5lb gone and ready to work on the rest!

Monday 24th August 2020
Monday's are just mini new years.

Yesterday was the first time in a long time there was no drama in my house, it was so good!  I walked Alfie, did my virtual workshop (which I absolutely loved, we even run over - you gotta love talking about food), then mom was asleep in her chair when I came down so I went and cooked for an hour.  I made this aubergine and paneer jalfrezi, from the new Cooking for One WW cookbook, it says it tastes better up to 48 hours later, so I've saved it for today or even Tuesday lunch at a push. 

Next I decided I wanted to use up the leftover aubergine and the half tin of cherry tomatoes from the day before, so I decided to have a go at a lasagne.  I also used up the frozen mushrooms  that I'd bought and didn't like, I disguised them in a can of condensed mushroom soup and used half of that for the sauce in this lasagne.  Then I fried the diced aubergine with a diced onion, added the tomatoes, 10 olives and a tsp capers chopped up, a splash of red wine vinegar and some spinach, I think that was the lot, I layered the aubergine mixture and WW lentil lasagne sheets and the soup mixture and topped it with a tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese and it turned out delicious, I was well pleased with my Leftovers Lentil Lasagne for 12SP.

No Blue Dot yesterday as there was wine involved but I'm good with that, I still have 10SP and I'll have a wine free day today and Wednesday for sure, maybe even Tuesday too, we shall see.  I'm losing weight realistically this time, last week was the honeymoon period, I knew I would behave that way every week.  I'm also listening to my body, it wasn't as hungry yesterday as Saturday although after wine it did get a little peckish, I fancied a couple of crackers so that's what I had, not a plate full a couple.  

I've slept like a babe and mom only woke us up once and she's asleep again now so that's good news.  We did have a lovely calm day, we found something to watch on tv that kept both of us happy, no thinking required, we had a little bit of love and silliness too, I even got a selfie of us both. 

 
If I get the chance to cook today, I'm thinking Spanish tortilla with pepper salad from the Cooking for One book again.  Not sure about tea, maybe some cod and veggies, ooo I do fancy gravy though after seeing a few dinner posts yesterday so maybe some chicken, veggies and gravy, nom nom. yeah. 

Need to drink plenty of water today, noticed I'm slowing down with the water, that tends to happen as the temperature cools and as I'm not drinking loads of tea like I used to, I need to get my fluids up.  Maybe put a glass by the kettle so when I make mom a drink, I have me a glass of water. 

Right I'm gonna get out of bed and do my yoga, yep I'm still in bed at 6.45 - check me out!  I love Mondays I do, I see it as my 'official' day off, although I still usually do some work.

Here's to another great week, I'm planning on being under 12 stone by Christmas!  Oh my, I've only gone and thought it, then I've put it in writing too, I set a goal now for what's left of 2020 - well they do say if you put it in writing it's more likely to happen.  Can I do that?  Let's check the maths, I was 13st 8lb last week, this week 13st 3lb, so that's another 18lb, ooo there's another 18 Saturday's in the year, so at 1lb a week I could do it.  I better be sticking to the plan then, 11st 13lb by Boxing Day (that's the last Saturday of this year), I'd take that.  It'll only happen if I keep reminding myself of my WHY!  Reminding myself of those WANTS!  What were they again?  I can go check because I wrote them down.  Have you wrote yours down?  

These were mine 

WHAT DO I WANT?

I want to ease my hormonal flushes.

I want to sleep better.

I want the energy to get through the day, knowing I’m going back to 10 express workshops this week.

I want patience to handle my moms behaviour.

I want to be able to show my members, I’m doing the plan too.

I think my flushes have been less the last few weeks, I know it's cooled down but still.  I've also slept better but so has mom so that makes a difference too.  I definitely had the energy for my workshops and the rest of that too, in addition I haven't had heartburn or felt crappy.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little heady from wine this morning but it was worth it, it tasted so good yesterday and this will be gone by the time I've done my yoga.

Here's to making Monday magic, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Luv me xx

The honeymoon period didn't last long!

Saturday 23rd August 2020
Will it be easy - HELL NO! Worth it - Oh it really will.






Well the honeymoon period was good why it lasted!  I found last week so easy to stay on track, but this is where reality kicks in, every week isn't going to FEEL easy, every week I won't be 'IN THE ZONE', some weeks I'll FEEL hungrier, some weeks I'll be trying to climb over the fence to get out the zone.  Those will be the times where I sit talking to myself in my head, 'I want more wine', 'no you don't, you went without last week and you've got to work on a virtual in the morning', 'I hate this crap that is life right now', 'yeah but suck it up bird, there's folk out there with worse!'.  And so it went for an hour yesterday, but I can thankfully say I made it through the day finishing on 28SP and earning 11 FitPoints, there was wine involved but it was enjoyed and controlled. 

