Was your April Awesome?

30th April 2016

A beautiful heart can bring things into your life that all the money in the world couldn't attain.

I only went and lost 2lb! That was 5 days of No Count and two days of being sensible but probably going over my Smart Points allowance as I didn't track.  Now to keep that momentum going and not get cocky!  We did go for posh lunch but I have to say I was so full when I left I didn't eat again for the rest of the day and I'd only had a banana for my breakfast.  Eyes bigger than my belly springs to mind, the starter had me almost full before the main even arrived.  Alfie was pleased as he got some T-bone steak from my doggy bag! 

Last time I went to a Miller & Carter I loved the onion loaf thing, this time I couldn't eat it, it was too greasy, I did however really like the wedge of lettuce with a stilton and blue cheese dressing that was really good, cool and crunchy after all that heavy food.  It's definitely something I'll be replicating in my own kitchen, I'm sure I can find a similar dressing in the supermarket for low Smart Points, just looked on Weight Watchers website and Sainsbury's Be Good To Yourself Blue Cheese Dressing is only 1sp for 3 tablespoons - that's going in the basket!

Couldn't get to sleep either, so I've not had the best night's sleep, thankfully don't feel tired this morning, I do however still feel full and stodgy which means I must have been eating really well lately if one meal out has made me feel like this. 

I keep forgetting to get a loaf too, so I don't know what I'll have for breakfast, might just grab a slice of toast at my meeting later, or stop at garage and get crumpets - mmm, that's an idea and they're No Count so could set the theme for the day!

This week I'm feeling the No Count love again with more vegetarian options, I'm all meated out for now after yesterdays meat fest lunch, don't get me wrong I ain't cutting it out all together, but I can't see me eating red meat this week until the thought of how I'm feeling right now is well and truly gone!

If you've been in my meeting this week, we actually talked about this feeling and if you're there this morning we will!  I am that over-inflated balloon, and as it's still there the next morning, I'd say mine was filled with helium!

I find it hard to blog when I have something else going on in my head, so I'm going to go and get ready for work as I'm distracted by something else, I do hope the weathers kind for you all this bank holiday weekend, we really do need some warmer weather.  Catch ya tomorrow. Oh before I go, was your April Awesome?  Have you thought about how you're going to make May marvelous or magical?  We'll come back to that tomorrow when my heads in the room!

One of my wonderful members gave me today's recipe, it's one of her fav's, courtesy of the Hairy Biker's, Spanish style Chicken Bake.

Serves 4 ~ Prep 15 minutes ~ Cooking time 1 hour ~ 13sp per serving (use chicken breast and it's only 7sp per serving.

1 medium onion, cut into 8 wedges

1 medium red onion, cut into 8 wedges

500g new potatoes, quartered lengthways (12sp)

8 whole garlic cloves, unpeeled

8 medium tomatoes, quartered

75g chorizo (10sp)

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (30sp) or use 4 chicken breasts for 6sp

½tsp sweet smoked paprika

½tsp dried oregano

1 green pepper, deseeded and cut into strips

Flaked sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Put the onions, potatoes, garlic and tomatoes in a large roasting tin and season with sea salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Toss everything together lightly and roast for 20 minutes.

While the vegetables are roasting, skin the chorizo and cut the meat into thin slices – 5mm is about right. Put the chicken thighs on a board and carefully slash each one 2 or 3 times with a knife. Season all over with black pepper. Mix the paprika and oregano together and set aside.

Take the roasting tin out of the oven, scatter the chorizo over the veg and turn everything a couple of times. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables and chorizo and sprinkle with the paprika and oregano. Season with a little salt and return to the oven for 20 minutes.

 Take the tin out of the oven. Holding one corner carefully with an oven cloth, lift the tin a little so all the juices run to the opposite end, then spoon and drizzle the juices back over the chicken. Tuck the pepper strips loosely around the chicken and vegetables.

Turn the oven up to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7. Put the tin back in the oven for another 20 minutes or until the peppers are just softened and the chicken is golden and crisp.

 

 

Don't have to be an artist to be artistic!

29th April 2016

In order to succeed , we must first believe that we can.

