Six in Scotland

Six years ago today I left Australia for sunny Scotland!

Leading up to our depature I grumbled, "If one more person tells me how they gained so much weight while living overseas, I will punch them in the face. If I'm to believe what I'm told, it rains pure beer in Edinburgh and the streets are paved with lard."

Well I can now say with certainty that you can lose and gain weight on any side of the world you fancy; lard is not discriminating! I've stacked it on Scotland and taken it back off. I've lost weight in Oz then gained 6 kilos on my three week visit in 2005. You can do it anywhere if you put your mind to it!

For all the horror stories and sterotypes about the Scottish diet and lifestyle, in many ways I'm a healthier person than when I left Oz six years ago. I've not had a car for six years so walking everywhere has boosted my fitness. The weather has made me more adventurous too. I'd never have tried hill walking or canoeing back home since I fry to a crisp at the first hint of sunshine. I used to slather myself with SPF50 just to peg my washing on the line! So I'd never have attempted anything like the Moonwalk marathon walk - I bitched up a storm during the five hour 20-mile training walk on a Scottish spring day so can you imagine the bag of WHINE I would have been in Australia? I'm a wimp with a wan complexion so the Scottish climate suits me well.

The downsides are mostly dietary. I didn't drink tea before I met Gareth. There's nothing wrong with tea in itself - just all the goodies that go with it! Six years ago biscuits (cookies) were barely on my radar but now I know the pleasures of a good custard cream or Digestive and I am in recovery for my HobNob addiction.

I also was not a cheese person back in Oz, then Gareth got me hooked on delicious bitey mature cheddar. I also would have run screaming from a hot bag of shrivelled chips after a boozy night out or the carb-on-carb wickedness of a chip butty but that is normal to me now.

Hmmm. Hopefully the good and bad points balance each other alright :)

Right now I'm at the airport about to fly to the grand kingdom of Australia to visit the family after 3.5 long years away, woohoo! I am determined not to stack on the lard like the last visit. Oh dear. My mantra is: Violent Crumble bars are not a breakfast food! By the way, there's no cut and paste on this weird terminal so I can't link to anything in the entry so sorry it's all linkless and a wee bit random!

Better scoot. Hope to update while in Oz. Take care, dear comrades! Hope you are well!

Comments

[1 · Posted by Shannon · March 28, 2009 at 01:02 PM]

Have a GREAT time!!

[2 · Posted by Lucy · March 28, 2009 at 01:14 PM]

Have a fantastic time! Ahh, hobnobs... as the slogan goes, 'one nibble and you're nobbled' - unfortunately that has always held true in my case...

[3 · Posted by eden · March 28, 2009 at 01:28 PM]

I hope you have a lovely time in Oz. You deserve it.

I know that my own travel has been a mixed bag when it comes to my weight. Sometimes I gained weight while I was gone and other times I lost weight. The latest trip to Denmark in May I lost 10 pounds while I was gone, but I really don't take any credit for it as we were walking everywhere and not in the car as much. I'm sure that helped.

Enjoy your break.

[4 · Posted by PastaQueen · March 28, 2009 at 02:07 PM]

Have a good flight, Shauna! Watch out for those calorie-laden in-flight snacks.

[5 · Posted by Steph1323 · March 28, 2009 at 02:21 PM]

Have a blast while your away Shauna, look forward to hearing about Oz when you start blogging Scots stylie again!

[6 · Posted by Isabelle · March 28, 2009 at 03:02 PM]

Yes indeed, lovely Shauna, have a wonderful time. Your bird post is just fantastic. You write SO WELL. (I like to be original in my comments.) Is it ok if I put it up on the interactive whiteboard to discuss your writing techniques with a class? I do like discussing funny writing from time to time. I'll tell them to buy the book!

[7 · Posted by Shelley B · March 28, 2009 at 03:26 PM]

I love your commentaries on Scotland vs. Oz - you make me want to visit both countries!

Hope you have a wonderful visit back home - can't wait for an update!

[8 · Posted by Karen · March 28, 2009 at 03:54 PM]

Have a wonderful visit with your family!!

[9 · Posted by ali · March 28, 2009 at 06:43 PM]

Have a ball down under!

