Innocents Abroad
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Posts posted by Innocents Abroad
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C'mon girls, think positive! If I can do it I promise you ANYONE can!!! As I've said before, all it takes is planning - and, yes, I accept it can't be done without willpower.
Poppy, (is it OK if I call you that - less confusing) I'm 53 at the beginning - the very beginning - of April !!! Many people that know me say that it's a very approprite birthday for me! [:D]
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]I've been planning what to say here in an effort not to sound smug. No, sorry, just can't do it .........
I'VE LOST ANOTHER THREE POUNDS THIS WEEK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [:D] [:D] [:D] YAHOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!
Now, I'm really sorry girls but, in response to your earlier posts, I DO drink alcohol - at least two or three (150ml) glasses of wine a day and I DO drink (full-caff) tea and coffee - couldn't cope in a morning without my first cup of coffee! - and yet I have still lost 20lbs. I guess the only thing that I do differently - apart from counting up to 1300 cals a day - is not to eat bread, or very rarely anyway. In fact, when I do eat it I find that it makes me quite bloated, so there's another good reason not to eat it.
In fairness, since last Tuesday I have started to do 20 mins a day on the crosstrainer so that might have helped too.
I wore my Long Tall Sally size 12 jeans for the first time yesterday! (I bought them last year but never quite got slim enough to get into them).
I just wish that I could bottle and send to you all the brilliant feeling of being healthy (I too am at the 'tropical moments' stage in my life), more energized, in control, and feeling good about myself, - not to mention the thrill of planning what to wear!
OK, smug, self-righteous moment over [:D]
Hope you've all had a good week too.
Lynda x
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This featured on the news today - it was so awful I was unable to watch .... I've just done a blanket email with this link to our entire email address list - please do it too
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/427037941
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Welcome aboard the other Jan, lovely to have you with us![:D]
Lynda x
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Hi Jan
Mmm, not sure about the star "loser" title [:P]
Hey, don't get dispondent, you can and will lose weight; all you need to do is decide how you're going to do it, e.g. count cals, fat units, Souyth Beach, whatever, and then have a plan. It doesn't have to be a complicated plan, just perhaps a 'menu' for the day ahead - one day at a time - and then stick to it. There is absolutely no reason at all why you should consider "starving" (and I know you were slightly kidding), but if you don't eat enough then you can actually have a reverse affect and your body will start to conserve your fat supplies because it thinks that there's some sort of famine happening! Someone once said to me that you need to think of it like a burning fire: if there's not enough fuel then the fire will go out and stop burning. However, with just the right amount of fuel the fire will burn well - and you won't be left with loads of ash! [:D]
As I've said before, my regime is to simply count calories. At the moment my only exercise is walking the dogs every day for about 40 minutes and so I'm allowing myself about 1250 cals a day. I have complete freedom as to what I 'spend' my calories on so I can be as naughty or as good as I like - providing I don't go over 1250 cals! However, if I'm going out for dinner one evening then I might have fewer cals for a day or two before so that I've got some cals 'in the bank'. I've also mentioned before that I write down everything that I eat. Now that I'm in to week 8 there are lots of meals that we have regularly (like the red pepper chicken in an earlier post) so I already know their calorie content and that makes it easier to keep tally - and also to plan ahead. We've got two sets of visitors arriving in a couple of weeks and I already know what we're going to eat - and beleive me, it won't be lettuce leaves and carrot sticks!!
By the way, my husband eats exactly the same (delish and not diet-like at all) food as me, I just give him bigger portions. However, he too has lost 10lbs - and he hasn't even been trying! If it helps in any way at all, I'd be happy to give you some sample days of what I've been eating just so that you can see that you can eat well and still lose weight.
By the way, it knows how to rain in South Charente too ("the second sunniest place in France after the south coast" ..??? ... I want my money back!!!! )[:D] - Not really, we love it - rain and all!
Keep smiling and hang on in there girl !
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]Results for this week (week 8) = 1lb loss [:D]
Total weight loss so far = 17lbs [:D][:D]
NEW MEMBERS NEEDED - SIGN UP NOW !!!!!
This thread has had over 900 views - presumably by lots of perfectly shaped, beautiful people who are just curious to see what this loosing weight lark is all about [:P] ... OR ... there may be a few of you out there who are thinking, "Mmm, perhaps I ought to loose a lb or two before I have to start thinking about fitting into shorts/swimming cossies". I just can't believe that so many people are simply interested in trials and tribulations of our little band of four people, so come on now all you closet dieting would-be's, don't be shy, join our little virtual Fat Club today - you'll be so glad you did [:D]
(Join today and take advantage of the no membership fee special offer!) [;-)]
Lynda x
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Glad you liked it Bugbear!
