To sum up August

* I have (shock - horror - the sky is falling) joined a gym...........for a year.
* Even more shocking I am loving it and the feeling of pushing myself that wee bit further.In fact I haven't been since Tuesday and I miss it.
* My asthma is improving already and i no longer need a tank of oxygen after I climb the stairs to our 3rd floor flat.
* 4 colleagues have noticed I've lost weight.
* I've lost 1 stone 1lb/7kg/15 lb's.
* I've been asked out by a very handsome and polite gent (his approach was to hold the door of a shop open for me and offer to carry my basket,even though he wasn't going in) total boost for the ego and self esteem.
* Walking an hour to walk at the sickeningly early hour of 7 am is becoming habit.
* Eating cleanly and 5 portions of fruit and veg is now habit (with the odd croissant and Vodka thrown in for good measure).
* Mentally I feel more like my happier,laid back Aussie self.

Generally,I just I feel damn GOOD!

Without wanting to sound like a cheesy Nike ad........

Image courtesy of Things We Forget

Blog awards continued

4. MY GORGEOUS WEE SISTER,NATEY - There's 7 years difference between us and like the Scotsman we are total opposites.The Scotsman and I joke that he's with the wrong sister,she's much more suitable for him :P Joking aside,she' moved over here a year ago and it's made living over here so much easier.I LOVE our sister time spent together,watching cheesy films,cocktail nights or window shopping at posh stores - Louboutins for me and Chloe bags for her.Having a sister is so awesome.

Yeah,she's like Zoolander.She can only do the one pose,in the one direction

5. TATTOOS - I got my first when I was 21 and since have collected 7 from around the world.They each have a special meaning to me and signify different stages in my life.

6. COOKING AND BAKING - I'm a total foodie,hence my current predicament.Dad is a chef and is your typical German-strong-like-an-Ox build.Food is a huge part of Indonesian culture,so this combination has led to total epicurean tendencies.

Excuse the horrendous appearance - that was my annual Christmas baking box and spring rolls production


7.GOOD OLD ROCK N ROLL - When I was a teenager I harboured dreams of becoming a female rocker as good as Slash.Unfortunately I am completely tone deaf and not at all musically inclined so those fantasies have to be lived out in my head whilst rocking out on the Elleptical to various rock and metal on my Ipod

8.THE 40's AND 50's - James Dean was my dad's hero and mum loved all the classic films,so maybe that's where this fancy started.I can't remember,but I've always loved the classic films and styles of the 40's and 50's.The hair,make up,dresses,peep toe heels and total ladylike elegance of the ladies who could still cut a man down with a sharp one liner.I remember on the weekends back home there would always be a classic film on the telly in the afternoon.Ms Monroe,Marlene Dietrich,Bette Davis and Ava Gardner would be the favourites if I had to choose.

9. FLOWERS - It runs in the family.All the women...........and some of the men,mostly on my Indo side,love wearing bright coloured,flower print batik and flowers in their hair,on their wrists,around their necks etc..The brighter and more colourful,the better.I'm a little obsessed with Frangipani's.In fact I just got a parcel of more frangi bracelets delivered today.I can't leave the house without a flower in my hair or in my ears - even when working.As I can't wear any jewellery to work,and make up is no point as with the amount of physical work we do it would just sweat off or get ruined anyways,it's my one concession to glamour.I guess it's also my way of brightening up my Glasgow days a little.

Mum looking beautiful in traditional batik dress
She's missing a flower though.

10. TIGERS - Just my favourite animal.I could spend hours at Edinburgh zoo watching them.

Phew,so there you have it.Now there are so many blogs that I regularly read and love,like Emma, Rapunzel, Roo,Tully and Joy as well as the 3 afore mentioned ladies.So I'm going to give this to some new ladies who's blogs you should absolutely check out...........

* Claire - She's a fab and witty Irish lady living in Spain.Love it!

* Roxie - Awesome blog of another lady getting healthy and fabulous

* Ina and Ulrika are both Finnish and both write beautiful blogs about their lives and vintage - Rockabillyness.Wonderful photos

* Neen - is Scottish and has lost an inspiring 3 stone so far.Really fun blog.I like the way she writes.

