I had no breakfast and no dinner but I did have a three course lunch!
Starter - grilled sardines
Main Course - Pan Fried Bream
Dessert - Lemon Tart
All very delicious and served at The Boat http://www.oddfellowsintheboat.com/find.php
Monday, 23 August 2010
23rd August 2010 - facebook email
I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble. Rudyard Kipling
Monday morning again, where did that weekend go! Yesterday was a perfect Sunday for me, chilling out, slow start and a long walk with Alfie, followed by a 3 course lunch at the Boat, at least I choose fish! Ending with a chill out in front of the TV. Hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did. I’m also looking forward to getting weighed this morning because I think I’ve lost weight, even with the meal yesterday that was all I had all day so I should be ok.
I’m actually enjoying losing weight at the moment because losing weight is only the side effect of eating well and getting healthy. I’m enjoying spending time in the kitchen and cooking, looking for recipes and tips online and in books and walking more with Alfie. Something seems to have switched back in my at last and I’m constantly thinking, “what is the healthy choice”, rather than “what can I eat now!” It’s a good place to be for me right now.
So today I have leftover cooked chicken breast that I need to find a recipe to use up, any suggestions gratefully received.
Whatever your weekend, start today with positivity and lets all be happy to get on the scales this week and every week from now to Christmas – I know the kids aren’t even back after the holidays yet, but I look forward to Christmas I get a holiday and its only 123 days away ;-) YAY!
Anywho, it’s Monday morning and most of us have work to do, so remember to enjoy it, and make the most of your week, however you feel this morning, smile and say you feel great and soon you’ll find you do.
Here’s one quick easy idea for chicken (cooked or uncooked), serves two – 7pts each
Tbsp Pesto 1.5pts
1tbsp half fat Creme freche 1.5pts
120g Pasta 6pts
Mushrooms
250g Chicken 5.5pts
Enjoy,
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Monday morning again, where did that weekend go! Yesterday was a perfect Sunday for me, chilling out, slow start and a long walk with Alfie, followed by a 3 course lunch at the Boat, at least I choose fish! Ending with a chill out in front of the TV. Hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did. I’m also looking forward to getting weighed this morning because I think I’ve lost weight, even with the meal yesterday that was all I had all day so I should be ok.
I’m actually enjoying losing weight at the moment because losing weight is only the side effect of eating well and getting healthy. I’m enjoying spending time in the kitchen and cooking, looking for recipes and tips online and in books and walking more with Alfie. Something seems to have switched back in my at last and I’m constantly thinking, “what is the healthy choice”, rather than “what can I eat now!” It’s a good place to be for me right now.
So today I have leftover cooked chicken breast that I need to find a recipe to use up, any suggestions gratefully received.
Whatever your weekend, start today with positivity and lets all be happy to get on the scales this week and every week from now to Christmas – I know the kids aren’t even back after the holidays yet, but I look forward to Christmas I get a holiday and its only 123 days away ;-) YAY!
Anywho, it’s Monday morning and most of us have work to do, so remember to enjoy it, and make the most of your week, however you feel this morning, smile and say you feel great and soon you’ll find you do.
Here’s one quick easy idea for chicken (cooked or uncooked), serves two – 7pts each
Tbsp Pesto 1.5pts
1tbsp half fat Creme freche 1.5pts
120g Pasta 6pts
Mushrooms
250g Chicken 5.5pts
Enjoy,
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Sunday, 22 August 2010
22nd August 2010 - facebook email
Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. Unknown
After an okay start to my day, a trip to Sainsbury’s followed by a tasty stir fry for lunch, I got a little lazy and sat watching tv, then a text message from a friend saying she was cooking got me to pull my finger out and get back in my kitchen. I’m so glad I did, cooking caramelised onion and mushroom lasagne and it was delicious, although I did have a third of the recipe for 8 points. The recipe is on my blog
Cooking can seem a little daunting or maybe too much trouble until you get started, especially if you have a busy life. However the rewards are great, not only are you in control of the ingredients but I’ve found the results to be larger and tastier than prepacked meals.
I think the trick is to get started, find some simple things to make and then build up find a number of recipes that you enjoy and put them together in a folder in your kitchen. I have to admit that I’m not a lasagne fan but I do love this recipe and it’s so easy to cook. I great place to start is in the copy of “Your Week” that you get in the meeting every week, also the Weight Watchers magazines have lots of recipes in them too. If you have a monthly pass then the online database of recipes is huge, and you can search by ingredients.