Joy, have a great trip - but stay away from the chip shop!! [:D]
Till tomorrow ....
Lynda x
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A friend of mine recently went to see a Cardiologist. Here's a transcript of their conversation ....
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... Don't waste them on exercise . Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).
And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: You're not listening.... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
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Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable. It's the best feel-good food around!!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
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Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape! !
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Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Food for thought, hey? [:D]
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]'Morning Everyone. Well it seems my Valentine blow-out didn't do any lasting damage as I've lost 2lbs this week - hurrah! [:D][:D]
My target of 2lb a week is nicely levelling off now, after my somewhat amazing start, and this week I'm 2lb ahead of the game. I have a line on my spreadsheet which tracks 2lb off per week. If I knew how to get a copy of it on to here then I'd let you have a copy to track your own weight loss - should of course you want one! I do find it quite motivating to fill it in every Tuesday and it's SERIOUSLY motivating to see it plummeting downwards. I realised last week that each time the Tracker/Tickler/Ticker thingy is updated, the previous weeks are also updated too. This means that anyone looking at this thread for the first time will think that none of us have lost any weight !!! [:'(] [:D]
You may have notice (but probably haven't, and why should you) that, in a moment of overconfident madness, I have extended my Ticker goal weight. This new target weight is what I weighed when I got my Weight Watchers Gold Membership (sounds like some sort of lifetime award doesn't it) - in 1994 [:-))] I did maintain it for quite a while but haven't been back at that weight since so I'm very excited about getting there again. If I manage another 2lbs next week then I'll be back to my lowest from last year and all my winter over indulgence will be undone. From thereon in it will be 'new ground' I'll be treading .... ooo, the excitement of it all!
Hope you've all had an excellent week - and that your scales are now behaving Russethouse [:)]
Lynda x
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Have only just got round to reading this thread - the tears are still rolling down my cheeks - sorry but this smiley just doesn't do it justice [:D]
They say it's good for you to laugh so I think I've just earned a glass of wine and a cream cake!!!!
Lynda x
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Hey Sweets! We've just had both our dogs' microchips registered here so I can talk you through the process and introduce you to our vet - he's brilliant!
Lynda x
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Well done Joy, excellent result, you must be really pleased - and feeling FABULOUS!
Russethouse, think you should just go with the best reading [:)]. I know what you mean by 'doing the best of three'. Our digital scales are the ones where you have to tap them first with your foot to activate them. By the time I've finished getting on and off, "just to make sure", my husband says it sounds like I've kicked them into submission [:D]
Had a seriously boozy evening on Valentines and had to have a 'comfort' day yesterday. Will let you know what damage has been caused next week [:$]
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]Well, the sun might not have its hat on but I've definitely got a Spring in my step. Pause for fanfare of trumpets .... I've lost a stone!!!! Hip hip hurrah !!!
To be honest I was sort of hoping for a bit more than a 2lb loss this week, not having lost any last week and this morning the scales (electronic, so no chance of cheating) did say 11.8 but then at the last nano-second went to 11.10! Hey ho, perhaps bodes well for next week - though we've got a romantic posh nosh do tomorrow night so I'll have to eat wisely - yeh right! [6]
Have a romantic day tomorrow everyone - but I hope you've given the instruction of, "no choclolates, thank you"!!!
Will watch your posts with fingers crossed!
L x
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Hi Lautrec - and everyone else who has contributed to previous threads on this subject!
We have also decided to cancel our Wanadoo contract and, for the past week have been trying to get in touch with the English Speaking service of France Telecom. There are only so many recorded messages that one can listen to without loosing the will to live!
However, having now done a search and finding Lautrec's recent thread and one from back in December 2005 we now have all that we need to know in order to cancel! Well, we think we have, so fingers crossed it will all go smoothly.
Many thanks to you all for such excellent information [kiss]
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]Well done Joy! 300g off is better than nothing - and even more betterer than 300g on! Hang on in there Russethouse, at least you're putting your hands up and recognising where you're going wrong.
As you can see, no change for me this week but completely expected. The aforementioned Paris trip was brilliant and made even more so by the fact that our daughter's lovely boyfriend proposed to her on her birthday (the Friday), at the top of the Eiffel Tower and down on one knee! (And this was after a secret phone call made by him to her dad on the Wednesday evening asking for his permission!). So you can appreciate, we did quite a lot of celebrating on Saturday!
I came across the following when I was having a book sort out. It's the preface to a dieting book that came free with some magazine or other. Made me smile ...
