Climbing the Mountain

MistyMountainTop

Thank you Smolly and Pmumo2!

I'm including my walks and healthy cooking in with the things to do, aside from that it's mainly work and housework that needs catching up on. I have less to do next week so will fit in some relaxing time or maybe take a day trip somewhere nice.

I haven't weighed myself but had to go up another hole in my belt this morning - that's the third time in just a few weeks! I'm rarely snacking between meals and the latest I am eating is 6:00pm, I think this has really been helping with the weight loss. I am allowing myself one teaspoon of sugar in my coffee but aside from that, cutting out as much as I can. Things I used to enjoy (like biscuits) seem far too sweet to me now, it's like my taste buds have been awakened and I'm craving fruit rather than sweets.

I am feeling really positive, almost giddy - and not just because of the weight loss. I have a side business that is taking off a bit, I'm not rolling in it by any means but in the last week or two, every time I've approached someone about doing some work, they have said yes. I've even popped in somewhere unplanned because I was passing, just to see if there was a possibility. I actually walked by but something told me to turn around and go in. They booked me on the spot for some work. In the past it's sometimes felt like pulling teeth to get more work, and I wondered if I should even continue, but the last few weeks have shown me that it could be a viable business if I put in a bit more time and effort. It might even eventually turn into a full time job!

MistyMountainTop

I'm still doing well with healthy eating, and still motivated to walk faster and further than before. Normally I would have abandoned a 'diet' by now so I have high hopes that this will be a permanent change.

Today I've mostly been trying to clear up the clutter that has been taking over since Xmas. I donated a few xmas gifts to charity - I had more bath bombs, lotions, and potions than I could use up in a decade. I keep telling people not to buy me things like that because I already have so much but they keep on arriving every xmas. I hate sounding ungrateful but when I mention things I could actually use (ie shower gel instead of bath salts, candles instead of plug in air freshener - yes plug in air freshener was one of my 'gifts' this year!!! Do you think they are trying to tell me something? :rotfl:) it doesn't seem to sink in. We don't have a bath so why the bombs and salts keep coming is beyond me. I asked hub about telling the rellys we should just not give gifts any longer, but he thinks they would take it badly.

jvr

Hi Misty just caught up!
Absolutely agree why can't people pick nice but useful presents haha! I will never manage to cover myself in all the body lotion I have but shower gel/ hairspray/ candles would be fab! I avoid secret Santa's now as it just means getting one rubbish present you don't want or need, persuaded my team to just donate a gift to a charity instead this year so I didn't feel my money was wasted!

Smolly

Ooh I love a new hole in the belt! Well done you are doing really well Misty. Can you package up some of your positivity please and post it off to me?!:rotfl:

A plug in air freshener? How very odd! Every year I get a selection of 'odd' presents from my OH which are meant as a joke - there are always some washing up sponges, but this year I got cotton buds, black bin bags and sellotape too. Funnily enough I always use what he buys me. I would rather like a plug-in air freshener actually!:rotfl:

And well done too on the extra work you've been sourcing. Sounds like things are really looking up. Did you ever hear about the mystery shop work and whether you'll be paid for it?

Anyway, hope you are having a good Saturday. I'm sat at my pc 'planning' to do some eBay listing and so far I've browsed Am@zon, helped DS with his lego building and read a few diaries. I've been sat here over an hour already and not one thing listed!!

xx

MistyMountainTop

Thanks JVR and Smolly! I haven't heard yet about the mystery shop, it's still on the website as 'pending'.

I am tempted to save the plug in air freshener and give it back to them as a present next year, just to see how they react. We give them thoughtful gifts, while they seem to give us (well me really, the others seem to get normal presents) any old thing they might have laying around. I wouldn't be surprised to get sponges, bin liners or sellotape. I wouldn't complain either, because at least I could use them. A few years back I received a bottle of navy blue tinted car wax - our car at the time was silver. I did wonder at the time if MIL was in the beginning stages of dementia. I think it's intended as some sort of insult that they will give nice presents to the rest of our family but make a point of giving me something completely unsuitable. I really don't care and can laugh it off, but would far rather opt out of gift-giving outside of hub and the kids.

