Hi,

I've decided to start a journal. I'll try to check in and write in it everyday but if not it won't be too long between entries. I don't really expect anyone else will be reading it except me! But if anyone does and wants to reply then please do!

Today has been a bad day 8-| I am following WW programme (but at home so not attending meetings) and I am meant to have 22 points a day - but today I scoffed 39 points worth! So now I feel bad and wish I hadn't! It could be worse and I plan to eat lots of fruit and my zero point soup tomorrow to balance it out but even so I'm disappointed with myself.

I lost 40lbs last year in 6 months then started to overindulge again and put 9lbs back on. I went to the Doctor to be weighed before Christmas and I was 219lbs. After Christmas I went and was 217lbs, however, I've been on holiday and did not stick to my points!! So I'm expecting to either still be 217lbs or 219lbs when I get weighed on Friday. I've been back on my points three days but lapsed today! On the third day back in!

I was in the chatroom for the first time earlier tonight and spoke to some lovely ladies. One pointed out that not only is tomorrow another day it's actually another month aswell!

I'm going for a makeover and photoshoot in April and I'd hoped to lose 22lbs by then. It's on 9 April so I'm thinking that might be a bit over ambitious this late in the day. Maybe I could do 18lbs. If I reach my 22lbs then that's also 10% of my current body weight, so it would be a double success. I'll see what I weigh on Friday and persevere.

I will write again tomorrow.

Sally

:welcome: Sally,You have come to a great site.
I wish you all the best on your journey. Don't feel bad about having a bad day. We all do it at times. Just move forward and don't look back. I know that can be hard, because I have had to do the same thing many times. You will and can get over these bumps. Stay focus, you can do this.
I will check back with you and see how your doing.

Thanks Millie, I love that name! I often said if I ever have children and it's a girl I'd call her Millie! You don't get many Millies! I used to read a book when I was a kid called Milly Molly Mandy...

Anyway, today is okay so far. I'm just about to go and make my zero point soup. I will then do 30 mins of exercise.

I'm doing my doctorate now (2/3 of way through a three year study due to end Feb 2007) and I'm finding it very hard to focus. I work from home because although I'm based at Coventry University I live and conduct my research in Nottingham. It's great being able to work from home and I can work anytime I like and I don't have to go out into the cold. However,it also means I'm surrounded by distractions! Food and TV mainly!

I've been feeling quite stressed about the work piling up and I always seem to be running to try and catch up at the point I shoudl be at! Things are a little up and down in my relationship right now too (long story....) so that's making me feel abit fed up as well. I'm trying not to comfort eat but it does make me feel better!

I want to make another successful attempt at weight loss though. Last year when I lost 40lbs it felt good and people commented on it. I know I can do it, it's just having the get up and go! Like with my doctoral research!

I'm being weighed in two days. I will treat that as my new start weight and take it from there. I'm going to go every three weeks so hopefully I can drop a few pounds each time. I'm wondering whether to ask to go once a fortnight though, at least to get me going, I think waiting 3 weeks to see results may feel too long....

Sally

PhD girl

Hope you are well today! You have the right idea, tomorrow is a new day (well that would be today LOL) Dont stress about the small stuff. That gets me through alot...though somedays I should heed my own advice!

Shan

Thanks Shan.

Today has been okay food wise. I've managed to eat very well (and little) so I've been able to balance yesterday's overindulgence. I've had plenty of water today, fruit tea, my zero point vegetable soup, Fitnesse cereal with skimmed milk and some fruit. I normally eat much more than that! But I think I'm coming down with a cold, my glands are sore, I have a headache and nose feels bunged up - so I've not felt very hungry anyway. Just hope it doesn't hinder my work progress as I'm already falling way behind schedule and struggling to motivate myself.

I did 4 km on my Gazelle glider, which took me nearly 34 mins. Usually I try to do 4km and it takes me 32-33 mins. I will gradually build up to do more km over time but for now I think 30 mins a days is fine.

It's midnight here in UK as a write this so I'm going to go to bed soon. I'm normally up all night and sleep in late but I think because I'm sickening for something it's making me sleepy. An early start tomorrow will be good to try to get some work done. I'm speaking at a conference in April and I've been told by the organisers my research may have media interest so I have to prepare a media summary for that. I'm also talking at a conference in London next month so I need to prepare for that along with the analysis I'm currenly doing - and all the many other things that have piled up.

I will check in again tomorrow. I'm actually itching to get weighed now on Friday (after the plumbers been to fix the toilet!) because I feel that then I can really begin my journey again and see how much weight I lose every three weeks.

I hope you've all had a motivating and successful day.

Sally

your on your way Sally. Nice chatting with you tonight. Take care doc.

Hi Sally, Sounds like you had a great day. You did great with the exercise also. Keep up the great work. you are going to have more of that great feeling you had before. It sure dose feel good to know we are doing what we need to do to look and feel better.

You've done incredibly well Millie! 87lbs lost is amazing!

I've joined the 40lbs by 1st July challenge. I'm not sure if I'll manage the full 40 with me only signing up yesterday. Gives me 5 months, so if I can lose 8lbs a month then I'll reach that target. It is achievable but I don't want to set my heart on it and then be disappointed. I'll aim for 40lbs but I won't beat myself up too much if I don't quite reach it.

I'm going to treat myself to a slice of grilled bacon with two scambled eggs now! After being so good yesterday! I barely had any calories yesterday! I've still got my batch of zero point soup to have so I might even manage to have less points today too. I've been doing 30 mins brisk walking each day (on my gazelle glider) and that gives me 3 bonus points.

My throat's still sore though so I'm feeling abit run down. I'll keep drinking plenty of water to ease it.

Hope you all have a great day!

Sally

I hope you are feeling better today Sally, its never good to be sick!

I had to bring my son to school for a ski trip today. BLECK getting up at 5 am is for the birds LOL So here I am, bright and early....

Congrats on the exercise..

shan

Hi Shan,

It's midday here in UK. I don't envy you being up at 5am!!

Hope you have a great day and are feeling motivated! You'll have to go for an early morning job now you're up!

Sally

I am thinking you mean joG...not gonna happen LOL I have one kid off to school for the ski trip and now got to go get my daughter up for school. Luckily since I drove the neighbors one boy down to school for 6 shes going to take my daughter with her other boy so I dont have to make two trips across town. BUT I do have to get her up, dressed, fed etc.
After she leaves i will do a couple of kms on my bike though...

My step mother is from the UK, my stepbrothers still live there actually *S*

Shan

Hi Shan,

yes I meant jog not job! Where abouts do your stepbrothers live? I'm in Nottingham, which is East Midlands (so middle of country on the right) - have you been over to UK before?

I've not done very much today. Either workwise or exercise-wise. I will rectify that this evening though. I've been sleeping this afternoon! I've not left the house yet today. It's freezing though so I'm quite pleased about that! I need to go to the shops for milk though and I've got a plumber coming at 830am tomorrow so I'll have to go to the ATM to get his money out too.

My throat's still bad so I'm trying to drink plenty of water. I'll have to motivate myself to do my 4km on my gazelle glider but as I'm being weighed tomorrow and I'm hoping to rectify the damage I did on holiday I feel I should make the effort.

Sally

Hope you are feeling better. I know when you are sick we just don't feel like exercing. Stay the course and you will reach that goal. You have been doing so good keep up the great work!

Tonight I've been in the I CAN chat for a long time. It's now after 5am here!! I've got my plumber coming in 3 hours!

It was really nice speaking to people and I find it a help. Plus it's fun!

I had 20 points today, so 2 below my allowance. I'm getting weighed later so I'll write later with my current weight. I'm expecting it to be 219-217lbs still. Unfortunately they're measuring me in KG (and I work in stones and lbs!) so then I have to convert it to lbs for my American chums! Last time I was 99kg but I might have gone back to 100kg after my holiday - despite my good work the last 5 days. Whatever I weigh today it will be less when I'm weighed again in 3 weeks...

Sally

Oh dear - my fears about my overindulgance on holiday were realised when I was weighed :(

I am back to 219 (well, 100kg) so I'm not a happy bunny :c(

I'm going to be weighed about on 23rd Feb. I'm hoping to be able to drop 3-4lbs in that time. I am feeling a bit discouraged to be honest. But I don't want to fall at the first hurdle. I reckon I probably put several lbs on over fortnight holiday because I ate loads of bad things, so I probably have lost these past 5 days - maybe 1lb or so.

I will persevere these next three weeks and hopefully I'll see results for my efforts next time. I'm not really very well on the way to the 40lbs by 1st July challenge though!

Sally

Sally,

DONT GIVE UP...let us be your support and keep venting it out. You are probably right, if you ate as badly as you think you did over your holiday then you most likely did drop some lbs these past few days!!! Hand in there...

My stepbrothers live in Clevedon...I am not sure where it is LOL I havent been to the UK though one day I do hope to go. I have seen loads of pics especially of the areas they live and the countryside is gorgeous...

Did the plumber have bad "plumber bum" LMAO sorry, i just couldnt resist....

Thanks Littlebeetle!

I will hang in there! My plumber had quite good plumber bum actually!!

I'm not being weighed again until 23 Feb, which seems a long time but the nurse didn't want me to go every week because your weight often changes over 2-3 week period. It might look like you've not lost one week, then you lose 5lbs then next, and so on. I would prefer to go more frequently really but it might teach me to have more discipline and make this more of a 'lifestyle' change if I have to wait a while between weigh-ins. I won't be hopping on and off the scale everyday at least!

I will keep updates on how I'm doing these coming weeks and then hopefully I can report some success on 23rd!!

I hope you're doing well and staying positive? You're doing great!

Sally

Hi PhD,

Glad to see you are hanging in there. Good for you. This isn't just about losing, although we all love that part, it is also about making ourselves healthier, our whole bodies.

You know what you did that made you gain, so now you will have more motivation not to do those things.

It is all about building new habits to replace our old habits of munching and grazing and pigging out. You can do it, be patient, and never give up. Each moment is an opportunity for a fresh start!!!

Thanks Nancy.

I'm not giving up. I think still being 219lbs has motivated me to make sure I have a definite loss when I get weighed in 3 weeks. Today I've had under my points allowance - and I've realised I've been working on 22 points a day but when I went back to my books I should actually be having 24 points a day until I lose another 23 lbs!!

Today I've also done an hour on my Gazelle Glider and 'walked' 7.5 km - so that's got to be doing me some good! I'm not feeling like I want to overeat at the moment. The Dominos adverts on TV didn't get me salivating as usual! So I think I'm back in The Zone! Hopefully I can keep up the motivation until 23 Feb. I'm sure if I go and see I've lost a few lbs it will keep me motivated to do well the next three weeks, then the next three weeks, and so on.

