That might help with the pain of a half marathon ;) :rofl:

Is it wrong that I want to do a half Marathon now :tantrum: :?:

:lol3: Ohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I have a great mental image of Posh going out to her garden shed, getting her folding workbench out and making Jen's frame.

I did actually enjoy the bit about David taking the mickey out of her about only cooking mince...

Back to normal eating - well.... 'normal' as in the way I've been eating for the past few months.

DH has been doing the cooking over the last few days and I promised him I wouldn't stick so closely to my nutrition programme/calories so we could have a couple of the dishes that we haven't been able to eat and have missed. The food was delicious but I really don't like the way my body reacted to the higher fat content so I'm glad to be going back to my normal food. Even DH said it was making him feel a little 'tummy-ish' which is unusual for him.

Has anyone else read Skwigg's blog today - it makes very interesting and thought provoking reading.

:yes: Yuh huh! I liked it, but I'm not in the mood for pondering on the "Why I don't do stuff". I'm doing it now. I'm not going to stop. I think discipline is great, but yes it is seen as bad, but you have to have it! Yeah it would be great if we did what we felt like, but getting up, going to work, working out, eating healthily all takes discipline. I feel sad that looking after our bodies is seen as an after thought in this way. Like, we HAVE to go to work to earn money, and we HAVE to go to the gym and eat right so we don't get fat and lazy. That's all there is to it.

Good morning everyone!

Well I went for my run last night. It took serious motivation to get as far as the door, and during my warm up phase I kept trying to tell myself that I should just walk it, but I didn't listen :carrot: . I felt good after my run and was walking along smiling to myself like an idiot. However this morning I am back to aching in my lower back and stomach, and the bloody dog tripped me up this morning so I have a grazed knee and palms, and I got attacked by some nettles as well. At least the heat is not so bad today :cool:

Frus, you're right about discipline, it is the most important factor. My trouble comes when I let myself off (it only has to be once) and then I start on the slippery slope to overeating / no exercise again. That is something I have to work on - getting back on the wagon once I have fallen off.

i'm doing it two weeks per stage too mainly because I walk every day a long way too and don't want to kill myself. Take it easy as long as you are running and keeping it up you'll get there even if it is slower.

Does anyone know where I can get vegetarian mousses with a low calorie count from I'm sick of yogurts but I cant find any that don't have huge calories without pork gelatine in them.

I hate gelatine its in everything I'm on steroid tablets for my asthma again at the moment and they have sodding gelatine in them too I've just had to go sod it and take them but I hate it as it undermines me being a vegetarian. :(

Have you tried Soy yoghurts? Or perhaps find a different substitute for your dairy portion? Do you have to have yoghurt? Can you eat something like a fruit smoothie?

I don't know about mouses, but I love the Rachel's Organic Luscious Low Fat yoghurts. The ingredients are: yoghurt and whatever fruit is in it, plus they are bio too. No sign of horrid colours or preservatives.

I know, doesn't answer your question - sorry :dizzy:

I really don't like soya yogurts don't know why cos I love soya milk but I find them really sickly.


I am normally addicted to yeo valley yogurt but I've gone off all yogs at the moment for some reason and they are my main snack. I currently have rachels dairy organic kids yogurts but I'm not really enjoying them either for some reason. I used to be addicted to rachels too cos its made down the road from where I used to live whats happening. I just am really craving sharp lemon mousse at the moment and I cant find any that dont' have 50 gazillion cals in them that i can eat.

My aunt sometimes get the Rachel Coconut one which is gorgeous!!

For gelatine free choc mousses that taste really chocolatey and are 125 cals - try Rosemary Conley's Chocolate Mousses. I can only get them in Co-op for some reason and don't go there a lot as it's 9 miles away! But when we go past I always stock up! They're the nicest mousses I ever had and low fat and vegetarian too! They have lovely pink lids with a pic of Rosemary on and so I successfully convinced my toddlers (both boys) they can't eat them because they'll 'turn into a lady' like the lady in the picture! Evil, but it means my stash is SAFE!

