Good morning, everyone. Obviously, I've been absent without a note from my Mammy....
So...I had a quick look in on Thursday evening, and saw familiar names, and some new names, and I was going to pop on and say hello, but then I took cold feet, because it would have been the equivalent of going back to a class...you know the "deep breath at the door" thing. Then this morning, I was browsing another few slimming club sights, because I'm looking for a very quick fix--3 stone loss by the end of next week--, and then I reminded myself of what I know works best. And I took the deep breath, and here I am.
A few pounds heavier, much busier, and no doubt under stress, therefore the stress levels are leading me gently and regularly to the bread bin, and the chill cabinet in the supermarket for cheesecakes and trifles...and I've discovered Wispas, again.
(turned to Sky movies there, and there's Tracy Turnblad's mother tucking into a plate-full of calorie-laden yumminess...... )
Anyway , I'm back to get on track...
(Now,I'm listening to Big Blonde and Beautiful...... )
Tomorrow, I'll start yet again.....canny do it today because I've been at the local "9 items for breakfast for 1.99", and Katie sought and brought home Fluff(a jar cost 3 quid!!) and I've just eaten two slices of Nimble spread with aforementioned Fluff.
Tomorrow it is.
Supermarket shopping later, and we all know thats the key. Shopping sensibly. Preparation.
Quick update....still working for the NHS, but am being funded to do my degree at Uni(Queen Margaret Edinburgh).
Am I doing the right thing?? Hope so.
And there's a huge refectory, with fabulous healthy choices, so there's no excuse really...
Hope everyone can inspire me.....

good to have you back and well done on your course! xxxxxxxx

Hello again.... good to see you back and hope you get your first good pep day under your belt... I think the first day is often the start of a good run

welcome back

Nice to see you back Emmjay good luck with the week ahead x

welcome home MJ, was just thinking about you the other day

good to see you back, theres loads of inspirational posts at the mo

Welcome back Emmajay.......wishing every success (and if by chance you happen across the 'quick fix' for 3 stone in a week - don't forget to come on here and share it!)

welcome back, remember is a revolving door we have here - technically it never closes ;-)

xx

Thanks everyone for all your very kind words.
Jackie...I found a secret weapon for shopping. Its called "The Daughter". I mentioned in passing this morning that I'd kind of pledged to try to lose weight, by participating in the Forum, and taking things a day at a time....and she never let me forget, all the way round the supermarket..."Mum...you really DON'T want that...put it back...get ahead of the game..." Relentless!!
My indulgences today were reduced to a packet of Jaffa cakes, which she's hidden, and six tiny fairy cakes, which she left out in the kitchen, because she knew the boys would eat them. And they did, leaving only one, with the circumference of a fifty pence piece, and the depth of the top of my thumb!

I bought lunch boxes for me and Katie, and I'll create my own lunches so as I'll not be tempted by the bad chefs at uni.....they make scones and chocolate eclairs. Bad bad men!!!

Great to see you back Emmjay!!!

Glad you are back Emmjay sounds you have your own wee motivator in the house !! Best of luck xx

Sarah...I had a good laugh at your signature.!!!
So, this morning, as I was eating my Special K(less than 3% fat..!!!!), I imagined different members of the forum in my kitchen, tutting at my cupboards and suggesting that a cull of all the unneccessary condiments and oils would be helpful, and checking out the contents of the fridge('scuse me, I'm re-adjusting the shelves), and hiding the supermarket's own butter(for the scones and cakes..er...for the kids). Powerful imagery, and VERY crowded around the cooker, where you all congregated, watching every mouthful of breakfast cereal that I was eating.
I toasted 1 slice of Nimble, spread it with some honey and mashed a banana on top. I imagined MamaD and Val nodding in approval with this new start--yet again.
(Thats terribly sad news about Stephen Gately. Such a shame. I just heard it on the news)

I bought a few tops yesterday. I'm so used to wearing a uniform Mon--Fri, that my wardrope can't cope with a change of clothing every day. I only bought one black top. There is fuscia, burnt orange, navy (ok, ok..) and a mustard-y coloured top.
At work, I'm doing condensed hours, starting at eight o'clock, and finishing at six o'clock, with a Wednesday off!!Yay.
So, I have a really busy week ahead, travelling to Edinburgh( Musselburgh) Mon --Fri, and studying.
I should really have put all this in a blog, but you know by now, once I start, I can't stop...a bit like my eating habits really!!!

Hi & Welcome Back
Your motiviation is infectious, thanks. xx

Good to see you back Emmjay am sure you'll settle into the Uni routine soon. Well done to your daughter for helping with the shopping and keeping you on the PEP path. Good luck getting back into it.

