Omega's journey

[Omega]

Thanks for visiting. Well we finally got home Monday - so I had a really busy day getting in my walking after the journey, making the meal, washing clothes etc. It has been followed by another busy (and extremely wet) day today.

Kimberly
I really am better off not being within a million miles of garlic bread. I can be restrained with many things when I see them - but garlic bread is one of those things that I just cannot resist if I can see and smell it. It was wonderful so I only had 5 pieces until it was all gone.

It would appear that I am a bad example to you. I was the person that your parents warned you about when they told you to study hard and focus on your career. My parents told me that story - but I got so that I really was not convinced! It is good that we grow up and finally get to draw our own conclusions.

We loved Greece and I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat.

B (Ysolda)
Thanks for your many kind words.

Now that you mention it - I am much more outgoing than I was. Having said that - the friends that we saw at the weekend have been in my life for a very long time and were important to me even in my most reclusive days. They were part of an inner circle. On Friday we spent time with Graham and Barbara at their house. I have known Graham since I was a baby. He grew up in the house next door to me and his mother lived next door to my mother until his mother died about 6 years ago. The photo which was taken of me in 2006 (on page 124 of the diary) was taken at Graham's house. We spent Saturday with John and Sally. We have only known each other about 10 years or so. We were introduced to each other at the home of mutual friends in Greece. They have spent a lot of time in the same Greek village as us over many years. We have many mutual friends there. We have spent quite a lot of time with them both in England and in Greece. On Sunday we visited my cousin Lesley who was raised in the same house as me. My auntie Evelyn's marriage broke down before I was born when her children were aged 6 and 8 and they moved in with my parents. My auntie lived with my parents until her death in 1997 and Lesley is more like an older sister than a cousin in many ways. Apart from my husband and parents, my cousin Lesley and her children and grandchildren are my closest relatives. Her brother Malcolm died aged just 24.

Dawn
See what I told Kimberly about the garlic bread!!!

I am really lucky because my friends are very nice to me. I did feel good when they asked my advice - but they really are not that big so I dont think that they have much to lose. I think that they have greater health and other problems than their weight and suspect that much of their interest was to massage my ego.

It does feel really nice to be a comparable weight to people that I have never thought were big. I just wish that I could eat the yummy treats without being punished at the scales.

Take care
Love
Margaret

 

[bikinibound]

I studied hard and got good grades and it didin't do much for me career-wise..lol

Garlic bread is yummy. I can seldom resist it myself.

Glad you had fun up north, but I'm also glad you're back so you'll be around here more.

 

[ysolda]

Now that you mention it - I am much more outgoing than I was. Having said that - the friends that we saw at the weekend have been in my life for a very long time and were important to me even in my most reclusive days. They were part of an inner circle. On Friday we spent time with Graham and Barbara at their house. I have known Graham since I was a baby. He grew up in the house next door to me and his mother lived next door to my mother until his mother died about 6 years ago. The photo which was taken of me in 2006 (on page 124 of the diary) was taken at Graham's house. We spent Saturday with John and Sally. We have only known each other about 10 years or so. We were introduced to each other at the home of mutual friends in Greece. They have spent a lot of time in the same Greek village as us over many years. We have many mutual friends there. We have spent quite a lot of time with them both in England and in Greece. On Sunday we visited my cousin Lesley who was raised in the same house as me. My auntie Evelyn's marriage broke down before I was born when her children were aged 6 and 8 and they moved in with my parents. My auntie lived with my parents until her death in 1997 and Lesley is more like an older sister than a cousin in many ways. Apart from my husband and parents, my cousin Lesley and her children and grandchildren are my closest relatives. Her brother Malcolm died aged just 24.

Wow, ok I had to read that paragraph a few times to get around it. hehe
But its great that you can be more confident and outgoing, I think friends make up a massive part of your support circle and having positive influences in your life can be such an enjoyable thing. I know some people are very self-sufficient, but I'm very social, and just couldn't imagine not being able to pick up the phone, or drop off an email to a friend.

hmm actually reading about your pedometer and all the steps you did is giving me a benchmark. My friends and I have a pedometer pot How it works is, we pay $5 each for the next 6 weeks, then at the end of the 6 weeks the person who did the most steps takes 50% , 2nd 30% 3rd 20%. Anyways we've all been very top secret and hush hush with our steps this week, and its killing me, I keep thinking I havn't done anywhere near enough!

 

[Omega]

Thanks for visiting.

Kimberly
Careers are funny things. I often think that the best breaks have more to do with luck than qualifications. The ability to spout bullshit convincingly often appears to be career-enhancing - but I dont recall there being a course on that.

