I am planning on seeing Little Women either this week or next. It’s a book I read over and again as a child.
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We are just back from a great lunch with P and her OH. This was followed by a most interesting tour around one of Sydney’s original dwellings, complete with history lesson. Australian history differs in many ways from our own, but both are made up of intrepid, ground-breaking individuals. Thanks, P. 🙂 See you in Kerikeri soon.
Morning/evening all,
Another grey morning here in London, it’s quite warm for January and I’m not sure it’s anything to be celebrating. When one can go out to the newsagent without a coat at this time of year, it’s a cause for concern.
I’ve managed a couple of decent FDs this week but the non FDs have been a struggle. I am not too disappointed as I am eating less every day than over the festive period and am no longer gargling with alcohol 😉
The aim for this week is 3 good FDs and controlled eating on non FDs.
Hope all is well with everyone,
Have a good one 😜
Amazon,
Yes, I too have got back into normal drinking habits since NY (love your gargling description 🤣).
Its unseasonably mild here too, but it has tipped it down over the last 24 hours. We have a temporary respite from the wind this morning at least, but whether I’ll get a walk today depends on the extent of flooding in the lanes.
I seem to have kicked the sugar habit that was forming over xmas. There is a fruit cake on the kitchen table imploring me to eat it, but I’m only vaguely tempted. Nice to be back in control.
Yes, as you say, Amazon, a concern.
We attended, yet another, climate action rally on Friday night. Our Govt simply HAS to wake up and look around!
We’ve had steady light rain since last night, thank goodness, but the smoke has been terrible all day. I’m struggling to get enough outdoor exercise this summer between smoke and extreme heat, now rain. I can’t even swim with this air quality. 2 meals a day are still too much when sedentary. 😒 P
I’m struggling with getting back on track but it’s nothing new and I know I’ll get there due to the already booked early summer trip. I just need to kick the self-sabotage demon into touch and get moving as soon as I get up and all will be well.
The Christmas cake is wrapped up and stored out of sight. I have made a promise to myself it won’t be cut until I’ve lost at least 7kgs.
I actually consumed much less alcohol than previously over the festive season but it was still more than usual and every day for several weeks as the run-up to Christmas involved numerous social events.
Today I’m cooking the beef I bought for NY and have some nice FD recipes planned for the coming week.
There’s also a chicken in the freezer needing to be used before I commit to another vegetarian Lent.
Purple,
I’m actually getting quite annoyed with the tennis coverage as they keep showing video footage of Sydney and the harbour which was obviously shot before the fires. It would be such a powerful message if they showed it how it looks right now.
I’ve seen some harrowing footage on social media of the devastation to bush, houses and wildlife and I’m hoping sufficient rain will fall to enable the fires to be managed.
The fire fighters are doing such an incredible job in the most difficult of circumstances.
Where are you off to next Amazon? Does 7kg get you to a bikini…?! Ha ha, think I wore one once…well actually it was a tankini that was to all intents and purposes a one piece….
Today has been another miserable day, wet and windy. Mind you, I know the days are lengthening because the hens are going to bed at 4.20 rather than 4pm now. The nights seem to draw out before the mornings get lighter…or perhaps my chooks are like me and like their beds in the morning 😊
I’m fasting tomorrow, potentially v low cal as the STBEOH is away so I don’t have to cook anything. I am determined to see 60 again on the scales this year!
STBEOH… awkward 🤔
The days are still long for us. As it was a beautiful evening, I suggested a late walk last night, in an attempt to improve my sleep patterns. 3hrs 45 minutes was the result. 😒 Somehow I don’t seem to lack energy, and I am losing weight again, so I guess I should just accept it.
Eating wise, we are both doing 16:8 every day and quite happy. Getting busy in the morning has always been the trick to avoid eating breakfast (or morning tea). Dropping the sugary, floury carbs and replacing them with lots of low carb veg, definitely helps to reduce overeating.
I wore bikinis and two pieces always, as a young thing, but multiple pregnancies destroyed the tummy skin, so a one piece looks better…highlights the, needed, curves. 😉😉 Good luck with the 7kg, Amazon.P
It’s wet and windy here too and set to stay that way for the next couple of days, but it is January so no surprise really.
