What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.
Sunday morning, 8.30am and I managed a lie in, Alfie let me sleep till 7.30 bless him and check me out, I stayed out till 2am! Not only stayed out but stayed awake ;D anyone who knows me well knows I don’t do later than 11 whatever the occasion, I physically can’t keep my eyes open, but diet coke seemed to do the trick and lots of laughter helped too. It’s so good to laugh and I think sometimes people forget, we had paid to watch stand-up but to be honest I was already crying before the show even started thanks to the ladies ;D
It was an eventful day yesterday for me, I woke up realising for the first time in almost 7 years I was soon to be ‘employed’ again, rather than ‘self employed’, don’t worry I will still be a Weight Watcher leader, only our employment status changes. Then I went to have my hair done for the first time since Christmas 09! I had no idea what I was having done to it when I walked it, I put myself at the mercy of Laura and I came out a different colour and I’ve lost about 5/6 inches, and this morning it doesn’t look anything like it did last night thanks to the rain last night ;D
We were planning on a Chinese last night as we were in the Chinese quarter of Birmingham, unfortunately when we came out of the comedy club, they were all closed, so it was a balti instead (and not a very good one – I left a lot), so today I I’ve decided I’m going to make the Chicken Chow Mein I fancied last night, if you fancy having a go, here’s the link to an easy version. http://www.happyowls.co.uk/ChickenChowMein.html
So I have a new hair cut and a kind of new job but not ;D. Nearly everything in your life is there because you chose it, your work, friends, clothes, hobbies, possessions etc, even to some extent your health! They are the culmination of life choices, conscious or unconscious that you’ve made. Do you imagine your future differently; do you imagine a future where you weigh a lot less and feel a lot healthier or more confident – YES? Well to achieve this future you’ve have to set goals because without them, the future chooses YOU!
Actually deciding what you want is the hardest part of goal setting? You may be thinking no it isn’t “I just wanna be thin”, but how thin, how much do you want to lose, how much would you like to weigh, is it a number that your striving for or a level of fitness, will you be happy whatever you weigh when you can run ½ mile or run round with your kids? When setting goals you need to be specific, that’s any goal not just a weight goal. “I wanna lose weight” is vague, “I want to lose 21lb” is specific. Knowing why you want to achieve the goal helps too, “I want to lose 21lb because…
- I will be able to say I’m within a healthy BMI for my height.
- I will be able to wear all the clothes in my wardrobe that I’ve kept from 3 years ago.
- I will look amazing in my wedding dress.
- I will be able to run the race for life rather than walk.
Our reasons are always personal to us, and they’re our motivation to continue. Why not write your goals down, say them aloud every day, maybe first thing in the morning to remind yourself. Visualise achieving your goals. Where are you? What are you doing and feeling?
Once you’ve realised and decided your goal you have to work out how long you’d like it to take you to achieve and how you plan to do it. Most importantly make sure your goal is realistic and achievable. It’s no use saying I want to lose 10st in 10 weeks and grow 2 foot!
Take it one day at a time, take a small step each day and if you feel stuck, ask yourself, “What is the easiest step I can take now in the direction of what I want?”
Most important, enjoy the journey and smile xx
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Saturday, 7 May 2011
7th May 2011
.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve created my www.happyowls.co.uk website which I’m still putting together. So what is an Happy Owl, I am for starters, I'm a Happy Over Weight Lady, that doesn't mean I don't take care of myself or want to look and feel my best, it means that I refuse to beat myself up because I enjoy good food and wine, and find it difficult to indulge in those things and maintain what the official BMI chart tells me is an healthy weight. My website will hopefully make people realise you can love yourself and be happy too - whatever you weigh and by doing that you’re more likely to get to your goal weight!
Choose to be healthy and happy whatever your size. Don’t let a set of scales dictate your mood! I don’t. Why not from today decide to take care of the most important person in your life – YOU!
I’ve got an idea why not go on a date with yourself ;-) Yeah you read it right, pencil in some ‘you time’ and do something you really enjoy. I realise a lot of you feel guilty or selfish when you do nice things for yourself, but I have to admit when I do nice things for myself, I find that I’m more balanced and able to offer the best version of myself to the people around me. Fridays tend to be my ‘Me Time’ once I’ve finished my paperwork and my treat of choice is usually a massage, but sometimes it’s a long bath and a good book whilst drinking a fine glass of wine. So what could you do on your date, or if you haven’t got time for a date just choose one activity, here are some suggestions;
- Garden
- Pick or buy some fresh flowers
- Curl up in a blanket with a good book or a journal
- Manicure/pedicure
- Read a magazine or a trashy novel
- Have ten minutes with a crossword or puzzle book
- Play a computer game
- Buy yourself a present
- Have a long bath or a sauna at the gym
- Watch reruns of your favourite show
- Go to the movies
- Call a friend for a natter
- Go for a drive in the countryside or even a walk
- Clean out your closet – throw away those clothes your never gonna get into
- Listen to music
- Mediate
- Enjoy your hobby – knitting, scrapbooking
The list is endless because it depends on what you enjoy doing. Don’t let food be your only source of pleasure as this will get you into trouble, finding enjoyment elsewhere allows food to fulfil its main role as a source of nourishment, while still providing you with joy and fun.
Having said all that I have an appointment for some me time in a short time I’m off to have my hair done, and then I’m off with the girls for a giggle at the Glee Club tonight. Today’s a good day, hope yours is too. Xx
Friday, 6 May 2011
6th May 2011
Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it. Margaret Thatcher
Looks like another beautiful day on the way and I’m going to at least go and get to spend an hour in it with Alfie in a bit and enjoy the fresh air. Got quite a busy day with an important meeting tonight so I’m hoping my massage this afternoon will take my mind off it all.
What did you eat yesterday? Was it delicious? Did you know that when you eat what you want and allow yourself to truly experience the please, you feel satisfaction and contentment, which allows you to STOP eating when you feel full. Numerous studies support this, I’m not just making it up to make us feel better. Eating pleasurable food when you have a physical drive to eat won’t trigger consistent overeating in ‘intuitive eaters’. Remember if you are consumed with guilt, you don’t enjoy (or even experience) the food.
Just because you’re eating to lose weight doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your food, if you avoid the foods you truly desire you often wind up eating more of everything else in a never-ending question for satisfaction. So the next time you want that chip butty – go for it! I did last night although I had an oven chip wrap mmm it was phenomenal even mom commented, “You’re really enjoying that aren’t you”, so the look on my face or the noises I was making must have given me away!
I could have opted for a jacket potato, a wiser choice some may say but that would have resulted in me continuing to search for satisfaction which usually means an ongoing grazing session. No it’s been almost 12 months since I committed to choose food I love, I no longer choose “what I should have”, and my weight hasn’t suffered because of it. And before you ask, no I don’t choose to eat junk all the time, the other night I really got a craving for tomato soup and I even get them for salad leaves!
For me it’s not just about choosing food I truly enjoy eating, it’s actually paying attention to it as I eat it. Okay so I admit I don’t manage that 100% of the time, but I do try to do it as often as I possibly can. For example someone made me a tea loaf last night and I adore it, so I’m going to have two slices for my breakfast and really, really enjoy every mouthful, it’s full of sultanas and cherries and will have just as much fibre in it as a bowl of bran flakes I’m sure. And if it hasn’t, who cares!
So even if its just for today, aim to be fully present for your meals, eat with awareness, why not set a table and sit down and enjoy your food, even if it is just a cup of tea and a cake!
Enjoy your Friday, I know I will.
Looks like another beautiful day on the way and I’m going to at least go and get to spend an hour in it with Alfie in a bit and enjoy the fresh air. Got quite a busy day with an important meeting tonight so I’m hoping my massage this afternoon will take my mind off it all.
What did you eat yesterday? Was it delicious? Did you know that when you eat what you want and allow yourself to truly experience the please, you feel satisfaction and contentment, which allows you to STOP eating when you feel full. Numerous studies support this, I’m not just making it up to make us feel better. Eating pleasurable food when you have a physical drive to eat won’t trigger consistent overeating in ‘intuitive eaters’. Remember if you are consumed with guilt, you don’t enjoy (or even experience) the food.
Just because you’re eating to lose weight doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your food, if you avoid the foods you truly desire you often wind up eating more of everything else in a never-ending question for satisfaction. So the next time you want that chip butty – go for it! I did last night although I had an oven chip wrap mmm it was phenomenal even mom commented, “You’re really enjoying that aren’t you”, so the look on my face or the noises I was making must have given me away!
I could have opted for a jacket potato, a wiser choice some may say but that would have resulted in me continuing to search for satisfaction which usually means an ongoing grazing session. No it’s been almost 12 months since I committed to choose food I love, I no longer choose “what I should have”, and my weight hasn’t suffered because of it. And before you ask, no I don’t choose to eat junk all the time, the other night I really got a craving for tomato soup and I even get them for salad leaves!
For me it’s not just about choosing food I truly enjoy eating, it’s actually paying attention to it as I eat it. Okay so I admit I don’t manage that 100% of the time, but I do try to do it as often as I possibly can. For example someone made me a tea loaf last night and I adore it, so I’m going to have two slices for my breakfast and really, really enjoy every mouthful, it’s full of sultanas and cherries and will have just as much fibre in it as a bowl of bran flakes I’m sure. And if it hasn’t, who cares!
So even if its just for today, aim to be fully present for your meals, eat with awareness, why not set a table and sit down and enjoy your food, even if it is just a cup of tea and a cake!
Enjoy your Friday, I know I will.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
5th May 2011
To be content & growing... embrace yourself as you are. Celebrate yourself as you long to be. Mary Ann Radmacher
“Lord if you can’t make me skinny, please make my friends fat.” Did you laugh? Did you find this statement funny? How would you feel if you were bought something with it on as a gift? Would you be offended because that person is making a statement about your weight or would you laugh it off? Someone showed me their ‘gift’ last night and we had a short conversation about how they felt about receiving it, I have a similar ‘gift’ in my house stuffed in a drawer somewhere. The gift wasn’t given maliciously it was given light-heartedly in jest, unfortunately these ‘gifts’ or those comments, you know the ones, “chunky monkey”, or “muffin top”, the ones that are said jokily or with a wink of the eye or a cuddle afterwards, aren’t funny. They are damaging, they are adding to the thoughts you have that make you not like yourself and your body, it all goes in your subconscious alongside every other nasty or jokey comment that has been made to you ever since you were a child. Even if you laugh at these comments they still have a long-term negative effect on you. What’s even worse is some of you actually make the nasty, negative comments about yourselves! I’ve even seen people who have email addresses such as ‘fatpig@....’ It’s not good ;(
STOP it NOW, stop putting yourself down and stop other people doing it, if someone ‘jokingly’ says something, ask them not to do it again. If you think it’s not hurting you, imagine repeating that same comment to your daughter or a young child that you know and think about how it might affect them – you’re no different underneath all your maturity!
Moving on quickly
I love me - who do you love?
Do you love yourself? Are you happy in your skin? Most people worry that if they accept their bodies as they are now they may become complacent and gain weight. This thought pattern can stand in the way of your ability to change.
Change comes from valuing and caring about yourself enough to want to improve your life. By first learning to have a positive relationship with your body, even if that body is not ‘perfect’ you strengthen your ability to make change.
Think about it. When you feel better about yourself, you make better choices, whether it’s how you eat, how often you exercise, if you’ll quit smoking, start walking, etc. but when you’re down on yourself and your body, you’re more likely to act self-destructively. If you only exercise to punish yourself because you weigh so much, how are you ever going to learn to enjoy being active? If you eat salads only as a way of changing a body you despise, how will you enjoy the delicious taste of fresh vegetables.
Accepting yourself as you are today doesn’t mean giving up. It means learning to live in the present with the body you have, facing reality and acknowledging that you don’t have to be thin to be happy in your skin.
