WELCOME TO LITTLE OSCAR

Here he is at last little Oscar was born on Monday morning at 8.5 lbs. How cute is he....

Congratulations to Wil and Kath

Had quite an active day today. Went swimming this morning, but it was abit crowded so hard to do lane swimming with your head up someone elses rear rend!!!

I down loaded this map from Concept Sport cos it's so much easier when someone else has measurred the distances. So I walked the course and added on 2 extra kilometers by stretching the course into Harestock.

My knees coped very well. It was a good walk going through town and country. Stopped off briefly to go to the loo at the Local Farm Shop Cafe. The shop there should be illegal........sooooooooooo many good things there, homemade cakes and sweets...cheeses mmmmmmmmmmm

But I got out quick and was saved!!!

I love seeing before and after pictures. One of my favourite blogs is Skinny Latte skinnylattegirl.blogspot.com. She lives in Melbourne, Australia and is truly inspirational. She lost her weight steadily through one year.

She has lost 33.5k (5 1/4 st) and has recently got into

Triathlons. It's well worth a read to see how much one year can make a difference.

Meanwhile Wil has gone off for Paternity leave to date I don't think the baby has come. He must be really fed up with people keep asking so I'll try and be patient.

Had a Fab day with gorgeous Stu yesterday. We watched a film and I'm sure we both had something in our eyes at the end!!!

God-cat Osca was sweet too she allowed me a cuddle for nearly a minute before escaping.

Yesterday had a bit of a watershed feeling about it. I'm not sure what happened because I was really strong over Christmas and lost 1/2 a stone, but on Wednesday I had a bowt of comfort eating. It was all healthy stuff but just loads of it. Things at work were getting me down and other people seem to have escape plans in action and I hadn't, but that's no excuse really. Anyway had loads of fun yesterday and felt a lot emotionally lighter if not physically when I got home.

I read Skinny Latte's Blog and was inspired to keep going (not that I was going to give up but maybe I'm just a little 'Battle of the Bulge fatigued).

Now it's no more whinging and just getting on with it.

Went swimming before work today, which was good. Managed 100m crawl (4 lengths) with no stopping, which doesn't sound too much but when I started at New Park Manor a 16m length in crawl made me so out of breath.

And people who know me will know this is a good sign..... I have a new note book to use as progress report!!! My old one got a bit complicated with notes everywhere. I'll keep the old one though as lots of personal fitness history in it...oh and of course 'Things to Ask Wil pages'

Recording

Resting Heart Rate (first thing in the morning when I'm not sure if I have one so it's good to check I'm still alive!!)

Hours Sleep

Muscles.. how they feeling, any strains etc

Motivation - to see when I dip and if it carries a patten

Food - Did I eat any!!!
Exercise

Managed another session in the gym and pool yesterday (no sign of THE baby yet). It's all a bit touch and go.

I do have a new career in line now in weight lifting and it's only 5 years to Olympics London so much to train for and so little time!!!!

Was really good fun, we did some swimming drills in the pool. My legs have obvioulsy been sewn on the wrong way round it's their fault that when I kick them really hard or on their own I go backwards. Wil is helping me loads with the front crawl and I feel I've improved quite a bit butI have a long way to go yet.

Did some interesting impressions of sit ups and bridges on the ball. I was quite chuffed because I managed to knock nearly 2 minutes off my time for 4k on the bike. First time ever was 11.20 mins and yesterday was 9.21. Signs of improvement that I need to see at the moment.

Everyone at work is looking for new jobs to escape. I really have to take this seriously and break out of my 'can't do it' mentality.

In fact there could be a job out there that I might really enjoy with a good social life too.

Went for a 12k walk today. I have found the road where all the joggers run up and down. It's fun cos I look at them in awe and they look at me with a 'well done for trying' look. It was a lovely day and I got see an amazing sun set over Winchester

Knee held up well it seems a lot better but it is still a bit clicky so still will get it checked out. The worst times are when I am at work. I very rarely sit down at work and so I am on my feet for 8 hrs and often find myself with locked knees. Trying to become more aware of posture. To keep feet straight, not to stand or sit with crossed legs, trying to keep knee and hip joints in the movements that are natural to them. Yes, no more splits or high kicks!!

