Proper smilin' today!

Had it confirmed this afternoon that my new house is in the bag, just a bit of paper shuffling and we're moving next month!!
It's a strange situation coz i want to be all happy but it means we're definitely splitting up but the trust has gone so we have to,,,,,,,
I think I'll just try to be happy that things are going to be more settled, the wee guy can get started in a new school with a seriously good HMI report and a great 2nd and 3rd yr syllabus, instead of being forced to decide standard grades at the end of 1st yr!! Not one of the many changes being dragged into the Scottish education system in some areas - thankfully not all :)
Not been too bad food-wise despite the tension yday and today over various problems with processing the bank stuff, and that would normally send me to the chocolate stash - lol, if I had one but the cash is short this month so silver lining in there too, lol!!

Am definitely feeling a bit better with this good news, stroll on the move :)

Smile though your heart is breaking,,,,,,,,

Well we all survived Christmas but it wasn't the happiest, lots of tension between my husband and I that rumbled on and exploded at the end of feb when I discovered he'd been having an affair for 6months, and to rub salt in the wound the third party was older and fatter, not much comfort really coz I've spent 2 years improving myself and trying to get as slim and fit as I was when we married 22 yrs ago bit of a kick in the teeth when I'm already down to be honest and it's taken a while to get through some of this.
We had been talking of moving to another part of Scotland, so I kept looking and we have started the process of buying a house for me as part of my settlement. There are lots of legal things, and pension rights to be sorted by a lawyer next year along with the divorce but just getting sorted in a new area with my younger son is going to help my peace of mind - it wont help the hurt but the area I'm moving to already has friends nearby who are aware of the situation and are ready to help - with tissues and tea if required!!

Due to the obvious upset, comfort eating reared it's ugly head, esp with the 3rd party's shape, but I've only gone adrift by a stone, I've still the first 3st away and have caught myself before it gets any worse. I have been back at the gym after several weeks off for packing morning, noon and night it felt like. The swim today took it out of me, so I know I've some serious work to do but I feel so much better coz I've started back on the path, I filled in yday's and today's food diary and have a diet buddy on the site I use now so that should all help to get control before I move next month and all the adjustments that's going to take too!

Need to remember I'm doing this for me :D

Oooops!

I have been totally distracted from recording life, just living it has been a challenge lately!
I've kept up with some of my challenges but the Iron man one faded out, though I'd nearly finished the 3 elements, I was second in the *calorie challenge* for October which took up a lot of time and we seem to have adopted the *cake flower expert* for several days a week - one of my daughter's friends makes use of my elder son's empty bed and has been great company for younger son whilst daughter was away, bonus:)
I made it into the next stone down 2weeks ago which I was delighted about, and I've had 2 personal trainer sessions which were a huge eye-opener for me - I can do sooooo much more than I thought, yay! The gym has several offers for block booking trainer sessions so I'm going to see which one suits me - it won't be the 50 sessions for £800 though, awwww, one a week for a year would be fab but out the price range for my Christmas pressie this year :)
My main achievement lately is cooking from scratch for nearly every meal, balanced carefully, with something yummy at the end, often created by the *cake flower expert* who's been enjoying experimenting with ingredients he's never heard of, never mind tried. Mostly they've been successful but one dessert was sooo sweet even he couldn't eat it, and he's got a serious sugar craving!!
The next few weeks in the lead up to christmas are going to be busy, as they are for everybody but I'm looking forward to working out at the gym and getting all the extra cooking done, as well as having some fun - hubby's home for Christmas this year so that's def something to look forward to :)

Baking,,,,

Yeah, okay so it's not quite the same as the piccie but I haven't made bread for 12years - don't really know why, because I find it very soothing, and kneading's a good workout for shoulders and tum!!
Will do better next time, using half wholemeal and half white flour too, so the wholemeal(on the left this time) one's a bit lighter - you wouldn't believe it has twice the amount of yeast compared to the white cob loaf,,,,, and yes I know it looks a little squashed but heyho, I *know* what's in it and that's the important bit for me:)
That's the thing I like about my weightloss site is you can add all the ingredients and them how many portions and bingo - you know how many calories are in each slice, and because it's in the recipes, you only do it once, which is not how often I'm planning on doing  the bread, twice a week should keep us supplied on Monday and Thursday mornings I think, so I should have an update and hopefully improved effort later this week:)

More changes

Well the Biggest Loser online club is going to join with wiehglossrecources, so I'm gong back to the original conline club!! But I'll be getting 3mts free membership as a sweetener and most of the people I've got to *know* are moving over too, so are the challenges so the Iron Man's coming too:)
Got a tank light for daughter and went to the shopping centre, her pal Jason's with us and he's a hoot - shopping's his favourite activity, yay, we even manged to get some jeans for daughter who's a seriously fussy size 6 with very long legs, bless her!!

