When shall we three meet again? The not quite NT, not quite weightloss thread ......

[moosemama]

We were full up ladies, so we finally have our very own weightloss-ish thread!

Oh Madwoman ignore me, it's a combination of my personal distrust of vets and guilt that I no longer do it for my own mutts. I don't expect you to do it, it's quite a commitment when you are getting set up and makes you extremely unpopular with just about every vet you'll ever meet.

Ignore me, I am just ranty this week. It honestly isn't that I thought you should go raw food, more that I like to spread the truth and vanquish all the smoke and mirrors pedalled by the dog food manufacturers.

It actually works out pretty cheap, as long as you already have the freezer and can get a friendly butcher on board. We have neither, which is why we can't do it anymore. Up in Lancs, we used to collect a bin liner full of meaty bones for nothing from the butcher every couple of weeks and buy a couple of trays of chicken wings and the odd bit of liver to make it worth his while. That was it really, cost next to nothing compared to commercial dogfood really. I believe there are some online BARF (gotta love that acronym, especially if you're a veggie like me ) retailers who will deliver nowadays, but I suspect that, as it's a bit niche, it probably works out a pricey by comparison.

Sorry to hear about your funny turn at bootcamp. I would second TLP that it's most likely detox/low-carb connected while your body is adjusting.

We've had quite a few rainstorms this week, but nothing like yours - sounds very impressive.

TLP, exactly, you don't see wild rabbits popping to the shop for a bag of flaked maize and sunflower seeds do you.

I have been daft enough to attempt baking whilst feeling too poorly to stand up - again. Epic fail, doesn't begin to cover what happened to my gluten free shortbread petticoat tails. Taste ok though, so the dcs don't seem to care that they look anything but edible.

Ah, no freezer and no friendly local butcher anyway, so I guess I'm off the hook.

I will look into it a bit more anyway, out of interest!

Well, today I have been roped into going to the zoo for a sleepover, with the sparks (like rainbows in the uk). Their first aider left them in the lurch and their guider has been sending panic stricken emails to everyone to find a replacement, and I am the only one who has said she will help out. she was v grateful though, and had a spare girl space too. I asked if she could get another one, and she did, so both girls are coming with me. Ds gets to stay here with dh, which suits me fine, because he is driving me absolutely flipping crazy at the mo. (Ds, not dh) the bad news is I'll be sleeping on the freaking floor again, so expect to be broken for the foreseeable future. Am going to spend this morning trying to rustle up an air bed...

I am currently (at 7.30am) sitting on my bed with a cup of tea, because I am refusing to intervene in the morning idiocy that reigns in this house. Essentially I have become a caricature that chases everyone, shouts at everyone, constantly has to run around the house to gee everyone up, and generally has a complete breakdown to get everyone out of the house to catch the bus. (dd1 is fine, more than capable of getting herself ready). The other two won't even eat breakfast without me nagging them constantly, let alone brush their teeth, get dressed, wash etc.

So this morning I woke them all half an hour ago at 7am. Twenty minutes later and none of them had even got out of bed, despite the fact their breakfast had been made and was sitting on the table. So I went and pulled all their duvets off, picked up my tea and the iPad, and resigned.

They are all old enough to eat, get dressed, and brush their teeth without someone screaming at them, so I am refusing to accept responsibility. It is theirs and theirs alone. I am returning at 8am so that I can help with the girls' hair. I am on strike. I can hear them. As usual they are arguing, but do appear to be slightly weirded out that I am not there.

It's an early out today, so they are all finishing at lunchtime. So if they don't eat, they can be hungry for the morning.

I will let you know how it goes.... Weak

Moose, you aren't still detoxing, are you?

Well done you for going on strike. I think you are barmy for doing another overnight on the floor with a bunch of giggly girls though.

Nope, I am a looong way from detoxing now, having to rely on whatever dh rustles up as still sofa bound and pretty poorly.

Also really stressed about ds1's statement and realising more and more how crafty the LEA has been about it all, effectively blocking our ability to appeal by refusing to issue either a second amended statement or the final statement. Can't even request a meeting unless they re-issue.

I am indeed barmy.

