Count your blessings, not just your calories...

30^th June 2014

“If you want to soar in life, you must first learn to F.L.Y. (First love Yourself)” Mark Sterling

Check me out – not long been up, had me an early night and a lie in, feeling 100% refreshed now.  Another none work day yesterday, I don’t actually remember the last time I totally turned off from work, even at Christmas I was answering members questions, it was weird and I’ll own up to answering one, couldn’t help myself! 

Another chilled out day, although I did clean out the fridge/freezer ready for my online delivery yesterday which came about eleven just in time for me to cook a roast beef dinner.  I over ordered on the bananas!  Must have added them twice, have about 6 bunches, did think about making banana bread but can decide as it’s just more cake in the house really!  Although Nigella’s chocolate banana muffins were awesome and they could be frozen, I shall see, my sister is going to have a couple of bunches.  Not sure I can make cake and stay on track this week…  

My first step to staying in control is knowing your limits – if it ain’t there you can’t eat it!

My fridge is now full of good healthy food, I have a couple of good ready meals in case I can’t be bothered to cook and just want something quick, although I must remember beans on toast, or eggs are quick, maybe put a list of quick meal ideas on the fridge – that might help.

The highlight of our day yesterday was how to stop the pigeons eating the squirrels nuts!  How rock and roll are we?  Well we did it, or we will as my sister tracked down a squirrel feeder online so that he can get to the seed but the pigeon can’t.  We’ve made a make do version until it arrives, me being a saddo was getting worried that the pigeons will starve as I watched them wander round confused yesterday afternoon saying, “where’s me dinner?” to each other!

So I’ve gained a pound this morning, I’m not surprised, although I’ve eaten healthy this week, I haven’t paid any attention to the ProPoint totals of all the extras I’ve been having, I’ve treated this weekend like a mini holiday because I wasn’t working and I didn’t want to think about Weight Watchers at all.  Back on track from now though, meals ideas list made rather than a meal plan, my fridge is full of healthy and happy friendly food, I’ve bought mom crisps and goodies that I don’t particularly like so hopefully I should be ok.  

I’m going to work today, even though it is usually mom day (we’ve had mom weekend instead) so that I can take time out over the rest of the week to cook  good food and eat lunch, cooking doesn’t have to be a big deal, I love the idea of meals in minutes with few ingredients.  I saw this one yesterday that I’m going to try;
Spaghetti with pea pesto – 13pp per portion, serves 2
boil 120g Sainsbury’s wholewheat spaghetti (10pp) until al dente.  Meanwhile blitz 150g peas, 1 chopped chilli (optional), ½ crushed garlic clove, 50ml basil oil (13pp), juice of ½ lemon & 30g parmesan (3pp), season and mix with spaghetti, serve with basic leaves and parmesan 

 I reckon you could lower the basil oil quantity and I’m guessing it’s just olive oil infused with basil leaves so you can make your own.  Yeah that might be nice, but no way would I use that much oil.  This is why when you eat out at restaurants you just can’t work out exactly how many ProPoints in some of the meals, not if they’re pour olive oil around like that! 

The hot weather needs to get back, I just love sitting outside in it, my kitchen tables the next best place, and if I work there it doesn’t feel so much like work because at least I’m not in my office!  

Well writing this has motivated me to get back on track and focused on the healthy, I smile when I write these blogs you know because I know if I was to go back through them, I would have written similar things many times but do you know what – that’s life!  We repeat, we redo and we carry on and I happen to love my life, I love my constant start-overs, it’s who I am, it usually means I’ve had a fab weekend or week preceding the “back on track” mindset or it signifies the end of a bad period of my life because I’m mentally in a place to get “back on track”.  

Yeah I’m blessed, I have a wonderful mom who makes me smile with the things she says, some clean - some not so, don’t get me wrong we drive each other crazy at times, our life is not all happy, happy but it’s our life and we’re making the best of it. 

Right I’m off, I’m still contemplating a bit of banana baking ;) watch this space….

Have a great day BeYOUtiful, take the time to notice your blessings!

Work free weekend is making me realise I love my job!

Sunday 29^th June 2014

Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful. Sophia Loren 

Other than an hour first thing, yesterday I had a completely Weight Watcher work free day, I didn’t go on my Facebook page or group, I didn’t do any work and I stayed away from the emails – it was weird!  

Did I get all these jobs done I know could be done – nah, but I did sort the clothes, most have been put away and there’s only a small pile for ironing, which can wait, Alfie made them his bed and I didn’t like to disturb him :).  Instead I drove to town with my sister to get a M&S meal deal, we nipped in Poundland too – you’ve got to keep a balance.  It was gone eleven when we got back and the weather didn’t look great so I settled down with a couple of X-Men films and finished the set, that’s all of them except the latest cinema ones done now, quite  enjoyed.  I didn’t enjoy the Hunger Games though which we watched later, I know it’s not real but there is too much reality in it for me, I don’t like that people have those tendencies in them, that they would watch a sport where people get murdered and call it entertainment!  Not real on this occasion maybe, but if you think about it, there are times in history when it has occurred and I don’t want to even think about what might be going on out there in the world at present, nor what the future holds.  I know it makes me an unrealistic escapist but I want happy, enjoyable television, I don’t like watching violence unless it’s total make-believe in the form of a super hero or a wizard!  Each to their own I guess.

