Busy busy busy!

Mad busy recently...so here's a quick summary

Went camping down in Co. Kerry last weekend with a group of friends, fabulous!




Didn't weigh in last week as I didn't get back from Kerry until Monday night, too late for my meeting. By the time I got around to checking on any other local WW meetings I'd seemingly missed those too (all seem to be Mondays or Tuesday?)

Entertained my mother who was visiting until she flew back to the UK Tuesday evening.

Started a new (temporary) job on Wednesday....sod the exercise pledge, mucking out and exercising 8 horses a day is plenty exercise for little old me! Using muscles I haven't used for years, and boy do they know how to complain....need to take out shares in Radox Muscle Ease!

Took one of my Jack Russell Terriers to an Irish Kennel Club Breed Championship show on Saturday, and after not showing any dogs for the last 18 months I was delighted when she won the Open Bitch class, then she won the Bitch Challenge, and was Reserve Best of Breed....not bad for a day out!
[Old photo...not the prizes she won this weekend...just showing y'all what she looks like]


Sunday I messed around at home with my VW Beetle project, and had a little tinker with the wiring loom. Pleased to report she now starts on the key, and we no longer have to resort to a very complicated 'hot-wiring' procedure to get her starter motor to turn. Not a huge job in the grand scheme of the things I have planned for her, but satisfying to have done something and achieved what I set out to do that day!



Today is a Bank Holiday Monday, but horses still have to be fed and mucked out, so off I trooped. Ran out of diesel *twice* on the way home (my emergency diesel can didn't have enough in it to get me home, and I had no cash on me! Doh! But J came to the rescue with a another can of diesel. In my defence my fuel gauge isn't working properly, and I forget that I shouldn't trust it. I'd rather it just didn't work at all...then I'd pay more attention to the mileage I'm doing compared to the diesel I'm putting in, but instead of being a dead gauge its a plain old *lying* gauge!
No weigh-in today either, as its a bank holiday over here in Ireland....will try and trust my bathroom scales for the Challenge Weigh-In on Wednesday.

Well I think that just about brings us all up to date...and hopefully time is now back on my side I can get back to posting on here more regularly!

Chat soon x

October's Exercise Pledge - Day 3

Spent a day out with J today, down in Kilkenny, playing with his '71 Volkswagen project....came back via Carlow where he dropped a part off an engineering firm.
Got home in the dark so went for a 20minute walk up the lane with a torch. Not really very exciting, fulfilling or fun....but done nonetheless!

Nostalgia and possbily another beetle!

Minding my own business at home today and a car pulls up outside. This is odd. We live miles out in the countryside, and we live down a farm track. So no traffic passes the cottage directly...and its not the kind of track to attract Nosey-Parker's...it just looks like a boring old farm track.
I wait for the driver to come and knock on the door...but she doesn't. She gets out and goes for a wander around the place. So I stir the dogs up and make them bark lots...just so she knows I'm not here on my own...then I stick the biggest (and softest) on a lead, and march out the door to see what this visitor is up to.

Turns out she was born here, and her family lived in this cottage for a few generations. When she lived her, she lived with her siblings, her parents and her grandparents! Yikes, this place is tiny, and with just two of us living here it feels like a squeeze, I can't imagine how it was with 8 people living here!

We spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around, while she pointed stuff out to me and gave new meaning to things I pass and mostly ignore on a daily basis. She showed me where all the farm buildings ( now long gone) used to stand. She showed me the area, now overgrown with brambles, where flagstone steps led down to the stream, which in those days was their only source of fresh water. She told me the names her family gave to all the fields that belong to this cottage, and we reminisced and wallowed in nostalgia together for a good while.
She didn't want to come in the house as she was afraid of the dogs (who were still barking), but she described to me how it used to be, and I know that previous owners have changed the inside structure around a lot, so much of what she told me I had heard before from both my landlord and my nearest neighbour (who incidentally lived here for a good few years too).

