Neglected to say....

Neglected indeed! .... not done anything noteworthy and we're already half-way through the year. Could be due to finding my level?, the recession? (depression more like!), or things just not changing. Mrs Kate thinks I need a holiday but I just can't bear the thought of having to put up with the selfish folk that we will inevitably have to rub shoulders with.

Ok, try to be positive ....

Discovered a great way to end the week and start the weekend; do a Friday morning at work (had to in this case); then at the stroke of noon, dash home and get changed; do lunch at the Trafford Centre, a little window browsing and shopping; then relocate to Manchester just after 4pm and have a quick happy hour Ice Tea; a little more shopping around the Arndale; retire back in the Village for another happy hour Ice Tea and soak up the atmosphere; have a bite to eat, and return home for about 9pm!

But word of warning about the Charles St car park charges - don't stay beyond midnight on Friday without moving your car; from 4pm to midnight it's £2, go beyond that and it could be a whopping £10 - unless you leave just before midnight, drive around the block and then park back in the car park again just after midnight - in which case it's just another £2 for the next 24 hours 'cos now it's Saturday (and they don't tell you that on the sign!).

Quote of the month

"Excuse me, are you working?" - asked some eastern European guy judging by his accent.....

.... "No, I'm just trying to get a drink from the bar" - I replied.

'Admirers' - you gotta luv 'em!

'That' dress, and a weather forecast

Courtesy of Di - she's the only one who ever has a camera around when you need one!

'That' dress as mentioned in my previous blog entry; and as a result, I've had some rather uplifting comments about parts of my figure too!

Yesterday I had the day off work; I think I'm coming down with a cold or something so needed some TLC (well, I guess that's what happens when you wear skimpy dresses in October). Mrs Kate was having to work which left poor old me having to get my shopping therapy alone - 'one' has to doesn't 'one'?

Ok so not being exactly imaginative I went to the Trafford Centre; and only got sussed a couple of times. Had something to eat in Cafe Rouge.... question: when you order the herb omelete and they ask you 'salad or fries?', why does it still come with both! (I always ask for salad but secretly wish for both).

Then a mooch around the shops looking for a couple of things - new grey pixie boots; and tops - any sort really, but those that will go with the majority of my mini-skirts. Had a guy giving his girlfriend the nudge-nudge, whisper-whisper in my direction... yeah so? (I thought).... but not as nearly as so obvious as some guy in the car-park who turned to his girlfriend to say 'thats a guy that...' just as I was driving past them.... well, I did have the top down on my car and the wind was playing havoc with my hair.... (sigh) you can't win 'em all can you?

Oh and to the weather forecast. Today I had a last opportunity to do a long distance stint on my bicycle before the cold weather sets in. I tried to get as far as the Cat & Fiddle pub (about 25 - 30 miles away - a favorite with bikers) but I got beaten back by the cold and the strong winds; despite loads of support from other cyclists coming down the hill I had to give up with about 2 - 3 miles to go; the pub was in sight but it was just too far and indeed I was starting to get cramp in my legs.... mind you, coming back down the hill to Macclesfield was rather fun; I'm certain I exceeded 40mph in places but the cold had got too the speedometer too, so I don't know what speed I topped out at (my legs couldn't pedal any quicker and overtaking cars stopped passing me).

So what's all that got to do with the long range weather forecast? You might recall my previous post what might happen if ever I exceeded my target of 11 Stone (154 lbs for our colonial cousins); well, as a result of todays trip to Macclesfield and beyond, I weighed in at 152.25 lbs and as a result Mr Devil will very shortly be skating to work; you have been warned, it seems likely hell will be freezing over this Winter.

...And the Universal balance is restored.

Had a brilliant day on friday; went shopping with Mrs Kate to that catherdral of consumerism, the Trafford Centre.

