UK Cathy

I'm hanging on in there too, not reached goal yet but I'm no longer obese, just plain overweight!

Wanda, I would love to hear you sing, I bet you have a lovely rich voice.

Florinda, your mum has decided to move into town and it is good she has made this decision herself as it proves that she is looking after herself and looking forward. Unfortunately for you it changes everything you know and leaves you feeling a little apprehensive for the future. But you too took a decision to look after yourself and to look forward as you decided to extend your your to give you more financial stability and so be able to reach your dream of a home and a course that could lead to employment. Keep hold of that dream. Your tears and breakdown are grief, for the loss of your Dad and the life you knew. You are allowed to grieve and you must take as much time as is needed. Take care of your mental health, I know you try hard with your physical health but the mind is important too. Lots of people here care about you, much love XX

Offer accepted on the house! Now the fun begins at least the chain is not long, only 3 buyers in it. It's going to be fun and exciting and another phase of our life together. Lucky me, I feel blessed.

We both got up positive today, looked over the floor plan etc for the 3 bed house, talked about why we rejected it over the apartment etc and came to the conclusion that it is a house we could make a home so we put in an offer. The estate agent said it would more than likely be tomorrow before he gets back to us as he was off to the races! This is the most important 4 days in the life of my town as it is Cheltenham Races, thousands of people come to the event, paupers and royalty and it brings in lots of £££s to the local economy. So I have to wait patiently. 5:2 paid off yesterday, I fasted and today down a lb so I am only 1lb above my lowest weight now. I will keep you posted but in the meantime everyone just cross your fingers for me.

Lost it, just got home and hubby is gutted. We will have to start looking again tomorrow. It was not meant to be. PS came back to edit - disappointed and hit the carbs!!!

Oh no bidding war, best and final offer has to be in by 5pm. I will have to leave that to hubby.

Georgia, sorry to hear about the shingles - I hear they are really painful. I hope they can sort you out with the right medication soon. Florinda, it certainly does not only rain but it pours down on you. {{HUGS}} again. I hope you can find someone to help you fight the medical bills. OD - you sound so happy with Bill, so glad it is all working out. I lost some of the regain from my holiday but I'm still 2lb up from my lowest, that makes me obese again and sad. I need to get back into the swing of 5:2, I only managed 1 day last week. On the home front it has been a bit stressful with big decisions having to be made. We have sold our house! Well we have accepted an offer and the process of the sale has begun. We spent last week and the weekend (as well as fitting in a 400 mile round trip to see my mum and working) looking for a new place for us. It came down to 2 totally different places - a 3 bed house which is a smaller version of what we have but it needs some work and a new build 2 bed penthouse apartment. Well we have spent the last few days going over and over everything - pros and cons of each and I am exhausted by it all. We decided on the flat and have put in an offer and are waiting to see if it is accepted. I don't know about house buying in the US but here it is so stressful, there are so many things that can interrupt the process - right up until you get the keys. Why did we choose the flat because it is so totally different to what we have and we cannot make comparisons. However, if we cannot get it I won't be too disappointed if we have to go after the house. There is such a shortage of good housing on sale at the moment that vendors are virtually fighting over them. Our own house didn't even go to the market as we were approached privately. Hubby still not having any luck with jobs, companies and agencies are not even getting back to him, I think age (56) is an issue. So I'm blaming stress for keeping hold of the weight but if I'm realistic I know that it is my mouth to blame, too much or the wrong sort of food is going in. Fasting today - I have just put everything for the whole day in MFP and if I stick to it I should come in at 498. My lunch and dinner are already weighed and measured out so I just have to avoid any biscuits in work today. I have to leave for work in just over an hour so I have time to do some exercise, quick shower and off. I won't be home until 9.30pm and usually by then I'm too tired to attack anything. I do have a SF jelly in the fridge which is only 10 calories if I am desperate. We are really quiet at the moment - hope everyone is well.

Florinda, your world seems to be never ending ups and downs these days. Don't know what to say except I'm sending you a huge {{HUG}}. I can only offer a prayer for you that you will get some peace in your turbulent world.

Florinda, I can't offer anything too deep but the first thing that hit me when I read your post is that you mention a list of things and ask "why am I complaining"? But there is no mention of people, family or friends, so maybe that is the missing bit of the equation.. I know that you have taken an extension on your job to maybe fund further education and relocation in the US so perhaps you can concentrate on that. Make a count down calendar, firm up your plans. In this way you are concentrating on you and not on things. I'm sure someone will come along and offer something much more philosophical but this is what hit me immediately. I've forgotten are you in Europe? Just that it is early and maybe like me you are awake too early. I woke at 4.30 and cannot get back to sleep so thought I would log on and watch a bit of TV until it is light.

Been sitting quietly at the back of the room again, taking it all in. I have managed to lose 2/3 of the weight I put on during my little holiday. I'm pleased with that but it is so much harder to take off than it is to put it on. I have managed to pick up my exercise again so again feeling better.