Sally

Hi Sally, So happy to hear you are not going to give up after the gain. Just move forward and don't look back. Last week I gained 3 pounds and this week I lost 5. So we all do it at times. I know you can do this so just hang in there. You will be so happy you did. I think weighing every 3 weeks is great. Then things will sound so much better when you do start losing and you will.

Thanks for stopping in at my journal, It's always nice to get encouragement, we all need it at times. Have a great week end!

Hi,

I found a yahoo conversion calculator online and 1km is 0.62 miles. So, I walked 4.65 miles last night. I did another 2km (so 1.25 miles) this morning and will do more tonight. I'm going to join the Weekend Warriors chat soon. Looking forward to it! Then I must get on with some work!!

Sally

Hi Sally! I was reading a hunger chart you posted in one of the forums - and its great! I'm going to copy it and try to use it. I'm doing WW too. Good luck with your goals - sounds like you are doing great so far!

Hi Blanche!

Glad someone found the hunger scale useful! It is a good idea. Although we're both doing points, rather than thinking 'Oh, I've got 3 points left, what can I eat for that?', with the scale you can think 'How hungry am I? Do I actually want to eat?'. Plus the idea that if you eat when you're starving you're bound to overeat. And the really good part of it is learning to listen to your body to know when to STOP eating!!

I went in the chat room today and had a nice chat to lots of interesting people. I've still not done any work today though! I must!

I'm going to do some more exercise on my Gazelle Glider tonigh (maybe 4 km) and I'm hoping to be able to go for a swim tomorrow night if I can get a lift to the baths. They're a long way from my house and it's awkward to get to on public transport. Depends if my partner is around to give me a lift or he might be going out for beers...

Sally

I won't be able to go for my swim tomorrow after all because he's going away for the day! I'd forgotten! I'll just have to carry on going on my Gazelle Glider. I've done 3.5 miles today. Stuck to my points. Still feeling fine.

Sally

Hello! And welcome to the Journals! I wish you great success in your journey. :)

Corinna

Hi sally, Looks like you are doing great.You do so good with the exercising. Keep up the good work.

wanted to thank you for stopping in at my journal. It is always nice to see you. will check back in with you.You are on a roll!

Thanks Mille and Corinna :)

I'm wishing I could get weighed sooner than the 23rd because I want to be able to make my ticker go down!! I'll just have to be patient... :sigh:

Today I'm going into town (well, city not a town but that's what we always call it!) with a friend to shop for clothes. Then we're meeting another friend for coffee and a catch up. I'll have to make sure I just have low point things! I'm also meeting a friend for lunch on Wed and another later on to go to the cinema (Derailed has just come out here) so again I'll have to watch myself! I've got a WW eating out guide though that's useful. I used to eat out when I lost weight last year so it's not that big of a deal really :)

I might go and do some exercise soon as I'll be out for a few hours later and might not feel motivated when I get home :whip:

I hope everyone has a nice Sunday.

Take care

Sally

Hi Everyone!


Look at me!! I'm no longer a Newbie but a Jr Diettalker! :cheers:

Sally

Wow you sure are a jr. now! Congrats!
Hope you had a nice time shopping for clothes. That is so much fun when you go DOWN IN SIZE! I just love it.
Hope you had a nice time going out with friends for coffee.
Keep up the great work my friend and you will see that goal!

I enjoyed looking round the shops and spent £110 (which is $194) but when I tried things on when I got home half of them I don't like! Well, some don't even fit! I went in a shop I've not been in before because they've started doing Plus Size clothes (a term I hate) so my friend (who's same size as me) and I went to check it out. They've got really nice things so I got several items, didn't feel like trying them on so decided to just do that when I got home, and they're cut really funnily. On same size items some are tiny around the chest area (I can't even get them over my 42E chest!) but then in the same size other garments are really gaping around the chest so that it hangs down too low! I'm not opposed to showing off some cleavage, but I mean these hang down way below my bra, with everything on show! So, basically everything is going back!! We stopped for coffee and I just had a diet Pepsi with lemon. Then we went into another Plus Size shop called Evans. That's the leading brand here for bigger sizes. They do some really lovely things. I got a jacket and a top in the sale and some jeans. The jeans are too small though! They're my usual size and I tried on a different pair in same size there and they fit, but these must be cut different again!! They're like a size below what they're meant to be. You get a month before you need to take things back so I'm debating hanging onto them to see if they fit in a few weeks. I think even if they did they'd still be too tight and they're really nice (just what I've been looking for) so I might just return them for the next size up. I don't mind what the label says really - it's better things fit you. I'll happily go up a size if it means the garment will hang better. Nothing looks worth than rolls of fat bursting out of clothes that someone's squeezed themselves into!! :crazy:

The jeans I tried on that fitted were my current size, but because I put 9lbs on over last few months, they were just fitting! There was no way I'm near going down to the next size yet! I'm hoping I can acheive that by May/June though - certainly I think by July I should have gone down a size. But, hey, one day at a time...

I only did a mile on my Gazelle Glider today. I did a mile in the morning but didn't have time for longer so I thought I'd make the miles up in the evening. When I got home though I had sore feet from the high heeled boots I'd worn out!! So, rather than put my poor tootsies through that I decided to just put them up instead! I did 3.5 miles yesterday and 4.65 miles the day before - usually I'm been doing 2.5 miles - so that will make up for it. I'll make sure I do extra tomorrow too if I get chance.

I said in Monica's I CAN chat on Thu night that my challenge for the week was to stick to my points allowance each day and to exercise each day. I've managed to keep to that so far. I probably won't be able to make the chat this Thu because it's 2am when it starts here (with time difference) and I've got to be up quite early (for me!) to go to a meeting I've organised (connected to my research) so I've got to make sure I'm up for it! If I don't make the meeting I'm going to post in the forum instead to say how I've done this week and to see how everyone else is doing.

I hope the Super Bowl was fun and that people didn't overeat too much! But hey, if you did it's really not the end of the world. Just get back on track tomorrow :up:

I'll check in again tomorrow no doubt...

Sally :peace:

Hey Sally,

Sorry its been a few days. I dont get on here too much on the weekend. I use my breaks and such at work to check in.

I didnt watch the superbowl but I did have a crappy weekend, Oh well, its a new day!! I *****ed enough about it in my journal LOL

How are things today?

Shan

Hey Everyone,

Today has been another successful day. I've had below my points allowance and walked 4 miles on my glider - 55 mins exercise.

Not much else to report. Had Spanish chicken with tomatoes, pepper and thyme sauce. It was okay, but not sure if I'll have it again.

More tomorrow,

Sally :)

I've just worked out that in the last 8 days I've been back on my diet I've walked 20.5 miles on my Gazelle Glider :)

Done another 2.5 miles this morning on my glider. I'll do more later on - hoping to get 4 miles or more in today.

I got up early so I've had breakfast (2 slices wholemeal toast), a snack (low fat fromage frais and an apple) and lunch (spicy lamb kebab pieces in a herb wrap - 6.5 points) because it's 1230pm here now. I've been drinking plenty of water too. I might start noting down how many glasses I have a day.

Hope today is successful for everyone else.

Sally

Nice chatting with you this morning PhD. Sorry about the way I left I got disconnected Hope to see you again soon in chat. and congratulation you are doing great.

Hi Linda,

Nice to speak to you too :)

Sally

Well, today was another good one. I stuck to my points allowance, did 74 mins exercise - walking 5.5 miles on my glider - and tonight I had a nice chat, but problems with computer kept booting me out so finally i gave up!

I'm eating out tomorrow after I've been the the cinema with a friend, but I'm not feeling too fazed. I've got my WW eating out guide and if we go for Italian I can have pasta with low cal tomoto sauce. I'll leave the bread etc, I don't need a starter or dessert, and I'll either limit myself to 1 or 2 glasses of wine (and drink plenty of water with it) or just stick to non-alcoholic drinks. Depends if I fancy a drink or not.

I've purchased a pedometer on Ebay tonight but I've got to wait a week for it. It is also a fat analyser so that will be interesting! It will be good to see it (hopefully) going down though during the coming months.

Hope everyone is feeling good.

Sally

Congrats on having such a great week so far! :)

Corinna

hey lady, sounds like you are doing so great! i am very happy for you my friend. just stay the course and you will see smaller sizes, trust me. it will be so much fun.

thanks for checking on me. the broken wrist is a tad better but still a lot of pain yet.

keep up the great work.

Thanks Millie - glad you're on the mend :hug:

Today has been fine but I've not been on my glider. I did get about 2 miles walking in though from going into the city centre and having various different places to go at opposite ends!

My meal after the film was nice. I had spaghetti bolognese (9 & 1/2 points) and 3 small glasses of red wine (1/2 bottle - 6 points). I also added a sprinkling of parmasan to my spag bog, which I could have lived without so should have left! My friend ordered cheescake for dessert but I passed and didn't have anything - mainly because I was just full and didn't need anything else! I have gone 2 points over my allowance today (that damn parmasan!!) but I've been having 2 points less each day anyway (so that would more than cover it) and I got a little walking in that will have earned me 1-2 bonus points - so it's all good :)

I'll be back to my glider tomorrow and will try to get 5 miles in again if I can...

Hope everyone is well?

Sally

I've been up hours already and it's only 830am here!

I had porriage with skimmed milk for breakfast, followed by an apple, then I did 2.8 miles on my glider whilst watching news/breakfast TV. I'm hoping to get 6 miles in today...

I felt peckish again so I've just had 2 slices of wholemeal toast. I've also already had 4 pint glasses of water today (so 2 litres) and I've still got all day to go!! I think it's with exercising and with drinking 3 glasses of wine last night - dehydrated.

I have a question about the water drinking actually. I know 2 litres in the recommend amount to drink, but does it matter if you drink more? Can it bloat you? A friend of mine told me it can be bad to drink too much, but that seems silly to me! Does anyone have any info on this?

Sally

Hi,

Re my question about water intake see the thread I started on this in General Support...

Sally

Hi,

Today I managed to do my 6 miles - taking me 88 mins. I've walked 32 miles since 29 Jan, so last 11 days.

Stuck to points again today - in fact had little less - and I've had 3.5 litres of water.

Still itching to get weighed. I've debated calling to book an appointment with nurse for next week so I don't have to hold out until 23rd but I'm sure I must be losing... Plus if I'm not jumping on the scales each week then it makes this seem more like a lifestyle change than just about seeing the lbs going down, you know?

Hope everyone is well.

Sally

My friend you are doing so great! Wow that work out will sure burn up calories. Don't worry you will see that weight loss! The loger you wait the better. Keep up burning up the calories. YOU ARE DOING GREAT!

