*Linzerellos Blog

I am feeling somewhat sorry for myself today. I started with a bit of a sore throat on Sunday which I did my best to ignore, but by last night, I was in full on self pity mode. I've not got a cold really - it's more like the end of a cold where you feel a bit achey, snotty and just generally miserable but I am lacking energy and craving comfort food which is not good.

I've also got a demon in my head telling me that no WI tomorrow means I have another week to sort myself out. Have had a look for other classes that I can try and attend to get me back on the straight and narrow so fingers crossed I can keep my demons under control. I was bang on points yesterday which is good but also somewhat annoying. I should have had 4 to save, but I cleverly managed to double the amount of cheese I put in my sauce for the pasta I made last night. Numpty.

I also managed to sleep in this morning - Matt left for work at 0645 and I thought I'd have another 5 minutes - next thing I knew it was 0830! I am normally in the office for 0800 so that's thrown me all off kilter.

I'm meeting a couple of friends in Windsor tonight for dinner so I need to stop the pity party by then. Think we're either having Tapas or Italian so I guess I'll just have to be as good as I can.

I'm also out Thursday, Friday and Sunday - so this week could be a tad testing! Not quite sure when I'm going to get the exercise in with that little lot. Ah well, I'll give it my best shot.

The 17's are too close for me to mess it up now!

Yesterday was a bit of a better day. Got up early and attacked the flat as it was in danger of being shutdown by the Council on Health and Safety grounds. Slightly pointless exercise given we're having a new bathroom fitted on Thursday so I'll be living in hell for a few weeks, but I felt better for it all the same.

Played an hour of tennis and I can really see an improvement in my fitness. I at least try and run for the ball now... :) I actually really enjoyed it, plus the sun was shining so it was definitely preferable to the gym.

We're still struggling on the food front without a fridge freezer, we're now at the stage where it fuses all of the electrics in the flat when its turned on. Great functionality. Fortunately now its in danger of killing us in our beds, Comet have agreed to send someone out to look at it, but we're still living on an as and when basis until then. Most frustrating.

Since it was sunny last night we 'had' to go out. Met my best mate and her OH at the pub for dinner and found ourselves taking part in a pub quiz. I didn't realise how competitive I was! We didn't win, but it was good fun all the same. I managed to come in under points depsite hitting the Vodka and a ather random dinner of Bombay Mix and Potato Croquettes - don't ask. Go me.

I have to work from home on Wednesday so I won't get to my usual weigh in. I'm going to try and find another class on Tuesday or Thursday if I can - or resort to a weigh in at Boots. I am not expecting good things, but if I don't weigh in at all, I am liable to go slightly off the rails and given the start to the week, I don't think that will take a lot of encouragement.

This week is not going overly well. The dilemma of yesterday ended up with the last choice in that I didn't make Spinning or Body Pump. Complete disgrace. I decided I'd go for a walk last night once I finished work since it was surprisingly sunny. After about a mile, Matt called me and said he was off to the pub and to join him and his friends. Of couse I could have said no, and carried on with my walk - but obviously what I did was to walk straight to the pub. I drank Vodka and Soda all night, so not hideous points wise, but then we went for a Thai and had 2 bottles of wine there. Plus more wine when we got home. Doh.

I woke up this morning with a tongue like sandpaper and a head that was thumping like buggery. Hence I missed Body Pump as I woke up approximately half way through the class. Genius.

Once I had downed about 10 litres of water and a 14 point (!) fry up, I did drag my sorry backside to the gym. 20 mins of 'jogging', 10 mins on the stepper and a few arm weights later and I was totally done in. The jacuzzi didn't even help.

Half a Wispa Gold (6 points for a whole one??!) and half a Tesco light choices sandwich and a skinny latte then got rammed down my neck. Good work Linz.

I cooked Chicken Katsu Curry for dinner, which was another 12 points, so once again I am over for the day. The only saving grace is I couldn't face a glass of wine. I am only minus 2 points so far on the week - but I have had to make wild guesses at the points I consumed last night at the Thai.... so it is probably, in reality, a hell of a lot worse.

I HAVE to be good tomorrow. I've got 3 days to pull things back. How gutted will I be if I can get a loss after a 2 week holiday and I go completely off the rails after 4 days back at home?

