After writing the blog the other day – I thought to myself I am not going to leave to chance what happens to my weight over the next month while I’m away so I went out and bought some cheap scales and although I felt guilty (like us woman do!) about spending the money on something that I will just leave behind – I have to remind myself I am worth it!

As most of you know I actually weigh everyday now so that I can see if I’m on track as it is getting too close to risk having bad weeks and not finding out until the end.

So although I’m not going to use these scales as my official weigh in and leave that till I get home – I feel much safer now and I must say its only four days but I can tell you the scales have started to move in the right direction and my pants are getting loose. I think it’s a combination of being on holiday and being relaxed and not rushing without all the usual stresses I have with business and all that stuff, being more active and eating the high protein.

I don’t want to get to cocky but I have found my focus again and feel like I can do this. I started to doubt myself over the last few weeks when the scales seem to be stuck and moving like they were on a serious go slow. I began to think I couldn’t lose weight no matter how good I was or how well I stuck to my diet. I know no that Jenny Craig was not good for me (please remember that diets suit some and not others) as when I look at my weight loss graph – the slowest period for me was while on Jenny Craig. Yes it was good to be eating pies and crisps but what was that teaching me (nothing!) plus I wasn’t losing!

I am not going to tell my trainer that i am doing so well as I want to surprise her when I get back with at least 3 kilos to show that I can do this and to show her all her input is not a waste of her time.

I can tell she wants this weight loss for me now as much as I want it. So if you know Tania or are being trained by her and following my column please don’t give it away. I want to shock even myself with what I can do. I have swam for an hour and half! yes an hour an half two days in a row and I am blown away by my ability to swim that long without being tired. I am mixing up my strokes but every second one is a swim. I feel like I did years ago when I use to swim for pleasure. I lost that for a long time and found every length torture. So I think its because i am 16 kilos lighter and fitter than I have been for years.

The hotel we are staying at is lovely and thanks so much to Lisa who arranged the hotel for me. Today though our other friends arrive so we are changing to another hotel. We went past it the other day and its in a crappy part of the city , has no pool, no gym, no nothing! and so I am trying to stay positive and think it will be nice. I am off now to have another hour swim and then a run in the gym to make the most of this hotel while I can

Well guys that was one longggggggggggg waffly post today. Feel free to post a reply as I am getting to get on here every now and then

Take care all and Maureen thanks for your email yesterday – don’t worry that you only found my site now as you still have five months to go to take on your own challenge plus the end of the year is not the end of your weigh loss journey if you need to make your time stretch a little longer – just go for it girl – you deserve it!