coops

Oh - and another thing... my hot flashes are back with vengence and they are completely draining me of all my energy and motivation to even sit up straight! Could this be the cause of the pesky scale being rude?

Oh my, not feeling this - after a good fast day the scale went up!!! I've had a low cal day - scale stayed up... then today, I did a good 16:8 but within the 8 hours, I managed to fit in biscuits and nuts... oh dear! Tomo isn't gonna be much better as we have a training day and there is always lovely buffet food... *sighs* Gotta get rid of this extra poundage... doing my head in - even though I didn't think it would!

Kim, as Georgia said - take care of yourself and let yourself grieve when the feeling hits - don't sweat the small stuff my lovely friend... by that I mean food wise. Cwtches across the pond x

nearly finished my first proper fast day in a while... holding on in there, but I won't lie it has been tough!

Back to work tomo after a glorious 6 weeks off! It is gonna be a stressful term so I gotta get my head in the game and soon... like I said before, time management is gonna be an area for me to focus on, I am also gonna reboot my 5:2 kicking off tomo with my first proper fast day for over 3 weeks! Wish me luck!

Oh, Sheryl, I didn't mean that you had 6 - I meant the thought of 6! Out of curiosity, why had your counselor suggested more than one guy? Doesn't that complicate the whole dating thing? Honestly, if I was ever in the position where I needed to date, i really wouldn't know where to start!

Crikey Sheryl... my head would explode if I had six dates on the go ...lol We are going out with friends tonight for a drink and a giggle... last night out before I go back to work Monday... I am also back on the 5:2 wagon. Top end bounce ain't that good for me cos my fav jeans are a bit snug and I don't like that feeling at all!!

Ouch Cathy - that hurts like mad. Have you seen a dr? Will you bother... I know mine ain't much use! Rest up m'love! x

Bread is also my enemy! I can walk past sweets, crisps, cakes and pastries but you put a piece of bread in front of me and I start dribbling like Maslow's dogs! So from Monday onwards no more bread! I'm still at the top end of my bounce, the 2lbs holiday weight has gone ( I am sure this is due to fizzy drinks - I don't touch them at home!). I am still not stressing about the scales... but I will be back on the 5:2 wagon Monday! Whether I lose or not - I like the feeling it gives me.

Blimey - Florinda, those pics - you do really look alike! And pretty? Try beautiful! When you said about being invisible - I can relate to that... even now, if I chose to be invisible in a room full of people, I find it really easy to do so. When I was fatter, it was defo a thing that I clung to as I hated attention. I am not sure why you don't get noticed - 'cos you would defo get noticed in one of my regular pubs looking like that!

I bought ice lolly moulds and filled them with low cal/fat yoghurt..in some I added dried cranberries and froze them over night...OMG they are delish. Much nicer than ice cream!

Just did the Icebucket challenge - posted the video to facebook and sent my donation off too... now this is a massive NSV because even last year I wouldn't of done this sorta thing in public! Confidence is growing!

GCSEs are the qualifications gained at the end of compulsory education at the age of 16 - not sure what you would call them in America. Yes Cathy! So going to enjoy the next week and a bit as we also go back to school on the first. But the kids will get a few extra days off due to the NATO Summat in Newport - all the extra traffic and security will mean the place will be nightmare! Oh no! We've celebrated with a brunch at McDonalds - tummy isn't happy about that as it is gurgling like mad and feels like I've eaten a brick! We rarely go there, but it was Betty's choice and I didn't argue this time...lol. I am sure there will be more lovely food later on though...

Warning - proud mother alert! Just gotta share - totally unrelated to 5:2 and our sleeves... my daughter had her GCSE exam results today and she totally smashed it... she has blown my mind with her hard work, determination and now success! I am soooooo proud!She has had me and Steve in tears, more than once today and I am sure there'll be more to come. She really is turning into a wonderful young lady.

holiday gain - 2lbs! Just above my high bounce! hey ho! I am gonna take a rest from worrying about food until I go back to work and then I'll be back to the 5:2 properly. Not stressing over this - as Georgina would say; 'it to shall pass'! As I am writing I notice there is a 'guest' reading this (bottom left of my screen) - is that possible?

My thoughts are with you Sheryl, sorry to hear about Betty's passing, but like you said, she is no at peace and it is over for those who were watching her suffer. x

Hi guys, I'm home from a fab holiday and we had a thoroughly great time. I really didn't want to come back to reality and leave paradise that was Portugal. I am pleased to say that I did myself proud whilst away... I wore my bikini and held my head high- completely perfectly imperfect if that makes sense. Although I was far from the smallest, I defo wasn't the biggest and that felt good. I took the time away from the scales to do some really inward thinking...I have decided that I have to stop being so cruel to myself - putting myself down because I haven't made goal or got a normal BMI; that despite my hardest endeavours I can't lose the final weight, and that I've fallen at the last hurdle. Instead I have realised that I have come so far, not only physically but mentally as well. I am much stronger in body and mind and it is starting to feel good. This doesn't mean I will give up on goal. I think you all know me well enough by now to know that I am not a quitter... but what I have realised is that if I never lose another pound it is 'ok'. So I will continue to do my 5:2 - didn't manage a good fast whilst away but I did a few 16:8 instead - and I will continue with Curves. I must now focus on my time management when I go back to work and get back to the boxing gym. Steve has also said that we should go swimming more, as I loved it on holiday and did my daily laps! I will post some pics when I've uploaded them. It took me ages to read through all the posts; what some tough times we are having... I'm sending you all bug welsh cwtches and wishing I could do more. On the subject of new relationships I really don't feel that I can give any good words of wisdom. I have been very lucky to be married to a man who is not only my husband by name but my real soul mate and best friend. He still makes my heart flutter 21 years later on. All I can say is that I just knew he was the one I wanted to spend my life with and I have been luckily enough to have that feeling returned. What I will say is that this life is too short to have second best - and what works for one won't work with another.... there has to be respect on both sides of a relationship for it to be happy and have longevity. Kim I was thinking about you when I was away...

