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.