[10 · Posted by Jill · March 28, 2009 at 06:45 PM]

Safe travels, Dietgirl! You continue to inspire...

[11 · Posted by jkapp · March 28, 2009 at 09:31 PM]

Enjoy your trip back home - days are lovely here in Adelaide - so I hope where ever you are going the weather is kind.

Have fun and I look forward to your next post
Jen

[12 · Posted by Kek · March 28, 2009 at 10:25 PM]

Wait. Violet Crumbles are not a breakfast food? Oh.

You do realise that Easter is a VERY bad time to be trying to avoid too many VCs, Cherry Ripes and so on? I went shopping for discount plant pots yesterday and ended up in a freaking easter egg factory outlet!! Completely surrounded by Cadbury, Red Tulip, Ernest Hillier, Lindt and so on.

Came home with ZERO pots and lots of Easter eggs. *sigh*

[13 · Posted by AmericanLass · March 29, 2009 at 12:55 AM]

Have a great flight, Shauna! Oz is waiting with open arms (just stay away from the Cadbury aisle!)!

[14 · Posted by Tracy · March 29, 2009 at 02:23 AM]

Enjoy your time down under! I'm just back from holidaying in happy old Glasgow and Hamilton, so I'm waiting until tomorrow to see what the damage of fudge, tablet, and morning rolls is!

It was weird: I was walking in Glasgow on Wednesday afternoon, and I swore I saw you walking along the street. I didn't stop the person to ask, however!

Ah well.

[15 · Posted by Nessajane · March 29, 2009 at 06:35 AM]

Welcome back home Shauna. Or should I say, 'gidday'.

I'm in the middle of re-reading your book after one of your other readers posted that she had enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time around. I must say, I am also enjoying it again. It truly is a great read. And very inspirational.

I am up to the point where you become lighter than me. I remember when that REALLY happened. It's still not easy to understand why I am still in the obese range, but I seem to have a better frame of mind this time. I now believe that it's not all about the food. I now have more of an understanding of why I reach for food when life gets tough and I am able to deal with it in a non foody way.

Thanks for the inspiration and enjoy your time with your family. xxx

[16 · Posted by Margaret · March 29, 2009 at 07:12 AM]

Thanks for the reminder that calories are not Northern or Southern Hempishere exempt!!

Enjoy your trip and take care.

M *hugs*

[17 · Posted by Loth · March 29, 2009 at 01:32 PM]

Did you know that HobNobs were originally supposed to be a healthy biscuit? But for the Scottish market they had to add extra sugar and slather them in chocolate or they wouldn't have sold! True story.

[18 · Posted by Victoria · March 29, 2009 at 03:06 PM]

Violent Crumbles sound positively dangerous. Cherry Ripes, on the other hand, surely count as a fruit portion.
Hope you have a fabulous trip!

[19 · Posted by Heather aka SuperRawGirl · March 29, 2009 at 08:23 PM]

Hi Shauna! I just finished reading your book and it is one of the best books I have ever read. It is like reading my own life story in a way. Thanks so much for sharing your life and stories and have a great trip back to Australia, I have yet to travel down under but it is own my list of things to do. Thanks again, SuperRawGirl.

[20 · Posted by psychsarah · March 29, 2009 at 08:23 PM]

When I read this post, all I could think was "There's no place like home, there's no place like home" Hope you have a fantastic trip :)

[21 · Posted by Jac · March 29, 2009 at 10:26 PM]

Having recently read your book and having read your story of traveling to Scotland, it's amazing to realize that you've been there for six years!

I hope you have a wonderful trip home! (I only live a state away, and I gain five pounds every time I go for a visit... it's inevitable!)

[22 · Posted by Sagan · March 30, 2009 at 04:38 AM]

Today I had homemade cheese biscuits with my tea. Tasty! Love walking everywhere, it feels so good and happy.

Have a wonderful trip to Australia and a safe flight.

[23 · Posted by danioz · March 30, 2009 at 05:16 AM]

Welcome home Shauny. I hope the weather gods are good and it seems like its going to be milder with a bit of rain... just like your other home eh!

If you are ever in Sydney town let me know... would love you to meet Fergus.