Appreciate what your body can do. Isn’t it amazing that your legs can hold you up, that they can help you walk, run, or dance?
You are more than just your body size!
Are you compassionate, intelligent, articulate, caring, creative, loving. Remember people don’t talk to you because of your shape; they talk to you because of your personality! I hope you attend my meetings because of what I say not how I look! Although I am gorgeous I know ;-)
From this day forward decide to eat well because you want to be healthy, decide to move more because you want to feel fit and decide to love yourself as you are now because you are amazing.
Take inspiration from something that a member has just written on the group facebook wall
“I live for today and embrace whatever tomorrow will bring. And most importantly, I am not on a diet, I have made lifestyle changes which will ensure that I give myself the best chance of achieving my goals.”
Well said Sharon xx
I’m off to live for today, why don’t you go do the same thing too.
STOP it NOW, stop putting yourself down and stop other people doing it, if someone ‘jokingly’ says something, ask them not to do it again. If you think it’s not hurting you, imagine repeating that same comment to your daughter or a young child that you know and think about how it might affect them – you’re no different underneath all your maturity!
Moving on quickly
I love me - who do you love?
Do you love yourself? Are you happy in your skin? Most people worry that if they accept their bodies as they are now they may become complacent and gain weight. This thought pattern can stand in the way of your ability to change.
Change comes from valuing and caring about yourself enough to want to improve your life. By first learning to have a positive relationship with your body, even if that body is not ‘perfect’ you strengthen your ability to make change.
Think about it. When you feel better about yourself, you make better choices, whether it’s how you eat, how often you exercise, if you’ll quit smoking, start walking, etc. but when you’re down on yourself and your body, you’re more likely to act self-destructively. If you only exercise to punish yourself because you weigh so much, how are you ever going to learn to enjoy being active? If you eat salads only as a way of changing a body you despise, how will you enjoy the delicious taste of fresh vegetables.
Accepting yourself as you are today doesn’t mean giving up. It means learning to live in the present with the body you have, facing reality and acknowledging that you don’t have to be thin to be happy in your skin.
Appreciate what your body can do. Isn’t it amazing that your legs can hold you up, that they can help you walk, run, or dance?
You are more than just your body size!
Are you compassionate, intelligent, articulate, caring, creative, loving. Remember people don’t talk to you because of your shape; they talk to you because of your personality! I hope you attend my meetings because of what I say not how I look! Although I am gorgeous I know ;-)
From this day forward decide to eat well because you want to be healthy, decide to move more because you want to feel fit and decide to love yourself as you are now because you are amazing.
Take inspiration from something that a member has just written on the group facebook wall
“I live for today and embrace whatever tomorrow will bring. And most importantly, I am not on a diet, I have made lifestyle changes which will ensure that I give myself the best chance of achieving my goals.”
Well said Sharon xx
I’m off to live for today, why don’t you go do the same thing too.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
4th May 2011
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. African proverb
May the fourth be with you ;-) Bad joke I know, but I only get to say it once a year ;-) and it always manages to make me smile.
Alfie finally proved he’s a true Longsden, last night he got his head stuck in mom’s empty Easter egg box! Good job we were home ;-)
It was a great start to the working week for me yesterday with Jane achieving her goal having lost 55.5lb, awesome and she looks fabulous. It’s always great to see such success.
I had a lesson in honesty yesterday, yes ‘food intake’ honesty that is, how’s your truth? Do you track honestly or are you a bit guilty of being a bit of a fibber. Do you try to pull the wool over your own eyes?
I fancied soft boiled eggs and soldiers and thought to myself, ooo I’ll have 3 because with medium eggs, 1 egg is 2pp, 2 eggs are 4 but 3 eggs are only 5pp so I get an extra one for 1pp, bargain. So I had the 3 eggs then as I was eating them I thought to myself, “mmm these are a bit on the large side for medium eggs, so I checked online and then went and weighed one of the eggs out of the box and it turned out they were large which meant 3 eggs were 8pp! Damn that was 3 more than I’d planned to spend on my lunch but hey ho, I was honest with my tracker and wrote it down. I also used my phone to track the packed of WW Bakes I had at the meeting which I can sometimes be guilty of forgetting because I suffer from that common disease “Diet Amnesia”. This condition tends to attack more at night when a person is sat in front of the tv relaxing, be careful of this illness as you don’t always realise you suffer from the condition. Be on the lookout in a morning for evidence of the night before, you may find an open packet of biscuits or an empty wrapper in the bin. Diet amnesia is a very dangerous condition to have and will have serious effects on your weight loss, it can even cause weight gain if not caught and treated!
If you do have this condition, remember it can be treated and cured, it’s important to remember that few things in life that are achieved quickly are appreciated or maintained.
So where to start? It’s important to eat healthy throughout the day, ensure you’re not hungry so that the amnesia is less likely to set in later in the day. And the best way to start your day is with a good healthy breakfast? What do you have, the breakfast habit isn’t easy to change and it’s embedded in your morning routine. The traditional tends to be cereal, toast and tea or coffee, what do you have? Why not add some fruit and maybe some water, I drink hot water but cold is good. Our bodies are made up of mainly water so it’s always good to replenish it, and having fruit ensures your getting your daily quota and helping towards that five a day minimum target. Fruit is great for eating on the go, you could even smoothie it too, don’t forget frozen fruit can be really reasonably priced.
On that note I’m going to make me a banana smoothie for my breakfast and I can use those yogurts that are almost at their sell-by-date too.
Have a great day, looks like the suns going to shine again, isn’t it fabulous!
May the fourth be with you ;-) Bad joke I know, but I only get to say it once a year ;-) and it always manages to make me smile.
Alfie finally proved he’s a true Longsden, last night he got his head stuck in mom’s empty Easter egg box! Good job we were home ;-)
It was a great start to the working week for me yesterday with Jane achieving her goal having lost 55.5lb, awesome and she looks fabulous. It’s always great to see such success.
I had a lesson in honesty yesterday, yes ‘food intake’ honesty that is, how’s your truth? Do you track honestly or are you a bit guilty of being a bit of a fibber. Do you try to pull the wool over your own eyes?
I fancied soft boiled eggs and soldiers and thought to myself, ooo I’ll have 3 because with medium eggs, 1 egg is 2pp, 2 eggs are 4 but 3 eggs are only 5pp so I get an extra one for 1pp, bargain. So I had the 3 eggs then as I was eating them I thought to myself, “mmm these are a bit on the large side for medium eggs, so I checked online and then went and weighed one of the eggs out of the box and it turned out they were large which meant 3 eggs were 8pp! Damn that was 3 more than I’d planned to spend on my lunch but hey ho, I was honest with my tracker and wrote it down. I also used my phone to track the packed of WW Bakes I had at the meeting which I can sometimes be guilty of forgetting because I suffer from that common disease “Diet Amnesia”. This condition tends to attack more at night when a person is sat in front of the tv relaxing, be careful of this illness as you don’t always realise you suffer from the condition. Be on the lookout in a morning for evidence of the night before, you may find an open packet of biscuits or an empty wrapper in the bin. Diet amnesia is a very dangerous condition to have and will have serious effects on your weight loss, it can even cause weight gain if not caught and treated!
If you do have this condition, remember it can be treated and cured, it’s important to remember that few things in life that are achieved quickly are appreciated or maintained.
So where to start? It’s important to eat healthy throughout the day, ensure you’re not hungry so that the amnesia is less likely to set in later in the day. And the best way to start your day is with a good healthy breakfast? What do you have, the breakfast habit isn’t easy to change and it’s embedded in your morning routine. The traditional tends to be cereal, toast and tea or coffee, what do you have? Why not add some fruit and maybe some water, I drink hot water but cold is good. Our bodies are made up of mainly water so it’s always good to replenish it, and having fruit ensures your getting your daily quota and helping towards that five a day minimum target. Fruit is great for eating on the go, you could even smoothie it too, don’t forget frozen fruit can be really reasonably priced.
On that note I’m going to make me a banana smoothie for my breakfast and I can use those yogurts that are almost at their sell-by-date too.
Have a great day, looks like the suns going to shine again, isn’t it fabulous!
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
3rd May 2011
Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is. Will Rogers
Well I’ve had an unexpected wonderfully relaxing weekend away with my mom, the internet connection was none existent so I wasn’t able to email. We went to Beaminster in Dorset which is about 8 miles from the coast. We stayed at www.greenscrossfarm.co.uk/ thanks to my wonderful friend Jill who couldn’t make it so asked if mom and me would like it and we did. It was just what the doctor ordered for mom, some fresh air and lots of sitting around watching the world go by. We watched deer from the cottage and me and Alfie had a couple of lovely long country walks.
We also ate too much junk food which means I’m now ready to eat healthy again, I’m actually craving salad, which is always a bonus. I realised I’m not as fit as I have been, I struggled up those country hills, so I’ve also decided to get fitter too. I’ll start taking Alfie hillwalking at the weekends, he’s old enough now to take on longer walks. This ties in with Weight Watchers Get Active! month which started Sunday, Weight Watchers wants to inspire you to get moving for your weight loss and your well being – and if you’re currently not active, walking is the perfect place to start. It can be fitted in any time that suits you, you don’t have be fit and it doesn’t require any special equipment. Even so, walking – like other activities – helps to increase the number of calories you burn. And since the ProPoints plan is designed to create a calorie deficit for weight loss, being active is the most important thing you can do alongside sticking to your ProPoints budget.
As you know I walk for an hour every morning with Alfie, so now it’s time to progress and add some hills into the mix to get me fitter and also it will be lovely to walk in the countryside at weekends, we have such a beautiful country and a lot of it is quite close, Cannock chase, the Wrekin, The Long Mynd to name just a few.
I also read something, somewhere the other day that doing activity outdoors had been proven to have better results, so that’s worth a shot. In addition I’ve ordered a Yogalosophy dvd which I read about in this month issue of the Weight Watchers magazine so when that comes I’ll try and get a bit more stretchy and bendy too ;-)
Long weekends always make me feel like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going on the Tuesday morning, hopefully that will pass once I’ve walked the dog and I’ll be in full swing for yet another short week and we’re only a few weeks away from yet another Bank Holiday!
How was your week?
Did you have a fabulous time but not do so well with your weight loss efforts?
Did you have a rubbish week but you’ve done amazingly well with your weight loss efforts?
OR did you have a fabulous time and you did amazingly well with your weight loss efforts too?
Whichever it was, today’s a fresh day, hopefully the sun will shine again, the sunrise is looking positive, get outside and enjoy the fresh air. xx
Well I’ve had an unexpected wonderfully relaxing weekend away with my mom, the internet connection was none existent so I wasn’t able to email. We went to Beaminster in Dorset which is about 8 miles from the coast. We stayed at www.greenscrossfarm.co.uk/ thanks to my wonderful friend Jill who couldn’t make it so asked if mom and me would like it and we did. It was just what the doctor ordered for mom, some fresh air and lots of sitting around watching the world go by. We watched deer from the cottage and me and Alfie had a couple of lovely long country walks.
We also ate too much junk food which means I’m now ready to eat healthy again, I’m actually craving salad, which is always a bonus. I realised I’m not as fit as I have been, I struggled up those country hills, so I’ve also decided to get fitter too. I’ll start taking Alfie hillwalking at the weekends, he’s old enough now to take on longer walks. This ties in with Weight Watchers Get Active! month which started Sunday, Weight Watchers wants to inspire you to get moving for your weight loss and your well being – and if you’re currently not active, walking is the perfect place to start. It can be fitted in any time that suits you, you don’t have be fit and it doesn’t require any special equipment. Even so, walking – like other activities – helps to increase the number of calories you burn. And since the ProPoints plan is designed to create a calorie deficit for weight loss, being active is the most important thing you can do alongside sticking to your ProPoints budget.