Then she discovered one of my Beetles, Tipsy parked up around the back of the cottage, and asked me if I liked old cars. She told me she had a few dotted around the farm where she lived with her husband...and had at least one old beetle there too. I asked her how much she wanted for it, and she laughed and told me she fully expected to pay someone to take it away...and that I could help myself. Whilst it maybe totally rotten, I'm sure there will be bits on it that will come in handy with the current, and future, restoration projects. Can't look a gift horse in the mouth, so hopefully I'll go and have a look, and see just what she has got, over this coming weekend.

Feel like I have the startings of a good friendship here...and I hope to see more of her soon.

Also, if we have any ghostly occurrences in this very old Irish cottage, at least I can now put a name to them....her Grandmother, Granny Walsh died here over 30 years ago...knock three times Granny Walsh...

Week 8 Weigh-in - 297 lbs

Put some manners on that horse, and discarded those 4 lbs with the disdain they deserved...and threw out an extra lb just for added effect! Ha!

Actually quite surprised by this...tried to do my best but not been overly angelic, and have knowingly gone over my points allocation (30 points) a few times this week to my knowledge, as well as a sinful camping weekend with friends at Carraig Dulra courtesy of our very generous hosts, Suzie and Mike.
Good company, beautiful location, too many sausages snaffled from the barbecue, cold beer going down all too well, and the most delicious (yet utterly sinful) idea for combining toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate and digestive biscuit...all conspired to make me very worried when I stepped up on the scale this evening.
And came home clutching my little coloured stone that our leader gives to folks when they've lost a stone in weight. Only 13 lbs to go until I get the next one!

But I guess when I wasn't being bad I was doing something right.

If you're consfused by the title this week, I decided to bite the bullet and apply these current posts to my current efforts at WW. This is week 8 since I went back in at the end of July, and it didn't seem right to give the weigh-in days similar titles to those posted last year. Interesting to see that my weekly average is 2lbs, if I can keep that up over the longh aul then I will be very happy indeed...baby steps and all that

Apologies for not posting more last week, busy at work, and busy at home and busy eating badly, and feeling I had nothing much to say that would inspire me. Will honestly try and make more of an effort this week, thanks Princess for the reminders x

Back on the weight loss wagon!

A lot has happened to me in the last 12 months or so.

Good stuff, not so good stuff.

My dad died after a long and brave battle aginst the big C.

My partner of nearly 9 years shocked me with a proposal.

We've increased our classic VW collection to 6½ vehicles, a camper, a kombi pickup, 4 beetles and a rolling beetle chassis [don't ask! *LOL]

Blah blah blah...

and I'm ashamed to say weight loss took a back seat.

But on the 22nd July 2007 I crept back in to Weight Watchers to face the music and assess the damage.

So here's a short recap of the weigh-ins since then. Have surprised myself with my progress, and thrilled with the current motivation!

22 July 07 - 313 lbs
Not great, but could have been a lot worse after 12 months off the scales of truth!
Decided to stick to the Points Plan. I know I'm a grazer, and simply cannot guarantee I can sit down to 3 meals a day on a regular basis, so it makes sense to stick to what I know has worked for me in the past.

30 July 07 - 303 lbs
Yes! You did read that correctly, in my first week I lost 10 lbs! Woo feckin' Hoo!
OK, realistically i know that the first week is ususally the biggest loss, but neither me or my leader expected 10lbs to go.

6 Aug 07 - 302.5 lbs
Only half a pound down this week, but at least its half a pound in the right direction. Dodgy mood swings, and nagging stomach cramps give me an indication of why I perhaps didn't lose more this week.

13 Aug 07 - 302 lbs
Another half pound in the right direction but disappointed I didn't lose more.

20 Aug 07 - No Weigh IN
Am too busy away on a 10-day Charity Drive, eating as well as I can, but not as well as I should! And drinking far too much.