Well, dd1 and ds1 made it out of the door. Ds1 forgot his permission slip for his field trip on Monday, so I will have to drop that off . He tried a whine about his breakfast when I went to top up my tea, but I just shrugged and told him to get himself something else if he was that bothered. He shut up and ate half of it. Didn't drink though. I could feel myself getting antsy about that, but rationally, he doesn't drink even if I'm squawking at him to, so whether I get upset about it or not, the outcome is the same...

At 8.10 (her bus goes at 8.14) dd2 was still wandering around in her pyjamas, so I had to step in and go and get her clothes and literally get her dressed. She went to school without her glasses. I do feel a little bit sorry for her, as it really does take her longer to do things, but my empathy is limited by the knowledge that if she didn't spend 30 minutes arguing with her brother about computer games and actually concentrated on getting ready, she would have plenty of time. She's still pretty wee, but she needs to start taking some of the responsibility herself instead of being completely reliant on other people.

So, an interesting experiment.

I will be continuing it next week. for my own sanity.

So, what are LA doing? Just not making the requested changes? Have school seen the draft? Do they think they can work with it? G(sorry, have lost track a bit) - is this the refusal to put in the AS teacher and the specified times etc?

Do you think stress is a trigger as well? Racking my brains for a magic pill for you, but coming up short...

I'd chalk that up as successful then, given that they all actually got to school on time, bar a little dressing and forgotten permission slips.

I have started yet another thread in MNSN here explaining what the problem is. I am just spent to be honest, can't see the wood for the trees or work out what my next move needs to be. School have flatly refused to fulfill the statement as is and threatened that no other school will take him either.

Stress is definitely a trigger, that's why I decided to do the thread, as not having a plan of action is just leaving me with it spinning around in my head 24/7 getting more and more stressed. Had a small-ish episode like the ones I was having last winter last night, which was pretty scary. I really don't want that to start up again or I will end up in hospital on a steroid drip.

Replied over there.

IPSEA, or SOS sen.

Just call them and splurge it all out, and they can maybe give you some plan of attack to work on.

So, not abdicating the responsibility, but letting someone else shoulder the burden and giving you a hand.

It might be that they recommend running with it, and recording outcome, which would be a pita, but it might not.

And I know you don't want to, but maybe consider calling your neuro? Or at least having the number pinned on the fridge in case you decide it would be a good idea.

Is there anything you can take to take the edge off the anxiety? It would be interesting to see if reducing stress symptoms had a positive effect on neuro symptoms?

Thanks madwoman.

I got scared off when looking up SOSsen's contact details because it went on about having everything to hand and organised so you can answer their questions quickly. I'm not sure I'm compos mentis enough to have a sensible conversation about it at the moment and they don't do email contact.

I have the neuro's number in the family diary, so it's easy to get at. I just don't want to contact her only to be told I am wasting their time.

I could try some herbal Kalms or something I suppose, but in all honesty, I don't think the anxiety will reduce until I can at least see a way forwards.

Oops, replied on t'other thread. Am confusing myself!

I wouldn't worry too much about being super knowledgeable. That stuff is likely to be directed at folk who don't really know their way around the sen system, and you do. As long as you have your proposed and amended statement, and the report package you did for SA request, you will everything you need.

Rescue remedy?

I know people that swear by it.

It won't get rid of it completely, but might take the edge off and make it less incapacitating? And if that in turn eases the neuro stuff, you might be in a slightly better place?

I have some rescue remedy pills actually that ds uses when he can't cope. They are good for one off nerves about a specific event type thing, but not so good for a general background level of stress - although perhaps sipping the tincture in a glass of water throughout the day would do that. Hmmm, I might get dh to pick some up this weekend so I can give it a try. Thanks.

More than one way to skin a cat, apparently...

Worth a try.

You wouldnt even have the neuros number if he thought you were a timewaster, moose. Agree with madwoman, get someone else to tell you what to do now, and make it clear you have health problems so need support from ipsea etc despite being relatively clued up. Bear in mind as well with an appeal etc there are lots of feisty ffighters on mnsn to hold your hand every step of the way. And it may be that pp are helpful. But does seem to be a lottery.

Thanks TLP.

