IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, try try try again and again (and again...)

[anjuschka]

Hi Jo,

please let us hear from you, hope you're doing well. Did the week off for planning go okay? Maybe it's all done and you put you feet up which is really what you should do whilst on holiday! Have you got any plans / visitors for August? I know your summers are always busy.

Anyway you've been missed and we''d love to hear from you.

Anja

 

[trudyc]

Happy wedding day if we don't hear from u before then!!!! Missing ur words of wisdom xxxxx

 

[Maintainer]

Hello diary, and thank you for my messages ladies!

Back from holiday and I've been hiding from you, although not from myself. I'm ever cruel to myself (and even punished myself for my atrocious behaviour on the last day of my holiday by trying on my wedding dress - which predictably is now too small!).

Still, that was 10 days ago... and while the scales are still showing scarey numbers, I'm ok and plodding on with my own plan...

 

[Maintainer]

Anja - I'm currently in the city working in the suffocating heat while my other half suns himself at the house with his daughter and grandkids! Nice for those who can, huh?! Otherwise nothing to report. Might you be heading my way?

Trudy - I can assure you that I have no words of wisdom (other than "do as I say not as I do" perhaps ). You're the one who has succeeded...

Ellie - no pretty church for me, as my other half already made that long walk with someone else. Strictly town hall only, but in two languages to double the length of the proceedings and probably bore any bilingual guests silly! They read out several articles of the French civil code (zzzz), all relating to children and bringing them up (no mention of kittens!), so it'll be a big (ZZZZZ!)

Sarah - all is actually going rather well. I've been chatting to Vicky, who's also tying the knot much later this year, and I was pleased to see how many of her "to do" list is DONE for me Some details left - mainly to do with the 19 for snack lunch and 25 for a BBQ the day before! Oh and 23 back to the house after the event!

Left to my own devices this week (and Mon to Wed evenings next week), I thought it safer to continue my healthy eating thingy PLUS unlimited fruit (which of course I stretch to unbelievable limits).

I will stay away from Dukan though. Just six weeks to go... (if at two weeks to go I'm still a wobbly blob, I'll lose a limb. Oh no that won't help... ok I'll have my lips sewn together!!)

 

[anjuschka]

Hiya,

nice to hear from you! Heading your way - alas not, but we should have done, as you saw the summary weather forecast to Monday for the North Norfolk coast is really quite bad. I'll be packing the coats and wellies tomorrow, and the craft kits and drawing pens for indoor entertainment! And my knitting! (and the sacks and biscuits)

Yes my personal diary is quiet too - for similar reasons - everyone do as I say not as I do ;-). I am being too relaxed, so a weekend with a party or two is not made up by a suitable restrained week. My parents were here so we had takeaway (their choice) and an evening of Raclette (DD1s birthday meal), and of course there was DD1s birthday party. Maybe I should compose an update... Been at home with the kids this week, managed a nearly PP day (sneaked some purple carrots fresh from the garden) and and several days of restraint to about mid-afternoon when I caved in ot offering of Birthday cake (another party) or chocolate biscuits (made by the kids)... So I'm stable but still more than two kilos over, but the nurse today (check-up) seemed to think everything is quite okay. And I am still running ;-)

Glad to hear your wedding prep is on track. 6 weeks is PLENTY of time, I'm sure you can throw a fabulous BBQ, can you enlist any help - are you getting caterers / going to a restaurant? As you know I organised our wedding in about 8weeks. Ok ok I know it was simple: Registry office, minimal bureaucracy, off-the-peg dress and suit, small family (13person) for a restaurant lunch and 40+ for Champagne and chocolate cake (I made that) at home in the evening. I had actually calculated available floor space in our living room and kitchen to check if we could comfortably accommodate them all and it was fine! We all had a great relaxed time, it was exactly the right thing for us!

I'm still reading around on the subject of healthy eating and losing weight and yes, I think that is the way forward. Limit the carbs a bit, (now we know the conso limits), stick to fresh fruit & Veg and avoid prepared food. Esp anything over-processed and with sugar and refined carbs. I do like the 'avoid anything with more than 5 ingredients' rule Anyway you're already there, so I'm sure you can make it back to your dress size too! Only eat when you're hungry and stop when you feel full (I'm still working on those two some of the time!!)

 

[ellie1969]

can you not get them to change the ode to kittens

 

[Maintainer]

Morning all - it's been a while I know but time is speeding up now.

41.5°C in the shade this weekend at the house. A real nightmare to get anything done! Thankfully heatwave breaking today cos I really need to sleep at night! The office is lovely with aircon and then you have to leave! boo!

Weight wise, I'm staying off the scales but seem to be losing. If I can get back to 72K for my wedding, I'll have to be pleased with that. Will weigh in on Friday.

The arrangements I mentioned for the day before the wedding aren't being catered, no. I'll have 19 I think at the house at lunchtime, so we'll get baguettes, cheese, ham etc, and plenty of salad in for those of us who don't eat bread any more! Icecream or fruit for dessert (and I bought some cake mixtures, I admit, if I have time). I wish I could do things like that now, freeze, and know they'd be lovely!
Dinner we'll be 25, and I'm putting things in the freezer now. Steaks, homemade sausages, merguez, prawns, scallops, chicken... corn on the cob. Served with salad. One neighbour is making me a big mousse au chocolat, another some gateaux au yaourt, and a third some egg custard tarts. I thought I'd make a couple of banofee pies too. (And I'll eat fruit, yeah right!).

