Weigh in

I was hoping and possibly expecting  a loss this morning but it wasn't to be. 0.25lbs on.

I'm pretty okay with it though. In fact, I'm very okay with it. I don't know what damage was done when I went a bit mental at the wedding and so on, and my period is late but 'weighting' in the wings. Ha! Get it! Oooh - too much hilarity. On top of all that, I feel good. I feel really good. I feel like I've lost weight and I just feel confident and relaxed.

I went out for a run this morning and I wanted to try and do around 6k - the longest run I'll have done in probably around a year.  I set off unsteadily as my hip flexors were a bit stiff from kettlebell lunges yesterday. I soon got lost in a daydream and managed to crack out 5.85km in 39.20 mins. Flippin well delighted. Saying I got lost in a daydream makes it sound like I just floated along. Not the case at all! Sweat in my eyes, tight chest, burning legs, practically racing a boy on a bike who was getting cycling proficiency lessons - and two monty hills!

I've also had a cracking result for one of my clients which I am chuffed to bits with. It's given me a real boost workwise and I feel like I could take on anything right now!

And now here's a montage (everyone loves a montage!) of what's been going down of late. 

Scottish countryside, cute cats, healthy shopping and cooking, heart shaped polka dots, running and bike love.

Starting Weight: 185 pounds
Current Weight: 181.75 pounds
Weight Loss This Week: 0.25 gain 
Total 2012 Weight Loss: 3.25 pounds

Sping in my step

The weekend has been just lovely with some great highs, and a couple of self inflicted lows.

Friday night was the first meeting of my new book group. I know a couple of the girls but most of us were meeting for the first time. They seem like a really great bunch and I think I'd like to be proper friends with a couple of them! That makes me feel like a proper try hard. But when you're in a new city and trying to make new friends it's not that often you meet someone that you get on with but also someone that you feel like you kinda 'get' each others sense of humour etc. And so I've just fired off a couple of friend request on Facebook. Okay, now I sound like stalker.

It was a good night but the food my friend, who was hosting, made was not good at all. Her prawn risotto was totally tasteless and ugh, it was so stodgy - and not hot enough! Oh dear. We all ate it (I was starving) but I felt quite bad for her. She pulled it out the bag though with an amazing pudding. Some strawberry mille feuille creation. If I was being totally focused, I shouldn't have had any - but... I did. When you're at someone's home I find it really hard to say no. And on this occasion I wanted something tasty after the disaster that was the risotto. I also drank the best part of half a bottle of rum.

I had a long lie on Saturday and woke up to a very foggy, dull day. That's right Britain, while the rest of you were basking in the sunshine I didn't have it so good, which kinda pissed all over my plan to go for a long bike ride. After tidying round a bit and generally faffing, I eventually talked myself in going to the supermarket on my bike, a round trip of just over 4 miles. While at the shops I got a couple of very excellent holiday outfits which I shall post pics of later. I came home, made a fish pie, blogged -and then sat on my backside for the rest of the night. This is where it went a bit wrong. I was a bit bored and as I have come to realise this is quite the danger time for me. I had eaten all the right thing during the day but the next thing I knew I had helped myself to a bowl of vanilla ice cream smothered in my own banana jam/sauce. What a combination. It was insane. I bloody loved it. I then proceeded to demolish half a big bag of assorted mints. Suffice to say after all that sugar, I felt totally horrendous. I went to bed annoyed with myself. What happened to The Plan? I promised myself that if it was sunny I would go for a run in the morning.

I woke up to a gorgeous Sunday morning. The sun was shining; I got my trainers on. I headed off to a big park near me that I just discovered the other day - and this meant running up a rather large hill. Off I went. I got up the hill. I felt good! I kept on going. I felt even better. I realised the route I was taking meant there was only one way home - up a very long and very big hill. Oh well, nothing else for it. I kept going. I felt good. I got to the hill. I started running up it. I kept on going. I got to the top and I ran all the way home. I felt fricking amazing. 37 minutes and 5.7km of running without stopping! I was so excited. I can't stop thinking about it.

It was the perfect way to bring my thoughts together. Running in the springtime sun, through a park, along a riverside; it was beautiful. And it was the ideal way for me to realise how my fitness has improved. I think that's the longest run I've done in about a year and the fact that I managed to trot up two big hills without any problems has made me realise all the gym work is paying off. In the past few weeks I've done a lot of 1 min sprint/1 min walk on the treadmill for 20 mins at a time and my base running time is 10.2kmph. I remember when it used to be 8.4kmph. Now THAT feels good.

