Happy Monday, no line drawing needed here! On it, ain't I!

Monday 31st August 2020
Don't stress, do your best, forget the rest. 

Another day in control of my eating, enjoying what I did eat thoroughly, I started my day with this plate of tasty, so simple, you just need a decent frying pan!  I did use a little oil, I've refilled my Spray light bottle with proper oil and it mists the pan with a lot less 'proper' oil rather than one that's got all these ingredients in (Sunflower Oil (51%), Water, Alcohol, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavouring, Thickener: Xanthan Gum) anyway, I had 2 egg wraps, which are just one egg omelettes rolled up, I put a little Arla protein cheese in the second one.

5SP 1SP 1SP

My second meal was this plate of goodness, I didn't plan too but ended up cutting the fat off the pork and giving it the dog, so this took the chop from 12 to about 8SP, for me yesterday that fat didn't taste good and certainly wasn't worth 4SP.  The swede was delicious, microwaved whole and the the middle scooped out, I will definitely be replacing potato with this again.  It cost me 14SP total and that included a slice of bread and spread to mop the gravy up that was left in the pan, that's one of my favourite parts of a roast dinner. 

I'm really enjoying my food right now, paying attention to what I'm eating, I sat up a table in the kitchen to eat both of these yesterday, not looking at my phone or being distracted by the television and it makes a difference for sure.  I'm trying to listen to my body and whether I'm hungry which is why I didn't have a third meal, I did have a cracker with a bit of guacamole on later and that was lush too. 

Mom's been up a long time, but she's sleeping in her chair, I've done my yoga, I'm hoping Alfie is up for walking like he was yesterday, we did just over an hour at 11am and he covered just over 2 mile, I was really impressed, and I know the time because I suddenly realised I had a delivery coming between 12 and 1 and we were what felt like miles away at ten to, we made it though and Alfie walked so fast bless him. 

Bank Holiday Monday is just like every other Monday of the year in this house, I'm going to get ready for my working week ahead and hope to cook a recipe, two of the recipes I had planned with white fish will need to change, as they sent me smoked fish as a substitute DOH, but I might have some frozen I can use. 

Here's to another great week ahead, September starts tomorrow and I've made the most of the last two weeks of August and plan to do a full month, I feel like I can, fake it till you make it I say! 

Enjoy your day x

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

Love a slow Sunday

Sunday 30th August 2020
What matters most is you like who you are!

Another day in the bag, 

Had me two scrambled eggs for breakfast on a bed of spinach,  2SP 0SP 0SP

Then later for lunch in enjoyed a curry goat out the freezer and I couldn't be bothered to rice my cauliflower so I roasted it with 10g parmesan cheese and I enjoyed it more, I think because it involved more chewing which helped my brain to realise it was getting full.  12SP

I was peckish around tea time when I made mom some toast so I enjoyed this, it's the two end crusts from a 400g loaf, topped with a tin of tuna and 70g Arla cheese, 9SP 

Now to do it again today!  I've defrosted pork chops, thinking a nice dinner with Savoy cabbage, nom nom, hoping Alfie fancies a decent walk too, he did yesterday, I almost had 10k by the time we went to bed which was early, so I've had a decent amount of sleep, I'm going to try and get him out when I've finished this before my virtual workshop this morning (10am Stafford Connect Group on the WW app if you fancy joining us).

Once I'd got home from my workshop yesterday morning and walked Alfie, I relaxed for the rest of the day, my brain needed time out from over thinking everything!  I think I'm going to do the same today, I might actually do a little bit of housework, I've got my shopping coming later but too late to start cooking a recipe so I'll do that tomorrow, probably do a video too for my YouTube Happy Owls Channel, talking about stuff as I cook, two for one :) 

Well this was a boring blog wasn't it, but my brain is so relaxed it needs waking back up, hence the walk!  That's exactly what I'm going to do now, get the dog on his lead and get out there, some fresh air will do me the world of good. 

Enjoy your Sunday, they're supposed to be slow ain't they.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Oh yes I'm a loser!