We're going to play tennis tomorrow and give the flat a good clean so I should be pretty active for most of the day - unlike today where I am in danger of getting sofa sores. Hopefully a good nights sleep and an alcohol free body will have me in a happier mood tomorrow. I am making Victor Meldrew look cheerful today.

Tomorrow WILL be good.... I hope!

My plan this week had been to get up early this morning and go straight to the gym before work. Get it out of the way and all that. Then yesterday I got asked to do some work at 7am this morning - therefore having to shirk from home (ideal on a Friday) so obviously the gym had to go. So, I've booked myself in for another Spin class tonight.

However, I am also booked in for Body Pump first thing tomorrow morning. This is a new class for me at this gym (I used to do it when I lived in Prague) and I am quite looking forward to trying something new. So, my dilemma is, do I still go spinning, possibly knacker myself out completely and miss Body Pump tomorrow, do I give spinning a miss and definitely go to Body Pump - or, do I try and do both?? (Or neither I guess!) I think I am erring towards giving Spin a miss tonight, but I've got all day to change my mind sporadically as per usual.

Yesterday wasn't the best day points wise, my eye was truly off the ball for most of the day. I was armed with soup and some delicious tiger bread (don't buy it, its far too hard to resist). Then I got invited out for lunch with some of the consultants. Hence, my soup was relegated to my desk drawer.... however I had already snaffled down the bread. I did opt for a salad at lunch, but it was somewhat oil laden. Then mid afternoon, I seemed to inadvertantly inhale some quiche that had been helpfully left in the kitchen after a business lunch. Even more mortifying is I forgot I'd even had it until I found pastry crumbs in my bra some hours later. Heck, I am a classy lady. I've just remembered a plum that I also stuffed down my neck - however that could have been worse I guess, at least I avoided the cookies... I think!

Went to my friends for dinner as planned and she had cooked a Lamb Mussaman Curry - eek. Fortunately she had used Sharwood's Thai Mussaman Curry Sauce and lean lamb steaks . That sauce is bloody gorgeous - and only 2.5 points per 1/3 of a jar - seriously you have to try it if you're partial to a bit of Thai. I'm only a few points over for yesterday but I'm annoyed at my slight lapse in self control. This weekend is going to be testing since our fridge freezer has gone off again. That means raiding the cupboards which could see a weekend of Fray Bentos Pies and Baked Beans. Nice.

I'm also suffering a bit with my ankle, its still not completely right after the torn ankle ligament incident back in April so I'll have to be a bit careful once I decide what sort of ass movement I am going to attempt later. I've been awake since 4am so it's possible an afternoon snooze could also see it's way into my day.... The joys of working from home!

So, as predicted, yesterday afternoon I suddenly became the tiredest person on the planet. Literally falling asleep at my desk with the whole slightly embarassing head jerk thing that goes on when you nod off somewhere you shouldn't and you spring your floppy head back upright and hope no one has noticed (usually on the train after a boozy night out, not at 3pm at your desk at work). Not overly professional. Copious amounts of strong coffee and a banana gave me a bit of a boost.

I decided to bite the bullet anyway and get my sorry ass to spinning - only to arrive at the gym to a text from Matt saying he couldn't make it as he was stuck at work. Cue me spending the next 10 minutes trying to talk myself back into going whilst sat in the gym car park. I also managed to nod off for 5 minutes - major head jerks again! Anyway, surprisingly I won the battle with my inner devil and I went to the class. Jesus Christ, it was hard. One of my fellow spinners (who I swear I've never seen before) also asked me where I'd been as he'd not seen me for a while. Ahem, pretty bad if your absence is noted. Anyway, I did most of the class - I had to stop on the last song as my legs just wouldn't pedal anymore. My body is not adjusting overly well to the 8 hour time difference - or the lack of spinning for 6 weeks. Plus I think Freddie, our instructor, was on something yesterday - the class had all sorts of mental new routines, press ups on the flipping handle bars while pedalling?? Not in my lifetime son.

Cooked prawn stir fry last night instead of our usual Wednesday Chinese washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. All in all, a pretty good WW day.

The exercise and extreme tiredness (I am such a hypchondriac - I imagine people with children are reading this thinking she has no idea what its like to be tired!!) saw my head hitting the pillow at 930pm and me knowing nothing more til 5am this morning. Feeling a lot more human today, let's hope there is no exhausted dribbling on my keyboard later.