Have another great day!

Hi Guys,

I've succumbed to buying a set of scales today! I just can't wait 3 weeks between weigh-ins to see if anything is happening! I'm actually heavier on these new ones than the nurse's! I'm going to take the weigh-in with the nurse every 3 weeks as my 'official' weight, but hop on these new ones at home every week to just check things are moving in the right direction!

Millie, thank you for your words of support. How are you now? Will you take a long time to heal?

Sally

Wow! I have heard about people who only step on their scale once a week.. I'm in awe! You're still rocking on.. Good stuff!

Corinna

Hey Cori - thanks :)

Today has been less productive than others. I've stuck to points, but had my full 24 (I've been having 22 most days) and I haven't got any exercise in on my glider. I had this meeting I chaired this morning and I had a mooch around the shops in town (well city centre, but we always call it 'town') afterwards - that's when I spotted the scales and couldn't resist! I also got some nice scented candles to wrap up for my mum for Mother's Day (our's is 26th March) because they're back from winter stay in Portugal on 23rd March (day befor my 28th birthday...). I took presents over for her when I went to stay in Portugal recently, because I thought Mother's Day was earlier this year. I got her a gold ring with a 3.5 carat amethyst. She likes bold jewellery - it's still quite sophisticated though, not gaudy! I also got her a gold ring for her birthday (which is while she's away) and I've booked for us to go for a makeover and photographic session later this year. I'm going on 9th April with a friend, but then I thought it would be nice to go again sometime to get a nice pic of me with my mum. Plus you get your hair and make-up done, manicure, mini-facial etc. Then a professional photographer does a session with you and you get one pic included in price of package. It's alot to buy extras, but I might do when I go with my mum, because I'm hoping to shift more weight by then. I'd like to get about 14 lbs off by the time I go with my friend (we're going to see a concert the Sat night, then have the makeover the Sun, so Sun night we'll be going out on the town with all our hair and make-up done nicely) but then if I go about 6 months later with my mum I'd like to have got another 40lbs off if possible.

Anyway, I'm going to get back on my Glider tomorrow and do a few miles. Tuesday I'm going to a conference where lunch is included. I always tend to have fattening things at things like this! I think 'Oh, but it's free!' and it seems wrong to have a fruit salad when there's a gorgeous gateau to be had! I'm feeling quite motivated though so I'll try to make good food choices. It's probably going to be a buffet anyway so there might be little tuna sandwiches and bits like that to have. As I know that's coming up I'm going to make sure I don't go over my points over the weekend. I think I'll also take some low cal snacks with my to this conference so I'm not starving when I get to the lunch - because then I'm bound to think 'Oh sod it!' and scoff on all the high cal/fat things!

I'll write again tomorrow with my progress...

Sally

Oh, other news from today that I forgot! I've booked to go to Ireland with a friend 10-12th July. We're going to fly into Shannon airport (which is Eire (southern Ireland) and west - further down than Dublin) and then go to stay in a town called Ennis. I went to Shannon the weekend before Christmas with another friend and stayed in a village called Bunratty, but it's just a tourist village really - no one actually lives there!! So, it will be nice to go to Ennis, which is an old town and has a 13th Century friary. Mindue, we're steeped in mediveal history in Britain so I'm not interested in an old Friary! We have a pub in Nottingham dating back to the Crusades (11th century) - so I'm not impressed by a 13th Century building :laugh:

Mainly we're going though because it looks like a nice place to hang out 2 nights. It says it's got a busy market centre with narrow winding streets that are dotted with unusual shops, bars and restaurants. It's on a river too, which will be pleasant. We've booked into a nice hotel and it has a nightclub on the premises that's open every night and free to guests - so we'll be set! We get an Irish breakfast included and the hotel's claim to fame is that it was actually cited in James Joyce's 'Ulysses' as being "delightful" !

So, that's something to look forward to - and it's cheap trip. I'll hopefully be able to shift that 40lbs by the time I go - then put a few lbs back on with beer and that hearty Irish breakfast no doubt!!

Sally

I'm wondering if I've been miss calculating how far I'm walking on my glider and if it's actually more. I had it in my head for some reason that it calculates distance walked in km - so I've been converting it to miles. But then I've started to think it might already be in miles. I can't find my instruction booklet with the specifications to check. I've done a search online and still can't suss it out. If it's km I've walked 32 miles like I thought in last week and half, but if it's actually in miles to begin with then I've walked about 52 miles!! Does anyone know if it's miles or km? We tend to use miles here in UK but I wondered with it being an American brand (Tony Little) if it might be measuring in km - but then I think you guys use miles too? So, if that's the case, then I might have actually walked considerably further than I first thought! Whatever the distance it's still the same amount of time I've spent on it, but it would be nice to know for future reference. I might post this as a thread somewhere to try and find out...

Sally

Hi,

Well today was fine. I had 25 points instead of my 24 allowance, but I only ended up having 14.5 points the day before, so it doesn't matter. Not sure why I had so few, I did eat several times that day, just low point things, and then I didn't feel hungry later on in the day.

I did 3.1 miles on my glider this morning. I think it probably does record distance in Km and I'm right in converting it to miles. If it was in miles to begin with I would be running like nobody's business to 'walk' the distance I am in the time I spend on it! It took me 39 mins to do the 3.1 miles and a 15 min mile is considered to be walking briskly, so I think it must be in km on my glider. Basically I walked 5.00 km in 39 mins. If that was miles I would have been running!

I hopped on those scales I bought today (i just couldn't help myself!) and I seem to have gone down 2lbs from when I bought them on Friday! I'm not counting my chickens yet though! I'll just change my ticker when I go for me 'official' weigh-in on 23rd (10 days - 8-| ) but at least seeing a change will keep me motivated - which is the reason I bought them.

I said in the 16lb by Easter and 40lb by 1st July challenge threads, that I feel like I'm not really participating properly yet because I can't record my weight loss! Hopefully when I do get weighed I will be able to report a 5-6lb loss from when I started...

Hope all is well with everyone else?

Sally

Just found your journal. You are doing awesome. Your tenacity and positive attitude is inspiring. I chuckled when I saw your comment about getting ready to present at your conference. I have a presentation in Reno in March (hence my mini-goal) and another in May in NYC (a second mini-goal). There's nothing like having to stand and present in front of 100+ session attendees to hyper-focus health efforts!

I know how stressful it can be to be in higher ed (particularly research) and take care of oneself simultaneously. I crashed (emotionally and mentally) after defending my dissertation, as I lived off of coffee, cigarettes (yick), and M & M's for almost 10 months. This was nearly five years ago, but I still find myself struggling with how to be successful at the university level while taking time for myself and own health.

Just wanted to say "hello" and congratulate you on your successes.

Cori (mom2woo)

:) :) :)
It sounds like you are doing great. I admire you for being able to keep up with your healthy eating while you are so busy. When I get busy or stressed I tend to let the diet fall by the way side. Keep up the good work.:cheer: :cheer:

You ARE doing wonderfully. The glider, losing pounds on the new scales. Cool. Good for you.

The scheduled trip to Ireland sounds fun too. A trip like that is a good reward for all of the weight that you are planning to lose by then. I'll bet that you lose more than 40 the way that you are going.

Take Care
Fagan
My Journal (http://www.diettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50403)

http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;2;64;0;0/c/-130/t/-155/k/2cb1/weight.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/)

Hi, Boy you are doing so great! Keep up the great work and it will show when you get weigh.
Your trip sound really nice. I was in Ireland for 24 hours. I just loved it. It is so pretty. I lived in Italy for 3 years. My husband was in the navy and we where station there.
With your weight loss that will make your trip even better.

Have a great one!

Thanks Millie, CFJ, Cori (MomtoWoo) and Mtnjoyn :)

It's nice to be encouraged and told I'm doing well even though I've not been able to report a loss yet. I'm feeling good about the new scales going down, but I need to hold tight until 23rd for my proper weigh - in.

Yesterday (Mon) I did 1.86 miles on glider because I just got 26 mins in on it. I usually try to do longer, but I didn't get chance to go back to it later in the day. I was working for a while after I did my walk, then i had an appointment at the local hair salon. I badly needed a trim to get rid of my split ends! I'd booked in to see the trainee so that it was cheaper for me - with me being a poor student still! Plus, my hair is long down my back and I've just kept it one length recently (it's been different lengths and colours over the years: almond blonde, various shades of red, light - dark brown, black... my hair is naturally dark brown, and that's what it's like right now) so I thought if she messed it up then it wouldn't matter too much with the style (or lack of a style) that I currently have. She qualifies in June anyway and had someone supervising her so it was fine. She spent an hour and 3/4 and washed it, cut it, then blowdried and straightend it for me. My hair naturally goes quite wavy (and frizzy!) so I can never straighten it myself very well at home. Anyway, I got to the till to pay and she was like 'That's £6' (that's $10.45) and I was like 'Sorry, how much?' - I couldn't believe it was so cheap! I gave her £10 (which is $17.45) and told her to keep the change - I couldn't walk out having only paid her £6! They get rubbish money anyway, and especially when they're training - and £10 was still cheap. So everyone was happy!

Then I went to pay some money into the bank (cheque from a friend because I'd lent her some cash) and then to buy some food (I got 2 more WW pizzas :D ) and then I went home to wait for my friend who was due over about 215pm. Now, this is the same friend I'm going to Ireland with, and bless her (I've known her since I was 7 years old) but she is not the most punctual of people! So, she finally turns up at 345pm! We had a chat and I let her use my phone to call the water board about a problem she's having and then she left about 615pm. I made some dinner (chilli with few potato wedges) and then watched some tv before having an early night.

Today I'm up early (since 5am!!) because I'm going to a conference at Coventry University (where I'm doing the research) and then I have a meeting in the afternoon. By the time I get home I don't think I'll be feeling very romantically inclined! I'll just want feeding and bed. I think my beau will be collecting me from the train station so we'll probably pick up some Chinese to take home. I can have chicken chow mein for 7.5 points - and I get 24 a day.

Lunch is provided at this event so I'm worried about what will be on offer. I'm going to take some snacks with me so I'm not famished by the time I get to the food!

Hope everyone has a lovely Valentines Day :hug:

Sally

You are such a busy lady. I think it helps when your busy in some ways as far as eating goes, then in other ways it is hard to cook right,oh well.

You are doing great so keep it the good work. I wish I could get back to my long walks, I really miss them.

Have a great one!

Hey Millie,

Thanks for posting again :)

Where did you live in Italy? I'm not familiar with the country really, but Aaron and I went to Venice for our 5th anniversary (of being together, not married) and really enjoyed it. It's just not like anywhere else is it! On our actual anniversary day we went to Rialto and he bought me a Murano glass heart pendant (that I saw in the window of an art jewellary boutique and fell in love with!) so that always reminds me of Venice when I where it.

