Good morning, it's Friday - YAY!

Friday 29th September 2023 

Another day, can you believe we're almost at the end of September already and I'm starting to feel the drop in temperature when I get up, it's proper dark out there and about 11 degrees, not cold enough for the heating to go on, I'll just put a hoodie on but yeah it's definitely comfort food time of year. 

Last night I had sausage and mash with onion gravy, I'd got one made in the freezer from when I'd cooked it a month or so ago, plus there's another one in there still so that's a meal sorted next week.  I did end up going over my allowance by a couple hundred calories but that was more about the other food I ate!  I need to get planning again rather than winging it. 

My lower back was hurting yesterday too, that doesn't help with moving so I'm quite pleased to see that I manage 7,240 steps, it feels a little better this morning so fingers crossed it stays that way.  Last joint pain management group today then I'll start going alone but still do the same days as it's now a habit, if I can go 3 times a week, that's a great commitment, combine cardio and machines in the gym with swimming and hopefully I'll continue to improve my energy levels and strengthen my body so my pain is tolerable.   I need to work out a routine, I'll get googling so I'm not just making it up as I go along, of course I can use the exercises we've learnt in our group.

I've had a good 7 hours sleep but I've got tired eyes this morning, it'll be a slow start from me, I'm going to clear our coffee table this morning, it's doing my head in now.  It appears I'm the only person who moves anything from it once it's been put on.  Random things on there today include cat treats, a large metal tape measure, sunglasses, reading glasses, tablets, hand cream, toothpicks, paperwork, ninja instructions - now I'm love to have a moan here but I've just realised other than the glasses, it's all my stuff lol, so I better shut up and clear it off!  

My Aldi roses are looking damn good, 10 yellow roses for £2.57 is incredible value!  I've had the 5 days too, can't complain at that.

Himself may be working tomorrow which means he won't be back tonight, I was looking forward to chippy for tea, we can have it tomorrow instead I guess, there's a lasagne in the fridge Aryn and I can share if he doesn't come home, that'll be a tasty tea. 

Now I know there's a lot of horrific and terrible things that go on in the world that shock us all but when I saw yesterday that someone had cut down the tree on Hadrian's wall, I was truly mind blown - WHY?!  I've walked under that tree on a sponsored walk, I just don't understand the mentality of some folk anymore.  Don't get me wrong in comparison to a 15 year old girl being fatally stabbed  on her way to school, it's just a tree not a life but I just don't understand what's wrong with our youth, both involve teenage boys, knives and chainsaws - WTF.  I'm bloody glad our teenage boy plays games in his room and eats too much food from our kitchen, I feel blessed he's a good lad. 

Anyway, I'll not dwell on that, I'm all about focusing on the positivity of life and we had a great day in our huddles, it's lovely seeing a room full of members chatting away about their week, supporting each other.  It's also amazing when a member who's been having a tough time for whatever reason and has shared that information with you, walks in one day smiling and as happy as because that 'issue' has been sorted.  It makes both Elle and I feel great to have been a small part of their story.

I'm toying with scrambled eggs or defrosted cottage pie for breakfast (I know that's proper weird, but come on, I've never professed to be normal, it's in the fridge, it needs eating and the bit I had the other night wasn't enough, then I found this one yesterday.  I thought Aryn would've eaten it but he didn't, unless he ate it after I went to bed, oh no I hope not :) 

Here's to a good day, my eyes aren't as tired as they were when I started this blog so that's a positive!  

Let's keep making our day a good one, focusing on the positives. 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Yay, it's Thursday!

Thursday 29th September 2023

Well I had a day that had a lot of bread yesterday, thankfully we ran out of bread so I couldn't eat any more!  It started with banana on toast which was delicious and under 300 calories on thick granary bread.  I don't usually eat thick bread but it was free!  lunch was homemade soup with the last slice of that bread spread with a cheese triangle, at least the soup had butternut squash, pepper, carrot and onions in it so that would have helped me get my 5 a day yesterday even though it doesn't show on app as it was a quick add meal.  Dinner we had cottage pie from freezer which was leftover from a previous meal and damn it was delicious, we could've eaten it twice, there just wasn't enough!  The tenderstem broccoli was from Aldi, it's on the super six this week for 79p.  The spring roll was also from Aldi, I'd put a couple on Aryn's plate to try and bulk it up because I knew the meal wasn't going to be enough for him.  We ended up cooking more spring rolls for him and I had another two, they're 103 calories each, they were tasty though 6 for £2, I'll buy more for him to snack on, better than a block of chocolate I guess at least there's a little vegetable inside it!  I ended up having another slice of bread with cheese and chutney on before bed, thankfully I went to bed early so that stopped me eating  I ended on minus 136 calories.  

  

On a positive, I managed 6,663 calories steps, and 61 active zone minutes, the fitbit app says I burned 2,305 calories, I'd prefer to think I burned that amount doing my hour swim (50 lengths - chuffed with that) and doubled it over the rest of the day - how cool would that be!  Just shows you don't burn as many calories and you think being active I only burned 261 calories doing 50 lengths in about 50-55 minutes.  It does do us good in other ways though so it's definitely worth doing!  

Aryn and I spent half hour in the gym lifting a few weights, he's easing himself back in slowly (very slowly!), I'm going to start doing my gym work on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday from next week before I swim then if he wants to go to the gym I'll just hang around looking pretty because I'm not getting done what I want to get done.  My pain management group finishes tomorrow so I'll put myself a workout together, I don't need to spend ages in the gym but on days my body feels good, I'll make the most of it because I can feel the difference in my body and my mind to be fair.  

The combination of exercise and HRT, together with eating well is making me feel really good, the life I have is brilliant and has been for 2 years now but doing these things is changing my hormones which were affecting not just my mind but my body too.  

Anyway that was my day, a fabulous huddle on the morning, straight to the gym to swim, home for an hour, off to the gym with Aryn then home for food and a bit of tele before an early night and another cracking sleep - almost 9 hours!  That's another thing that's improved since the HRT patches were added alongside the exercise, sleep score is now good more often than fair. 