It's been my first week back in my Express Workshops and it's been a little surreal, I've loved seeing members but hated not being able to natter for ages and have the natter and chat in the talk, I've struggled to work out who some were because of those damn masks, I really, really miss how things were, but at the same time, I prefer this to not being able to interact with my members at all.

When I got back home, I made a video to let folk know How did I do at the scales! whilst I cooked my butternut squash risotto, the recipe is in the comments on this video.  Got to survive another week now!

This is the risotto when finished, I'd put a good 10g of parmesan on next time to add more cheesy flavour or even pop a cheese triangle in the middle, but yeah I liked it, I've popped the other three portions in the freezer.  Oh and that salad was the pots I put up on Monday so they kept 5 or 6 days, I'd go with 5 days. 

I then spent some time planning today's virtual workshop topic which is all about breakfast, once I'd done that, I was hungry - I had a hungry day yesterday and I can eat a lot of food to fill me up, so I decided to have what I'd sometimes eat for breakfast for my tea, it was delicious for 3SP, the jury is still out on frozen mushrooms, I don't think I'd buy them again if I'm honest, but with a bit of salt on they did the job. 

Oh those tomatoes were amazing, I'm funny about tomatoes, not keen on tomato based recipes but these, well now you're talking, I could eat these and yes they were £1 for a tin but if it's the difference between eating them and not, well.....

As I've said I'll be talking breakfast this morning, here's a few facts to get you thinking in advance of that!  I eat breakfast so who knows what I'd weigh if I didn't lol. 

Mom had a real clingy day yesterday, when I took Alfie for his second walk, I had a notification from the camera in the living room and I could see she was restless and standing looking out the window, so I called her on the phone and talked to her as we walked back home, I knew if I didn't she'd get more wound up and probably call my sister.  Every time I left the room to go and do something, she'd shout 'Bev, where are you?' and the poor love has had a night of bad dreams, up at 4am, but bless her she's settled next to me now, so hopefully she'll have a better day today.   No wonder I wanted another glass of wine lol, it wouldn't have made the situation any easier though.

I'm wanting to do some cooking from the new Jamie book but all the recipes serve 4 and not all of them can be frozen I don't think, it's so frustrating, then some ingredients only need 1 tablespoon of something so then you're left with a tub or jar of something that doesn't keep - it's quite frustrating isn't it.  My shopping bill has been more expensive the last two weeks but some of the ingredients I've been buying will last a while so hopefully that'll balance out a little over time.  

I've got a few recipes to cook from this book instead this week; 

It's on sale too on the WW website if you fancy it, don't forget to use my coach code if ordering, message me for it https://www.weightwatchersshop.co.uk/meals-for-one.

I haven't done my gratitude thanks for the last couple of days, maybe that's what's missing, it'll refocus me, so what am I thankful for this morning?  

- That once I'd got mom safely in her chair at 4am and done her a drink, she went back to sleep and I was able to snooze a little longer.

- That lots of my members returned to their workshops supporting me, their health and the future of the workshops. 

- That I noticed the clouds in the sky as I was doing my yoga this morning, it was a really special moment as I was mid pose, really calming.

- That I resisted the second half of the bottle yesterday which means I got a blue dot.

- That first mug of tea, it really is the best.

Anyway, I need to get dressed, get Alfie walked and get online in the Stafford Connect Zoom call for my 10am virtual (on from 9.30).

Hope to see some of you, it's the only one I'm doing at the moment and I'm working on my day off to make sure you get the opportunity of a workshop with your own coach!  

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

A full week on track! I did it.

Saturday 22nd August 2020
Stay patient and trust your journey.

Well I only went and did it 7 blue dots and 15SP remaining, 72 FitPoints earned of which I could've used 52 but didn't! This time last week, I was mindlessly eating whatever was too hand, by 9am I'd eaten my entire daily allowance and I was the heaviest I'd ever been at 13st 8lb!  A week later, I made it through the week, enjoyed my wine and the odd packet of WW crisps and I still have my sanity (just). I've actually really enjoyed my food this week, this was yesterday's;

 

I didn't make the risotto in the end, might make it today instead, those WW salt & pepper crackers are lovely and they're really big!  Isn't it funny, they're backed in 6's for 3SP and I don't think I'd have had 6 of them if they'd not been wrapped in that quantity, 4 would've been enough, note to self - you don't have to eat the portion size dictated to you, I'll put the others in an airtight tub if that happens again.  That salad is from those pots I put up on Monday and they were still fine to eat.