Oh I just tried Rachel's coconut last week - it's great! I have one of them yogurt makers though and generally make it either from kits or from scratch - either way it's cheaper than bought. There's this NZ company (Easy-Yo) make them in sachets - you can get organic ones, and they're live cultures. It's easier than making it from scratch as you just add water. But obviously it costs almost nothing to make 1 litre of yogurt if you do do it from scratch and you can use whatever milk you like but you have to scald it first.

I also had a massive Yeo Valley phase - their Greek style are great! (Fattier but not too bad on the additives front).

When I make my own, I sweeten it with honey - don't care about the calories, as I don't want to eat chemicals - but you can use Splenda or something like. You can buy it sweetened or unsweetened. I also put a teaspoon of cinammon on top of every yog I eat, as that levels out yer blood sugars.

You can get yogurt makers in Julian Graves or some supermarkets. Basically, it's just a wide necked Thermos flask, with a container inside. The homemade has no additives and keeps a fortnight in the fridge - mine only last 1-2 days, though! I just got a smoothie maker so I'm going to try adding some smoothie to it, for fruit flavours!

Umm remember ages ago my hands were bad (rash and stuff)? :o I've just been the docs (after weeeeeeeeeeeeeeks of suffering) :o I have bad hands, bad arms and one bad leg now (I am an idiot I know) I also have two lots of tablets and two creams. :o I have steroids!

Oh Veggie - PAINFUL! I had a steroid cream for my rash but it disappeared after a week. Good luck on getting rid of yours - did the doctor say what it was?

PhatPhoenix - I make my own yoghurt as well. I just use an old wide neck thermos. I don't know if they make them any more, mine's about 25 years old. My favourite is just plain yoghurt drizzled with a teaspoon of honey and a few flaked almonds or over fruit. Yum! DH and I also eat loads of it as dip or salad dressing mixed with any combination cucumber, mint, garlic, coriander or green chillies. I make a pint of homemade each day and I really don't like the sweet, cloying taste of shop bought any more.

If I really, REALLY have to buy yoghurt I'll get the Sainsbury own label low fat Greek style yoghurt because it is the nearest to my own home made that I've yet found.

Sarah - Almonds is a good idea. Hadn't thought of that!

Also wondering what Veggie's rash is. I've just discovered Neem oil soap and it's keeping my excema at bay - seems great for the skin. Wondering if it might help.

Been raining in my part of Yorkshire - haven't got out for a run for the past 2 days. Or even a good walk. Well done all the runners, and another belated happy birthday to Sarah!

I did 30 minutes on the treadmill this morning. My quads have been quite sore, not from the race (unless it was delayed onset soreness) but from my weights session yesterday, bizarrely they were fine while I was running and then started hurting again. It's very strange, I seem to have all sorts of injuries that feel better when I run :dizzy: It was a good run this morning, I did 800m intervals and ran for a bit longer than I'd been intending. I love my new trainers :)

It's been raining on and off here too, I'm meant to be running outside tomorrow but I'll see what the weather's like and whether I want to do it on the treadmill. I'll probably go outside anyway, it can't be any worse than Sunday!

I'm quite excited about work, we're getting a load of CVs through for people to join my team and hopefully we'll be doing some interviews soon. I've been put in charge of the interview question from **** which they'll all love me for. I'm quite enjoying being trusted with more involvement in the management side of it and actually being party to the proper decisions.