* Florrie - has lost a whole heap of weight already and writes a really funky,colourful,fun blog

I know that's not 10,but I really need to clean up my reading list - way to long to sift through,lot's of blogs that unfortunately have fallen by the wayside.

Thanks again for everyone that's reads my ramblings.xox

Blog Awards :D

The Scotsman is occupied with the Europa League qualifiers on the telly,so I can finally get round to this post................

So yeah.......Wow guys,I've got 3 blog awards in the last few weeks or so,a belated thank you to these lovely ladies.......Linzerello,Lexie and Ruby Rach.Thank you so much,I'm chuffed! Ruby Rach is a beautiful Australian girl with a fab vintage blog,Linz and Lexie are are gorgeous gals on a weight loss journey too,both with inspiring losses racked up already.

So the rules are:

1. Post who gave you this award
2. State 10 things you like
3. Give this award to 10 other bloggers and notify them with a comment

10 things I like:

1. TRAVEL/BACKPACKING.My dad left Germany when he was 21 and lived in all sorts of far flung places,from the Caribbean,to Bali (where he met my Mum) to Hong Kong (where I came into the world),before finally settling in Australia.So far my adventures have taken me to Borneo,Indonesia,Malaysia,Burma/Myanmar,Thailand,Vietnam,Cambodia 3 times when I was 21,23 and 24.Cuba,Hong Kong,China,Mongolia,Russia,Estonia,Lithuania,Latvia,Poland,Czech Republic,Austria,Germany,France,Ireland,Netherlands,Portugal,Belgium and of course I've travelled around Australia on many family holidays and explored Scotland extensively.

2.SYDNEY.My home.I grew up there from when I was 1 till I left for adventures and Scotland at 24.I really miss the lifestyle,the varied cultures,the beaches,weather and of course my family and friends.

My gorgeous Mama and Pa barchen

My absolute best friend in the entire world,we've known each other 13 years and despite the distance we're as close as ever.Isn't she just fabulous?

3. MY SCOTSMAN - He's the complete and total polar opposite to me,physically,emotionally and mentally.We have absolutely nothing in common and Aries - Virgo and Monkey - Tiger combinations apparently should be avoided at all costs,but for us it somehow works.We compliment each other like ying and yang,and despite the differences have only ever had 3 real arguments in the last 6 years.It seems history is repeating itself as there are many parallels with my parents relationship and us.I can't wait for him to become my husband.

Yay me! ;P

I've lost a pound shy of a stone!!!!!!!!!! In pretty much a month! Yay me!

Just a quick one today.Yesterday and today have been days off from the gym as I've finally seen my Scotsman after nearly a month.We spent the day at our favourite French Patisserie/cafe in the West End and then basked in the warmth sipping on coffees as big as our heads before strolling down to Ashton Lane for a few vodkas in the sun.


My favourite bar Wodka Vodka does wicked,super cheap cocktails,but I showed some restraint and had just 1 while the rest were vodka,soda and limes.Totally paid off too as I managed to have a croissant for breakfast as well as an awesome grilled chicken burger from Ketchup and stay within points.Today is just a day in relaxing and planning meals and shopping lists in keeping with my challenge.


And I'm in the process of starting a recipe blog tying in with my new recipe experiments and cooking challenges.Will let you know when it's up and running

** A colleague at work named me Miss Frangipani the other day in homage to all the frangipani's I wear in my hair,in my ears,on my handbags etc.I like that,and it sounds much better than Glasgow Galah,hence the name change.

Thank you,thank you,THANK YOU ROO!!!!! (Awesome hair follow up)

The wonderful Roo has managed to find out the song that I was talking about with the girl with the awesome hair.And as such I've managed to track down pics of her uber cool hair.I want,I want,I want!

The song is called 'I'm in love' (Alex Gaudino Ft Maxine Ashley).If you want to youtube it.

THANK YOU ROO! xx

Quick update

Hola! Firstly,exercise stats: one hour treadmill,20 mins cross trainer and one hours walk to work.

