I'm Still Here!

It's been a long time since I posted!

I went on my holiday the end of January to visit my family in America. It was only a week and wasn't long enough! We're planning to go back at Christmas so that is something to look forward to!

Here in the UK, there is a diet programme called Lighter Life. I started that on the 11th of February.  Last week, I lost 11.6 pounds! So, I am well pleased with that!

This week is half term for the kids so I have no reason to leave the house. I'm going to try to get out a couple of days, though, for exercise.

Now, off to start Week 2 of the programme!

Peace  and  

To Binge or Not to Binge...

I have a long history of binge eating. Today was really tough. My husband (hereafter referred to as L) is working nights this week which leaves me alone with the girls in the evenings. I'm okay bingeing in front of them but not in front of L. Not sure why that is, but I'm sure it's not setting a good example for them. So, I knew he'd be going to work and I kept thinking about what food I could eat...like we could order a pizza. I didn't order the pizza, though.

I had rainbow trout, rice, and steamed spinach and carrots....but I definitely ate more than I should have, AND I picked at the girls' leftovers as well. I'm feeling pretty bad about it but it could have been SO much worse!

It's going to be a REALLY TOUGH week for me. Ugh!

Peace  and 

Day out at the Cinema

I took D2 and D3 on the train to Canterbury today to see the film they've been wanting to see for ages... ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS! I remember watching them when I was little. The girls have no idea really about any of the old Alvin cartoons but loved the commercials for it, so off we went.

The hardest part of the day was going to the movies and NOT EATING POPCORN! It was really tough but I did it! The girls both had a kid pack (popcorn, sweets and drink) and I had a little baggie of apple slices and grapes...oh, and water. Afterwards, we went to the park for a while.

Oh, and the movie was ok. Not Oscar worthy, of course, but cute for the kids. Not sure about Jason Lee's acting, though.

Peace  and 

A few words on exercise...

Thought I'd write a few words about exercise as well today. At the moment, I'm in really bad shape! I don't really have a routine yet.

My plan is to walk (instead of taking transportation) the girls to school and back as much as possible. If it's raining hard or someone is sick, then we may not walk. The walk to the girls' school is around 20 to 30 minutes each way, depending on how fast you're walking. When you think I'll be doing that 4 times each day (walk them to school, walk back home, walk back to school to pick them up, walk back home), then that is a pretty good workout in itself.

Like I mentioned before, I'm going on a trip in a few weeks time. Once I get back, I'm going to join the gym. Then I'll be doing the daily walk to school and back and also working out at the gym and taking a few classes there as well. That should be more than enough exercise...for me at least!

Today, I only walked to picked the girls up from school but it's a start.

Tomorrow, we probably won't even leave the house! Thinking I may take the girls into Canterbury to see a movie, though. They're wanting to see Alvin and the Chipmunks!

Peace  and  

Day Four Part Two!

I wrote one big post but it wouldn't let me post it all at once...so...here's Part Two.

I'm going to visit my parents and oldest daughter (hereafter referred to as D1) in Kentucky in a few weeks! Hooray! The trick will be to try not to gain weight that week! I will allow myself to have a few things I've been missing but, to be honest, I've been living in England for so long now that I really don't miss much anymore. At the moment, writing this, I can't think of anything...hmmm...will have to post later if something comes to mind.

My youngest two daughters (hereafter referred to as D2 and D3) were back to school yesterday. They are 6 year old identical twins and are in separate Year 1 classes. Here they are in their Christmas nativity play. D3 was a brown cow and D2 was a musician...

They crack me up on a daily basis! We moved overseas when they were only 20 months old so they pretty much have British accents. However, D2 has lately had a bit of a US southern twang coming out of her mouth. I have no idea where she is getting it from, maybe cartoons? It’s really bizarre!

I have a Floridian accent with a bit of US southern (from living in Kentucky) and a bit of British. A friend of mine in Kentucky over the summer said I sound like Madonna now, whatever that means. It’s a bit like… people here know I’m not from here (but ask if I’m Irish or Australian mostly!) and people in the US are starting to think I’m not from there. I think it’s down to me mainly using British terminology. I’ve lived here so long now that I sometimes forget the American words for things. A while back, I couldn’t for the life of me remember the word “popsicle.” Here it’s called an “ice lolly.”

Anywho, my short term goal is to lose as much weight as I can before my trip so I can fit comfortably in an aeroplane seatbelt. I have really gotten to where I hate flying, but I think it’s mainly because I’m so uncomfortable, probably due to my weight (I wish I could afford First Class!). That, and it’s a really long flight! I’m flying US Air this time and their seatbelts usually just fit. When I fly Delta, I usually have to ask for an extender (which is SO embarrassing). So, yeah, that’s the short term goal and I leave 3 weeks tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Peace  and 

Lost weight and it's only Day Four!

I weighed myself this morning to see if there was any progress and YAY! I lost 5 pounds! A small step, but A step, nonetheless.

At the moment, to jumpstart my weight loss, I'm doing Slim Fast. I'm drinking one for breakfast, eating a piece of fruit for a snack mid-morning, drinking another one for lunch, eating a yogurt for a snack mid-afternoon, and then eating a "sensible" dinner, usually followed by some fruit for dessert (if I want anything else...last night it was a quarter of a watermelon).

To get off on a tangent...the watermelons here are really small. Here's a picture...

Where I come from, watermelons are huge. Like this...

So, if I say I've had a quarter of a watermelon, I mean a quarter of a small melon.

Okay, back from my tangent. The Slim Fast diet is really temporary. It's possible I may do it for a month, maybe two?!

More later...

PEACE  and 

Introduction...

Hello to anyone reading this!

My name is Casey.

I'm 34, married, and have 3 daughters and a cat.

I'm an American expat living in England. I received my British citizenship last year so that makes me a dual national. 

I grew up in Central Florida and lived in Central Kentucky before moving to England.

I need to lose A LOT of weight and so I'm starting over (AGAIN) on a course of healthy living.

New year, new me...I hope!