Hi S-G
You are not on your own!
Sorry I haven’t been posting… have broken 2 bones in my hand so typing troublesome!

I am happy to set up July thread..what should we call it… “let’s have a Jubilant July 25”???

Hubby got up at some unholy time this morning and I managed to go back to sleep until 6am. Turns out he is ill with diahhorea and sickness. He has gone back to bed and I am sat here nodding off…..

No news although I am looking for a volunteer to take over this thread or at least do the July one. It has been several years since we started this (about 5 or 6) which is a long time and was okay shared by 3 of us (the triumvirate as we have been called). Now I seem to be here on my own and really not feeling it. Any help would be appreciated.

On one piece of good news, my insulin injections are down from 24 to 18 and the results are nice and steady around 75 to 90. That is my main aim right now.

Cooler today at 26, still sound hot but being 12 degrees cooler than yesterday it really makes a difference.

Hi everyone,
Still keeping on keeping on here. Nice to read the posts about summer outfits. After years of wearing competitive swim suits, it was shocking to realize that there isn’t a size that fits me now. I ended up ordering a couple of more recreational types on clearance from Land’s End last year. They are patterned, but probably not the most flattering I could have bought from there if I wanted to spend more, but the price was right on these and they are good enough for going for a dip in my parents pool.
I’ve been swimming a few times this month already, as we’ve had temperatures up to 38 C, but we’re getting some much needed rain this week and it is only 12 C today, which feels freezing, but much nicer for working outside. I spent about 5 hours weeding today. That’s how badly things have got out of control here after a wet spring and my brain being too scrambled from therapy to stay on top of it all. More to do tomorrow while the soil is wet and before it gets hot again.
Exercise beyond the gardening is dancing. I’ve just been doing what I can and find it embarrassing that I can’t even fully get through a 4 min song right now, but I am already feeling a bit better than last week. Better able to balance and push myself a bit anyway. At least I actually want to do this. I kept talking down to myself because I haven’t felt like going for a walk or doing online yoga or going to the gym. But dancing is something I want to do and need to do at the moment, so why not use it to get fitter too? I need to build muscle and stamina ahead of my surgery in the fall in any case.
In other news, Roehampton University got back to me really quickly and said that from what I highlighted in my email I might be a good fit for the program and to please apply so they can assess me properly. So I can’t use that as an excuse for not doing it. Also, a person I used to work with is moving to Yorkshire next month and I told him that I was thinking of heading to the UK too and he gave me his email address so we could keep in touch and said we should meet up if I make it there. So that’s really nice. I’m still so nervous about making this career change but also so excited about the prospect of starting over in a better fitting career and not having to sit behind a desk for the rest of my working days.

As usual the estate agent let us down. She is so bl—dy dizzy – I know her excuses – forgot the time, really busy etc etc. Anyway she is coming on Monday, daughter says I should calm down but she drives me up the wall with all the mistakes she has made. I would share my listing (if it is allowed) but no point until it is correct.

Had a lovely swim yesterday afternoon in the full heat of the sun but wearing a hat (always do to protect me hair) and a T-shirt.

Saw a slight rise in weight but that is one of the pitfalls of weighing daily, every little blib shows but I don’t let it affect me, just keeping on ….

Dreams, I’ll take it whatever 🙂

1) I have enjoyed a lovely dog walk in the cool forest this morning. Now I shall hunker down indoors!
2) I bought some lavender and other bedding plants (look like busy lizzies but aren’t) so I can make a lovely colourful display to go by the garden table.
3) Moving into week 5 of eating healthily. My waist is reemerging, and my face is thinner. Non scale victories are just as rewarding!

I hope you all have a good day. Keep cool and hydrate!

(Just reread my last post and it should have read “thanks for your help”! Blooming predictive text 😂)

Hi sunshine girl lovely to see you. Hope all is well. And thanks god you’d help. The white one was slightly textured and I thought it was one of those tummy control ones but sadly not. Instead I bought a black one online from Next that has a kind of blouson top. Should arrive tomorrow so 🤞it fits. I also have an old patterned one with a frill on each hip and that is much more flattering too. So I’ll be fine but it was a real wake up call 🙀
Have a lovely weekend X

Hi Dreams, buy a cozzie with a bold or complicated pattern or even plain black. White will show everything. Sorry for the interruption.

