Day 17 ☘️ 🇮🇪 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@penz – that chocolate sounds divine. But you would’ve enjoyed it even more after a FD. I blame your DH. Just sayin’ 😉 Maybe you should put your bathroom scales next to the fridge on FDs. Prop them up against the door, so every time you want to open it you have to move those scales out of the way 😅

@at – You’re rockin’ it! And I bet it’s got a lot to do with going AF. It’s a game changer 🏆 Check out this very motivational video I saw on YouTube recently
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eE2YTMnH-4&list=WL&index=104&t=18s

Busy busy…

Happy Fri-yay! 🍹

Day 17 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 215 lbs. Just taking it one day at a time. Not sure if I’ll attempt my next FD on Sunday or Tuesday.

Day 17, second post

Such good news!! I went to get dressed and decided to weigh again…hope springs eternal and all that, you know. And that hope was rewarded: this time the scale hit 148.8 and stayed there several times of stepping off and stepping back on, so perhaps I can truly believe I’ve had a bit of a loss for this week! At any rate, it was sure fun to see!

Day 17 – UK Cam – FD800
Was going to try for a proper FD (500) today but DH waylaid me with grilled tomatoes on sourdough toast for lunch – I’d been working on the allotment plot, barrowing manure for my tomato patch, and came in all wet from sudden shower so embraced both DH and his lovely lunch! Apart from cooked lunch, all I’ve had has been some Zero yoghurt (54 cal) and red berries so provided I eat lots of greens tonight and a small piece of ovenbaked chicken breast I should be OK for 800!

This weekend is a social whirl so will need to eat carefully. Yesterday’s lunch with DH was excellent – I chose the wild mushrooms on rocket base with balsamic dressing followed by mediterranean chicken on couscous. Delish. I did sneak in a large glass of Pinot ! Ah well, you have to live life to the full 🙂 and I only nibbled some salad and feta cheese for supper so not too bad a day, overall.

@funshipfreddie – I just love the idea of propping the scales against the fridge door on FDs – don’t think it would work here as fridge is right by the kitchen door and we would trip over it but, for all that, might be worth a try!

@stitchincarol – yay for the drop – Well done!

@at – your baking day sound good fun. As DH and I don’t usually eat much cake (or rather, if there is cake about, I eat it!!) I no longer have big baking days for cake but usually do savoury stuff instead. Your tray bake and the custard tarts sound divine. Your yoga retreat also sounds good – I would love to do something like that but can’t really leave DH for long at the moment.

@daffodil2010 – what a lovely surprise for your mum. I can recall, many years ago, opening the door at our holiday rental to find a tall, handsome young man on the doorstep with a huge bouquet of flowers – didn’t realise for 10 seconds it was my SON!! He had come all the way up from Bath to Perthshire in Scotland to see me. He was combining it with a biking trip so stopped for a celebratory lunch and then shot off on his bike to meet with his pals. I know I cried I was so emotional! I just hope your Mum has the same treat I did.

Right, need to sort out some veggies for our supper – Happy St Patrick’s Day to our Irish members.

Day 18 NFD NZ

👋Everyone!
Thank you @stitchincarol and @jaifaim for your supportive words. I’m trying to extend my focus from the day-day and week-week to monthly which allows a wee bit of a swing without falling off the wagon. I guess it’s about having confidence in myself that I’ll get there eventually and to just keep going. Great to hear about finding a WOL that allows weight loss @stitchincarol.
Also thanks for the plank info. I’ll start quietly because I’ve had rotator cuff problems in my shoulder for the last 6 months because of trying to follow a TV yoga session… Doh! @at I think I need to be lighter and have an instructor before I attempt yoga again… I make a delicious Paella recipe using pork and spinach from the El Moro, London cookbook.
@brightonbelle I’m glad you’re off to see Maxfax. Your recovery from a tooth infection is taking a long time…
@snowflake56 your maintenance is inspirational and a wee chocolate session human! The 500yr old house sounds so interesting.
@gardenlily Lovely to hear about your allotment. We don’t have them here and it sounds so nice to work alongside others. And then to have lunch ready and waiting…
@jaifaim, @ccco and @daffodil2010 Hope you’re not too green this morning from St Paddy’s Day…!!
Onward and downward!

