Yesterday was awful weatherwise, I don't think it stopped raining all day, and the howling galeforce wind was hurling the rain at the windows. Fortunately, today is sunny, bright and dry, with just a bit of a breeze, good washing drying weather, I've got Betty's fleece blankets that we have on the sofa and my bed in the washing machine.
The big happy news from yesterday though is that my sister wants to come down for a week on the 24 March - that's just 4 weeks today! I was thinking she'd probably come in April or May, but I think she's desperate for a holiday - which is absolutely fine by us. She's full time carer for her very disabled husband, so rarely gets much time for herself or days out. Their son and daughter, who both live fairly close, will look after their father whilst sis is down here, and they have lots of supportive friends who will also look in on him.
I think my little tabletop oven is on the way out, it's not getting as hot as it used to. Well, we bought it second hand anyway, it's done well. I use my air fryer, microwave and slow cooker a lot, but am thinking about buying a Ninja multicooker, the Combi 12 in 1 12.5 litre - has anyone got one of these? It seems to do the job of both the mini oven and the slow cooker, as well as being an air fryer. If I do get one, I'll still keep my Lakeland air fryer though, but probably get rid of the slow cooker. I'll have to take one of the things off the Needs/Wants list for this year and put it back to next year, which is no big problem, this is more of a Need than a Want.
I read an article in the paper a couple of days ago about a middle-aged investigative journalist, who went on a radical fasting diet (under medical supervision) and lost 3 stones in 3 weeks. Apparently, he literally ate nothing at all for those 3 weeks, just drinking water and black coffee and having multivitamins and minerals via an IV drip every few days. Well, duh - anyone would lose several stones doing that, it's hardly remarkable. But how dangerous and ridiculous is that? And how many of us have access to a personal diet doctor who will administer vitamins via a drip and do tests and monitor us constantly? And surely once you'd started eating again, you'd put the weight back on - you can hardly go indefinitely without eating. How ridiculous. I'll stick to traditional methods of eating less carby stuff and moving about more, now the warmer weather is coming and we can be more active in the garden and going for walks. As for all the 'celebs' who are taking the Ozempic-type drugs (and thus making it difficult for diabetic patients, who they're actually meant for, to get prescribed them by their GPs as they're in such short supply now) - well, they end up looking like walking skeletons with a covering of very lined wrinkly skin who look like they're about to keel over and die. Just seems like if you have oodles of money and can afford it, then you pay for it and take the easy way out, rather than actually having to work at it yourself. End of soap box rant 😂😂
My daughter in law buys her own Ozempic. She's lost 2 stones so far. She started off at about 17st. She chose this route after trying every diet going and none working due to no willpower. She's a qualified nurse in a management role as director of a private hospital, so hopefully she's aware of the possible side effects. I was tempted to try it myself but my BMI isn't high enough - am 11st 7lb at the moment, which is OK for now.
ReplyDeleteThey do look like walking skeletons with a huge cartoon head, with lips and cheek fillers, false eyelashes and eyebrows which look like caterpillars, the cartoon Jessica Rabbit come to life. I must be getting old with my grey hair and wrinkles, which I much prefer.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh ... that WAS a Monday morning rant!! If I hadn't been sat down I would have taken a step backwards. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree though, with all you say about those that can afford to buying Ozempic-type drugs for weight loss, it really has impacted on the availability of the drug for it's originally intended use. The manufacturers and their shareholders must be laughing all the way to the bank ... as usual.
How lovely to have your sister's visit to look forward to. Hopefully, the weather will be nicer by then and you can enjoy getting out and about, or just sitting in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI agree about that radical diet. How silly. If he was so obese that his life was in imminent danger, fair enough, but otherwise, no! The only sure-fire way to lose weight and keep it off, as far as I can see, is to monitor your diet and stick to it, long term. My husband used the Newcastle diet (Developed by Newcastle University. 800 cals for 12 weeks, then increase the calories, whilst leaving out the "bad" stuff.) The idea is to lose the fat that is around your liver as quickly as possible, as it is that which prevents the liver producing insulin. It worked for him. He's lost 4 stones and more importantly, has kept it off. He's very strict with himself. No bread, rice, pasta, potatoes and no sugar except on the very rare occasion. Simple but not easy as he says! xx
Well said. If people used the opportunity to educate themselves about healthy food that will get them through the rest of their life healthily, then good for them but, from what I have seen, most see it as an excuse to eat UP rubbish, just less of it (for now) because they can't eat so much. And then they are either on it for life or they come off it and regain all that weight
ReplyDeleteIt's a journey and a re-education, not a supersonic flight!
So glad your sister is coming again. Nice for her and for you.
I'm happy with my air fryer, my slow cooker and my Thermomix, but I am wondering about changing my small and basic microwave for one that also serves as a grill and oven - and a fair bit bigger than the one I have now. I'm just thinking it through and doing some research. xx
Great to have the visit in the calendar! With the weight loss thing, I think rapid loss is often a bad idea because (unless you're young) it tends to leave people with wrinkles everywhere! Much better to do it slowly and allow the skin a chance to keep up 😉. I lost a stone by just portion control, which works better for me than cutting out particular foods. It also meant I didn't have to do special meals just for me, and could eat what everyone else was having but just less.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your sister is coming a bit earlier than expected.
ReplyDeleteLosing weight like that usually means that once you stop and begin to eat regularly that weight will come right back. I agree with you, portion control, and more moving is the way to go.
God bless.