If you really haven’t got a clue where to start, check out www.youtube.com and search for cooking lessons, http://www.youtube.com/user/waitrose has some good examples. Weight Watchers esource also has some great ‘how to’ videos.
Although the suns shining today, so you may not want to spend it in the kitchen, there’s always tomorrow. I’m off out for lunch today, so whatever you’re doing, enjoy the sunshine.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
After an okay start to my day, a trip to Sainsbury’s followed by a tasty stir fry for lunch, I got a little lazy and sat watching tv, then a text message from a friend saying she was cooking got me to pull my finger out and get back in my kitchen. I’m so glad I did, cooking caramelised onion and mushroom lasagne and it was delicious, although I did have a third of the recipe for 8 points. The recipe is on my blog
Cooking can seem a little daunting or maybe too much trouble until you get started, especially if you have a busy life. However the rewards are great, not only are you in control of the ingredients but I’ve found the results to be larger and tastier than prepacked meals.
I think the trick is to get started, find some simple things to make and then build up find a number of recipes that you enjoy and put them together in a folder in your kitchen. I have to admit that I’m not a lasagne fan but I do love this recipe and it’s so easy to cook. I great place to start is in the copy of “Your Week” that you get in the meeting every week, also the Weight Watchers magazines have lots of recipes in them too. If you have a monthly pass then the online database of recipes is huge, and you can search by ingredients.
If you really haven’t got a clue where to start, check out www.youtube.com and search for cooking lessons, http://www.youtube.com/user/waitrose has some good examples. Weight Watchers esource also has some great ‘how to’ videos.
Although the suns shining today, so you may not want to spend it in the kitchen, there’s always tomorrow. I’m off out for lunch today, so whatever you’re doing, enjoy the sunshine.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
21st August Tracker
Didn't have any breakfast, then had a chicken stir fry for lunch approx 4pts, followed by the lasagne below for 8pts, I also picked at cooked chicken throughout day which would have taken me up to my points allowance.
Caramelised Onion and Mushroom Lasagne
Value: 4pts, serving: 6 or 8pts each serving 3
Preparation Time: 25 min, Cooking Time: 45 min, Level of Difficulty: Easy
· 1 tablespoon olive oil
· 2 large onion(s), thinly sliced
· 1 clove garlic, crushed
· 1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped
· 100 ml water
· 2 teaspoon vinegar, balsamic
· 2 teaspoon muscavado sugar, dark or light
· 1 pinch salt, and black pepper, freshly ground
· 5 spray low-fat cooking spray
· 250 g mushrooms, closed cup, sliced
· 1 tablespoon butter (I used marg)
· 3 level tablespoon flour, plain
· 600 ml skimmed milk
· 135 g lasagne sheet, (9 sheets)
· 40 g parmesan cheese, finely grated
· 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground, optional
· Heat olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 6-8 minutes until golden brown. Add garlic and rosemary and cook for 1 minute. Stir in water, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Cook until water evaporates – about 1-2 minutes. Tip into a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
· Coat same frying pan with low fat cooking spray. Place over medium-high heat and add mushrooms. Cook for about 2 minutes until browned, then add to onions, stirring to mix.
· Preheat oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C/fan oven 160°C/ 350°F.
· To make sauce put butter, flour and milk into a non-stick saucepan, all at once. Heat, stirring constantly with a small whisk until the sauce boils and thickens. Add half the cheese. Season and add nutmeg, if using.
· To assemble, spread a thin layer of sauce over the base of a baking dish measuring about 18 x 28cm. Place 3 lasagne sheets on top. Spread with sauce and half the onion mixture. Lay 3 more lasagne sheets on top. Repeat with sauce, onion mixture, final 3 lasagne sheets and remaining sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese evenly over the surface.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
21st August - facebook email
Good habits are as easy to form as bad ones. Tim McCarver
I had a very chilled out day yesterday, I even had an afternoon snooze so I didn’t really prepare much food just had sandwiches so today I’m feeling refreshed and will definitely get in the kitchen!
My brain isn’t working yet, we had a lie in and I’ve had a walk with Alfie and now I’m sat here thinking what shall I write….
I’ve just had an email about emotional eating so let’s look at that!
Do you?
Emotionally Eat I mean!