7kgs is an arbitrary number to aim for and a good way of delaying cutting the cake.
I don’t do beach holidays or bikinis, I’ve grown out of both 😆
I’m going on a posh (for me) safari in Tanzania to see some of the Great Migration. The first night is in a nice hotel and after that I’ll be under canvas but with proper beds and running water at various sites in the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Conservancy 😎
I’ve had a really good FD today, one of those days that sets me wondering why some FDs are so easy and others so tough…..
We are waiting to get on the ferry to go back to Wellington, so the holidays are finished.
At least, the break from holidays is only a week. Then we make another long trek towards Barata.
I refused breakfast this morning but getting weaned off bread will be difficult.
Sorry about your continuing situation Purple. It’s 15 deg here and not feeling like summer.
Hi to you Happy and Amazon. I like the sound of your boutique Tanzania trip, Amazon.
Talk soon.
Morning/evening all from a cold, frosty and sunny London.
This week has flown by, and I’m not sure where the time has gone.
I saw Little Women on Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed it. A well made film and as Purple said, excellent casting. I now want to read the book again for the first time in well over 40 years.
I’ve managed 2 good FDs so far this week and the 3rd is in progress.
I decided to try a different approach and rather than deciding ahead to fast on particular days making the decision when I’m up and had a cuppa. So far so good and I’ve not overeaten on any of the non FDs which is in some ways more of a result than managing a couple of FDs.
Long may it continue.
I hope all is well with everyone 😜
Hi Amazon
Glad you are having some success. 🙂
We’ve had a busy time with a couple of family celebrations this week.🤗🤫 Still 16:8, but it doesn’t take much for the grams to creep on.
We’ve had some decent rain over the last couple of days, but strangely, the fire smoke still hangs heavy in the air. At least my garden is happy.
Keep your eye on the goal. P 🙂🙂
Amazon,
That’s an interesting idea as I have wondered whether the urge to overeat on some non-fast days is a kickback against perceived deprivation following a forced fast day.
Fasting this week has gone OK, but I’m only maintaining not losing. I don’t think the weather helps! What a dreary sunless winter we’ve had so far, its hard to he motivated for anything (except my duvet!) just now.
Anyway, on that note, I really ought to drag myself out of bed!
Happy,
I fasted on Monday and have been out socialising every day since. I’ve eaten well but wisely and don’t feel I’ve overdone it on any day.
I’m fasting again today and looking forward to Melanzane Parmiggiana for dinner this evening which is my latest favourite meal 😆
If all goes well I’ll fast again tomorrow.
I have been slowly gaining over the past year or so and realised I needed to take a long hard look at where I’ve been going wrong. Enforced FDs are no longer working and a new approach is imperative if I’m ever going to reach goal. I’m willing to try anything, I’ve given away the Christmas cake, removed items from the shopping list and am considering a dry February as a couple of drinks have a knack of destroying willpower.
On Sunday I’ll be roasting a chicken which has been in the freezer for a while and once it’s all gone I’m embarking on another vegetarian odyssey as there is a long list of Anna J and Hugh F-W recipes as yet untested and I feel a departure from what I’ve been eating over the past few months would be beneficial.
Talking of Hugh F-W did you see “How to live well” on Wednesday? If you didn’t it’s worth catching up on BBC iplayer.
The weather here was lovely last weekend and continued through to Tuesday when I met a friend for a walk. It was cold 3-5C with a clear blue sky, sunshine and not a breath of wind. We walked round an unusually quiet and empty Kew Gardens and it was exhilarating 😀 It also helped us walk off the cake which we both swore would be the last slice for a while 😂
Since Wednesday it’s been dull and damp with misty drizzle which didn’t prevent seeing the new permanent medical exhibition at the Science Museum on Wednesday or meeting my niece at the local YMCA yesterday. 4 year old great nephew has started attending a gym class for 3-5s which he loves so we met in the cafe/ soft play area and I was able to give my other great nephew his birthday present. His first birthday is today.
