Thanks dear Fit – I did have fun today, it was funny because midafternoon we were both so thirsty and we realized we had been chattering nonstop for at least 5 hours! Ha – she is a teetotaler so we opted for cherry limeade and in the small print I saw they offered a “diet” version but my big rebellion of the day was to pretend I didn’t see that. I also had a great lunch and have just polished off burgers and sweet potato fries for dinner.
I am just a bit down because every time I think I’ve tamed my appetite, found the secret to my cravings, I see I’ve gained a few lbs. WELL NO WONDER YOU’RE NOT HUNGRY….and yet I have felt hungry even gaining those lbs – all while being fairly disciplined (especially compared to years past), passed up food I’ve wanted, opting for the more healthful option, having just a small piece of chocolate instead of the whole bar. Hell, if I wanted to gain a couple of pounds I know more fun ways to do it!

Well, as you said, if that’s the way it is, I guess I have the choice to keep fighting or be unhealthy and let the pounds climb aboard. Shoot, I don’t like those choices, wah wah wahhhhh!👶😫 I am feeling ornery!!! However, I know what the choice has to be. Fine.😡 Ha, I really do need a pacifier right now!
Love you all♥️💕xxx

Hi jade and fit. Just popping In to say hi before I turn off the light. I just love the banter between the two of you. Makes for joyful reading. Had a bad back day today and so not feeling very chatty at the moment. Will catch up tomorrow.💜💜💜

PH, so sorry to hear about your back….when it acts up like that, it affects your whole system and mood. You probably did overdo things with all the sewing, you supergran! Take care, my dear, I hope the rest does the trick 💚💕💞
Jade, I think snacking covers both your bad habits and mine, because we mostly snack on sugar and carbs, right? So, try cutting out the snacking and see how that goes. One step at a time. I’m right beside you 👭
I’m just back from visiting my sister. She was dreadful again. Then, we heard they are thinking of discharging her and they hadn’t even discussed it with us or checked to see if her carers would be back in place for her return home! WTF??!!! Grrrr! My other sis and I were so angry, it’s a wonder we didn’t end up being committed ourselves! 😡👺 We said she can’t come home until her care is in place and we also said we didn’t expect her to be worse coming home than when she went in! The nurse just said ‘Oh, well, you knew she had to go home at some stage and it’s probably all in her head and it’s part of her dementia, so what do you expect?’ Honestly, I’m going to kill someone! There’s no common sense or joined up thinking anymore. Ok, calm down, Fit, before you have a fit!

Don’t apologise for ranting, Jade, it’s all healthy and better out than in! We’ll make sure there is plenty of care in place before my sister comes home, or else, we’re just not taking her home! Love and hug right back at ya, twin! 💕💚💞😘

Hi there Jade! Just loving your snarky side….give ’em hell, girl! 💪👍😉 Yes, it’s amazing just how dumb a room of academics can be….must think of a collective noun for them too 🤔🙄 So glad to hear you’re feeling better and getting on top of those blasted hormones or demons that launched a sneak attack on you yesterday! Thanks for the kind thoughts and wishes….all will be well. 💚💕💞
Hi to everyone else. Please come out of hiding and keep myself and Jade company! 👭👭👭👭👭

Wow, Jade, that’s just too many battles on several fronts. I think you should tunnel under the table for now and maybe, for future eventualities, plan to have emergency snacks with you to avoid the inevitable sugar/carb temptations produced at these events when you’re so bored you’d eat your own granny! As for pizza with the neighbours, let OH get the pizza and you can prepare a healthy salad to go with it. Soldier on, my brave comrade in arms! WE CAN DO THIS! ⚔💪👍😃💚

Hi there PH! Thanks for popping in when you have such a busy time on your hands. You didn’t show any signs of self pity at all. I know how debilitating a bad back can be. I hope you are in top form by the time your family arrives. Your daughter is such a thoughtful sweetheart. I’m glad she’s going to have lots of treats to celebrate her birthday. I’m sure you’ll smash your fd, it can be easier to do it on your own.
We’ve requested a family meeting with my sister’s doctor and will make all our complaints known. She is due to have her MRI scan on the 20th June, the day before they discharge her! God knows when we’ll get the results of it!
Have a wonderful time with your family from Canada. Create special memories and take lots of precious photos to keep those magic moments with you forever. Love and hugs 💞💚💕

Oh dear, Jade. I am sure my husband would “concur” about faculty meetings! PH, great idea about the food. On the other hand, maybe it helps people get through them. My husband has never mentioned food, I don’t think they get any!

