Hi Aussies, very late chime-in from the US….busy doing school prep and packing for a visit to see family. Seems a thousand things need doing that ordinarily I wouldn’t give two hoots about😐

Carbs, for me, had to be just crossed off the list for a whole – at least the simple ones (sugar, white flour, and for a time, all grains even whole). Now here it is about 9 months later and I don’t feel the same nuttiness. Still have a healthy love for my sweets though!

Fit, I’m so pleased the carer is working out so well! You’ll have an even better time on your trip now. Enjoy the good times with your family in the meantime♥️ (I will NEVER understand those Irish boys! They sure are cute though😉)

Mandy, you’re singing to the choir re the scales – it can be a long road but don’t give up! It’s a fun way of eating and plus there’s all of us, I mean who could resist. If nothing else, IM = immediate forgiveness for the splurges. And Up I’m kind of in the same boat, but it is good to hear from you. Diet is a small part of life. I haven’t felt like fasting lately either, but I’m sure you are beat from all your travels.😴

Sue, fingers crossed for good results💛💛💛. We can swap notes about our physios, whatever is to come. I chuckled at your OH not sitting still, mine is WAY too still – usually on the couch! His favorite line, “no, let me do that…tomorrow.”😂

CG I’m just so ticked about little Bella, what a fighter. But what choice did she have, with you and Gypsy for role models? How fortunate are all your furry friends to land on your farm♥️

Time for this hen to hit the nest – off for the weekend tomorrow, let’s all have a good one 🔆🍷💕xxxxxx

Hi all! Now, that’s more like it! What a wonderful way to wake up and start my day with such positive and supportive posts. I must admit I felt a little down this morning when I realised that without a second fast this week I’d be already up on the scales before I leave for Spain. So thanks for the lovely posts which gave me a real boost this morning……you’re the best bunch of gals on the planet!
UP, I hope you start to feel in the 5:2 zone but, as Mandy so beautifully put it, it is really helpful to know that others struggle too from time to time, no matter how long they’ve been following this path. Carbs derail me too and I practically never eat bread anymore. Cakes and biscuits are also a problem and don’t get me started on chocolate! Take care of yourself, dear friend, and just ‘coast’ for a while until you get your mojo back. 💪👍💞💞
Mandy, that was indeed a beautiful post so thanks for taking the time and risking the boss’ wrath to write such thoughtful words. What part of Ireland are your relations from? You must let me know if you ever plan on coming to visit. 💚☘
SJ, my twin! I’ll be following your physio’s advice too because my posture is not good and is something I’m always forgetting about. I have a long back which doesn’t help. Sitting at the piano for long stretches must be tiring and looking at the music sheets and keyboard probably doesn’t help your neck either. BTW, how is ‘Africa’ coming along? Wishing you all the best 💚💕😃
CG, how is Bella doing now? It will be great to see her thriving and catching up on Gypsy. Your chocolate cake sounds far too tasty but you can keep the yoghurt….far too healthy sounding for me! You have a real partner in crime with Julie, what a treasure she is. 👍😃
Jade, I hope you have a great weekend. Have you far to travel? Please relax and look after your back!! No hauling heavy suitcases! 😉😂
Ok, gang. Gotta run and do the very last of the packing…..chargers, adapters, toiletries etc. Then, weigh the cases! 😱😳 Then, big get together with my OH, ds, niece and her ds, sister, sis in law ……at a local cafe, of course! Well, it’s my birthday tomorrow but I’ll be en route to Spain so I’m celebrating today instead! That’s my excuse, anyway! 🍾😋😃

