On the way to work, in Liverpool Street Station we were all offered a 'snickers' bar - full of peanuts and before we got them we had to say how hungry we were - all in the mind eh? suddenly everyone was really hungry 'cos we had to have one of these wonderful bars......well mine is safely in it's marketing box inside my bag. Maybe at lunch time I will share this bar with my friend Kathryn and then I will only eat 150 calories of it! It is hard when we are trying to cut calories because there are so many things to tempt us and just when we make sure we don't have too much at home to tempt, we are sure to be tripped up with offers during the day.

Still so far so good - a banana for breakfast with coffee and a pear for snack time - this is because I need to remember I am out at rotary this evening and it is rude not to have a meal!

I am getting better and stronger at this but last evening I decided to go and check out clothes - evening is not my best time of the day so I ended up feeling depressed at clothes that looked so nice but made for slim folks - I need to keep working before I am slim again but it will come!

It is Tuesday already and I am well into a new working week - how time flies.

Again I have a bit of variety this week as I cover a few Trust sites and one in central London so plenty of opportunity for extra steps - so far so good but I may need to aim for a bit more than 10k as the better weather approaches to really shift this excess baggage! There is a severe cost for excess baggage when travelling and the same on our bodies - aches and pains and illnesses are too common now and extra weight does not help us feel our best. My trousers seem to be hanging on me but the next size down are too tight - my stomache seems to be flattening (a bit anyway) and my hips are getting less prominent but I have such a long way to go so i still count and write down my calories to help focus.

O I do love muffins though - and even the skinny ones are 400 cals (well 398 to be exact but not much benefit from saving 2 cals).

So I have had a lot less chocolate but need to learn to replace muffins - I did have acoffee and a 10cal sweet one day....not ideal choice for a lunch though!

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

Too long since I have blogged -I need to do it regularly in order to encourage myself to keep going and shaping up! I was so pleased two Friday's back to realise that my weight loss was more than expected - however it must have made me complacent and this last Friday I stood on the scales to discover .3 of a kilo had crept back on......not a good feeling but of coure not too much to be upset about. Quick weight loss is not sustainable they say so I do need to learn to pace myself and be patient with a small weight loss each week rather than try to rush it. Alex will be home in 3 week's time which is good and my brother and family are coming down on Easter Monday for 5 days so I have things to look forward to - not to mention our Spanish holiday in June - good to look forward sometimes especially to envisage the clothes I can buy and wear when I have shaped up a bit more!

Today I walked early and completed my 10k steps int h sunshine - was a lovely day but I have been tired and bored this afternoon whilst Robert has watched football and rugby......a new week ahead when i will meet some friends - hope it is a good one.

Tuesday almost over but still got a few hours of relaxation before bed.....Eastenders and Robert massaging my feet!!

Have been sticking to writing everything down and still able to enjoy a wee chocolate or two - life is good.

Glad to talk again with Alex today - she is doing well and enjoying her student life...it is a privileged time when you only really have to think of yourself and your friends. Can't wait to see her again in three weeks time - end of another term.

So am I shaping up - well I am feeling more in control with food - more able to pass the baker shop, the sweet shop and the chip shop without feeling deprived. It's great to talk to people at work about how we are doing - think we are all looking forward to being slimmer.

I really look forward to feeling my back flab and arm flab falling off - well you know what I mean! I will look and feel good when I can fit into smaller clothes for our summer holiday. Hopefully the clothes I have left in Spain will be too large and I can leave a new set this time round.

I have had an interesting day - started with a lovely walk over to Stratford and that gave me over 4000 steps. We enjoyed a Commissioning workshop until lunch time - were served a healthy, colourful lunch and then I met someone at Starbucks, Westfield for a meeting. Back to Warehouse K, I finished my day there and dropped Robert at the station for his trip into Central London for a Rotary meeting. Was good to meet again with new people and to talk about the future changes in the NHS which will effect all of us.

Was relatively easy during the day to control my eating - harder to finish my steps but 10k done and kept within my calorie allowance.......

This week could prove challenging to me since I will be eating out at least twice on planned events - but I am fairly confident so here goes!

