Ani it sounds like you've made a real breakthrough and that's awesome.

Kel, your photo looks great and I can DEFINITELY see a big difference in your face

As for my jobs, I'm a travel agent during the day so work in the office from 8:30-5 and then I've just started working at The Warehouse (I think this store is in some parts of Australia, it's a massive dept store) from 7-12pm actioning price changes. It's not something that I'm going to do long term but will do it as long as I can stand it just to earn some extra cash. This is my first week and I've done 4 nights in a row and am just starting to get tired now so it's not too bad.

The funeral yesterday was really awful. His poor mother just sobbed and sobbed, his brother and some of his friends spoke and there were a lot of tears. Heartbreaking to see his mum so shattered and to see his wee daughter looking a bit bewildered.

Yesterday wasn't a great day as I had chinese takeaways for dinner and didn't get time for any exercise. This morning I've eaten a bag of about 10 jet plane lollies - we were given them at work and this is my last baggie and I've basically eaten them until they're all gone. Oops

I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to pack my bag and I'm flying up to Auckland tonight to be there in time for my 6:30am departure to Cairns tomorrow morning. Can't wait to get to Aussie!

Have a great week ladies and I'll check in next week when I'm back

hey julia - no one can blame you for eating shockingly yesterday, life is more than weightloss, sometimes you need to eat crap and it is kinda ok when you know what you are doing is bad, it is when you dont know and continually do it that it is a problem

vonni our photos were taking late one night, but i guess you wouldnt have place that would do that either, glad we got away from pixie photos though this lot were way cooler

87.5kg - i was actually feeling like i lost weight and that weigh in means i have put on 1.5kg...................... makes me wish i had blown it properly even hung out washing last night when the cookie dough was ready so i didnt eat all the dough and benji put it on the trays (my cookie dough never makes a lot of cookies) ho hum, i will weigh myself when i get home from the gym and hope for a miracle, i almost wish i could blame that time of the month or something hormonally related but breastfeeding has kept that away i didnt drink much water the last couple of days so i'll 'blame' that ho ho ho hum (gosh i sound like santa)

have a good day, i have xmas shopping today after the gym etc

I'm curious about how everyone plans for December. All those Christmas/New Year parties, family gatherings, surrounded by temptation… and in my case add in my birthday.

I've been trying to think about how I'm going to manage it. Last December I managed to lose 1.7kg, but that was early on in my weight loss, and times were different.

I'm trying to come up with a plan, one that will be realistic while keeping me on track. Hmmm… something to think about.

Lindor and Kylie - what's going on? Come back!!!

Julia that would have been awful at the funeral yesterday. I hope your trip to Queensland is wonderful though.

Kel I think it's hard to work out what's really going on with your weight loss, because a lot of the initial weight-loss from the shakes would have been fluid. I wouldn't let one bad day on the scales discourage you - or even a few bad weeks.

Weight loss is a long-term process, and one in which we're constantly learning.


Ani

Ani you poor thing. All this housemate trouble must drive you insane! Yeah, definitely look for a young person. My best friend moved to Qld in January, they’re farmers in need of income! They found a house for $350, which was the absolute max they could afford. I was shocked when she told me that’s cheap!

You sound like you’ve battled your demons and won. Me, I just look at them and lock them away! I wish I had your strength to do what you have done, and to be able to see what the issue is and deal with it. You’re an amazing and inspirational woman.

Kel. Your pics are beautiful. I can definitely see the difference in your face. You have good reasons to do this. Sorry for what I posted earlier, when I went back and read it, it sounded like I was picking on you. I have the same problem with not being able to throw away food. If the kids don’t finish their dinner I usually eat it. I try and get them to scrape their plates when they’re done so I can’t. I hate to say this but I’ve actually taken things out of the bin and eaten it. Awful isn’t it.

I don’t believe I’ve admitted that here!

Julia. I was thinking of you yesterday too. Funerals aren’t nice, especially if it’s for a young person.

I had an awful day yesterday. I went to buy a Christmas tree and bought a bag of mixed choc buddies “for the kids” and ate most of the bag myself. Then last night in front of the tv I ate 5 biscuits! I hate it when I feel like this. Here’s hoping today is a better day.

I keep forgetting to put on my pedometer so for the last few days I’ve been stuck in the same place on my walk. Must remember it!

Must be off. Got to go shopping.

XX
Barb

Oh Vonni, have you taken some time for yourself yet!

87kg - not SO bad, still a one kilo put on though
so i will drown my sorrows in good food and keep going and see what happens next week of one solid week of Kelly Eating not Kelly trying a bit of this and bit of that

Kel, whaddya mean, drown your sorrows in food! Do you think gaining 2kg instead of 1kg next week will make you feel better because you know you earned it by eating lots of crap??!!

I have sat down today and rewritten my statement that I did last year when I started this. I started my "diet" on Nov 30 last year, going into Xmas and New Years, and lost about a kg/week. I was so dedicated and did not eat ANYTHING "bad" for 12 weeks because it simply didn't fit into my points. Since calorie counting etc, I learned to eat more and exercise it off to balance it out, but quit losing as much weight - it's really been in maintenance since February.

So as of today, back on the "weight loss" wagon - NO MORE crap. Not a matter of "oh, one bit won't hurt". Yes, it will. I can't eat that stuff and still lose weight, as I've seen multiple weeks. I'll have to deal with my issues instead of eating them.