27 Aug 07 - 302 lbs
Wow! Considering the last 10 days of total food and alcohol debauchery, I'm actually pretty thrilled with this weigh-in! I had prepeared myself and my leader for a gain this week. And we had both agreed to take whatever the scales said, and work out a damage limitation plan.
Now just to make this weigh-in seeme even better that it was, I was also wearing *wet* jeans when I weighed in.
Each week I wear jeans and work boots (steel toe caps) to weigh in. Sometimes I'm working on WW days, and coming straight from work. So I made my mind up at the start to wear these each week, so I could be consistent with what I was wearing. Also, although its a long way away, when I do get to goal, I can put on some cotton trousers and proper shoes, and make those scales really sing my tune!
So, after 10 days of terrible eating habits, and wearing wet jeans because I could'nt get them dry in time, I think that to maintain was a pretty fantastic result here!

3 Sep 07 - 298 lbs
Brilliant! 4 lbs down, cracked the 200's and lost my first stone. Total loss so far this time is 15 lbs, and life is good. I was walking on air as I left my meeting, and feeling pretty chuffed. I treated myself to a CD as a reward, and my OH bought me flowers.

Hopefully, now I've got my weight loss back on track I'll get this blog back on track too.

Chat soon

Too busy to blog...

Had a busy couple of days

Helped put the gearbox back into my camper, after replacing the vital missing bearing. Guiltily enjoyed the buttered ham sandwiches fed me by my hosts. Marveled at the improvment in driving my beloved vehicle all the way home. Did smell hot oil a few times...but dismissed it as spilled oil burning off my engine block. Got home to discover my rocker cover gasket, which should have been replaced a while ago but wasn't, had finally given up the ghost and as such engine oil had been spraying all around my engine bay during the drive home. My previously white tailgate, now has black measles...and next time I smell hot engine oil, remind me to bloody well stop!

Worked yesterday. Surprised to find *all* the critters totally out of water (again)...they were either very thirsty over night or didn't have their waters topped up the day before. I know which I'd put my money on...
Didn't do much very exciting. Cleaned out the gerbils, found some day old baby gerbils...so we clearly have to sex that group again, unless one's a hermaphrodite (unlikely). Cleaned out the largest group of hamsters too...I don't think cleaning out gets done as often as it should either. Made a conscious decision to clean them out myself once a week...so at least I know they've been done.

On Tues the diet was a little difficult with being fed by my hosts...its rude, whingey and irritating to refuse and moan about the food that's been prepared for you...so just tried to cut down the volume ingested instead...whilst mentally totting up the points for thick spread butter *LOL*. At work its not so difficult as I can pack a HUGE lunchbox and graze on point-friendly goodies all day. I prefer to do that.

Came up with a small business idea whilst chatting with my chauffeur last weekend...rang up a couple of relevant wholesalers yesterday, so should have some catalogues and price lists winging my way...now need to find some more suppliers of specific things these wholesalers are unlikely to have...

Weigh Day 2 - 320 lbs (160 lbs to lose)

Weighed in at:22 stone 12 lbs = 320 lbs
10% goal = 20 stone 8 lbs (loss required 32 lbs)
long term goal BMI of 25 at 11 stone 6 lbs =160 lbs (loss required 160 lbs)

Better than it looks, or so I'm told...only time to post a quick one right now, as off out to help rebuild my gearbox.

Considering my lack of control with the menu whilst cmaping, and water retention from 'time of the month' (TOTM) my leader M said I should be very pleased with myself...I had every right to a gain this week, and instead I held my own.

Got to go, will come back and edit/add to this post later

[returned to Edit as promised]
The meeting this week was all about making friends with complex carbs...how they fill you up and keep you feeling full for longer than other type of carbohydrate.
M discussed keeping sweet foods and alcohol to just 14 points worth a week. I've found no mention of this anywhere else though, no in the book or online...so may ask her to clarify this next week.

J took me to the meeting as my camper was still without its gearbox. As a thank you to him we stayed on at the hotel where the meetings are held, andI bought him a beer. I was quite shocked at the price of a 330ml bottle of Bulmers Light (1 point)...€4.50!!! The full pint of Guinness was only €3.70...what a total rip off!

See ya x

awnings, gypsies and BBQs - wot diet?

Had a glorious weekend end away with friends, albeit without my beloved camper. In the end I didn't even need to pitch my tent, as I was offered sleeping space in a friend's awning...perfect!
It was a weekend to just get away from everything, and just enjoy good company. The weather wasn't as good as it might have been, but it didn't change my plans in any way.