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying the sunshine but keeping safe. I wanted to go for a swim yesterday but it was so hot I couldn’t bear to be out in it. We don’t have any shade over the pool so you just burn. I will be in later today but wearing a Tshirt and a hat with factor 50. It just wears you out so I couldn’t be bothered.

Talking about later today, we are expecting the estate agent to come and do some more photos. She has made such a pigs ear of things. I think our listing has been altered at least 5 times. First she did a couple of new photos in the bathroom because we have ripped out the old sink, put in a toilet and updated generally, then she put the description as the old bathroom. The problem is that we had the house up for sale 4 years ago and she has just used all the old details and photos. Then she came and updated the photos but still got them mixed up with the old ones. It is just a mess, I did ask if I could see the particulars before they went live on the site and she said I would have to look at them there but I could always change anything. Didn’t expect to have to change things 6 times (it will be after todays update). People viewing must think we are bonkers or have 2 different houses for sale 🙂

Weight loss is steady and nearly reached my 1kg for June but will have to be wary of the weekend temptation.

I am only posting a load of old tosh to keep things going as you all seem to have gone into hiding. Seems to be the same with other threads. Stay cool.

HEIDI well done on keeping going and I really admire your resolve. I’m enjoying reading your posts so keep us up to date with your progress 😊

I had to smile though at your comments about summer outfits. It came just at the right time as I’d had a despondent moment in M&S. I went in for a few basic items, and tried on a white one piece swimsuit. Well!! It looked awful : every bulge on full display. In the process of hastily removing it I caught my reflection in one of those corner mirrors and wish I hadn’t. If I had any illusion about not noticeably putting on weight it was well and truly shattered at that point. I looked huge. In my defence, I don’t think M&S mirrors are the most flattering (which seems a bad marketing ploy to me). But I was horrified. Scuttled out of there asap.

What a wake up call! It’s too late now to do anything very significant before my holiday so I will have to rely on baggy floaty dresses this time round. And fortunately I’d managed to buy a couple of those at a local shop earlier this week. But oh boy do I need to get my act together when I get back in July. Fortunately there will then be almost half the year left to really make a difference and I really need to do that. And I know I can rely on you lovely fellow travellers to help me regain my mojo and finally get to target.

Ok, am off to seek out one of Yowzer’s wet lettuces. Much needed 🙀

Hi DCT,
Thank you for the rallying message. I’m sure you will keep up the fight. Just think of the holiday outfits!

I am still doing well for me – now over 3 weeks of no (absolutely no) white carbs, alcohol etc. Still eating healthily. As expected, the weight loss has slowed. I am now 5.7 kilos down since 25 May. But genuinely the most important thing for me is being back in control of white carbs and sugar in particular. I was just stress/comfort eating every evening, and now I have stopped. I’m not counting calories or carbs yet, just choosing to eat healthily.

Belated happy birthday to CC, and hope the cold has vanished. I hope the wedding goes well.
And wishing arcticfox lots of courage, strength and good luck in considering all the options. x

ARCTICFOX hope you are pleased with your hairdo and that your meetings are going well so far this week. And it sounds like you’re making huge strides in your therapy sessions. It’s exciting that you are considering a complete change of career – and possibly country too. It’s a brave step to allow yourself to start thinking of what you really want, and believing that things can change. And whatever you decide to do, we’re all here cheering you on!

CATHY belated Happy Birthday! I hope you are feeling a lot better this week and that things are improving with your MiL. Have a fabulous time at the wedding this weekend. Looks like it will be a scorcher! I love the heat but am struggling a bit this time round. I just find it hard to get things done when I’d rather be out in the garden pottering or reading! As a result there is lots of domestic stuff and holiday prep piling up, and (of course) I’m also using it as yet another excuse to eat the wrong things. So needless to say my holiday weight loss challenge is not going according to plan. I head off at the end of June so at least may be able to fight off a couple of the extra pounds I’ve put on recently but I’m definitely in the naughty chair at the moment!

