I’ve been missing for a couple of weeks because I’ve been away on holiday. We couldn’t have chosen a better week to relax in the sunshine, with temperatures reaching the high twenties and even nudging into the early thirties.

I spent the week with my 91-year-old mum and my two younger sisters, both in their early sixties, at a lovely place called Hallow, just outside Worcester. We’ve stayed there twice before and always choose the last week in May to coincide with Mum’s birthday. It’s become something of a tradition – a girls-only holiday, leaving the boys to fend for themselves at home!

The accommodation is a single cabin situated in a small orchard on a working farm. The farm itself is about half a mile down the lane, and the cabin has no neighbours, making it wonderfully peaceful and secluded.

In previous years, we’ve explored the surrounding area, visiting gardens, stately homes, picturesque villages, Worcester city centre and the cathedral. This year was rather different. Three of us were mobility-compromised for various reasons. I use a powered wheelchair when I’m out and about because of my disability. Mum, at 91, can only get around using a rollator or wheelchair, and one of my sisters is awaiting knee replacement surgery in the next couple of weeks and is struggling with significant pain when walking.

To be honest, the weather was so hot that none of us really fancied spending time in the car travelling around. Instead, we decided to stay put and simply enjoy the peace and quiet.  My sister had thoughtfully packed a paddling pool, so in the afternoons, we’d sit in the shade and splash our feet in the cool water….

It turned out to be exactly what we all needed.

We slept incredibly well and settled into a gentle daily routine. After breakfast and showers, we’d spend the mornings reading, chatting, or taking short strolls along the nearby lanes. We made a couple of trips to a large Sainsbury’s and to a lovely farm shop a few miles away to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, but otherwise we barely left the orchard.  Mum and my sisters went to watch the sheep shearing, but I stayed behind in the peace and quiet and stayed cool.

Because I can’t easily cook when away from home — my kitchen is specially adapted for me — I prepared and packed a selection of meals before we left. These included ingredients for my sticky chilli beef and mushrooms, a potato-topped fish pie made with smoked haddock, cod and jumbo prawns in a creamy leek sauce, a batch of my carrot salad, and a Middle Eastern-inspired butternut squash and bulgur wheat salad.

I’d also packed ingredients to make pizza one evening and took my bread machine along to make a malted fruit loaf for us to enjoy with cups of tea.

I thought I’d only prepared enough food for the first couple of days, but most of it lasted the entire week! As a result, I found myself eating very similar lunches each day, but I was perfectly happy with that. The food was delicious, nutritious and, most importantly, already planned and prepared.

Of course, there were plenty of temptations around. Iced buns, toasted teacakes, ice cream, double cream, biscuits and chocolate all made appearances during the week. I managed to avoid most of them, although I certainly didn’t feel deprived.

I enjoyed a small portion of cappuccino ice cream and also created a rather lovely dessert consisting of chopped fresh strawberries, crushed corn cakes and Greek yoghurt, topped with a sprinkle of toasted mixed seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup. If that sounds delicious, I can confirm that it absolutely was!

I also took my Mounjaro medication with me and had one injection during the holiday. I’m now down to 2.75mg every five days. My appetite is no longer significantly suppressed, and I’ve become increasingly aware that cravings for sweet foods — particularly in the evenings — are returning.

The difference now is that I recognise what’s happening. Rather than testing myself unnecessarily, I simply avoid temptation wherever possible. I know that once certain foods start creeping back into my routine, they can quickly become habits again.

Awareness, planning and preparation continue to be my most valuable tools.

So, how did my weight fare after a week away?

Well, here’s my report…

The scales showed a gain of 1kg, but honestly, I’m not too concerned about that.

When I look at the bigger picture, it was a week where I was far less active than I am at home, spending long periods sitting and reading rather than following my normal daily routine. I was also eating more than I usually would, simply because food was a bigger part of our holiday experience, and I was surrounded by plenty of tempting treats throughout the week, most of which were successfully swerved.

Given all of that, I actually feel quite positive about the outcome. I enjoyed myself, I relaxed, I had some treats, and I didn’t spend the week feeling deprived. At the same time, I continued to make sensible choices, stuck largely to the meals I had planned and prepared, and remained mindful of my eating.

A 1kg fluctuation after a week away is hardly surprising and is likely to be influenced by many factors, including changes in routine, food choices, hydration levels and the sheer heat of the weather. What matters far more to me is that I came home feeling refreshed, having thoroughly enjoyed the holiday, and confident that I can simply return to my normal routine.

If maintaining my weight long term means occasionally gaining a kilogram after a holiday and then gently bringing things back into balance afterwards, that feels entirely realistic and sustainable to me. That’s real life, after all.

Weight this week: 55.7kg (8st 10lbs)
Two weeks ago: 54.7kg (about 8st 8lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: +1kg (2lbs)
100% – 3 months, 19 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)