Summer Solstice Sensation

maman

Lovely positive post LL. How wonderfully creative you are with the shirts!

Totally agree about signs of spring, loving the crocuses, snowdrops and lambstail catkins I'm seeing.

Thanks for asking about my leg. The obligatory 7 days resting was up yesterday and most of the tightness and pain is gone. I'm still being careful because I'm worried about opening the wound. Stitches come out next week.

Had a lovely evening out tonight with old friends. Dinner, theatre and drinks (rather too many:o). We saw a good comedy set in the 50's starring Jane Asher (and not an iced cake in sight:D). Don't think it was good for my SW plan but we enjoyed it and back to it tomorrow. I think SW call it a flexi day!:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Well - not much to report. Had a difficult day yesterday, kept bursting into tears. So far today not shaping up much better.

Had very little sleep last night, this morning full of aches and pains. Woe is me:(

Going to try and tackle my ironing, make a start on some paperwork and just a general tidy.

Only managed 2kms on bike yesterday and some physio for my elbows. Have just been on my back massager (fits onto a chair and gives a shiatsu massage) - quite soothing. Feel a bit looser now, so going to try my bike and a few stretches - then perhaps a caffeine fix.

What a dismal, depressing post - sorry ladies will try and do better next time.

Glad to see that your leg is improving Maman, you're right to be careful especially until the stitches are gone. Your night out sounds fun - I like Jane Asher - she's very funny. When my boys were little we used to do her birthday cakes. The boys used to love drooling over her book - it's now been passed on to my niece.

Hope you are all well.

maman

:grouphug: Just sending you this LL, times are very trying for you at the moment.

Well done for keeping going!!!

Still taking it easy here, stitches come out on Tuesday and I'll take advice from practice nurse about how to proceed. Today has probably been best day in that I'm not limping or feeling the need to be over cautious. I've been very aware that I don't want to open the wound accidentally. It's just over a week before we go to Paris so I want to be OK for that.

We've had my BIL here for dinner tonight. Unexpected, OH just decided to invite him this morning while chatting on the phone. With a little tweaking (and a quick trip to Asda) I could put a meal together. He, sadly, lost his wife last Easter after a horrible stroke. It's left us all feeling very mortal.

What did the song say..... Let's hang on, to what we've got.....

Too philosophical, let's hope spring comes soon (and stays for more than a day).

lessonlearned

Things a little easier today but that elephant is still looking very big.

Carer here this morning so managed a visit with my sister.

Thanks for your supportive comments Maman, yes I'm trying to keep going but it is difficult. I'm not doing my full exercise routines but at least I'm doing something - yesterday 2kms bike and some physio & yoga. Today 3kms bike and some physio and yoga in a little while.

Managed to do the ironing yesterday and start the paperwork today. I've got loads of phoning and Social Services stuff to get through, as well as household business, insurances etc.

OH still hallucinating and very confused. I'm hoping it's a side effect of his some new meds - have stopped them to wait and see. I know that some form of dementia will eventually be inevitable - just hoping and praying like mad that this isn't the start .....

How awful about your SIL - it's so sad when these things happen. TBH there are times when I wish OH's illness had been something quick, this slow steady decline is so very cruel.

OH calling, bye for now.

lessonlearned

Thought I'd just pop in to finish my post.

When I went to my sister's today she commented that my skin was looking good. So ...... my regime must be working. Happier with my hair now too. Just the weight loss or lack of that is disappointing. All being well I intend to join SW tomorrow.

I do know what to do - I just don't seem to be able to get a grip with losing weight at the moment. I've been pretty disciplined with the exercise, all things considered, but staying on track with a healthy eating programme seems to elude me. I'm hoping that joining a club will help me focus.

OH seems a little better tonight.

G'night everyone.

Carmen

Hi Ladies,
Sorry, I have been awol, I have just returned from visiting my sister for a few days
LL, so sorry to hear you have been going through such a mental and physical low period, I hope you pick up soon :grouphug: Does the weather effect your aches and pains?
This journey to fabulousness is tough enough without all your extra worries, even the most optimistic person gets the 'blues' now and again, c'est la vie!
Have you spoken to your Dr about your tearfulness? Even carers need care.
Even though your weight loss has been slow, you have managed to tone up and get you skin looking lovely enough for people to compliment you, so well done you.
Joining SW is a good idea, I really need to think about it also.

Maman, glad to hear your ankle is better, are you pleased with the result of the procedure? Good luck with having the stitches/staples out today, take it easy.

Before I went on my jollies I had lost another 2lbs but, I'm sure I have put it back on My sister believes that food equals happiness, hers and other people's! I get tired of constantly saying 'no thank you'
Never mind, today I am back on track and will hopefully start to feel less bloated in a couple of days
I started this post two hours ago :eek: :rotfl:I think I might go back to bed for a while.
Take care
Carmen xx

maman

'morning Carmen, LL and lurkers!

Echo everything that Carmen said about looking after yourself LL. Do ask the GP.