Lovely to see you back!

What xactly are you studying?

And good luck with the PEP. Fluff - yuck!!!

xx

[quote name='GinFizz' date='Oct 11 2009, 06:26 PM' post='295126']
Lovely to see you back!

What xactly are you studying?

And good luck with the PEP. Fluff - yuck!!!



Hello Gin.....listen to me, my wee lamb....Fluff is the best thing. Imagine my hands are outstretched and I'm holding a jar of Fluff in my right hand, and a Wispa bar in my left hand...oh all right then, a Wispa and a small tub of Ben and Jerry's, and a packet of Mars Planets....and the Fluff wins. Its versatile. You/I can eat it standing up, sitting down, with a spoon, with your fingers, off a knife(but thats bad etiquette...) on toast, waiting on the kettle to boil, in the garden putting out the washing, standing at the window watching the weans playing outside on their bikes, reading a book waiting on the washine machine finishing its cycle.....its SO versatile!!!!
I'm studying for my Audiology degree, and I hope I'm doing the right thing. It exciting and nerve wracking, and I have coloured pens and retractable pencils and everything ....AND, a student card, which gives me a discount in clothes shops and food outlets.....and I'm not afraid to use it!!!!
Spaghetti Bolognese for tea, and chicken for lunch. I found the Jaffa Cakes and had three(or was it four.....), and I made a Victoria sponge, and had a slice. And thats me finished. Packed lunch tomorrow, with soup and fruit
And hello Pink Ballerina Shoes....... xxxxxxxxxxx

So glad you didn't put it in a blog cos I would never have seen it. Don't read them as you know, so carry on posting on the forum.

Welcome back. Maybe I should welcome myself back but am not in the frame of mind [and I just got 2 boxes of chocolates for my birthday ] And as I am the only one that like Forerro Rocher .....................

Hi Elspeth, hope you're well and had a lovely birthday. You were in my kitchen yesterday morning, shaking your head in disapproval at the state of my fridge...and my disgusting eating habits .So let me save you from yourself, and send the chocolates to ME, and I'll hide them in my mouth where they'll be safe.
So, today started off very calmly, because I had everything ready last night...what I was wearing, what I was eating, and a change of bag. Up in plenty of time, and had my Special K. Lunch was 2 slices of Nimble with chicken and a spread of Lurpak Light. A bag of fresh fruit. A supermarket's own Milky Way(because my KitKat got soggy from the fruit juices!!!!). For my mid morning snack, I had a Go Ahead yoghurt covered strawberry biscuit pack....and when I came home, dived into a slice of Victoria Sponge with a cup of tea(and a wee Bounty supermarket's equivalent...) Then with the bolognese sauce left from yesterday, I made a pasta bake and had only one plateful.(TBH, I could go another wee mouthful) But I wont!!! My determination is steely. Plus I'm too tired!!. Forgot to say, I was all ready to leave this morning for my drive to Musselburgh, at eight o'clock(this was to be the first time I was taking the car...the last week I was at Uni, I went on the North Berwick train, but with no school play piece or bunting to hang out the window) and I couldn't find my car keys!!! Hunted high and low for them, then realised with a gunk that His Nibs had taken the keys(yes yes....we don't have a spare set!!!) to an early morning meeting in Hamilton....I got there on time, but my stress levels were showing in my bitten lips and hair like a burst fag!!! Hope everyone else has had a good pep day. I think I'm almost in checks....(the Victoria Sponge was a door stop right enough!!)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA hair like a burst fag !!!!
Can i tell u i went to see Chicago on Friday night ................ Im still beaming, LOVE LOVE LOVED IT !!!!!! XX

[quote name='Booty' date='Oct 12 2009, 09:15 PM' post='295352']
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA hair like a burst fag !!!!
Can i tell u i went to see Chicago on Friday night ................ Im still beaming, LOVE LOVE LOVED IT !!!!!! XX
[/quote

Ooooooooooooh!!!! You lucky wee thing. We were at another show in the Civic on Friday evening. Diplomacy and all that!! I'd have MUCH rather have been at Chicago, let me tell you. Isn't the dancing something else??? I've seen it a few times(as you know, because I've raved about it often!!) BTW, the Hamilton show is in a few weeks, and I'm doing the "corner". Let me know if you want to see it. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Love your thread , Christmas Fairy. Only you!!!!

So good to see you back on the forum,i know i definately missed you here,just been lurking a bit myself,you sound really motivated and that is great,good luck,

Lovely to see you back Emmjay

Emmjay is back and all is well with the world!!!