He hasn’t quite perfected walking but he blows a mean raspberry 🤣
Have a good weekend everyone 😜
Hi Happy and Amazon..the winter girls 😉
I think you are on the right track, Amazon. We seem to have to constantly reinvent ourselves to be one jump ahead of our naturally complacent bodies. 😏
We’ve been away, holiday with a group of mates, very active, so very few eating opportunities. I took a large prepared salad and cold and bbq meats. Very easy, no temptation to eat out. Plenty of liquid refreshments as that is obligatory in this hot Aussie summer. 😀😁
Our weather has been up and down…rain, thunder and hail storms, red dust storms, turning to raining mud, ferocious hot winds, interspersed with stunning summer weather! Lots of sun and water sports. I’ve come home aching, exhausted, but no weight gain.
I can’t believe your new nephew is 1 already! Amazing how they grow.
Keep warm and active girls. Cheers P
Interesting that you also are being affected by a gradual reduction in the efficacy of fasting days, Amazon. And I agree that a change of direction is required as our bodies adjust to the new normal. So I will report back by the end of next month the success of my latest fad.
That is, when life gets back to normal, after the trip to Aussie (great to catch up with P and her OH again), bringing grandson back with us – he departs tomorrow, need to get up at 3am to drive to Auckland – and seeing off the last of the most welcome visitors (no further bookings at the moment). We have just said adieu to Wi and her OH after a lovely visit, am trying to persuade them that an apartment in Paihia is just what they need 🙂
I also have finally been sent some work, so back at my desk on Monday once I have access to my computer!
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Morning/evening all,
Barata,
It’s not the FDs that are the problem, it’s compliance plus a gradual creep of overeating on non FDs.
Glad to hear you’ve been having fun and your post explains why neither you or Wiwi have posted recently, you’ve been too busy having fun 😀
Purple,
Your holiday sounds fab, glad you enjoyed yourself.
As for my youngest great nephew being 1 already, I still find it hard to believe his mother is no longer 9 years old 🤣
Once again I sailed through my FD yesterday and keeping busy definitely helped as I didn’t even think about food until mid afternoon.
I’m in the mood for another today and have a nice filling healthy FD meal planned. I have tennis, the weekend newspapers and a good book to keep me out of the kitchen until dinner time.
Have a good one everybody 😜
Yes,
For me, it isn’t fast days that don’t work, its me on non-fast days that is malfunctioning. Ho hum.
Anyway,fasting today as it’s far easier to fast on days that I’m not sitting at a computer.
Sadly the weather is blummin’ miserable again! Low cloud, drizzle, 5 degrees. What does the sun look like…? I will have to force myself out for a walk though as too much sitting around disagrees with my back.
P, your weather is completely mad this summer isn’t it? I hope it’s just a blip year and not the new normal.
Right, that was a coffee stop in my joyful morning of the weekly shop and Saturday town stuff. Next stop, dodgems with a trolley 😡
Sadly, Happy, I feel we need to accept that this IS the new normal and ensure we act quickly to reverse it.
Here in Sydney we aren’t sure what the sun looks like either. The red dust (beautiful topsoil blown from the west) and smoke in the sky has meant we rarely see it directly. The solar panels are barely working.
The leaf and bark fall this year has been huge, as the trees are so stressed from drought. Remember, our trees are “evergreens”! All very troubling.
We continue with 16:8 and really don’t miss breakfast at all. Compliance is easy.
I had a vegan visitor yesterday, so we had a fabulous vegetable bbq. Flavour, colour and texture is everything. 😄 P
Well, it’s very quiet here!
My excuse is proper winter blues! The weather has been awful. I’d rather it was cold, because then it would be dry and sunny, but this mild wet sunless winter is hard work. As a result, I’m not getting enough exercise and struggling not to comfort myself with a little too much (healthy, but still calories) snacking on non-fast days. So, holding steady weight-wise but not making ANY inroads into last years extra 2kg…
The forecast this weekend is appalling again. Thinking I’ll have to emulate that chinese guy who ran a marathon in his house while on coronovirus lockdown…!
Hi Happy
Sorry to hear about your winter blues. We’ve had summer blues here! A very inactive summer: first months of sweltering weather and bush fire smoke kept us inside, then, in the last week, flooding, cyclonic storms. Today and yesterday were beautiful, so we went for long walks and swims, but most of summer, we have been trapped inside. Exercise definitely makes a huge difference to the spirit, doesn’t it?
