Day 68 - I get quite philosophical tonight............

Its 11.50pm and I've just got in from work. Pretty busy tonight (27 covers), but I'm still not sure if its the 'All you can eat' thats bringing them in or whether its just a coincidence that we have started getting busier since we introduced it.....? I seem to remember having a busy end of May, beginning of June last year...... Time will tell. For the moment I will revel in the fact that it was my idea and I shall take all the credit for it!

So, I had a monthly check up at the quacks this morning and was Rosa Anna pleased with me! Teachers pet methinks. Told me she was amazed at my weight and girth loss and I should keep going. At least thats how I translated the Spanish! Joking aside, she was very pleased with my progress. I have lost 13 cm around my waist and my blood pressure has gone down from 145/90 on April 1st to 130/80 today. My sugar levels are fine (82) whatever that means and she has made an appointment for me to come back in a month. Just checked Google, and 82 for blood sugar is 'normal'! Yipee, I'm normal...., well, sort of!

I feel thinner this week! Last week I felt fat and thought I'd put weight on, but I feel thinner now. I can definately see it in my face, (I'm down to 11 chins now), and my belly is smaller. I hope the scales reflect this on Saturday morning! It is possible that I will not have lost any weight as I am gaining muscle, but I hope to have lost a little. I would be nice for it to be about 6 lbs as I would hit the 17 stone something mark, but I think nearer 2lbs. We shall see!

I havent been eating anything exciting over the last couple of weeks, hence no pictures, but I have been following the remit, so I'm on course. I firmly believe that I have 'changed my eating habits'. I dont do the things I used to do and I eat much differently now to 2 months ago. I eat 'the good stuff' now as a first thought and to be honest, I dont have 'the bad stuff' in the house anyway. I think that confirms my old habits are gone. Its not a case of me going back to bad habits, I just eat differently now. But now has become the norm. Does that make sense? I just read it back and thought 'what'? You get the drift (I hope). There is still a huge way to go with the weight loss and fitness, but I KNOW now that for the first time in my life I am in control of what I eat and food is not in control of me. As I stated initially when I undertook this journey, I have been on most diets and they all work......until you come off them. Therefore that would mean that either a) you would need to stay on the diet for ever or b) you would need to change your eating habits or you simply put the weight back on. The reason that you put the weight back on is because you revert to the habits that made you overweight in the first place. Change the way you eat. Change what you eat and change you life. If I sound like I am lecturing, please remember that I am still about 5 stone overweight, so I have no right to. I am simply trying to get across the mindset I am now in. It is a simple theory, not a gimick or a faddy diet. It has worked for me so far. I have publicly put myself on show and if I fail I will look like a complete plonker, but I can truthfully say that I know I will get where I want now. I am hoing to achieve it by the beginning of April next year, but if it takes a little longer, thaan so be it.

After all that drivel, I will leave you all alone now and watch my recording of Eastenders before hitting the sack. Sleep well all and speak to you tomorrow

Slimbo !

day 67 - A trip to the quack in the morning for an update

Here we are again! Wednesday has come and gone and I'm looking forward to seeing the doctor in the morning for a progress report! Its nice to be weighed every week by Heather at the Beauty Box, but its also nice to get exact weights and measurements done by the quack. She was very happy with me last time I went, and its been about 4 weeks, so she should have nice things to say.....

Work was work! A pretty busy day all round. The workmen have almost finished the noisy part of their duties and the road is nearly done...Yipee! Cant wait to tell you all about the zebra crossing they have put right in front of where we put our chairs and tables that we pay 2,500€ a year for. There also a tree in the way as well. Viva Espana!

Bad news AGAIN on todays house.....far too expensive. We do however have a viewing tomorrow afternoon at 3.15.pm. As always I will keep you informed! It'll probably go wrong though.....

I'm off now. Not much else to tell you so I will furnish you tomorrow with details of my visit to the doctors.

Sleep well, take care and speak soon

Slimbo!

Day 66 - A busy Tuesday at work and a Versace modelling shoot.....

After yesterdays drab and non profitable day, today was a slightly better affair. Steadily busy, (I just typed busty and it made me chuckle), and a decent total at the end of the day. Also, some fairly positive news about a possible new place to live, I think! Just waiting for a lady to get back to us in the next couple of days regarding availability. You must all be thinking 'how hard can it be to find a house for rental?' Trust me, It aint easy here in Calpe. If you want an appartment, they're everywhere, but houses, villas etc, nada!

