New Year, new resolution, *new* *thread*: healthy living and positive thinking in 2009

[eemie]

Welcome to 2009 everyone.

This is where we try to support each other to eat healthily, take better care of ourselves and think positively.

It used to be called a 'bootcamp' but it's really more forgiving than that, especially if you're poorly or you've just had a baby.

Everyone is welcome (I would put that in capitals but don't want to shout).

Our suggestions:-

Eat healthily;
Exercise regularly;
Drink plenty of water/other clear fluids;
No alcohol during the week;
Use body lotion/hand cream/extract of donkey testicles regularly;
Get enough rest;
Focus on three (well, at least one) positive achievements, however small, every day and try to post it/them here.

Have I missed any?

Happy new thread, everyone

Bumping for you.

Hello, I'm still here.
It was yucky weather yesterday but its lovely now and I am planning to () walk to pick DS up from pre-school in a while. We always walk there, after walking DD to school, but I haven't walked to pick him up yet and he started in September . Luckily we have nothing planned for this afternoon as it may take us all that time to stop at all the bins/watch builders/play in the park/watch ogle the firemen/talk to dogs/etc

Over the weekend exercise of any sort took a bit of a back seat but we did eat reasonably well and I slept like a log last night for the first time in ages.

3 positives for the weekend include:

1. Managing to coordinate getting 2 children to 2 separate parties with only one car
2. Cooking kedgeree for the first time to the HUGE delight of fish-loving DD
3. Getting 2 organic chickens in Sainsburys for £5 each in the reduced section

Will be back later with positives for today.

I'm still here too. Have finally got to grips with the booze and am aiming to be on the wagon until half term. Also working hard at the gym (bright red and on the verge of passing out this morning ) and managing to get out for the odd run.

I'm also actively avoiding bread too at the moment as it definitely gives me the bloats.

So those are my 3 positives -
Exercise
No booze
and back to a healthy diet.

The water thing needs attention, I think that's why I looked so dreadful at the gym this morning. Will try harder.

Hello, I'm here too! Went to my first early morning gym session for several weeks and it was hell invigorating. But I definitely need to rethink my whole diet and exercise programme because the one I have, or had just before Christmas was not really working well enough for me so tonight I shall dig out my old fitness prog books that I used to buy in abundance.

3 positives:

Although my skin is far from being clear my acne has definitely subsided recently.

I feel more positive and have been planning my meals more.

I cannot give up booze but am going back to drinking just on a Friday/Saturday (well apart from this weekend after visiting the ILs and having to drive on the M25 in that awful rain.

Glad I'm not alone

Saggers - well done on the booze front. I can empathise with the 'colourful' look during exercise, drink does it to me too! I blame the Celtic heritage.
I struggle with the water thing a lot as I don't like tea and coffee so am not used to drinking much apart from at mealtimes. I've tried having one glass/cup of something mid-morning and mid-afternoon. I reckon even if I only manage one I've drunk more than I used to.

I've dug out my Moron (anyone remember them?) and am trying to up the steps. I rarely make 10,000 as I'm tall so my stride-length is long - sounds a good enough excuse to me! Need to get the hula hoop out again too and try to rediscover a waist

Good things for today:

1. Made huge chilli for the freezer
2. Had great time playing pirates in the park in fog with DS and a friend. 3 year olds are brilliant fun
3. Both plumbers I booked to come and quote for a new boiler in a rental property I look after TURNED UP

Now I just need to get into bed by 10.30pm.

Delighted to see we're still staggering along. Welcome to shiny new thread Saggars, feetheart and moonshine and thanks for the bump Puzzlerock.

Another Celt here, and I seem to have started having hot flushes - they're little ones so far but if I'm like my sister they'll soon be volcanic. Soya milk on my porridge from now on . Am I the oldest on this thread? Anyone else menopausal?

I have a moron somewhere, perhaps it'll turn up if/when I tidy up. Have little stumpy Celtic legs so no excuses.

Trying to eat more fruit and veg - apparently six to nine a day is the new five a day I wasn't even making five.

Positives:-

Didn't gain weight last week despite one or two encounters with pudding;
Still alcohol-free and not missing it;
Going to see my sisters this weekend

eemie - I'm definitely heading down the road to menopause. Hopefully I won't be as bad as my mother but they do say that they are an indication of how you'll be don't they?
How old are you? I'm 45. Periods are all over the place (this week I've had 1 day of old blood - sorry TMI) and last month I was in bed for a day which is unheard of for me. My skin is sagging, I'm as skitish as hell, I sweat for England (TMI again) and not sleeping . No flushes yet though.