I hope the other Fast Trackers are still on board. P
I’m still on board but have given up coming on here and talking to myself!
I’ve finally got to grips with fasting again and have lost a modest but significant 4lbs which has proved it still works if I don’t overeat on non FDs 😆
I’ve given up bread and am giving up cheese and nuts for my vegetarian Lent which will challenge me to explore more new recips and foods I’ve not tried before.
The weather has been odd, a few days of wet and windy followed by a few days of frosty and sunny then back to wet and windy, but I find February is invariably the worst month and come March things start to improve. And it is now light at 7am 😀
Good on you Amazon. We all know what to do (fasts, careful non fast eating, rejigging regularly), but it’s often very hard to keep up the impetus.
I’m constantly on the lookout for interesting new recipes that suit both our particular needs. We are currently on a mushroom binge after an overpurchase! Always fun trying out new ideas.
All the best with your Lent challenge. P 🙂
Amazon,
That’s great news that you’ve shifted 4lbs! It gives me hope that I can get rid of the extra 2kg I’ve been carrying this last year.
On the subject of recipes, I see the Guardian has some interesting Ottolenghi recipes for one, although one of them includes feta… and another salmon… so would need tweaking for your Lent!
Even though we are separating, I have continued to cook for the xOH (my phone autocorrected that to dog 😂), which means I’ve tailored meals more to him than me, and he’s not a fan of Ottolenghi. However, he threw his toys out of the pram again last night so with any luck he will take on responsibility for shopping and cooking for himself sometime soon, freeing me up to please myself 😁
The rain seems to have cleared us overnight, so hopefully I can get some fresh air today (after yesterday housebound and wondering what I could eat next…!)
Hi from a mild but definitely damp London ☔☔☔
Happy,
I was disappointed with the recipes in this week’s Feast as of the dishes I would make and eat there was nothing there I wouldn’t or couldn’t have concocted myself.
I was also unimpressed with the implication (apart from Ottolenghi) cooking for one is something that only happens when the rest of the family are all out for the evening, thus completely missing the point for the large number of people who live alone is is not about spoiling oneself or making an excuse to eat cheese on toast but the ability and knowhow to enjoy cooking tasty, nutritious and interesting food for one every day.
I could have done better myself and told some of them a thing or two about making casseroles, curries etc and freezing portions for consumption on days when one is short of time or disinclined to cook
That sounds awfully grumpy but I do feel they’ve missed the point and done themselves an injustice.
Purple,
I’m looking forward to my Lent challenge and will also be using it as a road test for recipes I’ve not tried. My Herefordshire friend who freely admits she would be vegetarian if it were not for the meat eating men in her household, is coming to stay in May and I’ve informed her it will be a vegetarian feast.
I now have to walk the walk 😆
Hello from warm windy Wellington.
Good to hear news from you all.
Good on you Amazon.
I am on my Monday fast but quite hungry and it’s only 1pm.
Yesterday I did the Round the Bays fun walk and at a good pace (for me) 4km per hour. I have been doing lots of training and my body feels much better.
I have been a bit obsessed with the Covid 19 as my flight next week was supposed
to go through Shanghai. Luckily Air NZ rebooked me via LA as they cancelled all flights through China. I am off to Italy for my grandson’s 29th February birthday, and will be the only non Italian speaker there. Italianizing French words sometimes works, and I mainly understand.
I had a wonderful stay with Barata in Northland a few weeks ago and as I was drinking coffee in our usual meeting place, Z, today, I was sad you were not there Barata.Missing you!
Thanks Happy for bringing the thread back to life.
Wiwi
I am planning a no sugar/flour March, which will coincide with Lent which begins next week.
Morning/evening all,
Hi Wi,
Good to hear from you, enjoy your trip to Italy.
I’m also aiming to give up flour products for Lent and as I won’t be eating any bread there won’t be any butter either!
The stormy weather appears to have passed and I’m looking out of the window at a clear blue sky, so a walk is on order today. I’ve not been very diligent with my exercise these past two weeks and I need to pick it up again.
Have a good one everybody 😜
Wi,
I’m always jealous of your trips to Italy! And a 29th February birthday, how unusual- how old is your grandson and is his age counted in years or actual birthdays?!