I got home, showered, had some brekkie, drove to Tesco, realised I had forgotten my purse, drove home, got my purse, went to Asda (closer), shopped, came home, wrestled with the washing line, shoved some mackerel down my face, went to meet my friend at a beer garden where I had a couple of rums but mostly stuck to diet coke.

TB joined us later but it was really nice to invited out by one of my new pals and to head off and meet her on my own, in my new city, doing ma thing... The evening wore on and we ended up heading out for food. There was talk of heading to the chippy but I'm glad to say I managed to steer it away from that and we went for Thai in the end. I had a pretty spicy jungle curry which was really nice - and not a bad choice at all.

This morning I had another excellent workout. 12 mins of running at 10.2 and then 8 minutes of sprint/walking and other cardio resulting in 40 mins in total - and some good resistance too. Fish pie tonight and  The Plan is in full flow.

Can't stop

Just wanted to check in and say... look at my amazing cakes! 

 Kthanksbye. x

Weigh in

I weigh myself in the morning, post pee and totally starkers. I think TB was highly confused (or maybe amused?) when he blearily eyed stumbled past the kitchen this morning and saw me standing dead still and as if I had a poker up my arse.

I'm quite successfully getting into the habit of going to work with TB, 3 mornings a week as I get a lift along the road to my gym. It means I get up early and am at my desk for 9.30am - workout done, smug face on. It does mean I have to get up at 6.55am though. Ugh. Do not like. It also means that weigh in is occurring terribly early. I'm much more a fan of a 9am weigh in. I just feel that an extra couple hours must mean that your body has had longer to process anything you consumed the night before - if you know what I mean.

This is all a very long pre-amble to the most lovely news that I lost 1.5lbs this morning. Yay! I am pretty happy with that and am now 12stone 11lbs. Last week was a blip and I am still on course to have an amazing year. I mean, I'm only 3 and a half pounds away from my lowest ever - and 2 and 3/4 away from the two stone mark (lost since March last year).

I'm exercising lots right now but I'm feeling strong and like I did when I was totally on my game last summer. If I can have a week like this one but with a few tweaks here and there I'd love to lose the same again next week.

Although TB asked me what I was doing this morning when faced with a very naked me standing in the kitchen like a total weirdo, he didn't actually ask what the outcome was. I like that. A lot. He doesn't really care - which feels so good. I did push him once into admitting that he fancied the thinner me more. I think that's pretty obvious though. I also think he's trying to be a bit more healthy - which is quite a surprise. He revealed that for the past few weeks he's been walking for half an hour at lunchtime. He also plays badminton for two hours on a Thursday and tonight he's back to five-a-side. I'll have to watch out; I'm feeling him healthy meals and I bet he starts to lose weigh and faster than me!

This is totally unrelated but I wanted to share my joy that Sheryl Yvette replied to one of my tweets! It was totally inane, but she replied!

 Also, it's really cold today and so the fire has been on. Look at the size of this brute, surrounded by toy mice.

Thoughts to fingers to keys to blog

I'm just shit at blogging these days. I can't seem to summon the mental dexterity to fashion together even just a few words that aren't as boring as.... see! I can't even come up with a vaguely witty analogy.

Rather than totally fall off the radar I thought I'd at least crack out some words which might pass as a blog if you drank 17 rum and cokes and screwed your eyes up a bit. I might pap some pics up too. Better than nowt, eh. Well, I'm actually going to go list style. When in doubt paragraph it out, baby.

Last year my jam making was such a ruddy success that I got THREE jam making books at Christmas. Suffice to say I had to make marmalade this weekend just past. First attempt and it is the shit. Next up, three fruit marmalade.

My feline special boy continues to delight and frustrate in equal measures. We share a communal hallway/stairs with two other flats (top, middle and bottom). We are middle. Top is a lovely lady, her 9 year old daughter and their female cat. My boy is not getting on with their cat. Constant shouting at each other and a few swipes too. My cat keeps sneaking up to their front door and shouting dog's abuse (HA!) through their cat flap at their poor cat! I also know she's gone to the toilet inside her flat as she's unsettled! I wish my cat would stop being such an aggressive little shit. Although I have caught her chasing him inside from the garden too. It's like a full time job.

Sugar. Things are a lot better. A lot. For the past few days I've had about 3 celebrations a day and maybe a couple of boiled sweets. Feeling a lot better about that. I'm still totally aware of the fact I could go nuts and just inhale silly amounts but I am managing to be a lot more controlled.