Now all the kids have gone back to school, it's a little more relaxing; I mean, I'll still do the T-Centre during the school holidays when the kids have got nothing better to do but hang around in groups, but you can be more yourself without the hordes of them getting in the way in some of the more girlie shops... actually the worst offenders are the young mums who seem to acquire some sort of affinity with shoes and block any possible entry for the rest of us with a strategically positioned pram or two.

The journey there was even brilliant; it was sunny, not too busy, and some guy even blew us a kiss for letting him out of a side-road into the traffic! We had lunch at a Tapas bar, and then a combination of window shopping and trying on the occassional outfit - one of which we each tried .... but I'm not permitted to speak of what happened as a result of that.... well... not in public anyway; except to say that I now have a new slinky size 12 dress that I can't wait to wear at the next opportunity.

And then finally when it was time to come home, even that journey was relaxed and 'brilliant' ....

....but getting home to find a recorded phone message from your boss telling you that BTW, you're on a course in Birmingham on Monday morning, is not exactly the best way to round the day off nicely.

For every action there's an opposite reaction... and the Universal balance is restored.

Blame it on the Biorhythms

Over the last 12 months or so, I've been plotting my developing 'fitness' - alternatively known as my 'gaining a girly figure' progress.

I've noticed that for a few days each month, there's been some very noticeable progress followed by a fairly level period for the remainder, with regard to losing weight and so on.

In examining this phenomenon closer, I noted that the cycle appears to be as regular as clockwork; every 28 days there's this burst of relative progress. Ok, try as I may but it's not going to be 'that' cycle, but it reminded me of that very 80's thing that the first home computers seemed to all come with, a program to plot your personal Biorhythms.

In examining my 28 day Emotional biorhythm, I found it exactly coincided with these sudden surges in weight and figure measurements.

Now I never really gave biorhythms much factual consideration at the time (they're up there with horoscopes), but apparently there are 2 other cycles to consider too - the 23 day Physical cycle, and the 33 day Intellectual cycle. Combining those together can give rise to other cycle plots for Mastery (Physical + Intellectual), Passion (Physical + Emotional), and Wisdom (Emotional + Intellectual).

If there's any truth in this lot, it looks like I'm in for a few 'blonde' days as Physical and Emotional are relatively high whilst Intellectual is at rock-bottom!

The Devil and Mrs Kate

No, I'm not slighting Mrs Kate in the least, but between her and the that horny Devil, they've been tempting me with all sorts of things to redirect my attentions from attaining a nice girly figure... chocolate, cakes, lunches out; but I think I'm winning..... all but very, very slowly.... I will hit my 11 stone (154 lbs) target before Winter.

I'm not obsessed, I'm just determined... Mr Devil will be skating to work soon (but don't hold your breath!).

Well, it's been a while (again!) since my last post - I note with surprise of how time just flies by; one minute we're enjoying what we could loosly relate to as being Summer, to nights drawing in and a distinct Autumnal feel. It feels as if Autumn is coming earlier; this time last year I started my fitness regime by cycling to work in T-shirts, but this year I'm already wearing a fleece and have been drenched on a number of occassions by heavy rain showers en-route.

Last week I did the usual stress-relief visit to the Village on my own; before I got to my first 'port of call' in Taurus, I was accosted by a gay guy (and his partner) who as it turned out he liked to occassionaly be 'Louise' but he hadn't got the courage to come out in the Village. He was looking for the opportunity of being out with a bunch of us girls to gain some confidence. Now I can't really get my head around this one - unless gay guy being girlie = DQ; do gay guys really 'dress'? - he seemed genuine enough and 'Vicky' his partner subsequently provided supporting testament to this effect that 'he' really, badly needed to get out..... without any prompting.

I'm always cautious about such approaches, since those sort of 'approaches' are usually from admirers or the p-heads... the latter usually being very negative (and I note with dismay that those sort are on the increase in the Village!); but this guy seemed really genuine, and besides... after talking to me they went into Churchills.... not that means much.... but that's where the DQ's can be found on a Wednesday.

