Spending my dash more wisely while clearing the debt to do so

Nintud

A day of weigh-in, mystery shopping, tooth extractions and parent's evening.

Weigh-in went very well, 2lb off, 3st award and slimmer of the week . Lots of goodies for getting slimmer of the week mean I had a free week as the cost of the meeting was returned in fruit and various other bits. Very DFW

Mystery shopping got me away from the housework that usually takes over my day off and I earned £8 for the pot with a free coffee and biscuit thrown in It also gave me the chance to go into the EE shop to find out how to swap the 3 mobile contracts that I pay for to payg. It requires a phone call and I'll try to fit that in tomorrow.

DS2 had a tooth out in preparation for braces. He was due to have 2 out today but the first had unusually long roots (it was huge!) so we'll be going back for multiple visits. According to the dentist it was worth a tenner from the tooth fairy :eek: No winged visit tonight though as he wants to take it to school to show his mates _pale_

Parent's evening for DS2 too. All As and A*s predicted apart from French which he is failing. Well, we can't have it all I suppose.

Nintud

Fifty more lengths swum for Aspire today

Skinny popcorn bought ready for Dr Who later.

Nipping out shortly to collect a tablet from Mr T. Main Christmas present for DS3 bought with clubcard vouchers and £59 cash. I'll get my iPad back, ds3 will be ecstatic. Win, win!
Also squeezing in a quick pub mystery shop with dh. Won't make a great deal of cash on this, but it gets us on a quick 'date'

Ironing and marking later tonight followed by a bit more of our 24 box set.

Nice easy Saturday :beer:

Groceries have gone over this month but as I've included school lunch fees and school snack fees (excluded these in September) I'm satisfied that cuts are being made in this area. My grocery 'month' runs from the 18th to the 17th so we're almost through the 'October' budget period (fuel runs through full calendar month). My freezer and cupboards are full so there will be plenty to carry over to the next budget period and I may crack that below £500 target.

Happy weekend all

Whitefeather8

Hi Nintud, I just love the fact that you had your epiphany, lounging next to a beautiful pool in Paphos, tapping on your IPAD, that really tickled me.

What an amazing weight loss! What has been the secret of your success here? I cannot crack that one for the life of me!

Nintud

Hi Whitefeather, nice of you to pop by

Cyprus remains my motivation for both debt and weight reduction. In fact, I've just finished a Skype call with my Mum. The weather there is still great and I'm pining for the pace of life again.

I've tried all sorts of diets. I stuck with the Cambridge Diet for 3 months to lose 2.5st in prep for having ds4. But I could only do it with the help of prescribed appetite suppressants (which are no longer available due to heart attack association :eek:) and when I tried it again after having him I couldn't stick to it without the pills. I tried fasting but that left me wanting to eat my students! Calorie counting drives me nuts and I forget to include stuff (apparently finishing the kids dinners is not calorie free; who knew?!).

After a chocolate filled Easter I got on the scales and discovered I'd reached my heaviest weight ever. I'd gained 20lb in the 6 months since our wedding (I blame the cake) and I couldn't let it continue. I signed up at a local Slimming World group and haven't looked back since. I aim to lose 1lb per week for the next year. I'll be happy with 1/2lb and I'll take the occasional maintain but so long as I don't gain I'm patting myself on the back for every loss. Slowly, slowly is my motto.

It's working this time because I'm supported by some amazing ladies (and a couple of amazing blokes!) all of whom have their own struggles to overcome each week. The encouragement is superb and it really helps to see people going back each week even when they've hit a blip. Two ladies in group have lost 5.5st and 8st each in a year and that's amazing motivation too. I don't want to lose so much so quickly, but it's good to know it can be done.

The other key to my weight loss has been meal and snack variety. I try very hard to stay out of the chicken salad rut. I bulk cook meals from the slimming world magazine and recipes given by other group members. I eat a variety of fruit throughout the day and I try to eat a veggie meal once per week (I'm trying to do the same with fish too). I also grab a gerkin or some beetroot when I get in starving from work, they seem to stave the hunger while I get tea sorted. Planning meals definitely helps and I plan some treats too (M&S choc popcorn for Dr Who on a Saturday night)

I think this is working because I don't feel like I'm on a 'diet', I'm not rushing to lose each lb and I'm seeing regular benefits. My knee doesn't crack when I walk up the stairs, I can walk faster and for longer without losing breath, my skin, nails and hair look and feel better. I've definitely gained in confidence.... And not a single person at work has mentioned my weight loss, so that confidence is coming from within

Give it a go, it might work for you too :j

Whitefeather8

Thanks so much Nintud, that is really helpful. You have a similar dieting history to mine and Slimming World is the one organisation that I have not tried! I will save your post and think about my weight loss plan while I am away.

Nintud

Weigh-in day and my first big gain 3lb on. I know where it came from, I ate the South Pole out of Penguins :rotfl:

Not going to let this spiral though so I've had a really good day today and will keep the momentum going for the rest of the week.

Over on the groceries but that includes £42 in school dinners, £5 in weekly school snacks for ds4 and ££10 in daily school snacks for ds3 that I didn't include in the previous month's accounts. So, if I do the maths, I've spent £63 less on groceries than last month and I still have at least a weeks worth of main meals in the freezer and stock cupboard.

Next month I will come in under £500 all in!

maggiecon

Don't worry about the little weight gain, just think of all the weight you have lost. You can soon shift it again

How's the swimming challenge going?

Nintud

I've slipped behind with the swim challenge. It's been a long half term, lots of after school meetings have stopped me using my off peak membership and I'm shattered by the weekend.

I'm hoping to catch up over half term hols and am definitely swimming at least once this weekend.

Thanks for the encouragement maggiecon
I'm very focused on the diet this week and determined to shift the gain by next Wednesday. I figure, if it goes on quick I can get it off quick before it sticks!

Nintud

Well I dropped the 3lb last week but am very nervous about tomorrow's weigh-in. Two meals out to celebrate first anniversary and I've been over-familiar with the choccie biscuits too so I may suffer the consequences. Utility is currently being refitted so I've had to stay out of the kitchen which left me ravenous and led to bad decisions (hence biscuits).

Money wise, good news and bad. Good news is a drop in gas &electric bill from £180 to £112 per month. Bad news is a £400 bill to replace fencing. No money for that as plumber is main priority (en suite toilet still out of action but that's not the only source of water through ceiling so more investigations required).

Currently scrimping to make it through the month (my month ends on the 15th!). Utility will have to go untiled for a while. Have Christmas presents for two littlest but no idea what to get older four or how to pay for it all without adding to debt. I've done a few mystery shops but mainly as a means of getting out (anniversary meal and pint) rather than as a profit making exercise. I've sold a few small items on eBay and have started doing surveys, but it all feels like too little too late.

Ex has missed October payment on dd1s car and will definitely be late or miss November payment (no cheque received and payment due on 3rd) so there will come a point where I have to assist with that (currently giving her £100 as my committed contribution). I could scream as my gut instinct was not to trust him.

Surrounded by unfinished jobs and no means to hurry them along. But determined not to let that wreck half term. Kiddie cinema on Thursday, cheap meal and play deal on Friday, family fun mystery shop on Sunday. Making the most of my lot.

Whitefeather8

That is the spirit Nintud. There is nothing else for it!! Happy anniversary.

Your half term plans sound great. I feel your frustration, when despite all your best efforts, ex has the ability to blow up plans.

How did you manage to make such huge savings on your gas and electricity bills? that is a terrific result.

All the best for tomorrow's weigh-in.