The Biggest Loser (USA) I am obsessed. I fricking loved Season 11 (although nothing will ever beat Tara and Season 7) and have just gorged my way through season 12. I'm now one episode behind on Season 13 - which means I'll soon be caught up totally and I can actually read the blogs and tweets in line with the rest of the world without spoiling who gets chucked off each week.

Totally channelling the Biggest Loser workouts when I've been at the gym. I've been working really hard and yesterday, all of a sudden, I could feel a massive difference when doing dynamic lunges. I have an 8kg weight in each hand and using my right leg I step forward, lung and step back 12 times. Then the left leg. Then the same again but I step backwards and dip into a lung. And then the same with the other leg... 3 sets if you please. Ouch! I use to do these bad boys all the time.  I really do hate them but I know they work and so I just got on with it. Since the ankle incident (yes, I'm still bleating on about that) I've done them but never a full complement of 3 sets.... until yesterday baby! Very happy about that. I just felt much stronger than I have in months. While I feel the same size and generally a bit podgy about the body, my arms and legs feel much more solid and I can feel more muscle.

Had a pretty quiet weekend but was out on Friday night and both nights the weekend before. I even managed to go to an 80's club. They actually played Jason Donovan and Two Many Broken Hearts. Amazing! I'm staying off the booze this coming weekend as I'm at a night out in a village miles from anywhere and am just going to drive home to stay at my folk's afterwards. Quite hoping that'll help the scales move in the right direction.

I finally bought another pair of gym trousers/leggings. I have two sports bras (3 if you count the one that lots of the stitching has come out on), two pairs of trainer, countless t-shirts- but just one pair of trousers. They are constantly being washed and hung on the radiator to dry. It's never ending and it BORES ME TO DEATH. No more though! I'm not at your mercy any longer, sweaty breeks! And on that note... here are some pics.

Settle down

Thanks for all the advice yesterday. I've been pretty vocal about not getting enough help and I've also explained that I don't like to nag. I don't want to have to tell him to do things.

I think after our chat when I nearly went stratospheric about the dishwasher loading incident things are going to improve. Last night dinner was a team effort and when I was hanging up some washing he came and helped me. Small things but they make such a difference. It also helped that because TB is on a training course this week there is no ironing to be done and his lunches are provided.

The other thing that has been getting me down is the atmosphere that comes with the hum drum and the nagging. A couple of times when I've been grumpy because I feel like I'm not getting enough help TB has said: "I've been looking forward to coming home to see you. Let's not fall out." I don't want to fall out either but if I'm annoyed, then that's the mood I'm in.

What I'm getting at is that I feel like the shine has come off a bit. Don't get me wrong, things are still amazing but it's just not quite how it was. Of course it's not going to be. We live together now. Before we always knew that in a day or two we would be saying goodbye, heading off to spend 5 days 100 miles apart and so every moment was enjoyed to the fullest. We gave our best, 100% all of the time. It's hard to give your best all of the time when you are getting in a tizz about cleaning the loo.

And as I've pointed out to TB - everything is different for me. I'm in a totally new city where I know hardly a soul. I've lost my routine, my flat -my whole world has changed. I miss my old city. I miss my flat. I hate not having an real friends here (yet). I've got plans to try and change that but it doesn't help how I feel right now. Even things are different with my cat. He has only been here 3 weeks and is still settling down. He's not the same pussycat as before. I miss how we were before.

Saturday night was a real struggle for me. TB mentioned earlier in the week that some of his friends from work (all boys) were going to see a band on Saturday night. I told him he should go. I want him to do his own thing. But that meant I was at home, alone on a Saturday night. I put a brave face on it for TB but I felt pretty low. There is nothing wrong with staying in on a Saturday night. I love it - when it is my choice. The pathetic part of me wanted TB to stay in with me but I would never have told him that. I wanted him to come to that conclusion on his own.

I quite enjoyed my night catching up on some of my programmes and then I went to the gym at 11pm! Ha. Rock and roll, eh? I'm glad I did though as at least I felt productive and was doing something for me.

So, the upshot is that things are good. I'm just adapting and finding my feet. I'm going home (to my mum and dad's house - where there is a new kitten!) today for the dentist and then to my old office on Tuesday in between a couple of meetings. I'm really looking forward to it and it'll probably be quite good for TB to come home from work and not find me doing my best impression of an attention starved puppy. My best mate is also coming up this weekend for Saturday and Sunday night and I can't wait.

