The last stone mission......ROLL UP!!!!

[Maintainer]

Claire - unless your weight is VERY VERY stable (which is unusual with water fluctuations, monthly and intestinal issues etc), and your weighing scale VERY accurate, I don't think 1/4lb is anything to worry about! I can vary a heck of a lot, as you know, but I see most other people do from one day to the other just for the slightest little thing.

PP is just for the day today. I've been PL'ing with 1 x fruit (ie not in ketosis) the past two days. Tomorrow, and henceforth, I'm back consolidating/stabilising, so can pretty much do what I like. I'm not back at my low weight yet, but feeling good at this weight too so not unduly bothered (funnily enough!). It just shows that there's a heck of a lot of mindstuff in this diet/weight/how we look lark.

I was late to bed (for me) last night by the time those penalties were missed, yet STILL forced myself to get up early as planned to walk to work (transport strike, no problems on metro though, but didn't want to change my mind so forced myself! Very glad too to have done it. I'll not walk home unless I have to - no sense in shortening one's evening unnecessarily.

 

[clairejen]

Hi, we are gearing up for a long weekend off work, which will be dedicated to the show but at least no customers to deal with. My weight is still the same so maybe just maybe I'll be under goal tomorrow. But, as you say Joanne, does it matter. I'm happy where I am too, except for my thighs and they've been horrid all my life so probably won't change now!

Still no news from the agency so I think that one is a lost cause. Pity but there you go. I spent last night making fetters for the show, they look quite effective and will be better when painted black. Today I need to make fake arrows and a couple of flags. I also have to go to a funeral, it will be very poorly attended as the lady had few relatives and had been in a home for a long time.

Are you still suffering strikes? And are there any problems getting petrol? I heard on the news that there had been port blockades but wasn't sure how much difference it was making.

 

[Maintainer]

I am very jealous of your Bank Holiday weekend (yes yes I know!!). I do feel Claire that we do have to learn perhaps to accept ourselves now as we are, 1/4lb and all (more in my case), and stop "sweating the small stuff" as the book says... I was disappointed in seeing that numbers on the scale this morning hadn't gone down more after a PP day, but then reminded myself of how good I felt yesterday so what's my problem?!

The strike can't have been followed particularly on the underground because I had no problem getting home. The SNCF trains caused commuters problems of course. (grumble grumble - socialists - they usually find something to complain about - I didn't even bother reading as to why they were striking yesterday!)

Petrol here, although astronomically priced like in the UK, I haven't noticed a shortage but I don't go up towards the ports when I travel but East... I'm off tonight (HURRAY) so I'll let you know! Just hope we make it to the house (and to hypermarket tomorrow morning) without having to make an even more expensive motorway fill up!

Eur 1.46 is the price today where we buy it in the country (which at today's pound exchange rate is £1.16!).

Hope your day isn't overshadowed by the funeral. Enjoy your weekend!
<waving to Tash!>

 

[clairejen]

I finally heard from the agency, and I've got the job - temporary to try me out with conversion to permanent if all goes well. I start Wednesday and will work the same hours as the girl who's leaving during the hand-over period. He'll discuss holiday with me when I start, I'm hoping to get at least one week of the two we have booked at the end of June. So tomorrow night I will celebrate, David is not overly happy becasue he'll have to do most of what I've been doing in the business, although since he always moans I never do any work it shouldn't be much hardship for him!

Joanne, that's about the same as we are paying here, and it is going up every week. Have a lovely weekend, mine will be occupied with the show but there is rain threatened anyway so I won't be missing much. I'm with you on the scales thing, I'm looking forwards to stopping the daily weighing but don't feel "safe" yet.

Tash, how's it going, any sweet words from the scales yet?

 

[tashy100]

Wow!! - Congratulations Claire - well done!!! Bet your OH will soon realise how much work you actually do!! Ha! serve him right!

I hope you get all your holiday though.

I am paying £1.28 per litre diesel

No niceness from the scales I'm afraid am upping the exercise to running to see if that helps.

Have a great weekend - must be the start of your performances next week? Hope the rehearsals go well.

 

[clairejen]

Thanks Tash, it's only temp to start with to see how I get on and fit in but hopefully will become perm after a month or two. I doubt I'll get both weeks but I'm hoping to keep one or there'll be yet more for David to moan about.

Your diesel prices are awful, I can't see why they are any more than petrol. I'm sure the weight will drop soon, are you varying your calories or keeping to one level? Show starts on Tuesday, we desperately need to sell more tickets as things are very slow so far, I'm hoping that people will all decide to come at the last minute and give us reasonable audiences.

My weight - still the same, 9st 7.25lbs. So long as it doesn't go up I'm happy.

 

[clairejen]

9st6lbs this morning, the least I have been for about nine years I think. Must be the stress of everything going on at the minute, if it is then there will be plenty more for the coming week! I had some interesting news today, it looks like one of the girls in the show works in the office at the place I am going to, quite a coincidence since there are only half a dozen people at that location of the firm. It will be great to go in to a familiar face, she's a lovely person and should be easy to work with.