HEIDI how are you getting on this week? You sound very determined and have got your reboot off to a great start with your 5K loss. Very well done, and I look forward to hearing more about your progress soon.

YOWZER how are you doing? I really hope the shingles is clearing up and that you’ve had no more breathing issues. Also that you are coping with the heat ok.

Hello to everyone else on here too. Let us know how you are getting on!

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Yes V, I eat by the hubby time and not when I am hungry. The strawberries and yoghurt came in at around 180 cals but had to be topped up with some ham and cheese before my swim. We eat Skyr yoghurt which is mainly protein.

S-g yes I did bring that topic up but it’s my husband that eats ‘by the clock’ ! I don’t really have a schedule unless I’m away. Sometimes I wake up and have breakfast because I’m hungry but most often I have brunch between 11. & 12.30.

BTW there’s protein in yogurt so not all bad. I found some Fage 2% which is almost as ‘creamy’ as the 5% but has more protein and fewer calories!

Weather here today is muggy, very warm but overcast and we could get some rain! Tomorrow I’m hoping for sunshine and the bbq we were going to have tonight!

Nothing to report here, or should I say nothing I want to report! Well done s-g for meeting your goals. As you say, I’ll just have to keep on keeping on…….

Hi all, I am sure you are all (in the UK) getting our French weather – enjoy.
Lost another quarter of a kilo so I am down nearly 2kgs since beginning of May – on target.

One thing about my eating which someone brought up for themselves (possibly Verano), is that I eat just because it is that time of day. Today I didn’t have breakfast until 11am as I am doing TRE, so wasn’t ready for lunch at 12.30 (early for us but estate agent coming to take more photos) so I had a bowl of strawberries with flakes almonds and yoghurt. Again no protein but will make up for that in snacks I will need later.

Had 30 mins in the pool yesterday and will probably be in again later today.

How are you all getting on, give a shout out.

Hello everyone
Had a terrible cold this week- tested negative for Covid but have felt absolutely shocking all week. Had a family crisis with my MIL who has been taken into respite care – she has advanced dementia Battling with my SIL at the moment re organising permanent care but she has Co-dependency issues and it’s proving very difficult.
It’s my nieces wedding this weekend in Liverpool and I’m hoping I’ll be feeling better and despite the current family circumstances it’s going to be an enjoyable occasion. It’s 7 weeks to my cruise and I hope to be below 150 when I jump ship 🚢 for a fortnight! Losing weight for me isn’t easy but once I am feeling better, hopefully next week, I am going to increase my steps and reduce my calories. I am hovering around 155 at the moment and can’t seem to get lower. I feel my body has quite a bit of inflammation at the moment with whatever virus I’m harvesting.
We are half way through the cruise and despite the choppy waters I am clinging on and I am 100% committed to leaving this ship at target weight. I would like to embark on the maintenance cruise at 145. I’ve had to be realistic here! How did I ever achieve 130? My body is battling for every single ounce. Anyway, I’m 64 now – it was my birthday on Sunday- (worst birthday ever) and I’m feeling confident and positive that I’ll make the best of the next six months.
Good luck everyone- let’s celebrate the solstice together and make a commitment to make the next six months really work out for us all.

Great ‘treat’ s-g!

I too have decided ‘it’s Monday’ so time to get back to the good things in my life. So this morning I used my meditation app which I’ve not really used much for the last few weeks. I didn’t use it all while we were away and although I did try on one or two occasions over the last few weeks I’ve just not got back into the ‘groove’. So today is the first day of my new course and tomorrow will be day 2 ……..

I also had breakfast this morning. Well ‘brunch’ really and I know that eating earlier in the day works for me. Sometimes I forget and then eat around 12 and then I seem ravenous all afternoon. Note to self: don’t ignore your body’s signals!

