F&H what does it mean to you?

30^th November 2011

"When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice." - William James

Last night in my meeting I was told by a little girl that Christmas starts on Thursday!  After listening to the rest of her conversation she went on to tell me about the three countdown Advent calendars she had.  As cute as that statement was, please realise it doesn’t!  If we start celebrating Christmas now, that’s 25 days of ‘oh dear’ at the scales.

The Christmas parties and meals out are starting though and it is possible to stay on track and still enjoy them, you need to be thinking about your options and planning.  I’m thinking F&H for those days (Filling & Healthy not Fat & Happy remember!), steak, jacket and veggies all come under the F&H banner, as does gammon, fish and chicken breast.  Then you’ve still got your 49pp weekly allowance.

So I’m starting day 3 of back on track to tremendous!   I did 29pp Monday still not decided if I’m going to do 26 or 29 daily allowance we’ll see if I need the extra weeklies, yesterday I did F&H which worked well, I wasn’t hungry and I didn’t go crazy.  Being poorly helps as I’ve not got much of an appetite, I had large bowl of porridge for breakfast then gammon with jacket potato and broccoli for lunch, I used 4pp from my weeklies to have spread on my potato, then for tea I had the leftover mixed together like bubble and squeak which I fried in the 2tsp healthy oil that’s included for zero pp on F&H days.  Very nice it all was too, so much so I’ve decided to stick with F&H today too.  I’m having a raspberry and banana smoothie for breakfast which I’ve made with 0% Greek yogurt.  Was going to make a linguine for lunch but just remembered the pasta has to be wholemeal so unless I can get my hands on some, I need to rethink!  Until I’m well I need simple and quick, I’ve been and bought a few thinks from the supermarket to get me through the week.  

http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/plan/sub/index.aspx if you go to this page you will find a link to a document which has a list of all the filling and healthy foods.

Having spoken with members in my meeting this week, you seem curious about the idea of a F&H day but at the same time a little cautious and not sure what to have, I’ll try to help with that over the next few weeks, maybe a Bev’s Bites (if you have any ideas email them to me).  Here’s a couple of suggestions to get you started;

How about a Creamy mushroom bagel - sauté slice mushrooms with 1 teaspoon of healthy oil (from allowance), add lots of chopped fresh herbs, some low fat plain fromage frais and seasoning, then spoon on a toasted Weight Watchers original bagel. tasty

OR;

Hash Brown brunch 

Zero on F&H or 5pp per serving

Serves 4, takes 30 minutes

Low fat cooking spray

3 rashers lean back bacon chopped roughly (4pp)

275g cooked green vegetables (such as broccoli, leeks)

400g boiled potatoes mashed (9pp)

1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

4 eggs (7pp)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat a non stick frying pan and spray with low fat cooking spray.  Gently cook the bacon for 5 minutes until crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Roughly p the green vegetables and put into a large bowl.  Add the mashed potato, mustards and cooked bacon. Season and mix together.

Using wet hands, divide the mixture into four and then shape each quarter into a large patty or burger shape.   Heat the frying pan you cooked the bacon in and spray again with low fat cooking spray. Gently fry the potato cakes for 10 minutes, turn once (do not attempt to turn until after 5 minutes). Once cooked, transfer to a plate and keep warm.

Meanwhile, bring a pan of water to the boil. Add vinegar to help make the perfect eggs. Crack in four eggs and poach for 5 minutes until opaque. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on top of the hash browns. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

Right time to get a wiggle on, got plenty to do today, just get through today and tomorrow and I can hopefully sleep this lurgy off the weekend.

xx

Develop an attitude of gratitude

29^th November 2012

Just as millions of snowflakes pile up to create a blanket of snow, the ‘thank you’s’ we say pile up and fall gently upon one another until, in our hearts and minds, we are adrift in gratitude. ~Daphne Rose Kingman

Apart from a case of the lurgy I did enjoy getting back to normal and going to work yesterday – does that make me weird?  We had a great meeting about Christmas and how we’re going to cope and we had a few giggles too, I’ve missed that.

I even managed to stick to 29pp, didn’t manage to do the F&H day as my brain still wasn’t with it 100% and I’d have had to think, plus I need to shop today – the cupboards are bare!  I also clocked up 4pp on my pedometer, mmm wonder how many steps we clocked up in New York, it was a lot because I ended up with shin splints!

I’m doing F&H (this list is useful if your trying filling & healthy http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=49711) today, I have defrosted a gammon joint and will have it with potatoes and vegetables for lunch and for breakfast I’m thinking porridge for quickness.   I’ve also found a tin of mandarin oranges in the cupboard which I can have this morning too.  Just need to put my thinking head on for tonight’s meal!

Getting back to normality takes time when you’ve been on holiday just as getting back on track does if you’ve had a break, that’s why I’m taking it one meal at a time, if I try to plan the week I will end up overwhelmed by it all which is why I like the idea of being able to do F&H just for a day at a time, the idea of doing it for an entire week used to fill me with dread but I can manage a day.

This time of year can make us feel a little down, it’s cold, dark and most of us are skint with Christmas on it’s way, the majority of us have just received our last pay packed prior to Christmas and it’s not usually a good feeling, so I find looking at the positives helps enormously.   Adopting an attitude of appreciation towards the good things in your life makes an enormous difference to your level of happiness. People who consciously attempt to be thankful and appreciative tend to feel happier to a greater extent than others.

According to research people who practice some form of conscious gratitude exercised more regularly, were healthier, slept better and felt more optimistic.  They also made more progress towards personal goals and were more alert, enthusiastic and could handle stress more effectively – I’ll have a bit of that thank you!

Some people are naturally more optimistic and positive than others, and some studies suggest that, to a certain degree, our genes determine happiness. However, even the most pessimistic of souls can develop a more optimistic and happier mindset with gentle and persistent practice. Here are some ideas for feeling happier and more at peace.

Be careful when you make comparisons
It’s natural to compare ourselves with others, and many of us tend to compare ourselves with those who are better off. Of course, we all encounter problems and obstacles every day, but most of them are trivial compared with the problems many people experience. We all know that people experience serious illness, live constantly with great pain or relentless hunger; there are people who never had an education, who can’t read or write, people who have been abused or who have no family. The list, of course, is almost endless.