 

[Maintainer]

WOW CLAIRE!!! Congratulations! You're right that it's probably the stress AND your incredible willpower too.

I'm really happy too for you that you got the job you so wanted, although still can't quite understand why they can't/won't honour your holiday. Maybe once you start and get your feet under the table, so to speak, you'll be able to talk them round (although I fear your holiday is quite imminent...).

Tash - sorry to hear the scales aren't singing your song... do you think you're eating too much? Or just that you're at a plateau?

I was delighted not to listen to the many voices serenading me yesterday afternoon (suggesting I OVEREAT, do a DD today to compensate etc etc), and although I did eat plenty, it was all "diet oriented" food. Even in the car, while OH ate chocolate - I encouraged him - I courageously ate my apple and felt GOOD for it. Yet ONE KILO UP ON THE SCALES!!

There's no justice!! I know I never drink as much water at the weekend, and did have a lot of veg and salad, so probably have some water retention as usual. Real drag this old water thing. As soon as the weather warms up, I suffer. I had to take my shoes off again in the car last night!!

Good luck Claire...

 

[clairejen]

Hi, the scales are up a bit this morning, 9st7.5lbs, but that's good for a Monday and we did have a big take-away last night. Joanne, that rise must be infuriating after such good behaviour, I'm sure it will disappear quickly. Have you got your veggies planted now? We have several things in but the ups and downs in temperature here haven't helped. The holiday/job thing is a bit tricky, when it was a choice between me and another candidate the agency said that one of their problems with me was the holiday, so I offered to cut it back. If I'd held out for the whole holiday then I probably wouldn't have got the job. I'll find out what is going to happen when I start on Wednesday.

Dress rehearsal for the show tonight and opening night tomorrow, always a strange time for the director as I will be handing over responsibility for the show to the stage manager and cast. I trust they will do me proud, it's been a hard slog but we are there.

 

[tashy100]

Good luck for the show Claire - am sure it will be a success and looking forward to news and pictures!!

I must be eating too much - if its a plateau then its a ruddy long one!!!!

 

[clairejen]

Thanks for the good luck wishes Tash, it is so strange not being on stage myself, all I can do now is watch and panic. Plateaus can go on a long time, when I was dieting on JUDDD I was stuck on one for three weeks!

Hope that kilo has gone again Joanne. I'm 9st7lbs this morning, but I'm not taking much note of the scales atm because all the stresses and weird eating patterns I'm currently having will affect the real weight. By next weekend I should be in some kind of routine again.

Today I have to get some work things tidied up and check out anything I need to know for tomorrow. I don't start until 9.30 because the girl who is doing the job now works 9.30 to 2.45. I'll probably feel really nervous but I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[Maintainer]

Morning ladies, and GOOD LUCK for tonight Claire! oooh good luck for tomorrow too! Hope you still manage to post daily and that this going out to work lark doesn't interfere too much with your internet life!

Tash - if ever I hit a plateau (in my previous diet), I'd change something (less red meat or something). Usually worked for me. I'd advise an eating diary (with times). Check out at what times you eat... sometimes eating too late in the day can have an effect. Good luck!

I'm down a bit but determined not to do extra PP days to counter the rise which I caused by overeating! That wasn't the aim of the plan and, at 1.6K from target, I'm not going to risk my health and go for another trip into ketosis... So I'm sticking to veggies and salads and going for the healthier eating route, even though it'll be slower. It'll be more maintainable too. Tomorrow is the weekly PP but the other six days of any given week won't be. I'm seeing more and more people fall by the wayside on this stabilisation lark on the site I'm using... somewhat depressing admittedly! So am looking at adapting the best of "what I did before" to stabilise with the best of "D***n". Who knows? I might get a book written one day!

For the veggies, Claire, yes we planted lots four weekends ago, then more two weekends ago. However, not much activity given the amount planted so if not much sprouted (or whatever the term is) by the time we go next, the weekend after next, we'll replant. The weather really hasn't been ideal in fact ever since they went in! Shucks! Pouring and pouring down right now... looks like November out of my window (and I'm in a short sleeved tshirt and light cotton trousers - ever determined to get SOME wear out of my summer wardrobe!)

Will be thinking of you biting your nails tonight, Claire...

 

[clairejen]

Thanks for the crossed fingers Joanne, at least I have the two nerve wracking experiences close together so only one lot of panic for them both! Stabilisation and maintenance are the hardest things in dieting, it's not just the D***n people who have trouble, CD is a total nightmare. I think I've been lucky here, JUDDD suits me so well and the maintenance is super simple. Are you doing Wednesday PP rather than Thursday now? Weather is cold and wet here too, and I am despairing at my "wok wardrobe", having worked from home in jeans etc for years the hangers are rather empty. Trousers and skirts are fine, it's the tops which I'm lacking, and the shops aren't helping me.

 

[Maintainer]

Frankly I expect you'll be SO relieved to see tonight's performance go so well that tomorrow will be a breeze!