Still - if I refuse to acknowledge it maybe it will just go quietly. Denial is a sign too isn't it?

Eek, I'm 46 and haven't even contemplated the menopause yet (I'm still 30 in my head ) Denial is definitely the way to go!

Have spent today on school run, taking DS to trampoling and trailing up to my old stomping ground 20 miles away to buy a new washing machine for my old flat (the other property in my 'portfolio')
Off to tennis course again tonight, looking forward to an hour of doing something for ME.

I am going to jump on board if you don't mind. I am doing well on the exercise front, but need to focus on the rest big time...

Good things for today:
I had my first good night's sleep for ages
I managed to keep running for longer
DD2 had only the one tantrum today

Hello Drum and welcome.
Well done on only one tantrum, DD used to throw MASSIVE ones that were exhausting for all concerned.

Good things for today:

1. Really enjoyed tennis but need to be fitter
2. Lots of yummy roast veg for dinner though nowhere near 6-9!!
3. Played on giant glockenspiel thing in Bedford town centre with DS - lots of jumping up and down!!

Yes welcome, drum.

Saggars, I'm 52 . But had HRT following removal of both ovaries three years ago & have been weaning myself off it over the last few months.

Positives for today:-

Great walk to school with dd, lots of laughs;
Another great walk in woods with puppy who behaved beautifully - all that hard work starting to pay off;
Resisted wine and nibbles after seminar;
Met friend on train home & chatted enjoyably about kids and schools

Hello back, feetheart and eemie! Glad to hear your days were good too. Feetheart, please tell me that your DD is now an utter delight...

I printed out the 'club rules' yesterday and have put them up inside my bathroom cabinet. I will read them while I am brushing my teeth every morning. I am sure that the donkey testicles bit will cheer me up no end of a morning!

Drum - not exactly an angel, more a slightly temperamental nearly 6 year old (but I think they all are). She is great company though and we don't have too many run-ins.
How old is your DD2?

Anyone spotted this - free Virgin Vie mascara or lip gloss There is a thread on here but can only link this way. Just ordered lip gloss and only paid £2.50 P&P

All gone quiet again!

Having a lazy start to the day ie its midday and only 2 out of 4 of us are dressed!!

Two positive things already for today:

1. I've made ice-cream
2. I've just booked tickets for The Lion King for DD's 6th birthday in Feb. She doesn't know but DH and I are VERY excited

Going to continue being lazy for most of the w/e I think as next w/e we hit 'party madness' - 3 x 6yr old parties in 2 days Part of the reason we are not going down the party route.

Enjoy your weekends.

Visiting my sisters and Mum this w/e. Positives:-

Had two bowls of Mum's healthy rib-sticking soup;
No alcohol (getting together with sisters used to be a bit of an excuse);
Longish walk in sunshie this morning (cold, though!)

Have borrowed soup book to revitalise my healthy cooking in the next few weeks.

Happy w/e everyone.

Thanks for the link feetheart.

After tonight I will have done a week off the booze and have lost 3 lbs. Woohoo!

Positives:-

Struggled in to work - difficult driving but worth it, as few people made it there today;
On return, spent two hours building snowperson with dd and neighbour children;
Made best-ever leek soup.

Felt sudden yearning for glass of wine this evening but will resist, as weight is slowly drifting downwards without it.

Eemie - well done on making it into work and on the soup, I LOVE home-made soup.

Very good on the exercise front today - nearly 11,000 steps (which is about 3,500 more than usual and equates to almost 10km ). All of it in the snow and most of it pulling either one or two children on the sledge!!
DD's school was closed but DS's pre-school ALWAYS stays open. They play out in the snow for as long as possible then feed them warm milk and toast Sadly DS HATES being cold (he has my rubbish circulation) and refused to venture out though he enjoyed the milk and toast!

Positives for today:

1. Made bagels again as the dozen we made yesterday were gone by lunchtime today!!
2. Helped create 2 snow-people with various children - DD had friend over and little girl from next door ended up here for most of the afternoon too.
3. Managed to hoover DD's bedroom at last, it has been so covered in crap stuff that I have spent all w/e helping her to tidy up - she is nearly 6 and hoards like an old lady!