In other dieting news. I am exercising like a mo fo. Sugar intake needs to be checked but other than that - bring on the scales!

Oh, finally. Rapunzel asked if TB knew I had a blog. He does. When he asked why Moonraker and I split up I had to explain the whole finding of the blog thing for it all to make sense. I told him that I had stopped because of that and it was TB that suggested I start again with a new blog, new name and no clues as to who I was in real life. I honestly don't think he'd look for the blog but if he did and he found it (doubtful) then he can read away as while this is all very personal and private and is not for his eyes, there is nothing here that he doesn't know or that I couldn't say to him.

Poor Old Cinders

The first few blissful weeks where it feels like we've been playing house, have passed. The festive fun and holiday shenanigans are over. Living together is no longer something that's been long anticipated and envisaged as a cosy love nest. It's a reality. Mostly it's a really lovely reality but like anything else, there is slightly sour note that comes with the sweet overtones - nothing is perfect.

Let me just set out my stall before I say anything negative or make any statements that sound like they have come straight from the latest edition of An Idiots Guide to Being a Nagging Girlfriend. TB is the best. He is such a peach and I love living with him. While I'm about to... well, moan - that doesn't take away from the fact he is the best thing since sliced bread. This post is about what is annoying me. Not him. I dread to think what his version of this post would read like.

So what's up? I'll start with the domestics. Apart from the hoovering and taking the bin out (which I have to ask him to do as I seem to be the only one that fills it up) I am doing everything. Every sodding thing. This includes (and is not limited to) the cooking and tidying up afterwards (loading and emptying the dishwasher), washing the clothes - hanging them up and putting them away, ironing, making breakfast and lunch (ready for him to take to work with him), the food shopping and cleaning the bathroom. This is all partly my own fault though.

At the moment I am working from home and so it's easy for me to stick on a washing or empty the dishwasher when I've got 5 or 10 minutes. TB works a longer day than me, so I don't mind that. The breakfast and lunch prep, well -  I don't have to do that - but it saves money and is healthier. If I need to chop up some fruit for my breakfast then it's not that big a deal to just do double and stick some in a tupperware box for him.

I like to cook and the control of making the meals (making sure they are healthy) is not something I am willing to give up. See - there's not much left for him to do! So what the chuff am I complaining about.

Well, when we are together in the flat and jobs need done I feel like I constantly need to ask and point out what needs done. Yesterday we were both in the kitchen. I was tidying up, putting shopping away and I asked him to empty the dishwasher. He did so and was about to sit down when I pointed out the dirty dishes that needed loaded. "You didn't say put the dishes in. You just asked me to empty the dishwasher", he said.

What? Are you actually being serious. I nearly lost the fucking plot right at that second. My face must have been a picture. I'm not going to shout at him and tell him what to do though. I'm not his bloody mother. I walked out the kitchen and took a moment in the bedroom, trying to calm myself. He came through a moment later (after having loaded the dishwasher). "What's wrong?", he asked. Did I really have to explain? I told him that he was being totally unreasonable and it wasn't my job to give him a tick list of things that needed done. He said he was joking. Now, here's the thing. I know he was joking but if I he could have gotten away with it, he would. That is taking the piss, good and proper.

He went onto say that he knew he wasn't doing enough to help out and would try harder. Okay - fair enough. I can't ask more than that. I also need to hold back a bit but it's hard. I want to live in a harmonious house and that means that things need to get done and I'm not going to wait until things get into such a mess that sorting it out will take ages and I'll end up doing the lion's share anyway.

It's a tricky one; getting the balance right. If anyone has any tips then I'd love to hear them.

There's a whole other are that I want to talk about. About living in a new city and trying to make my own life and routine - while TB already has his. I'm missing my old flat and life. Last night, Saturday night, I went to the gym.What is that all about? What a total loser. I've got lots to say on that which I'll save for another day.

For now, I'm off to get dinner in the over and do some ironing. Aaaaaaaaargh!

Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep

Just in case anyone feels like following me on twitter then you can find me at @_love_cat

I opened the account last year and wasn't very good at updating it. Not now though, Oh no.

Worst Blogger EVAH

Where have I been? Busy moving house, being loved up and working me wee socks off- that's where.

Such a naughty LoveCat for the lack up chit chat though. This is just a stop gap post to say that I plan to get all my work done today and then tomorrow morning I am going to blog the crap out of the past three weeks.

Love you! x

Ohhhhhhh L'amour!