I've got to say I've had enough of the crazy weather at the moment, I've just seen snow in a post on Facebook, you don't know whether to put your boots or shoes on, I'm going to start keeping both in the car!  I want to get my pretty summer flowers in the garden but being a fair weather gardener, I'm not going out there yet, plus the frosts won't do them any good, so can we all have a word with the universe please and request we get a decent bank holiday weekend for you all! 

I haven't had enough of weight loss success though and thankfully I keep witnessing it at my scales, I'm loving it!  Never tire of seeing those smiles and handing out those certificates.

I'd be lying if I said it's all smiles, it isn't, there are those that are struggling, that have lost their mojo for whatever reason, or they're fighting the lobster claws "what can I eat next" syndrome, this is when you need your meeting the most, to ride through that storm!  No one can be "On it!" all the time, stuff happens - life happens and that's all part of the journey, handing those times and coming out the other side.

Oh changing the subject I got my plate and vase back from Potsy Pamsy yesterday, love them, I'll never win any competitions but not bad for a first attempt at all, my letterings a bit wobbly but I don't think the bees too bad at all, and I absolutely love my vase, need to get me some flowers to fill it now.  We're going again Monday with the kids so I'm going to do a spoon holder for by the kettle and a toothbrush holder for in the bathroom, and they have these really cute pots that I'm tempted by too.  We shall see, but at least indoors the weather don't matter!  https://www.facebook.com/potsypamsy  She's also doing a Pottery and prosecco night - Museum of Cannock Chase event - what a fab idea, click

https://www.facebook.com/events/881021605340746/  to find out more!

My afternoon was full of systems and paperwork yesterday so I was so glad I'd made my lunch the day before ready and when I dropped AnnMaries plate off that she painted and she handed me a cheese and potato pie for my tea, I was made up, had it with curry beans for tea and oh my, just what the doctor ordered, it may have been 17sp on a plate but boy was it worth it, whatever the scales say today!

I'm thinking No Count today even if I am going out for lunch with my bestie, might have to opt for a bit of steak or maybe gammon, enjoyed the jacket I had last week so more than happy to have that again, yeah that sounds like a plan!

Right I'm off to do my paperwork and have me a cuppa.  Here's to a fantastic Friday BeYOUtiful, suns shining at the moment and here's a No Count recipe that's also though in Smart Points;

No Count Moussaka

Serves 4 ~ 3 Points ~ Prep time:30 min ~ Cook time:45 min

A light and healthy, but rich-tasting Greek-style dish, packed with No Count foods.

4 medium aubergine, sliced into 1 cm thick rounds

4 sprays calorie controlled cooking spray

1 medium onions, peeled and chopped roughly

4cloves garlic, chopped finely

200g extra lean beef mince (5% fat), raw

1teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

2cans tinned tomatoes

1¹⁄₂ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

6sprigs parsley, fresh, chopped

200g Fat Free Natural Fromage Frais

100g Quark

1teaspoons Smooth Mustard, French

1medium egg, whole, raw,

Pinch of salt and pepper to season

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6/200°C/fan oven 180°C and lay the aubergine slices on baking trays. Season, spray with the cooking spray and bake for 15–20 minutes until golden and nearly dried out.

Meanwhile, spray a frying pan with the cooking spray and sauté the onions and garlic for 5 minutes, adding a couple of tablespoons of water if they stick. Add the meat and stir to break it up and brown all over.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes, cinnamon, parsley and seasoning. Bring to the boil and then simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, until thick.

Meanwhile beat together the fromage frais, quark, mustard and egg in a small bowl.

In a large ovenproof dish, layer the aubergines with the mince mixture. Pour over the cheese sauce and bake for 45 minutes until the top is bubbling and golden.

Love my lads I do!

28th April 2016

A life spent making mistakes in not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.  George Bernard Shaw.

Lots of success again in my meeting yesterday, and I took a photo of some of my Wednesday lads to show I have lots of men succeeding in my meeting too, this gang have lost over 500lbs between them, just incredible and help to make Wednesday night a great meeting.