Hello all and welcome to Drum .

The snow is beautiful but playing havoc with my diet as, after a long session outside, I just want to come back and stuff my face with butter-laden carby things and hot chocolate. And school is shut again today so exercise/good intentions are out of the window and I still haven't come up with My New Grand Plan.

Feetheart - you make your own bagels? [v impressed emoticon]. Is it very involved?

I am a 'whippersnapper' of 42 and am sure I am very much perimenipausal as my hormones are usually all over the place and make me act like the crazy lady (well that's my excuse). But my skin is still not bad atm (acne has subsided for some reason) even though I am still using random lotions and potions, as per my New Year's Resolution to use up all the half pots in the house. I have however been using Ponds night cream for a while and it is absolutely fab and pretty cheap too.

Dh has asked if I will give up booze for a month after today with him, gulp. It's not that I drink a lot but I do enjoy by Friday/Saturday tipple and am feeling stupidly nervous about agreeing to it.

3 good things.

1. Am actually glad to have another day off work to slob around enjoy the snow with the dcs.

1. I didn't wake up with a huge pustule yet again.

1. I slept through the night which is most unusual for me.

This post may sound like a re-run of Monday's one!
DD's school closed again, yomping to and from DS's open pre-school with children on sledge, over 10,000 steps on Moron. My thighs are beginning to feel 'well developed'

moonshine - DH and I saw Hairy Bikers making bagels before Christmas and both thought we'd like to have a go. Its quite easy and they taste great, hence they never last very long!

Must admit I'm enjoying this slightly mad, snowy week. DD has only been to school one day so far and it feels like a very nice long w/e. I do agree with the need to eat lots of carby things and big mugs of hot chocolate (with marshmallows and squirty cream ) but am trying to kid myself that the stomping through snow is burning all the extra calories!!

Positives for today:

1. No school again today so no mad school run rush (pre-school starts at 9.15 which feels SO much later!)
2. Spending all morning 'making crafty things' with DD - we don't often get much time when there are just the 2 of us
3. Spending most of the afternoon playing games and making buns with DS

The house looks a tip and I'd be too embarrased to invite anyone in but its been a lovely day.

1. Got to work and back safely despite awful conditions
2. Launched project I've been wanting to do for ages
3. Good news of family member who's got health problem.

Dd's had good week, lots of fun in snow.

Haven't been too bad on healthy eating etc and weight is still drifting down - people starting to notice.

Forgot to say - checked air in tyres and pumped them up, checked treads - and now I'm reminding all of you to do the same in view of weather

Oh boy, its been quite a w/e!!
DS(3.3) was messing about with DH yesterday when he fell badly. After a 999 call, a visit from the paramedics (though DH took him to hospital so no ride in an ambulance) and 3 hours in casualty the verdict was a fractured tibia (big bone, lower leg). He has a temporary cast on until tomorrow when hopefully they will put a proper one on.
How the hell am I going to keep an incredibly active small boy from EXPLODING during the next few weeks!!

There have been some positives as well:

1. Walked MILES (about 7) in the snow yesterday taking DD to and from 2 parties - she sat on the sledge most of the time!
2. DS actually didn't sleep too badly last night though DH and I were on tenterhooks
3. DS wanted to go to another party they were invited to today so we went. He joined in quite a bit (with some help) and even won musical statues by dancing and staying still whilst on my lap
4. Survived!!

The call of chocolate and all things sweet may be very hard to resist over the next few weeks so bear with me please.

Its all gone quiet again!
Positives for today:

1. DS has a proper cast on and is SO much more confident and happier in it (though I think the calpol/ibuprofen cocktail is helping too!)
2. My binge on all things sweet this afternoon wasn't as bad as it could have been and worked quite well as a stress relief
3. Left DD (nearly 6) in bed reading to herself by torchlight tonight! Something seems to have just 'clicked' with her and reading and it is the first time she has wanted to continue the story where I left off. DH and I are both avid readers so this is REALLY exciting

Now I need to get to bed before 10.30pm incase the painkilling cocktail wears off in the middle of the night.

Just seen this, feetheart. Sorry for ds. I remember, though, how little dd's broken arm affected her once she was used to the cast (which was very quickly). It was much worse for me than it was for her.

Hope you're getting enough sleep. Well done on all the positives