Hey ho we have got through January and I am soooo glad about that. Now before you tell me off for wishing my life away, January can be a bit miserable as people drop with colds, flu and bugs and moan about waiting for their January pay!!

Of course I had a birthday in January so I actually had a lovely time and we have also had the privilege of being able to buy some lovely things for our home - but I need to feel that Spring is on the way so still make no apologies for being glad that January is over.

Along with so many others - and maybe in particular women, I have eaten so much rubbish through the cold winter days. It is so easy to reach forthe comforting foods. The doctor has warned me off dairy and fattening things since I will put my health at risk if I don't keep my weight down etc, etc.......

So what can I do about this? Do I feel ready to change? The fact is I must get going again properly and I feel quite enthusiastic about getting fit and taking some weight off for good.

I have a few positive weeks ahead - we are having the house fully painted, new white venetian blinds for all round the house and then we will have our suite delivered. That is good and will give me a few things to work on around the home......but also in terms of quality family time together we have a lot to look forward to. I have saved 5 days annual leave for February, we then have a week in Minehead in April and can look forward to the summer holiday time when we plan to go to Madrid and Alicante.

So to be at my best I MUST begin tomorrow (no more procrastinating) and really get into shape - more active, more responsible about eating the proper calories and nutrients and

I am going to blog my progress again so that I can at least use that to inspire myslef and drive myself to better days!! I'll be back soon to tell you how well I am doing.........

Hi - well another week over and it has been a good one!!

Alex has had her first AS Level exam in Politics so is relieved that is done - I am glad she will be able to have a long lie tomorrow because she has had long days this week - an evening at College introducing Cambridge University (with a lovely meal in Islington afterwards) and another evening when she was away all day with a theatre trip in the evening - she loves it but it is tiring with all the travel across busy London........o to be young again eh?

Anyway what about me and my shape up plan...forgotten? successful? failing? Well after all the cold and snowy weather it has taken some time to build up my walking again....I am up to over 5000 each day again though. Now I know that is not 10k each day but I am planning to build that up again over the next week because it is feeling more 'end of winterish' each day!!!

I have been busy at work and have lots of home things to get done but I am happy and keen to get walking further again and as the Spring approaches I am so grateful for my strength to walk. I have had a lot of health tests over the last few months and whilst I am fit it is important that I get fitter! Talk again soon......bye for now x

Hi - well we have reached the half way point of the month - already at 16th and tonight I attend Diane's 50th at West Ham Football Club Hotel....a fancy dress party - should be great fun.

The ground is now clear of snow and ice since the rain has washed it all away so I can get back to some serious walking very soon!!!! I have managed to maintain 5000 steps each day which is good but need to get moving again now that I can walk without fear.

I have watched 'My Big Fat Diet' this week on TV - quite educational on how to cut calories and lose weight - a few people have said how I am looking smaller but I know the truth so here's to a good week ahead.

I don't generally like January - it's a bleak dreary month but next week-end I am having a long week-end off work with Friday afternoon and Monday off to celebrate my birthday so feel more positive already - see you soon!

Here I am again and it is almost 10th January 2010 already - what an interesting, white and slippery week this has been!

Was thinking this week as I carefully chose my steps in the snow and then the icy pavements and roads that we should be just as careful with our lives to make sure we don't slip and fall but often we take our eyes off the road and bang - just like my physical fall there we go!!

Anyway I have done fairly well this week given that walking has been so difficult - of course there was not the option of taking the car in to work and back but I could have got on a train. I walked both ways each day and that felt good......

From Monday I need to try to get back into a proper routine - the roads are still very icy but the sun has been out today so if I choose my path carefully I will be able to have evening walks as well as the day trips.

I normally don't like January very much - except my birthday which I like to have as a holiday since Robert is at home anyway and of course pay day but so far January looks okay. It is amazing how - although I don't like driving in it the snow really brightens everywhere up - it is white and glowing when we look out over the roofs and gardens and that feels good.

We are about to arrange payment for our April holiday to Spring Harvest - a Christian festival - the three of us are going and how we are looking forward to it - it is so encouraging and uplifting to share Christian fellowship and relaxation with other Christians.

Then we have our summer holiday to book up and this year for Spain we plan to go via Madrid because London City Airport have flights that will take us there - and the airport is 5 minutes from home! This will allow us to see another part of Spain - the Cities are always interesting to see and explore. So I have lots to look forward to this year - and I also want to focus more on what I am eating as opposed to the walking I am doing - I need to speed up some weight loss since I keep eating chocolate and sweets and that damages my shape - bye for now!

Hey I haven't added to this blog since last year - well here I am after the first day of a new year - a lovely day at that.

Now I started this blog to chart my success/progress on my shapeup programme - for 2010 I think I now need to quicken the effort and add in a food focus element!!

Last evening - early- we had a lovely family meal, Rob, Dean, Alex and I - at the local Yi Ban Chinese restaurant - it is an impressive restaurant opposite the London City Airport on the Royal Docks - 5 minutes from home. Alex then went off to join her friends for the fireworks on the Thames and we went back to the docks for the fireworks that Yi Ban had prepared - that was nice - safe and was far better than just sitting inside watching TV!!

Today the four of us went to Lakeside shops and that too was good - we didn't overdo the visit and didn't stress ourselves out by looking for clothes in the sales.......just a nice time together - relaxed and stress free!

On our return - we all just relaxed - had a meal, watched Eastenders high drama and chilled. This is all good - I haven't worried this past week about my stepping - although I have done some - but I start again tomorrow in earnest after a few days of overeating chocolates. So more reporting after that - it is very cold but no excuses - I have Alex's old Ugg boots and a warm wooly hat.....just ignore me if you see me - I do look ridiculous but I am warm! Bye for now and Happy New Year to you.