Got me a sign up in my office!

31st May 2017

I didn't come this far to only come this far.

Ouch! That was the first noise made when a walking stick that was leaning up a kitchen unit fell and hit me on the toe last night, seriously it hurt like hell, I made many more sounds and it proper throbbed all night, I had to anesthetise it with a glass of red.  Just glad it fell on my foot and not moms, she's got enough pain going on. 

Anyway I've put some cushion on it so it don't hurt as much when I walk and I'm sure it'll be right soon enough, no fun being in pain is it, just dreadful when it's continual pain that leaves you immobile, which is another reason for taking care of ourselves.  Some things can't be avoided, however we can do as much as possible to take care of ourselves and give us the best chance of a life, healthy life.  That was what I was thinking about yesterday, taking care of myself so that one day someone won't have to take care of me!

We had roasted mackerel for lunch yesterday, I enjoyed it but not keen on how long it repeated on me after eating it.  For tea I had tried this;

It was good, I'd have it again, 13sp for the whole tin, serves two, but I'd be tempted to add some steak and make it serve 3-4 portions, more meat less sauce but still tasty.

Today we've got salmon, I do love a bit of salmon and the lemon & dill maggi papers add some lovely flavour to it for 1sp, I think I have some left in the cupboard.  I think I'm going to have a play in the kitchen this morning, feel like doing a bit of cooking, not sure what yet, but it'll be healthy, that much I do know. 

 

Not found the first couple of days as easy to stay on track as they were last week, I'm blaming hormones, but I've not been ridiculously bad either.  It's truly bizarre, one minute you're in the zone, doing well, enjoying eating healthy, the next minute your body is sending signals to your brain which is making rather loud suggestions that you need to feed and feed on lots!  I've managed to keep it relatively under control, I want to get that stone off for September, I have a goal!  When I step on my managers scales at the next area meeting I want to be a stone lighter, I need to keep reminding myself of that fact because honestly I had forgotten again, so I'm going to write it, print it and stick it where I can see in my office!   Actually I've just done it, no time like the present, if you don't know where you're heading, how will you know which direction to take!   I'll probably need a second sign in the kitchen, maybe on the fridge!

Right so, back to it, moods lifted completely now, I think my appetites back to normal too, I know I've only been awake an hour but I can tell already.  Breakfast therefore will be my big bowl of fruit and yogurt, salmon for lunch, not sure what with yet, still need to sort my cupboards, then tea will be whatever I get creative with I assume.

What's your summer goal, or are you going to use this bank holiday as another reason to delay achieving what you desire, then use the kids holiday as your next excuse, ooo what else could we use as excuses?  Or maybe both me and anyone reading this who's been making excuses and thinking, 'oh I can't do it' actually stop with our whinging and sort ourselves out, we can do it, we don't need to do it quickly, the time will pass anyway, yeah I'm up for chipping away at it, I've done the first 1.5lb, so 12.5lb to go, that's my first main goal.   I didn't track properly yesterday so my goal for today is 100% tracking, I've got this - doing this for me!  What you doing it for?

We got this BeYOUtiful #whyintowow

It's okay not to be okay! Just don't unpack and live there...

30^th May 2017

Plant your own garden instead of waiting for someone to buy you flowers.

Well I was in a real flat mood yesterday, I still when to my meeting and I lost 1.5lb, that was good, I was happy with that when I had used all my SmartPoints allowance and more. I didn't have the best start to this week though from a being on track point of view, I went over my allowance and I've already done damage to my weeklies. It's all tracked though, I better get walking or doing something to earn me some FitPoints.

It might sound silly but I don't get 'down' about being in a grump, it's part of who I am, we wouldn't be given the emotions if we weren't supposed to feel them! I woke up grumpy, I knew I hadn't been in a low mood the day before, I knew the feeling would pass, so I just went with the mood yesterday.

It didn't help that my computer keeps freezing again, damn that pc, it just did it again, so I'm now on the apple mac that was given to me, I think I might just use this all the time now and give up on the pc, it's damn annoying when I'm two paragraphs into the blog. It's just I have other softward packages on their I use, hey ho, I'm not going to think about that today.

I got back about 11, decided to cook my coriander chicken, the chicken didn't smell right, I wasn't risking it so went to get more, got to say though that's the second meal from the spicentice website, I'm not impressed at all, it may have worked out low in points but low in taste too doesn't make the exchange worthwhile.

There's nothing worse that being dissatisfied by a meal, I ended up having a sarnie, we went to bed in the end, better being asleep when in that mood!

We watched a couple of films to try and cheer us up, White Chicks and Step Brothers, both had laugh out loud moments, but I've seen better, much better.

Anyway, I've woke up in a better mood, much better mood and I plan to start my day off with my fruit and yogurt and I'm going to have something really tasty for lunch, actually I've got smoked mackerel which I haven't had for years, we might have that, it's good for the brain apparently.

