September Dryathlon

Last year we did 'sober tober' this year 'nearly sober tober' (wink) I found it easier not to have any at all!! Back to having a couple of nights alcohol free a week (smile)

I will get these emoticons correct soon

I'm not doing anything with the word sober in it, Bug180 - though I do have at least two enforced alcohol free nights per week, courtesy of the 5:2 diet.

I managed in the end (just) to get up to 5000 steps today, not so much from energetic housework, more from marching up and down the front room a lot while watching tele DH was not overly impressed - apparently it's a bit distracting (though not as bad as the squeaky stepper).

That's funny , I've no idea how many steps I do in a day, but I don't tend to sit down and if I've got GS then I'm running around!
We're quite good at sticking with 2nights off despite loads of wine garage (we bulk buy in France!) and I tend to mix it with soda

Ana apparently all food stuff has to be thrown out in case any has been contaminated by chemicals in the soot and our special brand of 'soot' contains polycarbons from the melted salad spinner. All my electrical items too have been declared Beyond Economic Restoration (BER) - I've a list 2 pages long of these and they include the PC and TVs.

Welcome bug180 hope you stick around and keep posting on this thread [ smile]

Well done Maggie and I had to LOL at the image of your DH throwing 'you're distracting me' looks at you as you gallantly marched around the living room last night.

I do see your point Ana - our new house is 5 minutes walk to the town centre and about the same to a largish Sainsbury's in the other direction and just another 5 minutes from DD's house. It's so much easier to clock up the steps when you're situated like that than being in your situation - though it does seem a bit drastic to move house just to report back success on this thread

I walked into town and back to the Saturday market, ditto to meet doggy groomer off bus and walk her to new house, to Sainsbury's once and to DD's house for fireworks. So that easily clocked up 6,500 steps. But sadly succumbed to glass of mulled wine so now am 4/9 for this months allowance which is Not Good

Hoping all is ok JG?

Good evening all - I hope everyone's keeping well this dismal day?!

I did an hour of yogalates first thing, and managed over 7500 steps early doors by going down to our local Remembrance Service with DH, then having a quick walk before we went home. I had great hopes for the rest of the day, including cutting out those pesky elves , but I'm afraid I've had another lazy one, reading the weekend papers and browsing t'internet. Still, I reached my daily goals without resorting again to ruining DH's evening viewing

I fancy I've whittled half an inch off the waistline, Anya If I have it'll be due to my 3 yogalates sessions, as there are a few moves aimed at that area. If I haven't it'll be because I've breathed in more when I used the tape measure this time. I have to say my waist is about the only part of me that doesn't creak during the exercise sessions! I am now considering looking out the hula hoop I bought (and used three or four times) a couple of years ago - I have fitness accoutrements in my cellar from every short-lived fad known to woman.

Looking forward to the last Downton tonight - I have a nice glass of on order with which to toast the final scenes.

I do wish I could hula hoop properly! I can do it round my arms, my neck, even my ankles - but not my waist which could really do with a bit of trimming and toning .

DD and I took some more accumulated junk to the tip today in the lashing wind and rain and had a good gossip afterwards, so not much accomplished exercise-wise I'm afraid. We did rediscover an old exercise bike in the shed though - might see if it's useable tomorrow!

Yes, Downton and for me tonight as well - why can't it just go on forever, like the Archers...?

It should, Ana, it should .

I can't hula hoop either - I just throw myself around like an eejit while the hoop clatters noisily to the floor (which is why it went in the cellar).

Knee acting up again so only 3,260 so far and not likely to go much higher.

I'm going to give up on limiting as I really can't just at the moment. I'll give it another go when we get our house back but till then I'm admitting defeat

Nice to catch up with everyone, may log in later if I can

Oh dear - I'm behind with everything at the moment

Let's take it one step at a time and it might as well be one step at a time - I haven't made it to 5,000 for any of the last four days! I'm not going to list the reasons suffice it to say I need to get my head back on the right way up!!

Alcohol consumption - though not excessive, I have enjoyed/employed a glass or two of wine each day!

Downton - although I've always wanted to 'get into it' I still have the first box set which is in the DVD cupboard un-opened! Clearly there was no point in even attempting to watch this last series

Welcome Bug - do hang about My next dry month will probably be January when I'm sure I will not be alone ...