Yes we have lovely weather at the moment so hopefully we’ll have another bbq tomorrow evening. I’m not a great lover of salad unless we’re eating al fresco so, long may the sunny days last!

Have a good week and let’s make it ‘count’ as a step towards better health!

Heres to a new week everyone. Seems like my little moan did me some good. Made be get my head straight and look at my diet, also with the help of Heidi, making better choices. I haven’t lost any more but I also haven’t bombed out as I usually do at the weekends when I think I deserve a treat. My treat to myself was to be sure not to sabotage the diet.

I am half way to my goal of 1kg a month but might have to increase that as it was based on us going nowhere and not having any visitors. Now family are coming out next month and we will be taking them out and about there is bound to be some meals out or snacking in places with rubbish choices (i.e. a park we are going to which only has a burger bar). Then we have decided to go back to the UK for a week in September, just to break up the gap between May and Christmas – so again, there will be food. Maybe I will try to lose 1.5kgs for June and see how that goes 2 full weeks to go.

Hope you are all doing well and, if you are in the UK, enjoying the lovely weather we are sending to you. I am sure the UK is going to get hotter and hotter every year – just like France has lately.

Hi everyone,
I was on a real emotional roller coaster ride this week. Lots of ups and downs. I am still trying to eat healthily, although meals were a bit more chaotic than they are even normally. It was very hot at the beginning of the week, so not a lot of cooking happening.
Cathy, I can relate at the frustration of not losing weight even when doing all the right things. I thought I might be losing some, and I’ve been trying my best to wear my compression garments as much as possible, even with the heat, but I tried my jeans on just to see and they are tighter than ever. I’ve even been going swimming a couple times a week so thought that might at least shift some of the fluid that accumulates in my upper legs, but no joy. My ankles look quite slim though, so have to take that as a win?
Anyway, one of the positives this week was thinking about changing careers. It is scary because I’ve been doing what I do for so long and would have a pretty gold-plated pension at the end if I could just stick it out for another 12 years, but I’ve been seeing in therapy that it really isn’t a good fit for me when I have cPTSD. I’ve also been seeing that I probably filled out every career suitability survey through the lens of my trauma. We’ve uncovered in therapy that I’m really a dancer at heart. I was dancing out my stress this week when I was working from home and had some breaks, but when I went back into the office, I realized how confined I feel. I need to move! So I started looking into Dance and Movement Therapy as a career. Still not even 50% sure that it is the right thing for me. It’s going to mean going back to school for qualifications too. And there aren’t any direct paths to being qualified in Canada, so it would take 3-4 years of school, which I know I just can’t face right now. So, I got brave and emailed Roehampton University. They have a 2 year Master of Arts in Dance and Movement Therapy. They want a psychology or dance undergrad, which is not what I have, so I emailed to ask about different qualifications from mature students. We’ll see what they say.
Anyway, off to get my hair done. I have some big meetings this week and thought that a trim and tidy up would help me feel more confident. Talk later!

Hi all. i am sticking at the healthy diet. No more weight loss to report so I shall look at this as consolidation. But pleased to say that the 5 kilo loss has moved me from obese to overweight. I suppose that’s good news, though it underlines that I have some way to go…..! I hope you have all had a good weekend, and good luck for next week.

Happy Sunday everyone, Hi Heidi, thank you for your input. You might be partly right but I think the menu for yesterday was a little unusual as I normally have a meat or tuna salad for lunch or a carb free Ploughmans with ham and cheese. Also, my snacks are always protein based like chicken or ham. The onion soup was as tin of Baxters I brought back from the UK and I only buy around 4 which have to last me 4 or 5 months – so not any every day/week or even month thing. I know I generally don’t eat enough but I am trying hard to stick to 800 cals. After such a long holiday my body and brain are rebelling. Thank you and I will eat more protein, think when I have something like onion soup I will add some cheese or nuts for my afternoon snack.

But talking about my weight, low and behold, I have lost half a kilo this morning. My thought is that I have been having too many late night snacks rather than TRE for 14 or 16 hours. I was just afraid of having night-time hypos. Bodies are funny things.

