Six Months Gone! Six Months to Go....

Tomorrow is September 1st, that means I have come to the middle of my quest to lose sixty pounds by my sixieth birthday. I have only lost 20.5 pounds so I have got my work cut out over the next six months.
I want to be at my target weight on March 1st not going down to the wire on March 20th.

Twenty six weeks @ two pound a week = fifty two pounds
Twenty six weeks @ one and half pounds a week =thirty six pounds

So I need to average at around one and three quarter pounds a week steadily if I am to achieve my goal.

Negatives:

Season changes....food changes, habit changes.
A week in beautiful Cornwall..Delicious Food.
Forest Hill Retreat in November...Delicious Food and Fab Company.
Christmas and New Year..... Food Food and Food.

Positives:

I REALLY want it.
My motivation is high.
My health is improving.
I am walking more.
I have joined the Gym.

I have to admit my food choices this weekend have not been so good, I have not been to the gym as my left knee was quite painful and we decided it would be best to rest it for a couple of days.  We have done some walking but nothing that would burn up any calories. I would not be surprised at a weight gain on Wednesday.

Tomorrow starts my favourite time of the year and I will be in my element walking for the next two maybe three months as the colours change on the trees. I am feeling pretty good about the next few weeks....

Ella Bella

Here are two photo's of Ella and her family taken on friday morning, with the exception of my daughter. She could not face having her photo taken with Ella. 

As you can see she was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Thank you for the lovely comments after my posting on Friday.

Sunday Sunday...

Sat here listening to Steve Wright's Sunday Lovesongs on Radio2. Have had a relaxed and happy morning with my darling. We have done some tidying up, throwing out and sorting.  He has gone to the tip with several bags, boxes ect. The bedroom is a little less cluttered, will be a lot less cluttered next week when I send a lot of papercrafting supplies to Rainbows when the new school year starts.

I have printed out a shopping list for meals for a week which will start on Tuesday September1st. I have joined an online diet site.  My BezzyMate, Trish lost one stone with them and I need some structure to my eating.  I have already blogged about fearing the change of season and change of eating habits.  So I am forward planning. This is going to be my safety net for the the next twelve weeks. 

I have chosen to follow the High Fibre route as I know I will be able to have potatoes, pasta and even some bread. The Meal Plan and Shopping List looks pretty good. I also have my F. Plan Diet Books so can use them for inspiration too.

I am so afraid of sliding back as the nights draw in and it gets colder. I can see the weight loss in my face now and I am getting positive comments ffrom all quarters so really don't want to slip back.


Wish Me Luck...

Saturday Fun

It is 4pm Saturday afternoon and my gorgeous eight year old grandson is visiting.
He lives in Hampshire so we don't get to see him often, maybe four times a year if we are lucky.
Anyway he is staying with his paternal grandma at the moment and we got to borrow him for the day.
If we had a bigger place he would be staying here, but the shoebox is too small at the moment....
We picked him up this morning armed with a list of things/places to do. He didn't want any of them, he wanted to come here to play with Ralph. Now he hasn't known Ralph a long time but since they first met a couple of years ago, they have gotten along really well. I don't get a look-in and I'm the grandma!!
We went to MacDonalds for lunch, his choice, I had a chill chicken baguette, scrummy it was but did without my beloved banana milkshake. so 429 calories spent instead of 1429, so I am feeling pleased with me.
We had to go to my favourite craft shop to pay the balance for the craft retreat in November, grandson was not happy. If had been granddaughters I could have still been there, but no, grandson means quick whizz round but save money, so not all bad.
We are now at home, I am on pc while the boys play on the XBox, it is not peaceful, but it is fun, he is a joy to have around. But he is definately a man's boy.
A much happier day today.

Sad Day Today

My baby daughter sent me a text this morning telling my that Ella her collie dog was poorly and that her husband was taking her to the vet at 10:30.  I quickly got dressed and drove over. 
As I walked in Ella tried to come to me but was staggering all over the place. 
We knew her time had come.