Day 17 – UK – TDEE

☘️ Happy belated St Patrick’s day to all who celebrate it 🇮🇪

Despite a very controlled week I have seen no shift in my weight this week – remains firmly at 59.6kg but my jeans definitely feel looser 🤔 not going to let Cruella derail my plan to “Make March Mine” However I did think that today would see me down to 58-point-something……….🫰I will see a shift next week!!

Baking from yesterday all cut into portions and packed, ready to deliver to the parish centre on my way to the Yoga Workshop – a selection of each cake left for OH to enjoy ❤️

@northgeorgia – great to hear from you and to see another nice weigh in!
@stitchincarol – I always use walnuts in my my banana bread and sultanas soaked in rum 🤣 (Nigella’s recipe) but had no walnuts at home so used up the pecans I had left over – should still taste good! So happy for you that Cruella has been kind and that you are definitely into that 148 something 👍
@daffodil2010 – nothing wrong with a nice lazy day – savour every minute with no guilt 🤗
@gardenlily – OH loves his cakes but not anything with icing so much – I love baking but have learnt to resist the lure of putting it in mouth too often….I have been known to enjoy a slice of a cake I particularly love for brunch instead of breakfast/lunch on a NFD day 🤣 and then have a healthy evening meal!!
@merryapple – weight should not stop you doing yoga or cause injury, find a good teacher who teaches a gentle form of yoga and you might surprise yourself – BTW I have that same cookbook on my shelves and have made the monkfish version, often adding prawns and mussels if I have any handy (OH does not eat meat!) some yummy recipes in there 😋

Just about enough time for a second cup of tea and then to get organised to leave the house around 0915

Namaste 🙏

Day 18 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD

Had a really quiet and relaxed St Patrick’s Day, read half a book, couple of naps, enjoyed a vegetarian chickpea dish for dinner, watched a movie by the fire with a nice red wine, bliss.

Its not an FD today but I haven’t eaten anything yet, just to prove to myself that I can do it! Getting in the mindset for the wagon next week. Unfortunately those holiday pounds seem to be here to stay, so it’s time to get real again.

There is a party tonight but I have already cried off. Going to watch the big rugby match this afternoon, Ireland v England, in what hopefully will be a championship win for Ireland and a Grand Slam on Irish soil. So looking forward to it!!

Have a great weekend all.

Day 18 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD – 2min plank ✅ – 150.8

Yesterday was less controlled than I’d intended, but not horrible. The stew I made was from a gifted package of barley, lentils, and seasonings to which I was supposed to add a pound of lean beef, cut into pieces; it ended up more like soup than stew and I was unimpressed with the seasonings, but DH loved it. I had one generous serving of it, and that was all, so not high in calories; also had a thick slice of bread and butter with it, so high in calories as well as in joy, LOL–and I only had one! Broke my WF at 1:30 as planned with two eggs, and had the avocado at 2:30 instead of waiting for 3:30, and I also had a banana–extra to my intended food–which I have on hand to make banoffee pie for tomorrow. The real problem for the day was the Dream Bars I made, a recipe I’ve been planning to make for several weeks (https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/dream-bars/). It’s a par-baked shortbread crust with a mix of coconut and pecans, brown sugar, and two eggs spread over it and baked a little longer. I nibbled on lots of those pecans as I was breaking them up, and nibbled on a little bit of the coconut also. Then, I cut that 9×13 dessert into 32 pieces and ate three of them, which is about 400 calories–that’s where the high calories showed up, in addition to all those pecans. So did I top 1500 calories? Possibly. Possibly not. But my stomach is no longer empty, and that’s why the scale is up.

So, not out of control, but not minimal, and being up two pounds is the result. Today’s a new opportunity for restraint, and I’m trying to figure out dinner for tonight before we go with a friend to her granddaughter’s high school musical in which she has a starring role. Perhaps hamburgers and milkshakes at a place we’ve been wanting to try? If DH and I share each–which he’s always willing to do–then the total calories can be low enough to keep me hovering around 150?

Sometimes food absorbs me more than other times, LOL!

@at You’re in the middle of your Spring Equinox Yoga Day; I hope you’re having a lovely time!

@daffodil2010 I read those words about your MIL’s plans for yesterday a number of times, just imagining the joy she feels to have reconnected with her first born. Such wonderful emotions! And, there’s that cabbage and bacon thing again, LOL! Is it possible to find a recipe link to show me what it is you mean?

