Over the past two days I have walked over 12 miles and I have seen some really beautiful things. On Sunday at Painshill Park I saw the first spring chicks, fluffy balls of yellow and brown - not sure what variety of birds they were, but I think they were some type of geese. I was also very excited to see a beautiful pheasant, I had forgotten just how metalic looking they are. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a photo that does it justice.

Today I went to Wisley Gardens I haven't been there for years and I loved it. My favourite part of my walk was going through the woods, where all of the magnolias and camillias were in bloom. The perfume of the flowers was so wonderful and I could have spent the whole day there. I also really liked the Moore sculpture, which was placed at the top of a small hill and the shape of it suggested an archway inviting all the visitors to walk through it.

I sat for a while on a bench facing the river Wey surrounded by pine trees and listening to the sounds of the water and crickets. I love times like that spent on my own when I can just sit and contemplate my life or just immerse myself in the surroundings.

As I walked around and saw the butterflys dancing in the sunlight and looking at all of the flowers it was good to realise that spring really is here.

My day was just perfect.

See todays photos here: Wisley Gardens

So far I've walked 27.36 miles on my virtual walk between Bath and Reading - I sincerely wish that the actual walking was virtual too lol!

I'm really happy with this week's result. I lost 2.5lbs which takes me down to 14st 13.5lbs - I haven't been less than 15 stone something since 1993! I have only 1/2lb to go until I have lost 2 1/2 stones, which is brilliant. I can also start to plan which bead I am going to get next for my bracelet, although of course I won't buy it until I have actually lost that last bit.

Bring on next week x

On Thursday I got a copy of the book "Smartgirls do dumbells" and a set of 3 different sized dumbells (these ones) - to be honest, I don't like the book that much as I think the photos are not that clear, but I'm LOVING using the dumbells. It makes me feel as though I really am exercising.

I also ordered a treadmill today. I do so much jogging using the wii fit, but it would be good to know how many calories I was using etc. Also, my wii fit isin my bedroom and so it gets a little boring, but if I have the treadmill in the living room I can use it watching tv or with one of the music channels on. I can't wait for it to be delivered. :)

So far I'm at about 15 miles. Not that great, but I will do loads of walking over the next few days, so the miles should soon rack up (hopefully!)

So far today I have managed to walk 4.5 miles (12000+ steps). That's 10% of the journey done. To be truthful I could have walked more today as I had intended to walk home from the station, which is 2.5 miles, but I was bone tired and so instead I did 20 mins of free jogging on the wii fit. I'm feeling really good about the dieting again and hopefully by my birthday on the 4th May I want to be under 14st 7lbs.

I have started a WW board challenge to walk the distance between Bath and Reading (69 miles) over the next 3 to 4 weeks. The challenge started yesterday, although I only started today. So far I have only completed 2.5 miles, but with my Easter break coming up I feel pretty confident that I will be able to reach my goal


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I'm finally back on track with exercise. It's taken a while. I did the
MIkayla Dodds Dvd today followed by 30 minutes on the wii fit and
thouroughly enjoyed it all. I'm feeling confident again.

I have wanted a Pandora bracelet for quite a while. I am not keen on traditional charm bracelets but I wanted something that I could add to each time I lost 7 pounds. I love the idea of being able to add beads which can be made from silver or glass and which can be plain or enamelled. My youngest daughter and eldest son clubbed together to buy me the actual bracelet and then I bought myself an really pretty enamelled bead. I also got some cheaper glass beads and a couple of dangly ones. One is a heart and is really pretty, but a bit big really and the other is an apple, which I thought was quite appropriate for a "dieting bracelet". I will eventually replace the cheap beads with ones I really want, but as the actual Pandora beads start at £20, I think the cheaper ones will do for a few weeks, until I can get the ones I actually want to represent my weight loss.

I'm hoping that when ever I feel tempted to eat something unsuitable I will be reminded of how far I have already come.

I'm really happy that I managed to lose 1.5lbs this week. I've been really dreadful counting points over the past two weeks and I have been very casual about both the diet and the exercise. A couple of days ago I gave myself a real talking to and now feel as though I really am back on track.