Sunday and the sun is shining - I think of many friends who ar worshipping today - well I hope they are able to worship in the Church they go to. Sometimes there are distractions and some people don't find it easy to find a Church where they feel they can truly worship. Now fellowship is a different thing - all very good to share with other Christians - especially if talk helps to build us up - but Worship is personal - between me and God - anything that spoils that isn't good.

Anyway today I am positive - Robert is well and we have enjoyed each other's company this weekend - planning ahead and glad that it is possible. I think I have turned the corner in relation to food -for me to have chocolate in the house and not just work my way through it is good. I have lost 6lbs over 2 weeks on my weight action programme at work but I have a long way to go - I still want to lose around 3 stones so I need to keep my focus and not 'fall off the wagon.' I think I will need to write it all down for some time to come since it really helps to focus the mind. I want so much to be slim, feel good about myself, lessen health risks and enjoy clothes shopping one more.

So for now I am preparing to share a good afternoon with Alison, Greg and four children - should be good. Missing Alex and she only visited last weekend - but I know she is okay and she isn't too far away.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Yeehah it is Friday again and we had our 'class' and weigh in today - still trying to get used to kg but I am losing weight and that is good. So in a week when I have enjoyed three meals out, coffee shops, afternoon tea and even a burrito I have lost weight - all because of writing it all down and counting my steps.

I was ready for this programme and the support is doing me good and helping me focus. Now I am on the way down watch this space because I cannot wait to get into those size 12 clothes within a few months!

This week has gone fast and has been a good week. Lots going on a t work but all okay with plenty to keep me interested. Next week also promises variety and that is motivating too.

So here to a good weekend with Robert and a visit from Robert's daughter, son in law and lovely grand children on Sunday.

By the way I enjoyed half a kebab tonight with chips - absolutely lovely - and all counted into my calorie allowance!

Well almost anotehr working week over - time is moving so fast. this means that another weight in awaits me tomorrow but it has been good to stick (almost) to the alloted calories - has not been too difficult and I have not yet been hungry. Now this does not mean that I could not eat firsh and chips or a Chinese or an Indian meal later but i don't really want to spoil my plan.

I may or may not have lost any more this week but I feel I am getting better - only thing is that I need to get healthier in my choices. A Pretzel for breakfast followed by a muffin for lunch and a Wrap for evening meal was very tasty yesterday but I need to make healthier choices than that for health reasons.

So let's see what tomorrow brings and I am hoping it is positive.

Another new day and I am well rested after a lovely day out yesterday.

Brian and Shirley organised our day out and took us first of all to coffee at The Salvation Army, Harold Hill. There is always someone we know at 'The Army' and it was good to meet new people too at a Corps set right in the heart of the community and providing effective Christian service and support to local people.

Then we went home to Brian and Shirley's for a light lunch - still not knowing what else was happening. They presented us then with a voucher for 2 for afternoon tea at the Marygreen Hotel, Brentwood. What a lovely experience - we sat in a lovely warm conservatory with large posts of tea and a lovely spread of sandwiches, scones (with customary jam and cream) and a selection of cakes. We spent a lovely 2 hours there together - we have been good friends now for 25 years and it was good to be so relaxed and easy in each other's company.

I still managed to count calories (quietly and without fuss of course) - and by the end of the day I was happy that I was still on target. Now it was valentine's day too and that meant that I received a beautiful box of chocolates from Robert - I only had 2 which is a miracle for me. I need to keep up this approach and with Friday weight in fast approaching I am keen that today and tomorrow I notch up the steps and at least attain some weight loss. this game will get easier and then just become my lifestyle.

Well what an interesting day - people dropping like flies at work - cold office then fully hot air-conditioned and still people coughing etc!

Had a lovely meal out with Kathryn this evening - we used to work together and it is always good to catch up. People make life rich and I am grateful.