The work men are slowly getting the roadworks finished OUTSIDE OUR DOOR so in a couple of weeks we should have peace, quiet and posh new road. Until that is, September 15th when they will be digging up all the pavement OUTSIDE OUR DOOR as well! The local town hall think thats the best time to do it. Dickheads...... ITS OUR BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR! Morons........

Until then, we carry on doing our best and see what happens.......

I havent really had my creative cooking head on recently, so dinner tonight was an empty the fridge and use up what you can type affair.... It ended up as some pasta with tomato, spring onion, croutons, Emmenthal cheese, white wine vinegar and a little balsamic. It was ok. Here it is........

I really must start to create a little more, but there's so much going on at the mo that sometimes I just dont get round to it. It sounds a bit like a cop out, but I'm trying to write a book, write a blog, I average about 60-70 hours a week at work, I write recipies for local newspapers and magazines, I do all the advertising and marketing for work, I have a food page on Facebook, I am swimming as often as I can, I have a 5 year old son, I am a fashion model and a high class escort. Well, everything apart from the last two!

I'm off now as I'm needed for a Versace shoot in the morning, so I will bid you farewell and speak to you all again tomorrow!

Nite nite......


Noting else to write about today

day 65 - A pretty quiet Monday, apart from the house falling through!

Monday is here again, and a quiet and dull one really. Not much happened at work, the workmen are still doing their thing and its STUPIDLY hot. That's pretty much it......., apart from some crappy news about the 'new house'.........

Its not the new house any more! Apparently the old lady who owns it has changed her mind and now does not want to let it. C'est la vie, maybe it just wasnt meant to be. So the search continues........

I've had a couple more recipe ideas for the book, so cracking on with that. Not a clue how many recipies to put in etc, but will just suck it and see. I'm going to try and combine a little humour, a few recipes from 'the Journey', some recipes of mine that I have 'invented', some of my favourite things to eat and a few stories from work. I'm hoping that it will all blend nicely together and be intresting reading!!

As there is no much to blog about tonight, I will bore you no more and hopefully have some news for you all tomorrow. Its not easy blogging every day and having to find things to talk about that are even mildly interesting you know!

See you all tomorrow, I'm off for some internet poker.

Hasta luego mis amigos de comida!

Day 64 - Sunday lunch.............

They seem to come around so quickly.................. Another Sunday lunch. It seems like 'only yesterday' that I was telling you all about my slow roasted lamb selling out. Today it was the beef! I have a feeling that it was more to do with the fact that one of the choices on todays menu was an Asian style 'char siu' pork and I think people were put off by it. Here's what it looked like...

If I'm being honest, perhaps it wasn't quite right for a traditional Sunday Lunch, but thats me I'm afraid. I have to try things, I cant just sit back and cook the same stuff over and over again. I have a passion for food, I don't just do it as a job. I have a creative mind when it comes to food and I will never stop trying to achieve someting different. If we all stuck to traditional recipies, the food world would be a very boring place to be. I do think that there is a time and place for traditional, but not the same thing week in week out. Having said all that, I was a little disappointed with the flavour of my pork dish! I felt it should have had a little more honey and a little less soy. These are flavours I know, but I do not use often, so I need to practice a little more! We did receive a really nice comment on our Facebook restaurant page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lauras-at-West-Beach-Calpe/179443228776929) from a lady called Sarah Noakes who wrote 'We came to you today without having booked on the off-chance of getting in - thank you for fitting us in and what a fantastic meal. The pork was absolutely delicious; actually, the whole meal was superb although how we managed to eat our desserts of lemon cheesecake and chocolate brownie I don't know!! Thank you VERY much, really enjoyed it and you are all wonderfully welcoming.' Maybe it wasnt that bad after all!

 It was ridiculously hot in the kitchen today, temperatures reaching 40 degrees, so a very uncomfortably sweaty day. Its only gonna get worse for the next 3 months..... It doesnt help when the gas rings and the ovens are on. All in all though, a very successful lunch (34 covers), with some very satisfied customers. It makes the day a little easier when you get nice comments.

