Whatever you want, whatever you like, be WISE and AVID, so do your sums, and get it right....!

[DolceeBanana]

New thread...sorry bit lame compared to normal, but thought I'd bite the bullet (as it were)....

bet it Chesneys Tracey

Bloss....wowee! Gorgeous photo and love jacket!

Loobylu- can I be added too purleese? Thanks

Gosh Red - I'm 5ft1" and weigh about 8st (50kg). I'm also a size 10 becasue (1) I am definitely flabby and untoned (in fact I need to shred) and so I'm fat around the middle and (2) I have surprisingly broad shoulders and a long waist, so can't fit into petite things. But I have thin arms and legs, no hips and tiny feet. I think at this age (44) I need to watch what I eat more than I do to prevent gradual creep (as all my weight goes on my stomach, and size 12s would be too big in bum/hips/thighs for me). But I am another who doesn't actually diet/cut out carbs as too weak willed. I think actually the first thing I need to do is sort out my sleep - then if I weren't so tired, I would have more energy and crave sugar less.

Okay, I give up on budget.

On Friday night I bought the Gap perfect trouser in grey and black so I can wear something different for teaching tomorrow. They arrived today, and the grey are great, the black too short (same size, wtf).

I now want to buy this cowl neck top in three colours to go with. What is wrong with me????

Oh, an update on the lkb sahara dress. It is gorgeous, smart and conservative. The waist tie is quite tight fitted, and the top bit a bit 'blousy'. Definitely room for boobs in there ooh. (Apologies if it wasn't you, was it millionaire?)

I was always on the slim side till I gave up smoking. Then I had to watch what I ate. 9 months later I was pregnant with DC1, and then I've had to diet to get rid of the baby weight. I'm maintaining Mr Dukan's weight quite happily right now, but obviously not eating sugar at all is extreme! I'm thinking of having one treat a week again, like a dessert on Sunday, or a creme egg on Friday! We'll see. I'm such an addict though I'd be afraid to let the floodgates open!

blossoming - try the cake strategy I mentioned on an earlier thread - have a cake instead of breakfast or lunch, rather than in addition.

I eat a croissant every morning and often have half a slice of chocolate cake for lunch after my salad, instead of a piece of bread with my salad.

Redlama- you are my weight / height twin! except you have boobs don't you? I don't so I am prob wider than you elsewhere. I think we are a rare breed to be the sizes we are at that weight.

Definitely agree with the sleep connection - much easier to eat healthily and go out to exercise in the evening now that DD is sleeping better. Please, please, please let it continue.

I love your teaching wardrobe Bloss.

That sounds a great strategy bonsoir. I've always felt though that croissants fit into that strange category of food that is high in calory but doesn't fill me at all! My mother's lemon meringue pie is the same. A~nyone else have that?

V interesting posts. I'm sneaking off (to go to Zumba) as clearly I am one of the heaviest W&A's! According to my Dukan target weight, I need to loose 4.5kg
My weight has shot up again over the last 3 days - p perhaps but how much difference should that make? Not scoffed any Mars Planets for 3.5 weeks too - a real sacrifice on my part!

Oh just seen the Burns smileys - cute [bsmile]

Obviously if croissants don't do anything for you, you don't have to make it a croissant. The point is, a cake isn't dreadful, nutrition wise, and if you are going to crave sugar, better to eat a cake instead of a meal than to eat a meal and then have a cake on top of it!

Oh good MrsJ, nothing like safety in numbers. We are a rare breed; people are often shocked by my weight. Boobs are currently a 32 FF, but when not bf'ing have been a 32 D. To be honest, I'm still not convinced I know how to shop for my stature. All I know is that below the knee is a no-go for skirts. Any breakthrough style discoveries you care to share?!

So glad you love the sahara Bloss, it's such a lovely dress.

carciofi ds would have been Emilia or Clara if he had been a dd

cake I like to be at an easily-maintainable weight so I can eat what I want (have had cake and choc every day so far this year!). Until I have a holiday coming up, in which case I?ll happily sacrifice pretty much anything to get a flat tummy and slimmer thighs My eat-anything weight is just over 10st, my skinny weight is just under so it doesn?t show that much to anyone but me anyway ? I think it?s because I?m exercising around 4x a week. I liked you pointing out that I shouldn?t worry about it if we?re going to TTC this year (DH and I, not you and me!) ? good point and one I hadn?t actually thought of.