Erasure were bloomin amazing last night. Andy Bell was having a few voice troubles yet he still belted out every number. Loved it.

Me and my bezzie guzzled wine and cider and some vegetable tempura (on the way home on the train) and then I got home and had some supernoodles and a packet of white chocolate buttons. Again with the supernoodles! What is wrong with me? I felt proper hungry, really starving and my drunken strategy was to avoid buying a loaf of bread as I felt as though I could have eaten about 20 slices of toast.

I'm planning a lovely Moroccan lamb tagine for dinner which is nice and healthy and I'm avoiding pudding by opting for crackers, cheese and my homemade chutney. I'm not that keen on crackers and cheese but TB loves them so he can guzzle them all.

I've got a really lazy weekend ahead so I'm going to sneak in a gym workout on Saturday. The only other thing on the cards is a birthday lunch on Sunday- and that's it! Bliss.

It was the night before weigh in

Back to the old routine.

Tomorrow is weigh in - the first in two weeks. I have no idea what number I'll see on the scale in the morning.  14 days ago I was 12 stone 11.25lbs. If I'm the same again I'll be quite happy. I got back on track last week and I'd say I'm operating at about 85% of the intensity I was - before my wobble.

The weekend was not the healthiest. I was on a hen weekend and there was a lot of wine and there were a lot of cupcakes. And a few other naughties. I hadn't eaten a whole lot during the day on Sunday and so when I got home I got stuck into some filthy supernoodles. Oh, they were so good and cheap and nasty.

On a complete aside let me say, I am so glad the hen weekend is over. I'm a bridesmaid (not the chief bridesmaid I might add) and pretty much organised the whole thing from beginning to end. What a fricking nightmare. Why can't people just do what they are told, send me what they are supposed to send me and generally stop questioning me! Never again. I am never organising a hen do.

So here is the exercise run down for the last week...

Wednesday: 10 mile cycle
Thursday: Spinning
Friday: 35 mins weights workout
Saturday/Sunday: Nothing
Monday: Gym workout - resistance, 2.2 mile cycle
Tuesday: Spinning, 2.2 mile cycle

Good vibrations & positive vibes

So it's Friday and I've almost got three good days under my belt. I was out for dinner last night and while it wasn't the healthiest of meals I made the best choice I could, didn't have any wine and said no to pudding.

I've also had some really good workouts. I was planning to sneak another one in later today but my ankle (zzzzz) is playing up and so I think my 3 mile cycle (to the office and back) and some push ups and leg raises at home will have to suffice.

Looking at next week's diary which is choc a bloc I am really struggling to fit in many workouts. From weigh in to weigh in I used to manage 5. At the moment it's down to 4 and one of those is not as strenuous as it should be. This week it's only going to be 3. Not good. I'm going to have to watch the weekend eating like a hawk so that I make some sort of compensation.

TB is coming to mine for the weekend and on the menu tonight is chilli packed with veg. He is having his with nachos and cheese. I am having mine with a sweet potato. I might even go crazy and have a piece of broccoli. I know - INSANE!

If I'm mindful I can keep have a pretty healthy weekend. Barbeque tomorrow - to which I will take chicken to have with salad, and in the evening we've got my cousin's wedding reception (cheers for the all day invitation). My mum will be there which is a bit like having some sort of insurance policy. I'm not planning to go anywhere near the buffet but if she's there I know even thinking about sneaking a sausage roll would be as offensive turning up in a big white puffy dress. We (TB) are also driving to all these things and so while I could drink I'm not going to knock the booze back while he is stone cold sober.

I'm also wearing the pink dress I wore to the wedding I went to in August. I know I look good in it and so I'm quite hoping for a compliment from my bruv and sister in law. You can but hope. I saw another friend last night who I've not seen for months and months and she didn't utter a peep about me looking any slimmer either. I actually don't mind at all. I know I feel pretty good and that's the main thing.

The plan for the rest of the weekend involves walks by the river, coffee shops, charity shops, films, lots of sex and a bank holiday Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend my darlings - and get sloshed for me!  x

Some chitty chat

I ain't got no time to do a proper update, innit. And so here is a quick blast.

