WWW's 10 year younger bootcamp - it's September, it's serious...

[WideWebWitch]

Hello everyone, old and new.

This is about feeling better about yourself and looking and feeling better etc. But mainly we chat and laugh quite a lot, which has all got to help towards happiness etc.

The rules (anyone can join):

• Sunscreen at all times

• No or little booze. Wine or Champagne or whatever at the weekend is allowed if you want it

• Walking is important, a small amount every day if possible. 30 mins if you can

• Lots of water, aim for 2 litres a day

• Apply body cream as often as possible

• Use hand cream

• Go to bed early, by 10.30pm if pos

• Eat healthily

• Be happy

The idea is that we all feel happier, healthier and glow with the good food, sleep, exercise, water and lack of sun damage.

Some people are doing India and Neris's Idiot Proof Diet (Atkins, more or less), others are doing Slimy World, others are just being as healthy as possible.

Welcome everyone, have a good week.

Well done wong. That was never real skin in the link? - shurely it was a leather-look vinyl catsuit.

Goodish bootcamp here. I've had cereal, crusty roll with ham & coleslaw, a ton of carrots, tarragon chicken with rosti & green beans, lemon mousse. About 1 litre of water but will have another couple of glasses this evening. Moisturised & sunscreened.

Went swimming this afternoon but only did about 10 lengths (small private pool) before I had to get out and feed DS2. Everyone else swam for ages. DCs did well though, DD1 did 15 lengths almost non-stop and DS1 did widths without floats - which is a big deal as even in the shallow end he can't stand up.

I can't believe we only have two days left of the summer holidays, I'd love another couple of weeks. Especially if it were sunny.

Rushing through, today:

smoked salmon for lunch
brazil nuts
mini austrian smoked cheese
2 cold sausages and some cold bacon strips
poussin

water galore
and bed v v shortly as am knackered

no booze, obv, am veritable saint again on that front

Oh and a few anchovies straight from the tin, yum

I read that as anchovies from the bin, ewww.

My toe nail has finally come off, double ewww.

I had 3 under 4 (just). I pass no comment about whether or not I let myself go...

• sunscreen - yy.
• no booze.
• 30 min half-hearted exercise. I've rediscovered the twister and ex-bike.
• not enough water/weak tea.
• body cream - lax.
• hand cream - yy.
• go to bed early, by 10.30pm. Obviously failed.
• Eat healthily. Started well - fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch; tea was okish, but then I had to nip to Tesco and suffer a leaders' meeting with the new GSL, who's a bit officious and doesn't share our sense of humour (it's all a bit messy at the moment) so I stuffed caramac, fudge and digestive biscutis . I had such high hopes for today too.
• Be happy. Well meeting aside, work was ok considering it was first day back and I had both my retiring boss and my new boss in situ today. Dep is back too, but she's a little bit fragile so need to keep an eye out there.

Leroy was my favourite.

Just a late check-in before I go to bed as we are going out en famille tomorrow (to London art gallery natch) before dd goes back to school on Thursday.

Batters, we did the mother and daughter haircuts the other day too. dd decided to have several inches chopped off her very long hair and its still past shoulder length but looks very grown-up.

Mine is "the same" - my hairdresser,who has been cutting my hair as man and boy, for the past 16 years knows what to do. I don't even talk to him about the hair we just talk about art (he paints as well) and music.

When we were on the train coming home, we attracted lots of attention, we got chatted up by an ancient ticket collector, a young lad (20's?) and a very strange man who asked dd if her daddy would mind if her mummmy came to live to with him

Anyway, enough. I'm up for the serious bootcamp challenge, I have swum lots for the past 3 days and am feeling more energetic despite a couple of lovely restaurant meals out over the weekend. I did avoid most carbs though.

My mum loved Leroy, lol.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? To reshape into something more in proportion, I am apple-shaped, (more brick tbh) and I need to slice off some of that apple. There are other areas that need attention, but let's remain realistic.

WHY DO YOU WANT IT? Mainly for health reasons, but also I want to be able to wear clothes that fit nicely. Trousers that fit well around the hips are too tight/won't fasten on the waist, trousers that fit the waist waft around my hips. Tops that fit across the bust are too tight across the tum, tops that cover the tum gape at the bust. You get the picture I'm sure.