Next,recipes I want to try this month:

* Teriyaki Chicken (from scratch)
* Sushi
* Lemper (Indo sticky rice rolls)
* Bolu Kukus (I have made these before,but can't get them to open up like the photos)
* Raspberry yogurt cake
* Overnight Date and Bran Muffins (Mum's new discovery)
* German pumpernickel bread - I remember my Opa eating this everyday religiously and my Papa does too.It would be great to be able to make it for him when he comes over,as I never really cook much German cuisine.
* Low sugar,low fat,high fibre fruit loaf - that's the real name of the recipe
* Oaty,Apple Pikelets
* Plum and Cinnamon Cake
* Best Ever Muffins
* Sweet Potato Rosti with Chorizo and grilled veg
* Spinach and Ricotta hotcakes
* Chicken,Olive and Lemon Tagine
* Quesadillas
* Wonton soup

I think that's a good start and I haven't even started looking through my cookbooks!

Plus I've set myself the challenge of absolutely NO READY MEALS for the month of Sept.All meals will be cooked from scratch,even if it's just a hurried meal of veg in miso soup or tinned mackerel,brown rice and sweetcorn (my go to meals when I'm skint and/or pressed for time).The exception will of course be unless I am eating out.Wish me luck!

I'm becoming a MACHINE!

OK,maybe not quite,but 2 hours at the gym is now becoming habit and I actually look forward to it and more surprisingly,am enjoying it :D

I've noticed tiny wee changes in my health too.I'm using my ventolin less,shaved 5 mins off my walk to the gym from work and didn't need my puffer at all.

And in most exciting news,today I totally pushed myself on the cross trainer to do 50 mins!!!!!!!!!
Practically in a row too - just a wee 2 minute breather while I set up the machine again (it's only programmed for 20 min intervals).Totally epic achievement for me.Plus 50 mins treadmill and about 15 mins weights.This time I tried the machines for my legs too.

Back tomorrow,Tues and Fri.Not too shabby :D Signing off now as I am too knackered to attempt any more writing without it being utter nonsense.xx

Just some random happy mutterings

Now I know you're not supposed to,but I needed to go past the local Boots I weigh in at and decided to go and take a sneaky peek.I'm so freaking glad I did coz I've apparently lost 2 lb's!!!!!!!! I know it's not an official weight loss,but it was the boost I was needing to get my mojo back.And back it came with a vengeance!
I did a monster workout at the gym.1 hour and 40 mins of cardio - 50 mins of treadmill and 50 mins on the cross trainer plus some weights.I'm stopping the swimming after my workouts as my body is simply too tired after a gym workout to complete any laps,maybe it was too much too soon.I'll try again a few months down the track.Oh,and I plan to get up that wee bit earlier and walk to work tomorrow.

Stopped by Lidl on the way home and got this mega haul for just £12! 2 punnets each of nectarines, blueberries and raspberries. A punnet of strawberries, organic carrots, sweet peppers, fruit and nut muesli, pitta breads and some broccoli and cauliflower.


It still confounds me that it's so much cheaper to eat crap,frozen meals and take aways in the UK than to eat healthy,fresh food.The abundance of Iceland and Farmfoods stores make me sad.I understand that families on a budget need these stores,but with Lidl and Aldi about selling super cheap,fresh veg surely it's just as easy and cheap to cook from scratch? I've had this argument many a time with the Scotsman as he grew up in a very poor East End Glasgow family,although Lidl and Aldi weren't around when he was a boy.

I once worked with a guy who had never eaten a mango.A mango???? It's hardly that strange or exotic like dragon fruit or rambutan that while common in Oz,especially amongst the SE Asian community,not heard of over here.If you have any Chinese grocers near you please try these and also mangosteen which is one of the most delicious fruits ever.Queen Victoria apparently offered a monstrous sum to anyone who could bring one over from Indonesia unspoiled.I also currently work with ladies that have never ate,let alone heard of,butternut squash or sweet potato!!!!!