29th August 2020
Stop trying to calm the storm, calm yourself - the storm will pass.

Chuffed to bits, end of my second week on it and I'm another 1.5lb lighter, so down to 13st 1.5lb (with my shoes on same as my members, so we know that's a pound lighter without them), 6.5lb off in two weeks, now if I can continue to lose 1/2 to 1lb a week I'll be thrilled.  Even if I don't always lose if I can keep the mindset I have at the moment I'll be happy.  I'm enjoying my food, this week I've enjoyed my wine too, but I'm considering whether I want something before I have it, I'm not having an extra one just because it's a ZERO food, no such thing as free remember, everything's got calories in it and although the foods on the zero lists are the foods I'd rather eat because they are healthy foods, I've realised I don't want to overeat them.  

I don't know if I'm repeating myself in my blog but what made me realise this was when my mom kept saying "Hungry are you!" when I sat down to eat my meals, as she looked in disgust at my plate!  I was offended at first, then I made excuses for her because of her dementia and thought to myself, she doesn't know what she's saying is hurtful but then I stopped to think, actually she's doing what kids do, telling the truth and there is too much food on my plate!  

Take fruit and veggies as an example, the NHS recommend 5 a day, that doesn't mean a punnet of grapes, 3 apples, 2 bananas and a satsuma!  Yet I know people who eat this much, it means 5 portions, which is 80g of fresh canned or frozen fruit and vegetables count as 1 of your 5 a day or 30g dried fruit.  Some portions only count once, 150ml of juice or smoothie (that's not a lot btw) or 80g beans and pulses, I'm guessing this is the cooked weight.  Check out their website for more info.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/5-a-day-portion-sizes/

I've still had wine too this week, I even had a packet of Walkers cheese and onion last night nom nom, oh and a couple of crackers with salad cream, I love salad cream, here are the meals I ate yesterday; 

Eggy bread and WW baked beans 10SP 8SP 8SP

Streaky bacon stir fry! 8SP 8SP 8SP

I didn't have a third meal on a plate, I had my wine and crisps and a couple of crackers whilst waiting for the kettle to boil for mom, I'm even tracking the milk I have in the 2 cups of tea I drink each day! 

Long may this mindset and feeling continue because I feel great, no heartburn, sleeping brill the last few nights as moms had a couple of better nights, she's actually only just this minute woke up.

I better get going, got to be at work this morning, let's make this a super bank holiday!

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Another good day, there's more to life than food x

28th August 2020

Success is a series of small things.

Oh it's lovely and calm in my house this morning, moms had a good sleep, YAY, we've had about 6 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep, hopefully we'll have a calm day, we're due one after the last few days that have been difficult for her.  As I posted on Facebook last night though, I have to, 'Remember the person with dementia isn't giving you a hard time, they're having a hard time.' I put together a few photos that I've taken over time, it breaks my heart to see her feeling so vulnerable, helpless and frustrated but I can only continue to let he know she's safe and loved.

Thursday is my busy day at Bloxwich and I enjoyed it yesterday, busy for August, especially as the kids are on their last week and it's a bank holiday weekend coming up.  I've just got my meals from yesterday to post below and realised I had a carb heavy day yesterday, I obviously needed the energy and the weather had really dropped cold, I had to put my cardi on last night!

Now it was pointed out that my breakfast (above) didn't have an egg on it, they were right it didn't!  Why not?  Because I'm realising, I've not been losing weight and I'm not blaming the eggs, not at all, but I'm starting to pay attention to what and why I choose what's going on my plate and asking myself, 

'Would I be having that if I had to point it?' The truth yesterday was no I wouldn't have an egg if it was pointed and meant I'd have to forgo a small glass of wine later!  I thoroughly enjoyed this breakfast, really fancied a slice of bacon, it was all delicious.  (8SP)

Lunch was a bit random, I'd defrosted a chicken kiev (11SP) but then I didn't fancy cook loads of stuff, when I looked in the fridge there were these corn on the cob that needed using, so I decided to roast it with the kiev.  Randomly Alfie decided to help me eat some of the corn (strange dog) but I enjoyed the rest of it. 

