Pippa, love your real name! That’s what I’ll call you now. My family are the only ones who call me Susie. I’m really more of a ‘Sue’.

Martin, I hope your cold is a thing of the past. Antique cars?, Do you know your way around an engine?, I always admire that.

Pippa, are you getting warmed up to the idea of more ‘movement’, walking, whatever…? You get to enjoy more food when you exercise! That and it really makes me more psychologically…well, less ‘psycho’, if you know what i mean.

I have been eating and drinking to my heart’s delight Fri, Sat ,Sun. Fast days are Tues, Thurs. Yikes, we’ll see if the scale tells me I’m okay or i need to buckle down a bit on non-fast days. I hope it’s the former.

I know alot of cartoons but the ones you two are mentioning never made it over to the US. Pitty, they sound inappropriate.

Talk to you soon fasties,
Sue

Hi Sue
Our cartoons were part of a daily Tv segment called Watch With Mother. They were lovely and quirky but not inappropriate. Pogle’s Wood was a stop-frame animation about Mr and Mrs Pogle, their son Pippin and his rabbit friend Tog. I think there was a witch who tried to trick them out of their patch of wood. I don’t think we do inappropriate cartoons quite as well as the US – Family Guy, South Park, American Dad. Though we do dark comedy very well as a genre.

I’ve dug my ball-cushion out and am going to see if that helps with the exercise quotient. Hope the scales came out on the right side for you. I think it’s a little harder to fast as the nights draw in and thoughts turn to comfort foods like soups, stews, and the like. But I’m trying to get the exercise bug!

Happy fasting,
Pippa

Hi Pippa,

Talking of cakes, on monday one of the girls who keep horses in my stables appeared on the doorstep with a huge lump of iced cake for me, as it was her 18th birthday 🙂 Of course it would be rude not to accept and eat all of it! I persevered on tuesday and wednesday, leaving one nice end piece for today. Yum.

Next season starts with the annual 200 mile all-night rally, on 17th/18th January. I’m not sure I’ll do it yet, as the start is at Thirsk, 150 miles from here. Gone are the days when I could drive up, do the rally, and then home again without sleep. It is always freezing cold, usually raining or snowing, and quite a test of endurance.

Yes, I took Rolo out yesterday, but not on horrid rainy days.

Hi Martin
Sorry for the quiet on my part – it’s been busy at work and then half term and Halloween was upon us. Had friends visiting from the West Country with their kids so all a bit manic, if good fun.

I hope you’re not downhearted by the smaller than expected weight loss. I’m sure you’ll get back on track – especially now you have a home gym. And that target for the end of November is certainly achievable. Stumpweasel expects you to do your thing and achieve your goal!

With visitors I’ve been baking which isn’t good for fasting…so I haven’t weighed myself for the last week because I don’t want to see what progress I’ve undone. As my clothes are still loose I’m staying positive – I got back into an old pair of jeans. But now, it’s back to work and back to fasting properly and I am looking forward to it.

Best,
Pippa

Hi Martin, Hi Pippa!
You guys sound good! I hope the exercise equipment is working properly Martin. And that cute doggie is still getting out for walks with you. And Pippa, you are a marvel to me: Parenting, working AND baking scrumptious goodies while sticking with your 5:2 health plan.

I have been waffling, questioning, unsure of my commitment to 5:2. Please excuse my dropping off the page here….I exercise regularly and the diet gives me a dizzy, sick feeling and that headache problem comes and goes. I think I was overindulging on non-fast days, Plus my family was supportive to a point but all breathed a sigh of relief when I told them I might not do it anymore!

I have decided to to a 3 day a week plan where I stop eating/drinking at 8 at night and don’t eat until 12 the next day…..And I will stop eating the sugar that has been creeping back into my diet…no thanks to Halloween!!

Keep posting friends, I like to hear what you’re up to,
Sue

Hi Sue & Pippa,

I’m still walking, sometimes with Rolo, sometimes not, but my latest is that yesterday I had a local fitness trainer here to show me how to use the gym properly. She has set me a programme of exercises which I shall try to do three times a week. Today is my first full go.

Good luck with your new regime Sue, I hope it’s enough to keep the pounds dropping off. Sometimes you just have to have some sugar!

Pippa, it must be difficult having cake-making as a hobby. All those scrapings from the mixing bowl, and bits of icing, just too tempting! I’m trying to imagine the Monster cake 🙂 . When our children were young, my wife made several amusing birthday cakes. Up in the village there’s now a dedicated cake-makers’ shop, so it must be popular. My Mother used to make wonderful huge Christmas cakes, and with my birthday just afterwards, somehow it always fell to me to ‘finish it off’. No such temptations now, thank goodness.

Best wishes girls.

Martin

Forgot to mention, I’ve just made my Christmas cake! Need to feed it some brandy over the coming weeks. Then marzipan (best bit) and icing.

Hi Martin, sorry for prolonged absence. Just got so busy in the run up to Xmas that something had to give. Anyhow, Happy New Year.

