coops

OH Cathy - how crap is that... so sorry! I know you have invested a lot of time and money making your new house your home... just a horrible thing to happen, especially as it is so cold and miserable outside. Cwtches to you my lovely x

Those pics are sooo cool Kim! You remind me a lecturer from uni, she was super cool too - I loved her! We don't do Thanks Giving in the UK - but I have been thinking of you all over the pond. Been off work for two days, my hip/groin has gone again only this time on the right side... burning hot pain for two days... I can walk on it better today which is just as well as Steve is back in work as I have to take my daughter to work, which means driving. Hopefully the weekend of light walking and some more rest will help it heal... I need to get back to work. Speaking of work, it has been crazy bonkers there at the moment... each year it gets more intense! Feeling a lot of stress and pressure at the moment... I know it will get better as the school year progress but living through it is hard at times. on the 5:2 front it has been up and down for me... recently I started gaining and got to 162 - which nearly brought me to tears, even though I said the scales wouldn't effect me they did. It is weird cos my clothes are still fitting as they did... not sure what is going on with my body at the moment. Hot flushes and sweats are back and they make me soooo cranky and tired. Honestly after a bad one I feel like I've run a marathon! The scale was back to 159 this morning which is my top end bounce - don't like that figure but it is better than 161! I think when it comes to 5:2 I need to abstain from food for the day... I did this before and it worked better for me, or at least skip lunch and have a light tea. When I attempt to do fast day and split it I end up eating too much at tea time... so although I am not doing a fast day at 500 cals, I am doing several low cal days per week and generally sticking to 16:8. I will keep plugging along though. With regards to newbies in the group... I am cool either way. Denise, I hope your back is better and that you aren't in too much pain now. I do pop on most days... not always ready to reply... but I do think of all you lovely ladies. Hugs from across the pond my friends - and hugs up to the road to Cathy!!

Kim, I like lsereno and would have no objection to her joining - what do the others think?

Cathy, my thoughts are with you, sending you a big Cooper Cwtch xx

Dorrie... sooooo good to hear from you! Sorry to hear about the stresses... life sucks sometimes doesn't it! Getting back on track is the hardest thing to do, but you can and will do it... don't stress over the scale - easier said than done I know - focus on all the positive stuff and just remember where you've come from! Shout if you need us my lovely friend!

Good luck Denise - you're a trooper so I know you'll be ok... plenty of rest post op! Keep us updated on your progress... hugs to you x

Erm, nothing exciting on the moving front - Kim, Spain - I wish...lol Just moving nearer my parents... they are getting old and I worry about them - Dad is having a lot of problems with his knees ( he has collapsed a few times due to the pain and weakness in them) and my Mam is very frail. I just want to be in walking distance from them - not next door, say 20-30 mins walk away. Also where we live is lovely - quiet, safe and secure - but the public transport is a nightmare and I want my kids to be able to catch a bus and not rely on me and Steve to ferry them around... a little independence goes a long way, I feel. The estate agent came this morning... we have been decorating and cleaning like frenzied idiots to get it 'show house' ready... all done now. Just gotta wait for lady fate to be kind to us and find another family to enjoy this house. Hope everyone is ok... I have been popping on to read. Not a lot to say on the weight and 5:2 front really... the only thing that has changed is that my hot flushes are back and they are driving me mad! I really do hate being hot and sweaty ( well, the only time it feels good is when I am on holiday sun bathing!). Hugs to all across the pond!

It's half term here, so that means a week off - yey! Had a good weekend; Sat night out with the girls. cinema with the hubby Sunday! Too much good food but hey ho. Spent yesterday painting the bathroom - we are putting the house on the market and it needed a bit of TLC. My son is home today from his adventures in NY -so all good here. Having a break from the 5:2 at the moment... can't face being disappointed right now, so I need some 'time out' from weight and food. I'll beb ack on it soon though ''cos I don't wanna gain!

Florinda, I'd love to spend a day or two with you so you could teach me all about the wonderful foods you have - they sound delish...

Hiya all... sorry I've not posted much... been on the thread and reading. Life is very busy at the moment... work is crazy and my energy levels are at zero. Not been doing great with the 5:2 - once a week I get a fast in but not more than that... all good intentions are going awol at the moment. Not exercised either, as much as I 'want' to my motivation is zero too! I don't know how to get it back? I am fed up of 'trying hard' without any results... I am not happy with maintaining when I want/need to lose more ... *sighs* On a lighter note my son is going to NY tomorrow... he leaves home at 3am and will arrive at JFK 6am... I am sooo envious of him. Not sure if you remember but my daughter was in NY when Sandy hit... let's hope there is no hurricane for Hywel to deal with this time!