Well gals had my visit to the dr and all’s pretty good considering. The 2 tests for the dreaded C in my bone marrow came back as negative – thank goodness!! The radiologist saw something in the CT scan he didn’t like but Peter my dr said that’s not uncommon. You do 1 test and it throws all sorts of other queries at you. Carotid arteries have a small amount of plaque but no biggie. We’ll have to up my statins if I can’t get it down in 3 months. Apart from that it’s physio exercises and posture awareness. The danger is that my neck will become fixed in a forward position if I don’t work on it, so that’s enough warning for me! I have colour dots all over the house at eye level to remind me – well in common work places such as sink stove computer etc. They do help 🙂
Think I was so relieved after the results (plus it was bitterly cold) that I popped into the bakery and got a coffee on my FD. That wasn’t too much of a problem but……..I also spied AND bought a chocolate croissant!! Oh my no much of a FD but did go home & have a proper FD tea. Won’t be much of a weigh-in tomorrow. But on the positive side I haven’t had a wine to celebrate so reckon that’s a plus!
Hap hap happy birthday Fit – you’re the same day as my DIL. Best of luck with the last of the packing and mostly with the weighing. And best wishes to my twin for a lovely holiday in Spain. wish I had en emoji of a bronzed young Spaniard!
Jade have a great weekend and travel well AAAAAAND don’t do too much my dear 🙂
Byee all suejen XXX

Ph, how wonderful to have that help. My daughter hasn’t cleaned out her own stuff here,let alone mine!
I have just taken a zyrtec literally in preparation for a clean out. Tried it yesterday and was sneezing after about a minute! And this is for my wardrobe. I think walk in robes gather dust and especially if like me you don’t use winter stuff much and are away a lot. I seem to have a number of things that I wear a lot and then up the back, things I don’t even remember I had. Thought I’d put some stuff in my daughter’s room. What a joke. Her wardrobe is full of her stuff which she informs me is “not rubbish but stuff I don’t want to wear” and of course she is hundreds of km’s away, so nothing is going to change any time soon.

It is such a good feeling when it is all done. I just have to make myself start the job at the point where the tablet works but I am not becoming drowsy and decide to nap instead. So much easier! 😉

Bugger just lost a long post….78.7kgs today up .7 kgs will post later ….hope you sre all doing well….GO GALXXXXXXX

HI folks somehow missed yesterday. My weigh-in was about as expected seeing I stuffed up both my FD’s a bit. I was .1kg up at 74.7 so happy to have managed to maintain at least. It was our anniversary yesterday & we dined out a lovely local Italian restaurant. Food was scrumptious & wine was nice & had 3 courses so I’ll need my FD’s next week!
When I woke it was a beautiful sunny spring day but now it’s grey skies & started raining bummer! I was so looking forward to a walk. Maybe we’ll get a bit of a break during the day.
GL wow what a low weight you’ve got to….amazing!! Your belly fat must surely be all gone now 🙂 And a wardrobe of new clothes how wonderful with that – and you even remembered to chuck out the emotional baggage along with it too. You must be one very determined lady!! Congratulations.
GG like me you’ll need 2 good FD’s next week to get that gain off. Won’t take you long…or you could do your famous 3 days. How’s the new job going?
Ooh CG you got a new range hood. OH & I were talking about if anything else needed doing in the kitchen & my reply was Just a new range hood will do it. So we’ll be looking around for a nice one too. I get lots of dust in our place too as it’s a very open house with 4 external doors & in summer especially we keep them open (only 2 have screen doors). Also have huge bifold doors on OH’s studio & they stay open too so we get dust plus the occasional critter inside like stumpytail lizards & sometimes a bird who flies in to say hello. But despite that we love it – it’s sort of like bringing the garden inside. You feel like you’re a part of it. We will be very sad when we have to leave this house. The big yard will eventually get too much for OH.
Up did you get the wardrobes cleaned out before the zyrtec took over & zonked you out??? We still have stuff around from our 3 kids who all left in the same year. Most of it has gradually gravitated to the shed & after asking them about what’s left & no replies we are slowly ditching most of it, or posting some precious things to them. They’re just all too busy.
PH still all hustle and bustle at your place – but new room sounds pretty flash. Seems a few of us are struggling to get through a FD. I must admit some days I’ve been about to dish up some lunch & then remembered that I shouldn’t be having any! What a memory!!I’m with you on the rule about weighing now PH though never thought I would manage it. I actually find it VERY liberating & I don’t let the scales rule my mood any more or my efforts. Always wanted to do it but never could 🙂
Yes Up certainly agree that carbs lead to more carbs & a desire for more eating in general. But I do find it really hard to cut them out. I should start with just trying to gradually reduce them would be a good start!
Jade hope you’re having a wonderful time with family & yes I did eventually celebrate with a few wines…..mmm can’t quite remember how many!