New site - New Challenge

On a new weightloss site I have found an Iron Man Challenge. We've to run 42kms, swim 3.86kms and cycle 182kms approx, these are pretty big amounts before Christmas, not as it should be over one weekend I think. I changed running for rowing as the achilles wouldn't cope with that at all!!
It's meant I've arranged my gym sessions round these activities, with free weights added to two of the 4 weekly sessions, youngest's gym sessions have changed with a new timetable so everything's getting tweaked to fit. It's also added a new focus to my sessions, and using the stepper for any 5-20mins gaps has helped get me back into the exercise groove!!
Another birthday has come and gone but instead of feeling frustrated that things haven't gone as quickly, I'm getting a new push forward because I haven't gone backwards, slipped a little but not full-scale reverse which I would normally have annoyed myself with, so the brain-shift has worked :D

How we forget the simple things,,,,

I was posting a comment on another blogger and I'd forgotten that, like me, people have comment moderation on and I think I've put a comment on twice, with slightly different wording so it just shows - I need to do this more often so I remember the basic rules!!
If you're reading this, feel free to bin the comments or only publish one - I was struggling with the sign in stuff too all at the same time, sorry!

Yeehaa

Had a great time today, the only fly in the ointment wass I strained my achilles heel again - was doing so well and had run for a minute with no hassles but the second set was just chancing my arn, or foot and it became very sore quite quickly so I stopped fast and muttered darkly under my breath:( But my swimming session went well - was feeling tired by the time I got there but divided up my 60mins into 12ths and counted up the time that way practicing my arithmetic while I worked! It's amazing how you can distract youself with mental exercises, 1/12, 2/12=1/6, 3/12=1/4 etc, found it quite entertaining when I got to 10/12. or 5/6, *not far now* and then the gym guy came in and emptied the spa to change the something-or-other, and it wasn't filled up by the time I was finished and I know that going into the sauna or steam room make me feel very tired - not something to do before attempting to walk home - a 6.5m hike!!
So when I did leave, I realised I didn't have any suncream and believe it or not I needed it at 1pm in brilliant sunshine whist walking in a brisk breeze so I got half-way and phoned my chaufeur to pick me up at a convenient spot and chattered all the way home about my achievements, lol!!
So today's exertions took 3hrs altogether - fab!!

Life

Life doesn't half get in the way of getting fit sometimes, grrrrrr, rellies, deliveries, being kind to others - well that was hubby but he took the car, kid to college, nagging about jobs to the same *kid* and then the middle kid who's finished her course, getting titch organised after school and dealing with his disappiontment when he saw the car was still gone, so my campaign to *get back to normal*ie *back to the gym*  hasn't gone smoothly at all.
Off to the gym by myself this morning so I can run my own schedule instead of doing things around others, and as the weather's good-ish I'm planning to walk some of the way back and will phone for a pick-up when I get too knackered - it's 6 miles away and I'll be carrying my kit bag -it's not exactly small either, lol!!
Right, off to get sorted!

How time flies!

I can't believe Ali MacGraw is over 70yrs old, she was actually 32 when she made Love Story, at least a decade older than implied in the film and you'd never know it!!
Anyway, it's been a while since I made time for blogging but hubby's recovering from his surgery and youngest has started at big school, successfully phew!
The gym has had a body swerve for a couple of weeks as Al's had checkups and reviews to attend which seem to always be when I should be there and with only one car, I understandably take a back-seat but next week there should be a clear run at it and get back into a good routine. Food's not been too bad though there have been extras here and there but not too much damage has been done as far as I can tell from clothes, the scales have stopped showing any regular weight, it scrolls up from 14st something to 19st something and can stop anywhere inbetween, bought manual scales and they're really mince so I'm going to start next week on the gym scales and use them every Monday from then on!!