No swimming for a few days as we have had rain and storms and the temperature has dropped in the pool as well as outside air. Due for some more hot weather by Tuesday so here’s hoping.

Hi s-g. Do you think you are eating enough protein? The foods you list for today give around 70 g (13+13 eggs, 38g for a 150g steak, and something for the cream cheese). There seems to be a growing consensus that insufficient protein will make you hungry, and may encourage the body to hold onto its stores just in case. I think you are more the expert, but it may be worth looking at.

Hi all, Verano, we know our own bodies and I know my numbers. My BP normally runs at 110/65, HbA1c 5.8 to 6.2, cholesterol 2.1 etc etc. Don’t forget I am on a whole load of meds for all of those things so they should be low.

I am struggling with the diet. Think I am doing okay and sticking between 800 and 900 cals daily, then I get really hungry in the evening and have a snack. Admittedly it is usually a slice of chicken or ham, or a Ryvita with mashed egg. I just seem to be hungry all the time. Given that I have had 3 swims in 3 days each around 350 cals, that might well be a reason but that doesn’t account for before I was swimming. I have lost just 1kg in about 7 weeks and even then I go up and down around having lost 1 or just half. Somehow my body is not behaving – or is it my brain. Any suggestion would be helpful. Hubby says I dont eat enough. I think I might have a fear in my head of having a hypo as they have been happening too often so I am panic eating at night. I am slowly reducing my insulin and now on 20 units (down from 24).

Today I have had 2 boiled eggs, canned French onion soup (90 calories) with 1 Ryvita with butter and tonight I am having grilled steak with sauteed mixed red and yellow peppers, onions and cream cheese.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Just done a calorie check and today my total will be 756 including a square of chocolate. Maybe I am not eating enough at meals making me really hungry in the evening. If that was all I was eating I would be losing so my added snacks must be adding a lot more.

Jackarce73 post reported..

Another day passed.
I put a pound back on yesterday…🙄 but I am not too worried as I am still 2lb in hand. (Less than my personal ideal).
The positive out of this, is I would have stressed dreadfully in the past, then given in and eaten all sorts of ‘unsuitable’ things and onto the slippery slope! However, I know why I have put it on and what I have to do to prevent it going any further. 😄😄

Other half bought me a beautiful bunch of flowers to make up for the dreadful weather today! ☔️💐💐

Our 14 year old dog 🐩 has eaten all his meals today without the usual ‘coaxing’. He is a very fussy eater, but I must have got it right today and tempted his appetite!! 😁🍗🍳

S-g I’d be over the moon if my BP was 130/80 when I’m stressed. That sounds more like my normal reading these days. OK so just three months and then hopefully you will be on a new track.

Hi Clarinet Cathy, I started from a place of totally unhealthy carb bingeing, so I feel a bit of a fraud to report the reduction. It will all slow down very quickly I suspect! I always admire your perseverence. You can do it! x

Hi Verano, I will see the doctor in 3 months. It reminded me of the doctors in the UK. He took my BP and I asked what it was (as I had been quite upset and stressed) and he said, dont worry it is good. I had to insist he wrote it down in the end as he wasnt going to tell me. It was 130/80 which isnt good for me, if he’s looked at my previous readings which are around 110/70. I will actually ask to see my own doctor next time. This guy was an intern i.e. learning.

Going for a swim – will bring down BP BG and stress levels 🙂

S-g glad you’re feeling calmer now. It’s bad enough that medics don’t always appreciate the relationship between carbs and T2 but to have to get your point across in your second language just makes it that much more difficult. Hopefully they will agree to you coming off insulin. When is your next appointment?

Not much happening here. Weather was lovely yesterday hence a bbq but today is cloudy with rain on the horizon! Im feeling almost as gloomy as the weather is looking. No particular reason it just is what it is.

Hope everyone else is feeling ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’. Have a good week.