My left leg is a mystery apparently :p (my hands are victims of 5 weeks ago putting on 3 min Aussie miracle hair stuff!) I'm not allowed to put steroid cream on leg but start steroid tablets tomorrow. I'm itchy and scratchy! :doh: :mad:

No rain here yet... :(

Oooh steroids!!! Can I have some?! :lol: I'd be Super-Frus the Hulk! :rofl:

DF is turning into a diet ninny, or trying to turn me into one at least! :lol: He went shopping yesterday and bought me (reduced) reduced fat chocolate cakes. Bless his little heart! :love: I looked at the ingredients... First ingredient - sugar, second, vegetable oil (not stated whether hydrogenated or not!!!) :chin: So I ate one to show willing and I shall conveniently "forget" about them, because they are in the cupboard! They didn't taste that nice either! :lol:

I made it to the gym yesterday lunch, then I got totally wrecked at kickboxing, we were sparring for half an hour and those T-shirts we have to wear are FAR TOO :hot: So I will be making a protest next week and wearing my dri-fit top. Either that or I'm on strike!

It rained yesterday lots - while I was riding home :mad: At least I had my Aqua Boots on! YAY!

Its drizzling here :( and we are going to the seaside (Cleethorpes) to meet up with an ex work colleague of DH plus snooty wife who have never taken their dog to swim in the sea before. Should be fun (not!) We were hoping the weather would be in the mid 20s but its about 15 here right now :( :(

I'm going for an induction for that job I got offered tomorrow - I think its also a kind of interview so it should be interesting. I just rang up to say that I have only got casual clothes or a ballgown in this size (explained about the weight loss) - I haven't got any 'office' type clothes because I don't normally do that kind of activity - they told me that the ballgown will be fine. :)

LOL! Well sashay in in your ballgown then!!

Yes, I was going to say - wear the ballgown! :rofl:

:crossed: that it all goes well tomorrow! :D Does snooty wife have a BIG 4x4 that's not seen mud???

How did you know? Yes, I've only ever met her in the winter before and she normally wears green wellies, a sort of khaki green quilted gillet, pleated tweed skirt, waxed coat and a headscarf! I've never seen her in summer clothes so it should be interesting.

Oh my lord! It's LIZZIE! :rofl:

Check out this heeelarioooooos link! http://www.kossan.se/hamster_i_hjul.htm

Warning: Try not to snort out loud at work! :rofl:

The ballgown sounds fabulous :D

I went for my second run of the week today, and I think it is getting easier already :carrot: (although I don't want to jinx it!). I also felt fine while I was running, but once I stopped I felt all achy again (from monday's run). 'Tis very strange.

Does anyone happen to know if running is a good exercise to prepare for hiking? From October I am going to be starting to do a lot of hiking up and down mountains etc at altitude. I was thinking that I would get into this running lark by doing the couch to 5k thus making myself much fitter than if I just walked. I planned to keep doing regular walking as well (but cut this back to the weekends), and towards the end of the summer throw in some longer walks such as walking up Snowdon and going to the Lake District etc at the weekends. However, it has now occurred to me that this may not be the best way to get myself prepared for hiking :( . What does anyone else think? :?:

That hamster is so funny :crazy:

Sarah, I'm afraid I'm not very tolerant of people like that :snooty: I hope you can put up with her!

Pachyderm, I would say what you are doing is fine, to run during the week and do long walks at weekends.

I've signed on the dotted line for the Amsterdam Half Marathon!!! Woo hoo!!!! I've designed my training plan with help from the BUPA website and am ready to get going!

I went to the gym this morning, only my inside thigh muscles hurt now. I did a wee little run, and some other stuff, and a long stretching session on the power plate.

Kykaree that is fantastic. You have obviously caught the running bug! When is the Amsterdam Half Marathon? Have you got a while to prepare? You are going to be soooo fit :cool:

OK, another question - why does my neck hurt now (at the front), all I've done is run/walk this morning? :?: Sorry to keep asking questions

Methinks you could be tensing while you run/walk - try to stay relaxed in your upper body.