@gardenlily I envy you your climate that you’re able to be out in the garden already, both because I love the work and also because it’s such a great way to get in activity while doing what you love!

@merryapple You absolutely will get there eventually; just keep trying and you’ll find a balance you can live with.

@funshipfreddie Oh my, that had to have awful to have time changes constantly! I was asleep at 11 or so last night, and slept until 8:30 this morning–that’s the longest and best I’ve slept in longer than I can remember, and I finally feel adjusted to Daylight Savings Time…this is the longest it’s ever taken me to adjust. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m hoping the quote for moving your furniture is surprisingly low!

@jaifaim So wonderful that people are noticing and that you’re so close to goal!

@northgeorgia Wow! You didn’t bob up at all today! Well, well, well done!

I made huge progress in editing the book yesterday; I do love this book’s story as well as the skilled and polished writing of the author. If I can just make another big chunk of progress today, then I don’t have to feel guilty about taking off tomorrow when the boys are here for the day.

Have a grand one, everyone!

Day 18 UK NFD

Quick check in mid Rugby marathon, 5am start tomorrow for early flight to Rome Catch up when I’m back 👋

Day 19 NFD NZ

Weigh day and a FD tomorrow for me. Fingers crossed it’s all coming together.
Spent y’day brushing and grooming Mr Macintosh. How can such a small character much such a mess??? Like us a haircut takes years off him! He went to the Vet for a checkup and passed with flying colours – correct weight, heart etc fine so no meds. He’s deaf, needs glasses😁 and his back legs are a bit weak but he’s hungry and interested in the world and the Vet thought he was younger than his 15 years(105 in human years).
For the Rugby fans, I live 5 minutes walk away from Eden Park on a hill that overlooks the stadium. I went to the semis and final of the women’s Rugby World Cup. Sooooo exciting! The ticket prices were much cheaper than the men’s (go figure) and there was a real family atmosphere in the park. Much more exciting than the men’s game – fast, running, lots of points scored and NZ won!!! The first rugby game of the season was on last night- Blues vs Crusaders – translation Auckland vs Christchurch. ChCh won. I see the Irish beat England 😃
@jaifaim I have to lose 10kg before anyone notices… Great that people are noticing your new shape!
@at yes love the El Moro recipes.
@funshipfreddie I don’t miss the 12 hour shifts we had to do in Critical Care (7am to 7pm then 7pm to 7am). It’s the health equivalent of smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. Mind you small changes like an hour back or forward muck you up too. There’s always big debates about daylight saving here because the milking cows don’t do daylight saving!!
Onward and downward!

Day 19 – USA/GA

Weigh-in: 216 lbs. As always, playing everything by ear until things calm down. I did a small walk around the place, trying to figure out a nice spot for a little memory garden for my father, thought about some projects I need to do (including painting the porches), then sat down and lost it. I guess the shock is wearing off a bit and moments of grief sudden run through me. When I composed myself, I walked next door to my mom’s house, where she was watching the slide show I made for the funeral home visitation and she was crying, too.

I am planning on a FD though, so I’ll join the pocket list.

Pocket List – Day 19 🥕
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia

USA. Day 19. FD

Pocket List – Day 19 🥕
@funshipfreddie
@northgeorgia
@ccco

Day 20, NFD, Aus

WFH today and too close to the kitchen to even pretend I could manage a FD!

Scales in front of the fridge?! What a hideous idea @funshipfreddie!

The surprise visit to your MIL sounded lovely, @daffodil2010. How did it go?

Hi @northgeorgia. Sending you a hug.

Day 20, Germany, FD800
Day 19 NFD
Day 18 NFD

It’s time to get back to better eating again, so I’m starting the week with a FD800.

@merryapple It was a big mistake to buy the chocolate, I just can’t stay away from it and this morning I’m really tired, not normal for me. I’ve only seen the Maltese house on pictures, it is old and beautiful.

Day 20 Pocket List

@merryapple
@lilymartin
@snowflake56 FD800

Have a nice day everyone!

Day 20- Ireland – FD 🚫🚶🏼‍♀️✅

Hello everyone!

I hope you had a great weekend.