Is the glass half empty or half full? Of course, there are people who are more successful, wealthier, have a ‘better’ job, etc., and it is easy to be envious of them. But there are so many others who are worse off than ourselves, so why not focus on how fortunate we are? Feelings of envy are corrosive and can cause great damage to your happiness and self esteem, so choosing the right comparisons is important.

Be more conscious about the things we take for granted
Many of the things we should be thankful for get forgotten because we are so used to them, and it is only when we lose them that we remember how fortunate we were. Don’t wait until something’s gone before you are grateful – your sight, your health, your family – take some time to appreciate these wonderful things.  As daft as it sounds I’ve always seen Facebook as a negative taking up my time and slowing my work down, whilst away last week (when I couldn’t access it) I realised it also has the positive that it helps me stay in touch with friends and family in a way that I couldn’t if it wasn’t there.

See the good in every situation
Situations are rarely ‘all good’ or ‘all bad.’ These are, to a large extent, labels we put on situations whereas, in reality, it is our response to the situations that determines what kind of experience it is. Even in the most apparently awful situation, we can derive some benefit if we have the right mindset. I think most people would agree that growth and development usually involves some degree of pain, and so challenging situations are opportunities for such growth.

Keep a gratitude journal
This is something very concrete you can do to ensure that gratitude is a conscious and regular part of your day or week. Making a list of the good things in our life can be a wonderful experience. Although we might not think we have much to be grateful for, when we start writing, it becomes clear that we do have a lot going for us. At the end of the day, why not take ten minutes to list a few of the good things that happened during the day? You will end up with a record of things you are grateful for which it will be very helpful to read in times of stress or unhappiness.

Little things matter

A dripping tap soon fills a bucket until it is overflowing. The same is true of anything in life, and developing appreciation is no different. Appreciating the many small things in your day will lead to greater and greater levels of gratitude and happiness. When someone smiles at you, when you receive a small complement, when the bus is on time, when a friend sends you a nice text message… these are all things to be thankful for.

As with all things, success requires persistence. A little bit of gratitude every day can, over time, make a big difference to our level of happiness and well being.

On that note, I’m grateful I’m running behind because at least I had the energy to get out of bed this morning ‘-) Have a fabulous day!

missed you all!

28^th November 2011

Nobody rises to low expectations. Calvin Lloyd

Back to reality with a bang!  It’s 5.20am and I’ve not long been up, didn’t manage to sleep on the flight home so went about 36 hours without sleep, managed 2 hours yesterday lunchtime and finally got to sleep around ten last night, hopefully I can get another early night tonight and sort myself out.

I had an absolutely amazing holiday and for those that are interested here are the links to the many photos!

(me very happy after getting my first glimpse of Central Park in the background)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474455730862.418179.595730861&type=1&l=29e734420f
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150475506090862.418331.595730861&type=1&l=e461541eb4

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474458825862.418183.595730861&type=1&l=9ad930ca78
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474350505862.418158.595730861&type=1&l=71fc8204da
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150474212070862.418129.595730861&type=1&l=b418025ab6

So enough about the holiday, I’m back and it’s time to get down to business, I’ve had a quick squeaky peak on the scales this morning and it’s only looking like a one or two pound weight gain which I’m over the moon about, I’ll officially way this morning at the meeting but as I said in my blog yesterday (if you’re receiving this by email I have been blogging a little about my holiday whilst away you can read it here - http://wwbevsworld.blogspot.com/ ) it appears I have finally changed my behaviour around food. At one time if I'd gone to a buffet I would not have been able to stop thinking about food, at that Sunday brunch and the Thanksgiving meal I had no problem resisting and ignoring most of it. I've finally lost the "I've paid for it" attitude and I think I've improved my "I'm on my holiday" thought pattern. I didn't eat things just because they were there and I didn't eat just because it was a meal time. I was happy to sit with nothing when the girls had cake, I didn't do it because I was thinking about my weight - I did it because I didn't actually want cake!

Let’s hope this new thought pattern continues ;D

I struggled to get anything done yesterday, hadn’t slept for 36 hours so functioning wasn’t really high priority, all I ate all day was two slices of toast for brekkie followed two tins of soup with four slices of bread and low fat spread, I’m back on track from this morning 100%.

I’m still undecided whether to make today a Filling & Healthy (F&H) day or ProPoint, and if I ProPoint not sure if I’ll try 26 or stick with 29 – decisions, decisions.  I’ve no doubt you’ve all got lots of questions for me this week and I’ll do my best to answer them.

I was disappointed last night by a comment made on facebook about Cee Lo Green and his appearance on the tv (we saw him at the parade in New York and I’ve seen him interviewed many times, he’s a lovely man) and it annoyed me because it proves that racism and sexism isn’t okay but fatism tends to get overlooked!  I won’t repeat the posting but it had the words “fat Bxxxxxxx” in the sentence, if that posting had the work black before the second word there would have been an uproar but because it said ‘fat’ apparently it was implied as ‘criticism’ (their words not mine) I see that as an ‘insult’ not ‘critism’!   We all know how difficult it is to lose weight, it isn’t just a cut and dry process, and some people are actually happy being overweight and no one has the right to comment in a derogatory way about it. 

Facebook is used a lot to vent and insult others, it’s such a shame that people feel the need to be so negative - does it make others feel bigger to make someone feel smaller?  I’ve always been brought up to believe, “if you haven’t got something good to say – don’t say anything at all!”

On that note, I’m going to have a shower and get ready for my first meeting, I’m so looking forward to catching up with all my members, I hope you’ve all had a good week and if you haven’t we can sort it out.

xx

There's no place like home

Saturday Morning 27th November NYC

Homeward bound - weather forecast is highs of 64 (18c) lows of 45 (7c) we've been so lucky with the weather warm and sunny everyday but one when it rained for a few hours and got cloudy. We've actually needed sunglasses some days - who'd have thought it.

Me and Lawrence (my new bear) are sat in the foyer of the Radisson waiting for our transfer and we are ready to go now. Waiting round is boring, our last meal was a Maccys cos we are skint! I think Katie's totally dollarless! Vicky and me ain't far behind I've got $40 should just about cover drinks at airport and tips. We've treated it like Monopoly money these last 9 days $72 for 3 cocktails is the most we've paid that's after they add tax & tips! That's roughly £16 for one cocktail - hell I only paid £17 at the Ritz when we were being posh one day. No wonder they give you so much alcohol in the glass ;->

I have to say I've had a ball but have no desire to return, so where next girls....

