Aren't sizes strange... even at the same shops! I have got three Next skirts - all of which fit beautifully, one is a size 16, one is a size 18.... AND THE FINAL ONE IS A SIZE 14! I just measured myself and I'm 32 inches round the waist and 41 inches round the hips - is that a 16 or an 18 nowadays?

PS I'm 40" round the top - I can't say round the bust because I don't seem to have much of one nowadays!

PPS I was size 26 this time last year!!!!

I know she used to have an eating disorder I think theres something like that still there at least just an obsessional diet exercise lifestlye something I could never be accused of!

I liked Geris book!!

Well done on dropping all those dress sizes Sarah - even if it is confusing as to which one you actually are at the moment - It's a lot smaller than what you used to be.

I too believe there is no way Geri got her figure like that from yoga alone - ok it tones but it's not that good. I think the eating disorder has been there all the time and she just keeps it hidden and publicises the yoga stuff.

It must be hard enough going through something like Bulemia (sp?) but being in the public eye and having everyone know you are going through it would be much worse and difficult to cope with as everyone would be watching and looking to see you slipping - even a little bit. Enough sympathy - still think she is up herself

Sarah I know exactly what you mean about the dress sizes,
most of the stuff I am wearing now are size 16 - 18 but I went out last night in a dress that was a size 14 and on saturday my mum gave me a jacket that her friend had sent for me which is a size 12 and they all fit perfectly.
I also have a suit in my wardrobe that fits but is a little on the snug side and the label says it is a size 22....have to admit I don't wear that tho just because the label says size 22

Ali

I think I have got the dress sizes at least a little bit sorted out. Any size 16s from Next (or other grown-up type shops) fit beautifully, but places like New Look, Top Shop, etc, etc, I have to get either an elasticated waist or a size 18, because of my waist!

Next is definitely best for me though - I have bought some stuff from eBay and only the Next things are reliable on sizing, even M&S can vary a bit.

I feel rotten today - all podgy and lethargic and headachey- I think its because I didn't have any exercise at all over the weekend (unless you count wandering round a car boot sale in the pouring rain).

Sarah do you think you could be dehydrated? Well done on losing so much weight and fitting into 'normal' clothes again.

I read at the w/end (in Now magazine which means it must be true!!) that George Michael filled his fridge up with lovely/ expensive stuff and Geri went in and threw it all in the bin and now he's not talking to her... I really like her book too Veggie but then I read Posh's book and it tells a different story - someboy somewhere is telling porkies...

Yes, I could be dehydrated a bit... I have been getting a few headaches recently which usually means I'm not drinking enough. OK, Mum, I'll try a bit harder to drink some more!!! LOL

My 'get up and go' has definitely got up and disappeared this week. I have been doing the bare minimum in all this rain, George is getting a measely one hour walk from me and all my exercise ladies have disappeared.... its like we think we'll all shrink if we get well (I wish..........!)

Just got back from top to toe medical at the doctor's (for fostering purposes) and, guess what, the exercise hasn't had hardly any affect on my BP - nor has losing 4st! I've got to start having it monitored every week again.

The second thing which he found, which was a bit disturbing, was that all this exercise has caused me to be passing a little bit of blood with my urine - or at least he THINKS its the exercise. I have got to have a repeat of that test next week and keep an exercise diary!

The third and final thing was he looked in to my eyes and promptly wrote me up for a cholesterol check! I told him I'm on a low fat/high fibre diet.... etc, etc, but even so, he is still worried!

I'm falling apart... and I've never felt so fit in my life! He's not sure he can pass me as fit for fostering.

It must be the day for it!!! I had a folow up appointment with my doctor this morning following a routine medical i had last week and i have been referred to a cardiologist because i have a heart murmur. My doctor told me he thought i had probably been born with it but in 37 years of medical history there isn't a single mention of it in my notes and my dad cant remember ever being told there was a problem.

Now i am too scared to do anything!!

I'm EXACTLY the same, Tracy, I feel like if I do some exercise I will cause myself to have a stroke or heart attack - at the very least I stand a good chance of aggravating this blood thing! Stupid really because I have been exercising at this level for at least ten weeks, so why I should think I would drop dead now, I really don't know.

I've just finished dinner and just burst in to tears in the middle of it - it seems like everything we have worked for these past few months is going to be for absolute nothing - and the worst of it is that there isn't anything I can do about it!

Im sure you are not falling apart Sarah Im sure you are very fit and healthy please dont cry thats my thing today once I started I couldnt stop I went straight from work to the channel to sit and stare by myself I am so annoyed at myself for getting into a state.

sarah , tracy and veggie my heart goes out to you, oh please dont worry too much , too soon, hope everything goes well for all of you. It just doesn't seem right, all this effort you have all been putting in!
I wish you all well, get some rest and relaxation time over this long weekend......please!!

Well, I don't know about you two, Veggie and Tracy, but I didn't get a lot of sleep last night! What a bunch we are.... its a shame we can't get together to share a box of tissues.... its always nicer to cry in company!

My problem is that just about every aspect of my life has been tied up in the idea of fostering for months and months and I feel like the rug has been sort of tugged away from under my feet right now - and there seems to be no real direction in my life without it! Stupid.... hopefully that feeling will wear off soon.

Poor Kevin is all worried about me again. He's devastated about not being able to have foster children but he's more worried about me right now.

I wish, I WISH I could remember EXACTLY what the doctor said. I know I've got to have some tests done in hospital next Thursday and that he's not able to pass me as fit for fostering as my health is right at this minute - but I was so upset about that I can't remember exactly what he said next. Maybe we can carry on with the fostering if I take the tablets for the blood pressure and some more to sort out the cholesterol (if there is a problem) AND stop taking so much exercise.

One other thing.... the doctor told Kevin that he has got himself a cyst in a very painful place! Not life threatening, but scary because if he exerts himself it could burst and would be incredibly painful and its in such a position that it would be very difficult and painful to operate on.... WE'RE FALLING APART!

Sorry, Veggie.... I need to cry here - I can't keep doing it in front of Kevin he gets too upset for me and its not fair on him .....

PS I can't even comfort eat because we haven't got anything fattening that I like in the house and because I just seem to have lost the taste for it. Life's not fair!