I got to have a walk yesterday on my own, mom's carer came and they seemed okay, so I asked if she'd be okay if I went for a walk, it was bliss, I listened to my music and sang whilst enjoying the fresh air, I was just about to get on the canal path when my phone rang, it was the carer mom had told her she had to leave, so I had to go home, Alfie had apparently barked on her none stop from the minute I left and it was stressing mom out.  Deep sigh!

I did however manage to have me a bubble bath, my first in a very long time, mom said she was okay whilst I went up and she actually left me in peace for half hour, so not all bad at all.

I can't wait to log into the virtual workshop this morning at the end of my own express workshop to tell everyone how I've got on this week, I feel like I can do this now, I've made it through the week, I've really enjoyed my food, that's where I need to focus my attention on making my food delicious and I honestly believe planning my meals was what helped me more than anything, I did that after the workshop last week and I shall do it again today, I've got my shopping coming tomorrow, I've already planned a couple of recipes to try from the WW meals for one cookbook, but my copy of 7 by Jamie Oliver arrived yesterday and I'm impressed with it so I'll cook something from there too.  Need not to over stretch myself though, need to remind myself I'm back to full time WW work, still looking after mom, walking the dog etc, so don't want to be too silly and try and cook new recipes every day.  I'm proud of myself for still doing my yoga every morning despite being back at work 18 weeks I've been doing some yoga every morning when I wake up, my routine is now, get up, sort mom, yoga, then on with the rest of my day.  Still eating the fruit too which is another habit that was really important to me, the other one natural yogurt is still being eaten I didn't have none the last two days though, so I'll make up for that today and put the tub where I can see it, you need that que to remind yourself to do the habit until it becomes your norm.  

Right, I better get ready to get to work! I'll be there from 9 till 10 and you can drop in anytime over the hour.

I had a nosey through my old videos yesterday and found the one that ended up on You've been Framed!  I've uploaded it onto the HappyOwls youtube channel I also uploaded an old cooking video of me making the curried lentil bake recipe, I've put the recipe in the comments on there too.  Please subscribe to the channel (I know lots of you haven't lol because more of you read this than I have subscribers - gotta love figures).

I'm off, be good, it'll be worth it when you step on the scales, 18 weeks to Christmas I've just read on Facebook - eek!

Luv ya, mwah

Love me xx

If you're still not convinced you're ready to get back on track, look at the food I've eaten this week - think about what you're going to get not what you're gonna give up.

6 blue dots!

Friday 21st August 2020
If it doesn't challenge you it won't change you!

Another day on track, fruit and hard boiled eggs for breakfast, tuna stir fry for lunch Alfie had my tuna! Then for my tea, I really enjoyed my cottage pie and veggies, it was one of my freezer stash and I will definitely be making a new batch of the mince mixture when the freezers got space. I watched Jamie Oliver's new series Keep Cooking Family Favourites on Channel 4 last night, after seeing him on The One Show (oh ma'an how middle-aged does that sentence sound!) I enjoyed it so much I've ordered his new cookbook 7 ways which is coming today, so hopefully I'll cook something from that, he did a ragu that I think I'd enjoy so maybe I'll batch cook that. 



I'm going to have a go at butternut squash risotto today, when I remember where I've put the recipe I found ;) the lunch I'd planned, I ended up having the other day when my liver didn't work out, so I may just have my breakfast as brunch today because I won't be particularly hungry but if I am I'll have a huge salad with some chicken breast maybe.  I'm loving being back in control, actually thinking about what I'm going to eat.  I enjoyed a WW chocolate cereal bar yesterday as well as wine last night.  It just proves you don't have to live on lettuce.  

Oh and wait for it, drum roll, you're not going to believe the next sentence, not if you really know me....... the best thing I ate yesterday was - are you seriously ready for this..... A huge nectarine!  Oh my word it was so good, just a perfect piece of fruit and that's always been why I didn't bother with fruit because when it's good it the best but when it's not yak and you can never be sure what you're paying for.  I think the trick is to buy what's in season, when it's at it's best, I have 3 more of those nectarines to enjoy and I'm looking forward to the juicy mess they make as you attempt to not drip it all down ya. 

Bless my mom she's been up since 3am, this is how it went, I heard noises so woke up, realised it was foxes so got up to have a nosey, there were two on the road looking all cute but whilst making my way to the window, I tripped over Alfie, who then decided he was going downstairs, where he promptly started barking at something in the garden!  I ran down to try and shut him up, then came back to bed, the little shih tzu then went and trotted into moms room, jumped on her bed and she woke up, when I went in cos she was cursing, she's half dressed and getting up - as my mate just said via chat, it's like a not very funny sitcom!  