I certainly am back now. Both Monday and Tuesday were particularly busy - but thankfully today is pretty much back to normal.

Ysolda
My walking outside combined with my weightloss has it seems made me very noticeable. It would appear that people have been noticing me walking and shrinking. It has got to the stage where at least two complete strangers a week now speak to me while I am out walking and ask me about my walking and weightloss. People that have spoken to me in the past speak again too! I have got much more used to speaking to people. I would still say that I am reticent still - but much better than I was.

I accept that this is an area which I need to work on. I have recently joined a slimming club - and one of the many reasons for doing so was that it would provide a means whereby I could meet people.

Your pedometer contest sounds like lots of fun. If I knew of such a competition I would certainly join. I dont know anyone who does more pedometer steps than me on a day-in day-out basis. I would be very surprised if you did not win if you had a stepcount similar to mine. You may be able to win with a lot less steps. Many people are aware that many experts suggest that we should all be doing at least 10,000 steps per day. I think that you certainly want to be doing in excess of that as I am sure that your friends are aware of it. Good luck with your competition.

Take care
Love
Margaret

 

[Blancita]

Hello mi amour . That is a very interesting story about how long you go back with these people in your life. That is sad that you all lost Malcolm so young. But its so nice how they were able to move in with your family rather than being a single mom with kids on their own, ya know..latch key kids where the mom works and the kids come home from school and let themselves in. For most people its gotta be done that way so its nice that you lived as an extended family instead.

It does feel really nice to be a comparable weight to people that I have never thought were big. I just wish that I could eat the yummy treats without being punished at the scales.

Well THE GOOD NEWS from years of past experience is that eventually you will be able to eat much more than you do now and still maintain your weight. It may take 6 months for your weight to settle, but once you have settled in maintenance on a reasonable weight your body will keep on going back to that weight every time. A few years ago I specifically remember that I couldn't believe how much I was eating and how small I was staying. I would shoot up for a few days after a bingey weekend, but my weight was determined to stay at that weight and it easily came right back down with very little effort. I remember being amazed at what I had read was the set point theory was really working. Remember its also a lot easier to maintain one's weight than to be in a calorie deficit. And so when you have lots of treats in a day, you just make up for it later in the week by throwing in 1 to 3 diet days of eating how you do now and there you go back to your low weight no problem! Plus if you keep up even 4 to 5 miles of walking everyday, you will be assured to stay low.

 

[ysolda]

Kimberly
Careers are funny things. I often think that the best breaks have more to do with luck than qualifications. The ability to spout bullshit convincingly often appears to be career-enhancing - but I dont recall there being a course on that.

hey kimberly, This is so true, someone once said to me, it doesn't matter how well you do a job at work, the most important thing is that someone notices you doing it. Sometimes you just have to pipe up and blow your own horn a little. Because honestly noone cares when the train is on time, but when it isn't people kick up a fuss. ok that is not too good an analogy but you get the point.

I gave up my career recently too, although it was in its fledgling stages, but I got to the stage where I was doing 60 hours a week, the money was definately excellent, and people actually call and try to headhunt you! BUT I had piled on the weight because I was so so sooooo unhappy. I also had NO life. I realised this is NOT where I want to be. For ages, I kept thinking I'll keep doing this job until I grow up and decide what to do. And then I realilsed, that I am MEANT to be grown up NOW, and if I don't want to do this now, I don't think I'll want to do it when I "grow up"

I'm really lucky that I have excellent and ultra supportive parents and family. They've allowed me to live with them, and have been so great this year. Even though its a massive change year for me! I went back to uni full time >.< Which is ultra scary, felt a bit disassociated with everything!

Ysolda
My walking outside combined with my weightloss has it seems made me very noticeable. It would appear that people have been noticing me walking and shrinking. It has got to the stage where at least two complete strangers a week now speak to me while I am out walking and ask me about my walking and weightloss. People that have spoken to me in the past speak again too! I have got much more used to speaking to people. I would still say that I am reticent still - but much better than I was.

That's great! You are like a local celebrity. hehe. Yeah It can be a bit strange talking to strangers. I realised recently, how content I had gotten with my circle of friends, you get to the stage where you find it hard to make small talk. Its also hard to CARE about the small talk. But I've found that going back to uni this year, has made me determined to try and widen my circle.

Also I think my "drought" this year ( date wise) has woken me up! hahaha

I accept that this is an area which I need to work on. I have recently joined a slimming club - and one of the many reasons for doing so was that it would provide a means whereby I could meet people.

