Get your witchy on..

Saturday 31st October 2015

Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.

I've woke up feeling refreshed this morning, I've been tired all week, the hour changing really affects me and when I'm tired, that's when I go looking for my mattress in the fridge and end up overeating.  It's also when I'll eat any old rubbish, through the joys of being a woman into that equation and I've had a real sugar craving week which is unusual for me as I don't really fuss that much about the sweet stuff.

What I did notice was it all started Monday when I indulged in some bread pudding whilst out with mom, actually it could've started Sunday whilst out with mom, I may have had a bit of something, can't remember, but since I've wanted other stuff, a lovely member bought me a rock cake Tuesday, a helper bought me a pumpkin cake to try Wednesday, Thursday a helper left a tub of sweets with me to give to the kids Saturday morning and when I got back to the meeting on the night I was on my own for ten minutes and yep that tub of sweets doesn't exist anymore!  Then there was the flake I found in my kitchen drawer that actually wasn't lost but had been there well over a month and not bothered me.  See tiredness, hormones and the fact "IT WAS THERE", I'm a big believer of I can't eat what isn't there and the more I had, the more I wanted so thankfully there's nothing for me to find in my house so I can do the cold turkey thing the weekend and because I'm no longer tired, that shouldn't be a problem.

Of course for some it's the day where sugar is king!  It's Halloween, trick or treat, there's about to be plenty of kids bouncing off the walls as they go on a sugar binge, they're scarier than any witch or zombie I reckon!

I'm not saying don't do Halloween, but for the grownups that have sugar binges more often than at Halloween, look what it does to your body;

Now sugar's all over the news right now and earlier this year The World Health Organisation recommended that adults restrict their daily intake of sugar to 50g, while aiming to lower it further to just 25g.

This 50g includes any sugar that's contained in meals, as well as added sugars.

We know that chocolate and sweet snacks should be treats, we don't need an organisation to tell us that the amount of sugar you consume from products like these should make up no more than five per cent of your daily calorie intake.  It's obvious that these foods fall into the category of foods with added sugar. 

When you're doing your shopping this week just go look at a jar of curry sauce or pasta sauce, check out the 'sugars' in that, it'll make you realise how easy it is to go over that 50g maximum target.

Thinking of our kids and their future health and I'm not talking today, heck it's Halloween, let em fill their boots, or buckets ;) but day to day, it's good to realise that there is 36g of sugar in a 330ml can of Coke. In a 55g bag of Skittles, there is nearly 50g.

We all deserve a treat, it's important to include them here and there, but remember they're treats not meals.

In an article I was reading on the Daily Mail website, Dr Osborne said 'Sugar is integral to proper bodily function, but it's vital to spread your intake out over the course of the day.  'Eating huge amounts in one sitting puts a lot of pressure on your body." (to read the full article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3295874/What-REALLY-happens-body-one-hour-Halloween-sugar-binge-soaring-heart-rate-searing-headache-stomach-pain-flatulence-reveal-terrifying-toll-gorging-treats.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490)

Halloween is a special time for families, and sweet treats are part of the package. I hope you'll agree it is important to keep the effects of overindulging in mind, and to educate your kids on the subject early on.   Because the more you allow them to view eating sugar in high volumes as acceptable, the more danger there is that they’ll develop poor dietary habits as they get older.

That's a scary thought isn't it!  Well it is Halloween..... 

Never too late...

Friday 30th October 2015

When you follow your dreams, some might think you're wacky... that's okay, just hold steady and stay on your unicorn! Jane Lee Logan

Well doing my paperwork yesterday afternoon I smiled as I realised the weight loss achieved on my scales so far in 2015 had gone over 20,000lb! WOW just incredible that is and I'm so proud of each and every Weight Watcher member that has contributed to that total.  This week alone 3 members have achieved their final goal and that adds to the total of 64 of Bev's Weight Watchers achieving their goal this year already, and even more with incredible weight losses that are still heading towards their goal, yesterday Lisa received another silver 7 making her total 99lb, I look forward to giving her that 100lb certificate next week, Jean had her 75lb certificate on Wednesday and I'm handing out 25lb certificates on what seems a daily basis, it's just fantastic.