I'm good though, I've got a day at home, no going out to work today, stuff to do but I can do it on my laptop.  Not sure how she'll react to the carer coming at lunchtime, so I'm not going to plan anything, but if she's good with her, I'm going to try and go and have me a good long walk, earn some FitPoints.

Right, that's me for today, yesterday was such a good day at Bloxwich, so good to be seeing everyone, lots of weight loss, lots of smiles, lots of returners, so I'm happy to chill today.  Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at Old Fallings Church, any time between 9 & 10. 

Oh and if you haven't already 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvUFulWZo2HDogpufbjAHSQ Please click this link and subscribe to our Happy Owls YouTube channel ready for when we start posting videos.  

Here's to being on track, having a great day and not being blown away in this wind!

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

And I'm feeling good....

Thursday 20th August 2020

Another busy day, on track and making my health matter!  I finished on 29SP, still got 26 weeklies left with 2 days to go till weigh day and reset.  I even enjoyed a bag of WW crisps yesterday and a little wine before bedtime.  

This is what I ate yesterday, my (SP dinner was salmon with noodles stir fry, I added some teriyaki sauce and a little soy sauce, my big 'non-stick' pan isn't non stick anymore so I may need a new one!  

My tea was different to my plans, when I defrosted my liver and onions, it looked very unappetising and the gravy had drained out onto the plate so I had a jacket potato with a little tin of WW tuna and mayo, bit of cottage cheese and lots of salad from the tubs I'd prepared on Sunday, this was also 9SP.  

Breakfast was my fruit and yogurt which I'm loving, apple, 2 satsumas and some strawberries.  I'm gonna try a big nectarine this morning, got my hard boiled eggs at the ready too.

Last night was lovely and busy, it was so good to see all those familiar faces I haven't seen for months and months, it wasn't all doom and gloom at the scales, lots had continued to lose throughout lockdown, taking advantage of the virtual workshops for support.  Some, like me however were drawing a line and getting back on track again with the support they needed.

It's been great being back in workshops, but I have missed the virtual workshops, I like the 'talky/chatty' bit of workshops and I'm going to miss my Saturday mornings with Elle and Kate, it set me up for the weekend.  I've known Elle a very long time, she was my member when I first became a full time coach, around July 2004, she'd just had her daughter and was ready to get all her weight off and she did, it wasn't long before she was helping me at the scales and soon after that she became an awesome coach herself or leader as we were called back then.  Here's just a few of those moments over the years, conferences, get togethers and moments at the scales. 

Anyway, we've enjoyed working together again so much, we've decided we don't want it to end just because we're going back to Express workshops, so we're going to try and continue to do stuff together and film it to post on YouTube, we're thinking talks, cooking demo's (ooo maybe I could get Elle in the kitchen!), we could even do members interviews, we're open to ideas and suggestions.  YouTube is better for us than Facebook as we have control over that, Facebook can be a little devil hiding posts and expecting us to pay to advertise which we don't want to do obviously.  Please go and follow the link below, it'll take you to a video I did back when I got my PPE equipment, it's been posted on Facebook previously, but I want you all to subscribe to the channel by clicking the SUBSCRIBE button underneath the video.  Obviously you can enjoy the video, a little smile to start your morning!  I like to learn new stuff and have a play and if members can get support from it too - even better! 

Click the subscribe button once you're on YoutTube

 

Meals are all planned again, this is something I never thought I'd do, but am really glad I did, need to check if the tuna has to be defrosted before cooking.  

natural yogurt	0
fruit	0
hard boiled egg
tuna steaks	0
stir fry veg	0
cottage pie	5
in freezer
veggies

Here's where I'll be spending most of the day with my lovely members, let's see how much success they've had over the last 7 days, I know I've got new members coming today too, remember 12 weeks to make a real difference, but only 4 weeks for you to notice!  

Right I need to get ready for work, I've done half hour yoga and 7 minutes meditation, the advantage of your mom waking you up at half 4 is you have an extra half hour in your morning.  

Have a brilliant day.  

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Taking care of me today

Wednesday 19th August 2020
Stop waiting for tomorrow.

Well I made it through another day, I did have wine because I had so many points left and I could only roll 4 over, so I decided not to roll any over and use a few weeklies, I still have 32 of them left for the rest of the week.  I think I was a little flat after having such a busy morning, my evening workshop was quiet and I try not to take it personally but sometimes it's difficult, especially when you want them all to be successful.  Anyway positive head on again this morning, I ate so well again yesterday , some lovely cod from my freezer with a small can of potatoes which I sprayed and roasted alongside the cod, enjoyed with frozen green veg, this was so quick to do, 2 minutes to get in the oven and just left it to do it's thing for 20 minutes, perfect midday meal at home.  

