Friday 28th November 08

I didn't get fired!
Despite what I thought was a really bad weekend, my nutritionist didn't fire me so I must have done okay! I had a colonic on Tuesday as well - I cna highly recommend it for detox and just plain feeling healthier.
I also invested in a Heart Rate Monitor - my fitness test said "moderate" - not bad for a fatty I thought, all my months of hard work paying off! Ihavent had a chance to use it yet, but am pretty excited about getting started with it! We were doing our final Christmas planning late last week - we are full for Christmas and almost full for New Year (and will be when we get there!) - and how much am I dreading sweeties in every Lounge in the 2 houses for 14 days? Mince Pies, Chipolatas, Christmas Cake, Cream Teas, Mulled Wine, selection boxes, Pies at the street party.... the list of tempting temptations is endless at this time of year!!! But I have to be REALLY strong and focus on the 24th March. Help me please!!!
Tonight is the Christmas lights switch on in Pitlochry, heralds the real start to Christmas for us, we have a busy schedule all through December - I typed Henrietta's movements for December, that girl is going to be exhausted going into the New Year!!
Off for some soup for lunch! YUM!
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Friday 21st November 08

Snow is Falling
Hi all
Well snow is falling outside my window although it looks like it is not going to last at all. I am off to Mrs Nutrtionist today - I know I have lost weight as 3 people have notice this week and not ones that would just be polite!!! I should have lost though I have been eating like a sparrow and been as grumpy as Victor Meldrew! Also right back into exercise! And loving it! I have also been doing a secret thing that I will reveal at the end of my challenge! I have booked my photgrapher for my AFTER photo and have booked my final weigh in on the 24th March.... I will do it! For you it stops there but for me there are still 4 stone to lose and I am determind to have them off by December 2009! I will be in that little black dress and it WILL actually be LITTLE! I love the messages of supprt I am getting from you all, it really means heaps to me! The hotel was quiet this week but I was busy - that is the way it works sometimes..... we have a busy weekend coming up and then quiet during the week again and busy weekend. Although surprisingly there are still lots of people around who just drive up (not pre booked). Not sure if I have mentioned this before but here at Acarsaid we have heard all about recessions and slow downs but we don't fancy that so we are not going to join in.... fancy joining me in the "Real People Against Recession" drive???!!?? Honestly I am sick of looking at the news and reading the papers, they could talk us into anything!!! more

Thursday 13th November 08

Feeling Good
Well am feeling good this week - went to see Mrs Nutrition on Tuesday and although I do not know the figures, she was smiling and has not sacked me so it must have been a lost!
I had a great gym session yesterday - worked my stomach muscles REALLY hard, coughing and laughing quite tender today!
After my fall and ankle injury that is me just well enough to start exercising with some effort again - so I am really looking forward to that. I have been busy at work getting ready for Christmas and New Year, lots of meetings with Chef and checking we have doted the i's and crossed the t's!
More soon! more

Thursday 6th November 08

What a Weekend!
My Sister came down from Brora with her family this weekend and we have a fantastic time. The Halloween party in the street was fabby, all the old fashioned things like apple dookin', sticky doughnuts (although we used to use scones with treacle!) Splat the rate, lucky ducks, fancy dress competition and in addition to this there was a clown and kids entertainer arranged, free ghost tours for the kids and the street was full of buskers - it was superb! We also went to the Enchanted Forest that night! On Saturday night we had a magical fireworks display (the company who do the fireworks at Edinburgh Castle at Hogmanay did the display), the kids went to the story teller and we all went on a ghost tour. My sister and her family had a ball, and felt tlike they had been on a wee mini holiday!
I had an appointment with Lynne, my nutritionist on Friday and she was quite happy - we have had a great idea and are going to see how it works, it may be something you might want to try if you are, like me, trying to lose weight! I have decided not to know the numbers - so she weighs me, asks me how I think I have done and keep the numbers to herself! This means the pressure is off me! I just follow her 7 laws of weight loss and she worries about the numbers! She is going to record how I am feeling each week and my progress and then when I get to my first target we will go through this. Genius don't you think?
Oh and one more thing, the deal is lose weight or lose her!!! I told you she is tough! more