As you know I walk for an hour every morning with Alfie, so now it’s time to progress and add some hills into the mix to get me fitter and also it will be lovely to walk in the countryside at weekends, we have such a beautiful country and a lot of it is quite close, Cannock chase, the Wrekin, The Long Mynd to name just a few.
I also read something, somewhere the other day that doing activity outdoors had been proven to have better results, so that’s worth a shot. In addition I’ve ordered a Yogalosophy dvd which I read about in this month issue of the Weight Watchers magazine so when that comes I’ll try and get a bit more stretchy and bendy too ;-)
Long weekends always make me feel like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going on the Tuesday morning, hopefully that will pass once I’ve walked the dog and I’ll be in full swing for yet another short week and we’re only a few weeks away from yet another Bank Holiday!
How was your week?
Did you have a fabulous time but not do so well with your weight loss efforts?
Did you have a rubbish week but you’ve done amazingly well with your weight loss efforts?
OR did you have a fabulous time and you did amazingly well with your weight loss efforts too?
Whichever it was, today’s a fresh day, hopefully the sun will shine again, the sunrise is looking positive, get outside and enjoy the fresh air. xx
Friday, 29 April 2011
29th April 2011
Love is an ideal thing, marriage is a real thing. A confusion of the real with the ideal never goes unpunished.
Well another Bank Holiday weekend is upon us, I couldn’t believe how busy Asda was yesterday when I nipped in! I’m away thanks to a very generous friend so you may or may not hear from me again till Tuesday depending on how I feel and internet connection.
This is gonna be short and sweet as I haven’t packed anything yet either and I’d like to get off early before the roads get busy, although I’m hoping they won’t because everyone’s gonna be watching the wedding!
Speaking of weddings, you may not be able to go, but I’ve just found this wedding cake recipe on the Weight Watchers website, when was the last time you baked a cake? That’s something you could do with the kids, here’s the recipes, and it looks delicious;
Try this rich, indulgent chocolate cake as a treat or for a very special occasion, like a wedding. This flourless sponge is almost soufflé-like. It may seem small but it’s very rich, so only a tiny square per person is needed. If the quantities are doubled, it can be stacked up and decorated to make an impressive wedding cake.
Celebration Chocolate Cake
Serves 12 – 5 ProPoints values per serving – 15 minutes to prepare & cool – 15 minutes to cook.
1/2 tsp sunflower oil
6 large eggs, separated
150g (5 1/2oz) caster sugar
50g (1 3/4oz) cocoa powder, sifted
For the chocolate icing:
125g (4 1/2oz) plain chocolate (60% cocoa solids)
25g (1oz) milk chocolate
4 tbsp half fat crème fraiche
Edible gold glitter or gold leaf to decorate (optional)
Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/ 160OC. Grease 2 x 18cm (7in) non-stick, loose-bottomed square tins with the sunflower oil and line the bases with baking parchment.
Place the eggs yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until think, pale and the mixture leave a trail when you lift out the beaters (about 3 minutes). Fold in the cocoa with a metal spoon.
Place egg whites in a separate bowl and, usig clean beater, whisk until firm peaks form. Fold a spoonful of the whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen it, then add the remaining whites and fold in gently.
Pour into the prepared tins and bakes for 15 minutes. The cakes will be risen and still wobbly when you remove them for the over. Leave them to cool completely in the tins – they will sink down and come away from the sides of the tins.
Turn the cakes out and remove the parchment paper. Place one cake top-side-down on a serving plate or board.
Melt the chocolate for the filling in a bowl over a pan of just simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Leave to cool slightly, then gradually fold in the crème fraiche, a little at a time, until smooth and glossy. Spread a very thin layer of chocolate over the bottom cake, then top with the other sponge. Spread the remaining mixture neatly over the whole cake and smooth the edges. Store in the fridge until 1 hour before serving. For a real flourish, top with edible gold glitter or gold leaf (available from cake shops and some supermarkets).
Have a fabulous bank holiday, hopefully the sun will stay around to make it really good. xx
Well another Bank Holiday weekend is upon us, I couldn’t believe how busy Asda was yesterday when I nipped in! I’m away thanks to a very generous friend so you may or may not hear from me again till Tuesday depending on how I feel and internet connection.
This is gonna be short and sweet as I haven’t packed anything yet either and I’d like to get off early before the roads get busy, although I’m hoping they won’t because everyone’s gonna be watching the wedding!
Speaking of weddings, you may not be able to go, but I’ve just found this wedding cake recipe on the Weight Watchers website, when was the last time you baked a cake? That’s something you could do with the kids, here’s the recipes, and it looks delicious;
Try this rich, indulgent chocolate cake as a treat or for a very special occasion, like a wedding. This flourless sponge is almost soufflé-like. It may seem small but it’s very rich, so only a tiny square per person is needed. If the quantities are doubled, it can be stacked up and decorated to make an impressive wedding cake.
Celebration Chocolate Cake
Serves 12 – 5 ProPoints values per serving – 15 minutes to prepare & cool – 15 minutes to cook.
1/2 tsp sunflower oil
6 large eggs, separated
150g (5 1/2oz) caster sugar
50g (1 3/4oz) cocoa powder, sifted
For the chocolate icing:
125g (4 1/2oz) plain chocolate (60% cocoa solids)
25g (1oz) milk chocolate
4 tbsp half fat crème fraiche
Edible gold glitter or gold leaf to decorate (optional)
Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/ 160OC. Grease 2 x 18cm (7in) non-stick, loose-bottomed square tins with the sunflower oil and line the bases with baking parchment.
Place the eggs yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk until think, pale and the mixture leave a trail when you lift out the beaters (about 3 minutes). Fold in the cocoa with a metal spoon.
Place egg whites in a separate bowl and, usig clean beater, whisk until firm peaks form. Fold a spoonful of the whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen it, then add the remaining whites and fold in gently.
Pour into the prepared tins and bakes for 15 minutes. The cakes will be risen and still wobbly when you remove them for the over. Leave them to cool completely in the tins – they will sink down and come away from the sides of the tins.
Turn the cakes out and remove the parchment paper. Place one cake top-side-down on a serving plate or board.
Melt the chocolate for the filling in a bowl over a pan of just simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Leave to cool slightly, then gradually fold in the crème fraiche, a little at a time, until smooth and glossy. Spread a very thin layer of chocolate over the bottom cake, then top with the other sponge. Spread the remaining mixture neatly over the whole cake and smooth the edges. Store in the fridge until 1 hour before serving. For a real flourish, top with edible gold glitter or gold leaf (available from cake shops and some supermarkets).
Have a fabulous bank holiday, hopefully the sun will stay around to make it really good. xx
Thursday, 28 April 2011
28th April 2011
He who knows he has enough is rich. Lao-tzu, Tao-te Ching
“I can’t afford to buy all this healthy food”
Now there’s another sentence I hear often! Do I agree with it? Is it a true statement?
No personally I don’t agree but at the same time you can make weight loss cost a fortune if you buy all the ‘special diet’ food. Baked beans on toast, cheap and healthy.
Lot’s of people worry that losing weight is going to be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. Firstly always buy fruit and vegetables that are in season and if they aren’t in season look for frozen. Make use of the markets too, you can get some real bargains there.
Soup is really healthy and cheap to make and if you make it in bulk you can freeze it. Opt for cheaper cuts of meat to make filling and satisfying meals.
I don’t buy special food, I buy the food I’ve always eaten and just watch those portion sizes, it was the takeaways and snacking that was costing me a fortune, have you seen the price of fish and chips lately or a donor kebab!
http://www.happyowls.co.uk/recipes.html there are some recipes on here that are economical to make, the corned beef hash is great and really easy. As is the
Chicken Fricassee
Serves 2, 9pp each
100g brown rice (10pp)
low fat cooking spray
2 x 125g skinless boneless chicken breasts
300ml chicken stock (use 1½ chicken oxo cubes)
110g carrots, peeled and cut into thick chunks.
150g button mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
75g low fat soft cheese
Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the rice according to the packet instructions. Drain well and leave to cool. Meanwhile, lightly coat a deep, lidded, non stick frying pan with low fat cooking spray and heat until hot. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned all over. Add the stock and carrots. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, lightly coat another small non-stick frying pan with low fat cooking spray. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until the juices have been released and evaporated. Add the garlic and rice and cook for a further minute, until hot. Divide between two plates. Remove the chicken and carrots with a slotted spoon, reserving the stock. Place the chicken and carrots on top of the rice. Keep warm. Return the pan with the stock to the hob. Boil quickly for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in the soft cheese. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
If you have a cheap meal that you cook why not share it on the facebook wall, https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bevs-Weight-Watchers/133361767350 so others can benefit too.
As for exercise, walking doesn’t cost a thing and it is on of the best forms of exercise there is.
Well I’m off for my daily free walk with Alfie, and I’m gonna have beans with garlic bread for lunch as they were free with the pizza I bought mom!
Enjoy your day.
“I can’t afford to buy all this healthy food”
Now there’s another sentence I hear often! Do I agree with it? Is it a true statement?
No personally I don’t agree but at the same time you can make weight loss cost a fortune if you buy all the ‘special diet’ food. Baked beans on toast, cheap and healthy.
Lot’s of people worry that losing weight is going to be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. Firstly always buy fruit and vegetables that are in season and if they aren’t in season look for frozen. Make use of the markets too, you can get some real bargains there.
Soup is really healthy and cheap to make and if you make it in bulk you can freeze it. Opt for cheaper cuts of meat to make filling and satisfying meals.
I don’t buy special food, I buy the food I’ve always eaten and just watch those portion sizes, it was the takeaways and snacking that was costing me a fortune, have you seen the price of fish and chips lately or a donor kebab!
http://www.happyowls.co.uk/recipes.html there are some recipes on here that are economical to make, the corned beef hash is great and really easy. As is the
Chicken Fricassee
Serves 2, 9pp each
100g brown rice (10pp)
low fat cooking spray
2 x 125g skinless boneless chicken breasts
300ml chicken stock (use 1½ chicken oxo cubes)
110g carrots, peeled and cut into thick chunks.
150g button mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
75g low fat soft cheese
Bring a pan of water to the boil and cook the rice according to the packet instructions. Drain well and leave to cool. Meanwhile, lightly coat a deep, lidded, non stick frying pan with low fat cooking spray and heat until hot. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned all over. Add the stock and carrots. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, lightly coat another small non-stick frying pan with low fat cooking spray. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until the juices have been released and evaporated. Add the garlic and rice and cook for a further minute, until hot. Divide between two plates. Remove the chicken and carrots with a slotted spoon, reserving the stock. Place the chicken and carrots on top of the rice. Keep warm. Return the pan with the stock to the hob. Boil quickly for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in the soft cheese. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
If you have a cheap meal that you cook why not share it on the facebook wall, https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bevs-Weight-Watchers/133361767350 so others can benefit too.
As for exercise, walking doesn’t cost a thing and it is on of the best forms of exercise there is.
Well I’m off for my daily free walk with Alfie, and I’m gonna have beans with garlic bread for lunch as they were free with the pizza I bought mom!
Enjoy your day.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
27th April 2011
Do or do not...there is no try. Yoda (Star Wars)
“I’m okay in the day, it’s night time that gets me!”
How many times have I heard that sentence and I have to admit I’m guilty of it too. Why do we do it? ‘Tiredness’, 'Boredom' and 'nothing to do' are just three of the many reasons for mindless nibbling.
Some snack foods can help you stay on the straight and narrow whilst others can cause huge damage! Different things work for different people.
I personally find not having the foods in the house helps me enormously; I can’t eat what isn’t there. I also find going to bed works a treat, I’m usually tired and I won’t find my mattress in my fridge!
But if it really is a habit you want to continue with, look for healthy snacks that you can still enjoy without denting your ProPoints budget. The first thing you must to is ensure you save the ProPoints to do it! Don’t pretend it isn’t happening, then look surprised when you don’t get a weight loss.