Then there's my cuties, it's coming up to a year since we got them, Coco's my precious, that's him last night, taking over the sofa giving me that 'dare ya' look.  Minnie likes her space, she doesn't do cuddle by, she does do, 'let's have a little play on the coffee table', where she has no clue what to do and almost always falls off!   Oh and she likes eating flowers, thankfully the roses I bought aren't dangerous to her - I've googled it!  Loony cat! 

Just realised I've not thought food for today and it's Thursday, my busy day - bugga.  It needs to be tasty too because I'm hungry, maybe it's the drop in temperature.  I have a lot of eggs, maybe I make omelettes, take Aryn a pasta bake out the freezer.  I'll think about it, go look in freezer.  Oooo cheese and potato pie maybe, I've got potatoes, oh man I love comfort food.  I was so disappointed in the pie we had from Tesco earlier in the week, they just can't make pie!  

Right I need to get ready for work, spending time with people who lift me - we should all do that more often!  Life's too short to be surrounded by mood hoovers xx

Mwah, luv ya

Love me 

Doesn't the time go by fast!

Wednesday 27th September 2023

Thankfully I maintained my weight this week, so I'm starting week 4 of my personal challenge and I've lost 4lb so 3lb to go - eek!  It's easy to start off strong but to keep going, that gets more difficult, you forget the original reason you started in the first place.  My challenge this week is to track 100% again, I let it go at the weekend, yesterday was tracked and I was within my allowance.

My other challenge I need to do is start to realise certain foods aren't good for my body, it starts screaming 'you've fed me this and now I have heartburn!'  That was yesterday, occasionally though it can just be a build up of food over days.  Although I've just done a internet search asking, 'can skipping meals cause acid reflux' and the answer is a resounding YES, along with lots of other things I shouldn't be doing :) but maybe I'll stop skipping breakfast because that's a long time I'm going between meals, I mean Monday night I would have eaten my dinner around 5ish then was asleep by half seven and I didn't eat yesterday until I got home from work lunchtime so say one, that's 20 hours - WOW!   Too long for sure, my body is obviously not meant for intermittent fasting!  

The meal I then ate didn't help either I guess, I had toast with butter (a trigger), bacon (another trigger), egg, baked beans (a surprising trigger or is it, is it because I usually eat it on toast which is the trigger), and tinned tomatoes.  Who knows what on that plate gave me the acid reflux, I just know I had it all afternoon, it could've even been the size of the meal. Time to start paying attention to what it is Iv'e eaten and drank (I know wine doesn't help, I'm not a complete ignorant fool) plus when it was consumed to work it all out.

Anyway after the meal at lunchtime, I made some soup, I don't know why I do it because I never want to eat it afterwards, homemade soup is not my forte!  

When I got back from the huddle on the night I had a pizza I'd bought from Aldi for £2.69, cheaper than the M&S equivalent which is usually around the £3.50 mark.  It's about 30g heavier, but more calories at 515 calories, the M&S one which is 439.  I cooked it in my new Ninja it took 6.5 mins at 170 in my on the airfry setting, love the big drawer! It tasted as good as the equivalent one in M&S I thought but it did make me thing it wasn't bit enough for a meal if you are hungry, I wasn't really so it was okay.

  

  

 We watched a bit of tele then I was in bed by 8 asleep by half past and I've bagged 7hr 37mins - hurrah!  I managed 8,381 steps too so that was good for me, feeling less pain today so I'm going to go swimming after the huddle this morning, Aryn wants to go to the gym later too so I'll get half hour of moving there.  He's had a shin split since last Thursday the combination of gym then p.e. at school must have caused it bless him. 

I've taken a cottage pie out the freezer (one of my leftover meals), we an have that for dinner tonight with some tenderstem brocolli (on the super 6 in Aldi).

Yeah, let's have a good day shall we, do the best we can with what we have.  Remembering why we started and what we're doing this for.  I have my 12 week health MOT check up a week on Friday to compare my pre Joint Pain Management programme results to now, I'm looking forward to seeing what they say.  I'd be chuffed if I've lost 6lb in that time, especially if you think we had a summer holiday in that time.  Wished I'd took my measurements back then in inches, maybe I'll do that now ready for my 24 week MOT and see if there's any difference then.

Anyway, time to get ready for work although I have a couple of hours to do that, it's only half six, I don't leave till half 8 on a Wednesday.  I might have banana on toast for breakfast this morning, one of my five a day then too.  

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Here's to week 4 of my 7 in 7!

Tuesday 26th September 2023

Oh yes it's weigh day, I'm not as confident this morning as I have been because I didn't track at the weekend for the first time since I started my 7 in 7 challenge, it'll be interesting to see if I've added to my 4lb total this week or if I've damaged it.  Whatever it is I'll take it on the chin and carry on.  

I tracked yesterday, finished within my calories, looked forward to my steak and ale pie all day and it wasn't all that, I'd had it from Tesco on a pie and mash meal deal but I left most of the pastry, Aryn inhaled his so it must have been an okay pie, it was just me.  I did make some egg muffins for breakfast, just egg, a bit of leftover pork and a sprinkle of cheese and I had a couple of them, he ate the rest, come in the living saying, 'I like them!' and when I went in kitchen there was 3 left :) 

Nipped out to Aldi to do my food shop, bought a couple of pizzas to try, we'll have them today, they're rectangle so I think they might fit in the actifry save time/money on cooking them hopefully.  I also bought some veggies to make omelettes with, spinach, pepper, onion.  I was impressed with the bill total in Aldi, £50 and I even bought him some sweets and nuts in that total plus I had a bunch of roses for £2.50, not bought myself flowers for ages because Minnie was trying to eat the last ones I had!  Nipped in Farm Foods on way home to get me a few more of those curry sauces, had the last few, bet they don't refill the stick because I like them!  I also got frozen cabbage after seeing it on Dave's plate, I can just have a bit here and there now, it was only a quid too - bargain. 

Once I'd done my paperwork and a bit of computer work nipped to Aldi, it was time to go to my pain management group, we did some gym work, she showed us how to use the cable machine, I think I'll stay away from them until I'm stronger as you have to get it right or you could do more harm than good.

My body was saying don't do too much yesterday so I listened to it and only did stuff that didn't mean too much movement, I managed the washing up and cooking dinner but that was my lot.  Last Monday I swam 40 lengths before my pain mgt group, just shows our bodies aren't machines and I'm learning to listen to it and make the best of it when I can.