[24 · Posted by Lisa · March 30, 2009 at 05:57 AM]

Have a wonderful trip & visit with your family! Wish I could go with -- I always LOSE weight when I go on vacation. (After airfare & hotel, who can afford to eat?)

[25 · Posted by Johanna · March 30, 2009 at 07:53 AM]

Enjoy your time back 'home' - it always seems odd to me how desirable junk food becomes when travelling or going home - I used to eat snickers in every country I visited to see if they tasted the same and yet it wasn't everyday food at home!

[26 · Posted by Gemma · March 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM]

Have a great trip Shauna. I always make way too many food based plans for holidays but usually save myself by walking almost non stop as well (though not while eating, or at least not often). Eat a Violet Crumble for me!

[27 · Posted by Berni · March 30, 2009 at 10:49 AM]

Have fun back in the homeland Shauna. May all the Aussie delicacies not tempt you too much :)

[28 · Posted by Laura · March 30, 2009 at 01:53 PM]

Bon voyage!! Hope you have a great time in Oz with the family!!!

[29 · Posted by Marla · March 30, 2009 at 02:20 PM]

Have a wonderful time back home! And give the Mothership a lot of ribbing from us all, the shameless hussy!

[30 · Posted by BeckStein · March 30, 2009 at 03:03 PM]

Have a safe trip and you'll eat loads of yummy fruit back home, that should help :)

[31 · Posted by Alison · March 30, 2009 at 05:17 PM]

Ah...VIOLET crumbles not VIOLENT crumbles...shame I had a wee Harry Hill moment of wondering who would win the fight!!! Safe journey DG xx

[32 · Posted by The Lard Arms · March 30, 2009 at 05:55 PM]

Have an absolutely amazingly fabulous time! Hope the flight was OK - couldn't remember whether you opted for the upgrade!

Happy travelling. xxxxxxxx

[33 · Posted by Lyn · March 30, 2009 at 06:11 PM]

Hope you're having a wonderful time :)

[34 · Posted by Denise · March 30, 2009 at 06:48 PM]

Have a lovely time in the motherland - update with pictures when you can.

[35 · Posted by Margaret · March 30, 2009 at 07:23 PM]

Hi Shauna - I just thought of you because I discovered there is a town in Washington state called Humptulips. For some reason the first thing that came to mind at that revelation was when you said you were so happy to be in Scotland when you first moved there that you could "hump the heather-clad hills in ecstasy." Or something like that. Clearly someone had a similar notion when founding Humptulips.

Still enjoying your blog. Hope your trip home is wonderful!

[36 · Posted by Liz W · March 31, 2009 at 08:21 AM]

You must be there by now Shauna and I hope you're having an excellent time! You could always stuff some Ozzie food in your suitcase so you don't feel to have to make the most of it while you're there!

[37 · Posted by Sweetie Pie · March 31, 2009 at 09:01 PM]

I hope you have an amazing visit and smooth travels.

I'd say you balance things out quite nicely. I dig HobNobs. :-)

[38 · Posted by LBTEPA · March 31, 2009 at 10:56 PM]

I'LL BE THERE TONIGHT!!! YAY!!!! YAY!!

[39 · Posted by Jacki · April 01, 2009 at 05:52 AM]

Have an awesome visit back here in Aus! Sorry we couldn't put on better weather for you, but I'm sure you'll have a great time with family and friends in spite of it!

Jacki

[40 · Posted by Margaret · April 01, 2009 at 05:56 AM]

have a great time in OZ, if you fancy a trip to Christchurch, there'll be a bed for you here!!!

Cheers and happy travels

[41 · Posted by Tara · April 01, 2009 at 10:13 AM]

Hello from a Scottish girl living in Australia :o)

[42 · Posted by Michelle · April 04, 2009 at 05:53 AM]

Hobnobs...yum.

After 6 mo in London, I became addicted to Hobnobs, I brought a suitcase full of them home.

I used to eat them while drinking SlimFast. It didn't work. :)

Enjoy your visit home!

[43 · Posted by kenya · April 20, 2009 at 02:20 AM]

You totally rawk! Thank you for sharing your story and journey; Today I managed to cry and laugh during my read. Enjoy yourself surrounded with fam and friends!