Ana Can you really hula hoop around your arms, neck and ankle - do be careful and move all fragile objects and certainly go NOWHERE near your I foolishly challenged the 6-year-old-diva to a hula hoop challenge back in the summer - that was a big mistake!! A bit like Maggie - a lot of clattering and now I've hidden the hoops in the shed I'm sure I used to be able to do it

Maggie good grief when I read your post at first I thought it said 75,000 steps, I was secretly relieved when I saw that it was 7,500 until I then realised that is still 3 times as many as I have managed in the last three days!! I hope the elf project is coming along well - I'm still looking for the little bugger darling - I'll have to have a root round in the garage tomorrow - fingers crossed it's there

Anya What a perfectly horrible time you have been having and still managing your steps but now the knee problem - I know you've got some so how about these lovely to look at while you rest Ooh no, I've never lost a toenail through running - but then again I haven't attempted a half marathon yet - I figure if I don't get there over the next year I'll probably never do it Hope the knee allows a good night's sleep

Tomorrow is another day onwards and upwards and hope I don't succumb to DH's man-flu heavy cold

Sounds very complicated Ana this hula hooping around various body parts, I can (or could) manage round the waist but am lost in awe of neck and ankles especially. I don't think I'll give it a try as I seem to be falling apart as it is.

Had to walk today (6226) to take GS to school and back and then home and had to go into Stratford (nearest Lakeland shop) but I'm suffering with the cursed knee again. Barely managed to haul myself upstairs (25 of them) to bed. So feeling sort of sorry for myself.

Hope you've not caught DH's cold JG ? I believe alcohol is a natural disinfectant so if you just keep sipping you may annihilate any lurking bugs before they get a grip.

Thought Downton was really pushing all the 'willing suspension of disbelief' buttons a bit too hard last night. Guess the Christmas edition will be just as happy-clappy (with the exception of Thomas's suicide attempt ....good of him to keep his clothes on in the bath though!) and there'll be another marriage, or two or even three????

You still around Maggie'? Where is everyone?

I'm here Anya ((waving emoticon)) Sorry to hear that the knee is still playing up - I don't imagine all your stress has helped either I often find that when I'm stressed my 'weaker bits' become more problematic. Hope you are feeling more comfortable soon - more

I'm still avoiding DH's man flu cold but at least it's slowed him down a bit - he never stops usually. We spent a couple of naughty hours late this afternoon sitting chatting over a sausage sandwich and a with some of our favourite music playing in the background - even had a little dance
I started the day with a 40 minute jog on the treadmill so I have managed a total 10,007 steps today - tbf I had a lot of catching up to do
Our planned trip to Oxford for a couple of days has been postponed due to DH coughing and spluttering everywhere but listening to the weather it may not be the best time for sightseeing - maybe he will feel up to a walk tomorrow

Hope all is OK with the rest of you ladies, I'm away to sleep now

Well Anya and jg, you're both going through it with aches and pains and bugs and stress, and Ana is so productive and busy....and yet you're all doing so well, and so much better than me today

I hardly dare admit to only 1062 steps, but I'm afraid that's it It's been a DGS minding day and a horrible rainy one so we were stuck at home, but I could have risen above it and deployed the stepper this evening, couldn't I? Ah well, onwards and upwards - I can only do better tomorrow!

I did enjoy the image of you dancing round with your sausage sandwich, jg

I did say I had a lot of catching up to do Maggie ...
I've just received my Fitbit total steps for last week and it was 19,241 - averages out at less than 3,000 steps a day
Unless I get my bum into gear first thing start early I seem to lose the will
The excellent side effect of the dancing was an increase in steps
Yes, today is a new day, although another wet one here - get stepping ladies - except you Anya - you must rest that knee xxx
...
p.s. Maggie you inspired me to dig out my yoga DVD - as long as I can cope with watching the bloody super fit Linda Barker - I'm hoping to get back into it

Ah, my dvds are by Louise Solomon, super fit but very pleasant and kind, though I think even she would lose patience if she could actually see my performance I did a full 1 hour 15 mins session today and felt ever so virtuous. But whenever I look at the screen the sainted Louise's pose looks very different from mine...and I can't claim to be good at balancing. I always have a chair handy for falling onto or clutching in panic when having to raise one leg in the air

I was hoping to reward myself with a nice scenty bubble bath, but just as it was run two men arrived with ladders to do our annual gutter clean. I blutacked a pillowcase over our bathroom window and jumped in for the fastest dip ever.

I walked to town and back this afternoon, so have managed to get over 10,000 steps on the pedometer. I'm counting those as yesterday's and today's Looking forward to the gin

I've been a complete failure on the steps front and the weather's kept me mostly indoors for the past couple of days.

However, I have a viewing for the house on Thursday morning so will have to get my *rse into gear tomorrow to make sure all is ship-shape (or at least as near as I can get it - wasn't expecting any more interest until the Spring!).

The yoga dvds sound like a good idea - not Linda Barker though!

Will have a google...

I'm a complete failure on the front Ana but managed the steps ar least. You'd be surprised about house buyers. Last house we sold in 2007 we put it on the market in January and it sold straight away. So best of luck with yours.