I'm feeling bit lower today because I ended up going over my points yesterday. Feeling sad about it! It's my own fault. I was full of good intentions, then when we went for lunch at this event I went to I could have had a baked potato, panini, baguette or pizza. So, I had pizza! I really should have had a baked potato, but I eat them all the time at home, so it seemed a dull choice. Then I thought, often baguettes and paninis can end up being quite high in cals/fat (although not as much as pizza) and everyone was ordering pizza so I just found myself ordering one too! It was 4 slices (so 7" maybe?) of thin crust pepporoni pizza. Greasy! Oh well, the damage is done now! But it meant that because I needed to eat when I got home at 630pm that it will have taken me quite alot of my allowance. I'll try to have a few less points today if I can, although I'm going out for meal and to the cinema with a friend tonight, so I'll be trying to find something not too bad to have. My Eating Out Guide is great for things like that though!

I also didn't get any exercise in because I had to leave early and by the time I got back I was really tired. I was actually asleep by 8pm!! So, I didn't see Aaron much for Valentine's Day. He collected me from the train station at 6pm and gave me my card but then I went to bed so he went out to see a friend! We're going to a gig next Wed though so we'll be able to have our 'date' then. I got the tickets as a Valentine's present for him, because it's a group we both like, but him especially. I won't tell you who because you won't have heard of them in North America. For anyone British reading this though, we're seeing Goldie Lookin' Chain :D

Today I'm going to crack back on with my exercise and stick within my points allowance. I'm getting weighed a week tomorrow so it's starting to seem closer now, after I've been moaning so much about how long I've got to wait!

Hope everyone is doing well - thanks for posting, I appreciate it :hug:

Sally

I've perked up a bit since earlier. As I was up early so decided to do something productive after yesterdays indiscretion! I walked to my local pool, which took me 35 mins, then I swam 45 mins (except I'm a rubbish swimmer so I did 20 lengths in the 25 metre pool in that time, with lots of stops for breathers!) and then I got bus part of way home and walked the other 15 mins.

I'm also going to book a trip to Poland later for me and my mum. Going mid-June for 5 nights. We'll fly in Lodz and stay the night, then travel to Warsaw by train and have 3 nights there, then back to Lodz for last night. My mum's really excited about it!

More later...

Sally

Well, I've booked Poland trip - mum's really excited! She's planning what to pack already apparently! I've also arranged for us to go to an event for International Women's Day that's being held on Sun 26th March - which is our Mother's Day this year in UK. It's inspirational workshops and seminars and things. The event is organised by a group of Black women, but is open to all women, but I've been in previous years and there's usually a 'multi-cultural' buffet for lunch with lots of yummy things! The allday ticket to the event includes entrance to a comedy event in the evening featuring some of the top UK female comics. So I'm looking forward to that. I'm also booking for us to go and see a few plays in the next few months when she gets back from Portugal.

I met my friend tonight for some Chinese food and then we saw Brokeback Mountain - finally!! We enjoyed it and she got all choked up by it! Afterwards we went for a quick drink (soft) then headed home.

There's a ballet production of Madame Butterful (that incorporates operatic music) coming to my local theatre. I don't really know anyone that would fancy going (it's quite expensive) but they're doing £10 (about $17.50) standby tickets for students 30 mins before the performance. It's on 28 Feb-4 March so I'm thinking of going on my own and being brave! I'll feel abit self-conscious but I guess no one will be paying any attention to me and I might find it quite empowering really going alone. It would be good to get a cheap ticket - and I don't know any other students who could go with me. I'm classed as a doctural research student and although I get a bursary from the University, a budget to use each year, and my fees paid I still get an NUS card for being a full-time student so I get to save money. I don't get very much, £10,000 tax free (so that must be $17,500) but I can afford to live on it at the moment. However, when I finish I'm going to owe about £20,000 ($35,000) so hopefully my first job will pay at least double what I'm getting now so I can start to tackle my student debt from when I did my undergraduate degree between 2000-2003 :(

I've stuck to my 20 points today like I'd hoped to (so 4 less than my allowance) and I'm still feeling pleased I got my walking and swim in this morning. I'll get on my glider tomorrow. I think I'm going to walk to my local library (only 10 mins away) to work, because I've got alot of analysis of transcripts to do - I'm really behind where I should be - and I get distracted by the computer and TV! I'll feel I'm being more productive psychologically if I do that anyway!

Tomorrow is one week until my first proper weigh-in. Getting anxious I won't have lost any! I'm sure I must have, but I'll be gutted if I've lost 1lb or something over 3 weeks!!

Sally

excuse the typos!!

Hi sally,
You sure are a busy girl! But that helps to keep burning those calories. That is so great the way you walk when you can, and the exercise also.
I am sure you will have a weight loss. Let me know as soon as you find out.

Don't worry about going over the other night, we all do that from time to time. Just move on and don't look back. You are doing to good for that.

I am not sure of the spelling ,but we lived in Geta Italy. Its been so long I forgot how to spell it. It is a small town between Napols and Rome. We lived there for 3 years got to travel alot. We went to Paris for 2 weeks. I just loved it! I don't think I got much sleep the 2 weeks we where there.
I was in Venice for two days and that was so wonderful. You sure don/t see a place like that anywhere else.

I hope you have a great time on all your trips. Sounds like you are going to have a great time.

Keep up the great work!

Thanks Millie :)

Well, yesterday I stuck to my allowance (had 23 instead of allowed 24 points) but didn't get any exercise done. I've popped on my scales and nothing has happened. I know it takes time though, just hoping it will move so that I'll be feeling encouraged when I walk into nurse's office next Thu!

I was feeling pretty down yesterday (work and relationship stresses) and I was really tempted to think 'Sod it' and overeat - but I didn't. I decided I wouldn't add that to my list of things I'm feeling fed up about! I did buy a bottle of Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon but it's stayed unopened! I also felt like I needed some chocolate to cheer me up so I bought a low fat chocolate mousse, which was only 2 points.

Today, I'm going to go and get on my glider for 30 mins soon, to make sure I get some done. I'm also definitely going to walk up to the library to work because I'm getting behind and find it hard to focus at home. I'll stick to points again, drink my water...

Hope everyone is feeling good? I'm sure today will be an improvement on yesterday!

Sally

well, I did my 30 mins this morning walking 2.1 miles and I'm going to do some more this evening. I walked to the library and back (only about 20 mins round trip though) and in two and a half hours I got more done than I have in the past two and a half weeks at home! So, I'm going to go up everyday they're open while I've got this analysis to do, and when they're closed on Wed and Sun I'll work from home typing up my findings. I'm feeling more positive about it already. Once I've submitted the thesis, done re-writes (which is usual) and sat the viva (oral examination that lasts a few hours where you have to defend your work) then I'll be finishing the PhD around next summer (2007) - but my money stops in Feb next year, so that might pose a problem for the few months inbetween...

I'm planning on cracking on with work over the weekend but think I'm going to meet up with a friend Sunday evening to go to see Walk the Line. I'm so behind seeing everything!

I bought 5 books for 90p at the library ($1.56) but I'll probably never end up reading them! I'm always buying books online or at carboot sales and with doing the PhD I hardly ever get chance to read for pleasure anymore :(

I'll check in again later...

Sally

HI Sally, thanks for stopping by my journal. so I thought I would pay you a visit and catch up. Great job on the exercise! I bought my treadmill today. sadly though was winded after 10 minutes. Wondering if I should work it harder for a shorter duration or slower for 20-30 minutes and gradually increase speed. Probably the latter don't you think? Anyway.. glad things are going well with you I will try to be in chat tues/thurs at 9! Listen to this .. my 5 year old is having winterfest in her classroom this week and the parents have to go with her. We will be sledding! JOY! Can't get my fat but into a sled! Absolutely dreading it. Its one of those fat moments I dread. And I will be panting like a dog going up and down the hills. Talk to you soon sally!

bad news.. no England:( change of plans) Cabo San Lucas instead!

Hi Sally,
You are doing so great with your work out. I can't wait until you get weighed. I know you are doing great! Just keep with it!

We had a ice storm thursday night and we lost power for over 14 hours. Let me tell you it was cooolllldddd in here.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Hi,

Friday I did another 30 mins exercise in evening as I'd hoped to so I clocked up 4.2 miles. I also walked to and from the library which is at least another mile. Stuck to points...

Yesterday I didn't get any exercise in so I'm going to try to do 30 mins today before I go out. I've got lots of work to do today, but I'm going out 5pm to meet a friend to go to the cinema. I might get on the glider soon (it's 8am here) so that it's out of the way. It might fire me up abit to crack on with my work too! Going to have 2 rashers of vege bacon with 2 free range eggs scrambled for breakfast and a nice mug of tea :) That should help set me up too.

Lisa, I've posted back in your journal, you too Millie. Thanks for checking in with me :)

Hope you're all having nice weekends?

Sally

Well, yesterday I didn't end up doing any exercise! Today I MUST do some!!

I enjoyed Walk the Line and afterwards we went for a couple of glasses of wine. I ended up having 2 more when I got home and saw Aaron - then I felt hungry so I ended up going over my points! Doh!

I'm getting weighed on Thu and after moaning on about how long 3 weeks was to wait, it's now only 3 days away, and I'm worrying I've only lost like 1lb. I'm hoping for 5lbs but my period is due anytime so I think that might make me look heavier with good old water retention! I'm going to try to be positive, and if I haven't lost much past 3 weeks, just think that pms is partly to blame and I'm bound to see better results the following 3 weeks...

This week I'm going to be working alot because I'm quite behind on where I need to be. It's like one step forward, two steps back. I get quite a bit done and feel pleased and like I'm progressing, then I realise how long it took me to do that little bit, and so in comparison just how long it's going to take to finish what I'm currently working on (stage two findings for my thesis chapter) and that makes me stressed out! :(

Hope everyone is well - no more flu bugs or power cuts!

Sally

ps I've put a pic of myself into gallery if anyone wants to look!

Sally,

I know I have said it before, but I am going to say it again. I admire you for being able to do it all and still try and diet. You have what it takes to succeed in both your PhD and your diet. You have the determination and drive that some of us lack, like me for instance. Keep up the good work.:)

Beth

Sally...

Good luck with your weigh in. I am sure you have lost at least 5lb's. It must be super hard to concentrate on writing a thesis plus weightloss.

Enjoy your exercise... make sure you get some relaxation in this week in addition to all the work.

Take care.

