coops

Oh my, Denise and Sheryl... I hope you are both ok after your 'adventures'... talk about stress. I hate it when things don't go to plan... hope you are both ok. I messaged Sheila, she's ok - back to school and has been busy with studies and family life... she said to say Hi and that she'll try to pop on as soon as she can. Things are ok here... Hywel is doing well, and we talk about Gary when he wants to. He went training Friday, and Gary's eldest son was there... I think this was good for Hywel to see... that life goes on and that is what Gary would of wanted. Boxing was his life and he would be proud to see the boys train hard. The funeral is the 21st Feb, Hywel wants to go to say goodbye and I am hoping that work will be kind enough to allow me to take him (they are really strict with time off and not very compassionate) - the funeral is in Abergavenny, where hubby polices, so as he is on days he is hoping to attend and meet us there - I think Hywel and I will need him with us to be honest. I am finding the loss difficult to get my head around, so God only knows how Hywel is processing it! On a better note, my daughter Betty is away this weekend with police cadets, she'll be home later... I am so proud of her doing this. Oh and our boiler went bang... no heating or hot water for two days does nothing but promote a bad mood - luckily it is fixed now but we do need to replace it... We really do need to spend some money on our house as we have neglected it for years... things are getting old and need replacing. On a 5:2 note, scales are still bouncing around all over the place... I actually think I need to either replace the batteries or get a new one... the other night I weighed in at 154 (yes, surgeon's goal) and stepped on and off again to check - the number stayed... so I was a little excited cos I normally weight 2-4 lbs heavier in the evening... anyway, I got on the next morning and weight 3lbs heavier.... arghhhh!! I was gutted 'cos I thought I had broken my new set point. I will give it another week or so and have a little think about replacing them. I've done two good fasts this week and no loss so I am wondering if I need to get back to the gym and Curves? I will go back to Curves this week. But in saying that, something is different because I have had a few comments about how 'small' I look and whether I have lost weight... when I tell folk I am over 11 stone they don't believe me! What is everyone's' opinions on water? I read such conflicting opinions... I have really struggled drinking water from day one and have gone through spits and spats of getting the recommended amounts in... do you think it does actually help shift weight? I am going back to see my doc tues, I rang for my blood results... iron is normal so that was a bonus, 'lady hormones' not so good, so I will have a proper chat about that with my doc... Thanks for the book Kim, a very interesting read... I will defo be asking about natural progesterone... I don't want any man made crap going in my body - I don't eat processed food so I don't want processed medicines either! My hot flashes are back with such venom... they are so intense that they actually make me feel weak! It is soooo embarrassing when I am stood in front of 30 teenagers and in seconds I am bright read and covered in sweat! I need them to bugger off! Kim, do you get your progesterone cream from the doc or buy it?

Sarah, fair play to you for baking - and not eating..lol! I can't bake for love or money - you should meet my daughter, you two could bake for Wales... Oh Sheryl, when I read your posts about being single and your encounters I really do get mixed reactions - I don't mean that to sound rude! Part of me thinks 'Oh sh*t'! I couldn;t cope with that... being single scares me; probably cos I am happily married and can't see myself with anyone else (physically or emotionally) but then I get envious cos I will never (hopefully!) have that 'first'kiss, that 'first date' or first anything!

thanks for all your kind words; Hywel is being an absolute trooper. He went to school today and asked if he could be put in isolation because he didn't feel he could cope with a big crowd around him... he did that and it worked well. He seems in high spirits - as much as can be expected - today but his appetite has gone a little. He says he wants to go training tomo, so that is a good sign too. I struggled in work today; kept thinking about Gary, how dark his life mus of been - also kept thinking of his wife and two sons... I really don't know how I would cope in their shoes. We also had an incident in school today that shook us all up - one of our pupils (a 15yr old in my form) was attacked with a knife. Luckily there was no injury and he was checked over by the local hospital. The attacker, another 15yr old from our school, was soon arrested by the police and charged (I think). What on earth is going on? This really did scare me for the safety of our kids! So I was supposed to fast today, but it didn't go as planned - I haven't eaten too much, but not my normal fast - might try again tomo. Oh and I think Wanda might be right about my scales - I weighed heavier this morning than I did last night!!! Perhaps I need to get a new battery. Kim, I can't believe your husband - he certainly is a Viking and would get on well with mine. I remember when Steve had to have his leg broken and a titanium rod inserted - it is a huge operation and recovery time. I hope you are both coping ok! I really don't know much about cpap machines... never had any experience with them, but I know the noise would drive me insane. Daisy there must be a quieter way! I can't believe how completely different our weather is - as Cathy said, it is chucking it down here - never seen rain so bad... so many accidents caused by it too. Horrible weather. I would love to come to Cali and see what it is like there... just to get some sun!

