
And he seemed to know his fate
Majestically he sat there
And my blood ran cold with fear
My man said, “He’s a beauty!”
But I didn’t want to hear

I turned away in haste
But in my heart I knew
My man had made his choice
And the fear within me grew
Afraid of my own shadow
I was city gagged and bound
But the man hailed from the bush
And he respected such a hound

Alsatian? German Shepherd?
Both brought treachery to mind
A rose by any name
Comes out smelling of its kind
That dog would have no master
That wasn’t of his choosing
But the man said, “He’ll come good!”
And I knew that I was losing

I looked back into those eyes
Was that glimmer really hate?
Or was it longing in disguise?
Loyal faith to give a mate?
Yet when the man drew nearer
The dog became aloof
Hah! I knew the beast was vicious
And his snarl was surely proof!

I begged the man to come
“Let us go and leave him be.”
That was when the dog decided –
And he grandly walked to me!
A paw came out and gently
It was placed upon my foot
He was staring at my hand
With those black eyes rimmed with soot

The man declared,
“Bedamned! You’ve won yourself a heart!’
and as I stroked that head
I knew we’d never part
Not as long as we were living
Those eyes had soothed my fear
And I’ll swear unto this day
That the dog had shed a tear!

The dog was very patient
‘til the mistress was well trained
How he called me to his bidding
Could never be explained
His manners and his bearing
Far exceeded mine
But the gentle looks he gave me
Seemed to say, “You’re doin’ fine!”

The dog was fond of music
And his tail would thump in time
Country music was his favourite
And I’ll swear that he could mime
His ear was finely pitched
And he’d set up such a howl
When I practised my piano
He would tell me it was foul!

Long evenings while I studied
He moved quiet as a lamb
And he gave up all his outings
While I swotted for exam
Anxious, waiting for results
My mind on certain doom
An echo in his eyes
As he watched me pace the room

And I’d take it out on him
As we often do with friends
But he never got offended
‘cos he knew I’d make amends
His mistress was ambitious
And the battle was hard fought
But he knew, I know he did
That I needed his support

The dog gave his approval
When the wedding was announced
He wore a satin bow
And a collar gaily flounced
He heard the solemn vows
And he guessed he’d tag along
Just to keep the mistress safe
Lest the man should do her wrong!

If I’d ever needed proof
That the dog was innocent
With the birthing of the boy
All doubt packed up and went
For it seemed as time went by
That the dog was never mine
He had loved me well enough
But was merely biding time

Still hidden in his heart
Was the memory of his master
The little lad he’d lost
‘neath the waters of disaster
As I watched him guard the cradle
There was sadness in my joy
For I knew the dog was grieving
For that other mothers’ boy

The years went by so swiftly
The boy grew brave and strong
The aging dog would muster
All his strength to tag along
The boy was full of mischief
Ever playing hide and seek
And then one day he wandered
Out of bounds towards the creek

I was sobbing with my fear
It was late and growing dark
Then above the whispering waters
Came a faint and warning bark
Just that final bark ….
And the silence settled bleak
Endless hours seemed to pass
As I ran on flying feet

When I came upon the boy
All hope within me sank
He was lying bruised and bleeding
Not a movement on the bank
I was sure that he was dead ….
Then I saw his shoulders heaving
He whispered broken words
As though his heart was grieving

I held him in my arms
And his sobs went on and on
“I was drowning and he saved me
Oh mum, my dog is gone!”
And in the blessed moonlight
I saw a cloud pass by
I prayed the dog was happy
With his master in the sky,



Morning everyone I weighed in this morning at 70.1 a loss of 500gr. I’ll take it of course but I was so hoping to see that magical 6 at the beginning!! Never mind, if I watch my food intake between now & next week’s fasts we should get there. But…….can I do that in this cold weather – yet to be seen. I’ve promised myself that I’ll use MFP and track everything even over the weekend which I don’t usually do, just to make sure it happens. My thinking is that I’d like to get down into the 60’s so that my trip away does not see me back into the 70’s. I ALWAYS put weight on on holidays (in big numbers despite walking everywhere)…I’m not one for passing up on anything when it’s new/different/may never be seen again! So a total loss of 12.3kg.
Milena hope you’re enjoying the flea markets and putting in lots of practice at being a high maintenance chick! Bring on those face creams.
Gyps thanks for your wise words. What’s happening is emotional blackmail and yes it’s very draining. And I will do as you say…just luv my kids when I can. Good advice.
Lotus can you post that link about packing for humidity pls?
YY hope you managed to catch some sleep after that midnight snack..what a busy girl.
FB looks like we’re at almost the same place in our journey. I started at 82.4 and my goal is 64. But same as you I may not make it all the way. I once made it to 66.5 YEARS ago, but didn’t stay there very long. You’ve lost around 15kg I think so you’ve done splendidly, haven’t you. And I think as we all get closer to our goals that it’s going to become harder to lose the weight, especially over winter. Hard to take I know but even if I can get to 66 or so and STAY there with 5:2 on maintenance I’ll take it. You look fantastic now anyway girl!!
Better finish but loved the haikus by the way..never any good at them! Enjoy your FD or NFD everyone & stick with our WOL you know it works……eventually. suejen XX

Gypsy – What a beautiful poem. I am trying not to tear up (in an open office…) but oh so wonderful.