I'd had yogurt and fruit for breakfast, oh and a hardboiled egg, had another hardboiled egg later too as was peckish.  Yesterday was actually the first day I've felt hungry in a long time and I think it's important to listen to your body and fuel it with good stuff when it needs it. 

I was hungry again around 3 so I had a bit of smoked salmon with one of the salad pots I'd put in the fridge. 

My final meal of the day was Chicken Dhansak curry from Marlie's, which was a little on the hot side for me but I cooked it down with some natural yogurt.  The curry was only 4SP, I had it with roasted cauliflower rice which bulked it out but also helped to cool it down too, I such a curry lightweight. 

All the food I had yesterday only cost me 8SP on the Blue plan because it was mostly zero heroes, now don't get me wrong, I wouldn't suggest you only live on zero foods all the time, but now and again if it turns out that way, it's not the end of the world.  

I did a little video in my group yesterday to talk about Zero Point foods as a reminder to us all, they are healthy, easy to have on hand, and Zero Smart Points which is a huge bonus.   We can enjoy them without weighing, measuring, or tracking, regardless of which colour you have chosen on the WW plan.  Delicious foods that add major flexibility to your SmartPoints Budget WW studies have found that members can incorporate ZeroPoint foods into everyday eating and still lose weight.

Here are 6 tips to help you use your zero heroes to their full advantage.

1. Start building your meal with a ZeroPoint base - we love cauliflower rice! - and top it with protein, veggies, and a tasty sauce.

2. Choose right-for-you portion sizes, based on what you’d normally eat. (You can always have more if you’re still hungry!)

3. Going out to dinner on the weekend? Lean on ZeroPoint foods during the week, so you’ll have weeklies and rollovers to spend.

4. Reach for ZeroPoint foods when you want a snack.

5. Don’t eat only ZeroPoint foods. Limiting yourself is a recipe for boredom.

6. Discover new ZeroPoint meal ideas in the WW app.

When it comes to losing weight, everyone’s needs are different. That’s why WW have myWW, a programme with three plans; Green, Blue and Purple. All plans are equally flexible, simple, and effective when it comes to losing weight - they just help you get there in different ways. If you find that your plan is no longer working for your lifestyle, you have the ability to switch!

Well I'm very glad for them that's for sure and again today, my food plan is including plenty of them, I'll also enjoy some fruit and yogurt if I get peckish. 16SP for these meals, then I'll have some left for my milk in my tea.  Have you planned your meals for the day ahead?  It's certainly took the stress of thinking what shall I eat next away from me this week. 

Wednesday
eggs	0
mushrooms	0
cherry tomatoes
Salmon	0
rice noodles	5
salad or veggies
liver and onions	6
in freezer
jacket	5
veggies	0
	16

Well it's half 7, I've slept pretty well, I was tired for sure, lots of paperwork and member support to do today, Alfie to walk then I've got Ashmore to look forward to tonight, 5-6pm, first time back there since Lockdown so hopefully, we'll be busy!  

Here's to a great day all round, take care of you - you're important too! 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx 

Here's to a week of Express Workshops!

 Tuesday 18th August 2020 

Do what you love and love what you do.

Well I'm starting Day 4 on track, 3 blue dots on my app and 36 weeklies left!  That's not happened in a very, long time.  Is my life rosey?  Has being on track made everything lovely and easy, erm let me think NOPE!  Yesterday I hoped to get some studying done for this Walsall College course I've signed up for (Mental Health Awareness) but between Alfie and mom I didn't stand a chance of being able to concentrate for the majority of the day.  Thankfully I didn't have to think about my meals because I'd already planned them.  I'd managed to get my shopping delivered yesterday too which really helped. 

This was my delicious tea, goat curry and to bulk it out I had 5SP of oven chips, 1/2 roasted pepper (I used the other half in my salad boxes), now the salad in this photo was delicious, I diced cucumber, tomato and spring onions and added a little cumin powder and frozen coriander with a squirt of the Heinz zesty dressing that Jayne bought for me.  

Note the water, still not had a glass of wine since Friday, it hasn't been the miracle cure to my sleep and hot flush issues that I'd hoped but regardless of that I'm hoping it'll help my weight loss and my health.  Oh I'm not giving it up altogether - I like it too much. 

I also made up 5 salad pots so they're ready throughout the week, in there is radish (I didn't think I liked these!), celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, white cabbage, yellow pepper topped with iceberg lettuce, the lettuce in on the top so it's on the bottom when tipped out, I like the pretty stuff on the top. 

As you can see, my shop was much healthier this week and yes it did cost a bit more but I've already saved on not drinking wine, so it's win/win.  I even cleaned the fridge out before restocking it!