Back home in the UK Sunday morning.

I realised whilst thinking at the airport on the way home that I have finally changed my behaviour around food. At one time if I'd gone to abuffet I would not have been able to stop thinking about food, at that Sunday brunch and the Thanksgiving meal I had no problem resisting and ignoring most of it. I've finally lost the "I've paid for it" attitude and I think I've improved my "I'm on my holiday" thought pattern. I didn't eat things just because they were there and I didn't eat just because it was a meal time. I was happy to sit with nothing when the girls had cake, I didn't do it because I was thinking about my weight - I did it because I didn't actually want cake!

I went on holiday with the believe I would gain half a stone and the hope I would only gain 4lb, I've just got on the scales and I weigh only 3.5lb more, that'll be gone in days as I've not long got off a plane an my bodies all out of sync, so it's not a true weight I don't think.

The flight was only six hours on the way back, food rubbish again, I feel the need to feed and I haven't slept for about 24hrs so I'm gonna be tired later.

My Alfie almost ate me and mom said "oh I didn't think you were back till tonight, I was gonna tidy up later". There's no place like home...

Sent from my iPhone

27th November 2011

I was strongest when I laughed at my weakness. Elmer Dictonius

So we did thanksgiving dinner at the View, New Yorks only revolving restaurant hugh in the sky and in all honesty that's all it's got going for it! I've come to the conclusion all the places you are told to go to eat in New York because they're the places to be, aren't that great for food. All the best meals we've had weren't mentioned in any guidebook and i haven't had a meal that's made me go wow or want to take a photo of! Don't get me wrong the food at 'The View' wasn't bad but it wasn't any better than what I had tonight for a quarter of the price. And of all the meals my $2 hotdog beats most things I've eaten, sorry but for me New York is not a place I'd get fat!

We still had a giggle, we all made an effort and got dressed up, we started in the hotel bar with a raspberry vodka martini and and he used a third of the bottle in it! Katie helped me out by drinking half of mine ;-). Katie asked the barman to take a picture of us and when we were looking at the photo, Katie said, "you look a bit Chinese there V", Vicky's reply, "yeah my hairs pulled back a bit tight!"

After what was a good night we headed back to the hotel for the girls to get changed and go out shopping again, it's what they call black Friday here today which is like our new year sales and they started at midnight! I waved them off and went to sleep.

I went for a run this morning round the local streets, I was quite pleased as I managed 45 blocks, half up hill, half down - not bad as I haven't run for almost two weeks and I've walked so much I still have shin splints and achy legs.

We had breakfast in Macdonalds so that we could use the free wi fi and then we spent most of the day shopping, bought mom some perfume and me a teddy bear then we came back and I've packed my case which was quite a challenge, I've only just managed to fit it all in and I've had to put my Uggs in my handbag! Think
I might wear them to travel in as my trainers will take less space.

We had a cheap dinner before going to see Sister Act on Broadway, which I'm glad to say was fabulous, comical and very enjoyable. It's coming to the Grand theatre in Wolverhampton next year (not the same cast obviously!) but well worth going to see.

It's now 11.30pm and I can't believe we've just spent our last night in New York, on one hand it's gone really quickly but at the same time it seems ages ago when we had our tour on the first day. I'm looking forward to seeing my mom and Alfie though and sleeping in my own bed.

New York is so busy, I really have an overwhelming desire to spend some time alone, there is no escape from the chaos and craziness - I truly could not live here!

Yep I love my home and my country, people moan all the time about the mess our countries in etc etc but I for one am glad I live there...

First meal when I get home mmmm either beans on toast or something with lots of veggies! And of course a big mug of tea. Then some normality would be nice - I like my life and am looking forward to getting back to it :-)

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Having a ball

24th November 2011  Re-examine all you have been told... Dismiss what insults your soul.  Walt Whitman.  Where to start, Yesterday morning began a little later we all managed to sleep till 7am so by the time we'd finished messing about and used the pc in the hotel business centre we were ready to eat so we went to a place on Times Square called Ellen's Diner where they sing while you eat - they don't serve very quickly though.  It took 45mins to bring us our breakfast, so we enjoyed the free entertainment.   Next we made our way to the World Trade Centre to see the 911 memorial park which because of construction is a ticket only thing at the moment.  We all got emotional walking round the pools reading the names especially when we read that some of the victims had been pregnant.   We spent a long time there contemplating before moving on and as today is Thanksgiving Day here it certainly did make you feel thankful for being alive.  When we were in the visitor centre I overheard a mother trying to explain the attack on the twin towers to her daughter - how do you do that!? In the evening we went to Madison Square Garden to see a basketball game, it took us twice as long to get there because we got on the wrong subway and went ten blocks too far, it probably would have been shorter walking from our hotel, but it made us giggle and we got to see the Flat Iron building which was New York's first skyscraper.   The ball game was an experience and it was great to see Madison Square Garden from inside. There were two semi final games but we were happy to just watch the one and decided to go spend the rest of the time in Macy's.  I felt very festive walking around the store, Miracle on 34th Street is one of my all time favourite films and one of the reasons I'm in NY this week.  'believe' is their festive theme and it felt so real and special.  We grabbed a pizza slice for tea and I had a chicken thing from one of the food stands.  We were shattered when we got back to the room just before midnight and we set the alarm for 6am! So today is Thanksgiving and we did manage to get up at 6am, we quickly wrapped up warm and headed out to find a spot to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we pitched up on 57th St & 7th Ave and patiently waited for a good 3hrs. I'm so glad we left so early to get a good spot, we had a clear view of the parade and what a show it was!  The 85th Anniversary edition, the parade of wonder featured 15 giant character balloons, 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads including Sonic the Hedgehog, Kermit, Spongebob, Buzz Lightyear.  It also had 27 floats, 1,600 cheerleader, dancers and performing groups members, 800 clowns, 11 marching bands, celebrity performers including as Cee Lo Green, Neil Diamond and Mary J Blige and of course Santa Claus!  So many people there too, according to the news 1.5 million people were there to see it all! As you can imagine by the time it finished passing us around 11 we were ravenous and extremely thirsty so we walked back towards the hotel and passed a little place called Palace Restaurant which is easily the best service we have had so far, the waiter was so attentive, the service was fast and the food was delicious. It was also a real bargain too and the first decent cup of tea I've had to far, so I had 3 cups!   We are now back at the hotel, I'm blogging and the girls are snoozing, later we have Thanksgiving dinner booked at 'The View' which is New Yorks only revolving restaurant - ooo exciting must make sure we don't lose our table if we go to the bathroom! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone xx

24th November 2011 

Re-examine all you have been told... Dismiss what insults your soul.  Walt Whitman. 