Hey Beth and Sexybod - cheers for the kind words :)

I think I get enough relaxtion in - that's my problem! I've got some fun things coming up anyway, so I'm all set! This week I'm going to a gig on Wed with Aaron, Thu out for Chinese and to see Good Night and Good Luck with a friend, Friday night out on town with another friend for drinks - I also might go for a free day's membership to a nice gym that has a pool and things to have a look-see and weigh up whether I can afford membership. Then week after I'm going to see Breakfast on Pluto (film) with another friend and then I'm hoping to go and see a ballet production of Madame Butterfly, which should be interesting! I think it's still got operatic music as a soundtrack to the dancing...

So, I'll be keeping busy - and I have to fit in exercise and eating well too! I've been cracking on with work today - I've still got analysis to do along with the writing... - and I'll be spending this evening doing it too. I've got a friend calling for a chat about 7pm though (he lives about 200 miles away) and then I watch a TV programme 9-10pm on Mondays, so that will be the time I use to go on my glider and exercise too!

Hope everyone is feeling fine?

Sally

It's 1010pm here as I'm writing this - I've had a long day so thinking about doing another hour or two of work then turning in for the night. I've just finished watching my programme and I did 45 mins on my glider while I watched it - 'walked' 3 miles :)

I've had about 4 points under my allowance today and earned 4.5 bonus points from my exercise, so hopefully that will counter some of yesterday's alcohol and late night nibbles!

Sally

Way to go on sticking with your plan. I admire the way you keep coming back to your plan, even if you stray a bit. Hang in there with your writing, my advisors always said the dissertation was 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration! I admire you for focusing on your health while completing your degree!

Have a great day,

Cori

Hi,

Thanks Cori :)


I think the only thing with the doctroate is that it's completely different to doing my first degree. I don't attend any classes or have any essays or anything like that. I did't really spend that long on my dissertation! But the thesis is going to be about 100,000 words (and that's not actually enough because I'm doing qualitative research) and it's my words about my research - so it's harder than my first degree. I'm not sure if degrees are awarded in the same way in UK and USA but I did my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Policy and graduated in 2003 with a 2.1 (upper second class) then I went and did a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Science Research Methods and that's where I found out about the studentship to do the PhD research that I'm doing now. I've only got a year or so left and it really doesn't feel like long! I'm worrying I'll struggle to get a job afterwards (I'll owe $35,000) but hey, at least I'll be Dr. Richards - so I'll always have that, even if I am living out of a dustbin! No, it should be fine. I just get anxious about finding work. One issue is that there's a very likely chance I'll have to move to a different part of the country and Aaron doesn't really want to move away - so that adds to the problem! Along with my research experience I've done several other things that give me transferable skills. I've done several admin jobs, I was an advice worker at the Citizen's Advice Bureau and I got involved with Training and Development while I was doing my first degree and became Training Officer of the union. I wrote, delivered and evaluated training sessions - so all of that gives me good skills to stick on my cv, along with the more obvious academic ones.

Anyway, back to diet things...

Yesterday I had 4 points under my allowance, drank water, and did 45 mins on my glider walking 3 miles.

Tonight I'm going out to a gig with Aaron so maybe I'll have a few drinks. I'll make sure I stick to my points because tomorrow is weigh-day!!

I'll hopefully be able to move my ticker down tomorrow!

Sally

I may have missed it - what is your thesis about ?

Hey Sally,
I have been AWOL for a while so I thought I would pop in. You are doing super good! Congrats on buckling down on your thesis. I always found it more helpful when working in the library during my degree. It was too hard at home to do it with the kids running around and such. Plus being at the library makes you feel smarter LOL Atleast it did me!!

I think your weigh in day is tomorrow...tyr not to think about it too much. I know your nervous...just be happy no matter what the number is and be proud that you are trying to better yourself!!

Big hugs
Shan

Hi Sally,

Interesting differences between UK and USA higher ed programs. In the US, the thesis is typically tied to the Master's program. The dissertation is then tied to the doctorate. My Master's thesis was around 140 pgs., while my Doctoral dissertation was 520 + pgs. (I did a qualitative study also). Doctoral programs at my university include an additional 32 - 48 hours of graduate courses (beyond the master's level), comprehensive exams (the most god-awful experience I have ever participated in!), and then another 18 hours for the dissertation.

I saw the great pic of you and Aaron (that's my husband's name!) in the gallery. You two look so happy together!

I hope your weigh-in goes well. Regardless of the number, you should be proud of the successes that you have accomplished!

Hope all is well,

Cori

Hey Cori,

Yeah, our systems do sound a bit different. Do you still work in research or mainly teach?

Beth, I'll post later about my subject (keep you in suspense!) because I'm in a bit of a rush.

Just wanted to stop by to say that I've finally had my first weigh-in (after three weeks) and I've lost 5lbs :)

I'm happy with that because I'm aiming to lose 1-2lbs per week and I should just be able to make the 16lbs by Easter challenge, as I started it with 10 weeks to go. I should be on track for the 40lbs by 1st July challenge too.

I also asked the nurse to check my BMI and it's still high (38) but last year before I started losing weight I was 'Morbidly Obese' and now I'm just plain old 'Obese'! So that's something positive. Small victories, eh?

I need to lose 46lbs from current weight now to reach the range of being 'Overweight' and not 'Obese' so hopefully I can accomplish that by Autumn - or Fall as you guys say :D

I enjoyed the gig I went to last night and Aaron was dancing around by the end! I had a few beers but still actually stayed a few points under my allowance. Tonight I'm going for Chinese food and to the cinema with a friend.

I'm going to do 30 mins on my glider (so I've at least got some in today) and then I'll crack on with some work before I go to meet my friend.

Hope everyone is having a good week? The weekend is nearly upon us!

Sally

Just wanted to stop in and say Hi!!! Great job on the 5lbs!!!:cheers:
lynn

WOOHOO Sally,
5lbs is awesome...and you are right all small things count...
I hate the word obese but it keeps me going...
Enjoy your moving...going to see anything that I might have heard of??

Shannon

Hi guys,

Thanks Lynn :)

Shan, I went to see Good Night and Good Luck. I enjoyed it but my friend slept through the entire film! She'd been out drinking vodka til gone 3am the night before though then was at work early - she's a solicitor (lawyer) ! So, I guess she had an excuse...

I'm going to this gym tomorrow to look around and try the aqua aerobics class. Hope I enjoy it. I used to go twice a week last year but to a different place, so depends how this one is if I enjoy it or not. I expect I will.

Sally

Let us know how the gym goes. It is all female??
That movie, is it hte one with George Clooney? I heard it was really good!

I love aqua aerobics....if only I could get involved with it again!
Take care
Shannon

Hi Guys,

Today I went to look around the gym I was interested in (mixed sex) and it was really nice so I signed up! I'm actually not all that interested in the gym equipment (but I'll use it seeing as I can) but the place has a pool, spa, steam room and sauna. Plus they do water aerobics classes most days. It's a really nice environment. It was a man that led the water aerobics class and he actually got in the pool to do it with us! They didn't at the one I went to last year somewhere else. Everyone was chatting to him and was obviously relaxed. He was like 'Yeah, it Friday!' then 'Oh, and it's two days til pay day - beers on my credit card tonight then!'. So it was all nice and informal. After the class (which was 45 mins) he made a point of coming over to me to ask how I'd enjoyed it. He said 'You did really well' and then I chatted about the membership benefits. I told him I'd lost 40lbs last year and he was like 'Brilliant!'. After I finished the class I swam a little then sat in the spa a while. Afterwards I showered and you get complimentary toiletries and towels so it's really handy. When I went back out to the main reception the manager showed me around the gym and said they can work out a plan for my exercise that they'll review with me every four weeks and said that some of them are trained nutrionists if I want any advice in that area. I said I'd like to join so he sat me down and made me a cup of tea! I'm going tomorrow for my gym induction. It was £39 ($68) today for the admin fee - which is annoying - then they've got an offer on so I get the rest of Feb (think they started promotion last month) and all of March for free! Then I've signed up for 6 months so from April I'll pay £36 a month ($62.85). That's a student rate so it's less than normal but it means I can go in anytime (some clubs only do off-peak memberships for students) and they're open everyday from about 8am - 10pm. Someone said they thought the monthly fee is alot, but it really isn't for the UK. It's cheap! Especially because there's a pool etc and it includes all the classes, plus the gym and advice. And the fact that you get towels provided, that's unusual for a lot of them here too. So I'm pleased anyway. The gym is in the city centre (about 6 miles from me) so I've also invested in a 6 month travel pass for the bus and that was £185 ($323.40) - so I'm all set!! I think having the bus pass and the nice facilities to use will encourage me to go a lot. I'll just have to make sure I get some work done at the same time!!

Feeling fine right now :D

Tonight I'm meeting a friend for a few drinks so I'll have to make sure I don't over do it or I'll be sweating out alcohol during my gym induction!

Hope you all have a good weekend - I'll be working, exercising at my new health club :) and catching up with friends.

Sal x

Hello!!
The gym sounds wonderful! I hope you enjoy all that it has to offer! You have your bus pass and are off to a great start! Have fun with it!! Have a great weekend!!
lynn

Hi Lynn - thanks for posting :)

Today I had my gym induction scheduled but when I got there there'd been a mix up and the person who was meant to do it wasn't in and no one had called me. I wasn't bothered though. I'd taken my swimsuit too so I just went in the pool a while. I didn't spend too long though. I swam about 5 mins, sat in spa 5 mins, swam 5 mins, went in steam room 5 mins, then back in pool 5 mins.

Tonight I went to see the documentary film Grizzly Man with a friend and we had a drink afterwards but I was on 11pm bus home - with my bus pass :)

Tomorrow think Aaron and I are meeting his sister for lunch somewhere and then he's going out with his friends (boozing) so I'll head home to get some work done. I might go for swim before or after lunch if I'm in mood too. If not then it's aqua aerobics on Monday morning again so I'll go to that. It's on four times a week so I'll try to go to all of them if I'm around. There are some I'll have to miss when I'm away to different places for conferences or on holiday (going to Poland and Ireland later in year). On Wed, Sat and Sun when there's no class I will try to go for a swim or use the gym equipment. Just have to make sure I'm balancing this exercise with some work!

Hope everyone is good?

Sal x

Hey Sally,
I posted a response to you loving the gym but I think it was in Lisa B's journal *smiles*
Keep at it and I am sure you will see much success.
Enjoy your time with Aaron!
Shan

Hi,

Today's been okay so far. Aaron and I went for lunch with his sister then his friend came to meet us and then his mum and her boyfriend joined us (his dad died of cancer six years ago so his mum's widowed but now been with new guy a few years). Then Aaron and his friend went off to meet some more friends, his mum and her beau went off somewhere and his sis drove me home. It's 6pm here now so I need to get on with some work. The health club is open til 930pm but the weather's horrible out and I really need to get some work done. I can go to the aqua aerobics class in the morning and I'll do half an hour on my glider today so I've done some exercise. The health club opening times are quite good. It's 630am - 10pm Mon-Fri and 730am - 930pm Sat and Sun.