There are of course always the bars and bakes in your meeting which are on offer this week, bars are 3 for £5, bakes are 5 for £2, they’re already ProPointed so easy to track.
You can of course always find zero ProPoint foods to help you avoid dipping into your allowance.
• Weight Watchers Sugar Free Jelly Crystals
• Fruit - go exotic with kiwis, lycheese and mangoes.
• Soup made with zero ProPoints value fresh vegetables.
• Cauliflower, carrot and celery crudités with tomato salsa made from fresh chopped tomatoes, red onion and fresh coriander.
• Rocket leaves, cucumber cubes and sugar snap peas with a splash of zingy balsamic vinegar.
• Baby sweetcorn and asparagus tips.
• Crudités, cherry tomatoes, celery and even raw mushrooms!
• Pickled onions and gherkins.
What's Your Snacking Personality?
I want A LOT
If you're a volume eater, think small and low in fat: Try cheese-flavoured Snack-a-Jacks, popcorn, baby carrots and salsa, or cherry tomatoes.
I need some quick energy!
Complex carbohydrates are your best bet. They will give you an energy boost and keep you going for longer than just a high sugar food. Try some wholewheat crackers or a small tub of wholewheat pasta, a banana, or one slice of wholemeal toast with marmite.
I need a longer lasting snack
You can gobble down a chocolate in seconds, but ice lollies, hard sweets or frozen grapes take longer to eat. As an alternative, a piping hot cappuccino or steaming mug of tea can also do the trick.
What will tide me over for hours?
A lollipop may take a while to eat but its high sugar dose can be used up in a flash. High-fibre snacks, on the other hand, that contain some protein can stave off hunger for the long haul. Great options include Ryvitas and light soft cheese, peanut butter and apple slices, or a small handful of nuts and dried fruit.
Just keep my hands busy
When emotional eating kicks in and a non-food activity like a walk just won't cut it, (try it, first!) opt for snacks that take some time to prepare: pistachios in the shell, fruit you have to peel (try a whole mango) or a sundae made with yogurt, chopped fruit and cereal. By the time you're finished preparing and eating them, your emotions may well be on the upswing.
Need More Ideas?
Here's what some WeightWatchers.co.uk users say best nips their snack attacks in the bud.
Salty Snacks
• Weight Watchers Savoury Snacks: "Great alternative to normal crisps."
• Laughing Cow Cheese and Ryvitas: "Creamy and crunchy."
• Butternut Squash Chips: "Put tiny bit of oil over the top, lots of salt and pepper, chilli powder - and pop in oven for about 40 mins - like real chips."
• Popcorn: "The smell alone gives you that excited feeling of going to the movies!"
• Carrot batons and salsa: "Carrots are crunchy so it feels like you're eating crisps."
Sweet Snacks
• Low fat hot chocolate: "A sweet fix."
• Sugar-free jelly: "Can't tell the difference."
• Grapes cold from the fridge: "My boyfriend now buys me grapes when he gets his chocolate!"
• Low fat yogurt frozen in the freezer: "Feels like you're eating ice cream!"
Snacking for Success
Whatever your snacking style happens to be, you don't have to change it. Just make sure that the munching is mindful, measure the portion sizes of all your snacks and track the ProPoints values, whatever they were. If you can plan your snacking, so much the better.
Remember, joining a Weight Watcher meeting or reading the programme material doesn't mean you’re following the plan, tracking your ProPoints and sticking within your allowance DOES!
“I’m okay in the day, it’s night time that gets me!”
How many times have I heard that sentence and I have to admit I’m guilty of it too. Why do we do it? ‘Tiredness’, 'Boredom' and 'nothing to do' are just three of the many reasons for mindless nibbling.
Some snack foods can help you stay on the straight and narrow whilst others can cause huge damage! Different things work for different people.
I personally find not having the foods in the house helps me enormously; I can’t eat what isn’t there. I also find going to bed works a treat, I’m usually tired and I won’t find my mattress in my fridge!
But if it really is a habit you want to continue with, look for healthy snacks that you can still enjoy without denting your ProPoints budget. The first thing you must to is ensure you save the ProPoints to do it! Don’t pretend it isn’t happening, then look surprised when you don’t get a weight loss.
There are of course always the bars and bakes in your meeting which are on offer this week, bars are 3 for £5, bakes are 5 for £2, they’re already ProPointed so easy to track.
You can of course always find zero ProPoint foods to help you avoid dipping into your allowance.
• Weight Watchers Sugar Free Jelly Crystals
• Fruit - go exotic with kiwis, lycheese and mangoes.
• Soup made with zero ProPoints value fresh vegetables.
• Cauliflower, carrot and celery crudités with tomato salsa made from fresh chopped tomatoes, red onion and fresh coriander.
• Rocket leaves, cucumber cubes and sugar snap peas with a splash of zingy balsamic vinegar.
• Baby sweetcorn and asparagus tips.
• Crudités, cherry tomatoes, celery and even raw mushrooms!
• Pickled onions and gherkins.
What's Your Snacking Personality?
I want A LOT
If you're a volume eater, think small and low in fat: Try cheese-flavoured Snack-a-Jacks, popcorn, baby carrots and salsa, or cherry tomatoes.
I need some quick energy!
Complex carbohydrates are your best bet. They will give you an energy boost and keep you going for longer than just a high sugar food. Try some wholewheat crackers or a small tub of wholewheat pasta, a banana, or one slice of wholemeal toast with marmite.
I need a longer lasting snack
You can gobble down a chocolate in seconds, but ice lollies, hard sweets or frozen grapes take longer to eat. As an alternative, a piping hot cappuccino or steaming mug of tea can also do the trick.
What will tide me over for hours?
A lollipop may take a while to eat but its high sugar dose can be used up in a flash. High-fibre snacks, on the other hand, that contain some protein can stave off hunger for the long haul. Great options include Ryvitas and light soft cheese, peanut butter and apple slices, or a small handful of nuts and dried fruit.
Just keep my hands busy
When emotional eating kicks in and a non-food activity like a walk just won't cut it, (try it, first!) opt for snacks that take some time to prepare: pistachios in the shell, fruit you have to peel (try a whole mango) or a sundae made with yogurt, chopped fruit and cereal. By the time you're finished preparing and eating them, your emotions may well be on the upswing.
Need More Ideas?
Here's what some WeightWatchers.co.uk users say best nips their snack attacks in the bud.
Salty Snacks
• Weight Watchers Savoury Snacks: "Great alternative to normal crisps."
• Laughing Cow Cheese and Ryvitas: "Creamy and crunchy."
• Butternut Squash Chips: "Put tiny bit of oil over the top, lots of salt and pepper, chilli powder - and pop in oven for about 40 mins - like real chips."
• Popcorn: "The smell alone gives you that excited feeling of going to the movies!"
• Carrot batons and salsa: "Carrots are crunchy so it feels like you're eating crisps."
Sweet Snacks
• Low fat hot chocolate: "A sweet fix."
• Sugar-free jelly: "Can't tell the difference."
• Grapes cold from the fridge: "My boyfriend now buys me grapes when he gets his chocolate!"
• Low fat yogurt frozen in the freezer: "Feels like you're eating ice cream!"
Snacking for Success
Whatever your snacking style happens to be, you don't have to change it. Just make sure that the munching is mindful, measure the portion sizes of all your snacks and track the ProPoints values, whatever they were. If you can plan your snacking, so much the better.
Remember, joining a Weight Watcher meeting or reading the programme material doesn't mean you’re following the plan, tracking your ProPoints and sticking within your allowance DOES!
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
26th April 2011
Nothing arouses more hope than the first four hours of a diet! Marsha Coleman
Forgiveness: a key ingredient to getting over the Easter indulgence!
Lot’s of us have eaten one chocolate egg or drunk one can of lager too many this weekend, in the past when doing this overindulging I would bean myself up, feel awful and then have another bar of chocolate or glass of wine to make myself feel better. This used to cause my weight to increase and my clothes to shrink, and then I’d feel even worse and so the self-punishing would continue.
NOT ANY MORE! No these day’s I’ve realised that what I used to call bad days are actually really, really enjoyable and holiday a grudge against myself wasn’t really productive and didn’t help my long term goal of being healthy and happy. A large slice of cake or a large glass of wine is much more enjoyable than a large portion of guilt. So if you’ve had one of those weekends where you did everything you think you shouldn’t, confess if you really feel the need to, forgive and move on. Remember that one fab weekend does not a fat bird/bloke make and get back on your ‘weight loss wagon’, or in my case it’s a ‘healthy HGV’!
If it makes you feel better, blame the diet devil, tell everyone ‘the diet devil made me do it!”
Start today by repeating after me, “I can, I can, I can”, you’re feeling more positive already aren’t you.
If you still have lots of chocolate in the house that you know you can’t resist maybe it’s time to give it away, bring it to the meeting, I’ll get rid of it for you.
You could work on counteracting some of the damage by getting active!
Did you know the average person only does 3-4,000 steps a day, by 7am most mornings I’ve already done 7,000 and I enjoy every step of it, I’ve finally found a way to be active that I enjoy at I time that suits me (I know most people would think it crazy but then I think dancing round a hall full of women to latino music a bit weird!)
Exercise for pleasure not because you think it will get you thin! When I walk my dog in the morning I’m not thinking about the effect it’s going to have on my waistline or the muscle it might be building in my thighs, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet, the sunrise, the conversation with the other dog owners on the park. I do it because I enjoy it, not because I’m burning calories.
Because you don’t purposefully put aside 30mins five times a week, you might think you don’t exercise at all but think about it if you have a night out dancing with your friends which would include a few hours dancing, that would get your heart rate elevated and all your muscles working whilst your having fun. This is exercise, you just didn’t need to do a Zhumba session to get the results nor punish yourself on a treadmill.
If you walk the dog you’re getting exercise, if you push a pushchair you’re toning your arms, if you climb steps at work you’re getting exercise. If you chase a kid round the house, you’re getting lots of exercise. Taking the kids ten pin bowling is exercise and gives the kids something to do too! Give yourself credit for what you already do; housework is exercise if you put some effort into it.
Find an activity you enjoy and do it because it’s fun, you may have to try lots to find the right one but hey you’ll have fun trying them all out. And remember you don’t have to find one exercise and do that forever, mix and match if you like.
I’m smiling because it’s a short 3 day week for me just hope I can motivate myself this weekend to get a little more active as I’ve been a bit lazy this weekend gone ;)
Have a great day. xx
Forgiveness: a key ingredient to getting over the Easter indulgence!
Lot’s of us have eaten one chocolate egg or drunk one can of lager too many this weekend, in the past when doing this overindulging I would bean myself up, feel awful and then have another bar of chocolate or glass of wine to make myself feel better. This used to cause my weight to increase and my clothes to shrink, and then I’d feel even worse and so the self-punishing would continue.
NOT ANY MORE! No these day’s I’ve realised that what I used to call bad days are actually really, really enjoyable and holiday a grudge against myself wasn’t really productive and didn’t help my long term goal of being healthy and happy. A large slice of cake or a large glass of wine is much more enjoyable than a large portion of guilt. So if you’ve had one of those weekends where you did everything you think you shouldn’t, confess if you really feel the need to, forgive and move on. Remember that one fab weekend does not a fat bird/bloke make and get back on your ‘weight loss wagon’, or in my case it’s a ‘healthy HGV’!
If it makes you feel better, blame the diet devil, tell everyone ‘the diet devil made me do it!”
Start today by repeating after me, “I can, I can, I can”, you’re feeling more positive already aren’t you.
If you still have lots of chocolate in the house that you know you can’t resist maybe it’s time to give it away, bring it to the meeting, I’ll get rid of it for you.
You could work on counteracting some of the damage by getting active!
