Hi folks - well it is now 20th December and I am trying to stay calm about the things still outstanding for Christmas.  We all have choices in life and one of these relates to how we will handle Christmas with all the commercialism, pressure, focus on money, focus on food etc.  This is not what Christmas is about for Christians - it is a time to enjoy the reality that God gave us the greatest gift of all in Jesus who brings us real meaning to life.

A few years ago I realised that I was getting so pressured around Christmas - trying to have the best Christmas ever each year.....now I do my best to enter into things but to keep things in context - I do love shopping but I hate people shoving and being rude so I do my best to avoid the rushes and crowds most of the time.

So have I been walking - o yes I have and how pleasant to walk through E16 and see the lights increase as the days pass to Christmas......the snow has made things look nice even if I am having to watch my feet a lot!  I am keeping up so far although today I have 2000 to do from yesterday and another 10k for today - so a long walk is ahead of me!

When I was walking yesterday through quiet streets - most people were staying inside in the warmth because it was sooooo cold.......two neighbours were arguing at their doors and involving their families in it.....I felt so sad to hear that - tempers frayed - real anger surfacing and I knew that however resentful to each other they felt they would each have regrets today!

We have to protect ourselves sometimes in life from things that would make us over anxious and push us to the edge.....so Happy Christmas all - keep your focus on your faith or at least your loved ones this Christmas.  I am intending to keep walking but as Christmas comes, as a bonus I may reduce my expectation for a few days - down to 5k a day rather than a constant 10k!!!!

Well that's another week gone - it is now under 2 weeks until Christmas and I am not organised!! 

I love Christmas but I have resolved not to have a stodgy Christmas - Dean is coming down and he is used to walking long miles so I will be walking each day of the holiday (as you would expect of course!!)

So how have I done this week - absolutely great - there has been rain, wind, cold and calm......the weather winter but I have managed my 50k steps so far with 2 days to go to complete my 60k.  Last weekend I was pressured because I had to do 10k Saturday and Sunday and that can be too much......this week it should be easy.  I am going to Canary Wharf with Rob for a coffee whilst Alex catches up on her sleep  - think I will resist going to Oxford Street today since Alex and I will be out tomorrow and then Robert and I are up the West End on Monday.

So I am feeling fitter, more positive and have plenty of energy and I intend to keep this pattern of exercise up - and cut out some sugar from my diet!!! 

Can you believe that it is 7th December in a few hours.......I love christmas and we are truly in the count down period now.  I love to see houses lit up - to see children fascinated by Santa Claus, to see all the imaginative marketing ideas to get us to buy so much more than we should - just have to resist that.....and I love the feeling of anticipation as people plan for a lovely time with family and friends.  However I realise how empty and difficult Christmas can become for so many people and it can be a challenging time of the year with so many differing expectations.

As a Christian my challenge is to guard against the materialistic aspects and keep Christ and the gift of His peace and joy central to everything I do.

So how is my shape-up programme coming on as I approach Christmas with all it's food and extra chocolates?  Well I feel better and a bit lighter.....my size is decreasing - slowly but surely.  It could all be a bit faster if I could give up more food and that is what I have to do this week and try harder than when  have tried this before!!

Yesterday I walked and walked around London E16 - and for the first time I cross the high foot bridge across from Britannia Village to Excel - absolutely stunning views and it was all lit up because it was early evening by the time I crossed.  I live in a fascinating and changing area of London and I walk through streets I have not been in before so my walking is so enjoyable.

So as I move through December I want to continue my walking to keep fit and well.  I also want to drink more water and less carbs.....I will do better than last week!!  Talk again soon.

Well where is time going?  I am so pleased December is fast approaching - I will be delighted when Tuesday comes because then the count down really begins.

Christmas is such a special time for Christians - and others of course - but it is great to keep the real meaning of Jesus at the Centre to make it all worthwhile.

We all have to face each year the challenge of creating a special Christmas - much set on idealistic pictures of happy family Christmas times........Christmas and it's 'special-ness'  is not for ours to create - God created that and I thank Him for that.  So whatever resources we have and whatever we can or cannot afford in material things this year, I pray that many many people find peace within themselves, with God and with other people.

So how is my re-shape going?  I have had a good week again.....I am keeping to the walking at 60,000 steps each week and that is guaranteed - however it makes me realise how much weight I may be putting on if now exercising.   I have just bought new trousers but I got size 16 - now I know I can fasten 14s but it is taking a bit of time to get any discipline into my diet to speed up the real size 14!!  The excuses are of course the weather and dark nights - not to mention the long working days but my intention is still strong enough to get there.  

Of course people are so encouraging - slow weight loss is more sure to last - and yes I believe that but one thing is sure I could do even more towards limiting calories.....so here I come December 09 and I will do a lot better towards Christmas Day!!  Bye for now.

Hello again - how quickly time passes and yet I am so excited about Christmas coming this year so November feels slow!!!

Well how is my weight loss - or life transformation going?  Walking is good and the positive thing is that I really enjoy the walks - even in the rain.  Now London weather is quite kind - it's mild much of the time.  Dark evening are proving a bit of a challenge but I am still on track and always complete my steps.

I tried something new this past week - I decided that it could be easier to leave step count on pedometer and see 60,000 steps as accumulated amount.....meaning that if it really did get impossible to complete a day I could make it up next day......well I am returning to daily totals.

The reason for this change back is that the high numbers are misleading and it was too easy to limit my steps too early in the week - so I had two 5k days at the start of the week which pressurised the end of the week and compressed much effort!!

I had a visit to the GP this week and have had to have loads of health checks with another important one this coming week - however I feel good in myself and I have to keep walking out of doors for the benefit of wellbeing and positive energy!!

Talk again soon.

Hi again - well what an interesting 'stepping' week - now that the evenings (and mornings) are dark it is a challenge to get stepping - and to stay safe.......

However I am pleased to say that I am doing well - still 60,000 steps each week in total and this week - from tomorrow I am going to keep the step count going so that on the days I go over it can off set the days that may be harder to fit a walk in because of rain or wind.......

I am hoping too that this will help to motivate me to try even harder at walking (exercise) because although I am happy that my shape is changing - it is still a bit too slow and I want to feel slimmer for Christmas.

So - work is good - family life is good - I am excited about Christmas and so here goes - a harder try at increasing exercise to offset eating!!!  Talk again soon. 

Hello again.....I have had a good week but my great intentions for sticking to low carbs lasted only half a week.  Absolutely fine and dandy whilst I had office days and could prepare my lunch and eating for the day but not so when I am out and about.

I had lunches of chicken/fish/cheese with celery and tomatoes - that was good with nuts in between meals for protein and vitamin B for energy but hard to keep up longer than a few days.

My stepping has been successful again - some days it is tough and would be easy to give up because it is cold and dark now but I need to keep going or I will really put on so much weight.

With Christmas to look forward to I am motivated to maintain this walking programme since I feel far better for it and it clears the mind.  I notice new things every time I am out and about and even although company would be good I love my walks and know I need them for my health.  Too easy to sit back and watch TV!!