I slept like a baby last night, I was spark out by 7pm and woke at 5.45 to a notification on my phone (I've just turned that app sound off, no one needs an app notification at that time  in the morning do they, especially not from Duolingo!), awake for an hour so my app says, feel great this morning I say - bodies need sleep and mine likes lots some nights. 

Right off for a shower before boy wonder wakes and takes it over, here's to a great day whatever the scales say!  I'm taking care of me, maybe not perfectly but a hell of a lot better than I have done in the past decade whilst mom was at her worst.  I hope you don't think I'm being smug when I say how happy I am, I actually find myself stopping and smiling and acknowledging how good my world is, I'm not taking it for granted and I tell him too, he's changed my world.  Don't get me wrong, if he hadn't have knocked the door two years ago, I'd have still been in a good place, having a good life, but he did and he added that extra special bit.  He's the first thing I think about when I wake and the first person I want to tell when something happens.  It's a good place to be. xx

Mwah, luv ya

Love me.

 

Don't the weeks go quickly!

Monday 25th September 2023

A chilled out weekend had in this house, after a great huddle on Saturday morning, I don't think I've left the house since!  That's not helped my step count which was around 5k each day, could've been worse I guess.  My weekend was mostly, cooking, cleaning, eating and watching tele, no complaints here though, we had some lovely family time.

Now I treated us to a whole fillet of beef on Friday from Facebook and the lovely Dave delivered it for me, we're quite partial to a bit of steak and we all know it's not cheap, a couple of pieces of fillet steak in Sainsbury's is around a tenner, I had the whole fillet for £40, I was able to get 6 fillets, plus a piece of chateaubriand which was about 600g, it's the large end piece apparently, I thought when I was about to cut it up that was the 'not so good bit', I said to himself, we could make a really good stew with that, then I googled it and found out it was the best bit - it'd still have made a mega stew or curry lol.  The other end will be great for stir fry beef, anyway it was a bloody bargain as a treat.  

I cooked the Chateaubriand Sunday stressed a bit about getting it right, didn't want to mess up such an expensive piece of meat, never having cooked it before, I was all over google and pinterest and I don't think I did a bad job.  The pressure and stress I was putting on myself disappeared when he said, 'it's your first attempt don't worry if it goes wrong, you can always have another go'.  That man is proper easy going and patient, he eats whatever I put in front of him, never complains, even when I think it's a bit rubbish, he says it's okay.  It split 3 ways easily as part of a dinner, I know in a restaurant it's split two ways but there was plenty!

We'd had a cooked breakfast earlier in the day, but then it all went tits up and there were Maltesers and salted peanuts involved.  I didn't go crazy but he went and bought more, tut tut.  

Saturday we'd had the chicken with stuffing and chips, that was good, yeah we're all about the food, the rest of my bulk cook Friday has all been frozen.  Forgot to give him a couple of pots this morning to take with him DOH!

We've had two early nights but was up at half four this morning so I'm yawning a little.  Can you believe this is my last week at the pain management group, it's been a 12 week course, that's gone really fast, I shall continue to go Mondays and Fridays as that's part of my day now, but I will go earlier. 

I think I'm going to make egg muffins in the actifry this morning for breakfast, see if I can tempt Aryn, get him eating something before school!  They can be microwaved too can't they to warm them up.

Then I'll plan the weeks huddle chat, I think I'm gonna have a bath too, ease my aching muscles and joints, have a slow start to my week.  To swim or not to swim that is the question, I know we're doing circuit training today which we did Friday and I ended up in pain so I don't want to overdo it, might leave swimming till Wednesday.  

I haven't tracked the weekend so I need to get back to that because it does make a massive difference when it comes to me staying within my calories, the scales will show the difference tomorrow I guess.  I'm almost half way through my 7 in 7 weeks, todays week 3 done and I've lost 4lb, hope I've not done any damage.

Anyway, let's have a healthy day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x 

Kitchen goddess :)

Saturday 23rd September 2023

I had a very productive few hours yesterday, I wanted to try out my new Ninja and I also had 2kg of chicken and some leg of lamb to use so this is what I ended up cooking.  Aryn had requested a pasta bake, I cooked this using a can of condensed chicken soup, cooked the pasta and broccoli together on the hob and the chicken  in the ninja, then topped with cheese and grilled grilled.  I could've used the ninja more I guess but this way was easier for now as I don't have accessories to fit the ninja yet.

I cooked a Chinese curry with Mayflower curry sauce and a lamb madras, both on the hob again as it was easier, plus I could use the ninja for something else.  I also wanted to cook the lamb slowly as I'd boned the piece and it had been frozen so I wasn't sure how it would cook but it was delicious and they lads ate most of that curry last night, I've manage to salvage a little bit this morning to hide for me to have, it's got a real kick but occasionally I can handle that.  The Chinese curry is to freeze for him to take to the van for eating.  It was the extra hot Mayflower curry sauce but I wouldn't say it was extra hot.  

 

After cooking a bit of chicken as the first thing I did, I decided to try and make a hotpot, I cooked it on roast with the lid on for 15 minutes at 160 degrees in the MEGAZONE ;) which is basically what Ninja calls the drawer when you remove the middle bit and cook in the whole drawer.  I then cooked it for another 15 minutes without the lid.  I had this for my dinner, it needed another 5 minutes with the lid on I think, as the carrots, onions and potatoes were just a little on the hard side, the chicken was cooked okay so no food poisoning gonna occur. 

 

 

I also experimented with these, they're very big chicken breasts, they weigh about 350g each, that's more emu isn't it I reckon, anyway I stuffed them with paxo wrapped in bacon and cooked them on actifry, I can remember how long they had in total about 15 mins as I had my brother on the phone getting me to sort something for him.   The chicken was cooked to perfection, the bacon was very crispy - not burnt though, so maybe next time I'd wrap completely in foil which tbf is what I'd do in the oven.  

Yeah that's a lot of food but my freezer is empty, I'm thinking sandwiches with those stuffed chickens at lunchtime maybe, buy some nice bread, sounds good. 