I only took a short flight to another part of Europe but one thing my surgeon did insist on is heparin injections for 2 weeks post op. They were easy to do myself- just grab a bit of fat on the tummy and go. The injection was small and felt just like a sting. Perhaps you can ask your surgeon about this.

Wanda, I love your posts you always see the joy in life and I think we all need to take a lesson from you. I hope you can get your mum sorted soon as I know that mums can be a big worry to us children. 'Diet' and exercise seem to a bit of an issue to you at the moment but your time is full of other things so maybe they are not at the forefront and so don't be too hard on yourself about this. I know you have said you like Zumba so I'm glad that you now have time to go.

Sorry for your loss, please take time for yourself and to grieve. Do you have a good support system? Contact your NUT and explain the circumstances, there might be some leeway because of the situation. You must be overwhelmed by everything at the moment and I am offering up prayers for you (hope you don't mind), I hope your weight loss journey can continue.{{hugs}}.

How do you capture a quote and use it in a response when using an ipad.

The scale was unforgiving, I put on more this week than I did when I went on my 2 week trip to Mexico/ cruise last April. It has shown me how much easier it is to eat the crap and how volume has increased. The good thing is that the cupboards are bare at home and I won't be bringing any snacks or alcohol in for some time. It went on in a week I just have to work at it and see what I can lose in a week.let battle commence..

You can get good whey isolate from myprotein.com They sell taster packs so you can try the different flavours. I like the vanilla one and I add a little instant coffee to make a 'latte', don't pay for express delivery as delivery is good.

Florinda, it is good to hear you so positive and upbeat, you are right YOU have really got this. Holiday finishes this morning-just going to pack. We have seen lots of rain and the occasional burst of sunshine but it has been good. The poor dog is knackered with the beach walks. 5:2 has not been on the radar this week and I only did 6:1 last week. I have to go home get on the scales, accept the verdict and get back down to it. I feel I have been struggling to get focused again since the Christmas holiday. It's those carbs, the cupboard at home should be empty of them so I will have to be strong and not take any in. Sheila hope the puppy recovered, parvovirus I believe is a nasty things for dogs - in the UK it is one of the things that all puppies should be inoculated for before they leave their mums. Wanda how is it going with curves? I haven't been on much this week as internet connection was sparse and I have only read back a couple of pages, hope I haven't missed anything too urgent ( please point it out if I have). Sue, big {hugs} as I know you had the funeral to attend, half term for you next week so have a good break and treat yourself to some peace and quiet. Packing calls ....

Where are you yummy mummy? WLS is nearly impossible to get on NHS - they keep on changing the rules. NICE says BMI of 40 but most Local authorities say BMI 50. In UK sleeve prices are £7000+, I went to Czech Rep and had to pay £4500. I even had to beg my GP to do the pre-op blood tests, she said I was not entitled. I did offer to go away and put on weight as my BMI was only 47 and then come back and ask for wls and go on the never ending list, she eventually gave in.

Ladies, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, the news indicates that some of you have a lot of snow to contend with - hope you are all safe and well. We have rain and storms, some poor people have been flooded since Christmas and there are no signs of the water going down in that area. I'm lucky just dome fallen trees and flooded roads to get through or around. I have just started a weeks holiday from work and I'm off to the seaside with hubby and the dog. I hope we get there as I have just realised some of the route is flooded. The forecast for this week is rubbish too but I thought I might as well sit in and read a book by the seaside as at home. Nice long and different walks for the dog too.

Sarah, I'm amazed the difference 10lb makes.

Florinda, sounds really basic, no wonder it is good money. When you move on is it going to be somewhere a little more luxurious or are you not allowed to say? How are you getting on without the scales, personally I would be a bit worried as I jump on mine every day. Dee, sorry to hear about the pneumonia, you must be feeling a bit weak and fed up. You have certainly been through the mill the past few months. I hope you are feeling good about being back in your home - unpack the basics and leave the others until you are feeling well. {{hugs}}. Wanda, wishing you well in finding the most appropriate accommodation for your mum. What I will say is that you will know it as soon as you walk in the door, you will feel the atmosphere and the love and you will just know that they will care for your mum. Coops hope your spirits have lifted, though this weather is enough to make anyone feel down. I just read on BBC news site that 42000 home in S. Wales have no power due to the weather - hope you are not affected. Sheila good to see you back. Sheryl I have that inner voice that goes to the negative first, I need to work on that. Now I'm overweight I need to give myself another mini-goal and that is 167. In the UK we tend to weigh in stones and pounds with 14lb=1St so at my current weight of 169 is 12St 1lb so 167 will put me in the 11's. I must admit though since mixing with you guys I have changed my scale to weigh in lbs only.

I wrote letters to my husband and adult sons telling them how much they mean to me and my hopes and aspirations for their futures. I'm not a very vocal person and it was good for me to write it all down for them. I gave them out before I travelled and said that they should open them if anything happened or when I was in the recovery room. I figured that they should not have to wait for me yo be gone to know how much I loved them. My eldest said how he cried when he read it. But it did appreciate it too.

OK I'm claiming it

Ladies, I don't know how many of you read other posts but Cheri has just posted on the vets forum and I think she needs our love and support.