Where to start, Yesterday morning began a little later we all managed to sleep till 7am so by the time we'd finished messing about and used the pc in the hotel business centre we were ready to eat so we went to a place on Times Square called Ellen's Diner where they sing while you eat - they don't serve very quickly though.  It took 45mins to bring us our breakfast, so we enjoyed the free entertainment.  

Next we made our way to the World Trade Centre to see the 911 memorial park which because of construction is a ticket only thing at the moment.  We all got emotional walking round the pools reading the names especially when we read that some of the victims had been pregnant.   We spent a long time there contemplating before moving on and as today is Thanksgiving Day here it certainly did make you feel thankful for being alive.  When we were in the visitor centre I overheard a mother trying to explain the attack on the twin towers to her daughter - how do you do that!?

In the evening we went to Madison Square Garden to see a basketball game, it took us twice as long to get there because we got on the wrong subway and went ten blocks too far, it probably would have been shorter walking from our hotel, but it made us giggle and we got to see the Flat Iron building which was New York's first skyscraper.  

The ball game was an experience and it was great to see Madison Square Garden from inside. There were two semi final games but we were happy to just watch the one and decided to go spend the rest of the time in Macy's.  I felt very festive walking around the store, Miracle on 34th Street is one of my all time favourite films and one of the reasons I'm in NY this week.  'believe' is their festive theme and it felt so real and special. 

We grabbed a pizza slice for tea and I had a chicken thing from one of the food stands.  We were shattered when we got back to the room just before midnight and we set the alarm for 6am!

So today is Thanksgiving and we did manage to get up at 6am, we quickly wrapped up warm and headed out to find a spot to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, we pitched up on 57th St & 7th Ave and patiently waited for a good 3hrs. I'm so glad we left so early to get a good spot, we had a clear view of the parade and what a show it was!  The 85th Anniversary edition, the parade of wonder featured 15 giant character balloons, 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads including Sonic the Hedgehog, Kermit, Spongebob, Buzz Lightyear.  It also had 27 floats, 1,600 cheerleader, dancers and performing groups members, 800 clowns, 11 marching bands, celebrity performers including as Cee Lo Green, Neil Diamond and Mary J Blige and of course Santa Claus!  So many people there too, according to the news 1.5 million people were there to see it all!

As you can imagine by the time it finished passing us around 11 we were ravenous and extremely thirsty so we walked back towards the hotel and passed a little place called Palace Restaurant which is easily the best service we have had so far, the waiter was so attentive, the service was fast and the food was delicious. It was also a real bargain too and the first decent cup of tea I've had to far, so I had 3 cups!  

We are now back at the hotel, I'm blogging and the girls are snoozing, later we have Thanksgiving dinner booked at 'The View' which is New Yorks only revolving restaurant - ooo exciting must make sure we don't lose our table if we go to the bathroom!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone xx

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22nd November 2011 

A setback is only a setup for a comeback.  

So the girls came back last night loaded with bags, they'd  spent rather a lot of money, eaten plenty cake to keep them energised and used all the posh hotel bathrooms on route. Meanwhile I'd had a nice long soak in the bath and was ravenous. 

We decided we wanted a steak so walked a couple of blocks to Smith and Wollenski for what was a very posh tea.  I had a NY sirloin on the bone mmm it was delicious and rare, because I knew it would be huge I ordered just a side of asparagus - no spuds it would have been too much.  The girls had fillet steak in a peppercorn sauce, Vicky ordered a jacket potato and you've never seen a spud so large we thought it was a rugby ball!  I had my first bottle of red and it cost me $60 it was calls Molly Dooker - two left feet it was 16% volume and after drinking it I did feel like I had two left feet, I was very very squiffy!  Vicky was the only one that managed a desert - chocolate and peanut butter layer cake, again it was huge and I had an Irish coffee hence the not really remembering going back to the hotel ;-)

The bill was $303 good job breakfast had been a freebie and my lunch was a $4 hotdog!  

Woke this morning feeling a little delicate, so haven't had a coffee yet opted for a resolve hoping its done the trick as we are now standing in a queue waiting to board an helicopter.

.....

Just got off the helicopter and I've lost the locker key oops so we are sat waiting for the helicopter to return and hopefully it fell out my pocket there otherwise I'm in trouble as all out handbags and passports in there.  

The flight was fabulous, it was interesting seeing New York from the air, flying over the Bronx you could tell its not a place to meander around!  The statue of liberty isn't as large as we expected it to be, maybe it looks bigger if your standing next to it. 

Earlier we went to Katz deli for breakfast, this was where Meg Ryan  did her fake orgasm in When Harry Met Sally!  I ordered their famous pastrami sandwich and it was ridiculously large and the meat was hot which I didn't expect. Only managed to eat half - there was enough meat to make four Sunday dinners!  Katie's scrambled eggs were amazing, again I hate to say it but they could teach the Waldorf how to cook eggs!   

It's been really sunny all week, we've been very lucky, today it's cloudy and rain is forecast but we haven't seen any yet.  

Well hopefully we'll get the key soon an can continue our adventure...

9.25pm 

Well we found the key and moved onto the Staten Island and a 25 minute crossing.  I just have the two best travelling companions they make me smile all the time. We were sat on the boat and Vicky pipes up, "What are we doing this for again?". Hilarious!  Then as we arrived on Staten Island Katie, bless her says "Oh look at all these staten island ferries, is this like a port for them or something".  I'm saying nothing!

Once back in NY we walked up to ground zero where there is construction work going on so you can't get to the memorial itself so we were glad to have seen it from the sky earlier.  

Katie remembered that there was a shop close by called Century 21 and I agreed to go in thinking how long can it take to walk round one shop - four hours that how long!  Yep to say these girls can shop is an understatement but I'm not complaining because I got a pair of Levi's that actually fit for $23 and some other bargains. The girls bought so much you wouldn't believe, Vicky is the only women I know who can spend an hour in a chemist. 