After a long talk last night, dh and I have finally made the decision to appeal. Everyone was so helpful on my thread and they are right, we are being lied to and manipulated and that's just what they do to try and get as many people to as possible to give in and let them have their own way.

You sound relieved now that you have a plan. good luck for tonight - fortify yourself with a good healthy meal as required! Glad you have made a decision. Make sure you don't get downhearted by the qualifications thread, though. Just because it isn't commonplace doesn't mean it isn't required, and I know you don't want to take on everyone's battles, but the system does need to know that a lot of support is utterly inadequate. Xx

Sleepover went well, hippos v cool, and pretty much all of the sparks had mums with them, so it was easy peasy! I got to play a baobab tree in a play about the savannah, so spent much of the evening wrapped in foam with twigs and leaves on my head. V strange. Freaking flock of birds that live in the hippo enclosure woke up for dawn chorus at 5.20am though, and I had slept not a jot anyway, due to the fact I am ancient and creaky and was on the floor(well, a camp bed thing, but it felt like the floor) and the combination of extremely loud fans/ filtration system, and assorted hippo/ red river hog noises all night... Girls were all asleep, and no one woke me up to pee in the night! Success!

I do feel relieved. Long way to go, but plenty of time to get it all sorted before the tribunal rears it's ugly head. I have resolved to take, whoever it was over on MNSN's advice and treat it like a part time job, allocating a set amount of time to it each week and not letting it take over my life. I think that is the only way I'll survive it.

I have just read the qualifications thread and totally get what everyone is saying. I am not after a highly qualified specialist TA/LSA, but I do want them to at least attend some relevant seminars/short courses or modules.

We've had some seriously bad news about the state of our VW. Apparently it will just scrape an MOT pass this year if dh does a fair amount of tarting up - but next year it's going to require a full restoration (think £15,000 plus). There's no way we could do that and our VW guy said if we sell it with a full ticket this year we will get about £5,000 for it, but next year we won't be able to sell it. Unfortunately, it's bad timing yet again, as ds1 is extremely attached to it and I don't want to cause any additional upset/stress when he is already going through secondary transition trauma. All we can think of is to put it into dry storage until things die down a bit - it's either that or win the lottery.

Dh and I have decided to try positive thinking and invoking the law of attraction - thoughts become things and all that. So, I am putting together a dream-life board and we are going to try and focus on thinking "we can do this - everything is going to be fine and work out for the greater good for all". It's a bit woo, but at this point we are willing to try anything!

He has his GP appointment to discuss 5 suspect moles on Wednesday, so we need all the positivity we can get.

Glad the hippo sleepover went well - was it not just a tad whiffy? at your acting role, not just any tree - a baobab tree!

Hope you manage to get your nap.

Dh is just putting dd to bed then we are going to get stuck into writing those letters. (We had jacket potatoes with cottage cheese and fresh pineapple for tea. )

oh good, glad that you have DH on board now Moose, what you are asking for is so reasonable (5 hours 1-1 and continuing with advisory teacher) the LEA would look pretty daft going all the way to tribunal with it. Hope that your expecting good things stuff works wonders with the VW!

Glad the sleepover went well, hippos and all!

Epic diet fail - work function on Friday, and I ate a second helping of pudding . Was 12stone 7 this morning despite walking for hours yesterday. Gah.

It's just water weight TLP, it'll be off again in no time, just drink plenty to flush it through.

Spoke to IPSEA this morning and was advised that tribunal really is the only way forward. Fortunately, because of my neuro problems they will help us with a case worker and representation, which is a massive load off my mind.

It was good to hear them agreeing with everything the MNSN crew have been saying and to have a legal bod teling me that the LEA and school are acting unlawfully. They also think it won't get as far as tribunal, but who knows with my LEA.

Am feeling more positive and in control again now. Diet still all over the place and it's my birthday tomorrow, so doubt it will improve much in the immediate future, although it definitely needs to as my waistband is starting to feel a tad snug.

Boys back to school tomorrow, thank goodness. I do love 'em, but boy are they exhausting. Been out to Snibston Discovery Museum and Country Park with Mum and the dcs today. It's another place worth considering in place of Conkers TLP, as it's similar in terms of lots interactive displays, plus the bonus of a free country park, but it's in much better nick with 100% working displays - which is obviously a bonus.