Sar - you are looking great! Just be careful when you start working out again - it was tough for me. And the doc is right, listen you your body. Good luck! Well, I'm nearly all packed and ready for my holiday - we'll be leaving soon and I am starting to look forward to two weeks of reading in the sun! never been to the Algarve before, but I've heard loads of good reports about it. Not sure if there is wi fi - some sites say yes, some no so I will play it by ear and if I can get on to give an update I will. If not, you all take care of yourselves... be nice to yourselves! See you soon ... x

Hiya Cathy - I wish I could help... I have put this thread in my favs on the PC... there must be a way though, perhaps someone else will be of more help! How is the home improvements coming along? x

I hope everyone else is ok... life can be so sh*tty sometimes. I am ok here - on our summer break from school and it is good to have a rest. last week I just kicked back, enjoyed the sun, read a lot and rested... just what the doctor ordered. I'm back to Curves properly now and feel better for doing something productive. Not seeing any movement on the scale but clothes are ok. We've booked a holiday, go away on Monday for two weeks to the Algarve, self catering this year, 'cos I don't want to be ruled by time and too much food... my hubby agrees. I've bought some new bikinis! I wore one last year - and it felt weird. I am determined to crack this whole bad body image thing... I was once told 'fake it til you make it' when it comes to weight loss... so that is what I intend to do by the pool!

Sorry I've been away - lost all wi fi and 3g connection for a week! Dee, I too can empathise with you - I get the same feelings and I am not sure why... I wish we could meet for that coffee. Be kind to yourself, that email has really shown you how life has been tough lately...we all need time. Florinda, I don't know anything about the work place in the US... but it seems like the new job is jut asking too much - but it will give you a ticket back to your man and your new life. Let us know what happens

Kim, so sorry to hear about the passing of your mam - I teared up reading about the music box - defo a sign. As the others have said before, let yourself grieve and take care of yourself. Love from across the pond my lovely friend x

Kim, sorry to hear about the decline in your Mam - sending you cwtches xx

my beautiful girl! roses? for me... happy anniversary! is this why I weigh heavier than I look? Can't find any of my school's prom photos... I'll upload them to the puter and add later!

Whoa, that article blew my mind... such respect for the lady that wrote it and such disgust at the man who thought he could speak such utter shi*t! I have a many lessons to learn from the writer - thank you for sharing! Florinda, I agree with the others; what a soul destroying position, again, for you to endure! Cwtches to you x Sheryl, sounds like you are really dealing with negative news in a good way... good on you m'love! Chimera, wow - your world of education sounds rubbish... the red tape in my job is a pain in the arse too but at the moment I can tolerate it... although I totally get what you mean when you say you would like a job that starts and ends in work. All other strugglers... yep! We are certainly in this together, for the long haul. I am glad that we are together too cos otherwise I think I would go mad! It had been really manic here over the last couple of weeks... my daughter had her school prom a week or so ago ... I managed to take some time off work and was her 'slave' for a couple of days; I did her hair and make up. I offered to take her to a salon for a spray tan, nails, make up and hair but she was adamant that she wanted me to do it. When I asked why she didn't want to go she said: 'Mam, I want to look like ME only better and you can do that. I don't want to look false.' What a girl! i was soooo proud that she wouldn't conform and just be herself, and my, she looked beautiful too. I will get some pics for you! The we had our school prom and that was emosh too... I love seeing all the pupils transform to young adults and say our final goodbyes as pupils and teachers. I had a beautiful bunch of flowers from my form group. And this week is just a crazy - our last week in work before we break for the summer holidays - lots of things happening in school, trip and activity days etc...5:2 isn't going to happen this week; low cal yes, 500 cals no! I said to my daughter: 'Not going to get a fast day in this week love... my diet is slipping!' her reply shocked me. She simply said: 'Mam, why are you worrying. You never cheat on your diet; your will power and determination are so strong! Give yourself a break and enjoy some treats 'cos you don't eat them often... Dad will always nibble on biscuits but you don't! Stop worrying.' I was a little overwhelmed by this... there is me thinking that I am a pathetic failure when really I am not - she can be so mature at times - fancy, a 'chat' off my daughter, who'd pf thunked it...lol. I have taken her advise and I am running with it. Monday is my next fast day. We are going out for our end of term bash on Friday, a good day on the ole cider... lots of drinking, dancing and laughing... my kinda night! Today is our wedding anniversary... we have been married 20 years! I feel so very proud of this achievement and so blessed that I have a man who I love and who loves me for me - we are both perfectly imperfect! He sent me a bunch of 20 red roses, one for each year...when the landed in work, I really didn't think they were for me! He's never done this before!