I don't think you ever need to 'work' on it, but life is just a work in progress anyway. I've definately gotten to a stage, where if I've just had enough of the group/party/outing, I'm like "ok, time to go home". Whereas in past years, I would have forced myself to stay to try and be social, because I didn't want people remarking on me leaving early etc.

Your pedometer contest sounds like lots of fun. If I knew of such a competition I would certainly join. I dont know anyone who does more pedometer steps than me on a day-in day-out basis. I would be very surprised if you did not win if you had a stepcount similar to mine. You may be able to win with a lot less steps. Many people are aware that many experts suggest that we should all be doing at least 10,000 steps per day. I think that you certainly want to be doing in excess of that as I am sure that your friends are aware of it. Good luck with your competition.

Thanks! I will certainly need the luck. Our competition is based off the GCC. Which was a corporate challenge that was run at the bank where I was working. Its worldwide actually. But basically the idea is try to walk 'around the world' (the equivalent of steps around the world) the first team (of 5 ) to make it round the world wins some money etc. Mainly sponsored by a lot of corporate sectors to "motivate" and create "team environments" etc etc. bla bla. But one of the girls on my team last year, (who is in the pot with me), was doing about 38,000 steps each day. I'm feeling the pressure! So far I'm averaging about 15'000 steps per day. But its only been 3 days so far..... hahaha

I don't think I can get anywhere NEAR your step count, I'm pretty content to let my friend take 1st prize!

Keep you updated. Ciaos!
xo B
P.S didn't mean to let this get so long!

 

[Omega]

Thanks for visiting.

Claudia
It was sad that Malcolm died aged 24. He had a brain tumour. It was all a long time ago now - but I mentioned it incase anyone thought "what happened to her other cousin?".

We all most certainly gained from living as an extended family. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I always had two mothers. My husband used to joke that by marrying me he got two mother-in-laws.

My parents gained such a lot too. They are effectively grandparents to Lesley's daughters and great grandparents to Lesley's grandchildren.

It wasnt that my parents had such a big place when my Auntie's marriage broke down - they were living in a two bedroom apartment. It was apparently quite a squeeze when three extra people moved in! My parents moved into the smaller bedroom to get them in. Fortunately - before I was born - the apartment upstairs (which my parents owned) became empty so my Auntie was able to move upstairs. Then as soon as they were able (when I was a baby) they moved to the house where they live today. It is a big house - but we needed every inch of it back then!

I have (or had) many many cousins. My father was the youngest of nine children - and many of his siblings did not have small families. His sister Omega had six daughters! My cousin Lesley is by far my closest cousin and always will be.

I am interested to see what you have written about the set point. My Weight Watchers leader knows how much weight I have lost and has already started encouraging me to eat a bit more and a bit differently in readiness for maintenance. As you know - I hate messing about with my food - but I also want to benefit from their expertise. I am trying to wean myself off honey shreddies - it will be interesting to see how I get on.

Ysolda

This diary is clearly the place for encouraging visitors to flush their career down the toilet. I see that I am not alone.

Take it from me - it is all too easy (especially if you are uncomfortable with your size) to withdraw from society. I accept this as a failing of mine and am working hard to try to reverse this trend. Whilst I accept that I no longer look very obese - I certainly have some body image issues and suspect that I will have for some time.

It is almost like I have become a form of minor local celebrity in the way that people have clearly noticed me walking and shrinking. I do walk a very similar route every single day so people will have often seen me. It is funny when people rush out of their house to speak because they have got so curious as to what you are doing! Someone even mentioned that she had phoned the local free newspaper about me!!! I certainly do not want attention from the newspaper - and changed my route in order to see this person less!

All droughts come to an end eventually. I am sure that yours will soon if it hasn’t already.

Life most certainly is a work in progress – and it is very hard to guess how things twist and turn next. No-one would have ever guessed that I would ever have my current size – let alone aspire to be even thinner!

Life is too short to live our lives for others. It can be so easy to waste energy seeking approbation of others.

It sounds like your friend is very likely to win the first prize in your pedometer challenge. It certainly sounds good fun – and a good initiative from your former employer.

Don’t worry about your posting getting long. It kind of makes up for the way that I have been a bit MIA over the past week!

Take care
Love
Margaret

 

[iLikeMyUserName]

Hi Margaret,
Just come to see how you are doing, so close to being 9 stone something now =D

It sounds like you have ALOT of relatives!
I don't even have a single cousin or any uncles, and just one aunt (which is only because she is my mums twin!).

I hope you are finding it okay to get back in to your routine after being away. Good luck with the 0.3lb!

