The latest in Philippa Mold's diary.

December 31 , 2008

Walked into work this morning carrying a bag full of assorted cheese and biscuits plus some crisps and dips. I am hoping my colleagues will graze their way through these goodies as I want all temptations out of the house. Must get out of holiday mode and back to healthy eating in the New Year.

Colleagues duly demolish the cheese, and I also succumbed to the stilton. Not a good start! I even ate all my lunch of egg butties (more butter) even though I was full. However, I did refuse the offer of a lift home from husband and walked in an attempt to burn off the calorie overload.

We have decided to stay in this New Year's Eve and have a nice meal at home. A Sainsbury's prawn cocktail to start, followed by my home-made cottage pie and then strawberry trifle — heavy on the cream. We watch a film on the telly and then Jools Holland and his show while eating chocolate and slurping wine.

January 1, 2009

Weighed myself this morning and have stopped feeling smug at only putting on 1lb. The scales have now shot up to a half-stone increase so it is going to be more like a year and a month before I reach my 4st target. Right. Porridge for breakfast then a walk in Exmouth with a cup of tea only at the Harbour View. Veg soup for lunch.

"Um, we've still got some chocolate and wine left," said husband. "Yeah, we have haven't we, and some Christmas cake," I replied. Yes. So we decided to start our healthy eating from Sunday. Had chicken curry followed by Christmas cake for tea.

THINGS I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

1 Do not make a Christmas cake if only two people in the world are going to eat it, especially if those two people are myself and husband.

2 Do not make shortbread because nobody will eat it. Not even the birds.

3 Do not make twenty chocolate cup cakes if grandsons only eat eight of them and I eat the rest.

4 Do not buy enough cheese to stock a deli counter.

5 Do not buy two tins of sweeties when there are only two people in the household.

6 Do not buy six tubs of cream when two would have sufficed.

7 Do not make four dozen mince pies ever again. Ever.

January 2, 2009

Visited Otter Nursery for lunch and had a cottage cheese and pineapple jacket potato. Husband had ham and chicken soup with loads of cream in it and a wedge of bread the size of a house.

Went on to Exmouth to have a look around the shops and then home to spend an afternoon watching old films on telly and eating lollipops.

Out to our fave hostelry for the evening where I had a fry up. There I said it. I HAD A FRY UP. And an ice cream with clotted cream on top. This must stop.

January 3, 2009

Into town reasonably early to do some banking and shopping. Footie is called off due to the weather so husband and I take down most of the decorations and store away for next Christmas. Nothing too startling to eat today except for the last of the chocolate during the evening. New start tomorrow.

January 4, 2009

Weigh myself first thing and am relieved to see that I have not gained any more weight. Today is when we are going to resume our healthy eating and all the decks are cleared of temptations. Make a big batch of veg soup and have some for lunch followed by a yoghurt. Roast chicken and loads of veg for tea. Feel so much better eating properly again.

January 5, 2008

First day back at work after the New Year and walk in although it is bitterly cold. Have muffled myself in a long scarf and layers of clothes. If I slip on any icy bits, I should be well padded enough to bounce back up again! Eldest grandson is not with me this morning as he has a heavy cold and is home in bed.

A colleague has his birthday and has brought in some boxes of chocolates and some chocolate mini rolls. Have a couple of chocs and feel immediately guilty, but they were nice.

Big mixed salad for lunch with some cous cous and sweetcorn, followed by lots of fresh fruit.

Have some more roast chicken and veg with bread sauce for dinner. Points spent: 18. Points earned on pedo: five.

January 6, 2008

Walked in again this morning, this time accompanied by eldest grandson who tells me he would rather be home in his warm bed than walking in the biting cold. Know what he means. Tell him not to be a wimp as the cold weather is healthy. GS says he would rather be a wimp.

Didn't have time for breakfast at home so have a yoghurt and some fruit at work. Pasta and salad for lunch with some more fruit. Those chocolates were still hanging around from yesterday so had a couple more.

Tonight is the first weigh in of the year at WeightWatchers. I have decided not to weigh myself until next Tuesday, by which time I should have lost all that I gained over Christmas and New Year. Now who's being a wimp?