In other news,whilst at the gym a video clip came on (it's permanently tuned into the Dance Music channel which basically equates to soft porn which is a very good motivator,seeing all those perfect bodies prancing about in bikinis) with this girl with uber cool hair.It was half black and half pink,literally straight down the middle.I missed the name of the song and can't find any images online,so this is the closest I got.................

LOVE IT! Might add it to the list of rewards when I get to goal - Louboutins,new wardrobe,total spa day pamper session and new hair.And I totally wore that shade of lipstick constantly back in the 90's,with fire engine red hair and leopard print skirts.Thankfully I grew up and developed good fashion sense.

In sad news,it seems the Vengaboys really are back in town.Check it out for yourself here,if you dare............

Crap but fabulous.

Nothing new to report today except I ate like crap because I didn't plan or take my food into work, and we were out for lunch and dinner.But did walk an hour to work...............

And I saw this on Celia's lovely blog and it is now my new workout mantra.............

Goals for September

I've just realised September is around the corner................well really coz I was counting down the days till pay day.

Here are my goals for September:

* Cook more and try new recipes:
- Sushi
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Some sort of Morroccan Chickpea stew
- Lamb Kofta

* Cook more Indonesian meals

* Make sure half my evening meals are vegggie possibly vegan

* Stick to my savings plan for our July '11 moving overseas goal

* Go to the gym at least 3 times a week

* LOSE WEIGHT

Ditzy Moments and Crap Diet Books to Avoid

I can be quite a ditz at times.I consider myself quite well read ,worldly and without sounding like a total egoist,intelligent and I have the University Challenge scores to prove it!...........albeit from the comfort of my own couch playing against the Scotsman,but still,my other geeky friends have never managed to score as high as me ;P But nonetheless I can be extremely ditzy at times.World knowledge and useless facts 1 - common/practical sense 0.

I've been quite miffed at the gym machines as I have been working hard,heart rate high,muscles burning and sweat lashing off me,yet the calories I'm burning seemed quite low in comparison to my physical effort.Then today i figured out that you could input your weight and age into the machine................lo and behold my calories burnt rose in proportion to my physical exertion.Happy days.

Ditzy moment number 2,I thought replacing milk and yogurts with soy products would replace the calcium and benefits of dairy that I'm missing out on.But good old google has pointed out to me that it doesn't.DOH! Of course it wouldn't,it's made from a bean!!!!!! Why the hell would I think that!

In other news,I walked halfway to work yesterday at the ungodly hour of 7:15am - 25 mins

Today was: 60 mins treadmill
20 mins cross trainer
15 mins intense weight training for my arms
15 min swim (my poor body was telling me to rest)

As with any girl trying to lose some pounds I've read quite a few diet books lately.I don't know why - I know what works for me and what I need to do.Most of them are crap and here are 2 to avoid.............

Neris and India's Idiot Proof Diet.I found it at a second hand bookstore so thankfully I didn't waste too much money on this crap.I had sooooo much hope for it,cute,witty writing and the authors themselves had lost a tonne of weight,but alas it's just basically Atkins which I know works for some but I just don't trust a diet where fruit is seen as evil.

Secondly was How To Eat Like A Hot Chick which I was given as a gift.Now I REALLY had super high hopes for this one - pin up girl on the cover,SATC style writing,a promise of how you can eat what you want and still lose weight (yeah,I already know this from WW, moderation, moderation, MODERATION!). However it was full of foods you could and absolutely couldn't have,and basically crap information like:

* Cheese is evil,but you can have as much Parmesan as you want to.
* Mayonnaise is evil.
* Anytime you are hungry and tempted to stray eat a pound of spinach.
* No cocktails whatsoever.

At this point I lost interest.I KNOW that this is probably why skinny girls are skinny and why I am fat but I do not want to be skinny and live by stringent rules and a life of forbidden foods.I'd rather be a size 14 and be able to east cheese on the odd occasion and enjoy a cocktail or 7 on a night out.

Not a happy camper!!!!!!!!!

I've put on 3 lb's! WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I've been tracking all my eats and staying within points,exercising like crazy and I hardly ate shit while we were in Amsterdam.