Ooh, I did have a bit of success clothes-wise last week though, I bought a floaty handkerchief style skirt, not knowing what top to wear with it, and I've managed to match it up with a white top/navy textured blouse (and looked ok even if I do say so myself).

And I bought a lovely frock last week that fits, and will fit even better if I can slice some of that apple. I will feel more comfortable wearing it with some sort of wrap or a jacket tbh, but I'm amazed that it fitted.

And both are navy, rather than black!! Small steps, lol.

Okay day yesterday but the evening wasn't so good. Today will be better.
I need to set myself up for a different routine as I automatically nod my head when DH asks "glass of wine?" instead of barking "no, I'm off to the gym".
Lots of school stuff to sort today and some homework apparently but at least it will be busy and DC won't be moping around the place.

I did ok food-wise yesterday until the evening then just gave up and had chicken strips (homemade from good chickens, but still) and ice cream. Evenings are my downfall. No exercise whatsoever; I worked from bed on an online calendar for my aunt's website. I will start hauling myself around Vicky Park soon and can go back to the gym as of, oh, yesterday. (Put membership on hold for hols.) But happiness high as I had a good time doing something where I needed to think!

ureb - sorry about your toenail, eww. But the skirt sound fab.

yoyo - ha! at "some homework apparently". We never do any in school hols either - it's used as an option when they say "I'm bored". They miraculously find something else to do! (It's not compulsory; I don't feel bad not making them do it.)

batters - we're going to be starting tutorial work, too. Sigh. Sorry your husband didn't notice your hair. I usually ring mine and tell him it was cut/coloured and that it looks lovely. He dutifully parrots it when he gets home.

chutney - scary news that Christmas is only 16 weeks away.

Cam - am on the getting chatted up.

WWW - sounds like excellent food as always and I want to be a proper size 14 by Christmas, too. Am 16 (occasionally 14) now.

Duchess - you sound so healthful! Maybe I should just copy what you do and eat. Not sure what I'd muck out, though.

Cap - ha at slithering away. Today is rainy; hope it's easier to be at work.

moonshine - it's the back of my neck that gets overly tan. My chest isn't great either. I am a mess of tan lines and sun damage but not as bad as suzy's link.

suzy - ewww at link but congrats at weight loss.

L&S - where did you get mackeral? I want somewhere decent and closer than Steve Hatt's to get it. Have you been to the Ginger Pig? Mmm, meat.

smbk - great news on dd. Hope the mri goes well. We are headed to the surgeon this morning. Am very nervous about it...

JJ, must confess it was in no way nice mackerel - just sainsbury's, whizzed through the food processor. Funny you should mention Steve Hatt; I was on Dalston Lane yesterday (just before it turns onto the Lower Clapton Rd) and saw a fishmonger which looked very nice, prompting a lengthy internal monologue of the subject of why I'm such a wuss about buying fish from anywhere other than Steve Hatt ...! Haven't been to the Ginger Pig - where is it? Do tell ...

All well-ish here - DS fully recovered from his tumble. We're off swimming again today after final jab at the gp (for him, not me).

SW, that picture is horrifying. Horrifying. I am horrified.

Wail.

Just been to the GP to check out my ear, which is getting better, but he's forced me on to the scales ; done my BP (high); measured my waist (eek); and is sending me for blood tests and an ECG .

Apparently I've not been for five years (yes I know, I remember these things cos I hate it) so he's checking me over . He was very nice about it all, and he did note that I "dislike the process of having my BP done".

Sorry, a slightly irrational, mememememe post.

Oh Ureb, I hate it when that happens, big commiserations
Do hope all goes well with the tests, keep us posted
Did not do proper walk this morning due to stair-rodding rain so must make proper effort at lunchtime. Did have decent breakfast of yogurt and banana though and am drinking coffee with no sugar.
Am so overwhelmed with batters' fab walking achievement, that is brilliant
Dcs went back to school today and I am back at work. Although nothing of note has happened while I was away I still feel a great cloud of existential gloom
To attract OH attention with haircuts, No 1 crops or mohicans are required. Sorry your investment went unnoticed batters.
We have whole family haircuts camm - I dread the day our hairdresser finally packs it in as he has been cutting my hair for the past 20 years and before that on an occasional basis for a further 12. We are old friends and the last of his clientele under 75. Dd and I attract a different sort of head-turning when on public transport alas

Marina sorry work is still gloomy. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? lol at mohicans etc

ureb, sympathy on the doctors appt too, what is he going to do about the bp? Glad he was nice at least and well done on navy rather than black, I am most impressed.