Telephone conversation with a Diet Counsellor (DC) and a prospective New Client (NC):
NC: Hello? Is that the diet counsellor? I hope you can help - I'm desperate! I've got three stones to lose and it just won't shift. I've tried every diet going, but nothing works. I tried not mixing protein and carbohydrate but who can stick to that? You can't have fish and chips, there's no spag bol or burgers, so what can you eat? Then I tried that French guy's diet where you can have lots of butter and cream but that didn't work for some reason. Cabbage soup made me nauseous. As for the high-protein diet, people backed away because my breath smelt so foul and I couldn't go to the loo. But at least trying all these diets has taught me lots about nutrition. For example, I know that you must only eat fruit in the mornings because the enzyme that digests fruit doesn't work after midday ...
DC: Oh really?
NC: of yes, didn't you know that? Anyway, so i went to Weight Watchers but I ran out of points by lunchtime. Then I did Slimming World but I accidentally had a hamburger on a green day and I'm colour-blind anyway. I couldn't work out the Zone diet, I haven't got a Little Black Dress, I read through all the bloody group diets and you can eat more or less the same on all of them so what's the point? I really don't know what to do!
DC: Have you tried eating less?
NC: What do you mean?
[:D]
Till next week ...
Lynda x
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I may have got this wrong but I didn't know that rabies vacinations lasted two years without the necessity for a booster.
We had our two dogs vaccinated for their passports, in the UK, in October 2004 and their booster date was exactly 12 months later. We moved to France in August 2005 but because of all the other things going on in our lives like house buying/moving from rented accommodation etc, we completely forgot about the booster. This only came to light a couple of months ago when we talked about going back to the UK for a few days over Christmas. Oops! We have subsequently had to start completely from scratch again and now have to wait six months before the dogs can go back to the UK. Not really a problem for us (apart from the cost!) as we're not now planning to back until next Christmas but worth bearing in mind for others perhaps!
Lynda
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Well done Joy, brilliant result! You must feel really pleased - and think about 2.1kg as blocks of lard gone [:)]
My result for Week Four: 2lbs loss !!! [:D][:D]
Total Loss: 12lbs - Hurrah ! (edit: originally put 10 - fancy not getting that right!)
I'm really starting to notice the difference now and all my clothes feel so much better. Had a little 'wobble' during the weekend as my 2lb loss this week actually registered last Thursday. Suddenly however, on Saturday, the 2lbs were back and I was at last week's weight again. I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself every day but it keeps me focused - and anyway, I knew that I had not strayed and was maintaining my 1250 cals a day so it would be fine - in the end! However, going to Paris this weekend for Saturday lunch as daughter's boyfriend is taking her to Paris for a few days for her bithday. We're getting the TGV and taking them for a special birthday lunch - and calorie counting will definitely not be featuring!!! Will have to have a few very good days and save up some calories in the bank [:D]
[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
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Joy, the url string doesn't look like the right one, which may be why it's not working ??Lynda x
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Our daughter's boyfriend is taking her to Paris (from the UK) for a few days for her birthday (what a lovely bloke he is and when are they going to get married and give me lots of grandchildren ..) .. oops, sorry, I get that way sometimes. We're catching the TGV on Saturday and going up to meet them and take them for a lovely, long lunch - somewhere. I've tried to do some research but there are just sooo many restuarants that I've got tired of looking. I said to my husband that we'll just find somewhere that looks good and has a good menu but he's gone all paranoid and thinks that we need to at least identify somewhere and (probably) book. Whaddya think? Am I being too laid back?
If anyone has any good suggestions (Missyesbut, I've seen your posting from last year and duly taken note) I'd love to hear from you - or if you think we'll be fine just 'winging it' then your encouragement - or otherwise - will also be welcome.
Thanks
Lynda
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Well done on your 500g Joy! I always turn weight lost into 'virtual' blocks of lard. A 500g block of lard is a serious amount to have as extra on your hips or tum or wherever your weight tends to gather - and think about having to carry it around in your handbag all day, every day!
Must confess I'm feeling very pleased with the way my 'lard' is diminishing. When I lost 30lbs last year I averaged out at 2lbs per week, some weeks loosing nothing and then having a good loss the next week. I did an aforementioned spreadsheet then too and I refer to it now just to see how things are going. It's really interesting and says a lot about a person's state of mind in that when I was at the same weight last year as I am today, I had lost 24lbs and I felt absolutely fantastic - almost Twiggy-esque - albeit that I did have some more weight to loose. Today, whilst I'm obviously delighted at the 10lbs loss, I still feel 'plump' [:(] Hey, let's be up-front and talk numbers! I'm 5' 10" and today I weighed exactly 12 stones. I know the ticker thingy says that I'm now under the magical bmi of 25 but I still have 14lbs to go. I reached 12.7lbs last year, in perfect time for a friend's wedding in the UK in October but I think that mentally I didn't actually reach my personal target - perhaps a reason why I put some weight back on? What absolute rot I'm talking - I put weight on because I enjoyed stuffing my face with butter and bread and cheese and fried everything (I even actually bought a deep fat fryer that was on promo!) and drinking alcohol like there was no tomorrow [:D] I also stopped doing any form of exercise (see previous post re dogs leg) so what on earth could I expect!