I've just heard on the radio that if you think the weekend went too quickly, a way of making it seem longer next time is to experience new things, I like this idea. Experiencing new things makes your brain think you've had a longer break, it can be visiting somewhere new, trying something new or even reading something new. I like the idea of cooking something new, hopefully it'll be tastier than the chicken we had yesterday, I'll defo find something delicious to make this week.

At least it's not raining this morning, that's a bonus, blooming miserable day yesterday, no wonder I was grumpy.

I need to sort my food cupboard out again, I couldn't believe I only had 2 packets of microwave rice left and neither was brown, I didn't think I'd ever run out of that! Meal planning maybe is called for this week, luckily I couldn't do too much damage yesterday because there's only good food in the house, but there's always bread and butter so enough damage can be done.

Anyways, I'm 1.5lb lighter, the sky is blueish, I've got a week of weighing my lovely members to look forward too, let's get this work week started, banish the blues, get back in the pink.

Happy Tuesday BeYOUtiful, I'm going to make today a good one, no negativity allowed... happy zone only.

Wish me luck at the scales...

29th May 2017

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it.  If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.

Well I survived my week, weigh day today, wish me luck!  I'm hoping for a loss, I've not been 100%, I have used all my weeklies and most of my FitPoints and I tracked everything!  I earned 68 FitPoints, had 19 left, so it'll be interesting to see the results at the scales.  4 Counting days and 3 No Count days, I ate quite a bit of bread products yesterday, had burgers in Warburton thins (I added mint marinade to the mince, worked a treat, cost 8sp for the packet but worth it) and a crumpet at tea time, then ham thins, hopefully that won't have too much of a negative effect.

Anyway, I did the tracking 100%, not done that honestly for a while and it did make me think twice before having some things.  I made a veggie balti yesterday, used a spice mix from the www.spicentice.com website, I wasn't impressed and didn't eat it, there was a flavour in there I didn't like, a bit like Chinese five spice randomly, it wasn't cheap either!  I've got the coriander chicken to try today as long as the coriander comes in my delivery this morning, fingers crossed.

We had a lovely chilled out day yesterday, my perfect kind of Sunday, spend the morning pottering in the kitchen after walking Alfie, then the afternoon mooching in the garden before sitting and chilling in the sunshine.  The patios all potted up now with plants ready for flowering throughout the summer, more for my bees to go at. 

Bank Holiday Monday and of course it's raining, I'm not sure if it's the forecast for the day but either way it won't change my plans much.  This morning I've got my shopping coming, then I'm off to get weighed, need to go to the women's hostel to take all the food we've collected plus £377 which takes the total for this year to £1.3k, love my members and their generosity plus my girls that provide tea and toast on a Tuesday and Thursday, the money they take has added to that total.

When I get home, I'm going to cook again, yesterday was the first time I've cooked a recipe for a good while, I enjoyed it, forgot how much I enjoy cooking, it relaxes me.  I'll get my cookbooks out this week I think, use up some of the stuff in my freezer, it's absolutely bursting at the seams, it really is.  I've defrosted some smoked haddock because I couldn't get it back in the freezer, might have a late breakfast when I get back from meeting, or do I eat it before I get weighed ;) decisions, decisions, those vital ounces, seriously though I will eat before I go, I can't wait that long for food.  Mmm smoked haddock, poached egg and a couple of slices of brown bread.  No Count day today it is then most likely.   I'll have my fruit and yogurt later as I'm enjoying that too, it could be my supper, if we have coriander chicken with brown rice for dinner I won't need much else after that, so fruit should be enough.  I'll point it all and see which I'm better going with after dinner.

Anyway I'm waffling, so I'm off, yay Sara Cox is the breakfast DJ on Radio 2 this morning so I can enjoy her instead of Chris Evans, that's a good start to my day, I hope your day starts well, here's to enjoy the Bank Holiday whether you have plans, at work, at home, on holiday, whatever you're doing - stay on track the best you can BeYOUtiful, you'll be glad you did on weigh day.

We can do this, you can have fun without getting fat!  #whyintowow #mywwjourney

It's a marathon not a sprint

28th May 2017

Sometimes, all you can say is 'WOW'!

#whyintowow

Who's with me this summer, I'm going to turn my why into wow, I'm not going to forgot why I want to lose weight, I know I'll feel better walking round in my shorts and t-shirts if I lose this extra stone, I know my back and my knees will thank me for it too, I know I'm likely to live a longer life if I'm taking care of myself - there's enough of my WHY's to keep me going at least for today, now for the WOW moments to start happening, they don't have to be big dramatic ones, the can be the little things we do each day that impress ourselves or others, like me actually eating fruit with yogurt all week for breakfast, or the fact I went to fetch some more 0% yogurt on Friday night for the morning. Let's get focusing on the whys and wows to keep us heading in the right direction towards our goals.  I want that stone gone for September!