• It's TB's and my 1 year anniversary tomorrow! He's coming to mine tonight and I am going to cook us a lovely meal. I am excited!
• I am loving being in an office with people. There is lots of great chat and I am getting loads done. Admittedly, loads is actually lots of hen do organising and emailing friends, but it's getting done!
• The ankle is not good. I've been pretty active and I can feel it hurting later that day/night and it's still very swollen. I've really cut back on the exercise i.e. Wednesday's seven mile cycle and circuits class were replaced yesterday with nothing at all and yesterday I only did a 40 minute spin class. I think I need to get back on the icing. Gonna do some weights on the machines at the gym later today interspersed with some cross trainer action. I know Furious G was looking for some chat on weights. Will get round to this next week, I promise.
• I am hemorrhaging money right now. Dentist fitted a crown yesterday - £280. Bang! Car engine packed in. £800. Bang! Wedding presents - £100. Bang!
• Work is picking up! Got a new gym client, a proper bodybuilding  gym! How exciting is that?! It's feck all money but it's money.
• Eating has been going pretty god damn well but not exercising does not help. Example: Wednesday I did nothing and I ended up eating two meringue nests with creme fraiche (low fat). Not a big deal at all. I mean, we're talking about 150 cals but I would normally have worked out and not eaten that, so it's a double whammy of negativity. Must watch that from now on.

I've also got something very very exciting and also quite scary that I shall be revealing next week. No, I am not up the duff.

Have a wonderous weekend my lovelies. x

A whole stromash

Thanks for the lovely comments yesterday about my pics. Just for the record, there is still a lot a junk in my trunk (and general leg area) under the dress. Those floaty layers and the leggings are hiding a multitude of sins! Someone shoot me I almost wrote syns and I'm not even doing Slimming World. Brainwashed, I tell you.

So yes, feeling strong and quite athletic but still got quite a way to go. I'm a size 12/14 on top which is great and I'm really happy with that. On the bottom I'm a size 16. Waaah! I still get a thrill writing that. I'd love to get down to a 14. Even thinking it could happen seems like an impossible dream but as soon as I get back from holidays I am right back on it.

Recently I've seen a lot of people that I've not clapped eyes on for months and months and some others that it's been more a case of weeks. The reactions to my slimmer figure from these various people have been so so varied. People I was with at the weekend who I've not seen for ages said I was looking tiny and asked me how I did it etc. So quite a big response. My best friend (who is having a baby in just a few weeks. Too much excitement!) simply said I was looking the best I've looked for ages. My brother and sister in law who I've seen maybe twice since March (when I started to lose weight) have said nothing. Not. A. Peep.

Normally this would annoy me but I've actually to come to a conclusion (although it's pure conjecture). The people closest to me see me. They see the person that I am; a friend, a sister, a sister in law. They see me and my personality. I'm not just a person that happens to be overweight. That's not what come to mind when they think of me. They think of the person I am and all that encompasses. I'm sure they must notice some changes in me but how much I weigh or what size of jeans I'm wearing does not define me.

In other news. TB is getting on my nerves. He's staying at his parent's this week as he's working out of a different office. We normally speak on the phone for around half an hour each night just before we go to sleep. This has been earlier as he's been going to bed at the same time as his mum and dad. That's totally fine, no issue there, What does piss me off is that he can't really speak at that point as the sound travels really easily in his folk's house. The phone goes and all I get is a whispered 'Hello, how's it going' and after five minutes we have to end the call cause he can't really speak. Or the other reason is that he's tired. Fair enough but how about you call me earlier in the evening!

I just feel like there's not been the closeness that we normally have over the phone. I called him earlier tonight to ask a question about my car (which has been playing up). It rang out and so I left a voicemail. A few minutes later I got a half arsed text back which was useless and pointless. Cheers for the call, doll. Don't go out of your way, will you. In fact, I'm not even asking him to go out his way - just speak to me for a few minutes!

At this stage in the relationship (and earlier in fact) I can feel myself going from a carefree, independent and sometimes hard to get girlfriend to a needy, whiney, slightly pathetic girlfriend. Okay, admittedly that is a gross exaggeration but the other day I heard myself saying "Do you love me?". Gaaaaah! I'm not that person! An irritating girlfriend character in a tv programme TB and I were watching said that very line and he turned to me and made a face that said: "see, only whiny girlfriends say that".

So for those reasons I've been trying to be a bit more relaxed and that also means not calling him. I'm off to London tomorrow and we'll not see each other until Wednesday night and I'm planning to keep up the laid back-ness till then. Sounds pathetic I know, but... well, there it is.

Okay, onto weighty matters. Weigh in is tomorrow and I am not feeling confident. Not confident at all. I've missed out on a couple of workouts because I was away and I also ate lots of biscuits and sweeties. My only saving grace is that I barely drank. This is my low week for weighing and the last three low weeks have registered 0.5lb, 0lb and 1.5lb on!  So we shall see what we see.