It was suddenly 6pm and we all realised how hungry we were, we hadn't eaten since 9am and we devoured a Chinese for $10 each = bargain. 

By now it was pouring down, proper rain so we caught the subway and headed back to the room stopping to grab a beer, I'm actually drinking less here than I do at home.  Who knows maybe I won't gain too much weight after all.  

I'm shattered and have shin splints from walking so much but I'm also very happy. We are having a ball.  

Sent from my iPhone

21st November 2010

21st November 2010

You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge. Damon Runyon

Yet another brilliant day in New York City and when they say 'you're welcome' I have to say we really do feel welcome. It's a busy, bustling place but if you can connect with the locals on a one to one basis they really do come across as genuine and friendly.

Our morning started with no hot water in the hotel so after the second time of calling the front desk we were given free breakfast vouchers each so that's today sorted.

We were booked in for Sunday Brunch at the Waldorf which is extremely lavish and there were so many dishes to choose from - it was like Cosmo for rich people only if I'm hand on heart honest the food upon eating and tasting wasn't actually any better. The eggs benedict was over cooked and cold, the ones I'd had at the airport was as good and the ones I had once in London were far superior. The beef Wellington was cooked to perfection though and it was nice that there was so much choice. It's good to say we've done it but I wouldn't do it again, for what we paid the table service by our waiter in my opinion was pretty poor, they're weren't any spoons, so we had to ask for cutlery and he tried to overcharge us on our credit card twice!

The day did get better, after changing back into our jeans we had a couple of hours to kill so we strided - we don't merely walk now - up to Central Park where I got my first peak from close up = stunning. I just found it amazing that someone built such a huge expanse in such a city, it's valued about around 485 billion apparently!

We all jumped in a horse and carriage and went for a trip around the park, what a treat and on such a beautiful sunny day, we were walking round without our coats, I was wearing only a long shirt tshirt - glorious. The trees are all autumn colours and I can't wait to go back today on my own to explore, the girls plan to shop.

As we were walking away from the park a group of guys were about to start performing so we stayed to watch. They were called the Breeze team and danced and entertained us for about 20 mins. They were funny too they made us all start around the chalk line and the tall guy bent over in front of me and I got the peachiest round black bum in my face ;-) I was very tempted to grab a handful I have to say - I didn't! At the end of the show we were walking off and one came running over (quite funny black guy) calling after us "o no ladies you leaving us' jokingly I turned an ran back towards him in slow motion an we embraced like they do in the movies and then both laughed. He said "I hope you girls enjoyed the show, where you girls off to next'. I told him Times Square and he said they'd be down there later. As I walked away I heard him say, "damn I like the colour of you girl" check me out - I just got chatted up! Always good for the ego, I'm sure you'd agree.

We popped in an Abercrombie and Fitch store for Katie to get a hoody. Oh my word what's that all about, there was an half naked skinny man in the doorway and the shop was virtually in the dark and smelt strongly of what I'm guessing is there
Perfume. Not impressed how are you supposed to shop when you can barely see the assistant let alone the product!

We got to Time Square to join"the ride' I'd booked it before leaving the UK and I'm so glad I did. It was a bus ride where you sat facing sideways so you were looking at the sidewalks and the two hosts onboard entertained us with along the way with stories but not the normal history stuff. It was all very entertaining and along the ride we got entertained by what appeared to be a member of the public and they'd sing or dance and we could hear them inside - it was fantastic. We all sang "New York, New York" to everyone on Times Square and they clapped and swayed their arms. An hilarious experience and highly recommended.

We had a Macdonalds for our tea at least our brunch had lasted us all day and a burger for tea meant free WiFi.

And once again the lightweight party girls were back in our room by 9pm although we did stay awake till gone ten!

A much better night sleep and now it's 6am an Katie's going down to get our Starbucks coffee then we can go have our free breakfast.

22nd November 2011

It's 4.30pm and I've had a day on my own, after breakfast the girls went shopping and I went for a five hour walk including Central Park. I walked the entire park (it's two and a half miles long and half a mile wide), enjoying the peace and tranquility, I was surprised that's there we're actually roads throughout the park, I hadn't realised there were. There are still people everywhere and I think in all that time I only managed to be the only person I could see for a few minutes. The leaves on the trees are such brilliant colours at the moment and I also saw some beautiful birds, again wonderful colours. One was bright red, I'm not sure what it was.

Because the girls were still shopping, I decided to go visit a Weight Watcher meeting which was only half mile from my hotel. All very interesting to see how it works in the US and I picked up a few bars and sweets and the magazine, plus I got weighed and so far I've stayed the same.

I'm now chilling in my room waiting for the girls to return...

Sent from my iPhone

November 20th 2011

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. Thoreau

What a great day and I got to see a sight that always amazed me when I've seem it on tv or in a book - Central Park from the air - WOW just stunning.

So let's start at the beginning, we eventually got our Starbucks coffee and slowly got ready for the day, we then set off to find a place round the corner call 'liberty's' for breakfast which was like our version of a greasy spoon but oh my word tasty cheap food that really hit the spot I had a 'Liberty special omelette' and I didn't actually feel hungry again all day which I found quite strange!

At ten we were met by our Apple Greeter 'Ariela' it's a voluntary thing and she spent half a day with us, we started off at Grand Central station which is the first NY thing I've seen so far that is better than on the tv, and our guide told us how valuable the clock was because of its opal faces and we admires the beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling which is speckled like a Baroque church with a painted representation of the winter night fly, it's 2500 stars shown back to front - 'as God would have seen them'. She pointed out a dark patch in the corner of the ceiling which was apparently its the colour that the ceiling was when out guide was a child when they didn't realise that beautiful artwork was there until a massive clean up restoration took place. Apparently 90% of the black was cigarette smoke!

Next we walked to see the christmas window display at Lord & Taylor which is a department store, then briefly took in a couple of Christmas markets.

It was good having Ariela with us because she took charge and decided where we were going and at the same time telling us a bit about where we were. Next we took our first subway to Chelsea and walked to see the High Line which is an ambitious urban renewal project that spans the Meatpacking District and West Chelsea. It really is a clever transformation of a disused railway, constructed between 1929 and 1834, that once moved goods and produce around lower Manhattan, then spent years rusted, overgrown and threatened with demolition and locals saved it. In the hustle and bustle of New York it's fabulous to have this elevated promenade-cum-public park some 30ft in the air. Before we leave I'd like to walk the length of it which is about 2 mile.