He does have to go out to dinner tonight with a visiting professor though and I have book club today so no fasting here.

I was really good on Tuesday though and tried and failed to fast yesterday. It never works when I change the day. I had to go grocery shopping, bought crumpets and came home and ate some after buying myself sushi for lunch. I never buy or eat crumpets but the doc as I have mentioned, wanted my husband to stop eating eggs and start eating the logicol margarine more. Seems crazy to me but there you go. And Mrs doesn’t have a sweet tooth here even added honey. What the?

Anyway, tried cooking a tofu stirfry but it turned into more of a curry and either way was a disaster. I will leave it to the restaurants to cook the tofu, I quite enjoy it when it is well done.

PH, I will miss your family by a day. I will be at the international airport on Saturday! I am dreading it though. Long haul and cattle class. Not a happy combination for me, I have a knee that will ache like billy-o. Then after a zillion hours of flying I will end up at a hotel in New York at about 6pm, and try to make myself presentable to meet my son’s serious partner for the first time. First impressions and all!

Fit, hope things are improving although it doesn’t sound like it. I hope the sun is still shining over there!

CG, go you! Doing what some of us would like to do but aren’t brave enough! I need to lose more weight before I will ever have loose skin there but my arms are looking pretty wrinkly these days and in sunny Qld they don’t often get hidden under clothes!

I hope the recovery goes well. After having 4 caesarians, I remember the pain of laughing, coughing etc.

You are a wise woman so I am sure you thought long and hard and did the research. No doubt you have done the best thing for you! Enjoy being near family, and all the best. xxxx

Hi all! It’s great to see our mother hen back gathering all her chicks under her wing again (and I don’t mean bingo wing!) He, he, UP….with all this sunshine, I’m afraid my wobbly arms have been on display too, but what the hell! I need to be comfortable in the heat, right?😃 ☀️
CG, I’m so thrilled to hear that your op is over and that you are starting to recover. It’s fantastic that you can stay at Glenn’s with Leah so close by with the grandies. You will be well looked after and spoiled rotten, as you deserve. I agree wholeheartedly with SJ too about the smoking. You have done such an amazing job to improve your health by losing 30kg, now keep it going with the no smoking. You’ve done the hardest part. You’re a legend! 💪👍
UP, I hope your flight is not too uncomfortable. It’s very difficult to look your best coming off a long haul flight but if anyone can do it, you can. Stay well hydrated (not with gin!) on board and use a good concealer under the eyes ……it always works miracles! 👍😃
Jade, I think a ‘snoredom’ of academics would be appropriate! (Excluding you, of course!😉) I hope you’re feeling better now. We all need a little break from this wol at times but you’re still doing better than before you started it. Keep the faith! 💪💚💕💞
SJ, enjoy the rest of your amazing trip, especially the last two weeks with your family. You will be right back on track in no time when you get home. That’s the beauty of 5:2. There’s no failing or giving up, you just take a break and start again when it suits. 💕💞💚😄
I’m fasting today and feeling good so far. It’s only just over two weeks until my god daughter’s wedding and I really want to lose another kg or two before then. Wish me luck! 🍀💪👍

Wow congrats CG that’s awesome, kicking the smokes and getting a tummy tuck😍😍- both of those took some solid steel nerves💪Glad all went well, and how lovely to recuperate in the arms of your loving family💕💕 Sorry to hear you can’t tolerate the morphine, so yes OUCH indeed. Now do NOT go about as usual, follow doc’s orders, no baling hay or roping calves or any of that farmer stuff for a while!

SJ great to hear from you, your photos are magnificent (not just the food ones lol) – and what a great idea to plan more time with the SF grandies. Wave to me as you fly back there, I’ll wear my AD hat so you can see me east of the US Rockies.☺️ No worries for the scale with all that love to enjoy♥️ family is far more important.

Up and Fit, I survived the faculty meeting, both the verbal assault – a Snoredom indeed, Fit! – and the food assault. But later I had the biggest craving for cake!! When I was shopping for dinner, I was ALL OVER that store looking for the perfect pastry. I guess it’s some progress that none of them seemed worth it to me. But ha ha, this isn’t one of those stories that ends with me patting myself on the back as I leave the store with a sackful of organic veggies. I decided that Toblerone and Cadbury were worthy (oh man, aren’t they always!) so my friend and I had a fine time sharing those.💕🍫🍸

I think back to basics may be the solution for me. Fasting 2x and then easing up a bit on the other days. Hey Fit I can join you today, let’s do it! I’ll have dinner tonight with D, a girls’ night, but no reason that can’t be light. At least I’ll fast for most of the day regardless, and that’s what has worked for me before. All right then, it’s a deal. See you at the water fountain! 😍 Hugs everyone, love hearing all the news♥️ jade xxxxx ps oh and welcome bophe – my “juice” of choice is coffee☕️☕️☕️it’s a good “cleanse” as well, plus cheap and no calories🤗. I believe I’ll have another cup now!