Sigh. It's all hard, except not as hard as the fact that one year on, I'm only 15kg down. I had hoped to be at goal weight by new year's eve this year. Never mind, I suppose the finish line has moved, but it's becoming irrelevant because I don't think there is a finish to this way of living. I think I'll have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life, as I'm prone to weight gain.

End of rant. Have a great holiday Julia! Kel, I forgot to say, I can DEFINITELY see a difference in your face in the pic - gorgeous pic!

Gen at the beginning of November last year I was 97kg, and was 84.7kg on that anniversary. That's "only" 12.3kg! It's all relative, and I understand what you say about losing most of your weight in the first few months.

But don't underestimate what you've discovered about yourself, and pat yourself on the back for not re-gaining that weight.

It does need commitment, planning and the willingness to leave some bad eating habits behind. And it sometimes requires us to pay a lot of attention to what we're doing.

I have faith that you'll do well in your second year. If you "only" lose 15kg this year, you'll be down to 75kg - and that is something to reach for!

Kel what on earth are you drowning your sorrows in food for? What sorrows? What food?

Oh shoosh... do you mean you can smell my perfectionist "all or nothing" thinking there Ani??? LOL.

I said GOOD food!!!!!!!!!!!! hehehehe, sitting there with a carrot rather than a choc bar feeling sorry for myself.

I am not banning myself from the yummy stuff this xmas... I know me and I know that I wont be able to help myself BUT I also know me and know that all I need is a taste.... I can stop at a little bit if I have had a taste of the food that doesnt come out all year... but if I tried to deny myself totally I would blow it.

Bit dangerous but for mindframe purposes necessary, my trainer is going on holidays so today is last session before that, so I am going to freeze my gym membership for a month, I have cross trainer at home and 3 dogs to walk so hopefully I will continue to lose weight without the pressure of getting money's worth at gym etc. I have not had a full day at home for a very long time unless I am sick or exhausted so as December is such a full on month am going to take one thing out of the equasion, I actually have no lunch dates arranged all next week either so I can get housewifey and make yummy fresh things for lunch, am kinda looking forward to it just hope I can get out to cross trainer at least oncenext week.

gen - i agree with ani..... "only" what the?? a kilo each month staying off over 12months is what I am kinda aiming for..... when you are able to look back after 12months and see what you have done that must feel good...

I would still like to lose 10kg by feb but know that putting that pressure on doesnt really work for me.

I got an email this morning and these sayings make me smile

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference


I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."

Gen - you all or nothing? Neverrrrrrrr

Hey Kel what do you usually eat for breakfast? It's entirely possible that you don't eat enough in the mornings - just a thought.

Vonni do I take it that you're ignoring your weight loss? What's happening?

It's about 38ºC here today and I finally moved my office into an air-conditioned room. I THINK my housemate is going away for the weekend, to stay with her partner. Not that she would tell me because she's a specialist in passive-aggressive behaviour.

I hope so though - another weekend of peace and quiet would suit me just fine.

When it cools down I'm going to vacuum and clean up. It's just too hot to think about it at the moment.

Quick pop in tonight.

Have lost a grand total of .88 lb's this week, wow! At least its going in the right direction now!

Have a good one girls.

XX
Barb

Well done Barb! Any loss is good!

They lie the men who tell us, in a strong decisive tone
That want is here a stranger, and that misery's unknown…

For some reason the opening lines of that awesome Henry Lawson ballad popped into my head this morning as I was standing in a queue waiting to vote. It was written in 1888 and seems as relevant today as it was when old Henry was sticking it to governments back then.

I got a bit grumpy when all the little worker bees from different parties tried to thrust How To Vote gumph upon me. I asked them how many trees were sacrificed in the printing of propaganda, and how could any of them hold a straight face and call themselves environmentally responsible…

I started a mini-revolution because lots of people in the queue handed their stuff back to the worker bees, who got a little grumpy at me

Now why do I want to eat potato chips? I haven't really wanted chips for a while, but for the last 24 hours I have been craving chips and takeaway food. Really craving!

But I don't want to blow Monday's weigh-in, so I'll try and fight it.

I'm feeling a bit bored, and that doesn't help when I'm having food cravings. Must try and find something interesting to do - even though it's going to be 37ºC here today.


Ani

Funny Ani...I walked past all the 'worker bees' refusing to take their papers saying I was saving the trees too!

Anyway, nothing much to report on my weight-loss. Not really giving it much thought - well positive thought anyway

Yet, I don't think I am really over eating too badly just now! No excuse! Over eating is bad full stop! I have days when I eat very little, then I have days when I am really hungry and probably eat too much.

I have stuff messing with my head just now, but I am working on it. It's getting better.

I had to step on a set of scales yesterday, it showed me at 84.5kg. Not sure that is right? Is it? Don't tell me...but I just think a 5kg drop in the couple of weeks since my last kg weigh in. Doesn't sound right to me?

I am going to stick with pounds, however, not sure I want to weigh-in on Monday. I'll see what the weekend holds before I decide.


You all sound like you are doing well. Just because I don't post, does not mean I don't pop on occasionally to read up on you all.

Barb, I smile when I read that you have lost weight. You had such a tough time for a while there...it is good to see things going in the right direction

Ani, can I remind you of the KFC experience you had in October? Maybe that will help distract you from your cravings for a while?

Kel, the last time I posted I was in a shocking mood. Please don't take my reaction to your comment to heart. I know you wouldn't intentionally say anything to upset.

Ok, stuff to do. Have a good weekend ladies, and keep up the good work