weightwatchers February 2012

I have been going to weightwatchers for 3 weeks which draws in a very different type of clientele from the Asian ‘babe’ who advertises it on the telly. It seems to be predominantly over 45 very depressed white women. The lady on reception is grossly overweight, eats bananas and weightwatchers crisps constantly and tells everyone she has put weight on this week. There are younger women, but they don’t stay for the talks. It’s the first time I have ever dieted and I am really using it to drastically reduce my alcohol consumption which I now feel ready to do rather like eventually being able to give up smoking again. I am not finding it too hard so far. I have one glass of wine a day and I have cut out all biscuits, nuts, cheese and chocolate and reduced bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. It’s quite easy to follow as you don’t count calories, but pro points that certain foods have. I am allowed 26 points a day and a chocolate digestive is five while pretty much all fruit and veg is zero. I can feel the obsessiveness beginning to get a grip though. I am definitely attracted to the idea of buying a pedometer, can see myself buying the portion weighing scales and the giant book that has everything you would ever want to eat logged with its pro points!!

I am also still doing Pilates every week which I started in September, but that has a mainly ‘yummy mummy’ clientele. I am the oldest there by a long way but don’t seem to have as many problems as some – I think the horse riding has done a lot to keep me supple.

FP is rehearsing for a ‘musical evening’ rather than a show which is good because he gets to sing a lot more songs and have more dance routines than when he does a show. He is still dog walking every Sunday, but not this week because of heavy snow.

Last week FP’s daughter passed her driving test and he got her an old Peugeot 205 through a contact at the pub and we drove down in the two cars to drop it off Saturday before the snow arrived. Both of FPs children have passed their tests now and got cars which I hope will galvanise J2. He is busy working on his dissertation. One really great piece of news is that I finally got £3k extra grant for him that he doesn’t have to pay back because of me not earning very much or anything for the last 2 years. That feels like a real blessing for the last few months.

A* is a bit stressed out by a reorganisation at work and a new boss with lots of people losing their jobs. However she was voted by both peers and bosses as the employee of the year out of 330 staff and won £250 and a week-end in a Malmaison hotel so she is doing pretty well really.

J1 is enjoying his new job and has been in Portsmouth so far. Next week he is in Exeter. He is very pleased with his two female lodgers in his flat. He also has a day off a week to be part of the Scottish Navy rugby team.

We have just had a quote on units for the kitchen which is very cheap as they are half price and the ones off the shop floor that are discontinued, but we will not be having them installed until June which is good as we have to get all the tiles etc off first.

I am getting itchy feet again, but am committed to staying put until Christmas to finish the work on the house and see J2 settled after uni. He is currently planning on coming back home to live.