 

[bikinibound]

hey kimberly, This is so true, someone once said to me, it doesn't matter how well you do a job at work, the most important thing is that someone notices you doing it. Sometimes you just have to pipe up and blow your own horn a little.

Well, I can toot my own horn at work all I want, but as I'm in sales, I am the person in charge of how much I make. My problem is that I prefer to trapse off to far off places rather than work. Who doesn't, right?

The ability to spout bullshit convincingly often appears to be career-enhancing

That is certainly true in sales. I've found the best bull-shitters sell the most. I guess I need to learn the art of bullshitting better.

It's a good thing your parents were able to get such a large house for their expanding brood. You all would've been really crowded in such a small apt..lol.

Your name was mentioned with great regularity between Dawn and me today. I also believe honey shreddies were mentioned with some frequency

 

[Omega]

Thanks for visiting.

Becky
I am a little more that 0.3 pounds away as I havent updated my ticker and have gained a little. I suspect that the fact that we went away last weekend put paid to the idea of getting under 10 stone for another few weeks. I expect my weight to start gaining soon when I start to retain water as part of my cycle. I was less than controlled at the weekend and put on a little weight. My weight was back down to 10st0.6 today (Thursday) after my walk so it is getting there.

I have tons of relatives. It feels like I have even more relatives than I have because I am kind of on the wrong level of the family tree. My father was the youngest of a big family. Some of his brothers and sisters were adults by the time that he was born. This meant that by the time that he was 10 years old - he was an uncle numerous times over. Tons of my cousins were born in the 1920s and 1930s. This in turn meant that many of my cousins had children that were older than me that were termed my cousins but were really my second cousins. Add to the equation that on the whole they were all having big families and you will get the idea!

It is great that your mother has a twin. That is quite distinctive. I believe that things like that can run in families - so maybe you will have twins.

Kimberly

My problem is that I prefer to trapse off to far off places rather than work. Who doesn't, right?

Working is so over-rated by so many people.

That is certainly true in sales. I've found the best bull-shitters sell the most. I guess I need to learn the art of bullshitting better.

If only we had known in school that the ability to tell lies and be convincing is often more important than studying and passing exams - I certainly would have put in more practice!

It's a good thing your parents were able to get such a large house for their expanding brood. You all would've been really crowded in such a small apt..lol.

Until recently - people paid more for much smaller houses a few streets away. The very big houses were classed as unpopular because of the amount of housework that was entailed - and most families are smaller these days. Quite a few of them have been split up into apartments now - or are rented out by the room to maybe 6 students.

Your name was mentioned with great regularity between Dawn and me today. I also believe honey shreddies were mentioned with some frequency

I wonder what you were saying about me! I am being pretty good with my honey shreddies. I finished off the last box yesterday and am trying not to buy any more.

My WW leader has convinced me that I want to have a more structured meal as a late lunch - instead of grazing as much. The thing is that if I add something like that my calories will go through the roof so I have to take something out.

I enjoy my honey shreddies but I enjoy my fruit too. My fruit certainly makes me feel fuller so I would miss it more. Also - part of me remembers that the fruit was needed to replace the raisins and I wanted them there because I didnt want the pains that I had last year that was put down to constipation. I am not so sure whether it was constipation now since I have had that trouble with my bowel liking to travel and also I know that I have gallstones - but the fact remains that I feel that I take less risks by keeping up the fruit.

Take care
Love
Margaret

 

[Omega]

I had better catch up with posting my diary pages.

Tuesday 27/05/08

General Data:

Morning walk = about 7.1 miles
Round the block = 3 times
Extra exercises = walked about 1.5 miles
Weight = 10st 0.6 lbs (i.e. 140.6 pounds)
Steps = 31,152
Distance = 12.04 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
2 large handfuls honey Shreddies
salmon fillet, sweetcorn, peas, small amount of olive spread
1 banana
4 plums
1 kiwi fruit
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
Sugar free jelly (half a sachet)

 

[Omega]

Wednesday 28/05/08

General Data:

Morning walk = about 6.7 miles
Round the block = 5 times
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 10st 0.2 lbs (i.e. 140.2 pounds)
Steps = 29,321
Distance = 11.33 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
2 large handfuls honey Shreddies
chicken breast, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, gravy
1 banana
4 plums
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
Sugar free jelly (one sachet)

 

[Omega]

Thursday 29/05/08

This was the day that we travelled to Newcastle. This day was a bit funny - less walking because we have a 6.5 hour journey. I had my main meal at the time when I would normally have my weetabix - then in the car I had some fruit and my weetabix. I had quite forgotten how good weetabix is if you make it up with lots of milk a few hours earlier and have it in a lidded container. It soaks up all the milk and becomes much more substantial. One stick of sugar free gum stopped me from eating a lot more in the car.

