A slight misjudgement of calories...

I am in the middle of festive feasting time - and packing plenty of it in.  Expansion has definitely taken place sadly.  This was not really the plan as you might have guessed.

I'm not saying I wasn't planning to enjoy Christmas eating and drinking, rather that I expected it to be a time of treats, mixed in with healthy food and seasonal exercises - dancing to my Christmas spotify list, cycling along the seafront on crisp, bright mornings or even swimming a few lengths at the pool in my new, more streamlined swimsuit.

However, that more streamlined swimsuit is still packed away - unworn, together with my favourite little black dress.  This is because the month leading up to Christmas was filled with too much work, fatigue, shopping, colds and general stress - and very little exercise.  I could almost see myself ballooning and by the time Christmas Eve arrived I knew that I was gaining rather than losing the pounds.

Strangely, despite the Christmas fare  bulging out of cupboards and fridges all around the house I was confident I wouldn't overdo it.  After all, I had bought loads of fruit and veg and some yummy low calorie puddings.  I'm not one for sweet things like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding - I prefer jelly for desert - so chances of overdosing on calories seemed less likely.  I'd even bought an alternative to the oh so filling Christmas pudding - but that's where the trouble started...

I collected a beautiful raspberry panacotta for 10 from M & S on Christmas Eve, planning, of course, to share it with my family.  But so far no one else has tucked in.  I have to say it has come as a huge shock to discover that each portion of this delicious pud contains  over 1400 calories.  That's a day's allowance on a diet...  How can this be with a desert that with fruit and jelly?  I guess I just ignored that rather nice creamy base. 

Still, I suspect that if I do get through this whole panacotta without help from family or friends I may find I no longer crave it... well, maybe!

The plan still goes like this...

The plan still goes like this ... a year on.
I hadn't realised how much I owe to Pretty Woman... or how much that 50 Shades of Grey owes to the film either.  I watched it last night and it still hits the spot.   
Day - Thursday, in December
Time - 11 am
Place - Brighton, London, Paris... who knows? Somewhere with lots of beautiful shops full of gorgeous clothes.

I walk in and the sales assistants, who have been looking bored as they tootle around the store, gasp with astonishment. They all look towards the store's manageress who regains her composure, puts on a big smile and walks towards me.

"Madam - can we help you?"
I smile nonchanantly, ( I need to practise this in the mirror) and gaze around at the rich array of designer dresses dripping off the hangers. "Perhaps, yes I think you probably can."

There is an audible buzz of excitement now in the shop.
"I need a whole new wardrobe - and rather quickly actually", I add. "I have such a busy schedule these next few weeks; you know parties, balls, school productions, skiing trips, a weekend in the Cotswolds and a few nights in Istanbul. Plus I have to fit in a bit of location managing too. Colin and Pierce have asked me to find a few beautiful secluded bays in the mediterranean. Such a bore I know, but I did promise I'd do it."

The manageress smiles and nods incessantly, whilst around her the staff run for the hangers eager to help. "Would you like one of our girls to model some outfits for you?" she asks. "I guess you're about a size 8."

I smile and thank her, then slump into an arm chair, with a glass of bubbly, as the dresses start to parade themselves before me.  An hour later, I'm out of the shop, laden with designer carrier bags, l and heading for lunch; somewhere nice of course...

BUT this plan has a flaw - just one!  I am having trouble getting to that size 8 bit.  My dream is having hiccups and I need to get it back on track.

It's the tea time treats that do the damage for me I think.  I watch what I eat quite carefully in the day - and in the evening too, but I need to arm my kitchen with self locking machines to stop me nibbling late afternoon.  And maybe add in a little zumba then too.

Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan like me the way I am, of course, but I really don't want to let myself down.  A girl has dreams you know...
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