Wednesday 29th October 08

Back at the coal face
Arrived back on Friday night after a fab few days away, mostly was good (foodwise) on the break. Not much exercise though and I am feeling the worse for it. My ankle/foot from my fall a couple of weeks ago is still bothering me so I need to ease myself in gently again! Amanda my personal trainer says I am missing the endorphins! I think she is right. I should have lost weight over the weekend, the hotel was exceptionally busy and I was doing my blue bottom fly routine! However we had lovely customers in, and that makes it all worth while!
Halloween is fast approaching and we have a fantastic night planned in Pitlochry for the kids (and big kids!) Fancy Dress Parade, Story-telling, Buskers, Dooking for Apples, Sticky Doughnuts, Splat the Rat, Ghost Tours and much more - all happening in the street! My little one has decided she wants to be a fairy witch! I think the plain, old fashioned, mean old witch was a bit on the scary side!
The reports from the Enchanted Forest have been great - apart from some chap who wrote in the Sun newspaper. Well, he does read the Sun! I can only go by what my guests are saying and the feedback without fail is positive. Yeah some say 2 years ago was better, but that comes down to taste.
Next big thing on in Pitlochry is the House of Bruar Sale! Now THAT is an occasion!
More soon. more

Thursday 23rd October 08

Wee Holiday
Speaking from Brora, an hour North of Inverness!
Henrietta and I have escaped for a few days up to my sister's house in Brora - no phones, emails or the like to spoil (ooops enhance) my day!
There is no let up on the diet front - I had a phone consultation today! We agreed my Christmas target today - so it is serious between now and then folks! I also have an unofficial target for my sister's birthday party on January 17th! People will definitely be noticing again by then.
We had a fantastic day in Dornoch too - a wee tad of shopping a spot on lunch and a nice moch around. It was really mild today - but windy.
Home tomorrow and back to the grind at 7am on Sunday!
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Thursday 16th October 08

PARTY DAY
Hi Everyone
Well I had a major party Day on Tuesday! My sister Theresa was 50 back in August and my wee sis and I organised a huge suprise for her! She was brought down to the hotel in Pitlochry by my wee sis. She had a Bowen treatment on the Tuesday morning www.perthshirefitnesstherapy.co.uk
then we went to the Armoury for lunch, then a Limousine came and picked us up at the Armoury and took us into Perth to have our Hair and Make Up done at Copperfields in Perth (Colin Montgomerie came in to get his hair done at the same time - we were a wee bitty star struck!), then we went for Cocktails and Dinner at The Bothy in Perth then on to the Concert Hall to see Eddi Reader, and the limo turned up to take us home again! It was a STUNNINGLY good day! With the Challenge regime, alcohol is almost NEVER on the agenda, and to be fair I do not miss it, so I was feeling a wee bit tender yesterday! Nevermind, back to fighting strength today!
I have to miss my nutirtionist this week as I went over my ankle badly on Tuesday morning before all the excitment of the day started... I was up with the lark to get the dogs walked and I was just not taking a lot of care and did my usual - my eldest dog knows the language!!!! So it is nice and blue and about twice its normal size - bizarrely I did not feel it much throughout our day on Tuesday!
More later
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Wednesday 8th October 08

YOU FOLK!
Having sent ot my note on the extension of the Challenge I am staggered and touched by the amount of support there is out there for what I am doing! Thank you all very much indeed.
Losing weight is truly a journey - one I have made a number of times! This one is definitely the last though - mark my words! I am having great support from Lynne who is giving me nutritional coaching, support and advice. This is invaluable as now I am beginning to understand what my body does with all the cr.. rubbish I have assaulted it with over the years and how I can make my body's life a whole lot easier and not have to live on lettuce leaves and sprouting broccoli! It is about making small changes in lots of areas. more

Sunday 5th October 08

Great Day
Some kind people said I looked good today - to be frank I felt good! Although I completely ran our of steam tonight and instead of going to the Gym I slobbed out in front of X factor! That was before goiing with my old pal Auntie Maggie and Pauline to Pitlochry Festival Theatre for a Highland Night with the Vale of Atholl Pipe band. We are really lucky to have such fabbie talent in Pitlochry and all the hotels and tourism businesses should be thankful we have such wonderful people who give of their time to ensure we retain a pipe band and world class Highland Dancers! Very Well done to all concerned. It was a great night! more

Saturday 4th October 08

Pitlochry in Autumn
It is the simple things in life that make sense - getting all weird on you now! Henrietta and I had a walk today with the 3 dogs and the colours in Pitlochry are starting to turn - we left the hotel and walked up to Blackspout Wood - it is glorious, all shades of green, orange, red and yellow - we are so lucky to live in a place like this you know!
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