I did put a goodly layer of marzipan on my Xmas cake (homemade as it’s not as bitter as some shop-bought brands). But only a thin layer of fondant icing as I find it too sweet.

Well done on getting down to 13st 4lbs. Have you lost any more at your birthday weigh in? I am back up to 13st thanks to Xmas. I was expecting it to be worse so am quite happy. Now going back on the 5:2 again to see if I can get past 12st 10lbs. But I do find that I’m still being a bit more thoughtful about how much I eat so that’s one benefit of this diet.

I’m not one for New Year Resolutions, they end up being millstones around your neck. Instead I’m going to stick with the desire to be more svelte. How about you?

Pippa

Hi Martin and Pippa!
Nice to hear about you both. I want a picture of that Christmas cake Pippa. Then, I want a slice! It sounds delicious and very different than our typical cakes. You have to roll out the almond marzipan right? Then place it over the cake like a blanket? Do you do Facebook?, How bout you Martin? Let me know bcause I’d ‘friend’ you in an instant…but I’d understand if the more discreet exchanges are more comfortable. i’m a very visual person, enjoy taking and seeing pictures.

I love the fact that you guys are both keeping to the commitment to better health through paying more attention to what you eat and also adding regular exercise to your lives. Good going Martin with not letting that exercise machine get dusty! Are you getting your neighbor’s dog out for walks?

I’m happy with my approach these days too. I am doing a bit of a ‘sugar detox’ since the holiday cookies and candies are finally gone. My 12 year old is with me. Not complete ‘no sugar!’ but no extra sugar, like yes to fruit but no to fruit juice. No to cookies and yes to the granola cereal with less sugar….Like that.

I’m also going to try to keep exercising almost daily. If designated ‘exercise’ time doesnt fit in, I’ll be more conscience of taking the stairs more and doing chores that require more walking. Keep those calories burning, I hope. My holiday gain was about 3 lbs. pants are a little tighter but I’m not discouraged….today.

Keep on doing those good things for yourselves, and let me know about Facebook?! ;~) Sue

Hi Sue good to hear from you, and hope the low-sugar approach goes well for you. I must admit to the odd chocolate binge but again, thanks to 5:2 these are less frequent. I appalled our location manager showing chocolate bars in my handbag, followed by the stash in my desk. But the bars had been there for weeks and (mostly) still are.

Yes, to the marzipan as you’ve described. I didn’t take a picture of this year’s cake, wasn’t my finest hour this year, but I do have a collection on Facebook (be warned one looks quite rude, though it wasn’t meant to be), including 2013 Xmas cake. I’m Pippa Baddeley, profile pic of my face with my new bob, if you can’t find me shout.

Happy 2015,

Hey you two,
How are you doing? I just tried to ‘friend’ you on Facebook. I think I got through to you Martin, but I think there’s some block for yours Pippa. Some UK/US thing? but Martin’s worked I think….I’m Sue Bender in Richmond,VT

I saw a rainbow cake Pippa!!!! Gorgeous! But no Marzipan, I’m intrigued by your rude cake design warning…too bad, couldn’t see it.

Anywho, are you getting through the post holiday rehab? I am up 4 lbs since before holidays. I have decided NOT to get on the scale for a couple weeks. I’m working on getting back into a healthier routine. More exercise, less late night chips and wine/beer. After a couple weeks, then we’ll see what the scale(and the jeans) tell me. Right now, elastic top pants are more comfortable!

Pippa, are you sitting on the ball thing at your desk? Taking a trot around the office whenever you need a stress break? Doing the wii with the kids?

Martin did you enjoy all the time with family in London? Walking around at a big show like that, I think would be a great calorie burner.

Keep taking good care of yourselves, and I’ll do the same.

Hi again, I’ve had another look at FB but can’t find you Sue. There are several of your namesakes, but none that I can see in Richmond. I found you Pippa, but it says you have no friends! I only found one cake, with Smarties on top, but not rude. Nice black cat.

Hi Martin
Glad you enjoyed Warhorse, youngest is looking forward to seeing it. I just can’t bring myself to go, because the reality is most horses didn’t make it back. I cried over a Richard Gere film about a dog called Hachi who waited at a train station for years for his master (based on Japenese true story from 1920s/2930s).

The Smarties cake was lovely; the black cat is my baby, had him from 5-week old kitten, so I’m the preferred human in his tribe. I have sent you a FB friend request, think my settings are locked down so I look like Billy-no-mates with a penchant for cake! The rude cake was based on a Lili Vanilli “Sweeney Todd” cupcake, mine just ended up looking rude. If getting your name on the end credits of a few shows makes you almost famous, I plead guilty.

The tall ships day sounds fab. I want to take family on a sailing course, so we could holiday with Sunsail when they’re a bit older.

Hi Pippa, we’re now friends! I too have sent a request to you Sue. It must have been a different ‘me’ that you sent yours to Sue, as nothing has come through from you.