I skipped the gym today before weigh in too,as my head was telling me to go,but my heart was so mentally exhausted and body was saying no.Damn I wished I'd gone now! I have 3 scheduled days this week though,so I'll push myself to try and make up for this gain.In fact I will walk halfway to work tommorrow (half and hour - 40 mins) and the other days I start at 8.

Hmmmmmmmmm,off to mull over my online tracker and try and not eat my anger.

Trashtasticka aka when Steph was a chav for a night.

I'm back from Amsterdam! It was a really lovely trip,we all got closure and sent Om Ondos off just the way he would've liked,with lots of makan makan (food),stories and memories,tears,laughs,bad fashion,drama queens,a day out in gay Amsterdam and most of all family and friends.

The family bit of which I haven't had in a looooooonnnnnnnnng time. Sure I have my sister and the Scotsman,but there's a hell of a lot of cultural differences between Indonesians/Australians and Scottish people.It took 2 years of being in a relationship (plus 2 years previous of friendship) before I met his family.I actually spent 3 Christmases alone here!!!!!!!!!!!

That would NEVER happen in Australia and in Indonesia I think it's actually a crime punishable by death to knowingly leave someone alone at Xmas/birthdays etc.Although I must give my Glasgow dwelling Swiss friends their due - I was invited every year to Switzerland for Xmas,it just wasn't financially possible.

I just really miss the warmth of big family gatherings and even my Indo culture,a lot of which the Scotsman doesn't understand.Plus the quality of life in Europe just seems sooooooooo much better than here.We've all promised each other to come over and visit more often and keep in contact more frequently.The Scotsman and i are planning to work somewhere in Europe and bugger off out of here,so,you never know - Amsterdam may be a possibility.

I didn't eat as badly as I thought I would've,lot's of good home cooked Indo food.No deep fried croquettes or frikadelle (Dutch sausages) or the famous butter cake or apple tarts.

So tomorrow I will push on and as Om Ondos would've wanted,to be as faaaaaaaaaabulous as I can be darlings.In the meantime,here's some trashtastika photos.............................

I would show you the bedazzling bejewelled white chav jeans close up but I wouldn't want to frighten you with a close up of my arse! That's my gorgeous wee sister btw.Don't know what I would do without her over here,let alone on this trip.Love ya Natey!!!! P.S.She's too young and hip and fashion conscious to bother with tradition.So I was the one left to look like a fool.

Hanging out with my cousins,wee sis and nephew (?) - he's my cousins son?

My fab Uncle Donny,Om Ondos's kindred spirit,companion,carer and all round great friend.And yes,the chav jeans made a repeat performance - it was gorgeously warm and sunny so i thought they were apt.

There's no such thing as too much food in an Indonesian household.

Thank you everyone........

Thank you everyone for all your kind words and thoughts.

A lot of the time I forget people actually read this and treat is as just a cathartic release for me.,which was especially true in that last post.I'm sure Om Ondos would be ecstatic,being the screaming queen that he is,that he is now immortalised in cyber space and being thought of by people he never met across the world.

As is Maluku tradition,we will all wear white to the funeral.I do not own anything white and as such had to stop by New Look for anything white i could find which didn't look too hideous and that was some white crop bejewelled jeans and a white top.Very chavtastic..........at least Om Ondos will get a wee chuckle at his fat 'girlie' wearing an all white outfit.

So thank you again everyone,it really means a lot to read your kind comments.I'm off to pack for our bittersweet trip to Amsterdam and to try and think of some words to say at his funeral at my Mama's request.

Back on Monday,possibly with pictures to give you all a laugh after listening to my sad posts.xox

This week is pretty much a write off.

Yesterday afternoon I got the news from my mum that her brother had very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.He was an absolute gem,flamboyantly gay,out loud and proud and never giving a f*ck what anyone thought.

Unfortunately for my mum,he lived in Amsterdam and she of course would be unable to attend his funeral at such a short notice,as well as my other uncle and his family as they are in Indonesia.So,the eldest daughter is stepping in to represent the immediate family and sort through his belongings for my mum and family.It's safe to say this week is a write off as exercising and eating well are the last things on my mind during this whirwind trip.