Well sun is out between the clouds again now so may get that walk in. Better go shower & dress & start the day. Enjoy your weekend all. suejen XXXX

WELL DONE GL!!! You doing soooooo well.
Not long back from our local growers market where we buy all the produce you will need .The best is the cheesemaker the camambert cheeses are so creamy. Its the one I use in the tiger bread with olive oil garlic and rosemary that I have on our fb site. All the vegies are $2-$4 a bag so it is very economical. We walked around drinking great coffee by the barista eating egg and bacon rolls on home made bread….delicious.
Tonight having friends for dinner so the afternoon will be spent preparing SWISS CHICKEN WHICH IS OH’S FAV. ALSO BROUGHT SOME WINES that are produced in Bulladelh ,a great Vardello which is very much like Oyster Bay Sav that is a favourite of a few of our group…..remember SJ!
And desert will be the undoing of the guests, as one of them is making her famous mascopone and chocolate layer cake.
Can definately feel a 4:3 or B2B happening next week with 5:2.
Lunch tomorrow at the again local oyster resturant with the succulent WALLIS LAKE OYSTERS that Forster is renowned for. Diffently a weekend of gastronomical delights. This dinner has been planned for awhile with all of us looking forward to the catchup.
Will not be starting my new direction in Nursing for awhile… have the paper work to desipher, then the criminal check to come through…..OMG WHAT WILL THEY FIND!…..only that I am an overly bubbly excitable person, love life and everything it can offer..with the exception of somethings that get on me goat,then the”dark side” comes out.
BIG HELLO TO UP, PH, SJ, CG, JADE AND FIT (IF YOU ARE READING)
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND WITH FAMILY DOING THINGS THAT MEMORIES WILL BE MADE OF…..OFF TO DO THE COOKING AND MAKE UP BEDROOMS….YES! THEY ARE STAYING THE NIGHT!
Love to all……GO GALXXXXXXX

Ola, mes amigos! 💃
I’ve read all the posts but haven’t enough time to reply.
It’s absolutely roasting here but the house I’m staying in has a/c in the bedrooms and a swimming pool in the garden…..heaven!
I was really sick yesterday, the day I arrived, due to something I ate, so I had an unplanned fd😱 It was my birthday too! 😤😢 However, everyone has decided that we would call today my birthday instead so we’re all going out for a meal soon. It’s a hard life! 😉😃
Love and hugs to everybody 💞💕💚

Hi Jade. So glad to hear you had a lovely family visit, very precious indeed! Give that old horse a rest for a while, you deserve to enjoy the indulgence, fun and relaxation. How is your back holding up?
I won’t even try to reply individually, gals but I’m thinking of you all in your triumphs or struggles and sending you lots of good thoughts and wishes. I’ll be taking some photos to put up on FB, so see you all there soon! 💚💕💞😃

Hi Fit and Jade, sounds like you are both doing what you should and enjoying all life offers when away from home and visiting friends/family 🍾🍰🎉. What a bummer FIT, sick on your birthday! I’m sure you will make up for it knowing your love of life..and all it holds.
Jade, spending time with family is always so special, even if it is a flying visit. Hope you had a good visit with your mum💕💕

Well the main Deep Clean is done and dusted..YEAH!!!…🤗🤗🤗. Thank goodness as D starts her Full time Maternity relief position for the rest of this year tomorrow . Now just have to finish pressure washing the paths and breezeway , help OH tidy up his downstairs double garage and a few last minute jobs in the garden. The electrician comes Tuesday to finish fixing the spa, lights etc and were ready for the photos.

And we had a wonderful offer from the parents of D,s best friends husband, they live quite close to where we are going to be living and have a large house with a big yard and have offered to Let us park the boat behind their shed. We have not even met them, what wonderful people there are in the world. So off to buy a good boat cover tomorrow. Ain’t the world a beautiful place😀😀.