Amazon,
I hope you enjoyed your walk. The sun did show itself in the NW yesterday, but sadly I was driving so didn’t get the benefit. And now we have heavy rain forecast for the next 3 days! So no chance of outdoor exercise until at least the weekend ☹
I had a good fast yesterday. I just need to carry good habits over to non-fast days! Why is it easier not to eat at all than to start eating and stop?!
As of next week I am away for 2 weeks, Monday to Friday, in meetings (pastries, biscuits, buffets!) and staying in hotels. So that’s going to be challenging…
Anyway, another work day beckons. I wish I could stay under my duvet…!
Morning/evening all,
Happy,
No idea where in the country you’ll be but if you’re in a city in the UK you should with a little research be able to find yourself some decent healthy food. Maybe you should set yourself a challenge, no flour or meat products during the day which will severely limit what you can have from the buffet table or cake selection (fresh cream meringue anyone 😆 ) and also challenge yourself to find a healthy plate of food every evening or are your meals all going to be in the hotel restaurant? If not, get out and about and make it a culinary adventure.
I went food shopping on Monday to an area a few miles away where there is one of the largest Asian communities outside the sub continent of India. I visited a supermarket and bought lots of spices, nuts, fresh herbs etc all at less than half the price of a high street supermarket.
Indian food will feature heavily in my Lent menu as it is full of flavour and there are so many tasty ways to use vegetables and pulses.
Time to get moving,
Have a good one everybody 😜
Greetings, all, for a drought-stricken north. Top level water restrictions are now in place, so no garden watering (if I had one – only five weeks to go!), car washing etc. I took water out of the washing machine yesterday to keep my pot plants happy. 29 degrees today! And no wind, Wi – loving it! We may get some left-over Australian rain over the weekend.
I have a sister-in-law whose birthday is 29th February. Statistically one in 1461 of us will be born on that date, so not too rare, although she’s the first one I can remember meeting. Enjoy your grandson’s, Wi.
Flour and sugar don’t figure in our household – apart from OH’s bread 🙁 I am no longer doing 5:2, but with only two carb-free meals a day I am bouncing at my highest weight – so frustrating. So out with the cheese, no more squares of dark chocolate. In fact, the answer seems to be to stop eating altogether. I only had a protein brunch yesterday, and by the time I got back from my sailing lesson (first for the new course – adults this time) it was too late to eat. So down a kg.
Stay well, everyone 🙂
We seem to have swapped our weather, B! We had another terrifying storm late Tuesday night…flooding rain, frightening lightning and mind boggling, destructive winds. The big dam is now 80% full, so we can use, limited amounts, of water in the garden, if we needed to.
You’ve hit the nail on the head. We probably should stop eating completely! We were out all day yesterday and ended up “only” having 2 wines, and nothing else, until 4pm. Not a recommended dietary plan. P
Ooh P! Daytime drinking is always a killer, but on an empty stomach too. Good effort!
Amazon,
I’ll be fine avoiding the cakes and biscuits during the day as I know the sugar just makes me more hungry. Evenings will be interesting though as I’ll be with a large group both weeks so we’ll end up in places that can cater for a lot of people. There’s a couple of confirmed carnivores who always try and find a steakhouse… one who’s idea of fine dining stretches to wetherspoons… a vegetarian and a lady with a fish allergy…and two guys who aim to spend up to their daily meal allowance even if they aren’t hungry! Mr Creosote anybody?!
Mmm, your Indian inspired Lent sounds great. I made a vegetarian thali at the weekend…although it did feature paratha I’m afraid! I reckon I could live on dhal and spelt chapatis quite happily 😁
Barata,
Good to hear it won’t be long now til you’re properly settled. Sounds like you have no regrets about the move…except for leaving Wi obviously 😁
We were attending a matinee live theatre performance. As we don’t do breakfast, we headed into the city. Then Mr P thought a glass each, preshow, would be nice. Then another at interval. 🤨 By the time the show had finished (fabulous, BTW) we took a while to find somewhere that sold healthy food.
I had a roaring headache in the evening…the result of dehydration. You’d think I’d know better! 🤪🤪 P
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