After all that, I went for my pain management group, can you believe next week is the last week of the 12 week programme.  It's been incredible, I'll never forget the first session when we did 'circuit' training and I had to sit in a chair and do bicep curls without any weights because I was in so much pain, yesterday we did a similar circuit and I did that same move standing with 3kg weights.  Another part of the circuit was standing with your back up the wall and lifting one leg at a time managing to balance, we were allowed to put our arms out if we needed to help balance us, we were all wobbling all over the place that first week, our balance and core strength was dreadful.  Yesterday, Nic pointed out not only was I doing it easily but I wasn't using my hands to balance either, proving my core is strengthening and my balance improving.  This is proof that you should always start where you are with what you have, then build, I honestly didn't think that first week that there was much hope for me as I sat there like a muppet lifting my empty arms - how wrong was I.  Yes I'm in pain this morning but partly it's muscle pain from exercise which will pass and part of it's my other pain that may never go but I'm learning to handle it and it's improved. 

We ended up in the pub for a couple of hours last night, I had a bottle of prosecco and he got to drink as many Guinness as he could in the time it took me to drink the fizz, we were in bed by 9 - rock and roll baby.  I like early drinking before all the dickheads arrive, I met him just after 4 and we were home about half 7 where we all enjoyed dinner together.  I enjoyed listening to the banter between Aryn and his dad, they're so alike in a lot of ways but not at the same time.  Great Friday night all round and now I'm sitting watching Sky news, it's 6.30am and I've been up since half five, so a decent night too.  

One last huddle this morning for the week, really enjoyed this week, it really shows how we've all changed since moving to calories and how we are learning to listen to our own minds and bodies and not being dictated too by other 'plans'!

Here's to a great weekend whatever we all have planned (I have no plans).

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Ooo Ninja has landed!

Friday 22nd September 2023

Another day on track withing calories, there's room for improvement on my five a day and other healthy options but I was within my calories and it's not about perfection!  I did add kale to my dinner and I have to say this was delicious, I added it to my basket because it was on offer the when I showed it Aryn he didn't fancy it so I had it all to myself for 468 calories and it was really good and very, very filling, I'd definitely buy it again. 

Yesterday was all about the huddles, very busy day, I don't have much time in between getting back lunchtime and going back out and yesterday I had to nip to the shops so I had less time, then I spent an hour on the phone trying to sort something out so I didn't get to cook which resulted in a beef sandwich which was tasty though.  

My Ninja has arrived, Elle says he needs a name, I was gonna call him Ben because he's big but apparently kitchen appliances names have to start with the same letter, hers is called Nigel the Ninja - you get the gist, any suggestions?  This is how mature our conversations are, they have to be male names too because it's the only time a male cooks for her :) 

I shall mostly be cooking up a storm this morning, I'm going to play with the ninja, froze all my meat yesterday except the lamb and chicken, now I'm wishing I hadn't and I could've played more :) there's always another day isn't there.

I've also got to do the beds, himself wants the warmer duvet putting back on the bed, I won for a good while I guess, but I have put my fluffy jacket on this morning six degrees brrr.

I have lots of chicken to use, Aryn wants a pasta bake and I will do a stew I think, I did like the idea of doing chicken breast stuffed with sage and onion stuffing wrapped in bacon but it's the after effects that puts me off, the smell that comes from himself at the best of times is bad enough but after a bit of Paxo, oh my word! 

Anyway I have lots of room in the freezer to do some bulk cooking and have food ready to microwave on the days I don't have time or just can't be bothered like I've experienced this week.  

My challenge for today is to get flea treatment on the cats, Coco does not trust anyone and he'll bolt, Minnie will be easier but it's getting her to come to you as she's more Miss Independent.  Wish me luck!

I've had a quick read of the Ninja instructions but it goes in my eyes and out my ears, I just don't retain instructions very well, I'll learn by trial and error I guess.  I'd do some googling for recipes a few searches for groups on Facebook maybe.

I need to get this posted, since the last sentence I've spent 10 minutes messing on a FB Ninja AF500UK group lol, yeah it's gonna be one of those days.

Here's to a good one, 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

Another day on track

Thursday 21st September 2023

Another day in the bag, I do need to work on what I'm eating a little though I think, having said that, I did have 3 portions veggies yesterday which is an improvement as I haven't been hitting my 5 a day at all, I had chosen water as my challenge this week but looking at my tracker I'm thinking I should have gone with the 5 a day option, I might change it or try and look at both and just challenge myself to up them both, no totals attached.

I did go swimming, did 46 minutes which turned out to be 36 lengths as I lost count when a chap started talking to me!  Aryn and I also went and had half hour at the gym when he'd finished school.  I'd paid for the year at that gym which runs out Oct 25th but because I recommended a member, I'm getting an extra month which is great, as I've also got my free membership at Nuffield till the end of the year.

I'd just got back from swimming when himself pulled up outside, the weather was so bad at work they'd finished early so he thought he'd drive back rather than spend the rest of the day in the motorhome.  It was nice to all eat together as a family whilst catching up on our day then watching a bit of tele together.  

For tea we had chicken in tempura batter which were delicious, mash and veggies.  I also had my meat arrive from the butchers Facebook so I had a play cooking the beef in my Ninja - my old Ninja because my new one hasn't arrived yet, I had to ring yesterday and complain because apparently it hadn't been despatched, I was told it would take 5 days but I said I don't think so!  So it's on its way, hopefully will come today or tomorrow.  Disappointed that I've had to wait longer when the damage to the original one wasn't my fault, hey ho.

So the beef came out really good and he's taken beef sandwiches to work this morning, one happy man there.  I might try and have some oily fish today, maybe mackerel on toast later, I need to check the fridge/freezer for veggies and maybe go shopping for some.  It's turning into stew weather isn't it, maybe I'll make a chicken casserole or hotpot with those chicken breasts I have, nip to the shop for spuds, carrots and onions.  Yeah that's a good idea!  

Up early again this morning, so a spare hour to get stuff done, the cats are being tinkers at the minute, racing round playing like loonies ;) 

Busy day ahead, lots of huddles, here's to a great day.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Here's to week 3 of 7!