By the time I got home I was so tired from the day, and from the lack of sleep the night before that I fancied a jacket potato with baked beans and I had 70g of grated Arla Protein cheese on it too, it was lush, I'm gonna have the rest of the beans for my breakfast, if I have a big breakfast, I won't eat again till later today.

I'm getting distracted by other stuff I want to do now, so I need to end this blog or it'll never get posted. Let's have a fabulous Friday, find things other than food to take your attention!

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

 

Let's take back 2020!

Thursday 27th August 2020
Do something today that your future self will thank you for. 

If you've woke up feeling a bit grumpy and tired this morning - stop it, take a moment to count your blessings, I know it's been a real tough year and it's not over yet but there are things for us to be thankful for.  My poor moms had a terrible night, she's been dreaming and talking out loud, awake since 2 or 3, and we've had a conversation at 4am where she's telling me she doesn't like being like this and she wished she just wouldn't wake up again, how she actually thinks of ways to end it because she doesn't want to be dependent on others and ruin their lives ;(  So yeah, we may have had a rough year, be skint, be unsure about our futures, but we do have our memory, so let's start our gratitude list with that and we've got food on our plate and water in our taps, there's a couple more things. 

Despite all this, I had another good day, delicious breakfast 

scrumptious freezer dinner, last weeks 8SP butternut squash risotto https://youtu.be/NRXDmcmjQAw (don't forget to subscribe to the channel)

Then for my tea, I had crackers (that was after seeing them on Elle's plate!) I love lot fat salad cream, I'd rather have it than spread on my crackers and it's only 1SP per tablespoon.

I'm keeping busy, focusing on the positives rather than the things I cannot change, I even had a walk with Elle yesterday, I'd gone out with the dog when I called her and she was driving past so stopped and walked with me, Alfie walked further because of it so I ended with 12.5k steps by the end of the day, which is epic for me lately, I've started paying more attention to my fitbit results, the miles I've walked, how many active minutes not just the steps and the calories I've burned, it's all helping to keep me focused.  I've even worn in to bed the last two nights, but that's not quite so accurate, it says I was restless last night but not awake, I beg to differ, I was awake every time mom woke up or talked or sang in her sleep, I just don't move as I don't want to end up awake awake where I can't fall back off to sleep lol. 

A good WW express workshop last night, a busy day ahead of me.  An amazing sister that's making that possible, another thing (well person lol) I'm super grateful for!

OOo what to eat today, I'm thinking beans on toast, then maybe a jacket potato later, possible with a WW chilli pot on, all quick and easy food.  Let's have a great day shall we?  Make Thursday tremendous!  Get some salad, fruit and veg down our necks, focus on that food that's gonna fill us up so we have points for a bit of what we fancy. 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Let's make Wednesday wonderful!

Wednesday 26th August 2020

A goal is a personal promise to your future self.

Another good day on my journey back to healthy, this veggie jalfrezi did taste better for leaving for 48hrs as suggested in the cookbook (WW Meals for One), the cauliflower replacing the rice was roasted for about 15 minutes, I like roasted cauliflower a lot, it's a great replacement for rice and I think it's a lot more filling too.  

Then for tea I had the leftover Spanish Tortilla from same cookbook and I melted some Arla protein cheese on top (Angie kindly got my cheese, it's back in stock in some Sainsbury's)

This is the cheese if you've not tried it, I personally think it's better than Eatlean, it still has a bit of a rubber texture to it and has little bits in it occasionally (probably didn't help that it was out the fridge for hours as I forgot it!), but the flavour is there for sure, I like it grated, it's 34% lower in fat, high in calcium too, so definitely worth a try.  

I've done my yoga, even though I didn't fancy doing it, I  just wanted to stay in bed but obviously with mom that's not possible, I still had to force myself onto the mat, but I keep thinking, 'just show up!', my deal with myself is I get on the mat even if I don't feel like it, that goes for everything really doesn't it.