Got my online shop being delivered this morning, I’m going to get back on track today, as I wasn’t yesterday, I made it a completely WW free day in every way, so I’m thinking F&H roast beef dinner today, then I’m going to sit in the kitchen (or garden if sunny) and do a meal plan for the week.  This afternoon I need to look at my college work too – have realised I don’t really have time to do a college course so I’m glad I didn’t take anything too heavy on because I would’ve felt under pressure and overwhelmed by the thought of it.

Already started next weekend’s online shop so that I’m not rushing it last minute, if I start it I can amend it in the week, it’s taking time but I’m getting into a routine with my shopping, that’s for sure.

Just been and made mom her breakfast and had a walk round my garden, the rain has really cheered the flowers up, my clematis are looking stunning and my passion flower has so many buds on, it’s just stunning.  My garden is my sanctuary, when I’m out there, I forget everything else, I love it, I also love that it’s continually changing, every time I go out there something else has appeared or disappeared. 

Having yesterday totally off work has made me realise how much I actually enjoy it, so it’s a good thing to take time out now and again to make me appreciate what I do even more than I already do.  Very lucky to have a job I enjoy so much and a life that I wouldn’t swap, it’s taken a long time to get here but I wouldn’t change a thing.

On that note, I’m off to make another cuppa, play a little candy crush then start my day, get the kitchen clean and tidy in time for my delivery.

Have an enjoyable day BeYOUtiful, do things that make you smile (and that doesn’t have to be overeating!)

Right I'm doing it! The ironing that is...

28^th June 2014

Don’t just be good to others; be good to yourself too…

A weekend where I haven’t got to be anywhere at any specific time nor do anything I don’t fancy = my idea of heaven!  That’s this weekend for me and I’m sitting here contemplating a few hours of work because I didn’t get it finished yesterday I was mentally shattered and couldn’t work past noon, 50 hours was enough.  Yeah as much as I have unfinished work to do I think I’m going to ignore it and do the unfinished life stuff I have left to do like wait for it, let’s get that excitement building… ironing, I’m going to do it this morning first thing, as soon as I finish my blog, I’m off to set up the board in front of the TV and I’m tackling that mound in my room, it’s so high all the drawers underneath are empty!  Next I’m undecided, I will see how I feel, I would like to look at my college work, maybe cook something nice for lunch although my shopping doesn’t come till tomorrow so limited on the possibilities, still plenty to get a meal out of those, maybe do a cooked dinner tomorrow if this rain continues. 

Yes I’ve decided today and tomorrow are going to be completely work free, I may do some stuff Monday but only if I fancy it, I need to turn off and sort my house before I get buried under the mess! 

I did my online food shop under the influence of red wine yesterday – oops!  That bill was high, I may have to go back and have a check of what I’ve purchased ;) although it wasn’t too bad I don’t think, all stuff I’ll use and only 3 bottles of wine on the list.

I fancy mashed potatoes for lunch but I’m not sure if I have potatoes and if I go to get them I know I’ll come back with other stuff, mmm we’ll see…

Yes I like the idea of shutting the world out for a couple of days, pretending we’ve gone away for the weekend although if I was away I wouldn’t be doing house work, and I really do need to do that, at least the ironing.

I just love that my life is predictable and routine, it works for me, the most stressful decision I’ve got to make today is whether to clean the house or not and what to have for lunch – my kinda life for sure.

I’m wittering on too, so I’m going to go and get the ironing started, well after I lose my 5 lives on Candy Crush that is and had a quick hi and bye with my bestie online as she’s off to work.

Whatever you’re up to, have a good one; moms enjoying her breakfast in bed I’ve just taken her and all is at peace in our world – perfect day started. 

BeYOUtiful.

Old habits die hard....

27^th June 2014

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.”
Winnie the Pooh!  He’s a wise old bear :)

Old habit die hard don’t they and I think that accepting this makes a weight loss journey easier, and what will help to make it even easier is realising and accepting that sometimes we choose to keep those habits for our own reasons!  For example I know that on a Thursday night I’m shattered by the time I get home, I won’t want to cook, I’ll just want to collapse in a chair with a glass of red wine, however I still need to eat.  Now the obvious thing would be to have something ready wouldn’t it – so why don’t I!  Is it because I like the idea of being able to just grab a sandwich, have the option to nip to the shop on way home and pick something up with the justification “I’m too tired and I’ve been busy” or is it so if I really wanted to I could have a takeaway and think “I’ve worked hard, it’s a treat”.  Mmm possibly all of them, which did I do last night, the sandwich option; I had a cheese and tomato sandwich followed by a yogurt so it wasn’t too bad a choice.  However Thursday is a habit I need to get a hold of, I either need to make an extra dinner on one of the other days and freeze it, or have some microwave ready meals in freezer for when I’m not up for cooking.