Hello Tigger and MargaretD...and AG..its so lovely to hear from you all.xxxxxxx
Today was less stressful than yesterday, but the drive to Musselburgh and back is really tiring. Moan over.
I bought sausages for the tea, and made toad in the hole. Unfortunately, it was not pep friendly(I don't think), but it was really tasty. I had 2 slices of Nimble toasted for breakfast(5 and a half checks), and my wee packed luncheon!!! Another 2 slices of Nimble with char grilled chicken(9 checks), a KitKat,(4checks) and a banana(EDB)...then a coffee in the afternoon break with a wee Milky Way equivelant(3 checks) Oh, I forgot the soup, from the bad, bad chefs that make scones and pancakes and sponges...... Carrot and Coriander, I'll check it for 3 checks...Then the toad(9 checks) , and the hole( 4 checks) and the half bap, which was really claggy half cooked dough(4 checks.) Total so far...and Special K,(Peter's portions....which must take me up to fifty checks ).
So, I'm having nothing else this evening. And I'm studying.

What an eventful early morning stushie we had.
Katie came into our room this morning to tell us that there was a live vole in her bedroom, brought in by Winnie the hunter... So I continued to lie in bed( ) while Peter trapped the wee creature under Katie's waste basket, then brought it through to our bedroom for me to admire it(at 4 in the morning!!!) before he set it free into the back garden.
Used his car to travel through to Edinburgh. Sheer luxury!! All my fillings remained secure, unlike the vibrations off my wee bone shaker....
2 slices of Nimble toasted for breakfast..and spread(5 checks)
Lunch...2 slices of Nimble and corned beef(7 checks), a choc mousse(4 checks), 2 small bounty bars, (8 checks remember...the vole!!)
Then afternoon coffee, with a Three Muskateers bar(no idea...its an imported American candy bar) so I'll check it at 10.
Small bowl of Special K. (4 checks)
Another sandwich and corned beef(7 checks)
And some rice, curry sauce, and some chicken....end of. Over my 50 checks.
Had a stressful day trying to learn algorythms, and masking, frequencies, and my head's nipping.
I won't have anything else to eat tonight.
n.b. I sat and listened in total amazement as a person I work with and who's at Uni with me, told lies about what her clinic duties are in ENT clinics. We should remain passive, as its the consultant's clinic, and my jaw dropped as she described how she works apace with the ENT consultants. When I pointed out(in a very light hearted way, )that we should be there to assist and not to contribute, she told efveryone I sit in the clinics and stare into space.........gobsmacking!!!!

well i hope u smacked her so hard that tomorrow she will have no option but to stare into space......or at least have threatened too !! (JOKING - violence is not acceptable )
Ohhhhhhhh whats the show this year ???????
and what does 'doing the corner' have u doing !!!!!! xx xx

I mean, DM, HOW can a person tell barefaced lies so confidently??? I still can't believe it. I was telling Peter, she sort of looks me right in the eye when she goes off on one, as if she's challenging me to say something. The thing is, she had better watch what she says about the consultants. Now THAT'S just foolish.
Anyhoo, the show is right up your street. Lots of singing and dancing and chorus movement. Any money, our Michael will be move perfect by the last night...you know the same eejit that does the macarena in Asda!!
The "corner" means I'll be directing the show(not producing, thats Irene and Betty.) Telling those powerful technicians with their fingers on the controls when to open and close the curtains, spotlight soloists, and generally light the stage, and cue the orchestra....you know....nae pressure. It'll take my mind off masking and bone conduction and rehabilitation and hearing losses and tympanic membranes.....but you know all about extra curricular study!!!
So do you fancy coming along??xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am there with bells on........oh and my dancing shoes !!
and my false lashes and glittery make up and 'high' hair, legwarmers and jazz hands ..........too much ????? I dont care, am excited !!!!. xx

You are such a wee maddie!!! Bells and whistles, leg warmers, all of it, particularly the jazz hands!!! They're doing stuff from the Jersey Boys, HSM, and....er......