Hi all, yes I am over my bad morning. The doctor couldn’t understand why I said I ate more than normal on holiday. When you are stuck on a ship you cannot pop out for a salad and if all that is available is say meat and 2 veg, one of which is carbs and you dont eat it I know I will be ill during the night with a hypo so you load up. Especially if you get off the ship in a foreign country and can only find pizza or tapas (for example) and you know you have 6 hours before dinner. Yes there is always food available but between 3 and 5 it is all cakes and sandwiches. Not a salad in sight. Late at night if I am needing food the only place open is the burger and pizza bar so you make sure you have had enough at dinner. Any idiot knows you over indulge on holiday anyway no matter how hard you try. Can I also say he didn’t speak a word of English and I was exhausted after 40 mins of arguing in French.

Yes his knowledge and attitude were a set back but if I can get the doctor to put me on Semaglutide I might not have to struggle with my weight so much. Although for diabetics it is not the magic weight loss drug, it just helps controlling insulin and glucose exchange without the negative effects of injecting insulin.

Reduced insulin to 22 units and BG was 3.85. Will stick at 22 for a few more nights.

Had my first swim of the season yesterday and it was lovely. Hoping to be back in when it cools down a bit later today.

I too like to have to think about positives. Especially when you are having a bad day like yesterday – but yesterday is gone and there is always something to be grateful

Hot weather has arrived, not as keen as when I was younger but it does my veg patch the world of good.
Had my first swim of the season yesterday and really enjoyed it – hoping to be back in later today.
Feeling more positive about BG and weight outcome for the future.

Wow Heidi- 5kg since May!! I’ve not lost that since the start of the cruise!! That’s amazing! Well done. What an inspiring weight loss in such a short time- you must be doing something right. I bet your egg and sweetener tasted awful! I want to lose about 5 kg but it’s taking me forever!
I am seriously struggling to lose weight despite giving up breakfast and only having coffee. Despite going low fat to try and improve my cholesterol, despite walking 53,000 steps last week according to my fit bit (that’s a lot for my sore feet by the way). I am going to keep trying and doing what I can. My body is hanging on to every fat single fat molecule. One day soon I hope I’ll see a whooooosh and it will be all gone!
Keep trying everyone- giving in is NOT an option.
My goal for June is to weigh less than I did at the start of June. At this rate I’ll take half a pound! I think my body is messed up with years of dieting!

Hi everyone,
Pleased to say that I have lost 5 kilos since my reboot on 25 May. Since I was bingeing on carbs, and had 20 kilos to lose, i suppose I have been lucky with the fast weight loss. I know that it will slow down so am preparing myself!

I had to laugh this morning. We were at a cafe between appointments and I was feeling a bit wobbly. I decided to dunk a hard-boiled egg in some salt, to see if that would help. Unfortunately I got the wrong sachet. Hard boiled egg with artificial sweetener will not be added to my favourite recipes!

Hope you are all having a good day.

Lovely to hear that there are many of us that enjoy this thread.

We are on page 132!! Probably unheard of for any other thread.

For me I love to come here especially when I’m feeling low because I’m ‘forced ‘ to find something positive in my life which always helps.

No difficulty today ….
🥩🥗🥙 First bbq tonight which was lovely even though the weather could have been better.

📺📺📺 Have watched a few very interesting programmes on ‘catch up ‘ this week. Tonight is the finale of Race Across the World…. which I love.

🌳🌳🌳 Had a delivery of some stones today to fill in some planters with olive trees. Can’t wait to have then put into the planters.

Hope Thursday is full of positives.

Oh dear! Sounds like you’re going back ‘years’ s-g. Hopefully by now you have put the ‘nonsense’ behind you. You know best how to handle your T2. Don’t let a young ‘whippersnapper’ derail you.
Best of luck with your decreasing insulin. You know what works best for you…..keep on keeping on ……

I think your rant is well justified S-G!
How frustrating with the doctor, then to have such an unpleasant phone call!

Hope you get your Dr Gorgeous next time!

Hi s-g, rant away. What a horrid morning. And having an unpleasant idiot on the phone afterwards is the pits. It is very dispiriting to hear that there are younger doctors who still don’t get it. How on earth can he dispute the role of insulin in the body?