Talk again soon.

Well watch this space this week - I will be!!  With another good week of stepping over - I have not disappointed myself on steps since 1st August - I need to get really serious about weight loss.

Now this is serious because I am find sugar i.e. sweets, chocolate, cakes, all addictive and really hard to give up because I am trying to change a bad habit of a life time.  Now it is not that I am better than I was and I have some weeks when I am so very much better than ever - but this is still an issue for me.  The reason it is such an issue is that I seriously want to be size 12 for Christmas and I am still a long way off this goal. 

All is not lost - I have hope and I would love to stick to meat, chicken, nuts, veg and bright coloured salad stuff....and water......watch this space - can I do this????? I will report back mid week!

Well what a good week ended by two full days off work and a trip to Brighton with Alex.

It's surprising how short a break needs to be to allow me to relax.....on Wednesday an Thursday evenings we had two lovely meals, one in Food for Friends vegetarian restaurant and one in Giraffe - this is a chain but first time for us.  

Now that would have been absolutely fine - eating out each day and relaxing - and of course I did my 10,000 steps Monday through to Friday this week BUT the issue is I bought lovely chocolate and sweets for the room each day.  Yesterday I loved the Scottish tablet I bought - really authentic but it did help me decide that I have to stop sugar intake again.

Despite all my walking and effort to keep that exercise up, I am spoiling it with over eating of bad foods.  So in this lead up to Christmas I need to make more improvement......nuts coming up!!  Good news this week is that I can go into Saturday and Sunday with only 2x5000 steps to achieve now. Bye again......

Well here I am and there you are!!  What is my news this week?

I have done well on walking and even gone over some days......although I confess that on Friday I left without my pedometer and maybe skimped on steps so added some deliberately over yesterday and today........

Now can you believe that since 1st August (and a little patch before my holiday) I have been 'at it' - stepping is good for my health generally and I believe it helps keep bad heads away etc - it also helps me to remain positive and gives a real feel good feeling as I walk around and spot new things each time I am out.

However I have been thinking about the best way to tackle my eating plan and David inspired me this week...he had been to a rigorous boot camp run on military discipline rules and he has been taught all about the importance of abandoning carbs generally and increasing protein and nut snacks with coloured veg/salad to make meals........

the point being that our bodies really need protein and the right fats but does not need as many carbs as we generally imagine they do.  So if I am really going to get serious about better eating and losing real weight I will seriously consider copying a bit of what I did ages ago - a bit like the Atkins eating plan.

However I have a great week lined up and I am so looking forward to my girlie few days with Alex so I will not promise this week that I will decrease dramatically on intake - bit I will eat less than I have been doing or at least substitute some sweet things with nuts!

So into my 13th week now of exercise and that is a changed lifestyle - all of August and September and almost through October - this is for the long term......bye for now x

O I have been tired today ever since I had to pull myself up out of bed - away from a cosy duvet and hubbie!!!  Normally I am full of life in the mornings - today I was feeling the effect of a few late nights and a full Conference Weekend.

So I am into week 12 of my T- Plan......and I am still stepping and feeling better for it.  I accidentally caused a change to my medicine 2 months ago - blood pressure tablets.  So I was prescribed half the regular daily dose of one of my tablets and despite this my GP was pleased with my BP reading on Friday morning.  My walking seems to be working......who knows if I get some power walking built up I could come off tablets altogether.....maybe not!!

I had a look at those wobble FITFLOPS this evening at Lakeside tonight - but £139 - expensive eh?  I plan to fit in some nice long Saturday walks during the winter months - all wrapped up with good walking boots/shoes on to keep me comfortable.......

This past week-end I was quite pleased - on Saturday I only needed 5000 steps and did over 11,000 which was good - and then I even fitted in some dancing at the Rotary Ball!

So I have learned patience and my weight is not falling off but it will be long term if I keep this walking consistent and even increase it.......my 14s that fasten up now will be getting looser in future weeks - and by Christmas 2009 - I will be delighted to be a slim 14!!  Talk again later x

Well I made it through the week-end doing my 10,000 steps each day....and of course this week with having Conference from Friday to Sunday I have had to think things through.  This means that I must not leave any week-end days with 10000 steps owing....so each work day plus Friday I must complete 10,000 then I can take it a bit easier on Saturday and Sunday.  Of course I will be walking in Eastbourne and I can fit in seaside walks but I am also in Conference sessions - maybe if I wiggle in my seat I can clock a few steps (cheat!).

I have a busy time before I get away though - work is full on, we are actually leaving Alex at home this time (her request of course) so I have to get her some food in for her and friends!  I also have to somehow fit in a doctor's appointment (should have gone after my hols - August) and a wee visit to TK Max to return trousers that are too long (not too small) and hopefully I can exchange for something to wear at Eastbourne - size 14 of course!!!!

Good news though - although weight loss is slow (well I have not even weighed myself but you know what I mean!!) I can fit into even more 14s more comfortably - just imagine that lovely dress I could buy for our works Christmas 'do'!!!!

So bye for now - Oh and I am cutting food this week - so far so good!!

Wey-hey Friday again.......and I love the week-ends because work is busy and demanding (even although I enjoy it) and I need a break for 2 days each week!!

So how is my Plan going?  On Monday an Tuesday this week the weather was bad so I did only 5000 steps which has meant that the 5 days following need to clock up 10000 steps each!!!

That's fine though because I am comfortable and disciplined on my steps BUT I could still learn loads of discipline with eating......this is so hard....I have such a sweet tooth.

So one week to go until a lovely long weekend away in Eastbourne for the Rotary Conference and I need to reduce my eating from this week-end and again count calories more carefully (now I am sure I keep hearing that!!!!)

So into another week - soon be size 12!!!!!

Hello again.....well what is going on with me?  Since our office move I have felt productive - the office layout offers me more chance to get some constructive work done - but I am deprived of natural light and have been headache-y when in the office all day.

I have started the week feeling quite good but the weather has been cold and wet and I have used this as an excuse to take a lift to and from work.....not good so far.

So Monday and Tuesday I have done my minimum 5000 steps which means that I have no option except to step 10,000 for the remaining 5 days of this week.  However I am feeling relaxed and cool about this and will do it.

Calories are harder to control than steps however... I have been enjoying too many sweets and this has to stop somehow.  That means that I have to focus and keep a grip on calories because otherwise I am in danger or spoiling my plan......so here goes to the rest of this week.  I'll be back x

Well it is Friday at 8:30 ish and I have had it!!  I am tired but happy - and after a good day at Stubbers with Health Centre Teams I had to step so many thousands of steps which was demanding - but hey I have done 3 days at 10,000 and 2 at 5,000 so have two more 10,000 to do this week-end and that is all very possible.......

I have kept up my steps all the way through my Plan but I do seriously need help with eating....fruit and nuts look good but I keep stretching for sweets and chocolate - I need to try a bit harder to discipline myself.