This beautiful fifteen year old dog has give this family so much love and joy over the years. 
Two little girls have grown up with a playmate that let them do anything the wanted with her.
She gave so much but asked so little.

My daughter and son in law took her together, he was trying so hard to be strong saying he would be ok on his own. But my daughter went with him and I stayed with my two lovely girls, The two I blogged about a week or so ago.  The three of us sat on the sofa cuddled up talking about Ella and the fun they had with her.
The nine year old knew Ella wasn't coming back, but the five year old didn't grasp how bad thing were.

When their parents came back without Ella the floodgates opened, five of us heartbroken.
This little family mourning the loss of a wonderful companion and playmate.
I was hurting so much for them and there was nothing I could do but hold them while they sobbed.

The heartache we feel when we lose a dearly loved pet should not be dismissed because it its "just an animal". We should be allowed to mourn without embarrassment and with consideration.

My son in law had to go to work lest that an hour after watching Ella take her final breath.
I took a half day holiday to be with them this morning and I am glad to have done so.
I left my daughter and her girls deciding wether to have a sofa day, or carry on with the plans they had.
Which were to go school uniform shopping.

As he left the house my son in law choked back the tears, Ella was not at the door to say goodbye as was her usual thing, it was a very emotional moment.  As I left it was very sad, usually Ella jostles with the kids on the top step to be there to wave you off.  Today there was no jostling, no competition to see who could wave the hardest, shout bye the loudest. Just three very sad little girls, my little girl and her little girls. I was blinded by tears as I drove down the road.

Hopefully Ella is bounding round heaven with Henry and Cally now...there will be much fun up there...

Thursday Thought's

I was first in the Gym this morning!!!
First time on my own too!!!

It felt a bit strange, but I have got to do it.
Not going to let myself down by chickening out.

Rowed 1200 metres
Treadmill 15 minutes
Cross trainer 10 minutes

We are having our second induction on Saturday,
should have been last Saturday but the trainer didn't arrive.
So hopefully she will show up 9am this Saturday and
I can learn about all the other machines and build up a programme.

Work was a pain today, one of the doctors was so ill mannered I wanted to slap him.
I wouldn't mind but most of the time I adore the man, but he is sailing close to the wind at the moment.

Healthy eating on track.

Weigh In Wednesday

I was expecting to gain this week or at least stay the same as I have not been 100% physically or mentally this week. But I am delighted to say I have lost 1.5lb's and to say I am pleased is an
understatement.

So I am now a third of the way to 60 x 60. Delighted but concerned.

As I said in my previous post, the seasons changing is bothering me food wise. I think I will be consulting my many cookery books at the weekend to see if I can adapt some favourite recipes.

Thanks Tammy (Fat to Fab)for directing me to Pam's site for some inspiration, (Lobster and Fishsticks)great blog.

Okay, onwards and downwards Sheilagh, get on with it Woman!!!

Seasons Turning

It is only August 25th isn't it? I am sure it is. So why does it feel Autumnal already?

There is a nip in the air in the morning, and the light is changing gradually.
This evening found me looking for a cardigan to wear as it is so cool around here.

My favourite season is on it's way, I love the September sunlight, the changing colours of the trees. I always have my main holiday in September/October and always go where I know the colours will be spectacular.

This year we will be going to Cornwall for a week, Ralph has never been there so I will enjoy it twice fold. Then up to Scotland to see Ralph's new grandchild who is due October 6th (Our Wedding Anniversary)

I am rather nervous about Autumn and Winter this year. Will I be able to sustain a weight loss?
Food choices will be so different and it worries me. Soups are fine, though I do like bread with my soup. Stews and casseroles are favourites but adapting them to low calorie takes away a lot of the deliciousness.

So I am trying to plan ahead, looking for any hints, tips or ideas.
Recipes for rib sticking food that doesn't stick to the ribs or anywhere else?

So Blogland friends can you inspire me?

Here's hoping...