'What a difference a day makes!' - yesterday it rained all day long until evening whenthe sun came out and today it is shining - beautiful.  What a difference that makes - the sun heats us through - makes us brighter; makes people more tolerant and of course the world all seems that bit easier when the sun shines - agreed?

 Of course the real difference in life is through people - people really make the difference to whether we have a good or a bad day - awkward, sad, difficult, obstinate people or happy, positive, constructive, positive people - all make a difference to our days.  Sometimes we can't influence people around us and make them better but we can be better people starting today!  That makes a difference to those around us and goodness spreads.

Today I need to avoid chocolate at all costs - I have started with a banana and hummous crackers - so far so good.  Robert is off for check ups at Barts today - still praying that all will stay in remission - our holiday is almost here and we need it.  I'll be back later to report on a positive day.......

Have enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend which is just as well since this week will be a full and busy one and I always feel better if I have 'me' and 'we' time on a weekend - that way I am happy to be at work and giving it 100%.  I mad a huge error yesterday - I bought chocolate - which is not the end of my weight loss plan - however it was slides of milk chocolate and guess what - they have now gone.  I am a confirmed chocoholic and I need to fight my weakness.  I know that if Robert had shopped with me I would not have even bought them - but hey - not good and I need to move on.  Now when I say 'not good' - the chocolate itself was lovely but this week back to counting calories strictly.

I hope to exercise most evenings this week and then I will be so happy come Friday when I get on the coach to Scotland.  So from now until then I need to focus and avoid the chocolate and sweets.

Today it is raining and yesterday it rained and it rained the day before that - and this is in London, not Scotland!  Think God must be responding to the drought and the introduction of the hosepipe ban - even down south.......made me feel that it was like a long winter and yet we have seen the sunshine so we know it is summer - let's hope it hurries back because people get so miserable in bad weather and none of us like that!!

Fortunately I have been regular at The Quad - the Crown Plaza health centre - mostly to use the Flebelos machine for weight loss and the swimming pool for overall toning.  Now I am far from my ideal or perfect shape but I am improving - shaping up - and that is good.  It spurs me onto do even more and better.  I really look forward to wearing my size 12 clothes (which I have not bought yet) - the good thing is that I believe I can do it.  that is so important - self belief - normally not something I am generally blessed with in other areas.

I have enjoyed feeling my clothes looser on me - even my size 14 trousers - and yet other size 14s are still too tight on me - strange eh - no wonder we don't know what we are doing in terms of size.

Sometimes when we try to lose weight it gets tough so we yo yo diet....however I believe in life that to keep going we all need to have things to look forward to not things to dread or things on the horizon we don't really want to do or go to!  Some things would send us back to comfort/bad foods but I am looking forward to a quality (if fast) Scottish weekend next week when I can get chance to catch up with my family - and then a few weeks later I will be packing for Spain - we didn't get over last year because Robert could not travel so we are all very excited about this year.

Work continues to be chaotic - I think I know what I am doing most of the time but I am not always sure that those around me throughout the NHS do!  We have some unprecedented changes coming and although we have always handled change as a necessity - this is different and people are reacting/responding in all kinds of ways.

God is good and I trust that once I get my weight off which will help to restore health and wellbeing I will find things to do that are worthwhile and add value to other people - wherever and whatever!!

It's about time I came back to this blog - even to inspire myself! Life is good - Robert is keeping well and we are really appreciating that because we are now only 8 weeks away until we leave for Spain and our sun break. Since we didn't get over to our little place last year, we will all be so grateful for this year. Just to feel the sun on us and our limbs warming up will be wonderful. So 8 weeks to shift more weight - I am not slim yet but I am looking a bit better and I am lighter so feel better too. I have been fairly regular to the Quad Club where I use this new Flabelos machine to shift the fat and also the swimming pool for an all over tone up. The real advantage there is that I often feel like a holiday maker in with some hotel guests and it is really relaxing so good after being in the office. Was lovely to have family with us last week - Graeme, Wendy and Thomas were here so it was great to enjoy some days holiday and shop and eat! However I had a bit too much food so gained a couple of pounds - I am recovering again and I am confident that I will be in my bikini in Spain - whether I share the photos of that is another issue!

I'll be back soon - hopefully another 2lbs lighter by Monday.

Easter Saturday and it has been good again to reflect on the width and depth of God's love for us in sending Jesus to show us how to live . He really suffered and died to show us how life conquers death. He rose again and went back to God the Father so that He could live with us through His Spirit. This really effects how we live as Christians - knowing that Jesus walks with us in all circumstances - he relates to pain and suffering and He wants us to know real joy and powerful living in Him.

My shape up programme is now a challenge - not because I am stuffing myself with food but the weight is no longer moving so much so I have to be patient and consistent. I have been exercising, almost completing 10k steps every day of the week and still counting calories as I go. I need to focus more since it is scientific - if I stick to the 1600 calories each day I should be losing weight.....I really am positive though that I will be in my size 12 when we fly off to Spain - may not be a loose size 12 but I will get there. I am fitting my size 14s now but still wear some size 16s - mostly loose now but until my arms get slimmer and my back loses extra folds I need some size 16 blouses! So perhaps it will require me to reduce my calories to 1400 max daily to start shifting the next stone in weight. I need to learn to eat healthier too and not to waste so many calories on sweet things. I have found a solution to wanting something sweet in the evening - ice lollies are only around 60 - 80 calories and they are fatless!

Today Robert and I will get some house stuff done in preparation for family arriving Monday but we will also get out for a little while. Easter weekend is lovely. There is footie on the TV this afternoon so I will plan carefully around that! It is strange not to have Alex home with us at Easter but she is fine in Buckingham and we will see her Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

So I keep going, shaping up and feeling better about myself. Good to have a goal in mind!!

Well what a good day - I love being based at Warehouse K occasionally -I get some good work done and today I enjoyed a lovely walk along the dockside to Newham Council Offices - and back again to the office - was lovely and as a consequence I have completed 13k steps today - aswell as my time at the gym and swimming. I have eaten less today which is helpful since I have over-eaten the last few days. I am watching 'Supersize v Superskinny' on TV - and it is a real lesson to me how binge eating is so dangerous.

I so want to improve my diet - consistency and discipline is so difficult to achieve - I know I can do it and I know I want to be slim again but this is not easy after so many years of enjoying chocolate......here's to the next few days and then a lovely week off - I must stay active and eat properly.