Monday 14 June 2010

I'm a fraud

I haven't posted for ages after putting up a dramatic post about job losses so you lovely lot are probably all thinking that I'm here worrying away. Well, while it's not a great atmosphere in the office, it's not that bad and no axes are likely to fall for a while so I'm not really fretting just yet.

The simple truth is I've been doing anything but thinking about weight and exercise. I've not stopped doing it but just haven't been thinking about it. Life has been good and active and I've been watching football every minute I have spare and blogging just hasn't been top priority.

As a result, I haven't lost any weight for a couple of weeks so am still stuck at 13 stone 7 lbs which is a loss of 1 stone 4 lbs since March. Not bad but wanted to see a bit more progress.

So this evening I went for a long walk up Win Hill and enjoyed a modest supper and gave myself a good talking to. Tomorrow I have personal training first thing and am playing tennis in the evening so that's got to be good. Wednesday it's golf and gardening and Thursday training again. Friday will be swimming and then beer (bad Lesley but England are playing so what am I to do??). So, things are looking good as long as I keep tabs on the food side of things which I fully intend to do.

I will report back soon and let you know!! Hope you're all being more motivated and focussed than me!! And that you're having as good a time as me!!

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Shocks to the system

Well today has been a pretty unhappy day really. We were called into a team meeting this morning and informed that almost half of our external funding for staff costs has been cut from 1 September 2010. That means, as things stand, 10 redundancies out of a team of 22! Obviously there is a way to go before this takes effect and we will be fighting to preserve some of the funding, put off the cuts and persuade the Council itself to take over some posts from the external funder but it's pretty grim. Even if you're one of the ones retained, the heart of the team will be going and friends will be losing their jobs. And there's every chance, given the numbers involved, that I will be affected.


As the only solicitor in our team, you could either say that I'm vital and necessary or you could say that you could cut me and my relatively high salary and use external solicitors in future. I know they like having me on hand and I am convenient for them, but am I essential? Probably not. I would hope to go down to part-time if possible. Suspect it's the best I can wish for.


Blegh!


On the upside. After the bombshell, I went into town to pick up my lunch and bought the exact same lunch as I would usually buy - sushi, yoghurt and a fruit juice. The thought briefly passed through my mind that I could go for McDonalds cappucino and thence it strayed to Thorntons chocolate or even the pub. But it was more as a curious thought - "would food/cappucino/drink make me feel better?" The answer was a clear - "what are you on about? Of course not." So - I don't think emotional eating is likely to plague me on this one.


In the past, I've struggled with boredom eating more than comfort eating but hopefully neither is my first response any more.


The other positive is that, as a result of the meeting and its aftermath, I couldn't go swimming as intended. My first thought was - "oh well, I'll go for a run this evening instead". So I'm not even using the upheaval as an excuse to avoid exercise. In fact I thought that a run would be a great way of getting rid of adrenaline and processing it all.


How things have changed!

Tuesday 1 June 2010

At last - a new low....

I was right not to be disheartened last week. I have kept the faith and was rewarded with a new low weight on the scales this morning. It's a loss of 3 lbs last week, taking me to 13 stone 7 so I'm very pleased with myself.

And a little surprised to be honest. We had my niece and her boyfriend visiting for the whole weekend. They're 20 and 23 respectively. I felt as though I was feeding them the whole time!! Cooked breakfasts, snacks, shepherds pie, roast beef with yorkies and apple crumble, pancakes and croissants. I was having to get up early and go running as well as all the weekend activities.

Saturday comprised 5 hours rainy day (and manically busy) shopping in Meadowhall (or Hell as the locals call it) with 2 twentysomethings! Knackering! I went in shops I have never even considered going in - Hollister, O'Neills, Bench, Superdry, Republic. Full of hollow-eyed, skin and bone teens.... but not as scary as I first thought. I ended up trying on loads of clothes that I wouldn't have previously tried with some interesting results. Bought a tight check shirt from Superdry, some diamante toe-grip sandals from Monsoon and a ridiculous t-shirt from Firetrap.

The latter was a mistake made purely as a result of my vanity! It's a grey, trendy print, scoop neck tee, very flattering from the front and almost totally backless. Just one strap across where your bra strap goes. It therefore leaves you pretty much naked from the back! Not such a good idea for a largish 40 year old! But my niece told me that I could "totally carry it off" so I bought it! Got it home, tried it on and realised that I am now officially mutton dressed as lamb....

But I WILL wear it at least once just to prove a point. Not sure what point but it will be proved.

Yesterday was a bit more "me". The Bamford Sheepdog Trials followed by a round of golf. I am going back to playing after 2 years off (for no good reason). I'm having to put 3 cards in to re-activate my handicap and yesterday's was pretty good - 3 birdies in 1 round!! I normally get around 3 birdies in the whole summer so to get them all in one go is pretty amazing.

Hope you all had a great weekend (I know you did Peri!!) and that we're all ready to embrace the healthy once more!!