Off to a friends tonight for a catch up and a pizza, I've got about 15 points to play with so I reckon I can have a little treat. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a 2lb loss this week - that would get me my 3 stone and a drop into the 17's - I have not been there for a very long time. However, I always find the next stone bracket really hard to get into so I reckon there will be a few weeks of frustrations. How's that for positivity??

Have a good day y'all.

Well - I've just picked myself up off the floor after collapsing with shock (ok so I am prone to exaggeration...) I went to WI somewhat worried that despite my best attempts on holiday I'd be pounds heavier - but.... I LOST 2.5 pounds??!! Seriously, that's beyond anything I was even slightly hoping for. So that's 40 pounds gone, check me out!!

I've just had a little gloat to Matt who spent the whole holiday telling me that walking wasn't enough exercise and we needed to go to the gym as well - ha! I'm even more smug given he thinks he's put on 4 pounds... aren't I horrible??!

I have booked myself in for Spinning tonight to celebrate my loss (yes I am glutton for punishment) I've not been for about 6 weeks I think, which is pretty rubbish. That's going to hurt. Even more so, given jet lag kicked in with a vengeance last night. I was still wide awake at midnight, slept an hour, awake, slept 2 hours, awake, another 2 hours and then I finally gave up at 5am. I feel surprisingly ok, but you can pretty much guarantee that by 615pm when spinning starts, I'll be the tiredest person on the planet.

Right, I am off to fill in my Weight Tracker online and do a little happy dance around the office.

Booo! Can't believe how quickly my holiday has gone by!

Had a brilliant time at Nina's wedding on the Saturday - drank far too much sparkling stuff however and was slightly feeling it at stupid o'clock on the Sunday morning for our flight to the US! My little sister did my make up for me and my middle sister did my hair - bless them both. My little sister also made my fascinator, shoes and bag (here is a shameless plug for her website!) I actually felt like a lady for once and not a man in drag!!



Holiday was amazing, I loved San Fran again, the coast between San Fran and LA is beautiful so we had a few stops on the way. LA is totally mad and Vegas is just brilliant! We went to Alcatraz, Universal Studios and the Grand Canyon. Saw some Cirque du Soleil shows whilst in Vegas which were amazing, relaxed by the amazing pool at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Vegas, drove through Death Valley (100 degrees at 8am in the morning!) walked Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip in LA. I could go on for hours! Totally brilliant time and I am very sad it's all over.

My trusty pedometer seems to think we walked a massive 72 miles over the 2 weeks and I can well believe it! We tended to just stick to 2 meals a day due to the rather large portion sizes so hopefully not too much damage has been done. I guess I will find out tomorrow. I won't be too upset if I've gained a little as I wasn't concentrating on WW overly! I did write everything down that we ate and its not too shocking so fingers crossed.

Right then, had better get back to work and stop procrastinating. Few photos below - I think we took nearly 700!

Us in Vegas on our last night at Cirque du Soliel, on the right - me at the Grand Canyon. Below, me at Alcatraz and on the Hollywood Boulevard.

16 whole days off work. I am overcome with excitement! Technically I am working today - I had a 630am start so by my reckoning I am almost done. In reality, I've patched a system, made a bacon sarnie and repacked my bag for approximately the 16th time. I now need a little lie down. I've been bounding around like Tigger since 6am and it's taken it's toll.

First we fly up to Newcastle for the wedding of one of my best friends. Really looking forward to that tomorrow. Slightly concerned that I am going to freeze given she is getting married in Cullercoats which is by the sea near Newcastle. Might need to do a last minute dash to buy some form of cardigan or wrap, I'm not sure blue is a colour that works on me, especially when it's the colour of my skin.

Then we have a pretty awful journey on Sunday, 730am flight from Newcastle to Heathrow, 3 hours to get our bags and check back in and then a 12 hour flight to San Francisco - all this on very little sleep and possibly with a large hangover. I'm glad I am slightly smaller than I was so the flight shouldn't be as hideous as when we went to New York in November.

San Fran, LA and Vegas are our major destinations, with a few other stops on the way. Trips to Alcatraz, Universal Studios and the Grand Canyon are booked as are a couple of Cirque Du Soliel shows. I cannot wait :)

I've taken the advice of Starfish (Thanks Sue!) and got myself a notebook to try and keep on top of my food intake. If I come back reporting a large gain, I'll be needing a huge backside kick to get me back on track.. get your kicking boots polished just in case.