Anyway I hope you can shake it all off and have a lovely sunny afternoon in the garden!

Hi all,

Just back from the doctors who was not my doctor. He said the results (7.3) were not good so I had all my explanations ready, just been on a cruise etc and blood tests very soon after before I could get the numbers back down and showed him my latest readings which are now good. We went back and forth on too much insulin, too much food, then showed this morning 56 (3.1) and he said not enough food, should eat before bed. Went through all the rubbish my other doctor used to say before he realised I was getting good results on the BSD. Anyway, as the lad didn’t speak any English he went to get my real doctor who said 7.3 is not bad but it is not ideal. He was understanding and told me to do what I always do and reduce insulin slowly, slowly.

Anyway, back to young doctor. I told him insulin was a fat storer and only moved the sugar into the organs and fat cells, he didn’t agree. We got to a point when he finally suggested semi-glutide on my next visit. Hurry, just what I wanted. Hopefully I will see my real doctor next time or ask for an appt when he is there so I can at least speak some English /Franglaise.

Found it all very stressful and was in for 40 mins try to explain in French. Driving home (hubby driving) I had a phone call which said vous etre Madame I…, D….. I said oui and they called me a c–t and put the phone down. I am very stressed out but sure I dont know anyone French who would say that to me (or English for that matter) so it must have been a prankster. I tried ringing back but it was a blocked number so hubby tried ringing in case it was just me they blocked and he was blocked also. Probably just some idiot having a laugh but I am not doubly stressed out.

Sorry for the rant but quite a day really.

How wonderful to see so much activity on this thread, full of positives reminding us all to recognise, acknowledge and be grateful for the good things that come our way.

Mine for today are ….
🌸🌸 spent time with a friend and neighbour this morning … coffee and chat
🌸🌸 a visit to a new DIY store, just nice to wander around and check out what they offer
🌸🌸 all prep completed for our eldest DD and partner visiting in two days time. Looking forward to spending time with them. They’re here for 10 days, so probably won’t be posting again for awhile, but hope everyone else will keep the positives coming.

Hi Heidi, I also love this thread! Great to hear peoples positives which often remind me to be grateful for my own positives.
So for today;
1. The stray/wild cat I have been feeding appeared this morning with 4 kittens. Fabulous to watch their antics. Think they must be about 8-10 weeks old. Just uplifting to watch them play from my kitchen window.
2. We had visitors last night, and I cooked a meal that was ‘low carb’ for me with added bits for them and husband. It all worked well and I wasn’t tempted at the time. (The left over tiramisu currently in my fridge is testing my resolve this morning…but I am resisting!)
3. I have dried a load of washing on the line this morning, as the sun is back… now ironing beckons!

Like you, I put weight on when I am stressed! When I got married the dress had to be let out before the day…I had put weight on because I was comfort eating…lots of sweet things! Now on top of that impulse (most of the time). Today I have 1/2 a tiramisu left in the fridge from visitors who can for supper last night. I am having to be SOOOO strong, just hope husband will eat it quickly!
xxx

Hi sixturkeys. That was a very loving and courageous decision to bring your mother home. Having the support of a carer is a godsend. My parents are still living independently, with one hour’s care a day. They are both in their mid 90s, and it is a very fragile arrangement.

I love this thread and am very grateful to the stalwarts who keep it going. So here are some more positives, though it is early in the day.
1) The sun is back today, so had a lovely dog walk in the woods. Wild garlic scent everywhere.
2) I have a small garden, so a little effort makes a big difference. Now enjoying the results of yesterday’s pruning.
3) Now on day 18 of my healthy eating streak. It feels so good to be in control. Long may it continue!