Hairspray......ffffffffffst

High School Musical.....HOLY MOLY - i wouldnt be able to keep my niece in her chair - now she is a maddie ! haha

HAIRSPRAY - OHHHHHHH i watched it just the other day !. xx

Who was the smart arse who is responsible for the stressed--desserts backword thing??
If there's home made custard made in Scotland, I'll find it, or rather, it finds me.
I was making good food choices yesterday in the refectory, when I passed a hot plate section with battered deep fried fish and chips, SHARING a space with a jug of custard and a huge tray of chocolate pudding. I complained to the woman, poised with the tongs to serve the fish, and told her to remove the offending food forthwith..(well, I didn't hear myself SAY the words, so clearly, I must have spoken into my sternum, very quietly..) I served my own vegetable soup, and walked quickly to the cashier, and did an about turn so swiftly that several folk were caught in the backdraft...skidded to a halt at the hotplate, and without a word, the lady removed the clingfilm from the spout of the jug, cut a perfect square of cake, placed it in a little deep bowl, and poured the unctious canary yellow sweetness on top of the raised cake, handed the plate to me...........all without conversation. She is obviously psychic, and in the wrong job.
Stressed is under-rated. I look under pressure. I am living and breathing accoustic reflexes, and tympanograms. If anyone wants to know where the handle of Malleus is, I'm your man.
I washed 19 pairs of jeans on Saturday, 140 socks, 28 pairs of boxers....zzzzz....zzzz.....zzzzzz
But I made check free squash soup!!!
Peter's on the kitchen duty rota this week, so all the nutritional education in the world means nothing to this man who struggles in under the weight of tubs of ice cream, bogof chocolate biscuits, flying saucers, shoelaces, and Heinz Tomato soup....tonights dinner, which was ready for me coming in fron Edinburgh, was mashed potatoes, and sausages and onions...done the Wishy way!!! I ate it up like a wummin possessed.
Tomorrow, I'm being assessed on stuff...tonight, I can't study any more.
My pep is non existant.
Over and out.
Hope everyone else is better than I am at the moment.
Love to all.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

haha love your mans shopping list

Good morning everyone.
I'm really enjoying my day off today....made more soup, roasting tomatoes in the oven at the moment, a "whoops" pineapple from Asda this morning, was sliced and placed in an upside down sponge...low cal sugar substitute, low fat Lurpak, reduced cal Coconut milk, and some meat free sausages for later...
Bed stripped, and duvet cover and pillows outside trying to dry...
Played the piano for a wee while...I hear Jamie Cullem...the world hears Les Dawson, and I don't care today!
Passed my three assessments, and now looking to getting my head round an assignment for early January. So I'd like to have it done and dusted before Christmas.
Am now going to have a bit of lunch with Katie, and I have my sensible eating head on today....plus the fact the weans have eaten all the biscuits and cheese!!!!!!!!
Aren't kids wonderful for pep??

Chuckling away at your post Emmjay lovely to have you back

Ach...its what goes on im my head.
Aud..the Moffat-eer Muskateer..
I keep dipping in and out, as often as I can, and follow as many posts as I can. Loved your Take That disclosure...imagine if you'd been there yourself..

I'd have probably been so "star struck" I'd have been a blathering idiot

Lovely to see you posting again Emmjay - in the nicest possible way, you never fail to make me laugh

Friday nights are the most dangerous nights, pep-wise. I start off with good intentions, i.e., chicken tikka, and a spoonful of rice, then a dribble of Korma sauce to liven it up...then before I know it, I'm sitting on the table in amongst the leftovers...not really caring at that point.
I was so tired last night, that I slept throught The Sixth Sense, The Barefoot Contessa, and Jonathan Ross...
This morning, I'm deciding how to prioritise the laundry( a job only I can do, apparently) ...since I typed the last statement, about twenty minutes has elapsed, and the laundry has been sorted, and the ironing pile has been reduced cos I've removed non-ironable items, and apart from the "colours", its not too bad today.
Just trying to decide what to buy at the supermarket for lunch, and for tomorrow's dinner.
Think we'll have some bought soup(no time to make it for lunchtime) and cold meat and tomatoes and ciabatta, and some sort of slow cook effort for tomorrow's dinner(casserole with rump steak and winter vegetables...)
Its show week next week, so I have to try to be as organised as I can.
Because its a technical rehearsal this evening, I'll be missing Strictly, AND the X Factor. Thats a bummer!!!
Anyhoo....hope everyone has a lovely week-end, and I'll pop back in and see what's happening tomorrow evening.

Emmjay it's funny how only you are capable of doing the laundry because it's exactly the same happens in my house.

I'm convinced that they think that there is a 'washing fairy' who sorts it, washes it, dries it, irons it and returns it to the wardrobe for them, just to find it discarded on the floor almost straight away

I'm still here. Another week at uni under my belt.
I'm too tired to write War and Peace tonight. I'll swoop in tomorrow...after I've been to class(did I just write that???)