We have to 'show up' now to succeed in the future, stay focused on that 4 weeks for you to notice a difference, 8 weeks for friends and family, 12 weeks for everyone else.   Or I like this one for sure...

Now I have to say, I'm on day 12 and I'm already feeling the difference!  I'm feeling better in myself, no heartburn, I've got more energy, I'm more patient with mom, I'm really enjoying the food I am eating and yesterday I WAS FULL and left food on my plate.  Here's to continuing the way I've been going, planning my meals is key, don't tell me you don't have time, do it whilst you're watching tele at night, when you're bored and you're trying not to snack.  I like having something to look forward to and it's also helping me save money on my shopping as I'm only buying what I need.

Support too, that's what's making a huge difference, it's great to be back in my workshops with my members, but also the fact I'm getting support from Elle, we're coaching and supporting each other, as coaches we don't always get that but if lockdown has taught us anything, it's that it's important to stay connected.

Here's to making Wednesday wonderful, hopefully I'll get to walk Alfie today and it won't rain on us lol, but if it does we'll just get wet - AGAIN!  We're not made of sugar, we won't melt.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

See some of you later 

Make Tuesday Tremendous!

25th August 2020
Your only limit is your mind!

Another day on track, that'll be Day 11 I'm starting, not done this for a long time, not had this state of mind either.  I'm thinking before I eat, if I get emotional because of mom or whatever, I'm asking myself if eating will make the situation any better and the answer is always no, it may taste good for a few moments but that feeling doesn't last and I want to lose some weight.  I haven't had heartburn in all those days I've been on track.  I didn't try 5 different things on this morning before I felt like I looked 'okay' to go out in public lol.  I haven't gone to bed feeling stuffed and waking up with a bit of a wine head yesterday made me realise I don't want that, I'm a Happy Owl but the owl doesn't stand for Over Wine Limit!  

Yesterday went by in a blur, I wasn't as productive as I hoped, but I did do a bit of cooking.  I fancied a dinner because I'd seen gravy, then I messed up the gravy lol, it tasted alright in the end but cost me way to many points, still within my allowance though.  Oh I'm loving cabbage, I honestly think that's the first time I've eaten an entire white cabbage and not thrown some of it away, not all at once of course, it lasted me a couple of weeks.  I've never cooked it before, only ever used it in a coleslaw, every day's a school day in my house.  

Then there's the diced carrots and potatoes, roasted, so good, only 4SP for all those. 

I also cooked this from the Cooking for One, WW cookbook, there's a sale on some of their cookbooks in the workshops this week, I got my hands of a few from another coach.  Anyway I cooked this tortilla, it was nice but it needed something, I added a couple of points of reduced fat cheese, that helped.  I only had half of it with a salad for my tea, I wasn't really hungry after than huge dinner. 

Ooo what to eat today?  I've got that aubergine curry for lunch, will have it with cauliflower cauli, then I'm thinking the other half of this tortilla probably, then I'll cook again tomorrow.  

Mom woke me at 4am, I didn't get to sleep till about 11 either, my brain wouldn't turn off (not had that in such a long time!), also not having wine means my body has to get used to the wine not helping me off to sleep.  Anyway, that rain didn't help, that woke me a lot throughout the night and it was still pouring down when I got up, so at 5 this morning I was loading my car with all my stock for the day in my PJ's, my thinking being I was going to have a shower so I may as well get wet before I do that!  Oh and I'd already done my yoga - check me out, getting my healthy back to add to my happy!  It's all about the happy and healthy, if you can focus on those, the weight loss becomes the side effect, it's been a testing year in so many ways and I'm taking back my power and bringing back the joy!  There is so much we can't control right now, but we can control how we react, what we eat, how we move and how much we drink!  

Yeah, I'm going to make the rest of the year, the best of the year, I'm going to get my member doing the same, let's all dream big, work hard, make it happen!

Here's to making Tuesday tremendous xx 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx