WRITING BOOKS CAN MAKE YOU FAT...

It's a fact and one that all writers quickly learn.

In my case it probably had more to do with giving up the day job -- brisk walk there and back -- and the teens growing up and moving on so that I wasn't constantly on my feet chasing around after them. And getting to that age where weight seems to creep up in a stealth attack that you don't notice until you're suddenly wondering who's standing on the scales with you.

But there is apparently a scientific reason -- something to do with the brain getting hungry. You can check out the full story on Tess Gerritsen's blog, here.

I'll be pounding the wii...


AUSTRALIA

You may have heard of the horrendous temperatures and bush fires raging in south-east Australia. Several Harlequin Romance authors live in this area, so please spare a thought for them and their families.

FINALLY



On a more cheerful note, I've just received this review and a very thrilling 4.5 stars, for SECRET BABY, SURPRISE PARENTS from ROMANTIC TIMES.

"Multi-layered characterizations, a potent conflict and some very special twists on reader favorite plot elements make this story a joy from beginning to end."

So all the blood, sweat and tears -- this was not, not, not an easy book -- was, apparently, worth it.

It'll be retail in April, but will be available online in March, in both paper and eBook formats, from millsandboon.co.uk and eHarlequin.com




And finally, finally --

Harlequin Romance is spotlighted at eharlequin.com in February with six Diamond Bride miniseries books and the chance to have your dream proposal appear in an upcoming Harlequin Romance book! Click on the events tabs at Harlequin Celebrates

LIZ'S wii fit DIARY

Week 2

I've now completed 5 1/2 hrs of exercise and the great news is that I'm still finding it fun. The weight fluctuated a bit, on a bit, off a bit -- but that's normal over a week. I wouldn't normally recommend weighing more than once a week, but the wii does it every morning and it certainly makes me think twice before indulging in the Saturday night curry.

I did hit my weight loss target for the month in two weeks, but then today I was up again a bit. I expected it and I'm not daunted. The thing is that the jeans have some slack around the waist and a pair of trousers I'd stopped wearing because they were a bit tight around the backside are now back in service. And the dh says I'm looking terrific (that's got to be good!)

The bad news -- and you knew there was going to be bad news, didn't you? -- is that I pulled a muscle under my right shoulder blade. Ouch, ouch, ouch -- I staggered off the wii to have that damned woman yelling me to get back on... Like that was going to happen.

Anyway, I had to put all muscle exercise and yoga on the back burner and instead just keep on with the aerobic stuff. I miss the boxing, though! And I seem to have completely lost it on the ski slope.

So I've lost 5lbs, my legs feel much stronger, the jeans fit and the muscle is easier. Bring it on...

LIZ’S wii fit DIARY

I won’t bore you with my daily workout, but I promised a weekly update and this is how thing stand at the end of week 1.
Total exercise time for week: 170 minutes Total weight loss for week (despite a slight blip on Day 4 when I went up a llb): 4lb Balance: I lean slightly to the right and I wobble a bit.

I’m not just exercising but watching what I eat and I have been pretty good this week. Perhaps a little too much bread, way too many meatballs and I admit that the cod roe was probably a mistake (blame the dh for that one).

I am also having some evening play, although I need some way to balance the right arm work – I love the tennis, but my left arm is beginning to be noticeably saggier than my right. I’m hoping the boxing will help.

Overall: I’m feeling much more energised – I had begun to make a couch potato look active.
Next target: To get the dh to step up and join in.

LIZ'S wii fit DIARY…

I’ve been having fun with wii sport for a week. First I built a mii. I like her. She is small, a bit tubby, wears glasses and has grey hair and has a jolly yellow t-shirt. Mii…

Over the week I’ve brought my age down from 80, via a dip to 40 (when I didn’t have any baseball or bowling), to settle at around 53, which is shy enough of my true age to make me feel slightly smug. The tennis has improved hugely and I can now, occasionally, hit the ball in baseball. I even managed a fair result in bowling. It’s fun. I’m enjoying it.

But now I’ve moved on the serious business of stepping up onto the wii fit that arrived this weekend.

Day 1

It had me put in my year of birth and height and then it weighed me, measured my bmi (ouch) and then put me through some assessments, showing me where my centre of balance was – not bad actually. At least when I stand still. When I moved things went totally to pot. (Do I trip over things? it asked me. Er, yes…) We -- and his is very much an interactive system and the guy inside the television is really sweet and encouraging -- settled on a plan for me to lose 5lbs in a month. Then we started on the serious stuff..

Oh, dear. The old eye/feet co-ordination is not what it should be. It doesn’t help that I have trouble distinguishing between left and right when doing yoga stuff, or stepping.

The wii is comforting, though. It helpfully suggested I follow the feet of the guys on the screen when stepping. It also noticed that my left leg wobbled when I stood on it without the support of the right and told me that it will help me build my strength so that I can support my upper body weight. It did not say that it would help if my upper body weight was reduced substantially. I appreciated that.

I'll keep you posted...