Also, am with you on the ?if you can?t wear it with bare legs, what?s the point? for that dress.

ny I watched that Spartacus thing with John Hannah ? there was some nice eye candy in there too!

tracey how sad for your DS, what a brave little boy!

dolce do they get the ?Daddy has a fat tummy? thing from Peppa Pig?

I went to ex-boyfriend?s father?s service today. They did a private family funeral followed by a service celebrating his life. Was packed in the church and very moving. He was a wonderful man and his family will miss him horribly. But they seem to be holding up as best one can I suppose under the circumstances.

Totally agree with your strategy Bonsoir, I do something similar, I find if I want something, eg cake, but totally forbid myself from eating it then I become obsessed. Having said that I am wheat and dairy free for health reasons, so all treats have to be home baked, and I am lazy, so tend not to eat cake as often as I think about it. Also agree with Mac my thighs haven't been as thin as when I was dairy free in my teens and twenties. Didn't put two and two together until you mentioned that Mac! Don't have a scales as I would become obsessed by the numbers, so judge my weight by how my clothes are fitting.

Bloss I have been on the hunt for raspberry too! It's a good colour for me, as is a clear deepish red. I have noticed that I tend to favour dusty shades, but all this colourblocking in magazines has given me a yearning for clear, crisp colours. I predict you will be plagued by ladies wanting you to do their colours at MU, can I mark my place in the queue?

Hells, MrsJ and Mac your dd's all sound adorable, love that toddler stage, so, so cute

Fritzi sorry about dh, when dh and I are tired or stressed we can be horrible to each other. I'm sure he's feeling bad and will make it up to you. (((hugs))) from me in the meantime.

Had lots more to say but have forgotten it all. Was thinking as I simultaneously read thread/unpacked shopping/emptied dishwasher/made dinner this afternoon that I need to keep a notebook beside computer so I can make notes for posts.

Roma read out the tortoise stuff to dc as I read it, they were . Hope your ds is ok. My boys are 12 and 10, and the girls in their classes are at such a different place socially, and not neccesarily a good one IYKWIM. Boys tend to be innocent and accepting for much longer while the girls can seem knowing and manipulative. Seems sad at such a young age.

Fleecy that sounds like a tough afternoon, but I'm sure the family appreciated everyone being there.

Zembo hope you have seen a doctor and are looking after yourself. As others have said you tend to be very stoical, but honestly, work comes a poor second to your health. Take care of yourself

Red I used to be a 30B, but am now 30DD. Can't blame bf as youngest is 6. Annoys me somewhat as I can't fit into most of the v pretty bras in my drawer but dh v happy about it

Zembo - I hope you're ok - have been thinking about you lots today.

Roma - your DS2 always reminds me of my DS1

I must say that I know its hard when they're little because of the sleep deprivation etc but god the pain you feel when they are rejected as they get older - well its so hard isn't it? God knows what I'll do when they end up with broken hearts.

I am such a cheery soul aren't I?

Bloss - I adore that dress - I love polka dots.

LTEC - when are you moving?

Fleecy - cross-post. Glad the afternoon went as well as it did Come on - you must have watched Gypsy wedding and Choo too? And if not - please do

I watched Gyspy wedding Tracey I recorded it

Sounds like the afternoon went as well as it could Fleecy. Take care.

Ooooh MrsJ - did you watch it like this on just so many levels.

I mean the clothes were shocking but honestly the girl's attitudes and the way they are treated by men was awful.

MrsJ we're also twins as I had the baby bee necklace for christmas too.

Thanks - feel very sorry for them and has brought home to me how lucky I am to still have both my parents (who are both older than he was), particularly with dad having cancer last year. So I will dwell on that positive and make sure I don't forget to stay in touch with them - I'd imagine people sort of drift away after the funeral and get on with their lives and forget all about the bereaved.

tracey I was trying to resist gypsy weddings as I already watch so much crap but if you think I should...

I also watch The Good Wife and think Julianna Margulies (excuse spelling) looks beautiful.