Of course there's always time to interrupt a tour for shopping and Katie and I both treated ourselves to a pair of Uggs for a third of what we would have paid in the UK so I can finally stop going to work in my sandals!

We ended our tour in Union square where the second Christmas fair was and caught a bus back to the hotel. We tried to tip Ariela as we said goodbye on the bus but she refused, said she did it voluntarily and she'd enjoyed herself so as we hugged, I pushed it down the front of her top and jumped off the bus ;-). She was fab, we'd had a wonderful morning and a great insight into NY so we wanted her to go treat herself to something nice.

After a pit stop at the hotel we went to Rockefeller centre to go to the top of the rock and this was where I got my first glimpse of Central Park, we exited the lift on the 67th floor a ride that took 43 seconds and there it was spread out in front of my eyes the most amazing park in the middle of a concrete junction. I was beaming, it was the first time I'd really got excited and so impressed - another ambition realised, the views from up there were as magnificent as you would expect and because it was so dry, bright and sunny you really could see forever.

We realised when we got down that if we rushed we might get to watch the sunset from the top of the Empire State Building, it was a good few blocks away so we were sweating by the time we got there. We were told by a chap outside that unless we had express tickets we'd have a two hour wait, I was just thinking we have tickets, we'll be fine. It wasn't until we walked in we realised he wasn't lying then thanks to an attendant with a sharp eye she grabbed our tickets and said, "hell girl, you got express tickets you don't have to wait or no one!" and we were fast tracked all the way to the top (I'd bought them so long ago I'd forgot I'd paid a bit extra - worth every penny!).

We arrived at the 86th floor very warm from our rushing about so Vicky took her coat off, so funny an American said to her, "hell girl, put your jacket on its freezing out here" what can I say us Brits are tough!

We got to watch the sunset over New York from the 102nd floor (1454ft in the air) and as anyone who knows me knows I love the sky this was the second thing that made me beam with appreciation.

So the three of us are stood admiring the Manhattan night sky when Vicky says "Was it hong kong that was on the top of the empire state building. Katie replied "yes". And I'm not quite fully present in yr moment so all I heard was hong kong on top of the empire state building so I'm like "huh!?" the only thing that came to mind was politics or something i was totally confused and in unison they both said,"You know hong kong, the film,the big gorilla thing". I just started laughing, "You mean king kong you daft bitches". How funny because neither of them had spotted Vicky's mistake. We laughed and decided it was time to
Return to the ground and go cash in our buy one get one free cocktail vouchers that came with our tickets.

We had two cocktails each and a good long chat to an couple who were visiting from Florida. I couldn't believe it was 8pm and we hadn't eaten since breakfast, we weren't fussed about eating out so on the way back to the hotel Katie grabbed a slice of pizza I picked up some Chinese noodles and Vicky opted or dumplings.

In true Sex in the City style (not!) we were all in bed and asleep by 9.30!

It's now 7am and I've been awake since 4, just had coffee and the girls have both decided to try and I back to sleep.

We've got Sunday brunch booked this morning at ten at the Waldorf Astoria - how posh is that! I reckon if we eat enough we won't new feeding again today ;-)

There are so many cute dogs walking round this city, it keeps making me think of Alfie, I hope he remembers who I am when I get back.

Sent from my iPhone

19th November 2011

It's not who you want to spend Friday night with that matters, it's who you want to spend all day Saturday with, every Saturday for the rest of your life!

This time yesterday I was waiting for Vicky to pick me up to take us to the airport, this morning we are sat watching an American advert for kettle works because Vicky thinks they may work. The time in between these two times have been great.

Check in and the flight was excellent, I watched three films on the plane to keep me entertained between meals, recommend 'friends with benefits' with Justin Timberlake good film.

It took a while to get to hotel from airport as traffic was bad, it's the first day of the holiday season apparently so it's expected to get worse.

Our rooms fab two queen sized beds and two bathrooms which is a bonus with 3 females! After settling in we went for a walk around and to more food.

It's quite bizarre walking past streets you've seen on the tv so many times and recognising names. We ended up at Times square which in the daylight I have to say didn't blow me away whether it will at night remains to be seen.

Out first meal in New York was at Tony's and wow it was good, we started with Bellini's, the for our meal we had the most amazing chicken dish cooked with lemon and sage served with sausage, peppers and onions - huge dish enough for three and we ha a plate of spaghetti and meatballs which were the size of tennis balls and delicious. The waiter was great, very attentive and friendly until we paid the bill and tipped him well then he gave us a huge smile and disappeared never to be seen again. We did get our leftover chicken to take away so we could give it to an homeless bloke on the way back to hotel.

Once we got back to the room about six it was only hour before we were all asleep within 30 minutes.

It's now 5.30, I've been up over an hour, slept great till one then had interupted snoozing since. Went to get coffee from the Starbucks but its not open - what happened to the city that never sleeps!

So today our adventure really begins. We are being met at 10am by a New York Apple Greeter who's going to give us a tour - yay roll on.

Here's to funness xxx

Sent from my iPhone

mom's shopping list so she doesn't starve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you even notice that!

17^th November 2011

Nothing is easy to the unwilling. Thomas Fuller

This time tomorrow, I’ll be on my way to the airport so yes I’m now at super excited stage, although actually think I’m a little calmer than yesterday probably because it’s almost here!

I was rushing around yesterday, had to go to the dentist for a filling – not nice, I really do not like needles nor the numbness it leaves you with for hours afterwards but at least I have my choppers in tact for my trip.

As I was rushing around like a lunatic, I was also grabbing food in a quick way too, and I noticed something, when I grab food (and I think others do this too) whether it actually is fast food or junk food or just something you can eat quickly, i.e. in the car or walking or at your desk then I eat it quickly too, I don’t focus on it at all and I don’t even taste it because it’s gone that quickly.  Now I’m not sure if I eat it quickly because I’m in a rush so it’s just automatic or because I feel guilty that I’m eating fast food and know it’s not good for me!  I’m still not sure and it’s something for me to ponder on, so if you do the same, try and slow down with the eating, I’m going too.