These early nights are great, fell into bed last night at 8pm after the news and out like a light straight away. It is now 4am and I have had a great nights sleep, just goes to show that hard work is the key to sleeping well. 😴😴😴

Big Hi to everyone else. 💜💜💜💜

Hi all, happy fast day! I am much more into it today although it is only 7.30 am so a long way to go till bedtime!

Quick hello to all. Yes FD for me too and busy getting house ready for our family. So that stops me thinking about food though later I do have to cook a slice for us to nibble on with our cuppas and chats! But cooking on a FD doesn’t ever seem to bother ne so that’ll be fine! Have ti do a good one while I can 🙂
Suejen xxxx
Up to Perth tomorrow to pick up at the airport. Stay overnight and do some shopping.

Monday and a FD here too, team – sounds like lots of fasting success going on🏅We landed back home yesterday, out with friends last night, too tired to be really hungry but of course THAT didn’t stop me.🍻😆 But it was a great trip, I scooped up all the love I could💛 It is good to be home though. Contractor coming by this morning to see abut some renos, as we’ve decided there is no Woolgoolga around here. OH is the dreamer with brilliant ideas, now let’s see if they’re affordable.💰

PH sounds as though it has all come together for you, what a team effort💪and finally is it ready for the market? And re the boat – yes people can be so kind, glad you have them near you.💜 Enjoy your rest, the pool will be there tmw👌

Up you poor thing, Zyrtec for the cleaning out? Ha, indeed it is way easier to take things out than to figure what comes next. OH is a specialist at that! Lol he bought dust masks to sift through papers but they are for the most part unsifted and the masks were the only thing to get tossed.

CG is little Bella still getting on well? I can’t believe even your outside-the-greenhouse garden is already so lovely. And yours too PH. Isn’t it still winter down there? I didn’t do so well growing veggies, but shall try again next spring. If nothing else, the gardens were very pretty and I fed a lot of creatures besides ourselves☺️ And CG you’re still doing some renos too? This is a well matched group, seems we are always on the go😍

SJ how’s your neck doing? I’m so looking forward to my pain shot tmw – and yes as Fit asked, how is Africa coming along?🎹 Congrats on maintaining, it’s a useful skill😊and one a long time coming for this gal. Not sure I have it quite mastered yet.🤔 Enjoy having your family visitors♥️💛♥️💛 (Wondering now what a stumpy tail lizard is – oh goodness I googled him😳Interesting looking little fella! Not sure what I’d do if one of those greeted me in the kitchen…)

GG, so pleased about your new job – for you and for your patients who’ll get such loving care. Seeing the people who care for my mom made me teary-eyed with gratitude. They always had a kind word for me as well, to let me know she was never a bother. Those with a giving heart are worth their weight in gold💛💛

Fit, continued safe journey to you, hope you’re having a grand time. Strength vibes to Gyps☘🌟 Thank you all for the well wishes for the trip♥️🔆😍xxxx

Posts just seemed to pop up fron Up and Jade.

Up congrats on your good day..sounds like a few successful ones from the group. We can and will do this!!!

Jade , great that you had a good visit with your mum and yes, it makes your heart so full when you experience the care given to our mums …and GG will be so great at it.
Exploring options is a good thing…so if you love where you live, and it sounds like you do then renos are certainly worth exploring. Have fun dreaming of what you would like? I was lucky as I knew where I wanted to go. It was just a matter of finding a place suitable within our price range..yes we are almost ready for the photos, just some more pressure cleaning and a few bits and pieces to go. We have decided to have a beach holiday at Daughters place for the week between photos and open house..no use cleaning twice 😀😀😀. OH will probably take the opportunity to go fishing for a few days with tent and boat so will have some lovely mother/daughter time. 💕💕💕. Best try and get more shut eye..hope your injection works a treat!