In the meeting last night when we were chatting, I mentioned that I still haven’t done my ironing, it’s been since about February I think, my drawers are now all empty and the top of the drawers have a big pile of clothes on top of them!   I actually realised as I was telling them that the ironing of all of those clothes actually would probably only take a couple of hours, it’s the thought of doing it that’s putting me off – in my mind I’ve built it up into such a huge deal that every time I look at the pile my heart sinks!  Then I thought to myself our weight loss journey can be a little like that before we start, we may feel like we have so much to lose and it’ll take so long to lose it that it all becomes really overwhelming and we decide not to start as that’s easier!

Whereas if we just made that first step (ironed that first dress!), walked into a Weight Watcher meeting, or something as simple as buying skimmed milk instead of full fat, or swapping our butter for low fat spread, or maybe going for a 20 minute walk round the block, anything that just means you’ve started, then next step becomes easier and once you start to see results and feel better it gets easier and you start to do things automatically and the journey gets easier and more enjoyable.

Okay, I’ve convinced myself the ironing will get done this weekend, not today as today I will mostly be spending the day in my office doing all my paperwork, I’ll be lucky to be finished before 4ish, even if I start now, but we’ll see how long I can stand in here, it’s helping that it’s raining outside!  If the rain is in for the weekend, I’m thinking ironing board tomorrow and a few X-men movies = sorted!

Then if I put a couple of ready meals on my online order this weekend, I have a solution to Wednesday and Thursday nights tea, no excuses then, if I do any cooking before I’ll have an alternative option, I want to have a good read of the Weight Watchers magazine this weekend see if there’s a recipe or two I’d like to try.

 

Right I’m off because I have lots to do and I want to get through it whilst I’m fresh.   Ooo quickly before I do, my lunch was delicious yesterday, tinned mackerel in a spicy tomato sauce (7pp for the can) with wholewheat spaghetti (60 = 6pp) and I had slow roasted tomatoes, I used my WW oil sprayer to spray a little olive oil over them (1pp used on all of them) then drizzled balsamic vinegar on and sprinkled with garlic salt and pepper.  It was delicious, I would definitely have it again and so easy to prepare.

Have a great day BeYOUtiful and enjoy your day. xx

BeYOUtiful. xx

26^th June 2014

When you say yes to others make sure you are not saying no to yourself.

Where’s the sunshine gone?  I was getting used to waking up to a lovely bright, sunny morning. Oh well I’ll have to settle for it being fresher this morning.

The Weight Watcher August magazine arrived yesterday and I’m thrilled to say my BeYOUtiful member Ellie is in it, a fantastic 3 page read starting on page 92, to say I’m proud is an understatement, I’ll let you read the article and you’ll see why I’m so proud and I love that she explain “BeYOUtiful” so well.  Yes to think that I’ve made a slight difference to someone’s outlook on life makes me feel so good, it’s one thing to help someone lose weight, but to help them change how they feel about themselves in a positive way is just an incredible feeling for me.  I can’t wait for tomorrow to be able to sit and read the rest of the magazine, hopefully it’ll be dry enough to do that outside otherwise the kitchen table it is, there’s loads in it by the look and it’s also a special food issue so I can look for a recipe or two to try.

Yesterday was rushed in the kitchen, 20 minutes to get salmon, couscous, roast mushrooms and sun dried tomato sauce on the table, it was tasty enough though proving you can do good food fast, I had toast for breakfast and a sandwich for tea – too much bread going on, I’m going to have to get a handle on my busy days and the food I choice!  Maybe make a couple of extra meals on the other days and freeze them for microwave teas on work nights. 

I really need to think about what I’m going to have today because it’s my busiest day and I will be rushed at lunchtime and shattered by tea time and when those two are mixed in my world the results can be greedy and lazy!  Which we all know will equal going off track and undoing all the good work I’ve done in the days preceding!

Maybe wholewheat spaghetti for lunch, that’s quick enough, need to check fridge and freezer when I go down to make a cuppa.  Ooo yeah spaghetti and I bought some tomatoes reduced from co-op I’m going to slow cook them in the oven with a bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil, they would be lush. Maybe ProPoint today and throw in a tin of mackerel mmm, what’s not to love about eating! 

Mmm I really enjoyed the Colman’s bake in the bag southern style chicken I wonder if you could use that idea on fish?  Might have to experiment with that!  I think it would work and be an almost F&H version of coated fish.

But in the meantime, I need to get my backside in gear, the kettle back on and myself ready for work, I leave the house at 7.30am, it really is an early one, especially as I’ll finish tonight about the same time, if I’m lucky I’ll get up to an hour’s lunch, it’s like shift work with a smile :)

Right enjoy your day, do it your way!  BeYOUtiful because there isn’t any better way to live. 

Healthy & Happy always. xx