Mindfulness that’s what it’s called, how many times have you got somewhere and not remembered getting there?  Or done something and for the life of you don’t remember?  We are so preoccupied these days it’s frightening!  And that contributes to our weight gain, I know many members who join and that first week they’ll come back and tell me how someone offered them a chocolate and they’d said yes and eaten it before they’d remember they were on a diet!   You know how it goes, you've been working hard all day and it's time for at treat. You've been holding off, waiting for the delicious taste of … what is it that floats your boat?  Maybe a bar of chocolate or a packet of crisps.  You take the first bite - delicious! You take the second bite. Still good, maybe a little less yummy than the first bite, but never mind. You glance at the tv or the computer and something catches your eye. Something happens in I’m a celeb, or someone posts a video on Facebook. You click on it, watch, and continue eating.  Suddenly you look down. Where did that treat go? Your fingers are sticky and there's still a trace of flavour in your mouth, so it must have disappeared down the hatch while you weren't looking . . . or smelling, or tasting, or enjoying. Disappointment and dissatisfaction set in. "That one just disappeared! I'd better have another one." Next the internal critic voice pipes up "What are you thinking? One treat is enough. You know you're trying to lose weight."

And so begins the struggle over the simple, natural, pleasurable act of eating.  I find it really sad that food and eating have become such a common source of unhappiness? And one of the basic reasons for our imbalance with food and eating is that we've forgotten how to be present as we eat. We eat mindlessly.

The food industry decided that the problem must be in the food, so they’ve used chemical technology to take the calories out, the fat out, and to substitute chemical sweeteners and artificial fats. Food is food. It is neither good nor bad. Then it was decided the problem was our fat cells, so people liposuctioned them out.  Then it was decided that the digestive system was the problem, so let’s staple the stomach or surgically by-pass the small intestine. The digestive system is just trying to do its job, breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and excreting what's not needed. (There's no question that bariatric surgery can be an emergency life-saving measure for some people. It works by forcing people to eat mindfully, causing pain and vomiting if they don't. It is very expensive, has lots of side effects, and is not a long-term solution for the majority of people or for children with out-of-balance eating.

We could consider that maybe the problem is not in the food, the fat cells or the stomach and intestines. The problem lies in the mind. It lies in our lack of awareness of the messages coming in from our body, from our very cells and from our heart. Mindful eating helps us learn to hear what our body is telling us about hunger and satisfaction. It helps us become aware of who in the body/heart/mind complex is hungry, and how and what is best to nourish it. Mindful eating is natural, interesting, fun, and cheap.

Mindfulness is simply the moment-by-moment awareness of life. But it’s not always so simple. We so easily get caught up in our own thoughts and self-talk that we are scarcely aware of life as it passes us by. As we know this is certainly true of our eating. We eat meal after meal, snack after snack, barely aware of what we’re eating and how much we’re consuming.  So just for today (and then you can reassess tomorrow) decide to eat mindfully, start paying attention to your life.

Why not try taking the first four sips of a cup of hot tea or coffee with full attention?   Or if you are reading and eating, try alternating these activities, not doing both at once? Read a page, then put the book down and eat a few bites, savouring the tastes, then read another page, and so on.  Next time you’re sitting down to a meal, you might eat in silence for the first five minutes.  Try eating one meal a week mindfully, alone and in silence. Be creative. For example, could you eat lunch behind a closed office door, or even alone in your car?

It’s not easy, I’ve tried it, we get so easily distracted – good luck!

As long as you get there...

16^th November 2011

Life where you're always doing something you love is art. - Leo Babauta –

To say I’m excited is a little bit of an understatement right now, only 2 more sleeps (and yes Romana you were right sleepings not coming easy, been up at 4am last two mornings!) and 8 more meetings before me and my girls are flying high ;-) yesterday we booked Sunday Brunch at the Waldorf Astoria – how very posh!  And I’m hoping today to be able to book a ball game at Madison Square Garden if the girls will let me.

Great weight losses in the meeting this week and another gorgeous member to goal, well done Sheila and Ann, you did fab.  Yesterday in my meeting one of my members wasn’t too happy at losing 2lb in her first two weeks of joining and it got me to thinking that if you’re eating healthy, managing to have a bit of what you fancy without feeling guilty and still losing weight, isn’t it better to do it a pound a week rather than go for some quick fix plan that makes you lose a stone in a month along with all your friends because not only can’t you go out for fear of not following the stupid diet but you’re so cranky from lack of food your friends don’t want to be around you anyway! 

I’m very fortunate to have a job I love and we regular have a giggle in my meetings, which is good because a laugh a day could help keep the doctor away. That's according to an overview of laughter studies (yes, they exist) in the Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine journal, which suggests a hearty chuckle is seriously good for you.

Apparently laughter triggers changes in the immune system, which could even stave off a cold (more reason to find something to giggle at this time of year)m  And there's more: everyone knows laughter cheers you up, but it's also been proven to help you cope with stress, reduce anxiety, dispel tension and act as an anti-depressant. That might be because it decreases stress hormones, and raises your pain threshold by producing feel-good endorphins. Laughing also tones core muscles - a mini-workout, if you like. Dr Mora-Ripoll's advice? 'Add laughter to each day, remember to laugh regularly, share your laughs and help others laugh.' Which, for me, translates into watching feel-good films, booking in time with my mates (we always have a giggle) and re-watching a good box set such as Friends. I plan on taking the doctor's advice.

Laughing is the last thing you want to do sometimes though when you get on the scales and they don’t say what you want them too, and I know it’s easy for me to say sitting here happy in my skin but my advice at those times is to think of all the positives.  You’re feeling healthier because you’re eating better, you look better because normally when you take care of yourself your skin improves and also as long as that weight is coming off over time you can live with a week of waiting.  Honestly it’s how I try to think now, although it wasn’t how I was in the past as a member, I was a nightmare, I had such high expectations and if I didn’t get them I’d think I had failed and this is what stopped me getting to my goal and staying there.   Beating yourself up or expecting too much is the quickest route to failure – trust me, I failed so many times before I decided to become happy with whatever.  I have six gold cards with different weights on to prove it!

And just in case you were wondering it’s 76hours to take off ;D YAY!!!

6ft & blonde - never gonna happen!

15^th November 2011

Some will, Some won't, So What. Next!

I think I’m packed, well 90% sorted anyway and anything I haven’t got when I get there, I’m sure I can buy.  I haven’t packed a case like that for years, normally we go for a week in this country and I just grab all my scruffs in a bin bag – sorted!  So yesterday afternoon was quite amusing to say the least.