Dolce mine have been heard to mention daddy's 'manboobs'

So ds1 got off the school bus looking grey and furrowed and furious. Turns out his 2 'best' friends have rather turned against him. They had been drawing pictures of him and his family being murdered in battle: daddy was having his head blasted off by a bazooka, my privates were being impaled with a sword, and he ran away before they could explain the rest (just to note that all the boys his age at school draw rather bloodthirsty war pictures all the time so the violence itself was not v.surprising). Anyway this is part of a series of incidents with one little boy he considers his friend doing quite nasty things (eg saying ds1 'stinks' was the big thing before Xmas), and the other boy joining in.

I'm quite surprised and mystified by the turn of events. DS1 has always been v.popular: he's bright, funny, nice looking, good at sport, kind and thoughtful. Now it seems that 1/2 of his former group of friends have gone football mad and he's just not, unfortunately. These 2 boys are just more friendly with each other than they are with him and 3's a crowd. The girls are no help. I can't believe my lovely, popular little boy is in this position.

He's got one new friend at the moment so I've invited him over this weekend.

Shall I say something to the mothers of the other two? I'm very friendly with them and the children are nice kids really, but it's bullying isn't it? How would you feel if you were on the receiving end? I just want them to remind their children to be kind.

Sorry for long, self-indulgent post, but miserable evening chez Roma, and dh away at the mo.

I meant on the receiving end of my phone call, by the way. How would it go down do you think?

Roma - what nationality are the mothers of the two little boys who are giving your DS1 a hard time?

Roma, if my child was bullying someone else, I would be mortified but I'd want to know. Sorry your DS is having a tough time.

Fleecy, my DD (soon to be DD1 ) is called Emilia! It sounds like a sad afternoon.

Blossoming, those tops are great, I think you are going to have to buy them.

Bonsoir one is French, married to non-French, one is Singaporean, married to French.

God Roma that's awful.
I would definitely speak to the mothers so that they were aware, not so much bc I'd expect it to resolve anything. I'd also expect them to be defensive and possibly not very receptive. Kids are so fickle and one of them will no doubt turn against the other in the not too distant future- but that's small comfort to your poor ds at the moment.

fleecy I am also sorry for your tough afternoon. I hope you understood what i meant re ttc - not, why bother to diet, you're going to balloon anyway; rather it's easier to conceive when you've got healthy % of body fat on you.

All of your insights re diet and weight are very interesting. I find/ have found that 10st is the weight I can maintain with no restrictions on what I eat, other than opting for wheat free alternatives when it comes to bread, cake and so on. 9.5 is what I can do reasonably easily by restricting carbs/ doing carb curfew. And around 9 is what I get with no carbs, including fruit and sugar, at all.

Problem is I still feel big which is annoying. And weirdly, when I got married, I was 11st and felt quite good!! (pic on profile). So I'm not sure what all that's about.

Anyway, have yet to do Asos try on as went for run tonight and have just finished putting dc to bed: am sitting here rubbing L's back.

Tracey your ds is so brave and lovely, a real credit to you.

NY how did it go?

Fritzi hope you are feeling brighter

Bloss you are going to be one gorgeous looking teacher!

Roma - oh for your DS.

I would personally speak to the teacher as ours tend to be very approachable and would hope that she would then talk to the class about being kind to each other and not bullying etc.

We had similar regarding the drawing nasty stuff before christmas which I think I may have posted about and DS's teacher was on the case before I even mentioned it.

Its all so awful though and I do despair somewhat at just how cruel some children can be and how brave our dcs have to be just to sometimes get through the school day

My DH has been uncharasterically furious about all the stuff with DS today - he came home with flowers for me and stationary galore for DS A pritt stick, some filing cards and some bulldog clips and suddenly all was right in DS's world.

Roma, I think it would be much better for you to talk to the mothers before, say, talking to the school. If you have a good relationship with them, they'll will be mortified, but will go to great lengths to make things better. Your poor DS.

Tracey, gypsy weddings was fascinating. The thing that I found the most interesting was the complete juxtaposition between the way they dressed themselves and behaved in public (ie the hen party) and their moral code when it came to sex/alcohol before marriage. Crazy.