Did you know the average person only does 3-4,000 steps a day, by 7am most mornings I’ve already done 7,000 and I enjoy every step of it, I’ve finally found a way to be active that I enjoy at I time that suits me (I know most people would think it crazy but then I think dancing round a hall full of women to latino music a bit weird!)
Exercise for pleasure not because you think it will get you thin! When I walk my dog in the morning I’m not thinking about the effect it’s going to have on my waistline or the muscle it might be building in my thighs, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet, the sunrise, the conversation with the other dog owners on the park. I do it because I enjoy it, not because I’m burning calories.
Because you don’t purposefully put aside 30mins five times a week, you might think you don’t exercise at all but think about it if you have a night out dancing with your friends which would include a few hours dancing, that would get your heart rate elevated and all your muscles working whilst your having fun. This is exercise, you just didn’t need to do a Zhumba session to get the results nor punish yourself on a treadmill.
If you walk the dog you’re getting exercise, if you push a pushchair you’re toning your arms, if you climb steps at work you’re getting exercise. If you chase a kid round the house, you’re getting lots of exercise. Taking the kids ten pin bowling is exercise and gives the kids something to do too! Give yourself credit for what you already do; housework is exercise if you put some effort into it.
Find an activity you enjoy and do it because it’s fun, you may have to try lots to find the right one but hey you’ll have fun trying them all out. And remember you don’t have to find one exercise and do that forever, mix and match if you like.
I’m smiling because it’s a short 3 day week for me just hope I can motivate myself this weekend to get a little more active as I’ve been a bit lazy this weekend gone ;)
Have a great day. xx
Monday, 25 April 2011
25th April 2011
One cannot be what one should be merely by closing one's eyes to what one is. Sangharakshita
Bank Holiday Monday and I’ve got to admit I’m a bit cold! Don’t think salad will be on the menu today, I’m more likely to do a big plate of mashed potato! We’re just back from our morning walk and I’ve been taking some photos of my Alfie, he’s such a cutie and I realised it’s been a while since I used my camera. Yesterday I did some scrapbooking, it’s been great having this long weekend and I’ve got another one to look forward to next week too. Can’t decide what to do with my day today, although I think I might carry on with the scrapbooking, I’ve finished the book I was planning to read, so will start another. And I’ve just decided I’m going to make minced beef and onions with mash or chunky chips and veg, ooo I could just eat that right now!
I’m probably one of the few people who haven’t had chocolate this weekend, but that wasn’t a conscious decision, I’m just not a big fan of chocolate, rather have a glass of wine. So if you have had it I hope you remember the chocolate wisdom guidelines! No guilt either I hope. Xx
If you’re feeling a bit deflated because you’ve eaten what you think was too much chocolate or you’ve just consumed more than you’d planned, don’t worry about it, enjoy today and remember you’re gorgeous. It could be worse you could be a life sized Barbie doll and believe me, that wouldn’t be good. Unfortunately there are a lot of young girls believe that Barbie is how a woman is supposed to look (i.e. no fat anywhere on your body, but large breasts). But, if Barbie was a real person, she would be 5’9” tall, have a neck twice the length of a normal human's neck, and weigh 110 pounds, only 76% of her healthy weight. Her measurements would be 39-18-33, and she likely would not be able to menstruate due to being underweight. On top of that, her feet would be too small to support her when she walks.
Similarly, young boys are given the impression that men are supposed to have muscles bulging all over their bodies. Take a look at their plastic action-figures like GI Joe Extreme. If GI Joe Extreme were life-size, he would have a 55 inch chest and a 27 inch bicep. In other words, his bicep would be almost as big as his waist and bigger than most competitive body builders. In comparison, the average real-life man of the same height, even a guy who’s fairly athletic, will have biceps that are only about 11.5 inches around.
In 1998, The Body Shop debuted its self-esteem campaign, featuring the generously proportioned doll named "Ruby." Her rubenesque figure graced windows in The Body Shop windows in the UK that year, along with the slogan, "There are 3 billion women who don't look like supermodels and only 8 who do." She went on to appear in stores in Australia, Asia, and the United States. Ruby was a fun idea, but she carried a serious message. She was intended to challenge stereotypes of beauty and counter the pervasive influence of the cosmetics industry.
In the United States, the toy company Mattel (the makers of Barbie) demanded that The Body Shop pull the images of Ruby from American shop windows and sued The Body Shop for this ad. Then, in Hong Kong, posters of Ruby were banned on the Mass Transit Railway because authorities said she would offend passengers. Of course, the much more seriously offensive images of silicone-enhanced blondes in other ads were permitted to stay on the trains!
I’ve not got a Barbie body and I wouldn’t want one, I have curves and I have lumps and bumps and I love every inch of me, you can choose to feel the same way about yourself too. Remember YOU’RE GORGEOUS!
Bank Holiday Monday and I’ve got to admit I’m a bit cold! Don’t think salad will be on the menu today, I’m more likely to do a big plate of mashed potato! We’re just back from our morning walk and I’ve been taking some photos of my Alfie, he’s such a cutie and I realised it’s been a while since I used my camera. Yesterday I did some scrapbooking, it’s been great having this long weekend and I’ve got another one to look forward to next week too. Can’t decide what to do with my day today, although I think I might carry on with the scrapbooking, I’ve finished the book I was planning to read, so will start another. And I’ve just decided I’m going to make minced beef and onions with mash or chunky chips and veg, ooo I could just eat that right now!
I’m probably one of the few people who haven’t had chocolate this weekend, but that wasn’t a conscious decision, I’m just not a big fan of chocolate, rather have a glass of wine. So if you have had it I hope you remember the chocolate wisdom guidelines! No guilt either I hope. Xx
Similarly, young boys are given the impression that men are supposed to have muscles bulging all over their bodies. Take a look at their plastic action-figures like GI Joe Extreme. If GI Joe Extreme were life-size, he would have a 55 inch chest and a 27 inch bicep. In other words, his bicep would be almost as big as his waist and bigger than most competitive body builders. In comparison, the average real-life man of the same height, even a guy who’s fairly athletic, will have biceps that are only about 11.5 inches around.
In the United States, the toy company Mattel (the makers of Barbie) demanded that The Body Shop pull the images of Ruby from American shop windows and sued The Body Shop for this ad. Then, in Hong Kong, posters of Ruby were banned on the Mass Transit Railway because authorities said she would offend passengers. Of course, the much more seriously offensive images of silicone-enhanced blondes in other ads were permitted to stay on the trains!
I’ve not got a Barbie body and I wouldn’t want one, I have curves and I have lumps and bumps and I love every inch of me, you can choose to feel the same way about yourself too. Remember YOU’RE GORGEOUS!
Sunday, 24 April 2011
24th April 2011
There are 3 billion women in the world who don't look like supermodels, and only 8 who do! (Body shop commercial)
Remember your gorgeous too!
Okay so it’s Easter and hopefully you’re enjoying yourself, I know I’m having a well deserved rest and enjoying every moment of it. Some of you are struggling to stay on track because of the sunshine, the holiday, and possibly lots of other reasons. I need you to remember mental health is just as important as physical health. You definitely don’t want to trade your mental welling being by beating yourself up about what you might be thinking are dieting ‘failures’ or exercise ‘failures’ this weekend or any other time.
Think about this for a minute who do you think you treat better – your best friend or your worst enemy? Hopefully that question is a no=brainer, and it’s your best friend. Shame and self-loathing will not make you want to take better care of your body, if you constantly treat yourself badly then your body will suffer. Treat yourself with a little more love, kindness and respect and your body and mind will thank you for it.
Surround yourself with positive people to who appreciate you, don’t spend time with people who say negative things about your body! Do you remember coming home crying from school because someone said something mean to you, hopefully your mom told you that people who say nasty things to you aren’t your friend. Well it’s just the same now; a person who constantly has digs at you or makes snide comments is not your friend. Friends are meant to support each other and help build each other up. Someone asking, “Should you be eating that!” is just the grown up version of that kid at school saying, “you’re a poo poo bum!” You don’t need anyone but you to tell you what and when you should be eating!
Take care of you, you wouldn’t let some say nasty things to your best mate, so be your own bestie and don’t let people say these things to you either!
So if you are struggling with staying on track this Easter, maybe make the conscious decision NOT TO! Decide that you’re going to enjoy the weekend, eat intuitively, before having something ask yourself if you really want it, do you fancy something sweet, would just a mouthful be enough and then you’d be satisfied. Don’t opt for the salad because you think you should, choose it because you’re craving something fresh and light so that you can enjoy the sweetness of the pudding later.
If you’re panicking now and thinking but if I give myself permission to eat anything I want even for just the weekend I’ll do loads of damage because I want to eat everything! Maybe the best way to stop feeling as if you’re going to try and eat everything is to actually go ahead and try to eat everything Because the first thing you’ll realise is that you can’t. And the next thing you’ll realise is that you don’t really want to. And once you get to that point, you might actually have a chance of understanding your own internal hunger signals and start to eat as and when you’re hungry rather than because you can’t or because everyone else it.
So enjoy your Easter whether your egg has a yolk or is made of chocolate . xx
Remember your gorgeous too!
Okay so it’s Easter and hopefully you’re enjoying yourself, I know I’m having a well deserved rest and enjoying every moment of it. Some of you are struggling to stay on track because of the sunshine, the holiday, and possibly lots of other reasons. I need you to remember mental health is just as important as physical health. You definitely don’t want to trade your mental welling being by beating yourself up about what you might be thinking are dieting ‘failures’ or exercise ‘failures’ this weekend or any other time.
Think about this for a minute who do you think you treat better – your best friend or your worst enemy? Hopefully that question is a no=brainer, and it’s your best friend. Shame and self-loathing will not make you want to take better care of your body, if you constantly treat yourself badly then your body will suffer. Treat yourself with a little more love, kindness and respect and your body and mind will thank you for it.
Surround yourself with positive people to who appreciate you, don’t spend time with people who say negative things about your body! Do you remember coming home crying from school because someone said something mean to you, hopefully your mom told you that people who say nasty things to you aren’t your friend. Well it’s just the same now; a person who constantly has digs at you or makes snide comments is not your friend. Friends are meant to support each other and help build each other up. Someone asking, “Should you be eating that!” is just the grown up version of that kid at school saying, “you’re a poo poo bum!” You don’t need anyone but you to tell you what and when you should be eating!
Take care of you, you wouldn’t let some say nasty things to your best mate, so be your own bestie and don’t let people say these things to you either!
So if you are struggling with staying on track this Easter, maybe make the conscious decision NOT TO! Decide that you’re going to enjoy the weekend, eat intuitively, before having something ask yourself if you really want it, do you fancy something sweet, would just a mouthful be enough and then you’d be satisfied. Don’t opt for the salad because you think you should, choose it because you’re craving something fresh and light so that you can enjoy the sweetness of the pudding later.
If you’re panicking now and thinking but if I give myself permission to eat anything I want even for just the weekend I’ll do loads of damage because I want to eat everything! Maybe the best way to stop feeling as if you’re going to try and eat everything is to actually go ahead and try to eat everything Because the first thing you’ll realise is that you can’t. And the next thing you’ll realise is that you don’t really want to. And once you get to that point, you might actually have a chance of understanding your own internal hunger signals and start to eat as and when you’re hungry rather than because you can’t or because everyone else it.
So enjoy your Easter whether your egg has a yolk or is made of chocolate . xx
Saturday, 23 April 2011
23rd April 201
There's an important difference between giving up and letting go. Jessica Hatchigan
Well I had a productive morning yesterday 2hr walk with Alfie, followed by all my ironing done and enough clothes for a month ;), then I sat on my backside for the rest of the day and chilled out, which is more or less what I think I’ll do today too, might be a little productive this morning, then relaxation later. Mom’s on the mend which is great news but she’s not well enough to take anywhere so I’ll hang round here with her.
I had a delicious breakfast yesterday of fruit, strawberries, banana, pineapple, Greek yogurt and honey, the strawberries are on offer at the Co-op at the moment and they really are delicious.