Here's something for you to think about today which helped me yesterday when I started to think 'Argghhhh I need to get stuff done', Instead of saying "I have to" or "I should", change it to "I get to!" It completely changes your thinking, try it, think of some of the sentences you say that start that way, or catch yourself when you go to say or think it today. Here's some examples;

I have to take care of my mom becomes I get to take care of my mom (how lucky am I to have that privilege and still have my mom)

I get to listen to her singing and stomping about at 1am in the morning

I get to stand on the green whilst Alfie stands and watches the world go by

I get to try and focus on studying whilst Alfie and mom do their best to distract me

I get to do so many things that some days I'd rather not but others would love the chance to do! How many people would love the time to just stand on the green watching the world go by? What do you get to do?

Well I'm officially back to work today, I'll be leaving in an hours time, cars all packed ready, I got a little wet doing that this morning lol, it's all good though because I'm going to get to see people I haven't seen since Lockdown began, really looking forward to it. 

I've got fruit and yogurt for breakfast, I've got some eggs boiling on the hob so I can have them too and put the rest in the fridge.  Here's my meal plan; 

Tuesday
natural yogurt
fruit
Hard boiled egg
Marlies menu
dhansak 4SP	4
cauliflower rice	0
cod
in freezer
veggies
1/2tin potatoes	5

I think I better get adding to that, 9SP for the day is way too low!  I might add proper rice instead of cauliflower rice, depends on the date on the cauli rice in the fridge.  I've got flexibility anyway, maybe I'll enjoy some WW crackers with a bit of salad and cheese later on if I get the munchies around bedtime.

I wore my FitBit to bed last night to see how my sleep was, it's telling me I slept from 21.16-4:44 so almost 7 hours but I was restless 12 times according to this, I was actually awake not restless but I've trained myself not to get up or move about as I fall back off easier so I fooled the FitBit hah ;) 

Here's to having a very, great day regardless of what's going on around us!  We can't control a lot of what's happening but we can control how we behave.  I've got to say I absolutely loved that salad I had yesterday, it was way better than the chips which I only ate because I'd cooked them once I'd tasted, maybe they're just not very good oven chips. 

See some of you in a little while at Short Heath Methodist Church, Wesley Road, 8:15-9:15am, 9:30-10:30am or 5:30-6:30pm. can't wait.

luv ya

Love me 

Starting Day 3!

Monday 16th August 2020

3 Months from now - we will thank ourselves!

Monday mornings are usually when I draw a line and start afresh, but I did that Saturday morning so no need this morning I'm happy to report.  I made it through another day, wine free and on track - I even managed to roll over 4SP yesterday - whoop whoop. Two Blue dots on my WW app!  Okay I know it's only Day 2 and it's early days, but I haven't had a weekend without wine for a very long time.  Not only didn't I have any, I wasn't bothered about it, thus proving thankfully I'm  not an alcoholic!  

Oh yeah, not only did I do my morning Yoga Saturday and Sunday morning, I did it before going to bed too, once I'd got mom into her bed! yoga and meditation can relax me just as well as alcohol and it they have no calories.  

Now at WW we ask what’s your WHY, but instead Saturday I asked myself what outcome am I looking for here, I always struggle with a WHY when setting goals. 

WHAT DO I WANT?

I want to ease my hormonal flushes.

I want to sleep better.

I want the energy to get through the day, knowing I’m going back to 10 express workshops this week.

I want patience to handle my moms behaviour.

I want to be able to show my members, I’m doing the plan too.

This helped me get back on track, INSTEAD OF thinking of the word WHY, I thought of WHAT DO I WANT!  This WHAT can actually help answer the WHY question, Why do I want to ease my hormonal flushes, well that’s a no brainer – because I’m sick of being uncomfortable even just sitting doing nothing.

What's your want or why?  Oh and I want my trousers to be more comfortable and for my tops to actually fit me! 

Why do I want to lose weight?  Well actually that’s not my goal, that’s the side effect.  My goal is to sleep better, have less flushes, have more energy and patience and be a good example to my members. 

Why? 

Because I will feel so much better in my body, having more energy from sleeping better, having more patience will all make the life I have now more liveable.  I can’t think about the future, I need to live in the now.

9th November is 3 months (12 weeks today), they say it takes 4 weeks for you to notice a difference, 8 weeks for your friends and family and 12 weeks for the rest of the world.  I like the idea of that, 12 weeks bring us up to the time everyone will hopefully be able to start thinking about enjoying Christmas and get togethers (let's hope you all can do that this year).  