What Georgia said - you look great -love the hair and glasses too - and you sound more up beat - good luck with the new job! Sounds bliss, I love books! Half way through my first fast day - scales are still top end bounce - 160... got to 155 months ago, saw it twice and the it buggered off...lol... still gonna keep at it. I had salad with a a table spoon of tuna pasta for lunch (school dinner styleeee!) and I am going to have baked toms and egg for tea. that is me done for the day. One I forgot to mention is that my flushes still haven't come back - When I did the cleanse I cut out caffeine in my coffee and tea and have been drinking decaf ever since - my tea drinking has been dramatically reduced too... might be connected?

hahahahaaaaaaa - the chip butty is such as delicacy! Pure indulgence - it is my kind of naughty food! And I totally crumbled to it last night - and Yes brown sauce and real welsh butter too....hahahhahaaaa! The problem I have is that I don't feel one ounce of guilt either... not sure if that is good or bad - perhaps I have overcome the demons of guilt related to food. I ate it cos I wanted it, not cos I was stressed or upset etc! Same will go for tonight - I will enjoy every drink and dance like no one is watching. I think as I move forward in my forties, I am realising that we have to LIVE! Have a great weekend everyone xx

Thanks ladies - I am defo gonna enjoy the drinkies and will raise a glass to my 5:2 crew. Talking of which, today has been a complete disaster! I totally refused the cakes in work - there were reems of them; all colours, flavours and toppings. They all looked delish! But I didn't cave in,,, had chicken salad for lunch. Then got home and the kids wanted chips - oh the smell! I caved in and had a chip butty (sandwich)...grrrr! Well over my fast allowance now! Looks like Sunday will have to be a low cal low carb day for sure!

Hey! You lot are rocking the 5:2! Didn't have porridge after Monday - ended up having baked toms and egg muffins with a bit of cheese... delish! Next fast is tomo - was going to do today but we are having cake day as a fund raiser in school and I don't want to eat cake so the fast is a great excuse not too - although I will donate. And I am going out Sat for a few drinkies with the girls. I am celebrating - I applied for a promotion in work and I got it! Yeh, at last, they've recognised my hard work... so it will be a cider filled day/evening hence the fast tomo - might even attempt Sunday or go low cal? For all those struggling - don't be a stranger! Here is a great place to come and have a chat. I love this group x

half way through today's fast and it has gone well... salad with a table spoon of tuna pasta... stuffed after that to be honest. for tea I will have porridge made with water - sounds horrible but tastes good for around 140 cals. happy days!

I'm in for Monday - again, I will smash it! Gotta get to the low end of my bounce and under if this bloody body cooperates...lol... but like I said, I ain't gonna stress over it anymore. Got enough stress here at the mo without that pesky scale adding to it! Oh and yey for Cardiff!!

fast day for me today... I am gonna smash it! =]

Yes! Robbie Williams - the other love of my life...lol.. British singer and basically the sexiest man ever! lol

Florinda.... I am LOVING the profile pic!!!! So, glad you like the bits and bobs... glad you rec'd them all in one piece! Each time you have a 'brew' think of me...lol xx

I'm in for the 5:2 - on the subject of acid - I don't get it much, unless I eat crap... just as I did pre sleeve. I suppose I'm just lucky.

Dee- good to see you are still around - we ned to hear you! x

Sheila! Sooooo good to hear from you - and congrats on the job! So happy that you have found the one. Stay with us now... and together we can get on that healthy train again... I've missed you! Florinda, glad you are settling in to your new place and making the most of the opportunities via dating - what a good idea to get to know your surroundings! Who else is up for the 5:2 challenge? x

I'm in Kim...defo back on the 5:2 wagon. I'm doing something called the clean9 - it is a detox programme that is going wild over here... a lot of people have had great success with it for weight loss and then it has kinda re-booted them and they continued to eat clean healthy food. So, after reading a lot and talking to some friends who had done it I thought I would give it a go. Basically it is some aloe gel - tastes vile - and a range of vitamins that you take daily; first two days are just liquid days and the following days are low cal with a shake. I'm not saying it will set the world on fire, and I have lost a few pounds (still in my bounce range) but the biggest benefit I have found is that my hot flushes are twice daily instead if twice hourly. I have not had monster flushes through the night and have slept really well over the last week. It is a great feeling to sleep through and not wake every hour or two covered in sweat! I think it has rebooted my sleeve too - as when I do eat a meal, I can't finish it! My sleeve feels tighter, which is always a good thing. So I am ready and focused to get the 5:2 back in and under control... and whether I lose weight or not doesn't really matter at the moment as I like the way I feel!

Sheryl, I totally get what you say about feeling lethargic and feeling 'fat' even though we clearly aren't!! I think it might just be a mind set that we haven't overcome yet ? This week I have been following a detox programme and the bloating I had has almost gone... feeling better for no caffiene and sugar ... also my hot flashes are not so intense. Not sure if it will help shift any weight but having the flashes reduced feels soooo good! I too haven't done any exercise for too long - my plan of getting my butt in the gym hasn't started yet - even though I am organised so far! Keep your chin up m'love! How is everyone else... we've been a bit quiet here... looks like we are living life! Hugs from across the pond my lovely friends x

Sarah, I'm so pleased you are feeling nearly back to normal and that you are pleased with your results... you are right... you haven't finished yet, thing will continue to improve. And good for you getting back to exercise, take your time and listen to you body. The more I read about the weight of the skin removed the more I think my surgeon was a bit conservative which is why I stil have this 'lip' - as I look down on it, it looks like a mini apron; same shape as before only much smaller. I have decided that I defo want a revision but this time with lipo, so I need to start some serious saving! Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled with my results and it has given me a new look on my physical self, but now I am looking at it in a more cosmetic way. Can't wait to see your pics!