And of course it isn't just about the numbers, it's about the changes it makes to our lives, I received a lovely message this week from a member who'd ordered a dress to wear at Christmas and her plan had been to drop a dress size by then, she'd had to return it as she's already lost 20lb (2.5lb this week) and she needs an even smaller size!  To be told "I feel like I'm in such a positive place right now and I feel so content with my life....my goal wasn't just to lose weight but to be healthy, to improve some of the health conditions I have...so to be in this happy place is a huge thing for me ...thanks so much to Bev and all of you happy owls for your support xxx" is what makes me smile the most, I love that members are getting happier and healthier because that really is what it's all about!

If you're sat there thinking it's too late now to make a difference before Christmas, no it isn't, it's 8 weeks today (I was corrected yesterday by a sassy young lady ;) as I'd been saying 9, I'm blaming someone else as they misinformed me earlier in the week lol!  Anyway, it is never too late to refocus or start, heck even if you only lose a few pounds so that you can regain them over Christmas, at least you won't be starting 2016 with even more weight added to the number at the scales.  And don't even weight until you can get to a meeting next week, start today, commit to having a healthy eating day today, then take it one day at a time.  If you absolutely feel the need to get to a meeting asap, then I've got one at 9am in the morning at United Reform Church, Old Fallings Lane, WV10 8BH Wolverhampton or you can find others at www.weightwatcherslocal.co.uk, don't delay, get on it today.

I've been a bit of a rebel, I haven't tracked all week, but I'm getting my little book out today and I'm back on it too, I know how you feel, I feel the same way and yes it's easier not to bother but the after effects end up being harder, honest xx

Anyway, changing the subject, because a blog without mention of food is just wrong!  Here's my new find in Asda yesterday, we've all heard of cauliflower rice by now I think, they've only gone one step further and made a microwave version!  It was a bit pricey at £1.99 a pouch (you pay for convenience for sure!) the Mediterranean one I've bought is 3pp a pouch - bargain!

Right I'm off, I have a area meeting this morning, I'm not sure she's realised it's in a haunted hotel and it's almost Halloween!  First sign of a ghost and I'm outta there ;) I expect a lot of witches and the place will be full of leaders - only joking!

Remember start NOW, healthy and happy because BeYOUtiful we're worth it...

Good morning BeYOUtiful

29th October 2015

Be thankful for what you have. You’ll end up having more.

I love being a Weight Watcher leader, it's a great job but more important to me than a member losing weight and getting to their goal is a member learning to be happy with who they are, even if that's accepting that they actually don't want to get to a healthy bmi!  It's not all about the numbers - peace of mind and being happy in your own skin if far more important.  Healthy and happy is what it's all about.  Realising you aren't just the body you're in, that you're a personality and a mind and a soul that folk love.  And whatever goal you want to get to, you can't stop living whilst you work on getting there, life's too short to stay home, when you could be and want to be out having fun.  You really don't have to put it all on hold, you can eat out, have a great time and lose weight, I have the proof in my meetings, so much success, so many smiles at those scales.  Work on finding that balance, it really does make a difference.

Changing the subject completely, I picked up a leaflet at the meeting last night about operation  Christmas Child, which is a project where people pack a shoe box full of gifts for a child.  The church where we I run my meetings on a Saturday are collecting these gifts.  So if you're interested check out their website;

https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child

If you're one of my members in other meetings, you can bring them for me to pass on, even if you just have some of things to put in a shoe box, if you can't do a complete on.  They'd love knitted or crocheted gloves and hats (without a pom pom), other things that can go in the box includes;

Toys - Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls or stuffed toys (with CE label), toy trucks, harmonica, yo-yo, skipping rope, ball, small puzzles etc.