Well done @funshipfreddie 👏 sounds like a good FD and @northgeorgia and @ccco 👏

@lilymartin you are having busy times 👍. That’s another great word that I will definitely use : quidnunc…I am generally curious but not a gossip but there are a few of my friends who are real quidnuncs 😂
Licourice slices sound yum I must look them up. Or maybe not? Would I be better not even going there 🤪😂

@merryapple I’m so sorry for you. Those memories that come out of nowhere can really floor you…. Sending you hugs 💕
The jumpsuit was really classic in cut but sparkly too and actually I don’t really think fashion has changed that much since really but it did have flared legs which have come back now..

@daffodil2010 I hope your DHs trip went really really well. What a lovely surprise for his mum

I’m with you today @snowflake56 – I’m generally doing ok but weekends are still blips! I must reprogram my brain on this one…

@penz I’m WFH today too so might try the old scales in front of the kitchen door never mind the fridge door 😂😂😂

Mother’s Day lunch with mum yesterday was a quiet affair. She is not up an out of bed for very long these days so often has to be woken for a very light lunch. We had boiled eggs with yummy brown bread and had a lovely dinner later but precious time spent with her 💕

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Day 20 Pocket List

@merryapple
@lilymartin
@snowflake56 FD800
@jaifaim

Day 20 – USA/GA – NFD

Weigh-in: 213 lbs. FD was almost derailed when mom called after church to get fast food for my niece and nephew. I took her to get the food, but for myself I decided to wait — didn’t really want it as we ate out the day before. I have some financial stuff to help her with this morning, so doing a hybrid day off/work some hours from home. I’ll take her out to lunch after that.

USA. Day 20. FD

My weekend didn’t go as well as I would have liked, so I am back on that pocket list!

Day 20 Pocket List
@merryapple
@lilymartin
@snowflake56 FD800
@jaifaim
@gardenlily
@ccco

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Day 20 – UK – FD800

I think that my last post should have said Day 18 not 17……

Day 18 – my yoga workshop was just fab – energetic morning and a stretchy and relaxing afternoon 🧘‍♀️🙏
When I stopped by the parish centre on my return to collect my cake tins I was pleased to see that all my cakes had sold out and apparently my try at a Portuguese inspired custard tart was very popular – will definitely be making those for home for Easter and hoping to get the pastry a bit thinner on the sides next time 🫰
I got home just in time to watch the England v Ireland Rugby 🏉 well done on getting the grand slam 🇮🇪

Day 19 – some beautiful flowers 💐 arrived for Mothering Sunday from my DD ❤️ It was a lovely dry day and the sun 🌤️ even came out to play for a bit, so had a great 8mile walk with a friend with coffee and a shared slice of cake afterwards sitting outside in the sun – then an afternoon catching up at home and OH requested a prawn paella for dinner I added some cooked red peppers strips and spinach on top for a change!

Weather today has been mizzly so a quiet morning at home, afternoon coffee with my regular group and a fab yoga class this evening to keep me on track for my FD800

Will try to catch up with the posts tomorrow – off to have a shower then read a bit before bed 😴

Day 21, NFD, Aus

Have been reading everyone’s posts and enjoying the news (213lb, @northgeorgia!? woohoo!) but no time to write much. Is it just me or has this year started busier sooner than its predecessors?

Day 21 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD

@lilymartin. Delayed gratification – it’s an interesting subject, & there’s a whole Wikipedia page devoted to it. It mentions a famous Stanford University marshmallow experiment conducted on preschoolers in the ’60’s & ’70’s. The children had a choice of eating one marshmallow, or waiting 15 minutes & eating two marshmallows:-

“The children who waited longer, when re-evaluated as teenagers and adults, demonstrated a striking array of advantages over their peers. As teenagers, they had higher SAT scores, social competence, self-assuredness and self-worth, and were rated by their parents as more mature, better able to cope with stress, more likely to plan ahead, and more likely to use reason. They were less likely to have conduct disorders or high levels of impulsivity, aggressiveness and hyperactivity. As adults, the high delayers were less likely to have drug problems or other addictive behaviours, get divorced, or be overweight. Each minute that a preschooler was able to delay gratification translated to a .2% reduction in Body Max Index 30 years later.”

“A growing body of research suggests that self-control is akin to a muscle that can be strengthened through practice. In other words, self-control abilities are malleable, a fact that can be a source of hope for those who struggle with this skill.”

@lilymartin – I finally got my moving quote. Sort of what I was expecting & I paid a deposit & booked the 26th April. But my reno guy is either ghosting me, has been kidnapped or had an awful accident. My quote never arrived anyway, & he hasn’t read the last couple of messages I sent him. So I’ve got another guy coming to take a look at the bathrooms this morning.