Oh ffs. I just typed out a huge post and mn ate it.

In brief - happy birthday moose! Eat cake!

No weight loss, but have exercised more so not entirely unusual. Have noticed that my legs are looking a lot more toned, but tragically the same cannot be said for anything else.

And am having a harrumph with work, which is ridiculous as I've only been there two weeks. They filled the other pt post (that was supposed to be working on opposite days to me) but because she needed accommodation, gave her ft hours instead, as part timers not entitled. I don't want a ft job in the summer hols, and nor do I want accom, but now they have two ft staff covering the hours they wanted, and me for an additional three days, presumably now completely superfluous. And tbh, even with two of us in, we aren't in any way busy and are pretty much looking for stuff to do... So I feel like a spare part. Not only that, she had a full orientation and got taken out to lunch, and has already been told when her centre orientation and training is booked for. Me? Er, no.

I know it's juvenile - and they did ask if I wanted accom, etc, so presumably were happy to do the same for me, but I have got the hump.

The morning abdication is going surprisingly well. Ds1 still isn't cleaning his teeth (and didn't drink this morning), but is getting himself ready with no nagging. Dd2 has also been ready two mornings in a row.

I don't mind being superfluous there!

Actually, scratch that. my self esteem issues have been massively improved by randomly trying on a brand new pair of jeans that have been hanging in the wardrobe unworn for well over a year as they were just too tight and uncomfortable. They fit very comfortably and I may even have to wear a belt as the waistband is a bit loose!

That's a lovely boost and has got me all fired up to put more effort in and get into the other four pairs, that are even older brand new and unworn... I know one pair I bought in the next sale four years ago, another pair from the year before, and I may even have a pair from before that! hope has blossomed again! It's no wonder I have self esteem issues, really, is it? What sort of loon buys trousers that don't quite fit and then has them hanging there as a reminder of how crap they are?!

So, the new plan is to work back gradually through the unworn trouser stock until I get back to my original- ish size. it'll save me a fortune!

that's the sort of loon thing I do as well Madwoman, I seem to put on and lose weight like a blow up doll. Most of which congregates on my stomach so I resemble a weeble.

glad for the self-esteem boost. sorry to hear work is unsettling, it is also might pet hate at work to be kicking my heels...

Hello?

I see names I recognize, can I come in? I think I fall into the "not quite NT" category, with my sight. And a few other things that I'm sure must put me somewhere near the autistic spectrum (noise sensitivity, awful in some social situations, not good at reading people, things like that).

Diet is not going well the past two days, but I'm hitting the gym tomorrow.

Madwoman, sounds like a mixed lot. Sorry to hear about work issues, but glad the morning abdication is paying off.

I told you you would be losing inches! Well done for getting into those jeans. It feels soooo goood when that happens doesn't it?

My waistline is currently headed in the opposite direction, but I am in complete denial. Need to get past this latest hump of stress and illness and I'll get back to it. My current matra is "I'm still 3 stone lighter than this time last year".

Had a good birthday today. Had a lovely mooch around Ikea with Mum. Chose my new wardrobes and also found a sofa to dream about buying - one day. Had Ikea daim cake for breakfast, samosa and pasty for lunch and have just polished off a piece of chocolate birthday cake.

Delivered our letter to the SENCo today and actually received a written response for the first time ever. Also hand delivered the one for the LEA asking them to amend or if not, finalise so we can appeal. So, it's all systems go on that front now.

Lollipop - welcome back. This is actually the same weightloss thread that you were on last year before your holiday - we just filled up the old one with our idle non-weightloss chatter, so had to start a new one. I picked the title as we were talking at the time about dcs who fall between dxs and are neither classed as NT or have specific dx. Thought it might also help direct any other MNSNers this way should they want to join - and as we now have two new members and the promise of a third (Ben10 popped in up thread and said she might be back soon), it seems to be working!

At the moment there's just me, madwoman and TLP - and of course now yourself. Lambskin drops in occasionally, but not often now she is skinny.

Mantra not matra