nunheadmum

On the issue of how to track, it's got to be as I go for me. Trying to fit around accommodating eating with kids on mixed up routines (and not making it obvious), making stuff that satisfies a stick thin hubby and being at work 3 days and not organised enough to pre-prepare lunch, if I didn't track through the day I'd be soooooo over 26 points a day I'd have to give up! (I'm soooo jealous of breastfeeding mums on 40 points!!!! Although I should remind myself of what all the rest that goes with breastfeeding and kids that age, then I might not be so jealous!!) Have to say though I've gone into my weeklies more these past few weeks. After sticking to 26 and not losing an ounce, I thought, what the heck and it does seem to have worked! I have tried planning meals but somehow what's on the board never ends up the same as what's on the plate!! Still, managed a steady 1lb a week over the past few weeks so one way or another, it's working. And by not planning, it does still feel like I've got my freedom! P.S. Well done to all those notching up the losses. I'm impressed by all the running going on. It's making me feel bad. Tomorrow morning.......

Anyone know where I can get nice stones to use for a golden time / reward scenario? We have odd stone collections but not enough for any prolonged period. Also thought that nice shiny / coloured ones may motivate older one better. I'm trying to encourage longer term good habits rather than just a short-term result so thinking I may need quite a few!

Never heard of any ill effects. And any probably outweighed by the positive effects of reducing workload on parents of having to cook separate meals!! I have to say that bolognese with wine goes down much better in our house than without. I fear they are their mother's daughters!!!!

My eldest certainly did start to drink from a doidy cup long before she got the hang of a sippy cup. She did then manage quite young to drink from a normal cup (me holding it) if she needed to e.g. when out and about and needing a drink of water. But not sure if she'd have learned that just as well from a normal open cup or not.

Thanks for all the suggestions...plenty there to keep us going and good idea to try the library. I'm with bluesuperted on the West Wing....haven't found anything that's managed to match it. But enjoying the search!!

We went up too. Apparently missed the 41 gun salute and Tower Bridge opening. Kids none the wiser though!! Youngest was a little disappointed that there were pirate ships but no pirates and eldest was hoping to see the queen. But a good scoot around City Hall and they were happy. I admire anyone with the staying power to head up during the real celebrations. The telly and some bubbly sounds good to me!

Fuschia - do you do chapter book CD's in one go on longer trips or in bits on shorter ones? I've tried these with my daughter on longer trips but she gets bored. But not sure she'd remember them from one trip to another on shorter trips.

We used to go to the cinema....now we watch DVD box sets! Just getting to the end of Mad Men (series 4...waiting for series 5 to come onto terrestial / DVD) and worrying what to do once it's finished. Any good suggestions of what to try next? (Past views include West Wing, Sopranos, Six Feet Under.....I do the more girlie ones too but need something that Mr NHM will enjoy too.) Even good quirky film recommendations welcome. I appreciate that we're probably way behind the times but several years of broken nights has meant many years of curtailed TV time and feels like we gave up keeping up with Time Out a lifetime ago!!

Why not take him to the library and see what longer books take his fancy - sometimes picking them for themselves can help give an indication as to what they like? But don't worry if maybe he doesn't get into chapter books just yet. My daughter is a good reader (end Year 1) and loves her books being read but we've struggled to get her onto chapter books. Try longer books but don't worry if he still likes the idea of a whole story in one reading. He might like some of the Roald Dahl books (can usually get a good set of 21 on Book People quite cheap if you want to buy) or they also have a good set of early Enid Blyton's just now. But try the library to try some out.....finding the right ones can be an expensive business if you buy!!

Are you giving him a full tea after nursery in the week? I always presumed they got enough and usually didn't give them anything more. Or if I did, it was more a snacky meal like cheesy toast, eggy bread, pasta etc that would fill them up but - on the presumption that nursery usually got more varied goodness into them than I managed - I didn't worry too much about the nutritional issues other than avoiding the obvious no-nos. I found with my second that they got onto normal meals much quicker than first time round as I just didn't have the time to do separate stuff. They soon learned how not to go hungry!

Pebbles - I feel you pain on the wine front!! I realised a couple of months before I started doing WW that alcohol was probably my undoing in trying to lose weight (or stop putting it on, at that point!). I didn't feel like I drank that much but even with eating better the weight still crept on. I found that the best compromise I found was getting really nice wine so I could tell myself that even though I was drinking less, I was enjoying each glass more. (After all, we all drink for the taste, not the effect, don't we??!!;-))

Sorry Molly - not posh enough to know the right word!! :-$

Sainsbury's do one. Icing is 6 inch thick but the kids usually prefer that anyway over the beautifully baked sponge......or maybe that's just mine!

Darn - not the answer I was hoping for! Guess it's better to know though rather than guzzle and find out the hard way!

Not meaning to show my alcoholic tendencies but can anyone clarify for me why a Coors light 330ml has 3 points, a standard pint of lager has 6, while a massive 500ml Cooperative Harvest ale at 4.8% alcohol has only 2?? It just sounds too good to be true!!! I'm presuming it's something to do with how ale is made over lager but don't know enough about brewing to work out if it's true or a points error.

I've got a Hello Kitty silicone ice cube tray, if that helps!

Think the big boats that can't get under Tower Bridge are parking up from Friday so mat be able to see them on Fri/Sat without such a big crowd.

We tried our best not to be pink girly but eldest is very pink girly but youngest is not into it at all - loves Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Lego and her babies. So same influences at home (if anything more pink around the youngest due to elder one) but totally different children. I thnk all you can do is expose them to lots of different things and let them decide for themselves what they like.....and then just give in if they do continually go for the pink option. Just help them to appreciate that pink doesn't have to mean fluffy in all aspects!!

Glad it's not just me doing that! Was convinced someone had pinched ours one day. But, of course, was there all along. Not to mention the number of times I'm convinced someone has made off with our jumper just to find it next day on the floor!

Do Soup Dragon do the soft baby shoes in bigger sizes? Probably not cheap though. Could she get away with a generous sized welly with a soft sock? I know you said no shoes buy maybe a welly wouldn't be as close fitting? I can imagine it must be frustrating.

Excellent - soooo true!! We did the Crafty Cooks classes for a while and it was so much easier doing it where you could walk away and leave the mess.....and not care too much if they ate it or not. Cooking with small kids and my patience don't tend to mix as well as they should!!

What age is baby booters for and is it girl friendly - albeit not a very girly girl? My almost 4 year old used to do LK for a while but we dropped it due to timing issues and the level of repetition. But now she keeps getting her top out and saying she wants to go back. Just wondering if Baby Booters may work better, if it isn't as focused and is drop in rather than signing up.

Beckenham Spa do a lovely little kids gym class on a Monday (and possibly another day too). A bit of a trek but thought it was worth it. Proper kit and teachers but aimed at age 3 and up. (And a younger class too for little ones with parents but never did that one.)

Or maybe ask for a smaller portion? Eating half a plate may not work if you're trying to encourage the kids to eat their food. I'm just quite wary of trying to lose weight while not introducing the idea of 'dieting' to the kids - I've got 2 girls. That's why I chose WW as it seems aimed more at eating healthily than diets that require special meals or cutting out particular food groups. Thankfully too there are some days when we don't eat together so I can let them have the big plates of pasta, the cheesy sauces and big puddings and keep the more slimline options for when we eat together. So far they haven't commented on anything. Have noticed hubby having more meals with the kids these days though!!!

After snapping at my youngest the other week after reading an annoying work email at the dinner table on my day off, I realised how unfair it was and resolved to really be 'off' when not at work. Don't think anyone at work has noticed my new policy.....which is telling in itself!