Any day now Team Wil is going to have a new member. Wil and his partner Kath are expecting their first child due tomorrow. It's very exciting and we're awaiting news, pacing the virtual corridors. We wish them all the best and look forward to the safe arrival of baby. I'll let you know as soon as.

I always get excited about babies and we have one in the family on the way in March. My niece, Jenny is rapidly expanding and all is well. Ok I know that will make me a Great Aunt which makes me sound ancient but I am hardly going to don the shawl and tartan!!! In fact quite the opposite but nephews and nieces are used to that and I think I would disappoint them if I was normal!!!

Sorry I forgot to tell you about the weigh in results. Lost another 6 3/4 lbs bringing me down to 15.7.!!! Thank you for all the encouraging and comforting remarks about knee problem. Sorry Helen about your experiences but really glad you're going for Race For Life (www.raceforlife.org) hope to do it too, either in Bournemouth or Winchester.

Had a good time in the gym yesterday. I'm having a fair bit of trouble with my left knee. I was hit by a car about 6 years ago and my knees were a bit damaged and then I went up to my heaviest weight of 26 st 10 which isn't good for anyone's knees let alone already damaged ones.

I am alright going forwards walking, light jogging, rowing (on the machine haven't tried a boat yet!!), swimming but on occasions a slight movement where my knee joint goes in a funny position and it goes into a spasmy type thing and it really hurts (notice all the medical terms!!)

So many people have been telling me to go to a doctor and yesterday I did. I was so glad I did. I have real phobia of hospitals and doctors and in the past they have never told me anything I didn't already know and always gave me a hard time about my weight, quite rightly too. I also remember bad times when I couldn't bare to see my Dad all wired up in hospital. I built quite a big fear of going to see anyone medical but that was dispersed yesterday as I got on the right side of the medical 'law' and was given loads of encouragement too. Thank goodness she said to me to carry on with training and exercise, I think she thought I might be wanting to give up exercise...AS IF

I have to be referred to the Orthopaedics (just getting to learn how to spell that!!) clinic. Now that was like getting through to MI5!! I first had to go upstairs and answer a whole load of questions for the computer and then they gave me a piece of paper with a code word which 007 would have been proud of.. something to do with Mustard. The first they gave me was a booklet on which hospital I would like to chose. What was important to me location or cleanliness!!!!

They were telling me how the government had to refer me from a GP...so I'll watch Prime Ministers Question Time to see if I'm mentioned!!!

So i have been provisionally booked in for Monday 12th Feb but they said they had to check that with the doctors and then they'll let me know. What a palaver!!!!

I still am causing great entertainment with my swimming. I showed Wil what happens when I kick without using my arms and I go backwards. He kindly let me borrow his float but I just can't work out why I don't go forwards

Goggles and Giggles

What an evening I had yesterday. Had to work late and managed to get the 6.01 to Brockenhurst and jumped in the pool at 6.50. I had 10 minutes of Aquarobics with the gang and one or two visitors and then a swimming lesson with Wil.

It must have looked a bit like a episode of The Blue Planet with my interpretation of the front crawl. Wil was cool he didn't laugh too much and he gave me a pair of goggles which means I can now see under water!! So as he was trying to guide me to swim in a straight line all I could see were a pair of legs walking backwards. It is really not a good idea to get the giggles when your face is under water. Had a really concentrated lesson and came away with with loads of good advice to use in practice. Just need to remember RELAX-REACH-and I'm sure there was something else, ummm- oh BREATH!!!

Weigh in day tomorrow not sure if I have lost anything with all the festivities. Maybe if I go in the Steam Room tomorrow for an hour or two I might lose something.

Stu has got to the level in Yoga where he spends a lot of time upside down. He can do the head stand and all kinds of things I can't pronounce. In fact neither us a year ago would have thought we would be doing the things we're doing now in gyms across the south of England!!

Times they are achanging

There seems to be a lot of people around me at the moment going through life changes, new jobs, moving house, babies, weddings. Although my life has already been changed radically I need to go onwards too. I've got really itchy feet, not in an athletes foot way either, want to do something!!!, I think a new job is on the cards and maybe some challenges along the way. My horizons are a lot wider now. Need to keep the momentum going.