I'm still feeling positive about my weight. I've not lost any more but my jeans are loose and I know I'm getting slimmer even if it's not showing up on the scales. I went for a short walk yesterday, I woke up feeling very sore and stiff and was hoping a walk would stretch things out. I seemed to seize up more with every step I took, so cut it short and came home. I'm still aching today but not as badly so will aim for 45 mins and see how I get on.

Today I'll be doing some basic housework and looking for ways to bring in more work/income. I can't yet face the ebay pile, maybe I'll get stuck into it later in the week if I can work up the motivation.

Smolly

Hi Misty

I think it's fair to say you're having an aversion to eBaying! Just like I'm having an aversion to doing Mystery Shops at the moment! Not everything is for everyone. I'd love to plug away at surveys like Scott and there are certain ones I'm happy to do, but I easily get bored to tears with them and can't remember the last time I did one!

You will find something you enjoy doing and then you'll have to share it with us!!

Anyway I'm keeping my fingers crossed about your mystery shops and hope you're feeling better soon. I can tell I'm getting old as this cold weather spell today has sent my right knee crazy. I was moving around the office today like an old woman.

Please, please give the air freshener back next year!!! And car wax? How bizarre. Do you have a blue car now? Perhaps MIL had a premonition. I really would go all out and buy her something random next year if you don't have the air freshener still. I don't know - maybe a can of furniture polish or a pack of shoe laces!:rotfl:

Anyway off to the 3Bay to do my stuff. Take care xx

Chandelier.

A plug in air freshener is so random Misty! My mum has them dotted round the house but I don't like them after reading they could be a fire hazard somewhere. Same with mobile phone cables and the such lol. My mum thinks I'm paranoid.

Good to hear about the weightloss and walking. I think I've lost a couple of inches already, some pants are already less tight. I've started back on SW and doing it from home. I have the books etc. Yesterday was my first day and didn't go too bad!

Today will be a challenge later on in the evening as I have so much ferrying around to do. Boohoo. I think I may whip up a tomato based pasta for me and the boy. Something simple.

I've started decluttering my room and it looks like a bombs hit it. I always hit a wall when I start.. Not anymore. I must keep up.

Good to hear about your side business too.

Hope all is well.

MistyMountainTop

Things are crazy around here. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day at the moment - something has to give, and at the moment it's housework. Whenever I think I have a few days free, suddenly my DD needs to be taken somewhere or Hub needs me to go to the next city to pick up his glasses, etc. I'm not able to do all the things that I need to get done, with all the running around after others. It's frustrating. People have gotten used to me having extra time to run around after them and as the bulk of my side business is done from home, somehow that means I am available to do other things for them. If my other work was in an office, it would be a different story.

I'm still avoiding ebay, but money is tight so I will need to get the things to sell out next week and get rid of it once and for all. Good news too - I will be paid for all of the mystery shops!

I don't think you're paranoid Chandelier - the amount of housefires that are started by everyday things is frightening.

Our car at the moment is black Smolly, so MIL was not psychic. Her car at the time was blue, so I'm assuming that's why they had it. Whenever I mention giving her something random for Xmas my hub gets annoyed - it's his mother after all he loves her dearly. I may slip the air freshener in with the other gifts and put a tag on it so she knows it's from me. :rotfl:

I'm still doing well with my weight, I'm rarely more that a teeny bit hungry and have had no problems with wanting to binge. I've lost just over 8lbs now, so am right on target for losing 10 this month. I'm still walking but I haven't had the time to extend the walks by much. I'm managing around 30-45 mins a day at the moment but am covering a lot more ground than before.

Back to the craziness! I hope everyone is doing well xx

Bobarella

Sympathies on everyone palming their jobs onto you MMT

MistyMountainTop

Thanks Bob, they know I have my own work to be getting on with and that things are going to be changing. They are resisting as much as they can but I simply will not let it continue, especially as we desperately need the money my sideline will bring in!