On the SW issue, you know I am a convert;) It really is a healthy eating plan. There's nothing faddy about it, just common sense really. Sugary, fatty and floury/ceeal based things are restricted and fruit, veg, lean meat etc are limitless. A few treats are encouraged to stop it being boring. It could be that, while losing weight won't take the worries away it will give you a lift and boost your self esteem. It'll also help take some strain from joints etc. Go for it!!

There is a bit of a problem with SW and eating out (or eating at your sister's!!). Almost all restaurant food is not completely SW healthy due to the oil most things are cooked in these days plus some of the ingredients like cheese in the sauces etc. I'm going out tonight and was planning Toby carvery where it is possible to have loads of veg, meat and (treat) gravy. My friend just called and said, let's go to a Turkish restaurant instead! He knows I love Turkey and Turkish food so now I need to rethink what I'll have. Could be the plan gets sidelined tonight! What with that and my little French holiday next week, I could be playing catch-up through March. The good thing now is that while I'm disappointed if I don't lose anything, I've lost so much that a few lbs on doesn't take me back to square one.

The stitches came out this morning. Just one proved tricky and will need to come out later/on its own. I'm walking almost normally now so can forget about it until results come early next month.

Have a good day everyone.

lessonlearned

Hello Maman, Carmen, Everyone

Good to hear from you Carmen, hope the back is ok now. Good to hear you got to spend some time with your sister. My sister is 11 years younger than me but we are as "thick as thieves" as Mum would put it. We don't see each other as often as we used to because of OH's illness but we talk nearly every day.

Glad to hear your leg is doing well, Maman. Hope you enjoyed your meal out - I love Turkish food, if you stick to the meats, fish and salads I'm sure you won't do too much damage. Not long now till your trip to France, bet you are looking forward to it. C'est fantastic!!

Didn't get round to joining SW tonight (I know, I know). Another really bad day again - but let's not go there. No exercise either.

The jungle telegraph is doing it's thing - word seems to have gone round to all OH's friends how ill he is now and I've had several calls in the last few days with requests to come and visit him. It's as if they are all coming to say their goodbyes. It's lovely of them of course, but it does feel unnerving.

However, I am determined to get a grip and grab this weight thing by the scruff of the neck. I may not be able to wave a magic wand and make OH well, but I'm sure that if I can get on top of the weight issue I will feel better and more in control.

Carmen and Maman you are both absolutely right - I need to start taking better care of myself. I have been threatening to see my GP for a while now. Problem is he is so sweet and lovely he always reduces me to tears with his kindness!! I end up a sobbing wreck every time I visit the surgery.

However, I really do need to have a "where do we go from here chat". I am slowly coming round to the idea that I really do need more help, respite or whatever - for OH's sake as well as for me. And I'm well aware that I'm not going to be able to take care of OH in the longer term. I need to stop being such an ostrich.

Carer comes tomorrow so I'm going shopping and will stock up on "good things" and have a real go at cooking foods to help me lose weight. OH has swallowing difficulties and so relies on carb rich foods such as pasta, rice etc because they are easy to eat. Carbs, especially wheat, really don't suit me and I prefer salads, vegetables, meat and fish anyway. I've got into the habit of cooking what is suitable for OH and just eating what he has. I just need to make more of an effort.

Fabness seems a long way off at the moment - but I've no intention of giving up. I will keep going.

Watched Gok Wan tonight, very entertaining and inspirational. Don't know if you saw it but I loved the fringed skirt and sparkly top outfit. Ok I would make a less see through top or wear a cami underneath. That boy has a good eye though. I was itching to start sewing by the end of the programme. When I've lost weight .....:rotfl:.

G'night all.

lessonlearned

SS round today - day centre & respite have been confirmed so just need to sort out dates etc. now. So good progress there.

Went to ASDA - bought "healthy" foods so looking forward to giving the healthy eating programme my best shot.

Fabnesswise - treated myself to a very pretty grey/lilac chiffony top with a smattering of sequins - well at £18 reduced to £2 it would have been rude not to:rotfl:

Also from ASDA bought some Olay complete care everyday sunshine - a moisturiser with a sunless tanner. I've used it in the past and it does help get rid of that awful winter pallor. It's on offer at the moment for £6-67.

Exercise so far - 3kms on bike, off to do some yoga, clean up the kitchen (again!! - why don't they stay clean?) Cook dinner and then settle down to a bit of hand-sewing whilst watching the box.

Also bought "The Duchess" DVD (bargain bin £3). I always wait to buy DVD's when they are cheaper, share them round the family and then sell them at a car boot for £1 or so when we are done;).

All in all not a bad day, OH has even stopped hallucinating now and is once again full compus-mentis, obviously it was the meds.:p

Hope you are all well.

maman

Lovely positive post LL, I'm so glad you've had a good day. Great Asda bargains, I must look out that Olay stuff as I definitely have winter pallor to banish!

Not much happening here. Aside from the usual household things I'm just ticking over. I don't want to exert myself with our short break coming up next week.