What day is it?

No, seriously. What day is it? I have a habit of forgetting what day it is when I'm on holiday, so it is little surprise that I have no clue of the day or date by half way through the first week of Summer. I do, however, know that I turned 29 on Monday and that I have a year to plan my 30th including all the logistics of getting musicians there on the same date (no easy task, I'll tell you) so I better start soon.

I'm a little bored. It's not that I have nothing to do. There is plenty to be getting done in this house, from washing to dishes to clearing and cleaning other rooms. So. Much. Stuff. But that can wait another few days, I reckon. We did have plans to do the garden this week while Mister is off but, alas, the weather is against us. Rain, humidity, and threats of thunder are enough to put me off a task I didn't really want to do in the first place. But here's hoping it's better tomorrow so that we can just get on and do it.

I must admit, I'm just filling in time while waiting to make dinner. It saves me from raiding the cupboards and kitchen for junk so I guess it's a bonus. I knew there was a reason to this blog. It keeps my hands busy!

Currently, I'm looking up recipes, sitting typing this and watching Nanny McPhee. I did watch Mary Poppins earlier with Little Miss and she really enjoyed it. It's also one of my absolute favourite films ever made, not just in terms of Disney. You cannot beat Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke together. True chemistry. We watched the new one on Monday night and it was a bit emotional since I share a lot in common with the children and could see my dad in Michael. There were a few tears, both sad and happy. But enough about that. I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

I guess I better go and get my pans out and make some nice smells in the house.

Get your mind out of the gutter...

Studying and Summer Plans

As you won't be aware, I'm studying for an SVQ in Playwork. While I'm really enjoying it, I had forgotten how stressful studying can be. It's even more of a strain these days with work, home life, housework and a 3 year old added into the equation. Why did we all wish to be older and GROWN UP?

Trying to find the time to do everything requires a delicate balance in my life, and let's be honest, I haven't got the best balance in the world at the best of times. I'm wobbly and trip over myself. So balancing all of this together has been no mean feat. So far, I've been managing, but by gosh I'm glad it's the holidays. I'm well overdue some time to relax and let my mind unwind.

That won't be happening this week though. We have plans to do our garden and sort out the forest it has become. Quite honestly, it's embarrassing but I spotted a garden just a few houses away from us that is a little bit more overgrown than ours so I don't feel quite so bad. But it's gotta change. I want to be able to spend time in our garden over the summer, let Laura go out to play in it and generally enjoy my time off. It will also be nicer to look out over. So I think we need to come up with a plan.

For the rest of summer, I need to also come up with a plan to gut the entire house. I'm thinking a room per week, with weekends off since I'm away most of them anyway. I hope this method works because there is honestly so much crap to get rid of, it's daunting. The charity shops around us will be delighted though, I'm sure. But a lot of it will be getting recycled or going to the dump as it's no use to anyone these days. I promise to recycle as much of it as I can, including electrical items, paper and clothing. It might also prompt me to keep losing weight if I don't have any clothes to wear...

I do have group on Tuesday morning and I signed up for a 6 week countdown to keep me inspired and committed but I don't think I'll have a problem with that since I'm enjoying what I'm eating and definitely not hungry.

But more on that in another post. I do digress somewhat.

A Fresh Start

Sometimes in life, you need to take a breath, dust yourself down and start again. So that's what I've done. You see, I'm a chronic dieter and binge eater. I've tried Slimming World, I've tried Calorie Counting. I've even tried starvation. Don't do it. Just don't. After a few months away from Slimming World and eating like a complete pig with sugar cravings to match, last weekend I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get my lardy backside back to the grind, maybe shift some weight. After a bit of googling and some coercing from others, I finally dragged myself out of the house before 9.30AM and attended a local morning group.

I'm so glad I did.

I have my focus back, and I'm accepting my new (again) way of eating as just the way my life will be most of the time. I've eaten well, maybe not drunk enough but baby steps, and I think I should at least get a 1lb loss. I know doesn't sound like much for a Slimming World member's first week, but as long as it's a minus, I'll be happy.

I do feel a bit happier in myself, and maybe a little healthier. I know my sugar craving is WAY down and that's a good thing in itself. I've tried to make the best choices and I've not missed anything from my diet, so hopefully I'm onto a winner this time round. I have quite a distance to go before I reach my target but if I can reach it within a year, I'll be delighted and I will know that I have reached it in a safe and manageable way, which will hopefully mean I can maintain the weight loss for good.

I figured I would start blogging again as a way to note down my musical and food endeavours that might ensure I am held accountable for all my actions. One can but hope.

The one thing I really notice this time around is the fact that as soon as I'm back on plan, the hunger pangs start. Maybe it's because I'm constantly thinking about food. Or because subconsciously I want the bad stuff and because I don't eat it, my hunger won't subside. I'm not sure. But I definitely find it difficult to stop eating. I do, though. As soon as I'm satisfied, I stop. Although this usually coincides with the end of the meal, oddly enough. I just need to make sure I reach for the right foods between meals. Fruit and veg or something including those that is low syn.

For example? I'm hungry right now. I had two pork steaks and a large salad with leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, pickles and picked onions on it. I've had a drink, as well as a coffee and a cereal bar, but the rumbles are still there. Maybe I'm lacking carbs today. Good thing we are having a roast dinner tonight. I might have wasted away by then!