Hi there,

Thanks for popping in.

During lockdown, Grace and I started a little Facebook group called The Gray-Scalers. It wasn’t about achieving the perfect figure. It wasn’t about fad diets or impossible targets. It was simply a group of friends gently encouraging one another to make healthier choices, sharing the occasional victory, admitting the occasional wobble, and remembering that it’s always easier when you’re not doing it alone.

Like so many things that began during lockdown, life gradually moved on. The world opened up again, work got busier, routines changed… and somehow The Gray-Scalers quietly slipped into the background.

Well… I think it’s time we brought them back.

Over the past few months, I’ve become very aware that I’ve put on more weight than I’m comfortable carrying. This isn’t really about appearance. It’s about how I feel. My knees complain a little more than they used to. My clothes don’t fit quite as comfortably. I don’t have the same spring in my step. And if I’m honest with myself, it’s not because of medication or illness. It’s simply because I’m eating more than I need to and moving less than I should.

I’m sure many of you know exactly what I mean.

Of course, weight isn’t a simple subject. For many people, it can be affected by illness, disability, hormones or medication, and everyone’s journey is different. This isn’t about judging anybody else’s circumstances. It’s simply me taking responsibility for my own.

So Grace and I have made a little pact. We’re getting back on the scales. Not with dread or guilt. Not to punish ourselves. Just to be honest. We’re not setting impossible targets. We’re not banning chocolate forever. We’re simply choosing to make better decisions today than we did yesterday.

Grace has a lovely turn of phrase. Every now and then she’ll say something like, “Yesterday’s Grace would be really impressed with today’s Grace,” or “Twenty-year-old Grace wouldn’t believe what thirty-six-year-old Grace has achieved.”

I love that idea of looking at yourself today through yesterday’s eyes. Not beating yourself up for how far you’ve still got to go, but taking a moment to appreciate how far you’ve already come.

So back to the plan…One walk instead of another biscuit. One sensible meal instead of a second helping. One glass of water before reaching for the kettle… although I suspect tea will still feature rather heavily! And I draw the line at giving up cake altogether. Life’s about balance, isn’t it?

I’d also love The Gray Scalers Facebook Group to become a place where we share ideas that make life a little easier. Healthy recipes, clever food swaps, lunchtime inspiration, little successes and even the occasional disaster! If something works for you, why not share it?

Yesterday, for example, the grandchildren were coming over. Instead of reaching for the ice cream, I peeled a few bananas, cut them in half, stuck a lollypop stick up ’em (so to speak!), popped them in the freezer, then dipped them in melted chocolate.
What a great alternative to all those brightly coloured ice lollies and ultra-processed treats. They disappeared in no time! Simple, delicious, surprisingly filling and a little kinder to the waistline too. Then we made fruit skewers, and the kids created their own. I just laid out a few bowls of cut strawberries, blueberries, kiwi slices and little marshmallow pieces – and they built their own. It was such fun too. And I’ll tell you what: they ate a LOT more fruit than they would have believed!

I’m sure many of you have your own little tricks and favourite recipes. Let’s share them. We might just inspire one another.

And it all starts tomorrow. If you’d like to join us, we’d love to have you along.

Just click the link here, to find The Gray-Scalers Facebook page. HERE

Whether you’d like to lose a few pounds, a few stone, or simply make healthier choices, you’ll be very welcome.

There’s no pressure. No weighing in publicly unless you want to. No lectures. No judgement. Just friendly encouragement from people who understand that changing habits are much easier when you’re surrounded by kind people cheering you on. That’s what The Gray-Scalers were all about then, and that’s what they’ll be about now. We had over 200 friends in the group, so it’ll be interesting to see how many of us are still trying to squeeze back into those favourite shorts!

I had to laugh this morning, when I picked my affirmation card of the day. In fact, I picked three! From left to right…

I guess that’s the universe telling me to sort it out!

Love and Clarity,

Barb x x x