Looks like it’s going to be a fabulous Bank Holiday weekend and one thing that’s bound to be popular this weekend is having a BBQ! For some it’s great to get outside and eat up the garden in the sunshine, maybe invite a few friends round. Don’t worry, you can still stay on track and enjoy yourself, whether you’re the one hosting or the guest.
If you’re the host you can be more in control of what you cook, remember it’s not just burgers that cook well on the barbeque, meat, poultry and fish all taste fabulous and all the fat drips off as they’re cooking. Why not make a healthy marinade to get juicy results, here’s one you could use on chicken or fish;
2 tsp olive oil (2pp)
juice of ½ a lime
2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp water
2 medium garlic cloves, crushed
3 tbsp coriander
1tsp salt
2tsp ground cumin
1 small onion chopped
Just puree all ingredients until smooth, pour over 4 servings of meat and let marinade for 20 minutes. There are many healthy marinades and dry rubs available in shops too, just have a look at the labels to make sure you're making wise choices.
Barbeques make veggies taste great too, make your own mushroom burgers. Simply brush a large, open mushroom with a teaspoon of olive oil (1pp), rub it with rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes, turning half way through and serve just like a burger with your favourite toppings - very satisfying! Or put a selection of vegetables on a skewer like butternut squash cubes, courgette, red onion, cherry tomatoes, potato chunks. The natural juices will keep them moist, but you can always brush them with oyster sauce or a mixture of soy sauce, ginger and garlic for a tasty marinade.
Then there’s corn on the cob which is perfect on the barbeque and here are a couple of ways for you to try. Firstly, boil the cleaned cobs for five minutes in salted water, then place directly on the rack, turning regularly, for another five minutes until they're tender and browned. Another method is to wrap them tightly in foil then put on the barbeque. Try rubbing them lightly with a low calorie spread, or marinade them in a soy sauce, chilli and ginger mixture before sealing the foil for a lovely, steamed result.
Don’t forget the salad either, and if you’re the guest take some with you. If you’re buying burgers, look for low ProPointed ones, there’s always a lower choice if you take your calculator with you.
Let’s not forget pudding, of course my idea of pudding is a glass of red wine, but for others why this, take a medium banana (unpeeled) and make a slit down the length. Fill the split with two squares of chocolate cut into small pieces, push the banana back together and then wrap the whole thing in foil. Leave it on the barbeque rack for 20-30 minutes (depending on the heat), unwrap and enjoy! Even the simplest of fruit will give you a great result. Try halving a pear, peach, nectarine or plum and cut out the pip or core. Brush the halves lightly with a mixture of demerara sugar and juice or with runny honey. Barbeque until tender and tuck in.
We’ve even barbequed pink & whites in the past, take one of the wafers off and bbq that side.
As for booze, be careful as too much in the sunshine not only makes you dehydrated and poorly, but also makes you forget what you’re eating!
ProPoints in booze
250ml wine = 6pp (the bottle 19pp)
½ lager = 3pp (3 pints = 18pp)
½ cider = 4pp (3 pints = 21pp)
Jacques Fruit Des Bois Cider 250ml glass = 5pp (750ml bottle = 14pp)
Vintage cider = 20pp per pint!!!!!!
Spirits vary 2-3pp per 25ml
Whatever you’re doing today, enjoy yourself and the sunshine.
Well I had a productive morning yesterday 2hr walk with Alfie, followed by all my ironing done and enough clothes for a month ;), then I sat on my backside for the rest of the day and chilled out, which is more or less what I think I’ll do today too, might be a little productive this morning, then relaxation later. Mom’s on the mend which is great news but she’s not well enough to take anywhere so I’ll hang round here with her.
Looks like it’s going to be a fabulous Bank Holiday weekend and one thing that’s bound to be popular this weekend is having a BBQ! For some it’s great to get outside and eat up the garden in the sunshine, maybe invite a few friends round. Don’t worry, you can still stay on track and enjoy yourself, whether you’re the one hosting or the guest.
If you’re the host you can be more in control of what you cook, remember it’s not just burgers that cook well on the barbeque, meat, poultry and fish all taste fabulous and all the fat drips off as they’re cooking. Why not make a healthy marinade to get juicy results, here’s one you could use on chicken or fish;
2 tsp olive oil (2pp)
juice of ½ a lime
2 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp water
2 medium garlic cloves, crushed
3 tbsp coriander
1tsp salt
2tsp ground cumin
1 small onion chopped
Just puree all ingredients until smooth, pour over 4 servings of meat and let marinade for 20 minutes. There are many healthy marinades and dry rubs available in shops too, just have a look at the labels to make sure you're making wise choices.
Barbeques make veggies taste great too, make your own mushroom burgers. Simply brush a large, open mushroom with a teaspoon of olive oil (1pp), rub it with rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes, turning half way through and serve just like a burger with your favourite toppings - very satisfying! Or put a selection of vegetables on a skewer like butternut squash cubes, courgette, red onion, cherry tomatoes, potato chunks. The natural juices will keep them moist, but you can always brush them with oyster sauce or a mixture of soy sauce, ginger and garlic for a tasty marinade.
Then there’s corn on the cob which is perfect on the barbeque and here are a couple of ways for you to try. Firstly, boil the cleaned cobs for five minutes in salted water, then place directly on the rack, turning regularly, for another five minutes until they're tender and browned. Another method is to wrap them tightly in foil then put on the barbeque. Try rubbing them lightly with a low calorie spread, or marinade them in a soy sauce, chilli and ginger mixture before sealing the foil for a lovely, steamed result.
Don’t forget the salad either, and if you’re the guest take some with you. If you’re buying burgers, look for low ProPointed ones, there’s always a lower choice if you take your calculator with you.
Let’s not forget pudding, of course my idea of pudding is a glass of red wine, but for others why this, take a medium banana (unpeeled) and make a slit down the length. Fill the split with two squares of chocolate cut into small pieces, push the banana back together and then wrap the whole thing in foil. Leave it on the barbeque rack for 20-30 minutes (depending on the heat), unwrap and enjoy! Even the simplest of fruit will give you a great result. Try halving a pear, peach, nectarine or plum and cut out the pip or core. Brush the halves lightly with a mixture of demerara sugar and juice or with runny honey. Barbeque until tender and tuck in.
We’ve even barbequed pink & whites in the past, take one of the wafers off and bbq that side.
As for booze, be careful as too much in the sunshine not only makes you dehydrated and poorly, but also makes you forget what you’re eating!
ProPoints in booze
250ml wine = 6pp (the bottle 19pp)
½ lager = 3pp (3 pints = 18pp)
½ cider = 4pp (3 pints = 21pp)
Jacques Fruit Des Bois Cider 250ml glass = 5pp (750ml bottle = 14pp)
Vintage cider = 20pp per pint!!!!!!
Spirits vary 2-3pp per 25ml
Whatever you’re doing today, enjoy yourself and the sunshine.
Friday, 22 April 2011
22nd April 2011
Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside.Dr. Melba Colgrove
WOW, it’s quiet out there this morning, me and Alfie have been out 2 hours enjoying the peace and early cool sunshine, the little chap doesn’t know I’m taking him for his booster injections in half hour! I’ll treat him to something nice afterwards ;-)
So I’m committed and motivated to staying on track this weekend so I get a loss on the scales next week, there may be an opportunity for some PR in the press over the next few weeks so that’s the incentive I need to stay focused. I only had 5pp left for my tea last night and I managed to eat and be full on 3pp, I had 2 slices of nimble bread toasted (weighed on scales till I found two that weight 2pp) with tinned tomatoes and mushrooms stir fried in a bit of water then I added 1pp of Philadelphia light sun dried tomato flavour and I have to say I really enjoyed it and it filled me up.
I’ve got a four day long weekend because of the bank holiday so I’ve decided I’m going to be productive, I’m full of energy and we’re not off anywhere as moms recuperating, so I’m going to sort the house, do the ironing, read a good book and plan all my meals for the forthcoming week using mainly foods I already have and just buying fresh stuff if needed. Yeah I mean business, which will include extra long walks for Alfie to earn bonus propoints, and I’m even gonna cut down on the wine!
I’ve been really inspired this week by all the members achieving their goal, and all the members that are continuing to lose continually, so far this year my members have lost a staggering 970 stone! That’s just amazing, and here’s just one example of a success story that’s still continuing, so far Debbie has lost an awesome 99lb since last June.
Doesn’t she look fabulous and is on course for goal which she knows she will achieve.
This week we’ve talked about motivation in the meetings and it’s really helped remind us why we’re doing all this, we all helped to ‘MOTIVATE MIRANDA’ and hopefully recognised how MOTIVATION promotes weight loss.
We realised…
• We all occasionally feel like Miranda, the key is to snap out of it and reclaim the POSITIVE thoughts
• We have to motivate ourselves or ask for help from friends, family and STAY TO YOUR ‘WeightWatchers’ MEETING, they are all there to help
• Motivation & positivity improves weight loss.
We decided…
• START IMMEDIATELY, one good day leads to another good day and the motivation continues.
• BE ORGANISED - plan for a good day. Track and ProPoint everything, knowing you are in control promotes positivity.
• FEEL GOOD FACTOR - Wear your favourite clothes, makeup & do your hair.
• REMEMBER your GOALS and why you want to lose weight.
• Find a ‘MAGIC TRICK’ - put a photo on the fridge, set a small goal, buy a smaller outfit and aim for it to fit.
• THINK POSITIVE – always remember how well you are doing.
REMEMBER
When you are in the ‘positive zone’, losing weight is easy and when you lose weight, you feel positive and so the circle continues, THIS IS MOTIVATION.
The long weekends are ideal for planning, organising and being prepared to KICK START a ‘SLIMMER SUMMER’
Use the long weekend to your advantage and ENJOY!
WOW, it’s quiet out there this morning, me and Alfie have been out 2 hours enjoying the peace and early cool sunshine, the little chap doesn’t know I’m taking him for his booster injections in half hour! I’ll treat him to something nice afterwards ;-)
So I’m committed and motivated to staying on track this weekend so I get a loss on the scales next week, there may be an opportunity for some PR in the press over the next few weeks so that’s the incentive I need to stay focused. I only had 5pp left for my tea last night and I managed to eat and be full on 3pp, I had 2 slices of nimble bread toasted (weighed on scales till I found two that weight 2pp) with tinned tomatoes and mushrooms stir fried in a bit of water then I added 1pp of Philadelphia light sun dried tomato flavour and I have to say I really enjoyed it and it filled me up.
I’ve got a four day long weekend because of the bank holiday so I’ve decided I’m going to be productive, I’m full of energy and we’re not off anywhere as moms recuperating, so I’m going to sort the house, do the ironing, read a good book and plan all my meals for the forthcoming week using mainly foods I already have and just buying fresh stuff if needed. Yeah I mean business, which will include extra long walks for Alfie to earn bonus propoints, and I’m even gonna cut down on the wine!
I’ve been really inspired this week by all the members achieving their goal, and all the members that are continuing to lose continually, so far this year my members have lost a staggering 970 stone! That’s just amazing, and here’s just one example of a success story that’s still continuing, so far Debbie has lost an awesome 99lb since last June.
Doesn’t she look fabulous and is on course for goal which she knows she will achieve.This week we’ve talked about motivation in the meetings and it’s really helped remind us why we’re doing all this, we all helped to ‘MOTIVATE MIRANDA’ and hopefully recognised how MOTIVATION promotes weight loss.
We realised…
• We all occasionally feel like Miranda, the key is to snap out of it and reclaim the POSITIVE thoughts
• We have to motivate ourselves or ask for help from friends, family and STAY TO YOUR ‘WeightWatchers’ MEETING, they are all there to help
• Motivation & positivity improves weight loss.
We decided…
• START IMMEDIATELY, one good day leads to another good day and the motivation continues.