@jaifaim – scales in front of the kitchen door, lol 😂 Unfortunately my current place – as well as my new place – is open plan, so I don’t even have a kitchen door.

@at – ‘mizzly’ – that’s a word I’ve never heard before?!

@merryapple – oh crikey?! I’ll be double-checking none of my new bathroom fittings have ‘Made in China’ on them?! 😱

Pocket List – Day 21 🍒
@lilymartin

Day 21 – Ireland – FD800 🚫🚶🏼‍♀️✅

Hello everyone!

Yes @penz I’m running to catch myself at the moment too and that’s after a relatively relaxing long weekend. Also feeling very tired… had a FD yesterday but went over a little so going to try a FD800 today as I need to jumpstart my system… still bobbing around 160.

Thanks @lilymartin! It’s such a pain when they disappear… I use notes on my phone and then copy from there… hence the typos sometimes… which annoy me but hard to see in notes for some reason 🫢 Have a good day at your catering job.

Haha @merryapple not quite Elvisesque… uh huh huh 🕺 😂 but I love it… will maybe have a few more wears this year and then pass on to the next generation… it’s pretty cool 😎

@daffodil2010 sorry to hear you caught that bug… hope you feel better today but as you say the upside is that you are lighter… but mind yourself.

Lovely to hear about your Mother’s Day @at and @gardenlily and all those who celebrated on Sunday.

@snowflake56 I can’t have chocolate in my house… I can avoid it for ages but when I give in then that’s it… game over and I polish it off… but don’t be too hard on yourself!
Your nieces house in malta sounds amazing and money better spent I’d say 😂 . @daffodil2010 Mellieha is a great spot to base yourself for travel over to Gozo and the best beaches in the island but Valetta and the south is so beautiful and interesting too. I love the war rooms and it is amazing to think they were used right up to relatively recent times with the Cold War etc.

Ok I’d better dash… have a good day all!

Onward and downward ⬇️
We rise by lifting others 💕

Pocket List – Day 21 🍒
@lilymartin
@jaifaim FD800

Day 21 – USA/GA – FD?

Weigh-in: 217 lbs. Will attempt another FD today.

Pocket List – Day 21 🍒
@lilymartin
@jaifaim FD800
@northgeorgia

USA. Day 21. FD

Pocket List – Day 21 🍒
@lilymartin
@jaifaim FD800
@northgeorgia
@stitchincarol
@ccco

Day 21 – UK – TDEE

A wet, muddy and windy walk this morning with my regular walking group…..certainly blew the cobwebs away…..a large coffee and a piece of ginger cake went down well afterwards 😋

Stopped at the supermarket for a big shop on the way back home and by the time I had sorted things back home it was time for my HIP class (which I still zoom in for)

Now getting ready to go out for a talk by an archeologist “The lost Norse kingdom of Laithlind” – it should be fun learning a bit about the local history as he will be exploring signs in the landscape that paint a dazzling picture of 1,000 years ago, and a thriving, if violent, kingdom based around people who arrived from across the Irish Sea, beached their boats and settled their Herdwicks and slaves around a huge Viking longhall overlooked by their gods on Scafell and Great Gable

I seem to be keeping busy and the days are just flying by, 3 weeks into this challenge already!!!

This month I am reminding myself that “Slow And Steady Wins The Race”

Day 22, Germany, NFD

Today we’re trying out the Dance 50+ group, they do line dance and other dances. I know a few of the women dancing in the group and it seems like fun. We convinced a friend to join us, her husband (my gin drinking partner) passed away last year and after 5 months of staying with her family in Southern Germany she’s back home again. She hardly has any contacts apart from her family and us so we think it’s time to change that. Let’s see how this turns out.

@gardenlily Spring has definitely arrived here! I woke up at 4:13 this morning by the sound of chatting blackbirds. There’s also a lot of nest building everywhere. Our neightbour’s new cat turned out to be a bird killer. In the last three weeks she brought home two doves and a female blackbird. We had two blackbird couples breeding in our garden the last couple of years, we hope the female blackbird wasn’t one of ours.

@penz Well done on resisting the Guiness truffle chocolate! I can’t even
imagine how that will taste.

Have a nice day everyone!