Thanks for stopping by Margaret.
It's 7.20am here and took the boys to the park this morning so did not do my big walk for the first time in weeks. It's my final exam today and my hardest so am going to write this and then get stuck in. We had the biggest thunder and lightening storms yesterday - amazing, and you can tell - so much stuff is washed up everywhere.
The in-laws are here, everyone but me still in bed. So off to make a cup of tea and cram for my final. Come 1pm today it will all be over for this year and then we are going out for lunch and yes, I intend to eat/drink and be merry.
Tomorrow I will get back into my routine.
Chemistry yesterday was surprisingly good so I know I passed that one with flying colours.
See you all tomorrow. Oh, and The Biggest Loser was on last night - will watch tomorrow. Thank goodness for Foxtel IQ.
Frankie

Hi Margaret and Natalie Jo,
Exams are over for the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is quite funny. Husband dropped me at the exam yesterday and it's a 2 hour exam. I told him to wait that I woudn't be long. 15 minutes later I finish the exam and I call him and he goes what???? He thought I was kidding and had driven home, and so I had to wiat for him to turn around and come back.
With his family, we then went to this really nice restaurant on the beach for lunch, and I ate and drank gorgeous food and wine. Last night I relaxed on the couch and watched a dvd, bliss.
This morning my boys got me up at the crack of dawn and I am back on the routine and back into my program, diet included. The weather here is cold and wet, and yukky actually. I am looking forward to this week, I am going to the gym twice, and I know I can get my walks in, so am looking forward to really focusing.
Thanks for your thoughts and support, and NJ, good luck with macroeconomics. I remember doing that years ago and found it hard, so am wishing you the best on that.
Frankie

Hi guys,
Thanks so much for dropping by. NJ, you sound like me - you love animals. We also have 2 cats, blue burmese that turn 10 this week - 'the girls'. Our house is like a mini-ark. We have dog beds and cat beds, but most nights, the boys sleep on the bed with us and the girls sleep curled up in one of the cat beds. I am lucky to have the boys to get me up in the morning, come rain, hail, sun, whatever. They got me up at 5.40am this morning (monday) for their walk, and are now soundly sleeping on their dog cushions by me as I type. They are all such characters and I get such immense love and joy from them. I wish I knew how to attach a photo as I would if I knew how. They are just mutts but I adore them.
Felici, I have YEARS to gop in my naturopathy course - I didn't realise it would take me six years, I have about another 4 1/2 years to go. It is a difficult course, and rightly so, as you are advising people on helath and wellbeing. I have learned so much already and it is great to be able to apply it to your own life.
Being on holiday is weird, so am writing a list of things to do each day - like today I have to do all the bed linen (again) from the inlaws staying, and clean out the study (a bomb site from studying all year). This week I also need to buy all the table setting stuff for christmas, do the christmas shopping, write a list of all the food prep I need to do for christmas and start getting that organised, and other stuff I need to think about.
I have already done one walk today. This afternoon I walk to the gym for my PT session. Today will be about assessment, and the good thing is they can weigh me on reliable scales. So then we will all know what I weigh really.
Off to have my protein shake brekky and a cup of tea.
Best wishes to you all,
Frankie
Hi everyone,
Ianthe, they do offer acupuncture as part of the course as an elective, but I don't think I will be doing it. There are so many options and so much you can do. And yes, this is a very BIG animal loving household here.
Felici, thanks for your lovely comments.
Yesterday was a great day. Food to plan and also had an assessment at the gym. I weigh 76.9 kilos on their scale so I'll take it. I don't know what I was when I started here, but now officially my goal for the valentines day challenge is 72 kilos. So there you go. I will be adding the gym in to my exercise each week - 3 HIIT half hour cardio sessions, and 2 half hour weight sessions. My first HIIT is this morning at 9.30am. They are closed for 2 weeks from the 22nd but I may be able to see my trainer in that time. I was running late for the gym yesterday afternoon so had to jog most of the way. Well, waddle really. But I did it. We added in some tangible goals aside from getting down to 72 kilos, like a bench press challenge and to jog on the treadmill for 40 minutes on 8.5 - so those are my goals for the next 9 weeks.
I slept really crappy last night, but was still walking at 5.30am and the rain and storms are back. So much for me relaxing on the balcony in the sun reading a book when on holiday.
Felici, am buying the table settings today - a silver and red theme I think, but we'll see what I find. I also want to make gravlax for christmas, so need to order a salmon for the 23rd, so will see what the local fishman will do for me today as well, otherwise hubby will have to go to the fishmarket. Tomorrow morning hubby will give me a lift into the city to do the christmas shopping - we don't have many to buy for, just the inlaws who will be here and some things for Stewart. He is soooo hard to buy for as he has everything, but I will see what I can find. Previously I have bought him things like a wine connoisseur course, gliding lessons, cooking lessons, race car driving, golf lessons, and now it's getting hard.
I am getting my hair done this afternoon and boy, do I need it. I have not been to the hairdressers in about 3 months or so, so I can't wait. I will walk there (and get soaked) but hubby will pick me up.
So that's all for today, hope everyone is well, and will tell you how this HIIT session goes tomorrow.
Frankie







I lose weight so regularly on days that I eat salmon - it is hard not to decide to eat it nearly every day until I am the weight that I want to be. I have had salmon twice in the past week - and both have given me a weight loss the next day.
That is brilliant news. I bet you wish that you confidently knew your start weight since your fitness regime is giving you that excellent rate of loss.