After a couple of Drinkies and a portion of chips in Taurus, I thought for a change I would 'do' Churchills.... and I was in time for the DQ trio to do a very good rendition of a few James Bond movie numbers.... they do soooo love to ham it up don't they! Classic DQ stuff. After Churchills it was a little late for Concorde (oh dear..... what shame..... never mind!) so I arrived a little earlier than planned at Naps where I plucked up enough courage to compliment the only girl that was in at the time, a regular who has only just invested in a rather fetching long dark wig to go with her black pvc mini-skirt and top. And I also discovered that myself and this girl have something in common back in what some might refer to as the real world (minor 'eeeek' situation... but confirmed the suspicions I've held for several months).

A little later I was joined by Jane Maybe and friends but rather strangely none of the usual regulars.... only Estelle and eventually Elaine and Mary turned up from Concorde. Unlike the previous week, Naps and the Village as a whole was fairly quiet.

All in all a rather strange but enjoyable evening.... BTW I've got the gay guys mobile number if anyones interested!

The secret (of my success)

It's quite uplifting to hear the gasps from those girls who haven't seen me for a while, whether the gasps are from surprise or jealousy it's all the same to me - but before I get too conceited or big-headed about having obtained such a slim line figure, I must say a big thank you to all you girls out there for such lovely compliments - before and after pictures included here (me in 2008, me in Eden bar last week - picture courtesy of Di).

Spurred on by Claires kind words following our Sparkle Friday outing for Northern Angels I thought I might share my secret with you; Claire was wondering if all I had to eat between the monthly meals was rabbit food?.... well.... the answer is 'no'... but 'yes'... but 'no'.

The secret.... as to put it, is that I've reduced how much I eat and increased the amount of exercise I do.... the latter not being too difficult compared with about 3 years ago when 'exercise' only really consisted of getting off the couch to make a cup of tea. Three years ago I was well and truly in the closet; but it was later in 2007 that changed all that, by coming out to Mrs Kate and eventually 'getting a life' again - being tranny (I really hate that label!) has been the ultimate incentive to losing weight.

So for you girlies out there who want to try my get-your-waistline-back regime out ... firstly, don't expect immediate results, where I am now took me the best part of 12 months.

Food

* A little cereal in the morning - don't bother with the sugar-coated stuff.

* Sugar in Tea and Coffee - as long as you're not doing 2+ teaspoons, shouldn't be a problem!

* Lunch, a bowl of soup and a bread roll - perhaps a cuppa... but this is where it gets tough, you got to stick with this even when it's curry day in the works canteen.

* Evening meal - just have what you normally have but reduce your portion by about half, and try to avoid having any chips!

* Snacks - avoid them or take them at the time of your main meal.

* Never eat after 10pm .... just half joking here, but they say you should never eat late as it never gets properly digested and what does will be absorbed into storage (fat).

Exercise

Just like those government ads, you got to do an hour a day exercise ... and I mean vigorous exercise. In my case I took up cycling to work .... well 'Bob' did, which helps me out no end. Cycling to and from work is just under 30 minutes each way, and for best weight loss results is best done by riding the heaviest bike you can least afford, at the highest speed you can muster. I find cycling with dance music playing on the personal stereo is a big motivator and with all that, I can cover the 7 mile journey in the best time of 22 minutes (had a following wind that day).

Recently I also took up doing a bit of running; it's a 'left over' from all that bit about training for the Manchester 10km run that Diana and I did in May. Each Friday afternoon for the last few weeks, once I've cycled home from work (that's the warmup session) I put on my running shoes and do 10km... on a good day, I can do that in under an hour.

And that's it.... combination of the two and a watchful eye on the calories has got me to where I am today, .... size 12/14 figure (depending which shop we go to) and weight just passing below the last target of 11.5 stone (160.5 lbs) .... which reminds me, I believe I said that a certain gentleman with horns and a pointy fork would be skating to work should I ever reach my desirable weight of 11 stone?; apparently he's having skating lessons at the local ice-rink!