School Supplies - Pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons or felt pens, stamps & ink pad sets, writing pads or notebooks & paper, solar calculators, colouring & picture books etc.

Hygiene Items Toothbrush and toothpaste, bars of wrapped soap, comb or hairbrush, flannel.

Other Items Hat, cap, gloves or scarf, sunglasses, hair accessories, jewellery set, wind up torch, wrapped sweets (best-before-date must be at least March of the following year).

Do Not Include Used or damaged items, war related items such as toy guns, play soldiers or knives; chocolate or other food items; liquids or lotions of any type including bubbles; medicines; hand-made or knitted stuffed toys; anything of a political, racial or religious nature; sharp objects; glass containers, mirrors or fragile items; playing cards of the 4-suit variety; clothing other than as listed above.

I just think it's a wonderful idea and Sainsbury's have got a 25% off sale at the moment of toys so win/win.  If you do a box, choose whether it's for a boy or girl and the age groups are 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14.  All the information you need is on their website.  I'm actually looking forward to doing a couple myself from mom and myself.

Look at their faces https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/occ-videos/

Anyway, this ain't gonna get me ready for work is it!  Here's to a cracking day, lots of smiles and laughter, and we are doing quite a bit of giggling in my meetings this week I have to say ;)

Happy Thursday BeYOUtiful, remember, it's all about being happy with you!

Yep it's really morning!

28th October 2015

Consider the postage stamp. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.

Is it really morning....

I could've stayed in bed this morning, every year they mess with my sleep pattern by changing the clocks, that hour difference always throws me out for a week, I'll be going straight to bed tonight when I get home from work, because as one of my besties said last night, "you've always needed your sleep" and she's not wrong!

Smile moment last night, the lovely Deb achieved her goal having lost an incredible 103lb, just fantastic and I believe made even more so by the fact she's certainly not had an easy year, she was made redundant in July from a job she'd had for over 20 years, how stressful is that!  And yet despite this she's stayed on track and now looks amazing.  Luckily she's also got herself another job, she needs it to pay for all the lovely new clothes she's buying for her amazing new figure ;)

Beef stew was pretty much my menu yesterday,  and it was tasty too, I'm hoping there's some room in the freezer for me to put some of it in, as nice as it was, you can only eat so much beef stew and moms not a fan.

I feel the need for something lighter to be honest, all that stodge, I bought a tin of heinz tomato soup when I went shopping, mmm, high in ProPoints for a soup but absolutely perfect for dunking bread into, there does have to be butter involved as well though otherwise it's just not the meal I intended.  So I'm thinking that's a possibility, 1/2 tin soup is 3pp, then some low calories brown bread, thinking 2 slices 3pp and 2pp worth of butter, yeah 8pp of lunch sorted, I'll get mom to eat the other half of the can hopefully!

Ooo they've just mentioned dippy eggs on the radio, now that would be a tasty breakfast, soft boiled eggs, nom nom.  Yep I can't often get a little pre occupied by food ;)

What can I say, I talk about it constantly with my members, it's always it my mind, yesterday when I went to the local butchers, I was getting quite excited by the deliciousness in his shop, he was amused to find out I was a WW leader, said, "don't worry I won't tell anyone", I let him know, everybody already knows, I love food what can I say, it's one of the pleasures of life.

Ooo I've got a bag of croutons I bought a few weeks ago in Tesco garage, I'll have them in the soup, is it sad that I'm now quite excited for lunchtime!  Tomato soup brings back memories of being poorly and my mom taking care of me xx

I'm gonna go make me a brew, reminiscing is all very lovely but it's not going to get my paperwork done!  Here's to a great day, whatever you choose to eat, me, I'm thinking chucky eggs, tomato soup and a very early night.  There will possibly be a few grey peas and bacon at the meeting tonight but only if they've cooked, I've braved them in the slow cooker overnight!  If they haven't worked, it's my brothers fault...