• BE ORGANISED - plan for a good day. Track and ProPoint everything, knowing you are in control promotes positivity.
• FEEL GOOD FACTOR - Wear your favourite clothes, makeup & do your hair.
• REMEMBER your GOALS and why you want to lose weight.
• Find a ‘MAGIC TRICK’ - put a photo on the fridge, set a small goal, buy a smaller outfit and aim for it to fit.
• THINK POSITIVE – always remember how well you are doing.
REMEMBER
When you are in the ‘positive zone’, losing weight is easy and when you lose weight, you feel positive and so the circle continues, THIS IS MOTIVATION.
The long weekends are ideal for planning, organising and being prepared to KICK START a ‘SLIMMER SUMMER’
Use the long weekend to your advantage and ENJOY!
Thursday, 21 April 2011
21st April 2011
Even though they are paid differently, everyone has to feel appreciated. Roger Staubach
Why is it that changing rooms can make us cry and salad tastes better with a dressing!
One of my members went into meltdown in a changing room yesterday, and I’m guessing the majority of members, me included, have been there, you’re desperate to find something that fits for a specific event and it’s not happening. What makes it worse is you’ve already lost weight so should be feeling great but instead you feel deformed because the one size is too big, but the next size down is too small and you’ve gone from flying to crying. I remember the last time I tried to buy a pair of jeans, by the end of the day I decided I didn’t suit jeans as there wasn’t a pair that had been made that fit.
It happens all the time doesn’t it, you’re feeling great and you see an amazing outfit, better still it’s reduced, so you take it to the fitting room and it doesn’t fit properly, the cuts all wrong, it clings to your stomach, the straps are too long, the boobs are too small or too big, or it’s the wrong length. Who designs these damn clothes anyway and who for!!!!
In situations like this it’s easy to get angry with your body, if only you weren’t this stupid shape, if you just had a normal body, clothes would fit you properly. If only you had bigger or smaller boobs, why are your legs so short and your arms so fat? Why oh why oh why?
Your body isn’t a mannequin dummy, thank goodness otherwise you wouldn’t be able to move! You body changes and it’s different from the body of every other woman, so how the hell can the same size 14 pair of trousers possibly fit any size 14 woman. They can’t and that’s why shopping sucks! Every BODY is different, your body is never the problem - the clothes are.
So next time you go shopping remember that, and remind yourself you’re trying to find the lucky pair of jeans that were designed for your butt not that bird who’s the same size as you but a foot taller/smaller!
Remember a lot of clothing can be altered too, so learn to sew or make friends with someone who can. My personal solution to the jean problem is I now wear dresses, much simpler and I only one item to buy. Xx
Also whilst you’re losing weight why not shop in charity shops or on ebay then your outlay isn’t so high as you lose. Also the best bit of advice I can offer, try stuff on, don’t assume it won’t suit you or won’t fit you, I have outfits in my wardrobe that range from size 8 – 20! And yes they all fit. I also have clothes I wouldn’t have dreamt of picking up but because I was shopping with friends they suggested them and they’re my favourite items now.
NOW moving onto salad with dressing, I can’t remember when it was but a while ago I was pouring some salad dressing on my salad and someone said, “do you know how many calories are in that salad dressing”, my reply was “do you know how boring the salad tastes without it!” Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to enjoy the food you eat, salad dressing is fine, it makes me eat more salad to start with, I’m much more likely to eat a huge plate of salad leaves if there’s someone adding some flavour to it.
If I indulge in a hot cross bun this Easter, it will need to be best butter I spread on it, that in some dieting circles would make me a rebel ;) I can live with that, can you? Xx
Here’s to another sunny day. xx
Why is it that changing rooms can make us cry and salad tastes better with a dressing!
It happens all the time doesn’t it, you’re feeling great and you see an amazing outfit, better still it’s reduced, so you take it to the fitting room and it doesn’t fit properly, the cuts all wrong, it clings to your stomach, the straps are too long, the boobs are too small or too big, or it’s the wrong length. Who designs these damn clothes anyway and who for!!!!
In situations like this it’s easy to get angry with your body, if only you weren’t this stupid shape, if you just had a normal body, clothes would fit you properly. If only you had bigger or smaller boobs, why are your legs so short and your arms so fat? Why oh why oh why?
Your body isn’t a mannequin dummy, thank goodness otherwise you wouldn’t be able to move! You body changes and it’s different from the body of every other woman, so how the hell can the same size 14 pair of trousers possibly fit any size 14 woman. They can’t and that’s why shopping sucks! Every BODY is different, your body is never the problem - the clothes are.
So next time you go shopping remember that, and remind yourself you’re trying to find the lucky pair of jeans that were designed for your butt not that bird who’s the same size as you but a foot taller/smaller!
Remember a lot of clothing can be altered too, so learn to sew or make friends with someone who can. My personal solution to the jean problem is I now wear dresses, much simpler and I only one item to buy. Xx
Also whilst you’re losing weight why not shop in charity shops or on ebay then your outlay isn’t so high as you lose. Also the best bit of advice I can offer, try stuff on, don’t assume it won’t suit you or won’t fit you, I have outfits in my wardrobe that range from size 8 – 20! And yes they all fit. I also have clothes I wouldn’t have dreamt of picking up but because I was shopping with friends they suggested them and they’re my favourite items now.
NOW moving onto salad with dressing, I can’t remember when it was but a while ago I was pouring some salad dressing on my salad and someone said, “do you know how many calories are in that salad dressing”, my reply was “do you know how boring the salad tastes without it!” Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to enjoy the food you eat, salad dressing is fine, it makes me eat more salad to start with, I’m much more likely to eat a huge plate of salad leaves if there’s someone adding some flavour to it.
If I indulge in a hot cross bun this Easter, it will need to be best butter I spread on it, that in some dieting circles would make me a rebel ;) I can live with that, can you? Xx
Here’s to another sunny day. xx
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
20th April 2011
Remember that what you believe will depend very much on what you are. Noah Porter
What an amazing day yesterday, 5 of my members achieved the goal and became a Weight Watchers gold member, absolutely brilliant and well deserved.
I’m trying to find a balance between doing the things I usually do and the tasks mom usually does, i.e. washing up (my hands are so dry!), washing clothes and this morning I must remember to do the bins! Oh the life of a domestic goddess is never done, I slept well though, I can tell you ;-)
I was almost caught out by a bargain yesterday! I picked up a reduced pizza to tempt mom with as she hasn’t been eating (it worked by the way) and when I got to the till the lady informed me that I get 2 free garlic breads with the pizza, one half of me is thinking ‘o no, I’ll eat them’ and the other half of me’s thinking, ‘o yes, I’ll eat them’. I wasn’t not going to have free food, I’m sorry that’s just the logical me. So I did at least pick up the lower fat version, and for my lunch I had beef slices (3pp) (also reduced), with lots of salad and 10pp worth of the garlic bread, absolutely delicious and worth 13pp.
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.
"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed this warning:
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said,
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap .. Alone...
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it. It was a venomous snake whose tail was caught in the trap. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital.
When she returned home she still had a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup. So the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient – chicken!
But his wife's sickness continued.
Friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
But, alas, the farmer's wife did not get well... She died.
So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them for the funeral luncheon.
And the mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn't concern you, remember - When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
- REMEMBER - EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY.
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.
One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FRIEND.
Today, go out and realise we all need each other, and maybe even tell a friend or loved one how important they are in your life. xx
What an amazing day yesterday, 5 of my members achieved the goal and became a Weight Watchers gold member, absolutely brilliant and well deserved.
I’m trying to find a balance between doing the things I usually do and the tasks mom usually does, i.e. washing up (my hands are so dry!), washing clothes and this morning I must remember to do the bins! Oh the life of a domestic goddess is never done, I slept well though, I can tell you ;-)
I was almost caught out by a bargain yesterday! I picked up a reduced pizza to tempt mom with as she hasn’t been eating (it worked by the way) and when I got to the till the lady informed me that I get 2 free garlic breads with the pizza, one half of me is thinking ‘o no, I’ll eat them’ and the other half of me’s thinking, ‘o yes, I’ll eat them’. I wasn’t not going to have free food, I’m sorry that’s just the logical me. So I did at least pick up the lower fat version, and for my lunch I had beef slices (3pp) (also reduced), with lots of salad and 10pp worth of the garlic bread, absolutely delicious and worth 13pp.As I’m a bit rushed this morning, it’s bin day ;), I’m going to finish my blog early, I will leave you with this little tale that dropped into my email inbox yesterday and made me nod in agreement.
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.
"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed this warning:
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray.. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said,
"There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!"
The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap .. Alone...
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.
The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it. It was a venomous snake whose tail was caught in the trap. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital.
When she returned home she still had a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup. So the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient – chicken!
But his wife's sickness continued.
Friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
But, alas, the farmer's wife did not get well... She died.
So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them for the funeral luncheon.
And the mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn't concern you, remember - When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.
- REMEMBER - EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY.
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.
One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FRIEND.
Today, go out and realise we all need each other, and maybe even tell a friend or loved one how important they are in your life. xx
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
19th April 2011
Mom’s finally on the mend I think, well she was out of bed and moaning yesterday so that’s a relief, she still isn’t right but it’s a vast improvement on how she was, thank goodness.
I was really impressed by on of my member last night, well done to Judith for achieving her goal proving that age is nothing but a number and that with a strong mind you can still take care of yourself even when there are lots of other things in your life causing you stress. Xx
When I drove home last night it was great to see so many people out walking, enjoying the fresh air and making the most of the lighter nights.
Standing at the scales weighing people can sometimes have a bad influence on my diet, how? Well you all tell me what you’ve eaten, especially the stuff you think you shouldn’t have! I then stand there think, ‘ooo I could just eat that’ and sometimes I actually have it! Last night it was chips, I just fancied yellow chips, but instead of buying a bag on the way home, I went for oven chips from the freezer instead and I had them with backed beans. Now normally I would have had about 200g worth for 7pp but I emptied the bag thinking mom might be tempted when she saw them – she wasn’t, so I ended up eating 14pp worth and 5pp of beans, hey ho, that’s what the weekly allowance is for, plus I earned 9pp on my pedometer.
It’s a good thing allowing myself to eat anything I want, when I want, it sometimes means I eat odd meals at strange times, for example I had a chicken dinner Saturday morning at 9.30am! But it has helped me to regulate my weight over the last 12 months, rather than the constant yo-yo dieting of the past that I was trapped in, I’d gain a stone, and then lose a stone. Now my guidelines to myself are as below and if you think you would like to have a go at following them, why not either print them off and sign it, to make a promise to yourself, better still go and log onto my website and sign the guestbook on there to say you agree to give it your best shot http://www.happyowls.co.uk/promise.html;
Are you ready to start being a truly Happy Owl, to stop judging yourself for what you weigh? Below are the promises I've made to myself and so far they've helped me keep smiling and doing what I feel is best for me. Have a read and if you think you would like to try a new approach, then sign then below to seal your promise. xx
As a Happy Owl (OverWeight Lady (or Lad)) I will always do my best to;
- Eat when I’m hungry
- Choose the foods my body & mind ask for
- Give the food the attention it deserves whilst I’m eating
- Enjoy everything I eat
- Stop when I’m satisfied and full
- Find a way to get my body moving that I enjoy
- Love, respect and take care of my body
Signature:
Date:
Don’t get me wrong the above is not a license to binge or overindulge all the time, because by doing that you wouldn’t be doing the last point,” love, respect and take care of my body”. If you feed your body well with foods that are good for you and foods that you enjoy, you’re body starts to work better which encourages you to start moving more in a way that you enjoy. With me that’s walking my dog every morning and sometimes in the afternoons too. It’s my ‘me time’, I know it’s not high impact activity, but it’s enough for me.