I have had a good week at work with variety of responsibilities and people and I look forward to tomorrow when I plan to walk early and relax later on - then on Sunday again I plan to walk early before Alex and I go to Hillsong in the afternoon.

So here's to a good week-end.  Interesting when I give Pedometers to people to get them started they tend to state that they are not working properly....we all imagine that we are walking more than we actually are!!! 

Robert and Alex have been struggling with bad colds recently so here's hoping I can keep well.

 

See ya x

Hi - where does time go?  It is incredible to believe that we are nearly through September - but even if I don't believe it, we are!!

I am also into yet another week trying to lose weight.  So.....stepping is all good - but I need to cut back on food....and feel that this is what I always say.

So I intend to get very serious this week - I will again try a food diary because if I want to feel better for the Rotary Conference and actually wear size 14 I need to get serious.

The truth is I am pleased that my size 14s now actually fasten well on me....but I am not confident that they look good enough - need to take a bit more weight off.

So onwards I go - okay still allowed everything but in serious moderation........

See ya soon x

Well another week over and full success in terms of stepping targets and I can fasten some of my size 14 clothes.......

I am really enjoying walking because the weather has been lovely and this week-end I will enjoy the Docklands/North Woolwich/Silvertown/City Airport/Royal Albert Dock/Home walk and the weather is set to be good all week-end so I will even wear my shorts and sunglasses!!

This week-end I am taking Robert with me - because he has been walking a bit this week and this longer walk will do him good - and of course the reward is that we will stop for coffee at the London City Airport which is very nice!!

So into another week and I am pleased with some progress this week - several people have commented on my decrease in size and my belt tightens another 3 holes further along!!!!

See ya x

Hello - I have just enjoyed a lovely meal at Rotary, Barking as well as an interesting talk from Hannah who is a fitness trainer who has applied to study medicine.

Hannah spoke to us about the importance of exercise alongside healthy eating and she confirmed some important truths for me.

Once useful tip was to concentrate on what you can include in your diet - not what you can't include and it will change your way of thinking!!

She also emphasised the importance of brisk exercise - moderate intensity for 30 minutes on 5 days.......so my walking needs to step up a bit I think!!  No more strolling for some of my steps if I want to lose weight.

O I am so looking forward to being slim by Christmas - of course I will also be much slimmer within the next 3- 4 weeks if I concentrate even more!!  Bye for now x

Back again - what a beautiful sunny morning we had in London today - I set off on my walk with a fleece on and only got a short distance before removing it.....I did just under 12,000 steps and what a lovely walk it was.

I followed the Capital Ring from Beckton District Park which took me across to North Woolwich and from there I circled back home.  I came along to Silvertown and stopped at the London City Airport for a cup of tea - and a read of the Times.  Since the airport is now connected to the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) there is even a Starbucks now as well as EAT.

I just love this area of East London because it is evolving and ever changing....yet it is fascinating to see little old houses amongst the new flats and houses......and of course there is still plenty of room for improvement in the East End but it is good to live here.   Of course it does help that I work close by - if I worked further out I would want to live there too!!

Well my steps are going well and I feel that I can be confident that I can maintain the pattern into the future - and listen - I bought a pair of size 14 trousers this week-end AND they fit me......okay I don't like a couple of little lumps showing BUT they fit me.....I just have a bit of further work to do to look good in a size 14!!  Then I want to throw my 16s and I will not return to that size again - I have had enough of being fat - fat is NOT beautiful!!  

So this week - I will focus on my food intake more to get a better balance and try to guarantee some fat falling off......see you soon. x

Hi - it has been so good today to catch up on home and family things since I have been pushing myself at work all week and that has been my main focus.  

Alex too has had a busy week - first week at her new College with her journey across London to Angel and all the steps at the station taking it out of her!!!!  that's before she starts the heavy 6th form work.  She has enjoyed the social life anyway - new friends - new journeys and new surroundings in that lovely part of London.

So before I start another busy working week with everything going on (NHS Changes are all over the place and cause us loads of HR work - but I really love my role) - I need to make sure that I catch up here.......

Today has been good.....Alex and I spent a bit of time shopping - she managed to buy another dress at the end of summer - for her party tonight at Josh's - a friend from school days just gone!!

Today for me was a 5000 steps day and Robert and I enjoyed fish and chips tonight from the Custom House Chippy!!  I have learned to keep calories low when I want a treat like this and how I enjoyed that meal!!  My old ways would have involved fitting in chocolate immediately after a meal but that has stopped now.  I am allowed chocolate or anything else of course but it is good to in control enough to decide I don't want it!!

Tomorrow is a 10000 steps day - the last one this week and I will enjoy a lovely London walk.

I'll get up early for that and whilst Alex has a sleepover at Ashley's house I will walk, walk and walk some more before making dinner for Robert, Alex and myself. Talk again soon x

Hi - time flies and that is week 7 of my Shapeup Transformation over already.

Well it is fair to say that I am still not a size 14 and also that I think it could take another month to get there.  Now that is a shame because some people lose weight really fast BUT  remember that I am looking for a life change that is maintained and improved on and so I have to be patient.

My stepping is certainly making a big difference to me......I have overdone it a bit this week at work by staying late each day and so I am in need of a good rest but normally I feel wide awake and very well.  I am sleeping soundly; enjoying a lighter tummy and hips and my size 16s are slipping to my hips and skirts are sliding round my waist as I walk......this is good but I can't wait until I feel them falling off me.

I keep trying my smaller clothes on and it is good to see that another couple of inches and they will fasten!

I feel better about myself - feel balanced in mood most of the time and feel really positive.

I have things to look forward to and visualisation helps.  When Robert and I go together to Eastbourne this year (I will miss Alex who is staying at home) I will be slimmer and will be into my smaller clothes - that is a certainty because I still have a few weeks to work on myself until mid October.

Then I am having a couple of days off in half term and then for Christmas I can look forward to a visit from Hazel and Dean - and the 5 of us will be active and really enjoy some quality time together.  Dean loves walking and so we can all walk.......so here's to a bright future.

Back again and so soon......I have a little navy skirt in my wardrobe and from Massimo Dutti - I bought it 2 years ago in Spain because I liked it and was sure it would fit - it was in the sale - sound familiar?

When I got it home to London I tried it on and it would not go near me...hardly pulled over my hips.

Now I have been testing my size by trying this skirt on over the past months - and guess what - tonight I tried it on and it fitted (well a wee bit tight but it fastened and almost sat on y hips!!!!).

This seemed wonderful and is of course an achievement.....I was so pleased because I thought I had got into a neat size 24 but the label says UK 18!!  Now I can't believe this but it still fastens and the fact that it would not go near me previously is surely progress?  Just not enough yet obviously!  What a tough life.

My steps are going well this week - yesterday over 11k and today almost 11k - so I need to push myself a bit more to reach my goals.

Fortunately this is mid September and I have another month until the Annual Rotary Conference.  This will give me another date to spur me on.  I will visualise what I will look like by then and that will inspire me..... bye for now.