I'm not going to lie, I didn't have as good a nights rest last night, we're been up since not long after  4, I couldn't drop off to sleep either, tossed and turned for a good time and I've woke up a few times in the night, then mom was moving around a lot too.  The flushes were there too but I won't be defeated.  I'm starting day 3 and I'm already noticing a difference, I felt a little bit more lively yesterday, I'm remembering how much I love good food and I'm taking the time to plan and think about my meals and shopping. 

I managed to get my delivery for tea time today instead of tomorrow, so when it comes I'll spend some time, chopping some salad and putting it in portions to encourage me to grab one at meal times throughout the week. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual workshop yesterday, if you missed mine don't forget you can jump on any of the other coaches this week, I'll be busy being back in my Express Workshops woo hoo!  Details at the bottom of the page, save the image or take a screen shot so you have the details you need, let's get on it like a car bonnet and make the next 12 weeks make a difference.

I'm in - are you?  I already have my meals planned for today, I'm so glad I spent that time Sunday planning, it's taken the pressure of thinking.  Right I'm off to try and convince mom again we haven't got to pack to go home - wish me luck.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

 

 

Heaviest I've ever been! But feeling optimistic!

Sunday 15th August 2020
You are what you do, not what you say you'll do! 

Well I enjoyed the virtual yesterday and had a bit of a chat with Elle and Kate my co-host coaches before anyone jumped on and I admitted that I'd just got on the scales and I was the heaviest I'd ever been 13st 8lb (with my sandals on, pound lighter without them).  And all Elle said was 'How do you feel about it?' and I think my reply was simply 'I don't know'.  However as we did the actual workshop and we were all talking about the effect of poor sleep has on us and how we can improve the quality of sleep we actually manage to get, that I started having all these thoughts going through my head so when it came to the point of asking member what they were going to focus on, I started by saying I was going to track 100% to give me a wake up call because I'm obviously not doing the plan at all - pointing foods doesn't mean you're following the plan if you're not tracking them and staying within your allowance.  I promised to log in next week after I've done my Express Weigh-in and catch the last 5 or 10 minutes to let them know if I did it!  Seeing Emma (member) looking tired and telling us that she'd had a drink or three last night, then hearing her tell us that she rarely drinks now and has seen improvement in her sleep, not to mention the 2 stone weight loss was just one more nod to me that I know I need to cut down on the wine.  I've read and listened to lots of things about habits lately and alcohol was covered, I also know drinking doesn't help with menopausal hot flushes, you can only put your fingers in your ears so for long before realising something needs to change. 

When the Zoom ended, I came downstairs and sat in my chair next to mom who started to fall asleep in her chair so  I crept and sat in the garden to make a little live video to post in my Group to own up to how I'd been behaving and it helped to talk about it.  Next I thought, I'll do me a meal plan, that will help me stay on track, I've got food coming from Marlie's Menu which I've pointed so I can fit it all in if I think about it. 

After Marlie's had dropped my food off, I got my laptop out and started planning, to help me do it, I made a spreadsheet and then did a list of the contents of my cupboard and freezer and the points in the foods, this didn't take that long and was so worthwhile as it'll help with my online shopping over the next few week; 

Then I used this information to help me plan my meals for the week ahead, I was going to write of Saturday and start today because I'd already almost eaten my daily allowance yesterday before 10am!  Instead I reset my app to make my weigh day Saturday, my plan to Blue and I inputted the food I'd already had, the breakfast would've been brunch anyway, but there was some leftover beef on the side and I'd been picking at it which cost me a good 7, I could only guess the points as I'd already eaten it.  

I'm all set up for the week now, I've got points spare each day for milk and other bits, I've also got my weeklies, I didn't have any wine yesterday and I'm going to see if it affects my sleep not drinking.  I do enjoy wine but I don't want it to have an impact on my health so if I need to cut it down to sleep better with the hours I have available to me, then so be it.  

I'm going to practice what I preach this week, I've got ten Express workshops and one Virtual workshop to run this week, I need energy and rest, so wish me luck. 

Oh and if you've been struggling, how about you ask yourself what do you need to admit to, what do you need to do to get you back on it?  I can't keep gaining weight because of my moms behaviour, it's hard enough living with dementia without giving myself health problems on top of everything else!  I'm watching her eat herself to death, she can barely walk about, it takes ages for her to get her breathe back and Friday morning she said eating biscuits for breakfast and then said 'I feel sick', well I wonder why!

I'm really looking forward to my virtual workshop this morning because I'm talking about my favourite subject of the moment, habits, I've noticed the differences they've made to me focusing on them and researching them over the last month or so.  I'd love to see you all at 10am to hear what I've got to say as this is the only one I'm doing now, you'll find the link in the Stafford Connect Group on the WW app.