Sheryl, you are so right! I really don't know why he took his own life, he left a note but I don't know the content. He was admired and respected by so many ... Hywel has already vowed to 'do him proud' - heartbreaking. I just can't imagine what his family are going through.

It has been a really weird day today. The good news is that my daughter's cooking exam went really well... she had good feedback from her teacher and felt it all went well - she was a happy bunny! I had a long day in work and didn't feel very well... headache and dizziness returned! Got through it though. When I got home we had some really sad news; my son's boxing trainer and mentor took his own life; his name was Gary and he was just 54. He was Welsh amateur champion and turned pro. In his day, he was a brilliant athlete and later he helped coach and train many, many youngsters. Obviously Hywel (my son) is completely floored by this news, when Hywel first went to the boxing gym, I think he was a little apprehensive and intimidated by the environment. Gary took him under his wing and looked out for him, he has been at each and every fight that Hywel has participated in and help wipe his tears when he lost and helped wipe his tears when he won. He was a fluent welsh speaker and conversed with Hywel in welsh when they trained together, this I feel helped Hywel feel more at home, more comfortable and encouraged him to engage in the sport. He has left such a hole in my son's life. Hywel told me today that in school he was asked to write one thing that made him proud and he wrote Gary's name. My heart breaks to hear this news, my heart breaks to see my son so upset and unable to do anything about it...I can't help but to think of his family... how do you deal with a death in this way. A very sad day.

Dorrie, sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now... just make sure you look after yourself. Florinda, I will get on with some shopping for your care package on the weekend... it will be my pleasure!

Oh and forgot to say, after a fast day I bounced up... arghhhhh - need more than a dulcolax and a squeeze now... C'mon scale - play the game!!!

Yey Sheryl - glad he has moved out; it is your turn now... I completely understand why you would want new furnishing etc. I would do exactly the same; even as far as the crackers ...lol Funny, as I had a week off work feeling ill and doing nothing but resting on the sofa, I too started to look around my home... I don't normally have time to just observe my surroundings! I too feel that I need a re-vamp... the house is in need of TLC at the moment. And yes... lets all meet in Wales... OMG! That would be awesome. And double yes Cathy - Easter regardless of goal or no goal... we will meet and drink coffee...lol! Dee are you really going to London (baby!)... awesome! Good to see you Florinda... hope you are ok... Where is Sheila? Kim, can you give Laura my best and send her a Cooper cwtch from me! I miss her too - and Cheri! Hope all you other lovely ladies are ok...

Sarah, a stone is 14lb... I've been a pound from surgeon's goal for over 6 weeks....arghhhhh! SO frustrating! Perhaps I just need a big poo!

Oh Cathy, I am but a pound away from my surgeon's goal and just over a stone from my personal goal... the scale just isn't moving for me at the moment...grrr!! But we'll get there, I am sure of it!

Yey Cathy - get your ticker changed my love! Oh and what a shopping trip that would be... I would just lurve for you all to come to Cardiff... that would simply be amazeballs... if I win the lotto... in the mean time, Cathy and I will just have to suss it out ready for you lot! Back to work today, and it was hard work... had a pounding headache by 3rd lesson but I just worked through it... the kids seemed happy to have me back so that was a bonus. Fast day for me today, so far so good... luckily my appetite hasn't come back yet, so I haven't been looking for food... let's hope it stays this way! C'mon goal, I am waiting for you!

aw right... got it now Cathy... is the second week busy? I like going to work when there are no a few kids in!!

Defo Cathy; who ever gets to goal first buys the coffee!! I promise I am trying my best ... Yea, I am better, still really tired but the headache has pretty much gone - the sickness and dizziness have both gone now. Back to work tomo and I ain't looking forward to it! Got a really busy week; kids got a lot going on and Steve is on afternoons so won't be here... Have you been to Saundersfoot before Cathy? It is just fab there ... I haven't been for year but would defo like to go again. Are you going in half term... I think we have three weeks til our half term...booo!