Hi Heidi In light of your change of user name I do not know when our virtual paths might have crossed on this site. I am so sorry to read about your husband. Your love for him shines through. I do hope that you are also taking care of yourself, selflessly. Which I know seems so trite. In all that, you asked me about how things were going. It is so different from your situation but in brief since 2022 I have been caring for my now 94yr old mother. So physically diminished and sadly cognitively declining. She was in a nursing home for a while but that did my head in so she is back with me; we are fortunate to be able to employ a carer/companion for most of the day so I can get on with work, which I am lucky to be able to do part time and from home. I do not think this forum is “elitist”. My response to that particular contributor was down to how oftentimes she seems to press the point. Pootle, I am all with you on the “small things”. And with flat surfaces being a magnet for “stuff”. I will duck back behind the parapet now. I do think there is a rather unhealthy “ownership” of particular threads by a triumvirate simply by virtue of time here, which brooks no argument!

Oh Pootle, that’s so awful and hard for you.
Must have been so difficult.
You’ve done so well to sort all that and take stick of your health etc with such amazing results.
It’s so odd….so many people say oh I’ve lost weight, I’m stressed, having a difficult time etc….I’m the opposite, I eat more when I’m stressed. I’ve had some tough times in my life and this has been gruelling but nothing has ever put me off eating!! It’s actually comedic value in our family. Apparently, no joke….when my mum had me they used to give the mum a break and feed the babies back then….I had a note on my cot to always be fed first or I would cry hysterically! That’s the truth!
X

Hi everyone,
I have been catching up on posts today, there are so many inspiring ones. DCT I still haven’t weighed myself yet, it’s taking me a while to get back on plan after the holiday in Scotland! Doing a menu plan today which I haven’t done for a while so that should help me🤞Will report back in a week. Dawn XX

Hi Lucy,

It is not surprising that you have periods of good days… then the wheels come off. Dealing with grief and still having to cope with day to day life, on top of paperwork etc is incredibly stressful! I think you should congratulate yourself on the 2 1/2 stone you have lost, and on being able to have some ‘tidy diet days’!!
I lost both my parents less than a year apart, followed quickly by my only brother. Neither of us have children so I am the only one left. I am lucky that I have an understanding husband, who was helpful when it came to dealing with all the bureaucratic stuff. BUT to this day, it still affects me. The loneliness can, at times, be overwhelming. In the past, the temptation to comfort eat has taken over. I now have various strategies to avoid this, but I think you should give yourself time to grieve and keep as sane as possible. The diet is there when you can cope with it. Be kind to yourself.
xxx

Dreamscometrue…..that is so sweet. Thank you so much. It’s a really hard job being rhe only one, hard even if you have help but doing this alone is hard especially with a very insular mum who has never paid a bill, turned on a computer or sent a message it’s really tough.
Been doing admin all day and went ro registrar with mum to register his death. Wrote a little speech for the funeral….doubt I will even be able to say it. Everytime I start I end up in tears.
My diet veers between good period of days….then the wheels come off for a day or 2.
So tired all the time and gutted we were supposed to be getting on a plane tomorrow morning!
Sorry for going on.
Again thanks for your kind words. And sorry about your parents too. X

The anniversary of Michael’s death seems like a significant time for so many of us. Some lovely words of remembrance on here, and it’s also so good that many are being inspired to strengthen our resolve and look after ourselves better.

ARCTICFOX you sound stronger in every post. I suspect that this time last year you would not have been able to face filling in those forms and, painful though it has been, it is another milestone on you moving forward. And the strategy of working through why you are doing something before you decide to do it sounds really helpful. Keep on going, and keep on posting. It is a joy to be allowed to share your progress.

HEIDI lovely to hear from you and you are so right in that we can control what we do. A bit similar to what Arcticfox was saying in a way : if we take responsibility for our actions and make rational decisions before taking those actions, we can do this! I’m so sorry to hear of your family problems, but so pleased you are looking after yourself. It’s a bit like the airplane oxygen mask analogy : if you are not making sure you are strong and fit, you will be less able to help those around you. Well done!

POOTLE your weight loss is amazing!! 5.5 stone down and reversing diabetes is an incredible achievement, particularly in the time frame of a year. What a fabulous tribute to Michael and an inspiration to us all. I’m so pleased for you!

Hi to everyone else on here too. Must dash as I’m heading out now but will check in again later in the week X