It happened again I woke up in the swimming pool. 7am!!!! even more shocking I was the first one in.

The pool quite quickly filled up. I did 20 lengths as quickly as I could - 500 meters in 17 mins. I did mainly breast stroke. There was a very scarey looking man who was doing a good impression of alien swimming. If you could imagine the top of his arms close to his body and the lower part of his arms acting like flippers and his legs doing the legs of the butterfly stroke. Everytime he came up for air he had such a remarkable look on his face under his enormous goggles. I swallowed some water as I almost had a giggling fit in the middle of the lane.

Got kicked in the stomach by another man who was zig-zagging up the lanes with a very creative way of doing breast stroke.'

Also I have been spoilt at New Park Manor Spa, where everything is laid on for you. Consequently I forgot to take a towel so I had to scurry home slightly wet, luckily it was still dark!!

All in all I was glad I went even though I was winded, and had an encounter of the 'Third Kind' !!

I had a visit from Vicky Barlett, Radio Solent's Breakfast show producer on Saturday. She has been the one responsible for co-ordinating the Daisy Dieters for the shows and is a great source of encouragement and fun. She should have a medal for being able to start work at 5am each morning

Vicky has left the show to start a new show tomorrow with Charlie Crocker in the afternoon slot. She has been on the breakfast show for 5 years.

Good Luck with new show Vicky, thank you for all you've done for us and I'll not tell anyone your office is next to the bar!!

It's 2007

Funniest picture of 2006 Christmas is my God Cat - Osca( well, Stu wouldn't let me take her home when she was tiny and I was consoled by becoming Godmother to a cat!!!)

If you look very carefully in the middle of the tree there are a pair of bright eyes, convinced that this is now her new home and playground. Not sure what will happen after Christmas maybe the tree will have to become a permanent fixture.

NEW START FOR 2007

Went back to New Park and into the gym with Wil for the first time this year. It's only been 2 weeks but a lot has happened in those weeks. I haven't put weight on (nor taken any off!!) and my exercise sessions were a bit erratic. It was good to see Wil again, he is on stand-by awaiting the birth of his and Kath's baby due 15th January. Very exciting.

We did some work on the Treadmill, Cross Trainer and the Rowing Machine, sit- ups on the gym ball and worked on the nursery stages of getting to lift legs horizontally off the floor to 45 % . I got all motivated up again.


I did my impression of 'Jaws' in the pool. For the first time I didn't do any breast stroke and found front crawl the better stroke, although I need to sort out a lot of detail there still.





I tried to do a few lengths just kicking my legs, but apart from nearly drowning I don't seem to move forwards, if anything I go backwards. I could create a whole new stoke!!
Note to self - don't put SPEEDOS in washing machine, they shrink a bit, took me a while to push everything into the right places!!!

So it's 'back to it' with fervour. Next Thursday will be weigh in day. I need to get back into weight loss mode, so hopefully I will have lost some by then and I'm going to have a go at another Mini Triathlon on Tuesday.

Yay -here we go- here we go- here we go

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY
Hope you all have a lovely New Year's Break and a happy and exciting 2007. See you next year

Thank you for all your imput and encouragement .
Lots of love
Daisy

New Years Resolutions on the Way

It's very exciting to think that in the coming year 2007 I should be able to reach a healthy weight. Never ever been there before except in my first years.

After Christmas I used to get really down thinking about New Years Resolutions and they were always weight related. I used to think. .. this year would be the year I would exercise, swim diet etc..... but there would be the big barrier of a huge weight loss before I could make any progress.....well in the way I wanted it...couch to Marathon in a week. Now with that barrier greatly depleted anything is possible!!

We are back in the gym next week to begin the next stage. Have lots to work on.
Tomorrow is early morning swim time. I thought about going to the swimming pool tonight and sleeping on the side and a nice Life Guard could come and just kick me so I roll into the pool.

STAND WELL BACK

Had a lovely Christmas with the family, great fun. Loads of presents.

Got a new sports bag, Cds, Clothes, Loads of smellies, A Radio that floats in water, new headphones, books, art stuff and a very interesting Calendar!!