Sal x

Hi sally,
Sounds like you are doing good. Sorry I have not posted to you lately. I have had a very rough week.

Sounds like you are enjoying the gym. I love playing around in the pool, I feel so lite in the water,lol. Wish I knew how to swim. That is such good exercse also.
I need to go back and read your journal to see if you have gotten weighed yet. I am slow at getting back to everyones journals.
Keep up the great work! also will go check out your new pictures!
Have a great day!

Way to go Sally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A big CONGRATS ON THE LOSS:cheers: :cheers: :cheer: .
I just went back and read your loss! I knew you could do it!

:cheer:

congratulations on the 5 pound weight loss. SOmeone told me to go and hold a 5 pound hamburger roll and see how big it is. It is HUGE!!!YOu rock sally!!!!!
I had a bit of a boozing binge Friday nite along with AAron it sounds like. Saturday I had a HUGE greasy cheeseburger and onion rings then steak & bakedpotato for din din! Bad!!!! Its 3am here and I can't sleep. I was laying in bed thinking with the time change you might be up! But you are not. Congrats on all that is goin well!!

Hi Lisa,

It was 830am when you posted my time, but I was in bed asleep still! My alarm was set for 9am to get up and go to the water aerobics class but I didn't sleep well last night so I kept turning it off for another 10 minutes! When it got to the last possible time I could turn it off I lay there, closed my eyes, and was dreaming I'd gone to the pool and was doing the water aerobics! I woke up just as the class was about to start! So I decided to get another hour and finally got up at 1115am. I've not done much so far today, just potted about last couple of hours, replied to some emails, etc. I'm going to get on with some work soon and I might go for a swim tonight.

I went last night in the end and it was really nice. I caught the 720pm bus into the city (they're every 30 mins on a Sunday) and was in the pool by 745pm (not much traffic on a Sunday and I'd got my swimsuit on underneath my clothes so I could just whip them off and stick them in a locker) and it was really nice. The pool is in a nice room with subdued lighting and there are tall plants and columns (like a Roman feature) around the pool. They were playing classical music so it was really relaxing. At one point there was only me in the pool so I flipped over and did the backstroke up and down the middle of the pool :D I spent 45 mins there with a few mins break in the spa and steam room to break up the swimming. I got the 9pm bus home, had a tuna baked potato (late I know but I'd not eaten since lunchtime),watched some TV and went to bed at 1030pm then lay there for ages! I sometimes play chillout jazz to help me sleep but I can't find the cd.

I was meant to go to see a film called Breakfast on Pluto tonight (Cillian Murphey is in it and plays at Irish transvestite) but my friend has caught a bug. She was skiing in Italy, got back Fri, and has been sick all weekend. She's an art teacher in a school (high school) and is off work today. I'll see if anyone else fancies going to see it with me. The cinema it's playing at is funny because it's just got one screen and about 20 seats! I think it's the smallest cinema in the world or something like that! I've not been before but it's meant to be cosy, like watching a film in someone's house!

If I don't get to go I might have another swim this evening. The health club is open until 10pm so I can go about 8pm or something and still have plenty of time.

Millie, thanks for posting. Yep, I lost 5lbs, which I was happy with. I get weighed again on 16th March so I'm hoping for 5lbs again, but we'll see. I went over my points Friday. I don't think I wrote that actually. I went out with a friend for drinks and I was really good to start and only had a couple of orange juices. Then I got talking to a really interesting man who's an historian, but along with writing books and giving talks, now works predominantly as a consultant on tv programmes. He's done work for the History and Discovery channels and worked on a big series over here called Sharp. Don't know if it ever reached your shores? He's just spent 3 months out in India because they've made a new series - 10 years after the last one! Anyway, so we went to a bar (my friend, this man and me) and we ordered a bottle of wine. My friend didn't have any and he only had a glass so I had the lion's share! I missed my bus in town so Aaron came to pick me up or I would have had an hour's wait. He has a really long day on a Friday working from about 8am through til 11pm (at two jobs) so he was shattered. I was hungry by the time he'd picked me up so I ended up getting Chinese. I ordered 1/4 duck with pancakes (BAD!!) and a small egg fried rice. Together with the wine, but mostly because of the food, I went way over my allowance. I've had less the past few days though and been going for a swim. Plus I've generally had 22 points a day instead of the 24 points I'm allowed to have each day since I started - so hopefully it won't matter too much by the time I get on the scales on 16th.

I'll check in again soon,

Sal x

You make your pool sound so nice...perhaps I'll cross the pond and come swimming with you!!
I miss swimming...my parents have a lovely pool and I spend a lot of time in it in the summer!!!

Glad your doing alright. You are making me jealous though. I was up at 630 am and now am working. In and out all day in meetings and then in the office this afternoon til 5...

We are meeting with our Reverend tonight. We havent seen her in a while so it will be nice to catch up. Shes actually more a friend then a Reverend but still LOL Sounds posher saying that!

LOL
Shan

Just dropping by to say hi.

You are doing wonderfully. One little chinese dinner will not slow you down. You are exercising and paying attention to your points and all. Good for you.

The new gym sounds like a lot of fun. I like to swim as well, but don't have access a pool right now. Keep it up.

The bus pass is a great idea. Now you can go anywhere without worrying about it. I like the idea of mass transit in general, because it forces you to walk around a lot more than we do here in most of the US. You simply have to have a car where I live just to get groceries, and it really cuts down on how much we get outside and walk around (pretty much just door to car some days).

Be good to yourself.
Fagan
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Hi Shan and Fagan,

Thanks for posting. I got some work done today (but it's really piled up high :( ) and I'm going to exercise this evening. I'd thought I'd go for a swim again but it's 750pm now and the final episode of my Monday night programme is on at 9pm so I've decided to do some walking on my glider while I watch it instead. It's aqua aerobics at 615pm tomorrow (so I should be able to make it!) so I'll have a quick swim then.

I'm actually a rubbish swimmer but I know it's good exercise so I try to do it. I hated it as a kid and had a period the whole time I was at school to get out of doing it :D But it's different going to this nice health club and being able to get out and sit in the spa or steam room for a bit, then head back in. I'll try and go most days I think. I still need to arrange a time for my gym induction too. I'll go this week sometime if I can. Then I'll be able to use the equipment along with having a swim and going to the water aerobics.

I bought 2 frozen pizzas today that were on offer. I though 'Oh they can't be that bad' and I was really craving on. I got them home and checked the points on my ww calculator and one pizza is 18 points! I only get 24 a day! So, I've put them in the freezer and left them there. I might give them to Aaron to resist temptation!

Sally

Hi sally,
Hey don't worry about going over at times as you know we all do that from time to time. That is great that you are working out at the pool! The gym sounds really nice.
I wonder if i saw one of your friends show. I watch that channel a lot. I bet you enjoyed talking with him.
Yea them pizza can be high in fat and calories. I love pizza but am trying to stay away from them. Weight watchers used to have a really good pizza. But I have yet been able to find them. At least around here, i just can't belive they don't have them anymore. I did find another kind that they are selling but just not as good.

Keep up the great work! I am so proud of you! I know you can do this!
Have a GREAT DAY!

Pizza is so my down point. Nothing is better then a nice greasy piece slathered with cheese pineapple and mushroom...gosh my mouth is just water :O
Oh well, dont need it LOL
Give it to your man, I am sure he'll make use of it!

Keep up the great work..

Hugs
Shan

hi Sally! NO, I checked if we had those hilton health clubs here but the nearest one to me is in the Netherlands! Ha! Sounds awesome though and I am so happy you are getting some use of it AND enjoying it! Jealous!

I miss chatting with you hopefully we will connect.

Hi Lisa,

It's just the time difference that's the problem. When I first joined this site I was going through a weird sleep pattern of being awake all night and sleeping in the day! I was on the night shift! But now I've regulated it more so I'm asleep by about midnight - and the chats start 2am my time. Maybe we can schedule one of our own over the weekend? Or PM me anytime.

Yesterday I stayed within my points allowance (and even had chicken chow mein from the Chinese and a WW strawberry cheesecake :) ) and I went to the health club. It sounds abit pretentious calling it that, but that's what it's actually called! It says 'Living Well Health Club' on the door! So, anyway I did 45 mins aqua aerobics and some swimming (maybe 15 mins total) before and after the class. I also sat in the spa and the steam room too. I heard someone in the steam room saying that a 45 min aqua aerobics class is the equivalent of spending an hour and a half in the gym! I'm not sure if that's correct but you do get a good workout and I've been aching slightly today so I could believe it!

Today I didn't get up until 11am (alright for some eh?!) and then I went to collect a parcel from the depot. It's about a 15 min walk but it's COLD so I went up on the bus - with my bus pass! I still walked about 10 mins to and from bus stops so it counts a bit :D

I really have a pile of work to get cracking on with today and I'm going out at 715pm to meet a friend to see a film so I think I'll skip the health club today. I'll try and do 30 mins on my glider later - it will be feeling unloved because I've not been near it since joining the health club! I intended to go on it Monday night but then felt too tired.

Tomorrow I'm travelling to Coventry (my uni) by train so I'll be gone all day. It's 3 hour trip door to door for me. I have to get from my house to the train station by bus, then change trains 1-2 times, then get the bus from the station in Coventry to the Uni. I only go once every few weeks though to see my academic supervisors to discuss where I am with the project etc. I'll be back late afternoon/early evening so I might go for a swim then. I'll probably be back at the busiest time though, just as people are leaving work and heading there!

Thanks to everyone for posting here. I look forward to reading my replies :)

Sally

Hi sally,
Stop by to see how your doing and to say hi.
Sounds like you are a busy girl. you are doing so great with working out. Just stay the course. Hope you have a nice time on your trip. Which I am sure you will.

Have a GReat Day!

Hey Sal, I just Pm'd Cori as I feel a binge lurking at every corner. Those were actually her words as we all struggle in our 2nd month. she suggested we all stay focused together and continue to help each other. We all have similar goals. I had a tempting chinese dinner last night. Daughter was having boyfriend problems and she was down in the dumps. So I suggested we go out for dinner. ( I was then thinking that I was now teaching HER how to be an emotional eater! ) Oh well it was nice time spent together. I had shrimp with lobster sauce. Very bad! I will check cals for chicken chow mein that you had that sounds healthier.

Good luck on your venture to Coventry. Glad you are enjoying your aqua aerobics at the health club! sounds better than a gym too!

