Monday 24th Dec

Happy Christmas Eve

Went shopping in the morning and had coffee and lunch in Thorntons cafe which was very nice - as we sat there dripping (very wet rain out there).

Just kidding!

Damn blast and bother. Just got a phone call from mum. She said her and dad have been here (tried to visit while we were out in Heswall). I had said yesterday that we would be out in the morning and normally they ring before they leave the house to come here. Damn. They left the pressies in Neils mum and dads for us.
Well, that means they won't be visiting here now till the end of March (J's birthday). Bugger.

You'd think wouldn't you that they live a long way from us. It's 19 miles to be exact (38 minutes in the car). Of course we'll see them in the meantime, we'll go there. But they won't be here now till end of March, then again in October (R's birthday) and there's always next Christmas isn't there.

Spoke to mum on the phone which was nice. Really should do so more often. We got the pressies she'd brought down with dad (they'd left them in Neils mum and dads).
Mum had put some PJ's in the bag for me, really nice colour etc. But OH Mum, what size do you think I am? Size 22. Yep I know I look big and as you say, looser clothing is better. But well, they are a teeney weeney bit too big. Gave Neil and the kids a laugh cos they kept falling down. The top's ok (baggy) but I think the bottoms are not quite right for me!!!!!

Had some nibbles tonight, with dips..........oh and some chocolates, but am avoiding the wine as had some last night and don't want to be woken up at 5am by R whilst feeling hungover!

Can you believe the kids (mainly R) got me up at 4am on Xmas morning, though I managed to put her off till later and got up at 6,30am. Neil however got up before me, I think he was up from about 5am. Kids didn't open pressies though till I got up.
We had Xmas dinner in Neils mum and dads along with Neils brother and his 2 kids. All in all it went ok, quite fun in fact, sort of.
It all goes quite quickly doesn't it, once it's here.

I am in work tomorrow and Friday. We are going to my mum and dads Sat and Neil's brothers (he has two new little kittens). Wish I didn;t have to go into work tomorrow and Friday. Maybe next year I can book them off - probably not.

Did go on the treadmill briefly this morning whilst listening and watching my new McFly dvd, but got distracted. We got J a Blink182 triple DVD so I can watch that too (I like Tom Delonge)Ha!

Anway....had better start thinking about dieting again at some point hadn't I. R and I are back to the gym with a vengance once New Year has come and gone. Me more than her, I want it to be fun for her.

Thur 27th Dec

Had good day in work, also came home earlier from work which was nice. Our car is ker-knackered again and off the road waiting for a garage to be open to get it fixed - what a pain (also dreading garage bill)

Mmmmmmm......thinking about getting back to healthier eating. Note - I said THINKING!
Went round to sister-in-laws in afternoon and relaxed, had a few glasses of wine and yapping.

Been staring at the treadmill tonight, picturing myself on it (hehe). Actually the other night I ran on it for a few minutes (or it might have been seconds?). But got put right off running as my tummy was er............shall we say, a bit too bouncey. So so scarey and not at all funny. I think next time I attempt to run I need to make sure I am wearing super holderinner knickers so the flab can be held in place and not make slappy noises on itself. Neil was sat their watching my brief run, now had I been on my own I might have carried on - but was too embarrassed by the noise so had to stop.

I am sure though that those holder-inner-knickers will do the trick and I can attempt a run once again. I think that will be my New Years Resolution Challenge - to run for as long as I can. Starting at say 1 minute. Oh a minutes a long time though isn't it? But what the heck, that is my first challenge and once I can do that so easily, well, then I'll add another minutes and another and so on

Walking briskly on the treadmill is fine but I know I can do that, I managed an hour on the treadmill at the gym...hence the challenge of running (as long as my knees can handle it!)

Friday 28th December 2007

I am so so bloated. I think it's the food. I think my body needs a bit of a detox/de-junking. Oh I am sure by some people's Xmas's I have been pretty good. After all, I don't recall spending a fortune on foodie 'extras'. But we did have SOME like.............
2 tins of them to be precise and today Neil got (These not opened yet) and he bought a box of (Had a few of these earlier.)
And over the last several days we've all eaten our fair share of

OK, ok I did mean to make my own but never got round to it.
Also we have eaten a few

Mmmmmmmm thanks to Asda and Tesco
(again, meant to make a low fat version of my own but didn't.)
ALSO.
We have worked our way through a few bottles of dry white wine.

Oh dear - I can quite see why I am 'BLOATED' and heaven forbid, it may even be good old fashioned WEIGHT GAIN?

YEP - I've been eating badly and you know what - so what. It's Christmas and if I want to eat badly I will (have). There's going to be a tiny bit more crappy eathing then HEY PRESTO
COme this time next week there won't be a mince pie/chocolate/trifle to be seen anywhere in the house.

Sunday 30th December 2007

BF - 2 ww toast, griddled egg and cranberry juice
LCH - Jacket potato and baked beans
Anoon - Nuts
Tea - Fish pie (homemade)

I am ready., I am totally ready to start eating better and exercising more - starting today (genttly easing myself into it!)
Tomorrow I will weigh myself (will also weigh myself once a month at the gym when R and I get back there)
I am going to write down what I am eating for a few weeks. Neil is also going to start, though on Wed I think!

I am not following any particular plan, though at the moment am ready Neris and India's Idiot Proof Diet, which is not quite what I want to follow but is fun to read (about how they lost 10 st between them folloiwng an almost Atkins (though not quite) type diet). Also got the latest copy of Top Sante which had a brill 28 day 'diet' calander to follow - the recipes in in are simple but really nice and seems an easy plan to follow.
TOP SANTE MAGAZINE : Top Santé offers an intelligent, accessible approach to health, beauty and wellbeing, with plenty of jargon-free expert advice. There are features on everything from treating common ailments to cutting-edge medical breakthroughs, emotional issues, health eating and weight loss, plus the latest beauty innovations.

Did 20 minutes on the treadmill (1 minute running) OMG I am so unfit. But whatever - I can get fitter.

Me with my hair darker.Same day (night) with my glasses on which actually I wear all the time (I just take them off for photos). I do have contact lenses that I wear for going out (special occasions etc).

Well, we have a few goodies left.....nah who am I kidding. Neil and the kids just walked to the shop down the road and got a load. After my 1st day of 'dieting' I thought HEY I would quite like a few treats tonight cos it's nice to and I want some and I feel like some cos it's still 2007.
So excuse me while I go downstairs, settle myself on the couch with Neil and R and watch Home Alone 3 and scoff a few 'treats' and I am going to eat them slowly and enjoy them and I refuse to feel guilty (though may do later on).
Tomorrow I can do an hour on the treadmill can't I?!!!!

I can feel the flab round my middle - it is solid and there's loads of it and it's uncomfy - but for the moment I will ignore it (whilst doing the above).....might do the stand in front of the mirror naked trick in the morning - that'll put me off food!

In case you're wondering - all my pics are carefully chose so I don't see how FAT I am, and I take them from above so avoiding seeing the 'chins' and often all you see if my face (as rest of me is arghghghg at the moment). And yes, my work tunic is definately tighter. Maybe tomorrow I will post up a 'true' pic (as painful as that will be Arghghghghghghhghg. Mmmmm now where are those chocolates and other goodies Neil???