In the meantime here's the exercise run down.

Wednesday: 9.3 mile cycle, circuits
Thursday: nothing
Friday: 10.3 mile cycle, bodypump
Saturday: bit of incidental lifting as we lugged camping equipment about
Sunday & Monday: nothing but lots of stomping about in wellies
Tuesday: Spinning
Wednesday: 8.3 mile cycle, set of lunges and squats
Thursday: Gym workout (40 mins cardio, resistance - mostly lunges and squats with weights)

Finally, here is a picture of my serious sweaty betty bod after tonight's work out. Can you see how my top is properly saturated with sweat? Lovely. 

Strop over

Sorry about my little strop the other day. Okay, sorry about my massive strop. I well and truly threw my toys out my pram! Zanna, your comment fairly made me laugh though.

I do know that my hard work will pay off and the scales will catch up at some point. My frustration stemmed from the fact there had been a lot of obstacles and challenges in my way leading up to this week's weigh in which I navigated with carefully planning and shit load of hard work.With the amount of mental and physical energy I devoted over the past eight days, I wanted a return. Simple as that.

Since then, I've calmed down and have refocused on the six days until the next weigh in... or have I.  Ummm... kind of. The thing is, I have caught an almighty head cold and I feel like utter poop (hence why I stayed in last night and tonight - that's a Friday and a Saturday night). I'm trying to keep the faith but the last thing I feel like doing is eating healthily and working out. In saying that, I have read that if you feel okay from the neck down then really you have no excuse to exercise and so while I rested up yesterday, I dragged my sorry backside to the gym on Thursday and today. I've eaten pretty much on plan and so fingers crossed that I feel better tomorrow and I can kick it up a gear before Thursday's weigh in. Yes, that's right, Thursday. Mark your calendars people, weigh ins are moving to Thursdays. More on that soon.

For now, I must thank Ruby over at Strictly Blooming for my stylish blogger award. Ruby and I are quite similar; we're both roughly the same age and weight and have lost the same amount of weight so I really enjoy getting a peek into her life.

And the rules of acceptance are:
Thank- the person who nominated your blog.
Share 7 things about yourself
Pass on to 15 friends (I'm not going to pass this onto anyone in particular but if you fancy doing it, horse on)



 So here are 7 things about myself.

1. This is not my first blog. I started blogging in 2005 and I was very open on the blog about who I was, including pictures etc. When The Highlander (my ex) and I split up I decided to make things bit more anon as I was talking about all sorts of topics and people and I wasn't too keen on revealing lots of juicy details when it was obvious who I was. I eventually shut down that blog when Moonraker (my ex- we split up almost exactly a year ago) discovered it.
2. I am loud. I love to be the centre of attention and I like to be the one making people laugh, telling stories and generally being know for being fun.
3. The thought of women earning less than men, or any general gender inequality makes my blood boil but I'm all for blue and pink jobs (you boy, take that bin out). I do tend to mother my boyfriends though and love to cook for them and generally take care of them.
4. I am an outrageous flirt. I wouldn't describe myself as classically pretty but I do think I'm quite attractive and I certainly play it up with members of the opposite sex whenever I can, wherever I can.
5. I am highly intolerant. Someone in front of me in the street walks too slowly? Hurry the fuck up. Someone gets my order wrong in a restaurant? Listen properly you idiot! Someone can't make a decision? Make up your bloody mind! This is getting worse as I get older.
6. I am very determined and once I put my mind to something I just about always accomplish it. The only area of my life that I have struggled with this is my weight.
7. I'd like to think I'm a good listener, marry that with a pragmatic nature and I used to (not so much now we're all older) often get friends coming to me for advice on anything from money and boys to relationships and work.

A weekend of...

Barbeques
A size 14 French Connection dress
Afternoon tea in the park
Hanging with good friends
Making plans for bike adventures
Family
Rum
Granny chinwags
Compliments
Avoiding banoffee pie
Working out in the sun
A big hangover
Driving around the country
Getting a farmer tan
A cup cake sugar smack down
Loving my life