So here’s something for you to think about, do you want to spend the rest of your life at war with your body, refusing to give it what it craves and needs because you are striving to be a certain weight or is it time to get to know your body and to start to love, nourish and take care of it. If you do the latter, weight loss usually becomes a side-effect!
Have a tremendous tasty Tuesday xx
Monday, 18 April 2011
18th April 2011
No matter how bad the situation looks at the moment, remember, the truth is, everything is temporary.
This has to be one of the longest weekends I've known. It took me 72hrs to get mom to eat something and when I finally managed to get her to eat some soup last night, I smiled, and it made me think about how in my line of work 'food' in general is made out to be the baddy, the evil stuff that makes us fat, the stuff we must resist at all costs or at best limit.
We forget that without it we can't function and watching mom go downhill in front of my eyes affirmed that to me.
No food is 'bad', some food is healthier and more filling but all foods are allowed in moderation. This weekend has reminded me of that. The better the quality of the food is that you put into your body, the better your body functions.
This weekend also reminded me that certain things don't really matter, some things just aren't that important. My brother came round and bought with him a pizza which we cooked, I looked for the pizza wheel, couldn't find it so I used a knife. Then my brother asks, "haven't you got a pizza wheel". I explained I had but mom doesn't put things back in the same place twice. He ignored me and starting talking about how I could get a magnetised one or how I should hang it on one of the hooks I have in the kitchen. I smiled to myself as I remembered buying those hooks in the hope it would stop mom hiding things - it didn't. So now I just cut my pizza with a knife and if she hides all of them I'll rip it with my hands. Having my mom well is far more important than kitchen utensils!
The final thing this weekend drew to my attention is I still haven’t got my emotional eating under control, but it has changed it’s appearance! I didn’t find myself binging or sitting down with loads of crisps or chocolate, instead I found that I just ‘couldn’t be bothered’, as in instead of thinking what can I have that’s good for me, I just grabbed the easiest thing to make. I can’t even blame that on not having the time because I’ve had nothing but time this weekend sitting round.
So today, I wipe the slate clean, get weighed, face the music on the scales and thank the universe that unlike my mom I was able to eat this weekend. Then I shall come home and look in the fridge and cupboards and ProPoint whatever I eat, I plan to stick within my 29 daily allowance and save my weeklies for the weekend. What’s my motivation?
My motivation is looking after my body so it can keep me going for many more years and so those years are spent feeling fit and well!
I hope your weekend was more fun than mine and that you managed to stay within your ProPoints allowance ;) On the bright side at least I got to work on my website – www.happyowls.co.uk which I’ve been getting around to for weeks.
Here’s to a fabulous week, I’ve just realised it’s Easter this weekend and May day the weekend after, which means two long weekends and two short weeks at work, I plan to make them count! Do you?
Have a great day xx
This has to be one of the longest weekends I've known. It took me 72hrs to get mom to eat something and when I finally managed to get her to eat some soup last night, I smiled, and it made me think about how in my line of work 'food' in general is made out to be the baddy, the evil stuff that makes us fat, the stuff we must resist at all costs or at best limit. We forget that without it we can't function and watching mom go downhill in front of my eyes affirmed that to me.
No food is 'bad', some food is healthier and more filling but all foods are allowed in moderation. This weekend has reminded me of that. The better the quality of the food is that you put into your body, the better your body functions.
This weekend also reminded me that certain things don't really matter, some things just aren't that important. My brother came round and bought with him a pizza which we cooked, I looked for the pizza wheel, couldn't find it so I used a knife. Then my brother asks, "haven't you got a pizza wheel". I explained I had but mom doesn't put things back in the same place twice. He ignored me and starting talking about how I could get a magnetised one or how I should hang it on one of the hooks I have in the kitchen. I smiled to myself as I remembered buying those hooks in the hope it would stop mom hiding things - it didn't. So now I just cut my pizza with a knife and if she hides all of them I'll rip it with my hands. Having my mom well is far more important than kitchen utensils!
The final thing this weekend drew to my attention is I still haven’t got my emotional eating under control, but it has changed it’s appearance! I didn’t find myself binging or sitting down with loads of crisps or chocolate, instead I found that I just ‘couldn’t be bothered’, as in instead of thinking what can I have that’s good for me, I just grabbed the easiest thing to make. I can’t even blame that on not having the time because I’ve had nothing but time this weekend sitting round.
So today, I wipe the slate clean, get weighed, face the music on the scales and thank the universe that unlike my mom I was able to eat this weekend. Then I shall come home and look in the fridge and cupboards and ProPoint whatever I eat, I plan to stick within my 29 daily allowance and save my weeklies for the weekend. What’s my motivation?
My motivation is looking after my body so it can keep me going for many more years and so those years are spent feeling fit and well!
I hope your weekend was more fun than mine and that you managed to stay within your ProPoints allowance ;) On the bright side at least I got to work on my website – www.happyowls.co.uk which I’ve been getting around to for weeks.
Here’s to a fabulous week, I’ve just realised it’s Easter this weekend and May day the weekend after, which means two long weekends and two short weeks at work, I plan to make them count! Do you?
Have a great day xx
Sunday, 17 April 2011
17th April 2011
Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not. Oprah Winfrey
I had a lie in this morning 6.30am, then me and Alfie have just down a mammoth 90 minute walk earning me my first ProPoint activity point, already done 8,000 steps this morning. Yesterday was the longest day ever! Mom’s still poorly so I spent the day keeping my eye on her and watching films. I also finally got round to working on my new website, http://www.happyowls.co.uk/ where I hope to add over time lots of things that can help you get happy with your body and life in general. So far I’ve uploaded some recipes and a few other bits. If there’s anything you think would be helpful to be on the website, let me know your suggestions.
My diet went totally out of the window, I ate a 200g packet of peanuts which I’ve just worked out was 34pp! At least that was the only thing I had for my tea ;D. I was too concerned about mom to care about what I was eating, although I have to say I was greatly impressed with the NHS Direct line, they were very helpful.
I noticed this too yesterday when I was on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/notes/weight-watchers-uk/weight-watchers-facebook-page-cookalong-challenge-tuesday-19th-april/166061076783800 it’s about a cookalong challenge next Tuesday.
How have you spent this weekend? Have you been outside and enjoyed the sunshine?
I haven’t really had much choice this weekend with my plans but that couldn’t be helped, but what about the other weekends?
How are you spending your life? Are you enjoying it, doing things with it, having fun, experiencing life?
Zig Ziglar once said, ‘At the end of your days do not be the kind of person who says I wish I had, I wish I had, I wish I had. Be the kind of person who says, I’m glad I did, I’m glad I did, I’m glad I did”
I can sit here and say that ‘I’m glad I did’ about so many things, I had a ‘to do’ list that I ticked almost everything off, the last of which I’m doing this year, that’s going to New York. Not all the things are that list were so expensive of course, some didn’t involve money at all.
What’s on your list? Do you even have a list?
Think for a minute then write down ten things you’d like to do before you leave this earth!
Then spend some time thinking how you can achieve those ten things. Now there’s something to get your old grey matter working on a Sunday morning.
I’ve just realised I need a new list as I’ve completed my old one.
Enjoy the sunshine xx
I had a lie in this morning 6.30am, then me and Alfie have just down a mammoth 90 minute walk earning me my first ProPoint activity point, already done 8,000 steps this morning. Yesterday was the longest day ever! Mom’s still poorly so I spent the day keeping my eye on her and watching films. I also finally got round to working on my new website, http://www.happyowls.co.uk/ where I hope to add over time lots of things that can help you get happy with your body and life in general. So far I’ve uploaded some recipes and a few other bits. If there’s anything you think would be helpful to be on the website, let me know your suggestions.
My diet went totally out of the window, I ate a 200g packet of peanuts which I’ve just worked out was 34pp! At least that was the only thing I had for my tea ;D. I was too concerned about mom to care about what I was eating, although I have to say I was greatly impressed with the NHS Direct line, they were very helpful.
I noticed this too yesterday when I was on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/notes/weight-watchers-uk/weight-watchers-facebook-page-cookalong-challenge-tuesday-19th-april/166061076783800 it’s about a cookalong challenge next Tuesday.
How have you spent this weekend? Have you been outside and enjoyed the sunshine?
I haven’t really had much choice this weekend with my plans but that couldn’t be helped, but what about the other weekends?
How are you spending your life? Are you enjoying it, doing things with it, having fun, experiencing life?
Zig Ziglar once said, ‘At the end of your days do not be the kind of person who says I wish I had, I wish I had, I wish I had. Be the kind of person who says, I’m glad I did, I’m glad I did, I’m glad I did”
I can sit here and say that ‘I’m glad I did’ about so many things, I had a ‘to do’ list that I ticked almost everything off, the last of which I’m doing this year, that’s going to New York. Not all the things are that list were so expensive of course, some didn’t involve money at all.
What’s on your list? Do you even have a list?
Think for a minute then write down ten things you’d like to do before you leave this earth!
Then spend some time thinking how you can achieve those ten things. Now there’s something to get your old grey matter working on a Sunday morning.
I’ve just realised I need a new list as I’ve completed my old one.
Enjoy the sunshine xx
Saturday, 16 April 2011
16th April 2011
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert SchweitzerBig day yesterday mom had her cataracts done so she’s a bit of an invalid at the moment because she’s poorly anyway, we were at the doctors on the morning getting a third set of antibiotics before we even went to the hospital for her eye op, which went very well I add, she said she didn’t feel a thing so that’s a bonus! She’s quite poorly and in bed at the moment so I’m playing nursemaid this weekend I think.
Anyhow the reason I’m actually telling you, besides the fact a lot of you have asked me how she got on is that some days just stop you staying on track, it happens to us all. We get out of bed with the best of intentions, I got up yesterday deciding yes I’m going to start tracking today, I even reset my start date on Weight Watchers esource tracker to start Friday. I made this decision after eating my breakfast which was 2 Wall’s Micro Sausage (7pp) and mushrooms with 2 Weight Watcher nann breads (6)! I still thought no I’m fine I can do this, that’s brunch and I won’t eat again till later today, I’ll just do two meals. So I was doing fabulous, took mom to doctors, then to the hospital and dropped her off for three hours then came back and did housework – yes me, I tidied and cleaned, and earned 3pp in the process, strangely I actually enjoyed doing it! When I got mom back home I tried to make her eat something, so made her a sandwich but she wouldn’t and went to bed instead, so of course I ate it! Then I opened a bottle of wine and a bag of wotsits and a handful of boiled ham later, I ended the day having used 52pp! I did earn 6pp on my pedometer so that’s a bonus. Anyway I’m still going to still with the tracking even though I did start too brilliantly, I have that weekly allowance of 49 to play with which will keep me going. I’ve nothing planned for the weekend so should be able to spend some time cooking good food. I did make one thing yesterday that was good on PP, a Dolmio stir-in sauce for pasta, creamy carbonara, it was 5pp and I just warmed in up in the microwave and served in on top of a pile of steamed vegetables and it was delicious, who needs pasta!
Well this blogs taking a long time to write, cos mom’s playing the patient to perfection, I’ve just made her second cup of tea since I started typing ;D
Moving onto a totally different subject altogether, we were talking about that voice in your head that says nasty things to you in the meeting this week and that also led onto the nasty things that other people say! Which reminded me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”, even though someone’s words may be ugly, either intentional or unintentional, no one can make you feel bad about yourself unless there is some par t of you that agrees with what they’re saying. No matter what anybody says to you or about you if you know better then there’s no reason to take it to heart. When you know who you really are, the opinions of others remain just that, OPINIONS and remember everyone has an opinion – just ask them! But opinions are opinions not facts and when you really understand this you stop giving your power away to other people.
I’m gonna sign off early today, because guess what, mom wants something ;D
Have a great weekend and go tell someone you love them, don’t wait till it’s too late. Whether your moms poorly or well, call her and say hi xx
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