Wednesday 20th September 

I've been awake since half past four - boo!  I'm not tired though so it's all good, I've had 6.5 hours sleep so not bad and I had a lot of sleep last night.

Check me out, I lost 1.5lb this week, that's 2 weeks into my 7 in 7 and I've lost 4lb, I'm thrilled, I really am, I feel like I'm finding a happy balance at the minute, not obsessing over it, working on making MY weight loss plan fit in with my life, this is my 'diet' and I'm making it fit in with how I like to eat and drink.  

One thing I've been doing is eating when and what I eat, not feeling like I have to have a meal when Aryn's hungry, so last night he came home and had 2 pieces of fish in batter (his request Elle I'm not forcing them on him cos the freezers full of them lol), smilies and onion rings.   Maybe not the healthiest food in the world, but he's eating food and that's what matters at the minute, he's a teenager and going through a fad of barely eating all day until he gets home so he can eat anything he wants and I'll sneak those veggies and healthy stuff in where I can.

Anyway, I had bacon, mushrooms and an egg on toast for my brunch, that filled me up for almost the whole day if I'm honest.  When I got back from the huddle on the night, I just couldn't be bothered to cook my meal plans had been dashed (I'll explain in a minute) so I just had a bowl of mash with some cheese in and ketchup and I was full.  I did have one bourbon biscuit later, those naked penguins aren't as bad as I remember them tbh but I am only eating them because they are there in the kitchen from the biscuits bought for himself at the weekend!

So why were my meal plans dashed?  Because my Ninja arrived and I had planned peri peri chicken and then when I was unboxing it and took the sticky cover off, it ripped off all the silver on the lid, so they're sending me a new one out.  It's a lot of money to have one damaged before you even start using it.  Not gonna lie, I was gutted, I've waited so long to buy one, I was excited to play with it.  At least when it comes today, I'll have all afternoon to play as don't work on a Wednesday night.

I really enjoyed the huddle chat yesterday, really got our members thinking I think, plus it was wonderful to see some faces return and a few new faces too. 

I want to get to the gym today so I'm hoping this Ninja swap box palaver gets sorted earlier rather than later, they're picking the broken one up and dropping the other one off.  Email says to ensure the delivery address is clear, yet they haven't given me a delivery address to send it too, I'm hoping the parcel man has the sticker!  

I'm in a really good place right now, I think it's the combination of exercise, HRT, having wonderful people in my life and doing a job I love with hours that aren't ridiculous like I've worked in the past, I'm feeling truly blessed, I really am.  If the biggest drama I have in a day is having to return the Ninja, how lucky am I! 

On that note I'm jumping in the shower before boy wonder gets up and takes over the bathroom!  

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Ninja News!

Tuesday 19th September 2023

I had a really good day yesterday, good a few things sorted that I've been putting off for a while, then I ended up at the gym for a swim before my pain management group.  I managed 40 lengths not bad as I've not been going regularly to swim as I was doing the group and the gym with Aryn and there's only so many hours and so much energy in a day.  Aryn's not been to the gym for a few weeks, he's back at school isn't he and he didn't get fit in a week so the gyms not all that I guess.  

He made tiger bread at school yesterday, this is not helping me stay on track at all!  Especially when it's still warm!  We had a chicken hotpot for tea that I'd picked up at Costco at the weekend, I wasn't impressed, there was a flavour in it that I taste in a lot of ready meals and I don't like it, don't get me wrong, the ingredients were bang on, the chicken was cooked to perfection, it's just that taste for me, I think it's a tomato, pepper thing, himself rang to say he'd really enjoyed it proving it was absolutely okay, the couple that recommended it were fans weren't they.

Anyway, it happens but there's nothing worse than looking forward to your dinner all day and it being a disappointment!  Thankfully I'd put a corn on the cob on the plate which was delicious :) 

Oh I finally took the plunge and treated myself, TopCashback  when I checked it was offering me a percentage if I ordered something from Ninja, then Ninja was offering me 10% off Shark - Landing page (soreto.com) plus I'd found the 10.5l one that is 2 drawers or can be 1 drawer and that's what sold it to me, I wanted the option to be able to roast a big beef joint or a leg of lamb and with this I can.  I'm excited to get it, so it should've been £269.99, I paid £242.99 and I'll get £17.21 from TopCash plus £2.42 from my UW cashback card.  It all makes a difference, it cost me £223.36 not a bad saving at all and hopefully it'll save me pounds on the bills.  Looking after the pennies as they say. 

I can't wait for it to arrive for me to have a play and try out a few recipes in there, so if you have any recommendations, let me know.

After a few episodes of The Walking Dead, I went up to lie in bed and give Strictly another change, yeah it turns out it's great for helping me sleep because I was spark out by 7pm!  I slept till 6 this morning and apart from Minnie trying to wake me up since just gone 4 dive bombing my bedroom door, I managed to sleep through, Fitbits saying 9hrs 58m sleep.  Poor old Coco has spent the night in the alley thanks to Aryn going to get a can of diet coke last night, which is probably what Minnie was trying to tell me.  I've given him a handful of treats to cheer him up.  Another 'repeated' conversation to be had with the teenager this morning, it might sink in one day...

Weigh day, I do hope I've managed a loss, gotta be realistic though I lost 2.5lb last week on my 7 in 7 challenge so I'm in credit.  Two weeks gone already, how quickly time passes. Well unless you're waiting for your results from your MRI, that time seems to be dragging, it'll be 4 weeks on Sunday and they said it could take up to 6 weeks to get the results.  I'm intrigued to hear what they show, as I can't stand still in a Pilates class for a few minutes without the pain in my leg being horrid but I can fold myself in half on the floor and do other Pilates moves and no pain at all!  

What to eat today?  I might have eggs on toast for brunch when I get back from this mornings huddles, then I have chicken breasts that I need to decide what to do with, bought a big pack from Costco, thought I could do a batch cook and freeze the rest - any suggestions?