Nice to see you Emmjay and CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of your grandson

Thanks Rita. We're delighted that he's made it into the world safe and sound. He's five weeks early, and was born by C-section. So, we hope that he'll be able to venture on his own in a few days.
And there I was...at the class this morning. Listening to the maddest CM on the planet, singing her way through parodies of Abba, Tammy Wynette, and Fame.
"Scottish Slimmers...here I go again...my my just how much I've missed you.."
"Stand by your Plan.."
How motivational is that?? The tears were running down my face this morning.
So..the weight gain isn't as bad as I feared. But its still a weight gain, and if only I could lose the excess, and maintain at two stones lighter, I can prove, empirically, that I'm good at maintaining!!!!!
I bought the Festive cooking planner, and it all looks good to me.
Peter has decided to accompany me on this new weight loss excursion, and he drove past Roll-x(a wee "to die for" fast food place near our house, with the best rolls and sausage, and rolls and omelette...) and has just sat in front of me with three home made cheese rolls and pickles!
He made me a hot chocolate(with 1% milk, and at least a half pound of drinking chocolate...) I need a drink of water now. Still, it was made for me(he says...) so I can't really complain.
We're just about to go into the town for a look in Hamleys.... We're planning to buy a "wee brother" baby for Niamh, because her wee nose is out of joint already. Bless.
So, glamourous Nanny it will be.
Got my hair done(who am I kidding....coloured to take at least thirty years off me..) and we went out last night to the Theatre Royal so see a friend in Anything Goes. We got caught in traffic, couldn't get a parking space, my tights ripped getting out the car, I peeled the patent leather off the heel of one of my shoes, after slipping off the kerb, trying to see where the tights were ripped, and we didn't have enough cash to get the tickets(£34.00) and Peter had forgotten to put his debit card in his wallet, he thought I had mine, I had changed bags and had no purse...we were dressed to the nines...so we slunk out the box office telling fibs that we were going to look for an ATM(ha ha), and decided to go to the Quay to try to get into, The Men who stare at Goats. Too late for the 7.30 show, and we'd have had to wait until half nine...same went for A Christmas Carol....so we left there, went back to the car which was parked between two other cars which were steamed up with shenanigans....looked at each other, decided we had too many layers to fight through, and ended up in Ikea. Bought two duvet sets, a heavy frying pan and skillet, which are not ideal for the man with the withered arm to carry...two replacement wine glasses, napkins, a napkin holder, a lazy susan, and two glass cookie jars. All bought in that serious way that only two well dressed but completely out of place shoppers could do of a Friday evening. We looked like Mahleen and Boycie from Fools and Horses.....
The kids were suprised to see us struggling in at ten o'clock with a huge blue carrier...Thankfully, we didn't buy a rug.
And half way round, the restaurant closed, so we couldn't even get a coffee and a suspicious Scandinavian cake.
So....pep starts as soon as I finish reading everything I imagine I could make this evening, but supermarket shopping will be done tomorrow, so I know in my heart it will be something NOT pep friendly....
Pep starts with the truth.
A fish supper...then I'll be good to go.
BTW, you should see the size of my jars......(take that whatever way you like.. )

Hello Mrs!

I was MIA too. It was so damned quiet in here I kind of got fed up. And then i kept getting fed until I am now like Santa himself. Without beard. Though maybe the 'tache

Congratulations on the new grandson!

Must meet you for a wee coffee soon. Decaf for me. Oh and I have three words to say to you: Tinderbox custard tart. I would skip dinner for it.

xx

I'll see your Tinderbox Custard Tart and raise you a Kemper and Jones Chocolate Brownie...there is an excuse for lying on the floor of said institution, kicking your legs like a big horse, and eating in a total stupor...

Thank you for making me laugh out loud Emmjay, I can actually picture you dressed up and in Ikea.

Congratulations on your new grandson.

Day off today and have done absolutely nothing, apart from get washed and tidy the kitchen...essentially "something", I suppose, but not anything major like wielding an iron. Dealing with a situation at work, so I tend to go "into" myself and mull everything over. But a line in the sand has been drawn.
SS Morrocan Chicken and cous cous for dinner tonight. Used my new skillet pan to make tomato sauce for the cous cous, ad its fantastic to use. Heats up to a ridiculous temperature...right along the handle, so I'll remember the next time!!
Nipping round to the supermarket, and repeating my new mantra.."NAE CHOCOLATE BISCUITS...NAE CHOCOLATE BISCUITS.."

Weigh in tomorrow, and I'll post any losses, sts, or gains, but after tonight's curry, I'll be happy with a sts!!

Good luck for wi tomorrow Emmjay!!