Hello again ....... well into the 7th week and all going well so far.  I am intending following last week's plan doing my 10,000 steps each day Monday to Friday and then 10,000 over the week-end days.  Work is so busy these days that I hardly get time to think but I do need to think carefully about how I can adjust my eating further to cut carbs and let the weight fall off.

I am confident that I can still change my shape this year...it is changing already and by Christmas I would just LOVE to be a lot slimmer with a waist and well proportioned feminine shape!!

Hello again.

Well 6 weeks truly over now since 'T'Day when I started my shape-up plan and I have now started my 7th week.

I have introduced the change I was considering - so that on day 6@7 after doing 50,000 steps over 5 days I will do an additional 10,000.  The good news is that over this week-end I have completed 14,194 steps which exceeds my target!!

There is however a downside......I bought low fat pink and white mallows - I can have these on calorie control BUT I have been overdosing on these - so from tomorrow I need to seriously count my calorie intake!  Talk to you soon.

Hi - what  a great day I have had.......I did 8,500 steps by doing door to door collecting at Theydon Bois and a little bit of Asda collecting....this means that my intention of doing 5000 steps on both Saturday and Sunday in addition to my 50,000 weekly steps is happening - only a couple more thousand steps tomorrow and I have cracked it!!!

I was careful with calories today because I knew we were in for a real treat this evening in London......well I was not wrong - the meal was absolutely perfect and I did not feel guilty for enjoying it - and of course I can always cut some calories tomorrow eh???

Talk again soon!

 

Yes that's week 6 complete and also my 5 days of stepping.......I will however add a bit more for this week since I need to speed up weight loss.

I am so pleased that I have my steps as a normal 'life-style' thing now - I am feeling better and moving better for this improvement.  

What really does get to me though is that when I am shopping with Alex it is so frustrating that the modern clothes shops have XL sizes that don't go near my size....how bad is that?  I am glad that I am beginning to put things right because I really hate having to look for big clothes......how many lovely things I see in size 12 - so roll on Christmas.

I'll be back.......

Well they say a change is as good as a rest and I agree after our lovely day out in London for Robert's Birthday.

I always take our Anniversary and my B'Day off work as leave and so this year I decided that it would be good to add in Robert's Birthday!!

Howard and Mary - my brother and his partner let us know on Monday night that they were coming to London for a few days and after meeting them on Tuesday for a meal we arranged to meet up today and share the day in London together.

We trecked London, took in Covent Gardent, the National Art Gallery in Trafalgar Square, Wholefoods at Kensington and a bus trip back to Kings Cross and then finished the evening with a lovely Italian Meal close to their Travelodge.

Our meals and breaks today were good and because I have got out of the bad habit of snacking in between I really enjoyed my food without guilt.  It was good to relax together as family - we see so few of family that it is always good.

My steps were brilliant today - 13,268 - so although I absorbed many more calories than usual that is absolutely fine - I may do 5000 Saturday and Sunday though to make up for this!!!! Bye for now x

Well hello again - I have taken time to come back again!!  However this does not mean that all is not good - well that means that at least I have maintained my stepping targets.......

What I cannot say is that into my 6th week I am a size 14!!!  Not yet but I am not defeated.

People at work have been commenting that I look good - think that means that they notice I am looking a wee bit better.  I also feel a bit better.

I have been enjoying the satisfaction of keeping up the exercise with steps but I know I could do a bit better - maybe I'll increase next week!!

I have been enjoying my food - and this week at work I decided that I'd order half sandwiches - inspired by Pret a Manger's idea of selling half sandwiches.  Half is enough although I have been adding crisps and that will stop because I thought Walkers Crisps were 130 cals - they are 180 - what a waste eh?

So okay - what about my new target?  and have I failed to reach that smaller size in my target time ......well I can squeeze into my 14's  - I just hate the bumps - some people this size call themselves a 14 - but okay I am re-adjusting my target to be more realistic ......by the time I go to Eastbourne mid October I SHOULD be and WANT to be a size 14.....then of course I still want to be size 12/14 for Christmas 2009!!  Wish me well......by for now.

Hello again.....well today has been good although I have not been as strict on calorie counting as I could have been!!  That means that tomorrow I need to peel back a bit - but that's what I like about calorie control. 

Alex and I went to Waitrose this evening and it is a lovely shopping experience - ok Asda is cheaper but it is too easy to load up on 'bargains' at Asda and think less about what we are buying....at Waitrose it's good to carefully shop - make sense?  

We bought lovely trout for tomorrow's dinner.  Before Alex became 'veggie' we always had a Sunday Roast and then for a while Robert and I continued that but it was difficult to get Alex to have anything decent,  Now she will eat fish and so we all enjoy that some Sundays.  Salmon can be a bit strong in taste but the trout is lovely.  These have the herb butter with them and even come in 'bake in the bag' wrapping which is great.

I go into week 6 of my plan on Monday and I mean to make a few changes to how I eat......need to increase fruit and vegetables - get more goodness from my calories so watch this space. Bye for now.

Hello again.....well it is going well so far this week - that's 3 days stepping done already just another 2 to do this week!!  It is certainly easier now but I should put in a bit more effort next week and increase - I won't over commit though - don't want to put myself off!!

Calories - going well but not really eating as well as I could......trying to vary my food a bit.

One good thing last night was that Alex wanted to go to the Wimpy to eat....quite like it there since it is not the fast food like McDs and you get served.  I was really surprised - the whole menu had calories attached to the items - this actually influenced my choice - so I had onion rings and salad because I was too short on calories to have a lovely pork rib!!

So 5th week progressing to plan....skirts loose and maybe with another 10 days I could be better shaped for that dress!!  I'll keep you informed.

Hi - what a beautiful sunny and hot Bank Holiday Monday we have had here in London........Alex went off with 3 friends to Notting Hill Carnival - had a great time and was barely home but I dropped her up to Plaistow for a sleepover!!  

Robert and I set out in the car today and I had to turn around because he took unwell - shivering and shaking.  Fortunately he is okay now - well not 100% but much better.

So what happened to my steps?......I have to say I was tempted to abandon them and make up for it in the week - but the first day of the week is a bad time to have a rest because it puts me under pressure on the week-end, and next week-end I am busy and won't have much time to Step.

I did nearly all of today's steps indoors....so by the time I had finished I was red and hot but boy it did feel good to complete them.  Think I will do Monday to Friday steps this week - it is far easier to fit them into my working week than on week-ends at present.  

So what can I do differently this week to speed up my weight loss plan?  I am going to try most days to have only 1000 calories....and more water.  Of course I am slightly less fat but I am still too big - I am still in my size 16s - albeit they are a bit looser - but I need to be size 14 very soon.  OK I may not be properly into a size 14 for 12th September but I will get there soon!!

So I start my 5th week - and I mean business - feel free to join me - I need all the moral support I can get!  Bye for now.........

 

Well what an interesting day.....strange when you plan and look forward to a shopping day and then it turns out so different to what you expected.

We started this morning without breakfast because I knew we would eat out and I wanted to save my calories......so we had a lovely orange juice each with a toasted fried egg sandwich at Covent Garden and I had a cup of tea.......