Gyps..looking forward to reading the final chapter. Think I replied to you on watt pad about being awake for a loo visit..buggar..oh well everyone has to have them😀😀😀
Bye for now 💜💜💜

Hi all!
Having an absolute ball here. Staying in a gorgeous villa with swimming pool, a/c in the bedroom and fabulous covered veranda which gets a lovely cool breeze if it’s too hot to sit elsewhere. The birthday party for my OH’s friend was brilliant, lots of amazing food , peach schnapps of course!, and several guests sang and played instruments so it was just fantastic! There are four couples and two others staying here and we’re staying in tonight with everyone making a different dish to share…..should be wonderful!
Well done to all who are fasting and showing their true AD spirit. 💪👍😃

Hi all, did not do fast day today as forgot I was going to!! Will do one tomorrow if I remember. 😏😏😏

Jade, always good to have a little tantrum..going shopping usually does it for me too. Buy something I really want that is expensive just to stick it to OH then have to work what to cut back on so as not to blow the budget..as that is up to me..so in the end just give myself work..but it feels good at the time and I get something I really want.
Gyps, hang in there gal….you just need to start, can’t imagine how I would manage with a ceiling full or snakes!! Nice chat on Facebook.

Went to the doc this morning and so he thinks I should stay on the 75mls Lyerica for two weeks without the additional Endone, once the work is all done and then go,back for a review. Also ordered full blood tests to see if there is anything there that has changed. So we’ll see what eventuates. According to him I have not put on any weight from when he last weighed me. So it looks like I have just added back what I have lost in the last couple of months.

Well should get up and get at it. Will it be making cushion covers to match the colouring in the rooms, or pressure cleaning some more of the driveway…decisions, decisions, decisions.. Bye for now 💜💜💜💜💜

Hi all!
Sitting here in paradise….just out of the pool and sitting on sun lounger as I type. 😎😄 Then we’re getting the bus into nearby town for meal at old port restaurant which serves fish and seafood just out of the water! Mmmmm 😋
Well done, PH, on your continued project in getting your house shipshape and ready for the market. I agree that it will be snapped up! 💪👍😃
CG, hope all is going well with Bella now. How are your renos going?
Jade, a good sulk can be very effective and at least, you don’t say something you’ll regret. I can’t believe you’re back into the throes of school already…..bummer! I hope you find there’s less of a workload this year….and remember to say ‘no!’ to any committees!
Big shout out with love to GG, SJ, UP, Gypsy, Mandy, GL, and anyone I’ve missed (could be sangria-brain! 😱)

Morning all, not going to do a second fast this week. Need the energy to get through today. Last push then it is all over. yeah!!! Next week will be free and clear and so will be extra good then. Made the cushions yesterday and yes they are for this house but will also,work in the new setup so win win…so a pressure cleaning day for me today. Hope the rain stops or I will be needing my rain coat…….

FIT. My two favourite things, seafood and seafood….and the best fresh just out of the water…enjoy, you are having a very special time 🎉🎉🍾🍸🍹enjoy every minute, you certainly have earned it..

Jade, I’m sure you will look stunning in your new blouse. How are you travelling now you are back at work pain wise?

CG. It is only the Endone that is keeping me going. Drugs are wonderful when you need them. Next week will consist of lots of resting over at daughters beach place….and no extra drugs. Don’t want to get addicted.

Big Hi to everyone else. 💜💜💜💜💜

Hello everyone here I am back again. I did some backsliding from early in the year. I went overseas on holiday and then with one thing and another, I did not continue with the 5:2. The result being that all my hard work has gone by the wayside and I’ve managed to pile on 10 kilos. To be honest I got really despondent as I was just not seeing any progress and found the neverending plateau depressing. So once more it’s onwards no upwards. Just not in the weight department I hope! I’m planning to start my first FD on Monday. I’ve just found my 5:2 recipe book and am going to,cook up some meals for my fast days and label them with their calorie content and freeze them.
I see most of the old team are still here. Good on you and I look forward to being part of the AD team again.
Doggy

Thanks for the warm welcome back CG. As you know I have known for a long time that I need to start the FD again. I guess I’m just like a lot of us on this journey. I enjoy food and look forward to my meals. I know I eat too much. I’m going to have to start with some good self discipline. Mind you I’ve done it before so can do it again. I HATE the way I look so have the necessary incentive. 🐷🐷🐷
Doggy