General Data:

Morning walk = about 7.5 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 10st 0.0 lbs (i.e. 140.0 pounds)
Steps = 25,370
Distance = 9.81 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
pork loin steak, tin of baked beans
1 banana
4 plums
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
1 kiwi fruit
some grapes
Sugar free gum - 1 stick

 

[Omega]

Friday 30/05/08

Night out at Graham’s. For having an Indian take-away – it could have gone a lot worse!

General Data:

Morning walk = about 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 10st 0.2 lbs (i.e. 140.2 pounds)
Steps = 25,513
Distance = 9.86 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
half a handful of honey shreddies
tandoori chicken, salad (no yoghurt or dressing), garlic rice
1 banana
4 plums
7 strawberries
1 pear
Sugar free jelly (half a sachet)

 

[Omega]

Saturday 31/05/08

Day out with John and Sally. Went walking as usual in the morning – then went walking with Sally and Poppy (her lovely dog). Ate lots. Resisted lots of things at the bistro at lunchtime – but Sally put on a great spread later which I just couldn’t resist. She did provide fresh fruit - but I just filled up on the garlic bread instead.

General Data:

Morning walk = about 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = walk around their village
Weight = 10st 0.2 lbs (i.e. 140.2 pounds)
Steps = 31,170
Distance = 12.05 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

0.5 litres of cold water --- not nearly enough
lots of diet cola --- I know that there are tons of chemicals in it
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
baked potato (no butter), grilled lean bacon, cottage cheese, side salad (I was quite pleased about this meal - watched everyone else have milkshakes, a more fattening meal and cake at the bistro)
sub sandwich with coronation chicken
5 pieces of garlic bread
2 large handfuls of snacks / nibbles based on olive oil bread
handful of snacks based on honey and mustard
2 clementines
1 apple
2 plums

 

[Bellaryna]

Hello my lovely M!
Had tons of fun yesterday running around Shipshewana shopping with Kimberly. It was a whole lot of fun trying to decide what to get for you. Between your shreddies, creams and all that walking you do we wanted to get you something you would really enjoy.
I hope you like it!
Now chicka, you just need to come visit the great old US of A and all 3 of us can get together.
Catch ya later, Gator!

 

[Omega]

Hi Dawn

It is great that you had tons of fun yesterday - and I am so jealous that I was not able to be part of that get-together. I saw the food in Kimberly's diary and have to say that it sounded absolutely delicious.

It is sweet that you were both thinking of me - and you are right - I really will have to try to get out there sometime. Heaven knows how I am going to persuade Rod into the idea as I have enough problems getting him to book up with going to Greece!!!

You both know me so well - so I am sure that I would love anything that you selected as appropriate for me.

Take care
Love
Margaret

 

[Omega]

Sunday 01/06/08

General Data:

Morning walk = about 6.4 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 10st 1.6 lbs (i.e. 141.6 pounds)
Steps = 18,763
Distance = 7.25 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
roast pork (roasted using fry light), carrots, cauliflower, onion, swede, cabbage, parsnip, peas, gravy
1 banana
4 plums
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
grapes
1 kiwi fruit
8 strawberries
Sugar free jelly (one sachet)

 

[Omega]

Monday 02/06/08

This was the day that we travelled back.

General Data:

Morning walk = about 6.3 miles
Round the block = none
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 10st 1.6 lbs (i.e. 141.6 pounds)
Steps = 20,020
Distance = 7.74 miles
Forgot to take any vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime at all!
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
50g honey shreddies
chicken breast (roasted using fry light), carrot, cabbage, broccoli, celery, gravy
1 banana
4 plums
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple
1 kiwi fruit
quite a lot of grapes
Sugar free gum - 2 sticks
Sugar free jelly (one sachet)

 

[Omega]

Tuesday 03/06/08

It poured down all day – and I was out walking in it a lot! I got drenched and did a drowned rat impression.

General Data:

Morning walk = about 7.1 miles
Round the block = 3 laps
Extra exercises = walked 1.5 miles
Weight = 10st 0.8 lbs (i.e. 140.8 pounds)
Steps = 31,531
Distance = 12.19 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
No creaming regime – apart from morning / evening moisturising face
No ankle exercises

My Food / Drink:

2.5 litres of cold water
some diet cola
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
100g honey shreddies
4 oz cooked ham, cucumber, lettuce, 1 red pepper, celery, spring onion
breaded plaice, tin of baked beans
1 banana
2 clementines
1 peach
1 pear
1 pear
1 apple