I love our Christmases when the family join up it's always organised chaos. Nigel, my brother in law is at mission control in the kitchen. Jenny was there getting bigger by the day Gerald, the baby was moving around a bit, responding to being poked and prodded!!

Eating was fairly under control but had a big Christmas Dinner. Something Claire and I have in common is that we don't like Christmas pudding, mince pies or Christmas cake much so it's not too much of a strain to miss out on those but there many other lovely foods around. I didn't go mad but I wasn't too fanatical about it!!!

Boxing Day the family descended on Southsea and between us we walked the majority of the Portsmouth penisular. I walked 7k in 85 mins.

Today I went for a long walk 11k to Shawford a village near Winchester. Lots of people out working off Christmas. I had my headphones on and my head down and walked right into a jogger who was doing the same thing, quite good looking man in Lycra, was very funny

On the way back I walked to Sainsburys and had a real craving for pickled onions. I ate nearly all of them when I got home followed by a number of Brussel Sprouts for dinner. I now, don't feel too good... I think it's a dangerous combination.

The break from the tensions at work has been so good. Got to start thinking about next year and what I'm going to do. It's challenging, exciting and a little scarey

Radio Solent Christmas Party

Here are some pictures from the Radio Solent Party

This is Wil, Claire and Little Joe. I love the look on Joe's face!!!

A Pair of Trainers!!! Wil and Andre

A studio full of excited chatter, people getting to know each other.




She may look wide awake but she's actually sleep-walking




Wil hasn't quite got the hang of broadcasting

A CHINESE TAKE-AWAY (in)- A MANGER (french bit)

Managed to get the majority of Christmas shopping on Thursday when I did a marathon shop of walking around Basingstoke for 4 1/2 hours. I had already done an early swim and been into town in Winchester. After Basingstoke I went into town again and for a walk in the evening.
I should learn really, to pace myself. It's been manic at work, well I do work in a shop and it's Christmas.
Yesterday was the Radio Solent Christmas party so another early start. By then, not having much sleep it was all a bit hazy. A studio full of people who had done amazing things, climbed mountains, sailed round the world backwards, won music competitions....

oh and Team Wil was there. Claire brought little Joe who is absolutely gorgeous and Claire looked really good I had a look at our original photo in June and she looks really healthy and has changed shape. Well done Claire you'll be in my Daisy New Years Honours List. Hope to prise some photos off Andre for next year.

The interview was short and sweet with Julian as he had to get round to everyone. I'm not really sure what I said. And then it was on to the Gym

Wil gave me a lift which was really kind as I looked a bit like Santa carrying a number of presents for people I was going on to during the day.

Gym was good had a few false starts as tiredness set in and Wil almost had to use the Broom Handle and go into hard core P.T!!! I have a new challenge.. to get a gym ball in the air between my feet at the end of legs at 90 degrees and slowly down again. Could be my party piece after Christmas Dinner!!! Charades is so yesterday!!!

I won the challenge on the rowing machine and jogged 3 x 1 min sections. Wil has discovered a dark deep secret that underneath all this lack of self confidence I have a thriving 'competitive spirit'. Never really known what to do with it but 2007 may be the outing of it. in a nice way of course!!

Wil is on my list for New Years Honours too. Persistance, Bravery!!, Encouragement and just being a cool dude.

Then we had Aquarobics which was fun cos we had some of other ladies that I've met through the year there too. A lot of laughing and a good work out.

Then it was on to Bournemouth despite waiting on the wrong platform, automatically going on to the going home platform, I managed to race a cross the bridge, presents in tow and catch the right train. Wouldn't have been able to do that a year ago

Met Stu,Brad annd Osca, who are also on my New Years Honours list for being best friends ever!!) in Stu's Christmas Tree wonderland house. I think he has 7 at the last count. We had a walk around Bournemouth doing a bit more Christmas shopping and then attempted to go toTescos. It was complete chaos in the carpark and we in the end parked somewhere near the Littledown Gym and power walked to Tescos, (is it bad that evertime I'm on my feet I think of it as exercise!!)

Then back for a lovely warming Mushroom Soup and a lesson on how to make low fat Chilli.