As I've mentioned before, I count calories to loose weight and during this regime I've averaged just short of 1200 per day. It's very simple logic, which is why I like it so much: If you eat more calories than you use up then you will gain weight. Or, to put it more positively: If you eat less calories than you use up - even marginally less - then you WILL loose weight. FACT [geek].
With that in mind, and as this is in the foody section, here's my absolute favourite supper dish - and loved by He who is not trying to loose weight so has double the quantity than me.
Cut up chicken breasts and sprinkle with Schwartz Fajitta (sp?) sizzle 'n stir seasoning (brought over by visitors as can't find it here).
Cut up red peppers (I usually do three) and place skin side up very close to hot grill and grill till black. Place them in sealed plastic bag, to steam, and when cool enough to handle slip off and discard the skin. Put peppers into a food processor/blender together with Swiss Boulion powder (again brought by friends) or Knorr Aromat and blitz till pulp. Add water to preferred consistency.
Cook chicken in non-stick frying pan with 1 tspn oil till cooked.
On bed of basmati (or other) rice, spoon chicken, then sauce and top with 15% creme fraiche.
I have 100g rice, 90g cooked chicken, half the sauce and 40g creme fraiche. A deliciously filling plateful for about 350 cals and I still have cals in the bank for a 150mls glass of red wine (85 cals) - or two! [;-)]
Er, sorry, just realised how much I've been droning on - anyone still awake out there [:$]
Till next week ..
Lynda x
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]Result for Week 3 : 2lbs loss
Total weight loss: 10lbs [:D]
Short post today as about to dash off to Bordeaux but will catch you all later. Hoping for good results!
By the way Jan, there's also three books listed on Ebay.
Lynda x
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Hey, well done you!! I'm so glad you've lost 8lbs in two weeks too as I was beginning to feel a bit freaky. In all my yo-yo dieting years I've never lost that much in such a short time so I'm glad I'm not on my own! Are you just weighing yourself every two weeks - and not every two hours like me [:$]
I've heard of the South Beach Diet but don't know what it's about - I trust it's nothing to do with Purina Dog food! (I laughed my socks off at that one!). So, what's the concept?
Lynda
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w2G2UEv/]
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w2G2UEv/weight.png[/img]
[/url]Well done Jan, we said you'd have a good one this week [:D] Hey Joy, chin up; as you say, you're less than you were when you started and that's the main thing [:D]
We've also started to up our exercise levels this week. In the summer last year we were doing a good hour and a half of fairly rigorous walking with our two dogs. Unfortunately one of the dogs tore both ligaments in one of his back legs and had to have a fairly major operation. Consequently the walking stopped (the other dog is a Border Collie and she gets all her exercise by typically being manic and rushing round the garden all day) and as a result we all put on weight - apart from the Collie! Anyway, his leg is now considerably better and we've had him out for a couple of half hour walks. We were at the vets this morning and he suggested a couple of half hour walks a day to build up his muscle - and reduce our waistlines (though he didn't say the last bit!).
Enjoy your meal on Friday Joy but remembe the old Chinese proverb: she who eats too many prawn crackers will have gloomy day on Tuesday [;-)]
Till next week
Lynda
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Am about to go out for a couple of hours but just HAD to post this ....
Result for Week 2 - 4lbs loss !!!!!
Total Loss - 8lbs [:-))] !!!
Will update ticker when I return.
Hope everyone else has had a brilliant week too - my fingers are firmly crossed!
Lynda
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Yes, he's usually good at getting back to us. Have you just emailed him or called? If you need his phone number let me know.
builders
in West (Bretagne, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charente)
Posted
Hi Marmite
Sorry, only just seen this so it may be a little too late. Anyway, there's a builders merchants just on the edge of Chalais called Reseau Pro. You can turn up with your trailer or they will deliver. It's on the Barbezieux road, on the right. Have you found a builder yet? We bought our house from a builder who now lives in Riberac. He speaks resonable English and has quite a few ex-pat clients. His name is Patrick Anastase - if you want his phone number then let me know.
Regards, Lynda