At lunch time - we were in Camden by then - Alex had food from a stall and I didn't know what to have so I had one tiny fork full of rice - hardly enough to taste ......then I had a black coffee - NIL CALORIES.........

Before we came home - 7ish I think......I had 100 calories in a Boots shape bar.

So I had loads of calories to use this evening and just as well because I was hungry by then.....so we had chips and although Alex and Rob both had large cod I had a battered sausage - not the most healthy but I did enjoy it.

I am certainly enjoying my food when I do eat these days - normally I would really find it difficult to pass a fudge stall as at Camden and all those lovely sweets and chocolates up in London but I do feel I have things under control now.   

Now if my body can get that message that'd really help as I go into my 5th week.  I have done my part - all of my planned walking and all of my daily calorie control......so BODY - get shedding this horrible excess weight - NOW!!!!

Talk again soon.  Bye.

Hi again - can't believe it is Wednesday of my 4th week already - and that it is September next week!

Well I did enjoy today as a rest day - I did 14,500 steps yesterday and my feet were so sore - but of course I still have 3 more days to walk this week which means that I am on the hoof again tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.  

I am feeling good - more balanced in mood and think I am looking a bit better (less all round) so I will keep going.  I am not changing shape very quickly but hopefully it is slow and sure.

I still have a bit of time to get to size 14 although I am still in a size 16 today!!  I can actually fasten my size 14 clothes but they look terrible - with bumps and lumps all over!

So here goes to much more effort.  See ya!

Hi - so how have I been doing.  I had a lovely day yesterday but did most of my steps indoors - we were at Canary Wharf for a coffee in the morning and then went a run to Epping Forest in the afternoon where we walked a bit but that didn't even dent my 10000 - however after jumping around, wobbling and dancing I did it - so again my 5 days are complete for this past week.

I think my calorie count is in order but since I stopped writing things down I find it is so easy to go over......I need to be strict on this or I won't lose the weight I need to lose - stepping alone will not do it for me.  I will however this week try to power walk a bit to speed things up!

So I am not fading away yet....my skirts seem to be feeling a bit looser but I want more than that......going into my fourth week.  Talk again soon.

Hi - Friday and a week-end away from work to look forward to.

Having 'stepped' my way through 4 days this week at work I had today off AND I followed that Grazzia Magazine advice and had a lovely big Indian meal this evening at home with Rob and Alex......without worrying about calories - so hopefully my body now is totally confused and my metabolism will stop slowing down!!!!

So tomorrow I step again which is fine because I will be shopping and that uses a fair amount of steps - I will also return to counting calories - but having a bit of what I like too!

Only 3 weeks now until I will be going to the special event I want to be slimmer for so I will work hard in these weeks since it would be absolutely wonderful to get into a smaller size!

Bye for now.

Well what a lovely day I have had - Alex is working with us in the NHS this week - not in my department but another corporate department and she is having a good time!!  Today she treated me to lunch at the Unusual Coffee Shop next to our offices.

Alex ordered a cray fish sandwich and I have one quarter with half a small bar of green and black dark chocolate........now that was good for me - low calorie and very satisfying.  So I am learning to stay in control by eating when I am hungry - this evening I cooked chunky haddock fingers and whilst Robert had chips with his I only added peas - and that was lovely - just right.

I read an interesting thing about calorie control today in Grazzia magazine - seemingly - because we slow down our metabolism by cutting down cals and our bodies slow down to match reduction, we should confuse our metabolism by ONCE A WEEK having a full meal of whatever we want to eat and this will speed it up again - sounds appealing.......

Now with the week-end coming up I may just follow that advice!!  I am now comfortable on 10000 steps each day for 5 days and that is good - I am used to exercising now.  Just a speed up required now.

I can see myself in a size 14 but it's still a dream - my 14's go around me but still show too many bulges!  So another 3 weeks??? Hope so!  Bye for now.

Well, what a hot day - although I only felt the sunshine and heat after 4:30 when our Health and Wellbeing Conference ended and I walked quickly along Park Lane to Bond Street Station.

Interesting day - this morning there were so many goodies on offer with our coffee and I didn't even want them - then this afternoon again huge muffins on offer and I didn't want any - now for me that is wonderful.  Lunch was nice - salad and little bits so it was easy to have a decent meal but reasonable within calorie count.

Now to top my lunch time experience in that lovely 5 star hotel in Park Lane I sat and talked with 2 girls - one was telling us how she lost 7 stone and her hubbie lost 10 stone on the Lighter Life plan.....wow!  The other is a fitness instructor and had some good advice too.

On my way home I checked my pedometer and wanting to avoid going out this evening to walk (Alex is going to Cinema with Rudy and I will be out later to pick up and take Rudy home), I got off the train at Canning Town and walked home.  So by the time I walked home in the heat I was relieved to have walked 10500 steps - YES!!

Although I envy the quick weight loss via Lighter Life and similar plans I know that I need a lifestyle change and this way of steps and calories is right for me.  I just need to be consistent and patient until the weight that took years to go on comes off again!!!

Talk again soon - bye.

Hi - well Tuesday of my 3rd week and I hope I can remain patient - I keep looking for a miracle shape-up and this weight that took a long time to build in layers is stubborn and wants to stay......Robert and Alex have commented on a difference but I know I am not yet near to a size 14!!  

Still I need to be consistent....and I have to admit that this plan is quite easy now....maybe next week I will add in some real stretching to speed things along.

For me half the challenge was getting started - your get to the stage where you know all the theory around weight loss but getting started is tough......I have often thought 'tomorrow I could stick to liquid only' or 'just have fruit and water' and then next day before I know it a Mars Bar is in my hand!!!  Familiar?  Well this time 'no way' - I have had enough of carrying extra rolls around with me and feeling ugly because I am too heavy.

Bye for now.

It's the week-end again and that's week 2 of my plan complete.  Mostly I have felt it easy to follow the 10000 steps over 5 days and 1250 calories - although realistically it is easier to keep within 1500 calories daily.  I have managed the odd treat too - just counted it in so as to maintain my plan.

The good thing about this approach is that it is work-able long term and I am allowed any foods as long as I note them and count calories.  The other positive thing is that if I go over one day on food intake I can peel back next day.

So how am I doing on changing my shape?  Well I notice some small changes but not significant yet.......I have to use 'visualisation' to keep imagining what I will look like and feel like once the weight is off!!  So I will be careful this week-end to enjoy my food but not over indulge and I need to step 10,000 steps today.

Relationships are so important in life.....Robert and Alex are back from Scotland and I am spending some quality time with both this week-end.  Bye for now.

Hi - I am surprised that I am sleeping so well these days - especially with Robert and Alex in Scotland.  This is helpful of course since I need my energy to be tip top for work.

I have done well - a whole week now on calorie control alongside 5 days steps.......

so what next?  I do need to increase water intake which hopefully can help me lose weight.

I have been trying on my size 14 clothes and they are very tight - with a wee gap before they will fasten!!  I still have just under 5 weeks to get to that size 14 so any suggestions welcome.