I'm watching Good Morning Britain on ITVx and it went to the local weather, when it came back the newsreader said, 'apologies that was Monday's weather, we'll find Tuesday's the next time you come back', hilarious, but how great would it be if you could choose the weather from any day to have today :)  

Here's to a great day regardless of the weather, 

mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

 

Cracking weekend

 Monday  18th September 2023

Well I've had a wonderful weekend and I've managed to stay on track and still have a bloody, good time.  Saturday I enjoyed a cracking good huddle, the last of the week where I talked about our Christmas Challenge, I haven't mentioned it before now because Elle didn't know about it, it was a surprise for when she got back.  Each week our members will pick their own challenge, mine this week was to cut out red meat for the week (not permanently!) as I've been eating a lot of it the last few weeks, so I've eaten a lot of chicken and fish this week, oh and eggs, I'm loving my eggs again.  

We then went to Wetherspoons for breakfast, I wanted Eggs benedict with runny poached eggs, I've fancied it since the hard boiled poached eggs I had in Bridgnorth the Sunday before and it did not disappoint :) We only just made it, got there at 3 minutes to 12, just in time to order breakfast.  What was I doing for the hour in-between you may ask :) use your imagination but it was extra exercise!  

TMI maybe but finally after over 3 weeks of bleeding since I started my HRT patches, I stopped on Friday night, I'm so relieved, I'm hoping that's it now but if it isn't we'll see what happens, I'll have a check up before the doctor prescribes anymore after the first 3 months I'm sure.

Anyway, moving on, we then drove to CostCo as we signed up a few weeks ago, tbh, I wasn't that impressed, we bought a few things, the salmon we bought was amazing, I'd go there just for that actually, it was £16kg, a little cheaper than supermarkets but Aldi do a essentials range according to their website which is cheaper.  We had it for dinner last night, it was amazing, big and thick slices, better than I've tasted in a good while.  Yeah on the whole, it's not for us, I was hoping stuff like bottled water would be cheaper but it wasn't Aldi is slightly cheaper, I think if you shop around for things you can buy in bulk, then you have no need to go there.  The fuel was 10p cheaper per litre but the queue was so long, we didn't wait.  

We chilled out for the rest of the day and for dinner we had fish and chips with peas, using up more of the fish in batter in the freezer!  Shopping smart at the minute, only buying what we need whilst trying to use up what we have.  I'll plan a few meals today I think, we have chicken hotpot in fridge ready to cook which we also bought from CostCo, again it's a huge dish, but it was also £10.95, easily serve 4, I've sent some to work with himself in a separate foil tray.  I have a feeling I'm not going to be blown away by it but we shall see. 

Sunday, we woke early so decided to go to Trentham gardens, I've never been and always wanted to have a look and it had a classic car show to keep him happy, so perfect, we spent a couple of hours there, I learn more about cars every day, I now know the point of those silly large spoilers on the back of cars :) I also know people spend ludicrous amounts of money on carbon fibre parts for cars - madness lol.

As we were driving back, he asked if there was any racing on at Hednesford and turned out there was, even better we got track side so I was able to sit in the car and watch, although we did walk down to get close to watch the last race, the noise, the speed, the smell, I love it and I can't lie, I love to see the crashes! 

We were starving when we got home so I cooked some of that salmon, I was wishing I had the larger actifry to cook it all together, I'm getting tempted and I think I might be buying one this week for sure, it should pay for itself over time by saving energy and money on bills.

And there the weekend was, now it's Monday and you know what, I love Monday's too because I love my job and my life.  Don't get me wrong, it's not always rosy, but it's damn good and two years later, I wouldn't change a thing, not a decision I made in such a short period of time initially.  Can you believe it's a year at the end of the month since we had these two crazy cats and I didn't want any more pets but oh I do love them, even if they wake me up at stupid o'clock on my day off.

Right, let's get this day started, here's to a great week.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Find what works for you!

 Saturday 16th September 2023

A good day had, breakfast was an omelette, absolutely delicious and I had 3 eggs for 198 calories then the mushrooms were only 13 calories.  

Calories work for me because I know exactly how many you're having.  In the past when I've been allowed, 'free' or 'zero' foods I've had a 6 egg omelette, I know not everyone would do that but I'm a greedy bitch and I was being told that if I ate all these free foods and stuck within my 'sins' or 'pointed foods', I'd lose weight - I didn't for many years after the plans changed over the years.  I'm not dissing them or saying they don't work, I'm saying they stopped working for me because I started playing the system.   As I put in a post yesterday, book shops are full of 'diet' books, the truth is every one of those books worked for the author!  The secret is to write your own version, design your own 'diet', be your own expert - no one knows you better than you know yourself.  We all need to stop being told what to eat and when to eat - we know how to lose weight, but we also know the foods we enjoy, what we're willing to cut down on, we're grown ups and need to take control of ourselves. 

I believe our huddles work because we support our members to be a better version of themselves, to follow a 'plan' or 'diet' that works for them, to not feel guilty when they've been out and enjoyed life or they've had a 'bad' or 'stressful' week.  We all need support and laughter to keep us going and that's what Be Happy Owls is all about, we're there to help you become your own expert so you don't have to buy special foods or tools.

It's been a long time since I came up with the 'Happy Owl' concept, long before Elle and I started our business and I felt the need to remind myself of the principle, so I thought I'd share it with you.  

So what is an Happy Owl? It stands for Happy Over Weight Lady (works for Lads too!), that doesn't mean we don't take care of ourselves or want to look and feel our best, it means that we refuse to beat ourselves up because we enjoy having a good time and indulging.  No Guilt!​

You can love yourself and be happy - whatever you weigh.  Losing weight becomes easier if you love and support yourself!  Choose to be healthy and happy whatever your size.

Elle and I have many years of experience as weight loss coaches and we're there to take away the confusion and simplify the process because there are no lotions, potions, pills or miracle cures!  We support our members as they design your own plan, become your own expert and lose weight whilst enjoying life.

On that note back to what I had for my dinner, mmmm you'll find the recipe on our website, it's one I created a long time ago when I was with WW and I realised yesterday, I'd initially tweaked the ingredients to work within one of the points systems, I don't have to do that now, so I did use more beansprouts, chicken, sesame oil and noodles and it was delicious.  The ingredients are a guideline, I add more soy sauce as I like a strong flavour.  My bowl was 600 calories but I couldn't eat it all, himself finished it off for me.  

https://www.behappyowls.com/post/chicken-chow-mein

We did nip out for a drink, popped to check out a couple of places, he enjoyed his few Guinness and I had diet coke, saved my calories for a bit of wine whilst I cooked dinner when we got home.  That's another bonus of that recipe, it's quick and easy.