There is so much success in the meetings, I'm loving Smart Points, not everyone wants to be famous on Facebook of course, but here you'll find just some of those that are happy to be https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153617957520862.1073741916.595730861&type=1&l=8febadcf9f

The new Weight Watcher magazines landed and there's the Weight Watcher awards 2016 in there, this is brand new so make sure you take a look, Whether you want to put yourself forward, nominate a friend, Leader or meeting or would just like to find out a little bit more information, you can visit the link here www.weightwatchers.com/uk/awards to find out more,

The six categories are; Love Your Leader, Everlasting Positivity, Whole New Me, Social Champion, Motivational Meeting and Inspiring Achievement. Know someone you want to nominate? So if you fancy the chance to win a celebratory photoshoot with a top celebrity photographer, makeover by a celebrity makeup artist and a stay in a luxurious hotel with travel included, get nominating!  All entrants to the Weight Watchers Awards are also added into a prize draw for a chance to win a spa break for two, so get nominating now!

I think every member that every walked into my meeting deserves an award because it means they've decided to take back control and care of themselves, that deserves recognition for sure!

Another busy day ahead, points again for me I think as I've cooked Nyonya ready for my tea, I had a points day yesterday too because of eating out and having the eggs royale for 19sp.  So I'll have done 5 days No Count and 2 Smart Points when I get weighed tomorrow, not been 100% (never am really am I!) but the fingers are crossed for a loss.

The recipe below sounds good, a chance for me to use the buckwheat I bought the other week, I'll need to get the other ingredients, yeah think I'll have a bash at that the weekend or something similar for sure.  But until then I'll get my backside into gear, go make me a cuppa, love getting up early, I've already done 20 minutes meditation and drunk my pint of water whilst writing my blog, all calm and clear for my day ahead.

Although yesterday that calm didn't last, I was calmed as I got to my morning meeting by AnnMarie saying her brother was coming to get my car to valet it because I'd emptied it to do my meeting.  What she didn't think about was I hadn't emptied the rubbish and stuff off the floor! I filled two shopping bags before they arrived and bless my helpers they sorted it all out for when they got back with my car.  It smells lovely and I feel like I'm driving a new car, all shiny and clean, I might even buy me some car seat covers and new floor mats!  Pimp up my ride ;) dangling dice anyone!  

Check out that shine!  My helper said, "Blooming heck Bev, your dashboards vinyl not faux suede after all!" I think that gives you a clue as to how bad it was, another helper tells people they need to make sure they've had their shots before venturing inside my car, so the chap earned his wage yesterday for sure.  

 

So I can't recommend his service enough, Double Shine Mobile Valeting 07891793670, great service, here's his prices;

Right I'm off, need a mug of tea!  Have a great day, don't beat yourself up if you're struggling to find your mojo, get back in your meeting and feed off everyone else's success, it's where the magic happens!

No Count Buckwheat risotto with salmon and broccoli

Prep time:10 min ~ Cook time:40 min ~ Serves:4 ~Easy ~ 8SP per serving   

A tasty alternative to rice, gluten-free buckwheat grains are a source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Super-quick, easy to cook, and perfect for a midweek meal.

4 sprays calorie controlled cooking spray

1 small red onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely sliced

225g Buckwheat, rinsed in cold water

1 cube chicken stock cube, made with 900ml hot water

240g Salmon, raw, skinless, cut into bite-size pieces

300g Broccoli, raw, broken into medium florets

2 tablespoons Dill, Fresh, chopped

1 zest medium lemon

2 tablespoons 0% fat natural Greek yogurt

Mist a large frying pan with cooking spray and fry the onion and garlic over a medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes until softened. Stir in the buckwheat and cook for another minute or so, before adding 2 ladlefuls of the stock.

Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring, until the stock has almost all been absorbed, then continue adding the stock in the same way until you have 1 ladleful left – this will take around 25 minutes.

Add the salmon and the remaining stock to the pan and simmer for 2 minutes. Check that the salmon is cooked through and the buckwheat is tender, but still has a bit of bite.

Meanwhile, cook the broccoli in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, until tender. Drain and add to the buckwheat, along with the dill, lemon zest and yogurt. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and serve.