Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

Blackcats

Ahhh your movie night sounds lovely - what a nice way to spend an evening.

hope the house viewing goes well - sounds like an interesting property.

the lower hours at work option is a good way to start back, particularly while the family settles into a new routine.

Good idea to start the budget again next month.  I did a bit of a look at mine yesterday and I might be able to salvage something this month, but like you I'm going to be kind to myself.

I hope you keep going with a diary.  I enjoy reading your posts 🙂

[Deleted User]

Thanks blackcats.  I think my posts are a tad dull but thank you anyway.  Yes, you definitely need to be kind to yourself for a good while.

So, I am FAT.  I have just been ignoring WW, stuffing face (plus lots of booze) for ages now.  I decided today that enough was enough.  Weighed in at 11st 7lbs so have put 4 lbs on since last weigh in a few weeks ago.  I'm only 5' 4" so it shows.  And I just can't get into ANY of my clothes.  So I literally have 1 pair of jeans, 1 dress and a couple of tops to wear outside the house.  When inside I'm just in leggings and a t-shirt.  I got down to 10 st 3lbs for my wedding after having DC1 but then I had money for a PT 3 x a week and was motivated.  I do have money for it now in terms of savings but obvs want to spend that on the house, plus with 2 DC now it's just too difficult to get sessions which suit as the PT is also very busy.

I'd like (if poss) to lose around 8-10lbs before I return to work (4 weeks).  So, this morning I did C25K.  I had thought I was starting again from the beginning but as I was running I was thinking blimey this is taking ages and it was because I was still on week 3!!!  Anyway, I carried on with that and did it so more running than if I'd done week 1.  Also just had a shake for brekkie.  Going to have one for lunch too and then goodlife/waffles/veg for dinner.

Am out for dinner with DH Fri but if I stick to it during the week and do 3 x runs and try to get out for some walks with DC2 also, then I figure I'll have enough points left to wear it.

Not yet done big shop - think am gonna go tonight.  Spending is out of control.  But new budget friday so hanging in there until then!!

Buffythedebtslayer

I love leggings. 

I am doing calorie counting, very roughly it is easy, cheap/free and I can make up for days I go over or whatever. 
Did you look at that house yet?

XX

[Deleted User]

I do hate WW/calorie counting though Bufster - always end up SO hungry!

Not yet as we've not heard from the chap - he was away until late Sat so hoping to hear in next few days but they keep saying that they can't yet commit to a timeline.  We also did a walk past of another on the weekend but we think it is too penned in by other houses and needs a lot of reconfiguration as well.  So that may be a no though we will go and see it when it comes on.

Not had a break from the DC ALL day.  DC1 was with MIL this morning but she dropped him back early, I had literally just got DC2 down (after his having not slept ALL morning) and then DC1 kicked off that he didn't want to sleep so woke DC2.  DC1 eventually went down but DC2 would not.  So not had a break all day.  I'm dreading having them both on my own 2 x days a week when I go back to work.

joedenise

@[Deleted User] - I think you might be better off with Slimming World.  I've never ever felt hungry and I've been doing it for 10+ years!  Been at target for probably 8 or 9 years.

Buffythedebtslayer

I have never understood SW, mind you I have no patience for any kind of restrictions on what I eat and yes, also often hungry but I am literally ALWAYS hungry. All the time. Calorie counting makes me laugh - am frequently going HOW MANY? it can't be that many! And then being grumpy cos I can't eat anything else! To be honest I am not terribly good at it  

Hope the bloke gets in touch about the house, I hate waiting ! 

[Deleted User]

@joedenise - thank you, I will look into that!

@Buffythedebtslayer - it's the worst - like a double caramel magnum is 11 points or something and I only get 30 a day.  And I think there was some sort of sticky toffee pudding I looked at once and with cream, it was my whole daily points allowance!!  Think I am just going to try to half do it - as in, during the week, stick to it and don't drink and then exercise lots and at the weekend, allow myself to relax it for one meal a day (and stick to it for the other two).

Went for another run this morning as DC1 had nursery and DC2 had a settling in session so a rare couple of hours to myself (though quite a lot of it was spent sat in traffic!).  Ran session 1 of week 4 of C25K so that was quite hard but glad I did it - wanted to give up so many times but stuck at it.  Picked DC2 up and had a protein shake.  

Don't think it will be a NSD as need some new teats and formula for DC2.  But I may leave that until weekend.  I have got some in box and sealed first size ones which I could poss swap for the ones he needs.

Going to see the house Fri arvo - DH has already bought it in his head but I am telling him not to get too excited.

[Deleted User]

Ended up being a NSD yesterday as didn't go into town so that was good!

Today won't be however as DH has taken this afternoon off to take the kids out to an event with lots of animals and there's an entry fee.  Plus the inevitable ice creams etc whilst there.  But we are going to have lunch before we go so that I don't stray from my diet and get a burger (plus save the cash).  Will take water for DC1 and milk for DC2 so should hopefully get away with ice cream for DC1 (poss DH) and coffees for DH and 1.  So imagine whole thing will be around £20.

We are going over budget by I reckon £350 this month as we still need petrol in this month's budget (i.e. probs today).  Got a cheque for £200 yesterday which wasn't expecting - was DC1's deposit refunded by nursery so that will go into the coffers.

Just wanting to get to friday really for new budget to start and hoping, as ever, to be more frugal this month.  That said, it's DC1's birthday so need to buy presents, DH and I are out to dinner this friday (at least £100) and are out to dinner with friends on 4th (likely more than £100).

Gah, I think I'm just useless at budgeting!

[Deleted User]

So event was £27 in total.  DH and I both had ice creams and coffee plus entry and parking.  Broke the diet obvs but had no other snacks yesterday and only had one potato waffle with dinner instead of usual two so think am doing ok points wise.  DC1 didn't want ice cream (he screamed no) so we got away with just his usual snacks and water.  Also resisted wine last night even though we have a lovely bottle of red from my landlady (she is very sweet to us).

Today is going to be quiet I think - raining this morning so staying in.  DC2 currently napping but god knows for how long.  Washing on and almost done so will be tumble dried shortly (we have no outside space here bar a small dangerous terrace but no washing line on it - tumble dryer is ours and the pipe hanging out DC1's window!).  Will also put dishwasher on and then wash and sterilise bottles (only another 2 months of this thank god).

Will poss walk into town with DC2 this arvo as need some formula and some normal milk.  Might get DC1 some fruit and need biscuits for MIL who is babysitting tomorrow night.  So will not be NSD.

Trying to get Disney+ on the tv (though is 7.99 a month and we already have netflix, prime, sky (though having to watch this through laptop connected to tv at moment as we have no working dish here) and spotify.  So a lot on entertainment but every time I click into it (have not subscribed yet) the tv goes black and so I think system needs re-setting.  Tried to do self but no idea what PIN is - tried the usual ones that DH would use but no joy so might just wait for him to get home.  He is out for a work (paid for by them) lunch today - very very jammy.

[Deleted User]

Oh and yesterday I made the kids some wean in 15 oat bar things using everything from stores - DC1 doesn't like them (disgusting he said) but DC2 seems to.  I think however, I might give up making them stuff for a while - did them a cheese omlette last night - DC1 wouldn't eat it (he tried and went yuk - I think this is just his age).  DC2 did at least eat some but as he's small he doesn't yet eat much and most of it ended up on the floor.  DH ate the rest!