I have a very Indonesian attitude to death.Maybe it's my job,maybe it's the genetics maybe it's both,but I went to bed with a smile on my face thinking about how my beloved 'Om Ondos' was the person who taught me how to plait hair - we practised on my barbie dolls.Of all the outrageous stories he would tell me about his many flings and conquests,at an age when I was probably too young to be exposed to such things,of his flamboyant outfits and even more outrageous nature.

When I came out to my mother 9 years ago,it was him who calmed her and assured her.I told my mum first as obviously having a gay brother would have made her more accepting as opposed to my stern German father.It was in fact the opposite,my father was so loving and accepting and it in fact was the turning point to our once extremely volatile relationship.

My mother was quite upset as deep down she is still quite traditionally Indonesian and was worried about grandkids and how the world would treat me.Om Ondos was delighted 'Oh great,another one of us' I think were his exact words and through humour he made my mother come around.He also took it upon himself to introduce me to the gay and lesbian scene of Amsterdam when I first visited him there,as well as to all the single lesbians he knew ;)

I can't quite remember how he became to be christened Om 'Ondos'.Om Ondos means cheeky uncle or something along those lines in Indo and as long as I can remember we've always called him that.

I've just got off the phone to my sister where we chatted about the daunting task ahead of us,of all the family we'll see who we've not seen or contacted in year etc.Of how we need to ensure we keep in contact with our cousins and extended family rather than be brought together in such sad circumstances.Of how they will all be talking Dutch and the ceremony will be quite religious and how I need to behave (no offence to anyone but me and religion just don't mix) Of how we will just stick together and be there for each other quietly in a corner..........................I can just imagine Om Ondos joining us,bitching about what he/she is wearing and how dare he/she wear that to my send off,who's shagging who,who he's shagged but most of all I can just imagine his first words to me would be 'Why the hell did you turn straight girlie!!!!!'

Thank you Om Ondos,for teaching me how to plait my hair and most importantly to be loud and proud and not give a f*ck what anyone else thinks.Rest in Peace Om Ondos,you are fondly remembered and sorely missed.

Another FABULOUS blogger and losing that sense of style

First of all I have to say a HUGE thank you to the absolutely awesome Claire.She always comments on my posts and is so encouraging.You should check out her blog,it's utterly fabulous and witty and she's the kinda girl I'd love to have with me on a night out.Thank you Claire for all your comments.We can totally do this! But I have to say lady,you look absolutely gorgeous as you are!

She's recently written a post which could've come straight from my brain about confidence,and losing your sense of style as you gain weight.I sooooooooo know where she's coming from.

I think I may have blogged before about how I used to have my own style.I used to get my hair done religiously.Never left the house without make up (though that may be more to do with immaturity than weight.I now know to let my skin breathe and only wear make up when I'm not working),always in pin up style skirts and heels,painted nails etc.

Now the only things that remain are bright,bold colours,red lipstick and I never,ever leave the house without a flower in my hair.I've always loved exotic flowers,it must be the islander gal in me.It's my one concession to glamour even when I'm working.


I'm kinda obsessed with frangipanis.Always have been,even when I was a little girl (leopard print too apparently).Anything with a frangipani and I must have it.The UK is finally starting to catch up and slowly frangipani scented things are trickling in.I've told the Scotsman as soon as we get our own place in Oz we must get a frangipani tree and a Great Dane..........the dog is a mutual agreement.Not so sure about a big F-Off frangi tree.

Anyways the point is,I've lost my style since I moved to Glasgow and gained all this weight (sorry Glasgow,but my weight is defined as 'Australia weight' and 'Scotland weight'.) My wardrobe is limited to what fits,rather than what I like and my night outfits are an embarrassing rotation of just 3 outfits.I'm no longer physically comfy walking in heels,finding 50's clothing is an impossibility,and I just generally don't take care of my skin or hair like I used to.......but! That's all changing.I've got scheduled girlie me time for face packs and general skin and haircare.