So we've had the whys, we're looking forward to a lot of wows, not the how?  Well I'll tell ya how you won't get it, by staying away from your meeting, that's how not to succeed, I know the suns been shining and we want to make the most of it, but an hour now will help you move towards hours of WOW moments in the future.  That's the first thing then, get to a meeting, even if it's not your regular one, it's sure worked for me this week.

What else, well you don't have to cut everything out, try adding foods instead.  Slip in those healthy foods you enjoy, it's that time of year where strawberries are tasting great and oh the satsumas are so sweet and juicy, add them in.  You can still have a bowl of soup too, maybe before your main meal, do the starter thing, it helps, trust me.  Huge salads with your chicken or fish, healthier options at the BBQ, like skewers with meat and roasted veggies on.  Add it onto your plate, don't take it all off.  Oh and add in a little movement too, go for a walk in this lovely weather, have a wiggle why you wait for the kettle, do a bit of gardening maybe, go clean your car!   

Every bit of extra movement helps, housework is my new workout, its true, since I started looking at it as FitPoints, I actually get some pleasure out of it, it's the kitchens turn this morning.  Yesterday I did some gardening, potting up my summer plants, ready for the pretty flowers, that added a few thousand steps onto my fitbit.  Walking the dog obviously adds steps, but anything that adds steps helps, get off the bus a few steps earlier, park your car further back, heck go window shopping.

It all adds up, walk twice a day for 10 minutes and you only need to add another 10 minutes in to have your 30 minutes of activity sorted.

Find lower pointed versions of your favourite stuff, it can be done, I'm more than happy with Cathedral city lighter cheese, or the protein cheese sometimes, that saves tons of points.  Don't forgo your very favourite though if you don't want to, just work it in.  Don't eat something that just isn't for you either!

Drink some water, especially first thing in the morning, having a couple of glasses within the first hour of waking up apparently rehydrates your body and give you the added energy boost you need in the morning.  It also flushes out the toxins in your liver and kidney, make you feel less bloated.

Off out this weekend?  Want pudding?  Why not share, saves money too that way or ask for the smaller option with the coffee some places do. 

Have you got yourself a smaller plate yet?  It works - I'll say no more.

And go to bed, not now obviously, you've only just woke up, but get some sleep, it'll give you more energy to handle your day and well, you can't eat if you're asleep!  Joking aside it does help you to stay in control, no fun being exhausted, I was in bed for 8 last night, had me a good sleep.

Lastly, show some patience, none of us put this weight on overnight, and we're not going to lose it that quick either, the longer it takes, the fewer tweaks you have to make, the more likely you are to keep those changes in place.  Give everything up for a fortnight, maybe you'll manage a month and lose half stone or more, but I'll bet it won't be long before you have a binge and regain it.  Make the changes about, do it a little slower and I bet you feel a hell of a lot happier and keep it off for longer.

#whyintowow #mywwjourney let's start using these hashtags and sharing our success, our wow moments - we've got this!

Turning my why into WOW this summer...

27th May 2017

Eating well is a form of self-respect.

Well I intend to stay on track this Bank Holiday weekend, I really do because I want a weight loss on Monday.  I'm going to carry on eating salads, they really help bring down the total of the meal points, I enjoyed an Halloumi one yesterday, it was so good, used a sachet of WW balsamic salad dressing for zero points to add a bit of taste to the salad, those little sachets are great to carry in your bag if you're planning on eating out or going to a bbq this summer.

My breakfast was a delicious fruit salad with Greek yogurt on top, turns out I do like kiwi fruit now - I even walked over the Co-op last night to get me a tub so I have some for breakfast this morning - go me!  You've got to celebrate every little victory I say ;)

My tea was tasty, Bombay chicken and lemon rice, Penn Road Butchers is now doing ready meals and he's given me the nutritional info for the sauces so I'm able to point them, actually here's all the points in all of his stuff in case you fancy paying him a visit;

Penn Road Butchers

Sells fresh, healthy meats such as chicken, steak, pork loin you point as normal.

Chicken curry 3sp a tray

Donor burgers (125g) 3sp

Mexican burgers (125g) 3sp

Chicken burgers (125g) 1sp

Low fat pork sausages are made with lean pork and a little rusk so I would point as reduced fat pork sausages as per the app which is 2sp each, 4sp per 100g 

Chicken sausages are made with chicken breast and a small amount of rusk, so I guestimate 6sp per pound more than covers it.

If you ask him he can make Gluten free chicken sausages.

You can choose any lean fresh meat, he cuts the fat off, then coats with the flavour of your choice.

e.g.