10 mins in the Lovecat cranium

• Ooh, my legs feel heavy after yesterday's exercise blitz of 1 hour of badminton singles, 1 hour of circuits and a 10 mile bike ride
•  I've eaten quite a lot for dinner but it has all been 'clean' food - don't sweat it
•  Is the man (well, boy) in the bike shop flirting with me?!
• I think I'll book in for bodypump tomorrow as I've not been for ages
• I bloody love Jamie Oliver's fish pie (healthified by removing oil and drastically reducing the cheese)
• I wonder what other blogs are out there that I should be following
• I really should find out how to put a twitter button on this here blog
• I can't believe I'm 13 stone 3lbs!
• I'm excited about getting my bike back after its tune up and service
• What can I do to help me avoid food pitfalls at the weekend when I'm away camping with my voluntary thing...
• I must find an event, like a triathlon, to sign up for later in the year
• My god my mother looks so thin and gorgeous (She's lost the same as me and then some).
• I love coffee
• My god, my pussycat is the cutest
• I need a weekend and home and a boozy night out with my bezzie. LDR's can really take over. 
• Boobs - please don't get any smaller! You are getting droopy.

Chirp Chirp

I mentioned yesterday that work is a wee bit quieter for the moment (set to get very busy on Monday mind you) and so yesterday I made good use of my time and set up a twitter account. I already have one I use for real life and work stuff which I use for more sensible tweets and not diet and other inane ramblings.

There are lots of things I hold back from saying so I thought I'd get a Love Cat one up and running. I'm @_love_cat

I did try and get a button up here on the blog that you can click to follow but I ballsed that up so I'm afraid you will just have to do it yourselves. Sorry!

There's always a ying...

Damn that bloody chocolate that I got for my birthday. Damn it to hell and back- mmmnnnn... melting chocolate.


I have been eating some of it EVERY SINGLE DAY.  For the love of all things delicious, why can I not just leave it alone. I'm pretty cross with myself but on the positive side, not only have I been eating it I've also been giving it away to anyone that crosses my path. I took truffles to my friends for midweek cuppa and let her eat most of them. I took a slab of mud cake chocolate up to TB, which I kind of scoffed most of (whoops) and I took another big slab to another friend I was visiting. Thankfully it's now all gone. Phew. My eating over the weekend wasn't as good as I would have liked and Saturday in particular wasn't great. On the upside I've been exercising loads and the only day off so far has been Saturday. On Friday I got up at 7.15am and was outside pounding along the seafront before brekkie. I would like to make a big deal of the fact it was so windy I felt like I was running on the spot!

Enough of the chit chat here's what's been going on over the past few days.

The amazing view as I sit on yet another train to see TB.

A ring that has barely left my fingers since I bought it and some paint your love action.

The amazing and evil chocs.

Trying on bridesmaid dresses. Sorry, can't seem to turn the pic!

All in all a really nice weekend with holiday apartment booking, healthy smoothies, window shopping, exercise, gossiping, cuddling, film watching, long lies, papers in bed,  I love you's and hanging with my number one boy (the pussycat - of course!).

The final furlong

What a week! It's been filled with Island hopping, camping, drinking, laughing, lunch with mum and granny, bus journeys, working, working out, trainer buying, eating and more drinking.

So it's been a good week for fun life stuff. Not such a good week for dieting stuff.

Thursday was pretty good. Friday, in the face of some mahooosive challenges was amazing. A whole load of people (some I know and some I don't) were getting the Ferry over to one of the UKs' lovely islands. What do you always get at a harbour? A chippie! Everyone was digging into fish suppers and chips, left right and centre. Me? I had brought a chicken salad with me and ate that (inbetween polishing my halo). Very pleased with myself.

I wish I could say the rest of the weekend followed suit. There were some victories in amongst the mistakes. I did as promised and avoided the cooked breakfast and stuck to cereal and fruit. The rest of the meals weren't too bad but I drank far too much, ate quite a bit of chocolate and also cheese on one occasion. It was definitely the healthiest I've eaten at one of these events for a long time - but it is going to be good enough to see a loss on Saturday, my final weigh in before holiday?

I got back home on Tuesday morning and all I can think about is exercising as much as possible before Saturday's weigh in so I can hopefully lose 1.5lbs and hit the stone lost mark.

Tuesday might I did 45 mins of cardio interspersed with lunges with weights, squats, chest weights, tricep dips. Last night I donned my new trainers (more on that soon) and went out for a 5k. Almost 7km and 45mins later I got back home. Two amazing things about that run. 1. It's the longest run I've done in probably about 2 years. 2. I did not stop once! I just kept going! I was so pleased with myself.

Tonight it's a 45 minute bodypump class so I'll try and tag some cardio onto the back of that too.

Right- have screeds of work to do before I piss off on my hollybags so best fark off and get on with it.