First thing I did when I got home was get my fat arse in the pool, and 2 hours later I was still there. Did plenty of swimming and plenty of nothing! I'm off for a quick dip now as its pretty muggy tonight and it cools me down before bed. I shall bid you all good night and we shall speak again tomorrow

Nite nite

Slimbo!

Day 63 - The 9th weigh in and other stuff!

So, I got on the scales this morning very much thinking that I had not had a good week. I genuinely believed that I had gained weight. Tentatively, I mounted the scales (very poetic, or kinky, which ever way you take it), and heard Heathers words......'You've stayed the same'. My initial feeling was that of relief, but after digesting the information and thinking back to all the 'rabbit food' I had nibbled on last week, I thought to myself  ' does 1 small naughty evening of wine and steak mean that the other 6 days of 'being good' mean nothing?' After feeling sorry for myself,  I then realised that it is quite possible that even if I hadnt had my weak moment, I may not have lost any weight. There are many factors to take in. Could it be that I have gained a little muscle with all the swimming and excercise I have been doing,or could it be just that the body does things that I will never quite fully understand? I'm going for the latter! I am thinking positively that I may have one of those big losses next week. I would love to hit the 17 stone something mark and although I think 5 pouinds is a tall order, you never know!

I've just read that paragraph back to myself and didnt understand it. What chance have you lot got?!!

Moving on to work..........

A pretty standard Saturday morning in the cafe....... Every one piling in at the same time and wanting full English breakfasts. Just when you think you can pop out of the kitchen for a minute and cool down, 2 more come in wanting hot food and it goes on and on until about 1pm and then goes flat. Thats usually the point at which I go upstairs to do some of the prep for Saturday evening and for Sunday Lunch. Today was no different.

Managed to get it done by about  4pm and headed off home to spend a couple of hours by the pool with Harrison until it was time to go back for the evening service. We had a booking for 2 people at 8.30 and by 8pm we were still empty. We finished up with 9, which baring in mind England were playing a friendly and the final of 'The Voice' was on, it could have been worse.

Talking of 'The Voice', I am extremely pleased that Leanne won. I think she has an amazing voice. As soon as Jazz Ellington was out, I wanted her to win. I didnt think she would as I thought the public may go for someone more like Bo, but they didnt select her.....Thats a joke by the way....... Bo select her (selecta). Even at 2.45am I'm cracking jokes! Talking of 2.45am, its time I went to bed as its early start for Sunday lunch in the morning.

So I bid you all good night and I will speak to you all again tomorrow

Sleep well, sweat dreams, oh, and a very big thank you to all you readers out there who got me over the 3000 views today. THANK YOU ;0)

Slimbo xx

day 62 - Weigh in tomorrow....And found a house!

Its Saturday tomorrow and that means a trip to the 'Beauty Box' for this weeks weigh in. Really dont feel confident this week. In fact, I think I may have gained weight. Apart from Tuesday night I have stuck rigidly to my change of habits, but I just feel heavier. I  am usually a good judge as to whether or not I have lost any weight and this week I really do feel heavier. Although disappointed, I would not be surprised if I had gained...... Watch this space! I will infrom c

On to work. A pretty standard Friday, nothing of any interest to talk about really. We managed 30 portions of fish and chips, so a little less than 'normal', but none the less, not bad. The road works are still driving us mad, but there's nothing we can do about them so I'll stop whinging! Home at 11pm tonight as well, so fairly early. Time for a swim and a blog before watching tonights episode of Eastenders!

Any of you following my house hunting saga may be pleased to know that we found somewhere today. Its a perfect size and has the outdoor space and size we wanted, oh, and a pool! Its a 2 double bedroomed 'bungalow' with an ensuite bathroom (with a bath, yipee), a brand new shower room, a large kitchen for a Spanish property with a decent amount of worktop (yipee again) and all the rooms are very large. The living room and both bedrooms have aircon, but I think we will have to sort out some internet etc.....  It has decent outside space for all the little fellas stuff and a pool! Oh and did I mention that there was a pool? ;0)

I'm off for a crispbread for my 'dinner'. Wouldnt want to eat a heavy meal the night before the weigh in now would I?!!

Sweet dreams all. Wish me luck for the weigh in, God knows I need it!

Speak to you all again tomorrow. Nite nite xx