Gosh yes clothes - do you know whether they have a strict dress policy? Here it's very relaxed. If you're short on nice tops, perhaps a jacket would dress up an otherwise less dressy top? Particularly if you fear airconditioning! Here it's warm outside, despite the rain, but inside the temperatures varies a lot so I try to layer...

I did Wed PPs the two weeks we had Bank Holidays on Thursdays here for pure ease, but I'm doing PP this Wednesday because of a secretarial meeting over lunch hour Thursday. I'll eat my own salad with everyone else but didn't want comments about still being on that weird diet!

It's true that stabilisation isn't an easy thing; quite aside from the spanners we ourselves throw in the works (speaking from experience here!!)! Ah well I shall persevere!

Look on the bright side Claire - at least you're not despairing at your wardrobe as nothing fits, as might have been the case last year! I'm sure you have something suitable until you've checked out the dress form!

I couldn't resist keeping this email from our NY office outlining what we are NOT allowed to wear:

- Cargo pants or army fatigues
- Shorts
- Mini-skirts
- Stretch pants or leggings
- Tank or tube tops, halters or other backless tops
- Spaghetti straps and see-through blouses
- Feather or fur boas
- Any top that does not cover the midriff
- Team logo shirts
- Sweat suits
- White T-shirts with v-neck or crew neck sweaters
- Flip-flops
- Hiking boots, sneakers, bedroom slippers
- Baseball caps (worn backwards or otherwise)
- Body piercing other than earrings
- Shirt tails -- tuck them in

Finally, please remember that you should have a suit in your office closet at all times for client meetings, court appearances, etc.

 

[tashy100]

I couldn't resist keeping this email from our NY office outlining what we are NOT allowed to wear:

- Cargo pants or army fatigues
- Shorts
- Mini-skirts
- Stretch pants or leggings
- Tank or tube tops, halters or other backless tops
- Spaghetti straps and see-through blouses
- Feather or fur boas
- Any top that does not cover the midriff
- Team logo shirts
- Sweat suits
- White T-shirts with v-neck or crew neck sweaters
- Flip-flops
- Hiking boots, sneakers, bedroom slippers
- Baseball caps (worn backwards or otherwise)
- Body piercing other than earrings
- Shirt tails -- tuck them in

Finally, please remember that you should have a suit in your office closet at all times for client meetings, court appearances, etc.

Hahaha!!!

I'll think of you next time I turn up to work in my mini skirt, halter neck midriff exposing top and feather boa arty0011:arty0011: - not forgetting of course my tongue stud!!!!!

 

[tashy100]

Thanks for the diary tip Joanne will give it a go.

Hope it went well last night Claire and best of luck for today

 

[clairejen]

Hi everyone, got up earlier than planned because the dog threw up on the duvet! What a great start to the day, luckily it was only the cover which suffered and that is in the machine as I type. That list mkes me giggle, only the Americans would do that. And they haven't said no rubber or sequins. Do you think someone once went to work in a feather boa?

Show was fine last night. small audience but had some good responses from them. There should be more in tonight and I am keeping fingers crossed that the rest of the run will pick up now we have got started.

Good idea on the layering Joanne, I'm playing it safe this morning with black trousers and a fitted blouse (beige with a thin white stripe). Foodwise I have been all over the place so the scales saying 9st5.25lbs this morning was rather misleading, as soon as I get a meal I'll be back to nine and a half.

Tash - I'd love to see a pic of you in the Joanne-inspired work outfit!!

Have a good day, I'll pop by when I get back.

 

[Maintainer]

heeee! The worst thing is that apparently each and every one of the above items has been seen in our NY office (open 24/7 so perhaps the night shift are less "business casual" and more "casual"!).

I wonder how Claire's first day is going... and whether the show went well last night. I bet she'll sleep well tonight!!

Protein day for me today which I never mind as I get to treat myself on scallops, prawns and mussels at lunchtime! Tough diet eh?! I will miss my apple this evening though, always a tough one...

 

[clairejen]

Hi everyone, sorry to have been MIA, I didn't get on here before going off to work, will try tomorrow. Work has been OK, the girls are really nice and one brought her dog in today which was fun. The system is pretty complex and is taking me a while to get my head around, the work itself is fine. The girl training me won't be in tomorrow so it will be my big chance to mess up bigtime!

The show went really well last night, a good house and they loved it, our area rep from NODA (thats the National Operatic and Dramatic Ass) was bowled overby the show. I came home totally hyped up, so was late to bed again. I'm sure I'll survive the week but it will be bed by 10.00pm on Sunday night. Weightwise I'm still low, 9st 5.5lbs, and clothes are feeling a bit loose. I'll see how things are after I've been at work a couple of weeks but losing a bit before a holiday is never a bad idea. I've compromised on a single week away, tbh with Cassie not walking well it is probably better that way.

How are you both?

 

[tashy100]

Glad work seems to be going well - if the people are nice then thats half the battle!

Good news about the show and you must feel great floating around at 9/5.5!!

Am off work today as its half term and only a half day tomorrow - been nice weather today too so thats a bonus.

Scales have shifted a bit so thats good too!!