Had a good day with family today - Robert's daughter Alison came with her four lovely children. After a roast dinner we went to our local park to feed the ducks - but after such a lovely morning it started to rain and it was so icy - really cold! So according to well formed habit we got back into the car and went off to Costa Coffee - was lovely to sit there for a while with 4 happy kids - and we resisted cakes each since we had enjoyed a big dinner - a corner of caramel shortcake just helped the coffee taste so good though!!

I am so happy that this week has been so good - robert seems to have got a lot stronger after his blood transfusions and although he moves off to Barts Hospital again tomorrow for 11 days the three of us feel positive about his 3rd round of chemotherapy - God is taking care of us and helping us face this whole journey with a positive spirit. Friends have been so good promising prayer and remembering to visit or call - that is good - we all need support outside of our own immediate family.

So how can I do better this week? I have introduced eggs and bananas for breakfast to avoid having to much bread through the day - and I feel that this gives me a healthy start to the day.

I need to increase my water intake - the office is so hot at work so apart from anything else I need to keep hydrated. I will be active this week at work and visiting Robert at his 'city pad' but to prevent me overdoing it we are hoping we can cut my visits to every 2nd day with Alex visiting in between and that way I can go after work by car - avoiding congestion charge and car parking - we will see if that works anyway.

I need to avoid comfort eating this week - because naturally I really miss Robert being at home - wish me well!

Can't believe that today is 21st of February already - and by now I could have been slimmer, trimmer and toned - so why not?

I am feeling quite focused, quite strong - enough to cope with current challenges and quite ready for my new role in the NHS but I do need still to go further than this.

I have a pedometer, I have a gym/swim membership, I have good food in and I have all the resources I need to get slim and yet I still need to remember to start new habits, break old habits and stick to them!!

I have been so glad recently with so much to challenge me personally. Robert's illness means that I need to be and stay strong - it is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster at times and yet I am quite calm and peaceful. So many times as a Christian I know that I need to apply my faith - to simply put my hand in God's hand and trust - and yet it is too easy to bring cares to Christ and take them back again! However I am managing to apply my faith to this situation and that makes me stronger.

So this week I need to get my head around being strong around chocolate and goodies which are bad for me - wish me well!

OK I'm back again to report on how I am shaping up!!

Well I have to say I am feeling okay and did quite well with shopping this weekend. Robert fortunately is back home after weeks in hospital so if he keeps free from infections that cause real concern he can stay at home and have twice weekly Chemo check ups before his next round! At least for now I am enjoying having hubbie home and not missing the daily trips to the City to visit him. Because Robert is unwell I am having to do more around the house and that is good for me - gets my body moving more!! Strange how I feel quite motivated to get the housework done when I know Robert is here and safe.....

However I do have to confess that I could still do so much better on the eating front......I did fit into my red suit this week which was good - it is only a size 14 BUT it is Hobbs and good quality so isn't a real 14 - they are just generous!

Been a funny week - Alex has suddenly become very interested in her Glasgow University conditional offer rather than Warwick (boyfriend influence) and that does not disappoint me - I had tried unsuccessfully to persuade her that Scotland could be good! Anyway that's all for later in the year and she has some tough exams and challenges to face first.

So why am I avoiding talking food? Well- actually I have really enjoyed my food this week and

have done a bit more stepping than normal through the winter but I need a bit of a push.

I do feel that if I can get into a better exercise routine things will be a lot better - I am off on leave from work for 3 days next week so surely I can make an effort to get moving! Wish me well!

See ya..........

Hi

I enjoyed a it of a lie in today - after a tiring week that felt so good! Dropped Alex off at the City Airport for work and then took myself via Canary Wharf to Barts to visit Robert.

Life is a bit limited at present but I was really content just to sit with Robert today and read The Sunday Times together. I do love my work but how I love being with family at weekends. It would be somewhat easier if we actually had more family close to us, I am so appreciative of friends support and prayers. One of our friends who is now over 90 took time to write a lovely letter in a card for Robert - that goes a long way.

I had a lovely surprise at Canary Wharf today - I met Gill Rowson who I hadn't met for years - her husband was my first NHS boss at The Royal London hospital - and I started working there 23 years ago!! Will be good to make contact again with John - he was good to work for and he still lives on the Isle of Dogs.

So how has today gone - well I have tried and improved some things - I had an apple - and do you know how many thousands of vitamins are in an apple? I remember being in a nutritional lecture once and I was impressed - but aren't they difficult to eat - and noisy? Well I do intend having apple every day this week - but I will have to be creative - maybe bake them!

I want to be positive this week with calorie counting - it seems to be the best way for me to keep track - problem is with trying to lose weight when you are too big - you can put a lot of food away until your stomache shrinks - I need to drink loads of water to fill me up and clear toxins and then I want eat only when I am hungry!!

I'll let you know how that goes - sounds easy and should be easy but I do love snacks!

Hi again

Was happy yesterday at Waitrose to avoid the chocolate and biscuit aisle!

Since Robert has been in hospital I have been a bit careless and eaten far too much chocolate so time to get 'back on track'. Old habits are so easy to stick with but new habits are so hard to establish!

So I need to establish a pattern of healthy food shopping and add some variety to my trolley - one new fruit of vegetable weekly could help so this week I added the Sharon fruit. I did buy some cakes but am trying gluten free - supposed to be better for all of us. I am fortunate that Alexandra is into cooking and often makes us a tomato based pasta sauce - lovely with garlic and chillies etc.....so at least I got that stuff in too - and avacados and prawns etc!

I have improved on shopping with more whole and less processed foods but I normally come back with chocolate and sweets too!

I really want to get to size 14 in 6 months - not too much to ask and should be absolutely possible - problem is with weight gain that we think we are one size and then as I did yesterday when we buy a lovely blouse in that size it doesn't fasten - another warning sign to stop eating rubbish and to get moving.

I am committed again to my pedometer 10k each day but I need to attach it again from tomorrow and really mean business!

Bye for now - helpful comments welcome with new ideas!