Last huddle of the week, really looking forward to it, missed my work wife I have!

Not sure what we're up to the rest of the weekend but I've got this, I will stay on track, still doing the 7 in 7 challenge, on my second weekend.

Remember you've amazing, however you're feeling right now, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Take care of you, if you're finding that difficult, remind yourself, you're working on a masterpiece - YOU and that takes time xx

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x 

Refreshed and ready for Friday

Thursday 14th September 2023

A busy, busy, day yesterday, I'm missing my work wife, it's just not the same without her although all our members kept me company and lots returned after the summer of kids and finally getting them back to school.  I've really enjoyed this weeks huddles, one more of course on Saturday which will be equally as good of course, it's always a great way to enter the weekend. 

Food wise, I was over on the day by 136 calories, I'll take that, I really enjoyed my meals yesterday, being busy I didn't want to spend ages in the kitchen when I got back at lunchtime, this meal took 5 minutes, I do like stuffed ravioli, this flavour was lush, 

I added a spoon of 

and enjoyed every mouthful for 603 calories.  

I'd had a chicken sandwich for my breakfast, random I know but fast as the chicken was cooked already.

Then when I got back from work on the night, I knocked this up in under half hour, I really wanted a dinner with gravy but without all the hassle or need to go shopping, I'd defrosted some boneless chicken thighs which I cooked in the actifry (I'm starting to like the actifry more and more but I'd like the 2 drawer one), frozen peas, Idahoan powder mash (it's the best) and carrots.  I found one Yorkshire pudding which we shared lol and topped it all off with Bisto, I literally inhaled it as did Aryn.  He even asked what chicken it was and said how much he liked it without the bone, so I'd buy those again. 

Yeah I know what you're thinking, what about the beansprouts?  They're still in the fridge, I'm gonna cook the chow mein today - honest, I am, I am :) I'd like to do a Chinese themed tea but that would mean shopping, I've just found a slow cooker recipe for beef and broccoli that looks delicious, but I neither have beef nor broccoli! There's always another day.

My brain is saying declutter the spare room, it's like the universe is sending me messages, there was an article in my news feed on Facebook, a quote on Pinterest, mmm, it does need doing for sure.  Maybe today will be the day.... we shall see.

The only thing I have to do today is my pain management, the house is tidy, Aryn did the hoovering last night - it nearly killed him, bless him.  The laundry basket is full again already of course but I can live with that. 

Here's to enjoying my Friday however I decide to spend it.  Hope you have a great one too.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Every day isn't going to be a within my calories day

Thursday 14th September 2023

Oh I'm drinking a mug of tea and it tastes so good this morning, you can't beat a cracking good mug of tea, what a great way to start the day.  As I drink it I'm reflecting on yesterday, I was over by 250 calories on my day but I'm okay with that, I'm looking at my app and I know I could've had 2 eggs not 3 for breakfast saving me 70 calories, it was because I made a mess of the poached eggs I added the third, I'm just not a poached egg maker, stick to what I do well in future, dry fried, scrambled or omelette.

I made cauliflower cheese for tea, it was delicious so I ended up having more than a portion, although that was still only 517 calories, it was the slice of bread I had with it that didn't help, or the slice I had later with chicken on and some mayo on.   I felt peckish so I'm okay with my choices, I'm looking for a realistic journey not a starvation diet, of course there was wine yesterday too because it was Wednesday, I didn't have to go back to work and I didn't go back out as was doing housework.

I'm now the proud owner of an empty laundry basket (at least till Aryn showers this morning) and a tidy kitchen, I had wine to celebrate that as I cooked a delicious meal and tidied my house oh and that it had cooled down enough to do that comfortably.

I'm having a painful week this week, my lower backs hurting but I'm doing what I can, the pain management group has taught me to listen to my body and know when to slow down and when to push myself a little more, it's all good.

Another good nights sleep - 8.5 hours, which always helps doesn't it, I wished I could share my sleeping talent with those who struggle, I'm just lucky I guess.

A busy day ahead, a bag of beansprouts in the fridge saying 'you need to use us', I'm thinking will they keep till tomorrow or do I cook the chicken chow mein today, I really want a roast dinner with gravy, it would have to be frozen veg as I don't have any other and packet mash unless I stop and buy some, not even sure if I have packet mash.  This is the drama in my life :) this and two cats screaming at each other in the hallway right now - crazy bloody animals.

Looking forward to seeing lots of members today, missing my work wife and Carol this week but everyone's taking care of me, I'm using the time to sort out our card boxes and our system, been a while since the secretary/PA side of me has come out, I always did like that job.  Those damn 8x5 index card boxes though, they break so easily and they've gone up to £10 each, that's silly prices.

If you've got a stash in a cupboard somewhere you don't want, give us a shout, we'll take them off your hands ;) swap ya for a box of plastic cups lol.

I'm sat watching the news whilst tying and I've just spotted the basket of washing I didn't fold yet never ending baskets of black jogging bottoms, tshirts and towels, at least he's a clean teenage boy I guess, apart from his room, we have to use threats for him to sort that out, but he does, he's a good lad really.

We're on season 6 of The walking dead, over half way through them all, it's our 'thing' at the minute and it gets him to sit with me for at least an hour a night which is an hour he's not gaming!  It's also something I can chat to my sister about as she loves it and has watched them all.

I'm waffling ain't I and I don't have the time, I need to get dressed and ready for my day, to eat breakfast or not to eat breakfast, that is the question?

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x
 

A very good day had

Wednesday 13th September 2023

This is so true!  After a very, very busy day yesterday, I walked in to start cooking tea, stood in the kitchen I heard a key in my front door and Aryn was in the living room, I said who's opening the front door?  Proper confused my first thought was, is it my sister.  It was himself, he'd come home for the night as the rain had meant they'd finished early for them so he thought he'd drive home.  It was lovely to get a night having dinner together, even if we did have to stretch the meal three ways, now I understood why he'd asked me earlier in the day what we were having for dinner :) He'd hoped to get back before me to make dinner for us but traffic was dreadful.  He did immediately start washing up though which was such a nice thought.  I had to smile cos the house needs a good tidy and I was gonna do it today, so we got caught out - not that he cares.