Having to count calories, steps and time in front of the TV/laptop is proving quite motivating. Can't wait until I take some weight off and my stomach shrinks - then I will naturally not be able to eat as much. Really pleased that so many 'chain' restaurants and 'take aways' have calorie information now - it is so helpful and there are always low calorie choices. This morning I almost bought myself a breakfast pretzel - until I spotted that the calorie count was 356 - wow! I bought a banana for breakfast instead. I could easily eat breakfast before I leave for work but because that would be before 7am I choose to wait an hour and eat at 8am when I reach the office. Otherwise I may be snacking by 9!!

The counting will soon become 2nd nature I hope. I am driven forward by looking forward to wearing some sleeveless tops and dresses in the summer - to feel free instead of covering up.

We are off out tomorrow - Valentine's day - with Brian and Shirley - don't know where to but wherever we are going it will be lovely to be together. It will be easy to eat sensibly and hopefully I can count some steps!

I will report again tomorrow.........

There is one thing sure - having Alex home makes me realise that life has changed and has to be different now! Has been a lovely short visit and has been good to shop and eat out together as well as enjoy a film at the cinema but Alex has her own life away from here now and I need to have different life too even if I don't like it.

Now that could make my life sound bleak and it isn't but when Alex left home - for all that I was delighted that she was off to University - it was like losing a limb - we were together a lot!

So I need to get on with life and stop dreaming and wondering where Alex is, what she is doing and what she will become.

So I need to crack on and get motivated to lose this weight and feel better about life in general.

So how is my Weight Action Plan going? Very well. On Friday we were given - according to age, weight and height, the number of calories we would need to have a day to lose 1lb each week - that is with no exercise. Mine is 1600 a day and that is fairly generous for me, having tried to stick to 1000 which has proved a wee bit tough!

Yesterday we had a good day - ate out at lunch time and went for a nice meal in the evening - think I just about came in on target. Where they get stretched slightly on weekends I can pull back in the week to 1200 or even 1000 per day to average it out. Calorie counting makes good sense to me coupled with moving more.

The task of reducing 'sit down' TV and lap top time in evenings is a positive one - to keep it below 4 hours should be very possible. I really want to be moving more at home to get the house in order. Spring cleaning time is coming up and our house needs some serious de-cluttering and cleaning. So I need to use that evening time - even 1- 2 hours moving around doing things - and not nibbling.

So how will I keep this going and make some real progress in losing weight? I will envisage what I will look like (have my size 12 photo out already), how I will feel and what clothes I can wear - that is good stuff. We have also booked out holiday for June and are about to book a special week in Scotland for December so I will keep having things to look forward to.

So - it is nearly lunch time and I have had around 150 calories so far so have plenty left - and I am on my third glass of water......now this is great for me! See you later.

Well that was another fast week at work - feeling positive that I lost 2lbs in weight hardly even trying. What a difference a pedometer and a food diary can make. It really is all about psychology eh? You really do need to get your mind under control and your mind in control of food intake.

I have been trying to increase my fruit consumption - not easy. My weakness is stil in replacing sweet stuff with savoury/healthy choices. So I find myself in Starbucks to relax for a short lunch break and in front of me is a coffee (americano with milk) which is fine but alongside the coffee is my favourite skinny ginger muffin.......the skinny is a delusion since it contains 399 calories. So I enjoy it but of course that value in calories is my whole lunch. Now in anyone's estimation that is not good healthy eating.

This weight action plan we are part of is good - they want us to cut down below 4 hours the time spend in an evening just sitting at either TV or computer - makes sense since it is often in those times we nibble! also it is too easy to waste hours when we could be doing something like walking!!

So I am all for improving my efforts this week and it should get easier being part of a great group at work who all want to lose weight. A bit of healthy competition can be good and I really do intend to get back into my size 14 clothes within about 3 weeks and then get into a size 12/14 by May/June time. Don't want to be over ambitious - just a steady loss of 2lbs a week will be a healthy way to reduce and the walking should keep me toned.

I am happy this weekend - Robert has been busy with Rotary this week and it is great to see him with energy to do that - he is out all day today training. Alex is home and it was good to go for a lovely meal with her last evening at Carluccios at Canary Wharf - noisy but nice atmosphere.

Today we will go shopping but even if it is 9:50 there is no sign of Alex - she will get up sometime later!

We will talk again.........

