The latest in Philippa Mold's diary

June 17, 2009

Hmm, must get rid of the pounds that have crept on during the last few months, plus lose a few more. It would be easy to blame my weight gain on the stress of losing my job, but that is not strictly true. Too much eating out, drinking wine and general pigging is mainly to blame.

Sharon's talk last night was about eating out and counting points at some familiar haunts like the Harvester. I must say it was an eye opener. Twenty-eight points for a roast in one place compared to 12 points in another. Puddings are the biggest pitfall, which is why I like my lollipops for pud as they are only a point each.

Husband phones. "Have you taken your medication?" A not unreasonable question in the circumstances.

"Ummm, I will right now," was the reply. Which tells me that nagging will continue for some time to come.

A colleague at work bought a pillbox for him which has compartments for each day of the week and space for pills at morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening. This should jog his memory!

June 18, 2009

Husband is delighted with his new pillbox! Has already put in all his necessary medication for the week so am quite hopeful about being able to stop the nagging. Walk into work as usual. It is getting really warm now so don't bother with a coat anymore.

Must try to be a bit more imaginative with our lunches, but husband says he likes ham or chicken with salad and the occasional butty. So do I, so decide to leave it as it is for the time being.

Into a meeting all afternoon about filling in application forms for jobs. It is warm and I catch myself nodding off. Quick sortie to the drinks machine to get a diet cola to keep me awake! A colleague is eating some strawberries and offers me some. Wish I could do that — share things out, but I find it hard. Much better to hide in a corner with one's prize, a doughnut or whatever, than to actually share it!

We decide to go out tonight instead of Friday and then to stop eating and drinking out until all our weight is gone. Besides, we need to save our money until I get a job.

Visit fave bar steward and I have gammon steak and chips with egg and pineapple, plus a salad on the side, as a nod to healthy eating. Husband has liver and bacon as always. My points consumed today are around 35. Points earned on pedo: an inadequate three.

June 19, 2009

Haven't heard whether I have been successful with my job interview so must assume not. Ah well, it's their loss, as husband tells me. Tempted to buy some chocolate from the dispenser at work but this is going into the realms of comfort eating and I am not going to fall for that one. Have a lollipop when I get home instead, which means that I have saved myself at least 10 points as I never eat just one bar of chocolate once I get started.

Actually spend the evening cleaning the house instead of going out. Feel positively saintly if rather peeved.

June 20, 2009

Beautiful day today. An added bonus is that we don't need to go into town, so can spend the day pottering in the garden. Apart from a sortie into Tesco, to buy the weekend's groceries, that is just about it. Have a prawn salad for lunch and cottage pie for tea.

Spent the evening sitting in an unnaturally clean house sipping wine and watching cricket on the telly. Did have two cream scones picked up from Tesco.

June 21, 2009

How is it when I have to get up at 6am during the week it is a real struggle, but over the weekend I wake up at 5am without any problem at all? Ask the dog if he fancies going for a walk but he ignores me and sleeps on, so I get up anyway and weigh myself. Stayed the same. Goodoh.

Today husband and I are back on the WeightWatchers food plan. I aim to lose 20lbs by August and husband has to lose 3st as soon as because of his high blood pressure.

Browse the papers until everyone emerges and then we have a brunch of baked beans on toast with a poached egg on top.

Another pottering day today until late afternoon when we visit a friend for supper. My turn to bring the main meal and I have made a cottage pie topped with swede and carrot mash instead of potato. Really nice and only four points each. Well, it would have been four points each if we hadn't had second helpings. Just fresh fruit for pudding.

A few too many points today really on account of that second helping of cottage pie. Will really, really start properly tomorrow. I will.

June 22, 2009

Walk into work as usual. It is very warm and I am glad to get into the cool when I reach the office. This is the first morning of properly keeping my food diary for a while.

Start the day off with a bowl of porridge with a spoonful of honey and a bio yoghurt — three points the lot. Lunch is crayfish tails with a big mixed salad, 2.5 points; followed by fresh pineapple, 1.5 points. Doing well.

Decide not to be lazy and walk home from work instead of succumbing to a lift from husband, so clock up another couple of points on my pedo.

Curry for dinner followed by a lollipop. I have even prepped tomorrow's dinner ready for the slow cooker tomorrow. Don't know how long I can go on being such a paragon of perfection. However, husband's blood pressure is still high, but not quite as much as a week ago, so must persevere with the old weight loss campaign.

Points consumed: 21.5. Points earned on pedo: five.

June 23, 2009

Porridge and honey for breakfast followed by a brisk walk into work. Have resisted the temptation to weigh myself every day, but it is hard not to. Lunch of crayfish tails and salad followed by pineapple. I wonder what the weigh-in tonight will produce. Don't expect too much until next week really as I only began eating properly yesterday!

Well, stayed the same so not too bad given the two cream scones I had last Saturday night. Expect a really good loss by next Tuesday though.