Friday

Well I slipped a little today and didn't get tea in the oven before going to the gym, but I have an excuse,,,,,,, we had to leave early to drop daughter off for one of the gardens she does and if I'd put the chicken in the oven then it would have been cooking for over 4 hours - pizza night was a good alternative and with 40mins swimming along with a serious weights session at the gym, I reckoned I'd get away with it lol!
I can finally say that my dumbell weights are now 7kg for all exercises which isn't too bad considering I started on 4kgs in Jan and had a very inconsistent record for a while but even with the holidays I'm managing 4 sessions a week, 2 are weights ones and the other 2 are cardio, along with lots of swimming with the youngest when the older 2 are in the gym.
It's been a different summer but we've managed to have quite a lot of fun and I've kept track of my eating and exercise. It'll be very tricky next week when Al's in hospital but I can only do my best with such a worry - rhinoplastic surgery isn't very pleasant or pain-free so lots of TLC will be needed but I'll be doing lots of special cooking which actually means not much eating - I often find that by the time everything's ready I've gone off the idea!!

Wednesday and Thursday

Had a great day y/day, spent it at a friends house with the children helping to clear the monoblock driveway of weeds. We took our garden hose and extention cable so we could get the powerwasher going as it's a long driveway but we hit a snag, the hose attachment for the outside tap didn't fit, awwwww, so they had to do it the old-fashioned way with a stiff brush and little gardening fork. But they rose to the challenge and got half of it done, which was pretty good going in amongst the showers and daughter got some more of the wall she's biuulding done - so all in all we got lots done and had a great blether at the same time!
Today's task was to get them all down to the hairdressers for serious levels of tidying up, youngest was 'tidied up' by his sister with our hair clippers last week but it was needing some help as our clippers are pretty knackered and she struggled, Daughter's and eldest's hair was needing a decent chop but the instructions for daughter was feminine short with soft edges as the last time it was far too boyish and as she's very slim and nearly 6ft tall it didn't really flatter her at all - this time was much more sucessful and she got exactly what she wanted befoire she goes off on her holiday. Eldest is fairly straighforward - much shorter than it is now, thanks and you've guessed it, he's happy with his cut too.
So I have lovely, smart children who are willingly doing chores as I actually remembered to get real cash out and pay them for their efforts at the weekend - now they've got actual cash to count and want more, bless them:)

Tuesday :)

Well things are going well today too, started off a bit late and had tow tiny petit filous for brekky before running out to the hairdressers where I was much more relaxed for a change, something I'm not famous for!
After that it was lunch and then kids to the gym for a workout and swim, youngest sat with me for 30mins until the older ones were ready for swimming and they didn't appear for another hour, longest swim session ever. My ankle's still very achey so last day of rest for it, looking forward to getting some rowing done tomorrow when youngest's at mini-cirkids, and showing eldest some weights exercises that I can do now always a good boost for my confidence and for his when he realises he can do them too!!
So the list is complete for today, I even remembered to take the meter readings for the gas and electric as we're changing suppliers, an extra to tick off the list yay!!

Monday!

How I love Mondays now, used to dread them with a passion as it would be the first day of dealing with tricky adults, then trying to teach children that had somehow lost the rule book on civility never mind reasonable behaviour and finding that break and lunchtimes didn't come quick enough or last long enough. I recently spent an afternoon with some kids and really, really enjoyed myself and I really think I need to get back to the positive relationship I used to have before it all got ruined but not yet, might see what I can do volunteer-wise after the holidays.
Today's tasks were to have a long lie reading a Jodi Picoult, then a leisurely breakfast, followed by a mammoth ironing session that's been put off for weeks, shower, lunch and off to the gym. Quick stop at Tesco for milk and bits, then home, eldest making tea, and watch something good on telly - actually *Galaxy Quest*. (www.traileraddict.com/trailer/galaxy-quest/trailer)
I can safely say I did everthing on my list, yay, and I just love that film 'never give up, never surrender', lovely escapism!!!!

Who owns BP??

Who owns BP??? Just watched Barrack Obama blethering on telly and decided to check why the British are getting this in the neck. Innocent or guilty, the company have been skating on thin ice for years with health and safety issues but I took a dim view of the british % being made the bogyman when the american % is only 1point less!
UK investors 40%, US investors (inc JPMorgan) 39%, Rest of Europe 10%, Rest of World 7%,
Miscellaneousc 4%
Feel free to criticise the company BP but it's a mistake to think the letters stand for British Petroleum!

My apologies for the mini-rant but one gets tired of listening to others aportioning blame where it should be shared.
Oh and just as an aside, very few people I know think the Lockerbie bomber should have been released but would be very interested in seeing the documents from both UK and US govts on that one, ours for all the use they were, have been published already!
Need to get to the gym later, far too grumpy today, grrrr!