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for posting. I've sent you PM back also.

Hi Millie,

Again, always lovely to see you've popped by - so thanks :)

I'm not really a happy bunny at the moment. Aaron and I are having problems, have been for a while, and I'm not sure if we're going to sort things out. So we might be splitting after seven years. What a cliche! Seven-year itch! We don't currently live together (we did, had problems with place we were renting and rather than move straight into another dump my parents suggested I move back (and he goes to his mum's) so we could have time to save deposit for place and check out what was around. As things are sh*t between us right now we haven't moved back in together. My parents are away all winter (and will be next winter) so with me being a poor student I might stay put for another year), anyway, so he's living on the same road as me (I'm 36 he's at 65) so we're not far (!) but I've not seen him since lunch out on Sunday. He text me and said 'You ok?' late Wed night but that's all I've heard. I text him today (for first time since Sunday night) and I've not had any reply. So, I'm abit sad right now. He's my best friend as well as my partner, so it's going to be really hard if he's not going to be in my life anymore. I've only told a couple of friends (both of whom are at a distance to me actually) because I don't want it to be good gossip! I only want to tell people when it's really definite. If we are working things out then I don't want people to know how bad things go. But I'm not sure he's in love with me anymore. He said he still loves me but that doesn't mean he's in love. He gave me a Valentine's Card (throwing me a few crumbs!) but he used to be so loving and affectionate and he's just really cold now. It's not that he's met anyone else or anything like that. He'd just tell me if he had! It's just that we aren't getting on. It's a long story really and connected to things from past (again, not anyone else being involved or anything like that) but it just seems like the very sight of me irritates him nowadays! Everything I say seems to be wrong :( When we first began seeing each other (and for years afterwards) he seemed really devoted. He'd always tell me how beautiful and clever I am. He'd tell me first thing in the morning how pretty I was! When we went to visit some of my friends one of them commented that he couldn't take his eyes off me. She was like 'God, he adores you Sal! I want someone to look at me the way he looks at you!'. And I do again now too!

Anyway, so I've been feeling pretty miserable about it all for the past few months. I know he is too. I've resisted turning to food so far, but I did go over my points yesterday. I was really good all day on my travels to Coventry and back (I did quite abit of walking too) and I even went for a swim when I got back to Nottingham. When I left I felt starving and really wanted some chips (fries) and greasy food. So I succumbed. I scoffed it down then opened a box of chocolates that had been sat unopened for ages! I had six, which is plenty, but it could have been worse! I had about 40 points instead of the 24 I'm allowed. I'm going to aqua aerobics later this morning so I'll have to pump it extra hard to burn it off!

It's Aaron's mum's birthday today so I'm going to walk up (when he's at work) and take her a card and present. I feel abit weird going really, if we are breaking up.

On a positive note (possibly) my academic supervisors talked to me abit about my career thoughts for after the PhD. I'd like to continue researching (as opposed to lecturing) but they suggested I do some Uni teaching to get experience so I've got more options and can slap that down on my CV. As I'm not near Coventry they said it's not really worth them giving me teaching work because of all the travel. There are two universities in Nottingham so they suggested I send my CV (which I need to update) to a couple of departments at those and see what happens. They seem to think that they'll want to offer me some work. It would only be several hours a week, probably leading seminar groups, but I need to make sure I can commit to it without it distracting me from the PhD work! I struggle enough as it is to motivate myself! So if I've got lessons to plan and marking to do it might throw me off course even more! It's good money though and it would be useful experience.

I'll toddle off now anyway and go and weep into my pillow :c( Like I haven't been doing that everynight anyway...

Hope you're all doing fine?

Sally

I've seen you around Amanda's place, and thought I'd nip in to say hello!

sorry about the man issues--for what it's worth, the more time you spend salvaging a "maybe" there may be a "definitely" waiting in the wings...and sometimes, when you let a maybe go, the maybe becomes a definite( and the relationship improves...) it'll all work out for the best, though it's painful now...Food may bring immediate comfort (put the extra point saren't worth it :D)

{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}
lynn:)

Hi Guys,

Thanks :)

I know what you mean Jessica but I'm not really with him for the sake of being in a relationship. I do love him very much and we've had to deal with a hell of a lot during our seven years together and for the most part it made us a much stronger unit. However, things have just been rocky for a while. I hope we can move past it and go on to spend our lives together but if not I'm sure I won't end up an old spinster with only a cat for company. No offence to old spinsters who own cats :D

I'm okay today. Still abit glum but I'll survive. I'll just keep Eurythmics 'Sisters are Doing it for Themselves' on loop :) Aaron popped over to see me but only because I'd written down some directions for him I'd got online. He's decided to drive to Doncaster for his weekend away instead of catching the train. He's got toncilitis (excuse poor spelling peeps!) and went to the Dr yesterday. So he's feeling sorry for himself and so now isn't the right time to 'talk' either! We will when he gets back. I've told him that if he wants me still then things need to change and I need to feel valued and loved again. If he does want to split then I kinda need to be told! Then I can start to move on emotionally at least. Made me smile (despite myself) to see his face though 8-|

I didn't make it to aqua aerobics this morning so I'm abit annoyed with myself. I've got my gym induction tomorrow afternoon so I'll make sure I do some exercise then.

I might go to the ballet tonight. Not sure if I'm in the mood. You can get a student standby ticket for 1/3 of usual price if you turn up 30 mins before the performance and there are some seats left still. I'll have to go on my own like billy-no-mates though because I don't know any other students (I'm away from my University in a different city) so I'm not sure if my sensitive disposition could handle it right now! Maybe it will take my mind off things. It's Madame Butterfly so if I sit and have a good bawl then people will just think it's because of the ballet! I think they're using operatic music to dance to - I know it's an opera.

Anyway, hope you're all good.

Sally

Ok girl,
Sorry I have been AWOL, its been a hectic week!
I came to pop in and see how you have been going and now I just want to fly across the "pond" and give you a hug!
I know how tough relationships can be. I hope that you two get to sit down and talk soon. The very least he owes you is some time to sit and discuss your relationship woes and possibilities....
Since I don't know all the details there really isnt much more I can say. Hang in there and perhaps have a nice swim!!!
Cry if you feel like crying! Scream if you want to scream! Beat your pillow and bawl in the shower!!!
Either way...hang in there and keep us updating...

Much love and support
Shannon

I'm sorry to hear about your relationship issues as well. I certainly hope that you two actually do stop and talk about these things. I know Jess and I are both Americans, but I agree with her and don't like all of this "wait to talk later" nonsense. Ahem...you ARE MARRIED! He should be able to MAKE TIME unless his hair is on fire or something.

I have recently had a few other friends with similar relationship impasses. I'm reticent to share my fears with you or them. My largest fear is that you will cling on to this relationship because you really love him, while he considers you his "backup plan - in case nothing better comes along". I hate, hate, hate that. I hope that is not the case.

With all of that going on, you are doing well with the food. That much school, professional, and emotional pressure at once must be very hard to handle at the same time.

I hope that you go to the Ballet, and do something fun this weekend without Mr. "I'm not sure..." Take care.

Fagan
My Journal (http://www.diettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50403)

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Hi Guys,

Fagan - we aren't married. we were engaged, thing went pants so we put that on the back burner, but it was always going to be a long engagement. If anything it was more about making a commitment to each other than rushing down the aisle. we currently aren't living together either, and he works alot, but I do obviously need to know where I stand.

I really don't think he's waiting to see if something better comes along! I know that might sound arrogant (or naive) but it really isn't like that at all. As I said before, he used to be really devoted to me, but with various things we've had to face it's put a few cracks in our relationship. We usually are very good at communicating but I think he's reluctant to talk and give me a decision because he is sad himself and doesn't know what to do for the best. He loves me but isn't happy, so does he stay with me and try to work on things, or move on. I don't think it's an issue about being American! Usually we do sit down and talk! I think it's just this situation that's developed between us where he's reluctant to make a decision because it might be the wrong one. But he's a good person! Obviously there are two of us in the relationship and it's not all his fault! If he's unhappy then I guess I must be playing a part somewhere! I dated a lot of people before I found him and I had people tell me they loved me (even two proposals!) but I never loved any of them and so I never told them I did. I think people say 'I love you' too often as a throw-away comment. I only told Aaron when I realised I did love him. He'd told me before that though. He's a strong man and I love and respect him. He's kind and has a good heart (he's great in bed!) and he's my best friend. I couldn't bear to not know where he was in the world, if he was safe and happy, so if we did split it would be really hard. We've been in communication since he came over yesterday but he's feeling sorry for himself because he's ill! Plus he's away now until Monday and then he'll be going straight to work when he gets back (does two jobs) so I might not see him until Tuesday evening... I think the hard thing for me is knowing how loving and devoted he was and now he just doesn't seem to feel quite the same way (but because of various things that have happened) so that's what really hurts. To go from being the most important person in someone's life to them not being sure if they want to be with you anymore is hard. It's perhaps the awful 'seven year itch' thing (our anniversary is April) so hopefully we can pull through.

I'll stop going on about it now!

Food wise I ordered a curry yesterday so that took me WAY over my points! So, that's two days I've gone over and I'm now ready to get back into the swing of things. I'm going to the gym for my induction today (after the mix up last week) so I'll get a workout and refocus. At least I've satisfied the craving now so it's gone.

I've also got loads of work to get done over the weekend. That's making me feel pretty stressed out as well!

Hope you're all well and have a good weekend lined up.

Sally

Just an e-mail to let you know that I pm'ed you the information you requested....

I was cracking up reading your post about the old spinster and her cats...it brought to mind the first Bridgit Jones movie. :D Didn't she fear ending up in a similar predicament? Must be an English thing.... In America, or at least with my friends, there seems to be a fear of turning into one's mother!

While I risk sounding totally silly, I think you should download Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive" to accompany your Eurythemics tunes. It's great for working out and is quite useful in channeling one's inner-champion.

Hope you are doing well -- kudos to you for being able to remain focused on your health goals during what sounds like a very tough time!

Take care,

Cori

Hi Cori,

Thanks for PM.

I'm alright really. Beau's been in touch. Said he loves me and that will never change, he's just unhappy with how things are between us.