On the way home not surprisingly I fell asleep on the train only to be woken up by the conductor asking for my ticket. I then managed to falloff the train as I missed the narrow step, but no damage done, I seem to bounce better these days.

Confession time I wrote this originally on the Blog and then took it off in guilt but I think it's better to tell all and be honest. There are 6 Take Away shops opposite where I live and today a huge magnet drew me into one of them, kicking and screaming they made me buy food on threat of violence if I didn't eat it. Or.........was really tired, couldn't face the kitchen and had a weak moment. It wasn't particularly nice and I felt horrible afterwards with the friedness of it, not used to that kind of food any more. Still it's out of my system in more ways than one. Now where did I put that Quinoa

Going to take a break from Work and Gym over Christmas period. Now is the time..(remember that phrase Stu) to put in action the things I've learnt .

It's time to reflect, now what it's all about

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas

P

It's getting closer better start my Christmas shopping. Have tomorrow and Friday off. Friday it's The Radio Solent's Breakfast show Christmas Programme, Team Wil will be there watching over the mince pies and then it's on to the Gym to work them all off!!! Then to see Stu who is cultivating a Christmas Tree Forest in his house.

Wanted a good session at the gym tonight and boy did I get it. I managed to get there early so I could spend some time in the pool. Wil came and gave me some much needed coaching. I swam the channel and back in various ways of doing front crawl. As usual with most of the exercise I do I forget to breath, which is a bit more important when you've got your head under water. By the end of that session I was moving through the water looking less like I was being chased by a school of Pirahnas but feeling more relaxed, swimming about the same speed but using less energy and breathing!!

Then it was into the gym for a load of Cardio Vascular exercises. Did some hard work on the Cross Trainer and the Treadmill. Never thought I'd say this but I really love it. I love the challenges of getting beyond what you think you can do and raising the level. Did some sit ups on the gym ball. Under threat of the broom handle to get it right!!! The better I do it the harder it is, really felt those core muscles working. I think it's adrenalin rushing around, but I so needed that tonight, or 'A kick up the backside'. I feel so good it's better than any drug.

Got Gym tonight.. need to work hard so I can hit Christmas running. Determined not to go the way of other Christmases, have 2 parties this week!!!

Thanks for all your herbal remedies, think I might have to find a field with primoses in and sit in it in the evening a drift into a world of loveliness!!

If you want to play a funny game about sprouts try this

www.eyegas.com/xmas05/

Had a good active day today. I really meant to go swimming again today but I woke up at 8am and the lanes are only from 7-8am on Sundays Going to try swimming before work and see how that effects the day. I got a phone call from Stu and all I can say is that I haven't laughed like that for a very long time. The kind of laugh where you are in danger and have to make yourself draw breath. What was it about??? Christmas Puddings running up the High St. I know, it never sounds funny when you try and explain. Laughter is truly a good medicine.

Went for a 5 mile walk around the outskirts of Winchester and then into town and probably another few walking around the shops looking for Christmas Presents.

This evening we went to a Carol Service down the road. The Church was decorated in thousands of tiny white fairy lights. It looked magical. We sang our hearts out to the traditional Carols and the story of Christmas was told by fairy light...... great way to start the week before Christmas

Part of Advent, for me is the celebration of Hanukkah. Jewish festival of lights. But must try and keep off the doughnuts you can read the story of Hanukkah on www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah#The_story. It's a good ol' yarn

Had a lovely second part of the day yesterday. 2 friends Reg and Maureen came in to see me at work and they were so encouraging and gave me loads of hugs. Then I had a brilliant chat with big sister Liz and Mum and they gave me bucket loads of encouragement and lovliness and really spurred me onwards .

So I wrote a plan of action in my journal, (my book of stats and data of how things are going. I think the Russians are very interested in getting hold of this book, only certain comrads have looked upon the pages and lived!!), and now it's just getting on with things. Sometimes it's good to write down what you feel is going adrift and then study it a bit then write another list of what you're going to do about it. Please lie upon my couch!!!!

I found a good way of swimming. When you wake up early in the morning you are already in the lanes for the early swimming. That's what happened today!!!

Leg is a lot better today feeling all round happier that I can get on the road again with walking, jogging.