When kids come for tea,,,,

Youngest's friend was invited over so they could both go to football at the gym, then he came for tea and a play and ended up staying over night - his mother was in shock as he never stays anywhere - she can never get rid of him, lol, but he's really comfy and relaxed here. I think it's because everybody's older than him and nobody hassles anybody, it was Friday which is a pretty relaxed day esp in the hols but I don't mind why, just pleased he enjoyed himself. His mum came round this morning to get him, as he requested, at 10.40am - safely missed his swimming training that started at 10.30 - very smart but in time for us to leave for youngest's karate so not annoying me!!
We had a good time there, youngest was really sweaty when he was finished so his work out was a tough as mine, then we had lunch and came home to chill. I really enjoy having him all to myself, with the youngest it's always tricky getting time just with them but we've got it sussed just now - he likes cooking so the twice weekly cooking sessions are proving popular, with all three of them actually, and another opportunity for one on one with all sorts of subjects coming up for discussion!!

It's a family thing!

We have got a temporary membership going for eldest so he can come to our gym with us and it's given us all a new level of enthusiasm for our exercise there. Youngest's pal is coming to one of his classes tomorrow too so we're making full use of the facilities with our dodgy weather!!
Oh and I've finally made it into the stone below - been stuck for a long time but the weight's finally going down properly and *I feel good, nana, nanah*:)
Only another week or so before Al's back but daughter might go off to Islay with a pal now we can't go as a family - it'll be a first but I'm gently encouraging her, spreading wings is what being a teenager is all about and she definitley needs to get hers flapping, lol!

This week's progress so far.....

Well the hall is nearly done, just need to dig out the sewing machine to get the curtains sorted and hang some pictures and it'll be completely finished, yay! I still managed my session at the gym this eveining with the wee guy and survived th cold shower afterwards too, something's wrong with the water in that place the spa was off limits and the pool was freezing, then the cold showers - not amused but I did mention it s, supposed to be o at least they might have a chance of getting fixed. Lots of people on their way out tonight and nobody but me mentioned it, strange!
Did a good shop y/day £61, supposed to be £60 for the week but I've got stores in for this and next week so still on track for my TMS challenge!!

That was a surprise that wasn't!

Hubby was told on Friday that he was being sent home early to get his broken nose fixed and because he wasn't needed on the ship in dry dock, but somebody has changed the rules and they need him now, :(
I have a to-do list that was getting too long for one week so I'm trying not to be too pleased he's staying aboard. The other thing is that he needs to stay out of the country for more than 6months each year to keep his tax money, so although it would have been good to see him, he would have had to stay out of the country at another time to make the right percentages
We were frantically painting the hall a light, supposed cream colour but it's pretty white, to give him a surprise but the steam's gone out of that now, no panic but I've a few ideas on new curtains that used to be in the lounge for the front door and to line the bathroom and bedroom doors as the frosted glass is a bit too see-through, oops!
So I've ended up with plenty of time to get these things done, must dig the sewing machine out of it's box and see how it actually works!!
I felt really pleased when I could tick off several items at once on my to-do list, yay:):)

What's $200 in £????

Over on the motivation station they're trying to see how far $200 will get you buying groceries, some posters hope to make it last 5 weeks, but I'll need tofind a currency converter to try this out- maybe about £300, need to check that but it's a challenge I can't resist!
Our second holiday over to Islay has had to be cancelled because after hubby's run in with head-butting thug, he needs rhinoplastic surgery and it has to be done when he's next home - so the ferry has been cancelled and all arrangements scrapped :(
The police have got nowhere finding the guy who did it and we're left with hubby needing surgery and a nasty taste in our mouths - not been back to Asda since it happened but should go to see if they've removed the sail-boards on the ceiling so the CCTV could be used to help others! So frustrating, grrrrr!!!!
Onto better thoughts, I've binned formal dieting and am using controlled eating, which mainly means thinking about what I'm doing *do I really want this?* *do I really need this?* and so far have lost another 2lbs in 2 weeks so having more success at the moment but still weighing snacks and carbs, eating loads of veg but less fruit - don't think the fructose was helping my quest for a fitter bod!
Oh and I've taken up running, only on the treadmill but I can sustain 11.5kms for minute bursts, I know I'm better at rowing but I can do 1km in 7.58mins which is mince but can only get better, 6months ago it took me 22.35mins to do 2kms so it's improving slowly but took my eye off the ball whilst concentrating on other things and have decided to work on improving my speed and style to speed up my weightloss too!
Right off to find a currency converter to see how far $200 will take me in Scotland, lol!!!

£303.03, I was pretty close so off to work out some menus:)