I have been on a shopping rampage over at Dance Direct - I've bought myself "toe tape" "toe socks" (they really are socks for just your toes!!!!) foot thongs and foot undeez!! I'm getting horrid blisters on my feet - balls of feet, big toes, everywhere - from pivoting on sweaty squeeky floors in kickboxing. I think at least one of these funky ballerina type products might do the trick! If not - I'll just have to become a ballerina!!! I've got all the stuff now! :rofl:

I really want to go to a dance class now!!!! I want to tap dance and ballet dance and do all sorts of lovely stuff! I just have no idea where to start to find them! I did google them once but didn't find much!

Well done Pachyderm - sounds like you're another one getting the bug! I think just running generally is going to be a great preparation for hiking. Not so much here on the Vale of York as it's as flat as a pancake so you rarely get to run up an incline - but it's great cycling country!

Amsterdam half marathon :smoking: she's gone quite mad! I've never had a use for that smilie but now I have! :p

I hate gelatine too (I'm going back a few posts here ;) ) it's evil and should be banned. At slimming world they go on about muller lites all the time and I can't eat them because of the evil gelatine. Not that I want to eat them but they push them at sw and it annoys me.

Good luck at the induction Sarah. What's the job? Have I missed something?

Veggie, I know what you mean. A friend of mine tried them and said they were far too sweet anyway. That often happens with thing sthat are low fat - they compensate withtoo much salt (like low fat mayo) or sugar. I cannot use anything with gelatine either. God! the number of sweets that have it in. Yes I know I should not be eating them, full stop!

my flatmates hamster did that once but only went over once not loads of times the freaky thing

The hamster did what?? Ate too many sweets, mullerlights or did the Amsterdam Marathon???

:lol: Sorry peacock, your last post just sent me into fits of giggles right in the middle of the office! People are staring, and now they know I'm not actually working :nono: . Just imaging a hamster doing any of those things. I still can't stop giggling - I think I have a problem! :dizzy:

Just follow Frus' link at the top of the page, then you will understand!

Ahh! I knew really I was just being cheeky cos the post came in after Veggies where she mentions the marathon and gelatine so blame Veggie!!!

Oh I see it now Pachy - I have just looked on the clip. My hamster used to do that all the time. Just imagine if we had wheels in our rooms. We would be fit and dizzy.

Plus we could hook up a dynamo and create enough electricity to have a hot shower afterwards - not only fit but environmentally friendly...and dizzy!

I'm back - it turned out better than expected. There were loads of us so I didn't have to suffer 'Lizzie's' company too much. (She wears the same stuff in the summer but without the waxed jacket and gillet - she still had the wellies on though!) After rushing around throwing balls and frizbees on the beach we found a nice place selling spit roast chicken so I had some of that and some plain salad for my lunch while I watched the rest of them tucking in to fish & chips & mushy peas. All the dogs had a sausage - except 'Lizzie's', who said her dog (Star) doesn't like that kind of muck. Poor Star, she was dribbling so I sneaked her a piece of Fred & George's.

Veggie, the job is part time working for the local Area Regeneration partnership people. (Where I live is a former mining village with a high unemployment rate and the surrounding area also suffers badly with rural poverty.) I don't know a huge amount about it yet - all she said was that its for a minimum of 10 hours a week and I can fit the hours in when its convenient for me and because of my computer I can do some of it at home if I want.

I am beginning to think they've got the wrong idea about me, though, apparently the woman who's in charge of the 5-a-day nutrition co-ordination in this area is interested in using my nutritional 'skills'. (What nutritional skills????? My background is Law!) Me and my big mouth! I can vaguely remember rattling on about it not NECESSARILY being expensive to eat a healthy diet, especially if people were to stop buying junk food and takeaways and sub it with fruit and veg and pulses - but I don't much like the idea of giving talks about it so I hope they haven't got that in mind. :(

Anyway - I've got to be there at 11am and after a 'little chat' they are taking me out to lunch :) :)

I've never understood why gyms don't do something about using the power generated by the people using the cardio equipment - maybe to use it to heat the swimming pool. :)

I find fruit costs loads especially when it is near to the wine in the supermarket...

:chin: :sssh: :tape: :cheers:

True....