Of course you do, we all do, it’s part of being a feeling human being, however for some it becomes a problem. Occasionally eating something because you’ve had a bad day, or some bad news arrives so you dive for the biscuit barrel, that isn’t the end of the world, but if it becomes a regular reaction then it needs you to take control of it. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotional eating.
So in a nutshell emotional eating is the practice of consuming food (usually “comfort” or junk foods) in response to emotional feelings rather than hunger. Emotional eaters use eating as a main strategy to manage their emotions, both negative and positive. It’s dangerous and addictive.
But are you an emotional eater? Here are a few signs:
You’re eating and you’re not hungry.
Emotional eaters are filling an emotional void, not an empty stomach.
You’re craving a specific food.
When you’re hungry, any number of options will satisfy that hunger. When you’re an emotional eater, you desire one specific food.
You have an intense urge to satisfy your craving instantly.
You turn to foods like ice cream, chocolate or other unhealthy comfort foods.
You know that you are full and you continue to eat.
After you eat, you have feelings of guilt.
And of course emotional eating is not limited to bad times, good moods and happy events can also lead to overeating for those who eat from emotion. In a study that evaluated overeating in a group of obese women, it was found that larger meals were eaten in response to both good and bad moods when compared to those mealtimes when the women's mood was neutral.
Emotional Eating and Weight Loss Success
Eating in response to emotions can undermine weight loss. However, research has shown that becoming aware of emotional eating and developing strategies to manage it works. In a study conducted at the University of Birmingham here in the UK, researchers found a direct connection between a reduction in eating in response to emotion and weight loss success among adults.
Understanding the connection between emotions and eating reveals how behaviour can impact on weight. Becoming aware of the impact that emotional eating may play in a weight loss attempt is the first step. If emotional eating is an issue, developing ways to cope without food is vital for lasting weight loss.
I personally find a notebook helps enormously – no don’t eat it! Write it, if you realise you’re about to emotionally eat, write down your feelings instead, you don’t have to share those thoughts with anyone and if you’re concerned someone may read it, then burn the paper afterwards!
Replace the food with something else. Instead of reaching for a bag of crisps or biscuits, get out go for a walk. Call a friend for a chat, discuss your problems maybe. Do housework if you must! Or even take a nap - I know I eat when I’m tired and one day I may realise my mattress isn’t in the fridge!
If you find yourself unable to replace eating with another activity, at least replace the food type. Instead of eating pizza or junk food, try consuming sugar free jelly or carrot sticks, or if it has to be treat food find lower pointed ones, like Weight Watchers toffee bars chopped up into small pieces and taste every piece.
Know that you don’t need to eliminate junk food from your diet entirely. Instead, recognize that junk food isn’t a healthy way to cope with emotions. You can occasionally indulge for the right reasons as long as you point those indulgences.
Instead of eating the entire cake, try taking just a few bites. According to an expert -Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at the University of Illinois, states: “Your memory of a food peaks after about four bites, so if you only have those bites, a week later you’ll recall it as just a good experience than if you polished off the whole thing.”
Eating your emotions is a habit that can be broken.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
I had a very chilled out day yesterday, I even had an afternoon snooze so I didn’t really prepare much food just had sandwiches so today I’m feeling refreshed and will definitely get in the kitchen!
My brain isn’t working yet, we had a lie in and I’ve had a walk with Alfie and now I’m sat here thinking what shall I write….
I’ve just had an email about emotional eating so let’s look at that!
Do you?
Emotionally Eat I mean!
Of course you do, we all do, it’s part of being a feeling human being, however for some it becomes a problem. Occasionally eating something because you’ve had a bad day, or some bad news arrives so you dive for the biscuit barrel, that isn’t the end of the world, but if it becomes a regular reaction then it needs you to take control of it. Experts estimate that 75% of overeating is caused by emotional eating.
So in a nutshell emotional eating is the practice of consuming food (usually “comfort” or junk foods) in response to emotional feelings rather than hunger. Emotional eaters use eating as a main strategy to manage their emotions, both negative and positive. It’s dangerous and addictive.
But are you an emotional eater? Here are a few signs:
You’re eating and you’re not hungry.
Emotional eaters are filling an emotional void, not an empty stomach.
You’re craving a specific food.
When you’re hungry, any number of options will satisfy that hunger. When you’re an emotional eater, you desire one specific food.
You have an intense urge to satisfy your craving instantly.