And as you all know I've joined the gym and I can actually see how people get addicted.I LOVE it! Not so much the burning muscles,jelly legs or sweating like a beeatch,but the pushing myself just that notch faster or 5 minutes longer and the feeling that I am doing something for myself and getting closer,albeit slowly,to my goal size.

Todays workout was: * 25 minute walking to the gym
* 50 mins on treadmill
* 20 mins on the cross trainer-torture contraption
* 20 mins swim
and about 15 minutes weights for my arms.

Eating has been good too: B: Raspberries and blueberries and a soy yogurt
L: Baguette with grilled chicken,light mayo and half fat cheese
D: WW Beef hotpot but it was minging so I only ate the potatoe topping
S: Wotsits x 2 mini bags

Finger's X'd for a more than 2 lb loss this Sat.I know that down the line I'll be happy to be consistently losing 2 lb's a week but I just want a biggish loss to kind of psychologically kick start my mental state.xx

Hangover Saturday

No gym today due to a wee after work drink with a colleague - 'just the one,we'll just get one round each' which ended up being a 3am job.My poor heed!

WI day today,lost 2 lb's.Must admit I was slightly disappointed it wasn't more what with all the gym bunniness and totally on track eating,but then I read a few blogs and articles that said it may not show straight away.Apparently your body needs time to adjust and hell,it must've been a total shock to the system to my body.It's probably clinging onto every drop of fat for dear life!

Anyways,i shall spare you my inarticulate,hungover ramblings and promise you and myself I will stay on track today (no recovery foods!) and take myself to the gym on Monday.Have a great weekend everyone.................weekends hold no significance for me.I've been a shift worker since I was 18 and hence I never get that TGIF feeling.Sleepover shift tomorrow.Working Sundays sucks!

Stripper poles and sweaty betties.

My flatmate got a proper stripper pole for Xmas.She's not a pole dancer (not that there's anything wrong with that,as long as it's totally consensual on the ladies behalf) but she's been taking classes as a way to keep fit and have more body confidence.

It's the total jazzy fizzle shizz.I mean this thing is properly anchored floor to ceiling in our living room,not one of those ones you get out of Anne Summers,it's the proper deal.J's also got a few pole dancing DVD's so maybe when I get to the halfway mark I can start working towards the Kimberly Wyatt PussyCatDoll- uber high leg kick fantasy.I'm sure Ms. Monroe would've approved of a little pole action.

In gym news I totally pushed myself today,more than I ever have in my entire life!:
* 40 mins on the treadmill (at a consistently faster pace than usual)
* 20 mins on the bike
* 25 mins on the elleptical/cross trainer (I sweat like i never have before)
* 10 minutes weights for my arms
* 30 minutes swim

Eating well just totally falls into place as I don't want to waste all that hard work and effort.

Maybe fitting into my Sugar Kane dress by Christmas isn't such an impossibility after all?

One of these days,I'm gonna be able to do this..........

Totally Epic Work Out

25 minute walk to the gym
25 mins on treadmill
25 mins on bike
15 mins on the elleptical/x-trainer thing
10 minute weights
20 minute swim

120 mins of exercise! This is gonna hurt in the morning.............

A few quick NSV's

Today I did the grocery shopping for the service users and one key requirement in a team consisting mainly of women is a truckload of biscuits.The sweeter the better,the chocolatier the better.I came back with about 5 different packs of biscuits and I did NOT:

* Immediately attack them the minute I got through the door,even though I was starving.
* When we had our afternoon tea,I managed to happily satisfy my afternoon slump with just a teeny tiny (this thing literally was minuscule) chocolate-caramel shortbread and a toffee apple shortbread.All accounted for and pointed up.
* I didn't touch them the rest of the shift and stuck to all the snacks I brought in with me.

I found out the Scotsman's work schedule is fcuk'd up again due to a shitey asshole deputy manager and we will not be having any days off together or possibly even seeing each other for at least 3 weeks (which totally sucks as we don't live together and rarely see each other as it is) and plus I checked my bank account and wayyyyyy overspent on the card - yet another skint 3 weeks ahead.