Dee, pants -hahahaaa - it is the little things that make me smile! Oh and yes, rubber v eraser... that is another great one. Dialect varies so much here too - I love different British accents. I have a welsh accent; more like a lilt really... but I love a thick South Wales accents - North Wales have a different tang to their accent, it is very nasal... my son does an amazing North Welsh accent .. lol... actually he follow me in that department we both love to do accents. In school it comes in very handy; often the kids ask me to do different accents for a laugh! Oh, and I hate that bloody programme Shameless - I watched 5 mins of it and quickly turned it over... yuk!! I gotta admit, I absolutely lurve Marmite - delish on toast! Never had Vegemite though! My daughter has a cooking assessment/test on Wednesday so she has been doing a dry run... OMG! Her cooking is soooo good. I am absolutely stuffed to the point of pain! I hope she does well on Wednesday as she has worked so hard on preparing this food. I am definitely gonna have to fast tomo!

Ooo, I'm excited by the Jillian work out; not sure when my Curves will be doing it but I have heard talk of it coming to the UK. Best get my butt back to Curves!

Dee, your new role is translator...love it!!! Took me ages to work out a 'crock' pot... over here we say a 'crock of sh*t', so you can see why I was confused for a while...lol

no, not a george foreman type thing...lol... just a normal grill, the same way as you would grill toast. Oooo forgot to say, I also did some stuffed mushrooms; cleaned off some flat mushrooms, but a teaspoon of cream cheese (philly with garlic and herbs) on top, added some thin ham, a little grated cheese and baked for 20 mins - they were delish too. With a bit of salad they would make a good fast day dinner too! Look at me cooking, with fresh ingredients... 6 months ago I wouldn't of done any of this... this is all down to the 5:2 opening my eyes (further) to good food and how to cook it! Georgia, I need to thank you for more than one thing here...lol xx

Aw, Sheryl... consider the bacon talk over!! I made wizza tonight and it really went down a storm. Not sure if you lot have seen/heard about it but it hits the pizza spot nicely. It is basically a wrap for the pizza base, then you just add what ever you want for toppings (cheese would be measured for a fast day), grill and you have a yummy wizza! I couldn't finish mine but it didn't go to waste ... even the boy enjoyed it and he has an aversion to 'diet' food...lol!

yes, Georgia red sauce is ketchup or tomato sauce... brown sauce is well, brown... not sure how to describe the taste - quite tangy... Cathy help me out here! We have BLT too but the bacon butty just bacon or bacon and egg... delish! I watched the documentary on those twins... I found it a bit confusing to be honest. I will have to watch it again when I feel more alert! Interesting though

Dorrie, remember that life is for living - you are at a good weight now and don't let that hinder any opportunity for you to go and have fun and experience life! Say you go and eat junk food - so what?! You know that once the 5:2 kicks in it will come off again... please don't be hard on yourself my friend... enjoy your life; it is good and you deserve some fun... I gotta be honest, I think I would go and 'fill my boots!' x

Oops, pressed send to soon - thanks for the ideas Georgia, will give it a go.. any ideas from the queen of the 5:2 are always welcome! x

What is a bacon "buttie?" I'm guessing a Wales Cracker! Lol. Hahaha - a bacon buttie is a bacon sandwiche; fried egg is optional but always good. Red or brown sauce also included... I go for the brown. In the old days I could eat this like they were going out of fashion... now I struggle but enjoy what I can get in and I don't do it often but when I do - yummy! Yea, mixing things up might work... over the weekend I will give it a go and perhaps add in a good snack or two.

I can remember doing the mini weight challenges back in the day - try to lose x amount by Easter, or Halloween etc. and I never achieved any of them... although I did lose some weight, I never made the deadline and it was a horrible feeling. So I agree with the ladies - make small step goals and be flexible with the date... Kim, I get the 'don't wanna change the goal ticker' - I would feel the same way. I am sooo desperate to get a goal ticker of my own...lol... I am now at the bottom of my bounce range, and that pesky pound is haunting me... do I shave my head or cut some fingers off to get to goal? How long will it take to shift a pound. My usual window of a small drop and then a few weeks of the same - repeat - has seemed to of stopped working. I haven't seen a new low for over a month now, I think it was the week before Xmas... so I am getting a little frustrated again. I know it will happen... just want it to happen sooner than later! Perhaps by my fourth year anniversary I will get there...lol!

why does it say there is a guest reading this thread?

Steve doesn't like the 'f' sounding pronunciation either... he agree with your fella - sounds gay...lol! I suppose they both have male orientated jobs. I call him Steve or Chocie... just my lil nickname for him. He is also known as Coops in work. I love bacon butties... have them as a treat!