What a good day - was busy at Clifton House today until early afternoon when three of us went along to Barking for a payroll contact meeting - was good to enjoy the company and meet up with friends I have known for many years in my NHS work.

I have written down my steps again and my food intake. This weight management programme is starting to influence me - making me think again about my intake, my lifestyle, getting moving and thinking positively! It is good at work that so many of us across the team are taking part - I have been able to talk to folks and share what they are doing to make improvements for them.

I have another 3 days at work and they promise to be full of variety - suits me well - meeting loads of different people and taking part in different events......life is good.

Can't wait until Friday this week - Alex will meet me after work and as we go for a lovely meal together I hope she will be full of chat - just like old times!

Now something I need to change tomorrow is that if I visit Starbucks I need to choose something other than a beautiful skinny muffin at 399 calories.

Well today was a good day - first time in ages I got to the bus stop and the bus arrived - was a good start to the day. I arrived at the office by 7:55 so always good to enjoy peace and a chance to crack on with e-mails and work. By the time the team arrives I am on top of things and feeling ready for the day ahead.

The day seemed to pass quickly today - but my journey back was a bit of a drag! I started well on a fruit breakfast but my lunch time I enjoyed my stem ginger skinny muffin at Starbucks. However, soup and oatcakes this evening has balanced my day and added to that was 7000 steps - all is well.

If I increase drinking water and fresh fruit I can do this. Talk again soon.

Hello again - not so long a wait this time before I felt ready to add to my blog.

Today I dropped Robert at Church in Barking and started off on a lovely walk. I decided to walk through to Barking Park and it was a great decision. Fresh snow, frozen lake, beautiful ducks and birds, lovely little families with tiny tots and bigger kids were enjoying their snow adventures. I walked and felt the benefit as my muscles got stretched and I felt I was getting some good exercise.

More than anything I found peace and tranquility -so great to find time to relax and be at one with God. The old song came to mind 'Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile.....and in My quiet strength again be strong' - a lovely Bible invitation in which we are invited to come away from all the busy-ness and hassle of life and find strength in God again.....

I am feeling positive after my 8000 steps today to enter a week of trying to do better to shape up.......we are faced with major NHS changes and for that too I need to be ready - to give advice, to support staff as they face changes they may not like and of course for my own career I need to work some plans out for the future. Has been good this weekend to have un-interrupted time with Robert - I don't take that for granted. We are apart from each other for much of the working week so always good to make the most of our weekends.

So bring on another week and let's hopeI can report good things!

Hey it's been too long since I have added a post and even if no one is reading I need to be more disciplined - just to motivate myself!!

Well our new weight programme has started at work - first session was Friday 3rd and I was glad! There are 15 of us keen to have a go at changing our ways so that we can lose weight - take it off and keep it off for good. It takes far more than diet and I am ready for that. However I need to really apply all that I know and understand to be true - listen to new ideas and theory and get cracking. Now I did lose some weight over the last year but I mean that I need to get smarter at this thing.......no use taking a year to lost weight that has to come off - I need to get serious.

Now the start this week is gentle on us - but how inspiring and supportive it is to come together with colleagues who all want the same results.....we had a good laugh Friday as we met for one hour and shared our starting points. I am far too heavy for my height but I don't get over excited about that - what I want to see more than anything to a reduced size in clothes - I love it when I can shop smaller - what a difference that alone makes to my confidence and general well-being.

So it's all new and exciting because we have experts feeding into this programme and they too mean business. This first week I have two homework tasks - each day I have to record my steps and everything that I eat or drink - that alone will start to have effect - soon!! When I say that, we have been told just to be as normal (for us) as possible this week but record it all - not to go mad in this intro. week otherwise the programme could become too difficult for us - suits me for now. Isn't it interesting that when we have to commit to write down what we have done that it starts to change our attitude to food?

Thinking about that fact I think that as a Christian it is really important to take stock of what we are doing and think about what we should be doing....and I personalise that - what should I be doing - where should I be going and what difference can I make in this world? My weight loss plan is not just to change the way I look but I believe that being overweight can spoil so much in my life - I want to be better, look better, feel better and live better - talk again soon x