Right, I'm off to do the 17th repack of my bag.

I am in full on holiday mode, loads of work to do, but completely zero motivation to get on and do it! Any excuse really to be a lazy wotsit. My last day in the office today until the 22nd September. Get the heck in. I am working tomorrow, but I'll be sherking from home... sorry working :)

Last night I had to pop back to my old flat to meet my new tenants and sort out some stuff with the other flat owners. A nice 90 mile round trip on a Wednesday night in a monsoon. Seriously - what is going on with the weather?? I find myself agreeing to be £300 lighter this month in the name of giving the communal areas a face lift. Given my new tenant is a massive Wasps playing rugby type - might not be a bad idea to keep him happy!

Whilst I was over that way I went for a quick slimline tonic with friends - My last drink with Nina as a single girl before she gets wed on Saturday. I am likely to blub like a baby. So in the end I didn't get home til gone 9pm - by which point I had snaffled a Tesco Cheese Twist. Work of the devil. Bloody gorgeous but 8 points or so leaving me zero points for my delicious slow cooked pork. Stupid girl.

If you have a slow cooker - you HAVE to cook a joint of meat in one. It literally melts. The last time I tried to cook pork it was as tough as old boots and drier than a mouthful of sawdust. Chopped up some onions, threw in a bit of stock and popped the meat on top. Hey presto, meat that falls off the bone and a delicious basis for a gravy. I am such a domestic goddess at times. I am counting down the minutes until lunch - hot pork and stuffing sarnie and gravy. Get in.

I attempted to pack for the US last night, but I was struggling really. Not had a 2 week holiday for ages so I clearly have overpacked to mammoth proportions (I am using the word mammoth a lot these days. Odd) Tonight will be stage 2 of packing - i.e. repacking and removing approximately half of what I have in the case already.

I've planned dinner so hopefully I can come in under points today. I think the plan for holiday is maintenance - so that means around 6 points more than normal a day? Obviously I won't aim to eat all of those, but its good to have a rough idea.

Oh and an NSV - I'm into a size smaller in my jeans. Whoop!

Phew, I think I got off fairly lightly. I was braced for a gain of woolly mammoth proportions but half a pound I can cope with - maybe if I'd taken my dress off (yes a dress!) prior to stepping on the scales I'd have stayed the same.... something to think about for future reference. We also had a different Leader since our usual one has 'stepped down' apparently. All sounds a tad fishy, but then I love a gossip.

I've now stocked up on WW sweets, a points clicker (I'm a sucker for a gimmic) and a new pedometer for my hols. I am pretty determined that I won't come back half a stone heavier as I have in the past. We've decided to lay off the booze while we are away given we'll be driving a lot. That should help.

Last night I ended up with a fairly healthy dinner, my friend is following WW as well and she cooked Caribbean meatballs from the Delicious Cookbook instead of us going out. Very nice. Saved me cash and points. Recommended if you have the book.

Today I am armed with soup and pitta bread, a pork joint is in the slow cooker so will have that with veg for dinner. I feel a renewed enthusiasm for all things Weight Watchers. Just the small matter of a wedding on Saturday and then 2 weeks in the US stands in my way of reaching 17 stone something by October. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

So, despite my enthusiasm to be good yesterday it didn't seem to happen. The sun came out and with it, my good intentions went out of the window. It all started so well - a vodka and slimline tonic. Good work. Then came the koppaberg mixed fruit cider - OMG that stuff is dangerous, far too easy to drink, it's like vimto. Then we went for tapas. In theory, I could have been relatively good. However, the place we went to had an offer on - 2 for 1 on tapas at lunchtime. There were 7 of us and we'd decided to opt for 2 each.... until we heard about the offer. So the 14 dishes became 28 - plus 4 bottles of Vina Sol. Who's clever idea was that??

Needless to say I came out stuffed and ready for a lie down. However, one for the road was deemed to be a good idea.... this is what our one for the road looked like:

30 shots of flavoured Sake at 5pm on a Monday??! Absolutely ridiculous - even more so given only 5 of us were drinking them. Needless to say we left soon after that.

I have no way of pointing or evening remembering what I consumed yesterday. Let's just say I am dreading WI tomorrow. I am meeting a friend for dinner tonight as well so it's not even like I can starve myself into some sort of loss!

One good thing is I am off booze for a while and I am craving salad - this holiday could turn into a health farm.