I'll keep going....probably need to consider increasing exercise later this week even if stretching etc indoors.

Talk again soon!

Well - after a good Sunday (missing Rob and Alex but happy they are enjoying Scotland) I am just soooooooo pleased that I seem to have food under control now........now it may be that I am under control but whatever...I am pleased.

This means that I have succeeded in my first full week of calorie control coupled with 5 days of stepping.

I am thinking differently.....yesterday I was shopping and didn't even go into a coffee shop - now I did plan to but it was better I didn't so that a cake didn't become an issue.

I did some shopping for food and have bought some treats - with reasonable calorie counts - I am trying to be positive - I can have whatever I want - there are no forbidden foods but my maximum count daily must be 1500 and I am averaging 1250.  

The weight is not yet dropping off but I am visualising my new shape and I still have 5 weeks to get into a size 14!!

I can do it and I will.......see ya!

Back again....I am relaxing after having my total calories - except 100 which I can have later and having completed 1o100 steps.

Wonder if Alex and Dean have climbed the hills tonight close to Edinburgh - now that is some stepping!!!

Well - how do I feel after my first working week of 'turn around' - quite pleased that at least I have lasted.  Tomorrow I need to do another 10000 steps - but that should be quite easy - shopping, cleaning and walking generally since I don't have the car.  Then Sunday I can have a rest!!

I hope that by the end of next week I begin to notice a real difference in my shape and clothes - maybe not a big difference but already I can see where my waist should be so hopefully.......

Bye for now....

Now listen up - today was day 3 of my 5x10,000 steps for this week and I am pleased to report on 10,512 steps - and the day is not yet over!!

I am waiting for Alex to make and exciting vegetable curry with will be a treat tonight - have only had 500 calories so far today (despite having been in E1 and passing lovely curry places!!) so I am safe to have a curry.......

Main challenge today was avoiding sweets at work - Amanda filled up the sweet bucket and presented me with a bag of fudge - I made her take it away but had one square and it was delicious (yes I did count it).

Bye for now......

Tuesday late and the end of day 4 of my Turnaround programme........

Success again I am glad to report - i.e. 10437 steps and only 930 calories......

Have to admit though that when I completed over 7000 steps to work and back and had almost 3k to do this evening I did them all indoors and that was a challenge.....I was on the trampet; the stairs and dancing in front of Alex's mirror....only hope that there is a lot less flesh to move and shake within a few short weeks - I can see the potential shape coming but it's kinda in the shade at present!!

More tomorrow......byeeeee.  

Hello again - Monday today and day 3 of my TURNAROUND...........

I feel soooo gooooood today because after coping yesterday even with loads of goodies in to eat, I have again managed my steps and calories.

I walked to work today and back again which ensured that my steps would be easier to complete.

Robert and I walked around the park this evening and so I completed 10927 steps.  I also consumed 1150 calories which is encouraging.

I went for a coffee with Kathryn today and just had a black coffee with no Green and Black's chocolate bar - this is a miracle!  I then delayed my lunch (forgot it really because the office was so busy) and this evening I enjoyed oatcakes, banana and orange juice.  After my walk I treated myself to crisps at 131 calories and a breakaway at 99 calories.  That was a nice treat but of course empty calories so maybe tomorrow I will swap crisps for an egg and apple!!!

I am aware that although I have been positive and able to contain my eating today, I hvae had a lovely 3 weeks holiday and a good first day back at work.  I need to be consistent now and keep control even if tomorrow is more stressful!

Later this week Robert and Alex are going to Scotland so even more important then that I don't comfort eat when I am at home alone....I will be busy de-cluttering the house so maybe I will be okay.

Hi again.....well another week-end almost over and I am nicely relaxed.......

it has helped that work friends have assured me that no disasters have happened whilst I have been away.  It's great to get a decent break from work but quite an effort too to ensure that everything is in place before we go - and then of course before we know it we are back - all good though.

Have had a lovely refreshing day today - Greg and Alison and 4 kids came for the afternoon and evening and the children are delightful.....so naturally kids and we had a lovely time at the park.

Well how have I done so far on my new regime?  I have resisted after eights, ferrora rochet(??) chocs, a lovely chocolate cake and carrot cake - but I did have a 'wee' bit of the bannoffee pie Alison made with her own fair hands......and I have counted it in and still come within 1400 calories so far today......

I started the day well by doing housework and getting the dinner on BEFORE I had breakfast - this is normally hard for me......then Alex boiled eggs and that is what I had for my breakfast - one biled egg at 80 calories with 1 oatcake and hummous.......then the next time I ate was at 3pm with the roast chicken dinner.......I did have 3 roast potatoes as well as 2 yorkies on my plate but did not eat them - YES YES YES!!!  The yorkies did not go to waste!! 

So a good day so far -  and it is getting late so don't expect to do much damage now.....am I in control??  I'll be back daily this week with a report!!

Hey not a bad start after my 3 week holiday....I remembered my password!!

Well how have I been doing in Spain on my 'Shapeup' Programme?  Emmm.....okay...I have been swimming almost every day....water treading (and kicking like mad!); breast stroke, kicking about in the sea.......and it felt soooo good!  Then of course there were the shopping trips with Alex and I managed to walk the full length of Torrevieja Pier ONCE with Robert and Alex....when Dean joined us I left him to accompany Robert on the Pier walk - I had shopping to do!!

Now I have come back to our lovely predictable UK summer weather.....it started raining as we arrived outside of Stansted at mid day and has not stopped since.......I am not complaining though - it is quite refreshing now that I have enjoyed a lovely summer holiday - how do people keep going without a sun break?  Imagine summer camping in the UK this week.........what do you do all day long???

Anyway - not to be distracted from my programme - I am 'stepping it up' now......5 days out of every 7 I need to step out 10,000 steps and every day I need to aim to eat only 1250 calories...... 

Now - the 5 days stepping should allow for a couple of long working days when I could be too tired or lacking motivation to keep going........and the 1250 calories means that over a week I want to save approx. 7000 calories of my normal 'diet' and that should equate to 2lbs weight loss each week.......however, on the difficult days (visitors; parties etc) I need to adjust calories in the days after (but all within the 7 day cycle)!!  

So?  Make sense?  Do you believe in me to know that I can do this?  I do and that is really what matters (have to admit that my two cynical family members who know me best don't believe in me but maybe Dean does!!!)

Talk later....take care!!

Sunday today and the 3 of us are off to the Army (our Church) soon!  Must take my pedometer to add up the few steps I can cover and so avoid too many steps for later today.....

Yesterday I did manage my 1050 steps but it was hard to walk for over an hour round and round the park alone.....on top of a meal I probably didn't need!!  This is the worst possible thing for me in stepping - to feel that I have to push myself to complete the 10k.

I am not a night person....I should always do my stepping early when I am fresh and raring to go....and so I will from now on.

So today I will walk this afternoon and tomorrow as we prepare for Spain I will walk to shops and get last minute things done which will use a good number os steps.  