Who is Steve Hatt, pray? Enjoy your swim L&S

JJ, I hope by the time you read this ds has seen the surgeon and you are feeling happier. You and I WILL both be a 14 by CHRISTMAS, hey?

Batters, re films, I can recommend Nims Island, The Water Horse and there's another, it'll come to me, as recent family films I've enjoyed. Both v sweet. You know how I am getting on re tuition, ds's tutor is coming tonight, lovely. I have cunningly arranged it for 5-5.30pm when I will be on a train! Good luck.

Yoyo, my dh knows not to offer me wine in the week BUT he also knows that if I scowl and say I AM HAVING WINE TONIGHT he is to say of course darling and pass me the corkscrew I am back to doing no wine and will do my best to keep it up for ages as I know I feel better for it and will lose weight.

Camm, oo err at the leching on the train! Get you!

DofN, ONLY 10 lengths? Well done!

Chutney, I feel the same, feel if anyone from my past saw me they would think I had not aged well.

Capp, I was thinking aobut you on the train yesterday, ME must be awful. What is a Raffles bar? Have never heard of it.

I have had

3 cold sausages
salami, brie, port salut
rocket salad with bacon, anchovies, tuna, pine nuts, tomatoes, green beans and vinaigrette
lots of water
forgto sun screen but was pouring

went to bed at 10pm last night BUT talked on phone to friend til 11.30 so am knackered

no wine, obv, I am not the kind of person who drinks in the week

Lol at WW being not the kind of person who drinks wine in the week. Made me realise that when you said you forgot the sun screen but was pouring didn't mean you already had the wine bottle open. And may I say that salad sounds particularly tasty today.

I and about 75% of my neighbourhood have been trying to get their dcs a haircut today (barbers are strange places, no, full of furtive youths and almost bald men fussing over the 3 strands they do have?). And I will also be putting names (not sewing ) on school stuff tonight ready for tomorrow just to really add to that end of hols/start of term feeling.

Ureb - at docs. Hope the results are ok. I think I would actually faint if the doc made me go on her scales.

Marina - lol at your particular type of 'attention' - I'm good at attracting complete loons on public transport myself.

I ran on the treadmill for 30 mins non-stop today . It feels so unfair that in August I lost only one sodding pound. But I have, and will, continue and definitely feel less hungry on a daily basis, plus my first thoughts are now not choc and cake (only my second and third....). And the weather means that I can really and truly pack away the fake tan and add to my tights collection.

moonshine - very good with treadmill running! My boys got their hair cut yesterday, yee ha. It's a thankless chore.

WWW - Steve Hatt is the fishmonger on Essex Rd in Islington who is fantastic. We used to live down the road and eat a lot more fish. Now we just buy trout from Ocado (v good and fab value, please don't tell me they're evil or unethical).

batters - hope dvd rental went well. I was all set to send the boys to a movie yesterday but the kids' ones were all gone. Oh well, they had an exciting day anyway (see above).

Marina - sorry to read about doom cloud. Hope some rays of sun... erm, do something and you all feel happier. (Lost my handle on that analogy, apols)

ureb - sorry about gp's visit and hope test and ecg come back clear.

L&S - I meant to tell you how I nearly killed my eldest! He had anaphylactic reactions to milk when he was 2 and I gave him (accidentally, unknowingly) a cheeseburger from a fast food joint. We (he and I) were on our way up to Wisconsin from Chicago when things started happening and I had to give him the Epi-pen then take him to the nearest a&e for hours of observation. Was horrible.

The Ginger Pig is by Victoria Park on Grove Road near the roundabout where it intersects VP Road. It is luverly.