Don't have any exercise videos any more Maggie though I had a few in my time. Tended to get bored with them after doing the same thing for a while. Sorry to moan about my knee but I don't usually suffer many aches and pains, but it seems time is catching up with me and I don't make a good patient! RICE is the way forward.

JG was it wet where you are? It's been sunny here all day, with a warm wind, quite pleasant. I've got GS1 and GS3 sleeping over for the first time in the new house tonight and my divas (GD1 & GD2) on Friday. Better be an early night as they are both larks.

OK - I vote we ban the 'f' word - 'failure' - perhaps we could replace it with the following ... "I've yet to achieve my full potential ..."
None of us are failing - how can we... because we are still trying - no couch potatoes here and so much energy and enthusiasm to keep on keeping on

So Anya and Ana - it's all about doing your best - isn't that what you tell your lovely GC...?

Maggie - I'm just over my giggling fit and your bluetack effort - good God I hope it worked And as for the mirroring of the yoga experts just take a look at this photo - Yes, I'm the one on the bottom ...!?!?!? Errrmmm ... not that that's my bottom of course in the upper pic ... ooer .. I think I'll give up now... lol Congrats on your steps ((medal emoticon))

Ana - no f-word anymore ... but wishing you fabulous luck with your viewing - we have sold two houses in December - I know - how nuts are we...? Moving in the rain/snow/hail is no fun but you don't notice it because you are so glad to be moving. I agree - I'm beginning to tire of the exquisitely slim and house perfect LB - I just wish these dvd's showed real people to start with and then the results after all the hard work!!! Much more motivational...

Anya again no f-word - you are doing a spectacular job after all you have gone through. And now..... you have GC staying overnight - I commend you!! (bells,whistles,raising a glass) (I do wish gransnet had more relevant emoticons) xxx
It was rainy to start with today but then dried up - glimpses of sunshine and really warm. I eventually got to the treadmill late afternoon and have achieved my steps plus some, so I'm done...

Picked up all four grandchildren after school - they've just left! Will log in later when/if I recover!!

A goodly a lint of steps today 7539 and just one smallish with meal. It helped that I fell asleep about 7.00 and didn't wake up till two hours later DH didn't bother to wake me cos he though I needed the rest ....more like he'd got control of the remote for a change.

I must admit I was a bit worried about using blue tack to screen yourself in the bath Maggie from the workmen, as in my experience it always comes unstuck, I hope you had lots of bubble in the bath just in case

Ana good luck with your viewing tomorrow morning. Have you got anything lined up in case they want to be in by Christmas? I see JG agrees with me that houses do sell in the winter. Are you thinking of moving far or staying somewhere local or in the same area?

Love your photos JG just about sums up what most of us look like holding yoga poses. You inspired me to add the one above, but I feel a bit better now. Hope things are easier at home?

Chemdry sent laundry bill for clothes, shoes, bags, and bedding which is £2000+ for things they reckon can be salvaged. We can let them get on with it OR take that amount and have everything returned so we can sort through it ourselves and see what we can wash/get dry cleaned ourselves.

You've all heard of a bucket list, well I'm thinking of starting a shovel list - things that sat in my wardrobe and I never wore. What would you do?

Will your insurance company pay the £2,000 Anya? I'm afraid I know nothing about such things (thankfully!). Must admit I think I'd be tempted to take the money - can you pick and choose items?

Thank you for your good wishes about my viewing tomorrow, I won't be holding my breath though, having been let down rather badly previously. To be honest, if it sold I'd rent if I couldn't find anywhere permanent, although I have got my eye on somewhere...

Lovely upbeat post from you jg, I hope things are going OK. Maggie, haven't you got a blind in your bathroom...

Oh, I've just seen this Anya on my way to bed... I will get back on here tomorrow - worn out now.....

Steps achieved today - tomorrow is a day with my mum

Oh Anya don't get me on the wardrobe de-cluttering - I am a demon - no mercy at all ... LOL

Night night

I haven't, Ana (got a blind) - just a small window with opaque glass, though I suspect not so opaque from the perspective of a man on a ladder with his face 6 inches away from it! Fortunately my blutack held just for the duration of my unrelaxing bath, which must have been all of 3 minutes.

Ah, wardrobe decluttering, something I could do with. I find it very hard to let go of any of my clothes. When I do force myself to take a couple of items to the charity shop, I can guarantee they will be back in fashion the very next week.

I've just checked the old pedometer and am amazed to see that I managed over 10,000 steps today, just from wandering round town and shopping. The trouble is, the shopping can be expensive, and my wardrobe is already over full...

I hope your mum's well tomorrow, jg, and that your viewing goes well, Ana. And Anya, good luck with that shovel list!

PS Love the photos!