My objective is to get used to this amount of exercise and then increase it through the holiday in Spain.  I then have to focus on food and cutting that out!

Bye for now.

Hi again - well what a two weeks!!

I really suffered today...my mind was on work, work, work, (motivated by holiday, holiday, holiday) and then Alex's Prom so with little thought I took a lift to work for an 8am meeting and a lift back at 5:20 so that I could be here for Alex dressing for her school Prom.  So the result was that at the end of the day as I settled  to watch Eastenders (ah poor Hev) my steps were lacking by over 7000 steps - wow!  

So work was good - my team were great and Alex and friends were lovely - thanks too to Rudy who came especially to be with Alex today and catch up - they enjoyed that and Rudy stuck around to see the girls off to Prom.  My stepping came a bit late and although I did go for a long walk - I got fed up walking alone and finished over 2000 steps at home - hard work and not to be recommended.

Stepping out of doors is interesting - Beckton looked nice this evening and was peaceful - but indoors it is hard work as I jiggle about - conscious of extra beef moving around.......

So where to from here?  Well that is it I need to maintain now.  For me this means that I need to build into every day time for stepping (dancing works too - I should have gate-crashed the Prome eh?) 

During my holiday this should be perfectly possible - wish I could wear my pedometer in the sea to count effort but I need to step on top of that!!

I need to mention my work colleagues and friends - Fridah has topped the charts - almost 30k steps some days (including jogging) - she actually looks fantastic!  Preeti too walks and walks more each day which is fantastic and Isabella and Amanda have been amusing - Amanda walks her dog each day and makes Isabella jealous because Is. is up at 4:30 each day and is competitive!!! 

Now what about the public health no smoking team?  Well they are challenged by the wonderful HR Team.....and want to try another two weeks!!

Bye for now......off to work out how I will step over the week-end......even although officially I have week-ends off!

This is good news - one more day of the work pedometer challenge and I have kept up - this is good for me.  Now I can't count the times I have started 'challenges' and lasted a day...calorie control; low fat; low carbs; gym; swim etc.  Diets are hopeless - the first smell of chips or chocolate and I weaken.  Now this way is different......ok the shape is not changing much YET but it will when I maintain the 10k steps plus.

Watch this space....tomorrow I finish the two week work challenge but this becomes personal then and I won't be beat!!

I got through Friday - having walked to the interview at Francis House from home and then back to Warehouse K in the afternoon - and stepped over 13k steps........that did feel good but I was so tired with all the 'hot' walking in the week that I took a lift home and stopped for fish and chips!!

Psychologically though this increased exercise has been good for me......it is amazing how easy it is to work long days and not do a lot else during the weeks so this is a new start to try to retain some balance about life whilst losing out on much needed toning and shaping!!

Working locally does enable me to start work before the phones start ringing and before many people arrive which is good for my sanity but it is also far too easy to stay late each evening and feel guilty leaving close to 5!  That's absolutely fine of course as long as I can take some time back but diaries fill up and demands increase the more that we do!!!

So I need to be disciplined - watch this space......

Well I did say not to laugh at me if I am walking funny by Wednesday - that is today and I am certainly walking funny!!

Have to say that although I am delighted by today's (day 3) 13410 steps I am now so keen for the week-end when the pressure is off for 2 days!!!

Today was challenging because I chose to complete my steps during the working day given that I had no evening to 'step'.  I enjoyed my walk to work (at East Ham today delivering R@S training) but realised that to achieve my target (and team commitment) I would have to walk at least part of the way home.....what I had not anticipated was the ferocity of the sunshine - I was like a lobster when I arrived home.  

I managed to cool down sufficiently to attend Alex's award evening and was so proud of her because she not only received achievement awards but her speech was excellent.....I was into public speaking too by Alex's age but I did not have the poise and confidence she has - fortunately she is like her Dad and doesn't colour up or panic like me!!

So did I see anything new today or learn something new?  East Ham looked particularly nice today and there are some cracking houses there ........very nice!  I was a bit unfamiliar with the route I took today and when I reached familiar ground (West Ham football ground) I felt safer and better.  This made me think about people at work and their reactions/responses to anticipated changes.  I generally enjoy new areas of life - like the variety of new streets and things to see....but it can be disconcerting to be out of the familiar........I hope I am always ready to embrace change and respond positively to it.  

Bye for now......until tomorrow when I step again early to work and then I'm off to the West End to a Job Centre Plus event when I will be talking about working in partnership!

Day 2 of our 'step challenge' and hey that was hard work - I am well out of condition and have had to really push myself today.  I did start well and walked to work but I stayed in over lunch time and then because I worked until 7pm and had a Chinese Meal waiting at home for me - I took a lift home.......

So after enjoying my meal and Eastenders (life seems so good after some of those stories) and failing to persuade Alex or Robert to join me for a walk I set out.  After two rounds of the park - lovely ducks, anglers, families, couples, individuals I was not close to my 10000 target......so off I went through the other Beckton Park - very nice too but I was getting tired.....home seemed to be calling me.

Eventually - over an hour later I did it....over 11 thousand steps - yippee!!!

Still this walk got me really thinking - quite a philosopher am I....and I realise how lonely a long walk can be on your own.......I don't notice the distance half as much if I walk with someone I like to be with!

Now life is like that - how much we can lighten each other's burdens and share each other's challenges just by 'walking alongside' each other for support....now sometimes it is good to be on one's own but often a good friend alongside is such a relief.

So here's to tomorrow - more stepping and of course more thinking!

Well, well day one of our pedometer/stepping/walking team challenge and guess what?  I overslept - now that is hard for me since I listen to LBC overnight all night - on and off - and normally I am wide awake by 6:30 and ready to go.........but not today - I slept until 7:50.

Now the point of writing about this is to say that this could have been a fine excuse why I could not possibly walk to work - after all - hadn't I planned to be in the office by 8am?  However, I know myself well and I knew I had to push myself to walk and therefore get my challenge started.....I still got in just before 9am and although late for me this was absolutely fine - I never get away from work at 5!!!

So how did I do today?  Well up until now - at 7:25pm - 11275 steps - and I am happy!!!!

So okay I could have done even better - could have walked to and from the Credon Centre in Plaistow for the Flu Planning Meeting - but did you feel how airless the atmosphere was today? - and did I want to be smelly and sweaty by the time I arrived? - and I don't want to overdo my effort so that tomorrow I am overtired do I?

Talk to you tomorrow.......bye for now.

It's Sunday and I have enjoyed a lovely relaxing, pressure free week-end so I am ready to start the pedometer challenge tomorrow morning.......first change is to get up earlier - so that I can walk to work and still get in at 8am.....

Making changes can be challenging and I have been listening to LBC talking about the 'stuff' in Michael Jackson's life story.  This made me think about the 'stuff' in our everyday that can distract from meeting changes and challenges....like the times I have allowed myself to be annoyed, upset or just distracted by something said, heard or done and that can spoil so easily any resolve for change.

For this 2 weeks I need to focus on increasing exercise and learning what it means to be consistent in that exercise.