Wow, who is that indeed! How did you resist? What were they serving, steamed toenails? Bottle some of that willpower and send it over here. Oh golly when I saw that Toblerone yesterday, I thought of you! Also remembered loving them way back when I had my first one, actually IN Switzerland. Those little triangles break off so easily! Then my friend and I shared the entire bar of Cadbury, the kind that has about 88 squares🙄 She was just in Ireland, too, what a coincidence – the chocolate virus must be contagious😂

I’m going to work some of it off by cleaning up the clutter here, because the house cleaner is due at 11 – right when I have a conference call with the librarians, gosh how exciting. What do you call a group of those, I wonder! Oh, and btw thanks again for that Japanese clothes rolling tip, I love opening a drawer and seeing everything. Doesn’t really wrinkle as much either. Ha, at least one thing in my life is organized! Hugs twin, stay strong and kick those kgs off💪💕xx

Got it! Ha, they are rather wormy, and so geeky, but not pompous like some profs, so I like them. 🐛🐛☺️ Yes, Switzerland was a wonderland of cheese and chocolate and mountains, right the scenery !! was even more gorgeous than the food! It was my introduction to this “mocha” idea too, wow chocolate and coffee my faves♥️♥️ But seriously you should get a trophy for today🏆 – well done! xx

Great to see so many posts. It is 2am and can’t get back to sleep….so excited…so time for a post. I had a very successful fast day yesterday and lots of rest so,all good on the home front. oH managed to get to Bris safely without doing his shoulder any harm. Starting my majic pills today and so looking forward to some pain free time with the family for the month I am on them. 💃💃🚶🚶👪. Will at least be eating healthy food as Canadians mostly vegetarian. However will have to celebrate with a 🍾🍾..

GG what can I say. WAHOO! 🤗🤗 Well done on taking the steps to make you feel better. I have often wondered what it would be like to get rid of my apron but a long way to go for me. So good to have your lovely Glenn looking after you and the boys. And to have Leah and Tegan so close by will be great for you to have some precious family time as well. Take care of yourself and I concur with The others in saying that now you have kicked the smokes give it your best shot and try to kick them permanently..very hard thing to do but you have such willpower anything is possible for you. 👍👍

SJ. Lovely to hear from you. How is that pesky leg going? Such great memories you are creating and the last two weeks with family will be so special💕💕.

UP I remember well the feeling of arriving after long flights in cattle class., however you always look stunning and so I’m sure you have some tricks up your sleeve to make that good first impression. 😘😘 So exciting to meet your sons special person. 💞💞. You must be looking forward to that and of course your planned travel. Have fun!! And the food we had at our full day meetings came from the hospital coffee shop..privately owned and run…which for some reason had a focus on healthy food, along with its yummy home made decadent slices, cheesecakes, and all the tempting stuff. I really miss their cherry ripe cheesecake…it was to die for..and they had great coffee.

Bophe. Welcome to the thread. I have my daily healthy green drink which I make myself in my vitamix. Full of fresh vegies and some fruit for taste with mint, wheetgrass etc..it does make me feel good and full of fibre. Hopefully detoxes some of my medications which I have to take regularly. good luck with your journey on 5.2.

Fit. You are doing so well..😇😇😇such great willpower going out with friends and just having coffee☕️☕️☕️Hats off to you my friend! 👒🎩🎓.🤗🤗🤗. You are setting a great example for the rest of us..we can do this and even though I am going to enjoy my time with my family and not concentrate on what I normally eat , they eat so much healthy stuff I would not be surprised if I actually lose some weight while they are here. I will still be doing my two fasts,per week if possible.