Saturday after the ceremony is savoury nibbles from the bakery... then 22 of us to a chateau for lunch. Evening a caterer is making me savoury tarts and cakes for 24 and I have ordered a traditional pièce montée French wedding cake (choux pastry balls filled with confectioner's custard, dipped in crispy toffee, and stuck together into a pyramid! a real tooth breaker!)

I'll try to avoid all for obvious reasons!

 

[CHRISR]

Hi Jo, lovely to catch up and read your wedding day plans and of course the delish food planned. Merguez (takes me back to the South of France)

no fruit on your wedding day please!

'congratulations' x

 

[ceridwen]

Wow, just reading about all that lovely food is making my mouth water. I hope you have a fantastic day, it sounds idyllic, especially with the meal at a chateau (I'm just an old romantic...)

 

[alottolose]

I'm trying not to linger on the ideas of the various food stuffs Jo it only sounds delicious, especially the "toothbreaker"

I hope you have a wonderful day xxx

 

[CheeseGirl]

Hope it's the most beautiful day of your life

 

[scrumper]

hun hope its all going to plan ....hope to catch you before the big day if not have a truely wonderful day and lots of love and happiness to you both xxxxx

 

[Maintainer]

Thanks again guys... I'll try to pop in again this week, but time is really flying. (Being busy at work is such a drag when I've so much to do...!!). To be honest, everything that can be organised in advance is. I'm on holiday from Friday evening, and have four days to get the house fit for visitors who start to arrive Wed lunchtime. We'll be six in the house Wed night, eight Thursday through Sunday. 11 more will be eating with us Friday lunchtime, and 17 more in the evening! So the Friday is the biggest organisational hassle for me really! Particularly as there's little I can do in advance but organise on paper!


I received a generous gift token for a perfume/makeup shop on the Champs Elysées, which I spent entirely on Yves St Laurent makeup for the day! They made me up too and, while I didn't buy the eye colours they chose for me (preferring my initial choice), I went along with everything else. It was a great experience.

Foodwise, I'm doing pretty well in that I'm keeping off the "rubbish" but am eating plenty of fruit (and having one starch portion and one dessert each week) so the weight isn't falling off as I'd have hoped! Ah well.

Exercise wise, my daily 5-7km morning walk still happens each day and I miss it should for any reason I not do it (rain, luggage to carry!). I've found it also has helped with my stress levels which are pretty high - mainly due to work!

Should I not find time to log on this week, thanks ladies for all your support. Even though I'll not be the slim bride I'd hoped, at least I've not been binge eating and didn't run back to Dukan at the first hurdle...

Special thanks to Anja for a lovely email
x

 

[CHRISR]

Have a fabulous day and Jo you will be a stunning bride slim or not -


to not binge when stress is high is a feat in itself never mind working full time and planning a wedding ........... 'CONGRATULATIONS' for the coming weekend x

 

[alottolose]

I totally agree with Chris

whilst us women are our own harshest critics, the men folks are with us knowing us at pre weight loss, during weight loss and beyond

I am sure your Hubby-to-be loves you no matter what size you are so much so he wanted to "put a ring on it"

enjoy your day lovely lady xxx

 

[ellie1969]

hope you enjoy your day xx

 

[Maintainer]

Thanks for everything ladies. While I didn't make my wedding goal target, on the positive side I've not reverted to Dukan in over six months now I reckon (can't even remember, that's progress!), and haven't binged in over a month either...

Good luck with your goals and see you in October!

 

[anjuschka]

Sorry been awol as usual,

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

 

[sarafvrm]

Fantastic that you've been eating so sensibly, and are walking every day! Those things are far more important than what the scales or the tape measure say.

Now have a wonderful wedding, and many happy years of life with your husband! xx

 

[Maintainer]

Good morning diary, and to all those who remember me (I hardly recognise anyone in the other section!),
So I said "oui" and I'm now a married woman! The day itself went brilliantly. Any worries I had were far more to do with the six house guests for a week, and having 20 for lunch and 25 for BBQ dinner the day before the wedding and having the weather change at the wrong time! It fortunately behaved the Friday, wedding day AND village car boot sale on the Sunday. I had the obligatory three mess ups beforehand (I requested to change mobile phone operator keeping my previous number, which usually takes ages, but they did it so quickly I had no phone as new Sim was here and I was there! Then 36 hours before guests arrived, we discovered our septic tank was full (ahem!). Then 12 hours before, that our gas bottle had run out! aaah city people playing at country life!) All was thankfully sorted in time and I could relax and enjoy the event itself.

As per usual, I lost the plot foodwise the week afterwards on holiday at the house with my guests part of it but am sticking to my "no return to Dukan" rule as it really hasn't helped me in the past with my losing weight so quickly yet learning nothing about being reasonable around food when not on Cruise. So I'm back to my healthy salads and fruit, which lost me 11 stone in the first place, but am tending to stay away from carbs this week. I see that some of you have turned to strict Conso which is probably a good plan for me once I've got my head and body fully back into gear but I don't want to return to protein overdosing which I tend to do on Dukan. I think I'm more acceptant now that, having weighed 22 stone, around 11 stone is the best I can hope to consolidate and stabilise even if Dukan allowed me to see the 10 stone mark.

So here's a little pic for you, and I'll be around and about sporadically...