Good Morning!

We're off to visit my grandparents for the day, so not time for a big post. I'll be back with proper content tomorrow.

A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view

I guess pretty much all my readers must know that I've been on a weight loss journey for the past two years. I started in October 2006 weighing 294lb (that's 21 stone). Yes, I was fat, more than that, I was obese. I hated how I was, and I hated who I was. Over the course of the last two years I've lost 90lb and I'm still not done yet. I've come so far, but I know there's further to go.

Anyway, the other day I was thinking about how I'd changed. What's different about the me when I was fat and the me now.

I remember being at school, as a teenager, when all my friends had the 'x fancies y' type conversations. I hardly ever joined in with those because, even if I did have crushes, I didn't feel like I deserved to fancy anyone else. I thought that because I was fat, I didn't have the right to find anyone else attractive, since I certainly wasn't attractive. I guess I didn't really lose out much, not being a part of those sorts of conversations, but at the time it only served to make me feel even more different, and even more unworthy.

Now that I've lost weight it somehow feels that I have the self confidence to believe in myself. I recognise that I am a normal human being, someone who will have crushes, someone who hopefully will find that special someone and fall in love. My ex, the first boyfriend I've ever had, taught me that actually someone else could find me attractive. He also taught me that it's not just about the outside appearances, it's what's inside and the type of person you are that matters too. I guess it's a sort of balance between the inside and the outside. I'm not trying to suggest that a more outwardly attractive person can be be a nasty person on the inside and people will still want to be with them (although I'm sure in some relationships that is the case)

I think the more self confidence I have, the better I feel about myself inside, the more likely I am to behave and act and hold myself in a way that makes me more attractive on the outside. I'm not really sure if I'm making sense. What do you think?

A little blog business

Before I went on holiday I wrote several pretty long meaty posts. Since then the posts have mostly been photos and a few odd comments. I think I want to try to maintain having both.

The longer posts were good therapy for me - blogging is definitely a sort of therapy, I'm sure. They helped me think things through and come to some conclusions, and also your comments provided me with some valuable thoughts and opinions, so thank you.

I also like having somewhere to share photos and anicdotes.

And we've also had One Weigh or Another (weight-loss) stuff posted here. So it's all a bit confusing, I guess. Very very soon I will be launching the new OWOA site, and all that stuff will shift to being over there. Please bear with me as I get used to being home from holiday, and get stuff sorted out on here.

A few highlights from our holiday

(I took over 300 pics, so here are a few plucked at random!)
In the rain...
In the car...It's not raining...!
We saw LOTS of sheep

It's Monday again

So go ahead, and weigh in :)

OWOA-ers

Please check your emails. If you haven't got an email from me, and you're interested in being a part of the new site, please leave me a comment or better still email me at white-elephant AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk and I'll get back to you asap :)

Twisted ankle

I twisted my ankle yesterday. It is turning all sorts of beautiufl colours today.
You can see it here and here (but it is kinda gross)
Or try here for a less gross shot!

Sunday sun shines down on San Fransisco bay

More random pre-holiday pics for your viewing amusement.

Saturday, what a day

Time to start unpacking....!
Relaunch of OWOA will be happening soon. So any last minute thoughts - comment here or email me on white-elephant AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk

hi honey, I'm home

We made it home safely. This weekend is going to be busy, so there are still a few more autoposts set up to appear, since I'm not sure how much I'll properly be around....
Um, I really don't want to gloat, especially since lots of you seem to be finding things really hard at the moment, but I think I've finally managed to get the weight loss going again.
The day we left for our holiday I weighed in at 211.8
I just weighed myself, and I was 205. And that's not at my usual weighing time, so it may be down more than that on Monday. That's an all time low for me, and just what I needed to get my butt kicked back into gear :)

Friday's here again

So how are you feeling?
I'll be here properly soon..., so make sure I have plenty of interesting comments to read when I am :)

I'm just hanging around.

How 'bout you?

Check-in OWOA-ers

How you doing today?
Diet? Exercise? Water? Time spent with God? Hugged someone?

It's Raining, It's Pouring

I'm fed up of rain, and lack of connection with the outside world - there's not even mobile signal in the cottage where we're staying. I'm currently in a public library to post this, but I've gotta go any minute.
Hugs to all.

(actually, it's not raining right now. But it has rained an awful lot and probably will rain some more..)

Hey hey good looking

Watcha got cooking?
What are you eating today? Any exciting recipe you wanna share?
Don't forget to make sure you're getting enough water to drink.

Abby says, why am I a cat? I answer, why not? ;)

It's Monday so weigh-in!

Do what it says on the tin (or rather the title)

I'm a cat

All done!

Hey OWOAers!  DebbieBoo here -- I've hijacked Deb's blog!  But no worries:  she gave me permission.

Just wanted to let you all know that I finished posting recipes to the OWOA Recipes blog.  Most all of the posts give credit to the original posters -- if you come across one of your recipes and it's missing your name just leave a comment and I'll fix it.  I also redirected links -- for example, if one recipe references a previous one, then I changed the link so it's from the new OWOA Recipe site and not the old site.  Only on rare occasions did I also post comments -- it was usually with the posts that asked opinions/advice (for example, "How do I cook peppers?  What should I prepare for a cookout?" etc).

A small handful of recipes disappeared from the original OWOA site.  The title and comments were there but not the body.  The only one I remember from the top of my head is Asparagus & Ham Spears.  (((Does anyone still have that recipe because it sounds yummy!)))  So if you happen to notice one of your recipes missing, feel free to let us know so we can add it in!

Remember to think about Debs' question:  What would you like to see on the new site?  We need your ideas, people!  (Of course I'm not one to talk; I've got nothin.')

Hope everyone has a happy Sunday!  Remember, this is the day that the Lord has made!

Hopefully

I'm off enjoying the sunshine. (Although you never can tell with Wales!)
How about you?

So long and thanks for all the fish

It's been all go around here.
I've spent the entire day working on OWOA archives, and I still only got to February 2007. However, there is a contingency plan, so have no fear. I got friends with the right no-how, and how totally ROCK. And bye friends, I mean one friend in particular who's been doing all sorts of stuff, so once I get home I should be able to recreate OWOA in archive with a little bit of time, or more likely a lot of time. But hey, I'd be bored with nothing to do!

Tomorrow we're off to a second holiday cottage, and this one is on a sheep farm in the middle of no-where and has no internet access. But don't worry, you'll be left with the pre-posts I wrote at midnight before I came on holiday (so apologies if they're a little wild)
Love and hugs to all :)