Jade. Basics are the way to go. I found I had the best success when I kept it simple and uncomplicated. Gets a bit boring at times but works. However with the life you are leading, you probably have never had boring. And you are just so active. My house and studio are just shining ✨✨after my wonderful cleaner gave them a good doing over. She stayed for 5 hours and did everything I have not been able to get to. My son takes after my mum and keeps everything clean, neat and tidy so he has a perfect place to start with. I did not work until my youngest went to school and My mum used to come around and baby sit the kids, do the housework etc for two hours each day while I went to a hotel and balanced all the tills and did the banking and the wages. .. It gave us both some pocket money as we split the wage..and she taught them so many good habits that they never forgot.. then they used to go around and help her out when she got older by being a slave for a day for her each birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas etc. she reinforced those values and was so pleased that they still did things her way. Lucky for that because I hate housework. 😒😒Don’t know what she did wrong with me!! ..enough of my rambling but…..I always think of mum when the kids are coming home because they were so close to her..she was always just as excited as me to see them and it was the same for them. 💕💕💕..
Will try to get some more shut eye now. This has been a great distraction. Thanks for just being you everyone..ain’t life grand!!!💜💜💜💜💜

Just have to share my news. My daughter in the UK has just won four awards, their equivalence of in-house Oscars! I’m bursting with pride and have an ache in my jaw from smiling like an idiot! 🎭🏆😃

Fit. You must be bursting with pride…and so you should be..it is great to see our children get recognition for their amazing talents….four awards..wow!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆..I’ll bet there will be some celebrating in the FIT household happening🍾🍾🎉🎉🎉 did eventually get back to sleep and on,y just woke up..its almost 9am..only 8 hours to go till I get my cuddles💕💕💕

Aw thanks guys! I just wanted to jump through the screen when we were skyping earlier on! Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend 😄😃😊😍

That’s very good news Up, anything that makes the flight a little more comfortable has to help. We’ll miss you here, it seems like we’ve only just got you back five minutes ago! Have a great time with your son and enjoy NewYork 🎤 …”start spreading the news” 🗽

UP. We flew premium economy and with JAL they were the old business class seats where you could lie almost flat. We were stoked and will book that class again. Much cheaper than business class. . The new ones in business class are completely flat. Hope yours are the same..😘😘. I guess it depends on the airline. Enjoy!

Way to go, Fit!! Wow that’s a great result from your efforts. No snacking (and no eating lol yesterday at lunch), what a shocking secret to weight loss! 😂 Doing the happy dance for you💃😍

PH I remember those seats that would fold down – not into anyone else’s lap – soooo nice for long flights. I’m picturing you now having nonstop cuddles with family, enjoy dear one♥️♥️♥️ And Up, you will be traveling in style to New York, well done! I will be there in August, wanna wait for me?? I love New York, hope you have a blast. CG are you still doing OK? Stay away from the smokes😎

My handyman skills, such as they are, were put to good use at D’s yesterday. Managed to hang blinds that go inside the window casing, didn’t have to use the hammer once! Her new rug came and makes her tiny living room brighter and cheerier. And of course lawn mowing. After all that, I was up for her suggestion of sharing a pizza, and I’m afraid I didn’t skimp! Though I did have a salad so it was balanced. I confess I’m coming off a low-carb rebellion of sorts, so now that I’ve evened the score psychologically 🤔 I am truly prepared to behave. Just can’t resist trying every shiny new approach to eating. But mostly whole foods, allowing a few detours, suits me best. As soon as I tell myself I can’t eat something, it is the one thing I want😈

It’s a happy Friday here, beautiful sunny day, only a few things to do at school but I stayed at D’s so it’s just a couple of miles commute instead of my usual hour. Have a wonderful day all you Aussies!!🔆🎉✨💕☕️xx

Oh dear, Fit. That is no good. I think being in hospital can affect older people mentally and disorient them and then other things deteriorate. It seems like a common issue, also with any general moving. Not that she is that old but I guess she had issues to start with. I hope things settle down. The idea was to cause everyone less stress, not more!

I am here in the Qantas lounge settling in for my flight. PH, it won’t be that good, definitely won’t be lying down but it will still be light years ahead of economy for the things that matter to me.

It is annoying that you have to wait at the airport for so long before a long flight. 3 hours of basically sitting before you even get on the plane! Anyway, in some ways I like this bit. There is no more thinking to be done. If I have forgotten to do or pack something, there is nothing I can do about it!

Up , Up and Away!

Jade well done. Handy is not my forte at all. My husband says it is just a matter of thinking things through but I think it is more than that.

Hey CG, nice to know youre up and about, hope feeling better? And speaking of Up, safe travels, know exactly what you mean about finally getting to the airport. Fit, prayers and hugs to you, I hope for better news for your sis. Love to all, Im on a laptop, no emojis. xxx