Dinner was M&S Gastropub Chicken Parmigiana for Two split three ways, with mushrooms and a packet of golden rice split 3 ways, Aryn had salad with his, we shared a mixed veg thing that I like, I forgot the dinner photo but these were the products.   

 

I was more than satisfied with just a 1/4 of the chicken, half the veg and a tablespoon of the rice, it filled me up proving if we have the veggies we can get away with less of the other stuff.  I finished on 1446 calories, leaving 338 to spare, enjoyed some wine too.  Oh and had 3 eggs scrambled on toast for lunch, I used far too much butter which set me back 247 calories, meal total 661 calories and gave me heartburn because of the butter - will I ever learn!

Oh and if you hadn't seen my post, I lost 2.5lb, so 4.5lb left in the next 6 weeks for my 7 in 7 :) Really pleased with that, I said no a lot to others and myself, temptation is everywhere!  

I think I'll make chicken chow mein today because beansprouts don't keep for long and we can have it when he gets back from school because I don't have to go back to work on a Wednesday, it's a quick meal to throw together too.  Chicken Chow Mein (behappyowls.com) 

I'll be mostly burning my calories later doing the housework I've not done because it's been too damn hot!  Aryn said he'll hoover once he can see the floor :) it's really not that bad, a few shopping bags on floor in kitchen and shoes here and there but he's a comedian these days!

I did take an hour out yesterday to treat myself though, I've been growing my nails now for well over a year, having bitten them badly all my life.  They break all the bloomin time as the grow to a decent length, then I'd noticed the last month or so my old habits were starting to sneak in.  Last month when I went to pick up a jumper from Jessica's boutique the other side of Wolverhampton, I popped in the beauty shop next door and asked if she could fit me in then and do my nails to try to help me stop biting them, she did them and it worked for 2 weeks.  I realised it was too far to go regularly so booked in Glamazon across the road Glamazon Tanning and Beauty Salon, wolverhampton, nails (glamazonbeauty.co.uk) to have them redone, I wished I'd been able to get in Friday which was just over the two weeks because on Sunday they'd started to come off and being a nail biter / picker I spent the rest of the night getting them off which I know isn't good for your nails, I didn't do too much damage thankfully and they've redone them and the next appointment is made. I'm not so keen on the colour I've chosen this time but they've only got to last a couple of weeks, it's more about me leaving them alone whilst they get a little stronger and longer again.  It was nice to sit and just be for a while during the middle of a busy day.

I might have eggs for breakfast again but minus the butter!  I've been up since 5 but I felt like woke a lot in the night, six and a half hours sleep compared to 10 the night before which is probably why I woke often because I wasn't really tired, apps saying on 53 minutes awake though which is about my norm.

I feel really good this morning, I have a big smile on my face because I like my life and I had the added bonus of a midweek trip home, yep life is good.  Plus I'm working on my health.  

I think I can thank my HRT patch for some of it, my pains are a lot better, not gone completely although it has caused me to start bleeding, I was told by the doctor it could happen at first and it'll level off but I'm now on my fourth week of it and it's not slowing down unfortunately so that's the only downside so far.

Hey ho, let's have a great day.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x 

Week 1 done.

Tuesday 12th September 2023

I love sleep and I'm relieved to say I've just had 10 hours after my lack of sleep the night before, I just don't function without it and yesterday I didn't do a great deal at all.  I stayed within my calories, I actually had a couple hundred left over, but my diet left a lot to be desired.  Bread, bread and a bit more bread!  Note to self: it's okay to throw leftover bread in the bin and you're not the 'waist' bin!  

And to top it off when I got back from my pain management group, Aryn had baked soda bread at school and I felt the urge to try it, I wanted to try it because he'd baked it and I'm proud of him but also because damn it was still warm and the butter melted!  So good!  He does have a natural talent for cooking but it's not something he's using unfortunately, maybe in the future as he realises it'd impress a potential girlfriend lol.

Seriously that was my day, washing, bread, pain management group and a couple of episodes of the walking dead, then bed.  I was just too tired to bother with anything else, I'd love a surge of energy this Wednesday afternoon or Friday morning so I could have a good go through the house. 

I did plan the huddle chat that took me a little longer than usual, but I'm looking forward to it, flying solo as my work wife is having a very, much deserved break.

Today I'm looking forward to some scrambled eggs, I fancied them last night but I was out of calories, I'd watched a chef show me how to cook them on Facebook or Pinterest, I shan't be using his method which had a good 100g of butter in the pan, just no need at all, if you use good eggs, all that butter is nice but not necessary when you're trying to save a few calories and lose some weight.

What will the scales say for me today, I hope a loss as I've really tried to navigate the lifestyle obstacles that come my way, my app as you can see is telling me I'm in credit, 

 

My Fitbit app shows that this is the amount of calories I've burned this week, 15,904 calories versus the 11,859 I've consumed is saying I should get a loss, we shall see, I'll like two pound I'm not gonna lie, I'll take whatever the scales say.  I have 7 weeks to lose 7lbs, but 2lb would take me back into the stone bracket below.

I need to go shower before Aryn gets up and wants the shower room.  

Apart from my scrambled eggs, I'm not sure what we've got for tea but I know the choices that are in the fridge, stuffed pasta, chicken chow mein - that's more a tomorrow dinner when I have time or a chicken thing coming today.  I'll let Aryn decide probably or maybe I won't maybe I'll choose somethign that he can have before I get home and I can have when I get back, we'll see, I haven't got time for this thinking, I have a busy day ahead ;) 

OH I forgot something did make me smile yesterday though, my UW bill was low yesterday, I pay for my gas/electricity as I use it, so it's more expensive in the winter than the summer, I also have all our mobile bills (my sisters included), house insurance and full fibre broadband on their and it was only £173 this month, I was thrilled to have a cheap month on a short wages month because of the summer holidays.  Woo Hoo, I still do UW when anyone asks, so if you are interested give me a shout, I'll happily run you a free quote.  Right see ya. 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x