This was my tea last night, it was epic, 

11SP vegetable lasagne and salad from Marlie's Menu, I'd have never bought radish, I will now, I remember them being hot but these were good.  I wished I'd got some more salad, but my shopping doesn't come till Tuesday, so I'll have to wait.  I did enjoy this salad dressing spray that the lovely McKnight's got for me; 

I ended my day on 30SP, completely wine free, so managed to pull it back as I'd had 19SP before 10am, 

Right I'm off, oh did I sleep better?  Yeah I did, mom wanted to go to bed early so we were upstairs for 8, it probably too her an hour to settle, but once she did, I've only woken a couple or three times, I woke at 4ish but managed to go back to sleep till my alarm went off at 6.  Was that all because I didn't have wine - NO, it was also because mom had a better night and the temperature was cooler, plus I was exhausted from all the lack of sleep over the last week.  Did me not having wine make a difference, yes I think it did, I'd be fooling myself if I said it didn't!

So here's to another good day, my meals are planned, so I don't have to think about any of it, 

Sunday
Spinach & cheese omelette	3
tinned tomatoes	0
Marlies menu
Stifado	8
swede & potato mash	3
cabbage	1
lentil dhal stuff	1
from freezer
	16

Already I'm contemplating changing and swapping Monday breakfast with today's but actually as I fancied fruit and yogurt, I can actually have both!  The 0% yogurt is free and I've got an apple with is a little soft so I can't eat it without camouflaging it in something!  I'll then have the omelette after my virtual and my dinner can be later, then the dhal will be there for when and if I get the munchies later today. 

Here's to making it through the day on track regardless of mom's mood and behaviour, I can no longer rely on her having good days because sadly they are so very rare.

See some of you at 10 I hope!  Otherwise I'll catch up with you at an Express Workshop this week, but make sure you still get on a virtual workshop too.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Another day, another week gone!

Saturday 15th August 2020
As you grow older you will discover you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.


Self care isn't just going to bed early and drinking lots of water, it's taking a break when things become overwhelming, saying no to things you do not want to do, doing things that make you happier, allowing yourself to cry and asking for help from those around you.  It's so important to remember these things because losing weight is only one part of taking care of yourself.  There's no point being 'thin' if you're stressed to the max and feel as miserable as sin!  Healthy and happy is the goal for sure, that's been my focus for years, even more so these day with the circumstances of my life. 

We went to bed before 9, it's my only hope of getting some sleep these days, as at 1am she was up and ready for her day!  I had to come down and explain that I needed to go back to bed as it was the middle of the night and I got her a drink, knowing that if left she would fall asleep in her chair and she did, I eventually managed to go back to sleep about 2ish, so I've had some sleep at least.  She wasn't a very nice person yesterday, she told the respite lady she didn't want her there, so I didn't get my few hours break, hey ho.  Today's a new day and she seems okay at the minute. 

This morning is my last Saturday Wolverhampton virtual workshop before going back to Express Workshops at Old Fallings next Saturday, from tomorrow I'll only be doing the one Virtual Workshop and that will be the 10am Sunday morning in the Stafford Connect group, I'm looking forward to that one tomorrow to as it's my favourite subject 'habits', it's the conclusion of the last 6 weeks of What Happens In Your Body When.....

I had the best apple crumble and custard yesterday, I had it as my meal and it was so good, my bestie V made it for me, she did good especially as it was the first one she'd make, the cooking apples on the tree at her new house are really good!  Not gonna lie, it was the highlight of my day, that and walking with Alfie to escape the atmosphere in the house.  

I think I'm going to spend the majority of today studying, the housework can wait till tomorrow or Monday, I've done the washing up already and I will put a load of washing on, but that's my lot.  I'm doing a Mental Health Awareness course through Walsall college, it's free as long as you finish it, if you don't you have to pay for it, which is good motivation to get you to complete.  I believe now is a great time to do this course as so many are going to struggle with this year and everything that's happened.  Here's a list of what's available to study if you're interested, only level 3 course have a fee the others are free https://www.walsallcollege.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Distance_Learning_Course_Information2.pdf  here's a link https://www.walsallcollege.ac.uk/course-search/?q=&cl=&ct=&moa=Distance%20Learning&c=&sa=#results to find more.   It's all under the distance learning section.

Anyway, I need to go do other stuff, I'm online at 9.15 and I'm faffing about, I do like to faff ;)

Here's to zoning out when I need to, I've done my yoga a little meditation and it's all helping me stay on top of it all!  I also had a little cry yesterday too, because I needed that release, it was only a couple of minutes at the start of our dog walk though, frustration leaked out my eyes instead of out my mouth lol.

Mwah, luv ya lots

Love me xx