Saturday night was a little edgy as a group of travellers spent the day trying to gain access to the campsite. The campsite owner was vigilant all day, and the Gardai cruised past in unmarked carts very regularly to check on us all. In the end the travellers parked up on some public land just above the campsite, and were given 24 hours grace. I did feel a little worried not be sleeping in the relative safety of my lockable camper that night. But the campsite owner pulled a 24 hour shift, and with the help of his family and friends he had the campsite under supervision all night long. The only slight agro were some of the younger lads trying to kick things off and living up to their stereotypes, but the older ones were little or no bother at all. There was a bit of noise and fuss at around 4am, but I wasn't brave enough to pull up the zip and have a look around, I just pulled up my sleeping bag and went back to sleep....and on the dot of 11am the next morning they were all on their way. As a group we were all parked close together, and as such felt much more safe and secure. I don't think I'd have slept so well if I'd been on my own, or even if it had just been J and I...

As for the diet...well, it kind of went out of the window... My lift had agreed that we would shop for grub on the way up, so I didn't pack any food other than a couple of small single-serving cereal boxes for brekkie. Well I was fed royally all weekend by everyone...but I wasn't brave enough to count points (YIKES!) Its weigh-in day today, and I'm swallowing down all the water, fruit and veg that I can...I'm hoping that all my good food behaviour all week will make up for a weekend of beer and BBQ debauchery ...I'm looking forward to stepping on the scales this evening with a kind of curious anticipation...its a need to know

Poorly van...change of plan

Took my beloved camper van to hospital today to drop the gearbox out, replace the clutch and look at some leaking seal between the engine and the gearbox...seems whoever did the engine conversion left out a vital bearing associated with the gearbox, so its a miracle my van has been driven about at all...let alone the however many thousands of miles I've done in it.

Ordered a replacement bearing, which should arrive Monday...but it means I have no camper for camping in this weekend...and no transport to get me there (my camper doubles up as a large car...its just a large car with a bed and a cooker *LOL*). Fortunately a friend will be passing my way, on his way to the same camping event...and so I have dug my old tent out of the cobwebby depths, and tried to remember how to camp with a tent, primus stove, air bed, air pump, no fridge , no cupboards, no electrics and no seats...bring it on!

Oh yes...the diet...well my host today put butter in our lunchtime sandwiches, which was ultra yummy, but a little naughty, however I certainly wasn't complaining, the fresh bread was truly to die for! ....I didn't eat at all during the day, other than lunch. Ate loads of crap on the way home (hour and half journey) because I was hungry [amazing how quick your body gets used to eating small amounts every few hours or so] and J and I indulged in sausage butties when we got home famished...but counted up points and I'm only 3 over my daily allowance...I can easily make that up...or sweat it off tomorrow

Might or might not get chance to post on here tomorrow..if not, catch up with you all on Monday...have fun kids

Sun Sun Sun...and solitary camping

Still extremely hot...on breakfast news this morning they were speculating whether tomorrow might break any existing records for high temperatures...not looking forward to it.

Faffed around a little on here, tweaking little bits here and there.

Eaten an apple so far today, I'm really not a breakfasty person. Starting to get a bit hungry now though. J will be home for lunch soon, so will have a look at what scrummy sandwiches I can whip together...and then the fun of working out the points.
Came up with a plan for getting more water in to me. I'm a tea queen, and whilst working on my ps I'll drink gallons of the stuff...so, with a little self discipline I can drink a small glass of water while I wait for the kettle to boil each time. Easy as that!

Meant to be off camping this weekend, but struggling to find the motivation at the moment. We can't get kennelling for the dogs [left it too late to book], so J will have to stay at home. We've too many dogs to happily camp with all of them in attendance. So camping on my own is not something I'm looking forward to, I like to share the experiences...but as I have organised the weekend for a club I'm kind of duty bound to attend. Next time volunteers are sought for things like this I will ask J to strap my arms to my sides...