There’s a certain perfect-life daydream so many people have that may go like this: You’re a comfortable size 10, dressed like an off-duty model in skinny jeans, ballet flats and a white T-shirt. And underneath that, you’re wearing a barely there bra that wouldn't even begin to hold up your usual DD cup. In short, YOU have your ideal body. Don't most people think they'd be happier thinner? Don't you? Even if it's not losing a lot of weight - 5lb, 7lb... hell, maybe even a stone, don't we all dream of being able to wear a skinny black dress without a body woe?  When I used to daydream my perfect body I was always taller - Weight Watchers couldn't sort that for me unfortunately!

Like so many women, in the past I have regularly gone low cal, low carb, low sugar, low everything. But however much weight I lost, it never lasted. Since my teens, I've ranged repeatedly from a size 20 to a skinny size 8. I used to blame greed and lack of self control but finally I got it under control and am now a happy size 12, who occasionally gains a few pounds – I plan to do that in New York, and I’m not worried because I know I can get it off again.

For some (not all) still struggling to get to that ‘happy weight’ I now believe something more complicated could be to blame – they have a fear of being thin. But isn't that ridiculous? How can someone be afraid of the very thing they fantasise about? Ursula James, a clinical hypnotist and visiting fellow at Oxford University Medical School (ursulajames.com), explains the reasons for personal body sabotage. 'Losing weight is the first step in becoming the person you've always dreamed of being, and for a lot of people this can be scary,' she says. Her theory goes that if you were to drop those additional pounds for good, you think you should then become the woman you want - but am secretly afraid - to be. The successful Sender reply address says do not reply.limelight- loving, go-getter, who is so comfortable in herself she can wear that bikini with pride (terrifying), who puts herself forward for those high-profile jobs (what if I fail?) and who enjoys the attention that comes from having a newly acquired enviable figure (gulp). Nothing would be holding you back from your perfect life. And if you can’t blame your weight when you didn't achieve it, what exactly could you blame? 

Apparently you might be using your weight as a shield against intimacy, a weapon against change and armour against being hurt.  If you lose the weight, you have no more excuses for not being a success and no more reasons not to be happy.  Makes sense really I suppose and a fear of being slim is in fact a common yet unrecognised obstacle for many women.  I’ve met a lot of women who blame anything that goes wrong on their weight, and dreamt of how everything would get better once they shed it (hell I’ve been one of them) – love life, career, family life, even finances.  It's easier to fail in your weight-loss goals than fail to live up to your own ideals.

Fear of change can often be at the root of the problem.  Fear can prevent you losing weight in the first place or appear once you've started shedding the pounds, causing you to regain it.  You could be scared you're going to put on all the weight you've lost, so you don't even try.  Once you've slimmed, you're not the only one who may expect more of yourself – others might, too.

But if a fear of being slim is deep-set and hidden how can you tell if it's stopping your efforts? 'When you have repeatedly attempted to lose weight but failed, and if you find yourself sabotaging your efforts, there may be fear involved,  Another possible pointer is that you lose some weight but then level off, and don't know why you can't make it to your goal weight (assuming it's a realistic one).

You could use this exercise to help figure out your weight-loss fears.  Write down as many completions as you can to the sentence, "I am afraid to be thin because..."' While the first few responses are likely to be superficial and/or obvious, as you go on, you'll get deeper answers, which will give you more valuable information on how to heal or manage your concerns.

Why not spend some time thinking about who and what you might become if you drop those pounds the realise you can do those things now; work on building your confidence; you don’t have to lose weight to be great. 

I’m not the lightest I’ve ever been but I am the happiest, I stopped waiting for the perfect body I had in my mind and started to love the one I’d got – try it you might like it.  These days I’m more inclined to take care of my body because I love it and because of that I manage to keep my weight stable-ish! ;-)

168 hours in the week – how are you distributing yours?

14^th November 2011

You are my friend when you can guard my failure, challenge my thought and celebrate my success. Unknown

It’s Monday morning again and for some it follows a fabulous weekend and you’ve relaxed, recharged and you are raring to go again (that includes me).  For the rest of you, maybe you’ve woken up not feeling any more refreshed than when the weekend started because you did so much or you’re just burnt out.

There’s no denying that life these days is busy. Fun as it is, simply managing work, family and social commitments can feel like a bit of a juggling act. So it’s hardly surprising that something gets lost in the mix. Yesterday I mentioned the word ‘neglect’ which seemed to get a reaction and if I’m honest that’s exactly what I wanted it to do, get your attention.  Because let’s be honest it can be easy to forget to make time for ourselves, so this week I’m inviting you to put aside 10 minutes a day dedicated entirely to ourselves.  Why?  Because we’re worth it!

Why ten minutes you may wonder, well because it’s realistic, I think all of us can find ten minutes a day, heck most of us mess about on facebook for three times that probably!

So what could you do with those ten minutes, you might use them to go for a walk, to catch up on that novel you’re reading, to plan what you’re gonna eat for your dinner or to simply sit back and relax with a refreshing cuppa. It doesn’t matter how you use it, what matters is that it’s an opportunity for you to get back to you.

You can start right now if you like; put together a list of the kinds of things you would indulge in if you had more time. For example, you might like to potter in the garden, try a bit of meditating or read a book. Refer to this list for inspiration next time you find yourself with a spare 10 minutes. Remember, this is your time – use it to get you back to you.

I got this idea from a magazine I was scanning yesterday and quite liked it, there were three categories ‘relax, recharge, refresh’ which one do you most need, it might be a different one each day.  Relaxing is the easiest I suppose because it involves not doing a lot, something none of us have time for, so a ten minute soak in the bath maybe, a bit of pilates or yoga, a face mask, meditation – anything that chills you out.  Recharge, well you could have a boogie round the kitchen or go for a walk round the block or ten minutes on your Wii Fit.  Refresh - sit and read for ten minutes (this is what I’m going to do, I love to read but never have the time, so this week I’m making time!) or get crafting or scrapbooking, or maybe journaling/blogging something that takes you away from reality for ten minutes so you’re ready to cope when you return.

Go on – it’s only 10 minutes, but as you’ll soon realise, 10 minutes can make a big difference.

168 hours in the week – how are you distributing yours?