Chicken breast / pieces (1lb or 450g) = 4sp

Beef mince 5% (1lb or 450g) = 11sp

Beef rump steak (1lb or 450g) = 10sp

Beef stewing steak, lean) (1lb or 450g) = 8sp

Pork loin, 1 steak (125g) = 5sp

He uses 30g marinade per 1 pound of meat.

Chinese 30g = 3sp  (11sp per 100g)

Garlic 30g = 4sp  (15sp per 100g)

Lemon Pepper 30g = 4sp  (12sp per 100g)

Pepper Steak 30g = 3sp (10sp per 100g)

Cajun 30g = 4sp  (12sp per 100g)

Tandoori 30g = 4sp  (12sp per 100g)

Mint 30g = 5sp  (17sp per 100g)

Tikka Masala 30g = 5sp  (16sp per 100g)

BBQ 30g = 6sp (19sp per 100g)

Piri Piri 30g = 4sp (14sp per 100g)

So you add the SP for the meat of your choice to the SP of the marinade and that gives you the total.

Then the sauces, he uses 50g per ready meal.

Sauces Smart Points per 100g

Argentina Fire 25sp per 100g

BBQ 6sp per 100g

Black Bean 3sp per 100g

Bombay 7sp per 100g

French Garden 26sp per 100g

Piri Piri 10sp per 100g

Tomato 3sp per 100g

1 medium breast chicken = 2sp

100g = 1sp

500g = 5sp

1kg = 10sp

You can now work out the points in whatever you buy from him.  Find him on Facebook for his latest offers https://www.facebook.com/Penn-Road-Butchers-1570997599797501/

Not sure what's on the menu yet after breakfast which is going to be the fruit salad again, but I'm thinking there will be a salad involved, maybe tuna with balsamic vinegar, that'll be really low which will leave me some points for a tasty main meal, that I can think about, minted chicken maybe, skewers would be nice, just need to nip and get the veg but the beauty of having a co-op across the road is I can.  Actually I might stop at the fruit and veg shop on way to my meeting and get some stuff from them.

We can BBQ and stay on track folks, lean healthy meats, skewers, you can marinade the meats if you wish. Use Warburton wholemeal thins if you're on No Count or look for the bread rolls that are 4sp each, Warburton's do one I had it last week.  Make huge salads too, if you're visiting someone else's, take a bowl of it with you, don't be embarrassed, tell them you're getting healthy, turning your why into a WOW won't happen unless you make changes BeYOUtiful!  

We got this!  Let's survive the Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy the sunshine and stay on track, you in?  I am I'm sat here drinking my pint of water before getting ready for my meeting, then I'm going to have a cracking good day, got me a massage (first for 3 weeks) to look forward to, then an afternoon of relaxing with my mom in the garden hopefully.  Enjoy your day.

late start this morning...

26th May 2017

Sunshine is the best medicine.

Dogs already been walked, I thought I'd do it before blogging and before it got too hot for him, I'm sat eating fresh fruit salad and 0% Greek yogurt and really enjoying it - who knew! I also planned my meals for today, gonna have a big salad for lunch probably with griddled halloumi then for tea curry and jacket as I didn't have the curry yesterday.  Yesterday we had Findus crispy pancakes, smash and veg, those pancakes aren't how I remember them at all, mom liked em, I wasn't impressed.  I did however really enjoy my tea, I had Weight Watchers spaghetti and egg on toast, I honestly don't remember the last time I had spaghetti, never really been a fan but I really enjoyed it. 

Last week one of my wonderful members gave me a portion of peanut curry, it was really good, so here's the recipe;

Pete's Peanut Curry (I don't know who Pete is btw)

Serves 2 - 9sp per serving

150g pre-cooked chicken (2sp)

1 onion

1 chilli, deseeded & finely chopped

1 pepper, finely chopped

1 Knorr herb stockpot (2sp)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp turmeric

1tbsp madras curry powder (2sp)

1 tbsp sweetener

2 garlic cloves

2 tbsp smooth/crunchy peanut butter (12sp)

2cm piece of ginger, grated

200ml, hot water

400g chopped tomatoes

Handful of coriander

In a frying pan sprayed with fry light, cook the chicken until browned, remove and set aside.  Spray the pan again, cook onion, garlic, ginger and chilli until soft.  Add the cumin, turmeric, curry powder and coriander, cook for 2 minutes then add the chicken, tomatoes and sweetener, cook for 10 minutes.  Place the stockpot on top of the cooking food and allow to infuse. 

Add the peanut butter and the 200ml of water, mix well and cook on a medium heat until the chicken is hot, and the sauce has thickened, sprinkle the coriander over the food, serve with rice (don't forget to point) and side salad.

Right I'm going to enjoy some of this sunshine so I need to get my work done first, hence I'm off :) wanna get my washing on the line (now there's a sentence I never expected to be writing!)  Here's to an awesome day, enjoy the weather, carry on turning our whys into wows, we got this BeYOUtiful.