I wanted to add on something to my previous post! I have visions of people replying thinking that he won't commit to marrying me or if we aren't married after seven years then he obviously doesn't want to commit etc etc. We got together just as I turned 21, I went travelling, came back and then went off to Uni. Anyway, when I got back to travelling (alone, which I'd planned before I met Aaron) and we'd only been seeing each other about 8 months and he kept saying he'd like us to get engaged and would I think about it. Now, again, I can see people thinking 'So he didn't get a ring and go down on one knee?' etc but it was more the idea of commiting, and getting engaged long-term, than rushing down the aisle - as I said earlier. So I'd just laugh it off really. One day we were at his house, just messing around rolling on the floor (as you do!) and I looked at him and just suddenly realised that I wanted to spend my life with him. I didn't want anyone else. So I head myself say 'Let's get married!'. He looked at me all wide-eyed and was like 'Really? You mean it?' - I thought 'Oh, I'd better actually take a second here...!' so I looked at him, deep into his eyes, and I just felt such overwhelming love that I knew I did want to be with him forever. So I said 'Yes!' and then that was really how we got engaged. So we kissed, and giggled, and we excited and about 3 weeks after this we went to choose a ring. I told him how much cash he'd be spending! Then he looked around a few jewellers until I found the sort of ring I wanted - a diamond trilogy ring in 18ct gold. He paid cash (the boy had money and a sports car back then!) and then we told people we'd got engaged. But, to begin with we were like 'Well, it certainly won't be for the next 3-4 years' because I was going to university. Then when I graduated we had no money and we got to a point where we decided maybe we weren't that concerned about getting married. We knew how we felt and if we did save any money up we'd rather put it towards a house than a big wedding - and we didn't just want to pay £60 going to the registry office! So, although we were 'engaged' and commited to spending our lives together it never was that we were planning a date anytime soon, if at all! I'm also in two minds about the whole marriage and changing my name thing. I don't really want to take somebody else's name and he was fine with that, but then if we had a child it could be confusing. Having said that neither of us really wants kids anyway, so maybe that wouldn't matter after all!

And regarding living together, we aren't at the moment because we're both back with our respective parents! We were renting a flat, had problems with the place, so decided to move out. My dad suggested rather than rushing into signing a lease on the first thing to come along in our price-range, that I come back home for a while, if he could go to his mum's (his dad died six years ago). We decided that was a good plan so we could save some cash up for a deposit and look around. Then two things have happened. 1) things have gone downhill with us so he doesn't really want to live with me again right now anyway. 2) I'm quite settled back with my parents! In fact, they've been away four months over the winter, so I've had the house to myself, I'm living rent-free, and it's helping me pay some of my debt. They're back at the end of this month, but then away again all winter again, so I might stay put until I finish the PhD and move for a job. Aaron's mum is on the same street as my parent's so we're still very close. We do what we did before we moved in and just spend nights at one of the two places. So we can still eat dinner together, go to sleep and wake up together, etc - just at one of two houses. He's literally 1 min away! Although just lately I've seen him less while we sort out things between us.

Anyway, so enough of all of that. Hopefully it will all work out because we do have a very good relationship usually. I see some of my friends relationships and I'm thankful for what we have! He's my best friend and he's the person who probably knows me best. He's seen me crying, being sick and covered in snot, with mascara all down my face (when I was ill) and he still kisses me and tells me how beautiful I am! Now, that's a mate! We have fun together and we trust each other implicitly (not just in a cheating sense but with everything) and he also literally would step infront of a car for me - because he did last year! We were walking back from the shops and a car was speeding towards us. We stupidly tried to leg it across the road and I tripped and fell flat on my face! The bags fell forwards and my beloved bottle of wine smashed all over the floor! He car was still coming at us so Aaron stepped infront of it. It stopped about 2" from his legs! He said he thought even if it broke his legs then it would stop me getting the impact of it. I was really shaken up and he helped me home. I sat in my frontroom bawling (shock I think and I was grazed) and he went back up to the shop to fetch another bottle of wine! He also picked up a bunch of red roses to cheer me up. See, he's a nice guy! He's my pudding :) That's why I want us to work things out...

Today I went for my gym induction and afterwards did 30 mins cardio. The trainer advised me to do 30 mins, 3 times a week. I'm also going to swim and do the aqua aerobics classes because i enjoyed them.

Hope you're all good?

Thanks for posting :)

Sally

Oh, about the Bridgit Jones thing! I've heard the book is very different to the film. Alot of people hated the film. You know, she's all pathetic, can't even cook soup without a man showing her how, and it's all abit tragic. The book is meant to have abit more about it - and so is Bridgit. So, the films meant to be abit of a let down by all accounts. Renee does a good English accent though. Not sure where she's be from exactly! Down South somewhere I suppose.

Sal x

Sally just read your post whats his e-mail address cause HE needs to read this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you guys belong together from the sounds of it. He just needa kick in the a** as they often do.

Hi Lisa,

I think he knows how I feel. I suppose after you've been together a while you start to take each other for granted. I don't know! He text me when he got back today (before he had to rush off to work) and he had a good time away. The friend he went with is in the navy, so they don't see each too often, but have been friends about 13 years. We've arranged to see each other tomorrow when he finishes work anyway for our talk...

I've not done any exercise today. I've been really aching! I went for a swim yesterday and I'm definitely going to the gym tomorrow morning. Eating has been okay anyway. I've got a week and half until my weigh-in, hoping for 4lbs.

I'll check in again tomorrow.

Sal x

My "American" statement was not meant an indictment on your relationship. Reading your posts since, I understand that you two share a very serious relationship that will continue well past whatever troubles you are facing now. However, no matter how complicated things become, your significant other should always try to be there for you, and you for him.

It is what you do for each other when things are going poorly that count the most to me. Things get rough with all relationships. My wife has almost "had it" with me a few times, and visa-versa. BUT, I know that she will be able to tell me what she does not like about what is going on and we will work it out. It usually does not involve and elegant solution, and rarely was one person "correct" and the other not, but we work it out.

I've got a thing about rejection, though. I would not want my wife to be around me if she did not want to be in the first place. She is the same way. In short, if we could not commit to each other after a significant period of time (2-5 years max?), then that would have been that. I would have regretted how it turned out for the rest of my life, but I would not have lived the rest of my life for what "might have been" or "might be" either. Life is not a novel or a short story. You have to live it NOW.

I'm a firm believer that things of the heart are rather simple, and can and should only be decided on an emotional/primal basis really. You either do love them and trust them enough to commit, or not. Everything else is just fluff and stories that we tell ourselves to make sense of the universe.

Sorry if this sounds too harsh. People are different too. Some people don't need absolute commitment to trust someone that much. You know better than I what your situation is. I'll shut up now.

Be Good to Yourself
Fagan
My Journal (http://www.diettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50403)

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Hey Sally!:wave:
Just stopping by to say hello!! Don't be worrying about this relationship stuff!! If you truly love one another things have a way of working out!!!There is nothing wrong with a little time off from one another every now and again! Gives you time to realize how much you really mean to each other!:) There is absolutley nothing wrong with a little time spent apart!! I mean face it you are obviously secure enough in your relationship to choose to live apart after living together, that says something right there! :D You just focus on your goals!!!! Have a Great Day!!!
lynn

Hi Guys,

As I said re the commitment we never planned to go rushing down the aisle, for us commitment wasn't just about getting married. I've got friends who are married, they don't trust their partner, they don't really talk about their feelings, some don't even know what's happening financially! So these people are 'committed' to being man and wife but if the fundamental things aren't in place then I don't think it will get you very far.

We have stuck with each other through the rough times. Without going into it too much, when Aaron lost his dad to cancer six years ago, it was the final straw of a whole load of other things he'd had to deal with. It also happened very quickly, he was diagnosed and died within four months. He died at home and Aaron was living there at the time. Day in day out he saw his dad deteriorate and suffer in terrible pain. He was there when he passed (as was I) and he also was the only person who waited until the ambulance came and his dad was zipped up in a body bag to be taken away. He wanted to see if to make sure the people were respectful. He felt this was the final thing he could do for his dad. Needless to say this was an incredibly difficult time for him and he suffered what the doctor called a mental breakdown. However, he managed to disguise the extent of it very well, except from me, I got the full force of it. He actually completely lost the plot, he was paranoid and would hear voices. When we went to Tennessee he had an 'episode' in the hotel room the night before we flew out. He thought something was coming to get us and was just freaking out, hiding in the wardrobe! At this point it had been going on (but erratically) for about 8 months. It was heartbreaking to see him falling apart and not be able to help him. I just tried to be there for him. He was terrified of being sectioned so it was out secret. This meant I got no support from anyone because I couldn't really talk to anyone about it properly. This night in the hotel ended with him cowering in the wardrobe crying until I could eventually calm him down and get him into bed. We only slept about an hour and when we woke up (for the flight) we were both just shattered emotionally and physically. He sat there crying saying he was scared and I sat crying as well saying I wanted to be able to make it all better but I didn't know what to do. So we sat there holding each other, bawling, then we had to get the flight and make nice with the people we stayed with for a month! The whole time I was on edge thinking he'd have one of these episodes and he did a few times but always managed to control himself until no one else was around! One night he sat shivering outside saying he was waiting for his dad to visit him. I convinced him that if his dad wanted to come he'd be able to visit him where ever he was so he should come inside in the warm. Other things include checking in my shoes because he thought I had a knife and wanted to kill him. Another time we ordered a pizza, when the door bell rang he got really panicky thinking someone was coming to get him. I got the pizza and found him in a ball on the stairs crying, saying if he ate some he'd get hit by a car the next time he went outside! I was like 'But you're hungry aren't you?', he said he was but couldn't eat pizza, so I made him some toast instead. While I was in the 1st year of my undergraduate degree he lived with me a while. He still had these problems on and off. It's important to stress that day to day he was fine, you'd think it had worked it's way out of his system, then 'Bam!' it would be back! Sometimes he'd just freak out all night and bang his head off the walls, screaming and shouting, I'd eventually get him into bed to sleep maybe 7-8 hours later (it would literally be all night) then I'd have to go to a lecture and study all day! It was tough but I wanted to stand by him, because I love him, and he is now fine - sane and well! He's said he doesn't think he would have come through it without my support, I don't know if that's true, but I agree you don't give up on people you love when the going gets tough. That's why I know we're a strong unit. I've also had my ups and downs (not to the same extent!) but I've had issues with my family about things that have happened and I get stressed out with the PhD and can be a b*tch to be around sometimes! We've also both had other people interested in us but neither of us was interested because we only wanted each other. That's why I know he's not with me until something better comes along! Something tall, slim and blonde did come along and try to lure him away (she told him he could do better than me!) but he wasn't interested because he loves me.

Anyway, so we are serious and we hopefully are for keeps. Alot of the problems we are having now aren't really major, just creases we need to iron out so that things can be smooth again!

On the exercise front, I went to gym today and did 20 mins cv, some weight training, then did 20 min swim. I'm going to try and go most days I think to do either a workout in the gym, swim or aqua aerobics. After I've been doing it a few weeks it will start to feel like my normal routine so it will be easier. I need to focus on my work as well thoug