Год второй: в пути / The second year: On the road

Итак, первый год позади. В этой дуэли победила я. Но это лучшая мотивация для моей шведской подруги, чтобы двигаться дальше. Мы придумали, как будем развивать нашу дуэль в следующем году. Этот новый год начнется 1 мая.Девиз этого года – 1 месяц / 1 килограмм. Мы будем стараться скинуть больше килограмма, но 1 кг – это норма, минимум. Кто больше сбросит, тот получает денежный бонус за рекламу. Теперь после года постоянных публикаций платформа блоггер предложила нам зарабатывать на рекламе. Так у нас появился призовой фонд.Каждый месяц мы будем делать традиционные замеры, по крайней мере, я обещаю это делать. И буду публиковать все цифры. Кстати, после визита в Швецию я поправилась на 2 кг. Теперь мой вес составляет 98 кг. Я снова приближаюсь к опасной черте – 100 кг. Но я знала, когда ела все эти вкусные сыры в Швеции, что они осядут ко мне жиром на попе. В стране, где хороший сыр под запретом,  позволительно переесть его за границей. Впереди большая работа. И я ее не боюсь. В перерывах между замерами мы будем стараться публиковать заметки о своей голодной или полуголодной жизни или счастливые репортажи со спортзалов и рынков.Мы всегда в пути. И это в нашем проекте самое лучшее. Никогда не останавливаться. Даже если обожрался и потолстел. Всегда есть шанс остановиться, подумать над своим поведением. И пойти дальше.So, the first year is over. I am the winner of 2015-2016 seasons. But this is the best motivation for my Swedish friend to move on. She is the next one.We figured out how we develop our duel next year. This new year will begin May 1st.The motto of this year - 1 month / 1 kg. We will try to throw more than a kilogram, but 1 kg - this is the norm, at least. Who will throw more, gets a cash bonus for advertising. Now, after a year of regular publication the blogger.com suggested that we make on advertising. So we have a prize foundation.Each month we will be making the traditional measurements, at least, I promise to do it. And I will publish all the figures. By the way, after a visit to Sweden I have got 2 kg. Now my weight is 98 kg. I once again approaching a dangerous point - 100 kg. But I knew when I was eating all these delicious cheeses in Sweden, they will settle on me fat ass. In a country where a good cheese is banned, it is permissible to overeat abroad. Big job is ahead. I'm not afraid of it. In between of measurements, we will try to publish articles about  our starvation or semi-starvation of life or happy stories with gyms and markets.We are always on the way.  And it's the best side of our project. We never stop. Even if glut and stouter. There is always a chance to stop and think about bad behavior. And go on.

Monthly weight loss goal times 2 reached in 6 days!

Last Friday Natasha and I decided to have a goal: one kilo in one month.
Since Saturday I have lost 2.2 kilos!
Everyday you have hundred of choices to make.
At the coffee break at work you can take the French chocolate cake or go for the fruit salad.
I made the salad as an alternative and am now rewarded.
I add some rules to our "one kilo goal". When reached, you have to lose the next kilo within 30 days.

Sometimes it snows in April...

The winter of northern Sweden is very long.

Sometimes it snows in April as my favorite artist Prince wrote. RIP.

It can even snow in June.

Midsummer Night a few years ago it was 4 C in the night.

Our summer is short and unpredictable.

You better book a journey to the south of Europe to ensure to get some sun.

I have 42 days of vacation this year.

I'll have some weeks in June, I hope and the rest in August/September.

Do you have some suggestions  where i should spend my days off?

Reset and restart

I have this huge urge of throwing things out of my house. Not a everyday feeling for me. I rather save the stuff "for later". "In case..."
It might come together with the "reset and restart" Natasha and I agreed about Friday.
The ButterflyBattle begins, year 2. I'm eager to release the load, the extra kilos, get space in my house and a free mind. Freedom!

For everyone who knows me, there are no news shrimps are my number one food. I also love soups.

 It requires a lot of planning staying on the right track to weight loss. You always have to have something at home to eat, healthy and tasty, not to fall back into old bad, habits.
The sugar in my cupboards go in the trash now. I don't add sugar to any food since the first of January 2014. This mean I don't bake. No need for flour sugar in my cupboards.
Pancakes and waffles are the only allowed treats in the contract signed with my oldest son.
Natasha is now on her way back to Petrozavodsk, a 15 hour bus ride. She will blog again when she's back in Russia.

All time high!

Natasha 

I am so grateful having such a wonderful friend as Natasha. Yesterdays meeting has inspired me again as so many other times during this year. It's great to have support. My swedish sister Christina wrote this comment the other day here on the ButterflyBattleBlog: You are like two angels giving each other the wind under your vings! We will continue to fly high for another year. 
Yesterdays post was all time high of readers. How great you all show interest  in our battle against over weight.
I got a lovely gift from Natasha yesterday: rubber bands. She also instructed me how to use them. Very effective. I am sure she will publish the video from the out door session when she is back home in Petrozavodsk, Russia.
I am having the weekend off in Luleå, thinking of the next steps, food adjustment, how to exercise, meditate, keep the mind of the goal decided by us yesterday:at least one kilo a month.
I can assure the rubber bands was very effective... I can hardly move due to a strain in the back... In some positions it feel like some one stubbing me with a knife. What a start!

Natasha shows me how to use the rubber bands!

And the winner is...

... Natasha!

She looks absolutely fabulous after her 14 kilo weight loss in the ButterflyBattle!
Congratulation Natasha and Russia!

But it's not over yet!
During today's meeting in Haparanda/Torneå, northern Sweden/Finland we have decided to keep on with the struggle against  our over weight together
We take small steps and put a goal: minimum of one kilo a month.
Next time we hopefully meet is in May 2017 in Karelia, Russia.
This year we only had some hours together in spite of wonderful Pia's effort for me to get a seat at the Barents Press meeting.
Please follow the ButterflyBattle here on our blog! We are so grateful for all our readers from all over the world.

Lot's of nice pictures from today will come up the next days.

Here is Natasha with her award, a picture from the new photo collection by IKEA. The motive will motivate further weight loss!

Today is the day...Welcome to Sweden Natasha!

Finally it's the 21st of April! The long awaited ButterflyBattle reunion.
What a anti climax there was no room for me at the annual Barents Press Conference. This is the 333 post we have been publishing on our Swedish-Russian blog. Many of my  Swedish friends have mentioned how nice it has been peeking into Russian every day life. I agree. I have learned a lot from this Barents friendship project.
Natasha is now on her way by bus to Sweden
 The location was changed from Luleå to Haparanda, by the boarder of Finland.
As I can't miss out on my partner in crime, my russian sister, in this weight loss fight, I will get into my car and drive the 130 km for us to meet one of these days.

I have had little time and power to write this blog lately. I have not reached my goal yet.
I am sure a tactic talk with Natasha from Petrozavodsk will boost my fighting spirit!
Watch out!