I went on a flotilla with Sailing Holidays Ltd. who were a very friendly bunch and good fun, so try them as well as Sunsail when you are thinking of going.

Hi Sue & Pippa,
Monthly weighing today, and I’m relieved to say it is going down again. 13st 2lb (184lbs). Due to various interruptions I only managed to start 4:3 properly last week, but it seems to be working, and not too difficult.

I hope you’re both doing well too.

Dear Martin,
You are the king. That is so great to see the #’s on the scale go down! I always want to hear about your exercise update too. What’s happening with that? I guess because I want to still eat my regular healthy diet of cake and wine with out counting calories. With this mid-aged body, I NEED to keep getting the exercise in if I want to keep eating…. I’m not doing anything great weight wise, but same as Pippa, not gaining any weight. Would enjoy a little more wiggle room in my clothes though!

I’ve started to re-learn my swimming strokes with a swim guru woman. Just this cool 50 yr old who lives eats breathes swimming, she’s sooo spunky and funny. I’d love to enjoy swimming for an exercise. I’ve only enjoyed doing the breast stroke for the last 30 years, but you dont get much of a workout. I’m trying to get the freestyle stoke down. Then I could keep it up as I get really broken down, water is forgiving…

Keep on taking good care!,
Sue

Hey Martin,

Thanks for your note.

How are you feeling? Okay I hope. 4:3 seems tough, I admire you for doing it. Any triumphs to report? Do you wake up feeling any different day after a fast day? I love that power, or strength I felt!

Swimming lesson tomorrow. Pants still too tight. Keeping positive.

Yay for life!,
Sue

Hi Pippa!

Hi Martin and Sue,
sorry for another prolonged absence from here. Younger child’s school have a parent/teacher drama group who put on a pantomime every March (think it’s 21 years and counting). I don’t perform but I do help paint scenery (only the basic stuff though) and I’m stage manager for the performances. I feel like I’ve been living at the school over the last 4 weeks. Work/paint/sleep (and finally curtain up) has pretty much been it. The 5:2 went by the wayside, I just couldn’t fast as well.

Anyhow, am now out the other side, and had my first fast day in a while. Went ok, probably ate too big an evening meal. But I’m determined to get some more weight off. It helps that spring is in the air too.

How are you both doing?
Best, Pippa

Martin, I forgot to say well done to you on getting down to 12st 11, and on the reduced dosage BP meds. It’s these achievements that make it all so worthwhile.

Sue, I’m aiming to have my fasting days as Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. I find they work well and I can always add in a Saturday if I need a 4:3 week. So my second day today. Again, didn’t do too well with evening meal, but late home as it’s year end and that means all sorts of dull financial stuff has to be done.

Here’s to more supportive blathering between us all!
Pippa

Hi Martin & Sue
The panto was very good exercise but not so good for the eating habits – I didn’t always eat before I went painting so some evenings it was a case of late finish then dinner. I’m not sure it’s good to eat just before bed but I was hungry.

Have to say I’m quite enjoying the return to fasting days, I thought it would be much harder but maybe it helps to have a positive outlook. I don’t have a stash of Easter eggs to tempt me either.

Hope your next weigh-in brings more good news, Martin. Now the spring is here, I’m sure Rolo will be pleased to see you.

Pippa

Hello long lost Fast Friends!

I am fasting today and I am grumpy! I was too busy with too many things today. The days when I am very low key with my activities, I am better. Keeping busy but mindless, non-taxing-the-brain, busyness is best. I’m even annoyed with what I just wrote! Do you guys ever get this way? Do you hang in there, do you ever cave in to the desire to eat?

I love getting into bed at the end of a fast day knowing I will be waking up to a normal day.

I am not getting the slimming, less fat on my body effect I desire, but I have a friend here who’s doing it same days and everything. We text each other through our fast days. It keeps me doing it. I went 2 weeks then took a 1.5 week break for vaca., now I’m on the 2nd day of my 2nd week. I do feel like it’s good for me. So I’m sticking with it!

So how are you guys doing? I’d love an update.,
Sue

Hi Martin and Pippa,

How are you guys? Are you doing the 5:2 these days?

I’ve been at it since the last week of April. Not much loss of anything. I wish the fat of belly and hips would be gone already! But I have a local friend whose doing it same days as me and we keep eachother going. She is a medical person and is almost 60 and doing it for health not weight. We are needing fresh insight, I am thinking we may watch the Michael video again, get refreshed on the ‘whys’ and maybe even get one of the books. Especially me who is not getting physical results desired, I need to be inspired I guess.

The blood results you’ve seen must be helpful at keeping you inspired Martin. And your continued weight loss. How about you Pippa? Whats your motivation these days?

Things I love: Suffering 2 days then not counting calories for 5 days. I do love that…. also, love the Thursday fast day, then I have Friday, Sat, and Sun to have what I like. Makes for a nice weekend.

Thanks for being there to receive my notes.
TTFN,
Sue