2015 - More of the same please

At this time of year, it is impossible to look forward to the new year without looking backing at the old one and musing. For me, it has been a good twelve months, with many things having occurred that I would never have believed could happen. So what are these things and why do I feel so surprised?

A Happier & Healthier Maria

Well, almost three years have passed since the operation on my nose and I still feel amazed and grateful at the improvement to my health. I appreciate that I'm still going to have problems - chronic fatigue doesn't fade away. But the things I can do now that I found hard or even impossible for many years! All I can say is more of the same please.

In 2013, I made the decision (at last) to lose some weight, having come off the steroids after polymyalgia rheumatica. To date I have lost a stone and feel so much better for it. For this coming year - more of the same please.

Our Holiday Cabin

In 2013, Alan, Jessie and I went on a holiday, the first we have had with our dog and the first two week spell that we have had in years. One week of this was spent in a log cabin and was the greatest fun. For more about that read my holiday blog posts. The other days were spent under canvas and were also hugely enjoyable and a great learning experience. More of the same, please.

We also took the opportunity, as we had the tent, to visit villages in the north of East Sussex (the county where we live). We experienced beautiful countryside, lovely people and huge laughs along the way. I didn't think I would take to camping in the way I have done and am so looking forward to the different places we intend to go to this year, when the weather warms up a little. So, yet again, more of the same please.

Husband & Jessie

Finally, I am so lucky to have a wonderful and patient husband and a lovely dog, who have been my companions on most of my adventures over the past twelve months and, for this coming year, more of the same please!

Weighty Thoughts

Over the past few years, because I have not been in good health and at one point was prescribed steroids for a long period of time, my weight has steadily been increasing. I knew this because the clothes I had no longer fitted as well, if at all. I had read that one of the side effects of steroids was that they stored fat in the abdominal part of the body. This meant that my waist was non-existent and I become in shape much like a cylinder with a bulge in the centre.

My mind has a habit of ignoring the obvious. I had assumed that on my return to better health and having come off the steroids, that my weight would just fall without me doing anything. How wrong I was.

It was only when my dear husband rested his hand on my stomach, in that way that a husband does to  his pregnant wife that I realised that things would have to change. I felt uncomfortable; everything felt tight and I wasn't happy with myself. But, what to do?

The day after that incident, we had my stepson and his wife over. Charlotte had lost a lot of weight recently and looked exceptional. During our conversation, I asked her how she did it. She told me that she had followed a slimming programme with Weightwatchers. So, with much scepticism, I joined up for three months. The said feeling of scepticism wasn't against the company, but me. I love my food. My idea of heaven is a large slice of coffee and walnut sponge or any fruit crumble and ice cream or both, if possible. But something had to change.

I joined Weightwatchers on a special 3 month offer. Looking at the different plans, I came to the conclusion I could do this. And so it started.

Myself before the Diet!

At first the weight came off relatively slowly. I would get a three pound drop one week, then a week or two with nothing to speak of. The worst bit was when I went five weeks at the same weight. But gradually the weight has fallen. To date, I have lost eleven pounds and have dropped a dress size. And, I can hear you ask, has it made a difference?

I can truly say that it has. Camping was a bit of an ordeal, with the bending and stretching involved, I would end up with acid indigestion. Just recently we went camping and I had no problems at all. Another good thing is that I've lost a few centimetres around my waist. My stomach is no longer prominent and I have had to put a new hole in my belt. This means that I can wear dresses and skirts without feeling self conscious. Finally, because I'm doing more exercise, I have this feeling of well being and enjoying life, which has to be a good thing.

Now I look forward to further weight loss and reaching my goal weight. I can see it ahead now and am patiently working my way towards it. It is funny how something I thought would be really difficult has become a way of life now. Long may it last.