Instead of burying my feelings in food,primarily sugar and chocolate,I faced them and worked out a budget.As for the Scotsman and I,well that still totally sucks but I didn't eat my feelings. And finally,I actually am craving the gym!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a horrible day at work today and I kept thinking how good it would feel to stomp it out on the treadmill or thrash it out in the pool.WTF?!?!?!?!

No Gym but a lovely Date Day :D

Had a great lazy date day with the Scotsman today.We just wandered about the West End,which is the posh part of Glasgow.I live in the South Side which is a little rougher and working class but has more character and ethnic diversity which I love plus there's a real sense of community.It's hard to describe,but I love it.Having lived in the East End (where my man is from) when I first came here and worked in the North I would have to say moving south was the best move ever.

The community consists of people from all over Scotland,plus Asian,African,E.European,I've even heard a few Aussie accents about!My in laws were shocked when they came over from the E.End that various shop keepers would say hello and knew us by face,would enquire about work and how my sister was doing (she lives here too).I love that about the S.Side.Apparently that just doesn't happen in the E.End.Plus we have a fab farmers market and beautiful park on our doorstep

The W.End is more ethnically homogeneous - mostly white Scottish and more socio economically well off.Nice for visit and I do love a night out there,but my heart belongs in the South.It's full of loads of cute trendy cafes,quirky wee shops and boutiques, ethnic food shops and a shedload of health-organic-deli type shops - I finally found the elusive Almond milk that I've been reading about on many American blogs but it was £3.50 for a wee carton!!!! I'll be sticking to soy or rice milk.

As we slept through breakfast we treated ourselves to a nice brunch in a lovely French patisserie I love.I've managed to stay within points with all the walking today and the gym activity.I really didn't want to eat into those too much,but I still have about 12.

So,I had a ham,cheese,mustard and bechamel croissant.Not a wise choice but i knew I would be within points,and half a glass of cloudy lemonade.After walking about for a few hours I had a mocha and a raspberry and white chocolate muffin.

Olives,prosciutto ham,manchego cheese,Portuguese mackerel pate and nice French bread for dinner tonight along with a blueberry cider and a raspberry and lime cider,all pointed up. Not the healthiest day,but still within points and tomorrow I've somehow managed to save 12 points (berry salad for lunch and lot's of veg,soy yogurts and pretzels for snacks).

Long day at work tomorrow but I'm prepared.Might try and take one of the ladies for a wee walk - pushing a heavy wheelchair surely constitutes a workout? Bring on the fabulousness!xox

Ooh.Ah.OUCH!

For some reason I was up bright and early this Sunday morning at 9:00 am and just couldn't get to sleep.Sooooooooo,I went to the gym!!!!

I managed: * 25 minutes on the treadmill
* 25 minutes on the bike (It was as I thought - I'd not positioned myself properly)
* 10 minutes of weights - just for my arms
* 30 minute swim

Now I ache all over.

I actually was all revved up to do some more on the elliptical thing but I thought I'd better not push my body too much in the first few days.

I also had my first Waitrose experience today.Glasgow has only had one open up a few months ago.Perfect social analogy of the complete and utter difference between the 2 major Scottish cities:There are no Primarks in Edinburgh but they have Waitrose and Harvey Nicks.Glasgow has PLENTY of Primarks and no Harvey Nicks or Waitrose (till now)

I FREAKING love that place.Unfortunately my wallet will probably only stretch to one wee visit a month.I got some Agave nectar for sweetening my hot caffeine fixes and cereals,tastes very nice - not at all like honey which I was dreading as I'm not a big honey fan,as well as some fruit puree things which I used to LURVE at home even though they are reminiscent of baby food.

Managed to avoid the chocolate and dessert aisles completely which is a big mental breakthrough.Came away instead with fruit and soy yogurts.Trying to steer clear of dairy as it mos def does not agree with me.Will let you know how the soy alternatives go.

Off to try and glean some sympathy from the Scotsman and maybe convince him to give my poor muscles a massage.