And my news is that the surgeon thinks my son is doing brilliantly! He was especially surprised and delighted to see that his butt muscles have not wasted away at all as he said usually happens. He can do everything but run and jump and contact sports - basically nothing that pounds his leg. And he can ride his bike again! Yee ha. That will make getting to school so much easier, too.

He has to do his exercises still every day (he hasn't been, argh). I thought I'd do some with him. Not the same exercises but things like pushups and situps. It's better than sitting there nagging him to do them.

Oh, and, quite stressful but ended up nicely: my car wouldn't start this morning after not having been used for 7 weeks or so. So my husband and some guys off the street banded together to give it a running jump and get it going. I was so thankful to the guys who helped.

hello everyone, I seem to bring nothing but gloom to this thread at the moment. Had to go home from work today as my stomach was so painful (don't know if you remember my abortive attempt to get the medication I need from the docs who didn't want to give it to me ). Anyway, I now have an emergency appointment at the hospital on Thursday and am not allowed to take the pills I know will fix it because the consultant needs to see me without them. The doc wanted them to do an immediate endoscopy but they won't do one until I've had a consultation.

Sigh, sigh and lots more sighs.

And to make matters worse, dh is away (in a warzone), I have to go after work tomorrow, through rush hour and drive to rural Oxfordshire to pick up the kids and I don't have dh to lean on. So a pretty shit week and I cannot wait for this one to be over and next week begin.

oh and I always liked the floppy one in Fame. Did he play the violin (not my fave instrument) or was it the piano? He was distinctly uncool I seem to remember!

jj - what lovely news about your son. You must be delighted!

JJ - never thought I'd be pleased about someone else's butt muscles but that is really great news!

oi - sorry I missed your troubles first time round - do you know or suspect what the matter is? Good luck on Thursday. And do you mean Bruno (wasn't he the earnest piano player with curly hair?)

Just passing through - JJ fab news

JJ, that's fab news and thanks fro the explanation re fish.

Oi, poor you, oh no, can any of us help in any way? I am working from home tomorrow and not a million miles from Oxford which I shouldn't think is any help but if it could be, remotely, let me know.

Moonshine, oi, re the pouring, no wine has passed my lips since Saturday night.

Batters, what film did you watch?

I came home tonight to ds doing 11+ stuff with tutor and not being stroppy, hurrah. We now have to do at least an hour EVERY night between now and the exam, which is a month away. And dh is on courses in London which is a PITA BUT lovely boss has agreed quite a lot of home working for me so I can cover breakfast club drop offs and pick ups, so that's good.

Dd starts school tomorrow and I was just reading them a story when they both said "we're hungry" oh, I said, what did you have for supper? Nothing it turns out, dh forgot! When I shouted down "what did they have for supper?" he said "they didn't say they were hungry!" er, durr, they still need FOOD when the last thing they had was lunch at 1.30pm.

So I read "I will not ever eat a tomato" with additional piss taking of dh, eg "No Lola, we will not be having cheese or mushrooms or fish fingers or spaghetti and there will be no carrots or cauliflower or, in fact anything because DH FORGOT to feed you!

Anyway, working from home tomorrow, 34 days left of getting a train!

DH is cooking me fennel in butter with green beans and broccoli, which is a Waitrose ready meal. Lovely

No wine, obv
Gotta go, it's on the table.

just putting this further up my threads but am absolutely knackered so am going to bed so am not going to be nice polite person who reads all posts

drank no water today, just coffee

will feel and do better after sleep tho

night all

zzzzzz

oi - that would be piano-playing Bruno from Fame, yes? He's the twin brother of Rolf from the Muppets. Sorry you're having such a cack week.

Sympathy to everyone else who needs some. Congrats to JJJr on his great ass and general good progress. Well done Moonshine on 30 min on treadmill, that is excellent.

Spent the wet morning doing homework with DD1 & DS1, turned up DS1s trousers (which I've been putting off for weeks). Then we went out to lunch, I had a toasted cheese & nice ham sandwich with salad. This evening we had chicken & ham pie with crisps and salad.

Lots of water, moisturiser with SPF15 and enough walking to qualify as exercise.

Good luck to everyone back on the school run tomorrow, we're going to the beach whatever the weather .