I will use visual inspiration as I imagine how I will feel better and look fitter after the two weeks.  Of course you and I know that to start a challenge for 2 weeks and then forget it I will relapse to old habits of resting when I should be walking.  I fully intend to use this period of team challenge to kick start me into better healthier living.

As a Christian I believe that not only physical health is important but for my whole health I need also to focus on mental health and spiritual health.  When I walk to improve my health and fitness levels I also find it refreshing to the mind - I feel better mentally - a walk can clear the mind of anything that could nag or worry me.  Spiritually I want to feel closer to God and if I make more of an effort to focus on wellbeing I will feel better and more fulfilled.

So here goes - and this time no excuses!!   

Now today is 26th June and I have been avoiding this SHAPEUP blog because I am ashamed that I have not been sharing up - rather shaping out with chocolate and all things nice but bad!!!!

Work is better than it has been in ages...that does not mean easy or without challenge but it is good - real support - a good team and loads of variety in terms of tasks and people!!!   So why am I not serious enough about shaping up?

An addictive nature is a real draw back in life - I am just addicted to chocolate and sweets......and caramel shortcake and anything dipped in chocolate - need I go on?  Do you understand?

Now some folks just say they are overweight because they love food - but I can pass on food for a large part of the day and then go mad on wrong things......this is seriously bad for my shape.

So since Fridah and Preeti at work have really taken to walking to work, from work and everywhere and stepping up the distances walked I am getting serious.

I have collected some pedometers for a team challenge between our HR team and our Public Health No Smoking Team - and we start on Monday to clock up a daily individual total of 10k steps.......for a period of 2 weeks!  Now I love to win....so here goes.  I am now in serious training for Monday and have clocked up over 10k steps yesterday and again today.

So Monday I will get up and organised earlier than normal and walk to work - then walk back from work.........and have a walk each evening too.  The good thing is that Alexandra and Robert are inspired to join in too - well they may not go for the 10k but they will set out to improve the exercise they do now......so it is a family affair at work and home! 

I will be recording this venture so look out for more each day.......bye for now.

Now I have a confession to make - well a few actually!  It is now Saturday morning and I was at work early each day this week - but I didn't walk!  This has to change - Preeti and Fridah walk in each day and I cover less distance than they do so next week - new start!!

The reason I have not walked is that I prefer to be at work closer to 8am than 9am and time is normally neat to allow time to walk - but next week this will change - watch this space.

What a week I have had at work - too much work - too little capacity and always chasing our tails - Friday always come too soon....but that kind of pressure is not good.  Yesterday I worked form 8 until 5:45 which is fine because I work locally but this is becoming too regular a pattern and add to that snacking and no walking and tiredness after work so inactive evenings - THIS IS NOT GOOD for my shape.......

So today I will be walking again - around shops first and then later I want to fit in a nice refreshing walk - before Britain's got Talent of course!!!

Must add a bit more to my blog - although nothing really positive to report since Saturday!!

I did intend to go for a long walk on Sunday - got to Church and back but no walk.

Excuses rather than reasons....Alex was asleep and I was unsure of when to expect Rob home from Germany - not good enough though because I still could have fitted in one hour for a walk.

Must do far better this coming week.  I have noticed though that I am eating less chocolate and rubbish - and I need this to keep improving........

Today I did walk but around the shops at Westfield.......we left here by 10am and got home after 5 so there was a fair amount of walking!

I now need to be determined to walk each day this week to work - and most days back from work.  I also plan to walk each evening - even if only for half an hour brisk walk.

Follow my progress.......

 

Hey - I made it!!  Alex could not be persuaded to come walking and so I went out on my own and lasted a whole hour and a half - amazing - and that was BRISK (not power) walking!!

I never tire of seeing our local area because it has changed so much but today I walked down to Silvertown and North Woolwich - a whole community of contrasts with the London City Airport and modern Docklands Light Railway sitting just behind a community of thousands of people in many different types of houses and flats.

Of course I have been through that part of E16 before but did not appreciate that it was so inhabited!!  Going on foot certainly enhances the view.

Well what about this SHAPE UP - one thing is certain and that is that I cannot wait until I get the WOBBLY BITS away.....it'll be great to stop wobbling as I walk and to have slimmer arms and back so that my clothes fit better (not to mention the bottom half!!).

So I look forward to my next walk - TOMORROW.

Today I feel nicely relaxed having had Friday off work.  Robert is still in Germany - Hamm Mark with the Rotary Club of Barking.  Alex and I had to let him go on his own this time since it is GCSE time for Alex.

So - what about my improved living to shape up?  Yesterday I had a sandwich minus spread (soya spread we usually use to avoid dairy!!) and it tasted equally as good as normal.  That's a small change.  Today I decided to go back to oatcakes and hummous for breakfast and also had that plus and apple for lunch.

I had a rip out to Canary Wharf shops on my own since Alex wants to chill after a demanding week!  Apart from a look around the shops I used Robert's pre-pay token for The Times and read that in Nero's coffee shop.  I got a free coffee today (loyalty card) and had my favourite caramel shortcake as my treat!

Last of the big spenders, I bought Squeezy liquid,  two plug in air fresheners, a new vaseline with rose and almond oil and came home.

I just love this part of East London - it takes about 10 - 15 minutes to drive to Canary Wharf and the road both ways is normally uncluttered and pleasant.

Now all of this is good for my mental health - great to relax and go unhurried - and I have had time reading today but now I MUST get some exercise and begin to shape up - I will report how it goes!

So here I am on 22nd May 2009 - realising that I either get serious about shaping up this year or forget it forever.

Over the past few years I have been promising - always in the lead up to our summer holiday - and always to the family as well as myself - that I will be a new shape by the time I get to the beach!

What beach, what year, and what shape?

Well with 3 stones to shed (could look okay after losing half of that!!) and having tried prescribed tablets; acai berry and colon cleanse tablets - off and on I NOW NEED TO GET SERIOUS.

With a dream of becoming a size 12 once more and feeling good, good, good I am ready to start.......

Now that said - this is not going to be easy because yesterday I went to the doctor..........

I was 88k and last time I visited I was 83k........my blood pressure is normal but only because of 4 daily tablets and my cholestoral although not high risk is slightly high.

Today I am off work - and I needed the break.  I have a long week-end ahead and decided that if I walk that will be good - today I am doing things around the house and intend to build in a few walks over the week-end with Alex my daughter.   However I cannot depend on diet to make these changes........

The POSITIVES are that Alex has now started to run and walk regularly - and is eating less 'bad foods' - she too is looking forward to our holiday.  Robert is quite disciplined with food - he eats mostly good foods......although he does like his red meat!

I have dropped from a size 18 to 16 and I need to lose weight evenly all over which can be easier than having one area of problem!!

I have loads of family support and love!!

The NEGATIVES are that I have a pressured working life; take life fairly seriously much of the time and just love chocolate, cakes and biscuits!!

So here I start and my intention is to use my AUDSHAPEUP09 to encourage me on my journey to a new shape and new feeling about myself.