You turn to foods like ice cream, chocolate or other unhealthy comfort foods.
You know that you are full and you continue to eat.
After you eat, you have feelings of guilt.
And of course emotional eating is not limited to bad times, good moods and happy events can also lead to overeating for those who eat from emotion. In a study that evaluated overeating in a group of obese women, it was found that larger meals were eaten in response to both good and bad moods when compared to those mealtimes when the women's mood was neutral.
Emotional Eating and Weight Loss Success
Eating in response to emotions can undermine weight loss. However, research has shown that becoming aware of emotional eating and developing strategies to manage it works. In a study conducted at the University of Birmingham here in the UK, researchers found a direct connection between a reduction in eating in response to emotion and weight loss success among adults.
Understanding the connection between emotions and eating reveals how behaviour can impact on weight. Becoming aware of the impact that emotional eating may play in a weight loss attempt is the first step. If emotional eating is an issue, developing ways to cope without food is vital for lasting weight loss.
I personally find a notebook helps enormously – no don’t eat it! Write it, if you realise you’re about to emotionally eat, write down your feelings instead, you don’t have to share those thoughts with anyone and if you’re concerned someone may read it, then burn the paper afterwards!
Replace the food with something else. Instead of reaching for a bag of crisps or biscuits, get out go for a walk. Call a friend for a chat, discuss your problems maybe. Do housework if you must! Or even take a nap - I know I eat when I’m tired and one day I may realise my mattress isn’t in the fridge!
If you find yourself unable to replace eating with another activity, at least replace the food type. Instead of eating pizza or junk food, try consuming sugar free jelly or carrot sticks, or if it has to be treat food find lower pointed ones, like Weight Watchers toffee bars chopped up into small pieces and taste every piece.
Know that you don’t need to eliminate junk food from your diet entirely. Instead, recognize that junk food isn’t a healthy way to cope with emotions. You can occasionally indulge for the right reasons as long as you point those indulgences.
Instead of eating the entire cake, try taking just a few bites. According to an expert -Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at the University of Illinois, states: “Your memory of a food peaks after about four bites, so if you only have those bites, a week later you’ll recall it as just a good experience than if you polished off the whole thing.”
Eating your emotions is a habit that can be broken.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Friday, 20 August 2010
Thursday 19th Tracker
Breakfast
smoothie 2pts
ham salad sandwich 3pts
lunch
grey peas & bacon bits 5pts
Dinner
OOPS! Yellow Chips - mmm lots of points at least 20 I bet!
smoothie 2pts
ham salad sandwich 3pts
lunch
grey peas & bacon bits 5pts
Dinner
OOPS! Yellow Chips - mmm lots of points at least 20 I bet!
20th August 2010 - facebook email
The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas. Linus Pauling
Mmm lifestyle changes! That’s what I was thinking about as I was walking Alfie this morning, that’s the only true way to reach your goal and stay there. You can try this out, try that out but only by making things permanent will you find long-term success. So for example walking Alfie every morning is one of mine, by doing a 20-minute walk each morning I’m burning off extra calories on a daily basis, and when possible I’ll walk him more than once, mom takes him out too.
At the same time its ok to try something’s out short term, so if you’re doing Zhumba at the moment and that fad lasts 6 weeks, that’s awesome, because once you’re bored with that you can replace it with the next big thing! As long as you’re keeping active it doesn’t matter what that activity is! Variety is good.
Balance – that’s what it’s all about, I was talking about this word to a friend yesterday, what does it mean to you? Because to us it appeared to mean two very different things! She saw it as being in the middle, potentially being mediocre! And this is what has been stopping her from attaining it, because she doesn’t want to be mediocre – ordinary, average, run of the mill! No, that’s not my friend at all – trust me! I however see balance totally different, to me its having equal amounts of everything in your life and not too much of anything, being able to cope with all the peaks and troughs that arrive, so in diet terms that would mean, if one weekend you had 3 nights out planned due to celebrations, the next weekend you would balance it out by having a quieter time and using less points. Because too much of anything can be toxic, you can even have too much water – it’s called drowning! You can also have not enough of most things too, if you don’t get enough water, you’ll see the effect it has on your body almost immediately, starting with headaches.
So balance is important for long-term success not just with dieting but also in life in general. I know that if I cut out everything that was bad for me from my diet, I wouldn’t stick at it, for example last night when I gave my helper a lift home she asked if I could stop at the yellow chip shop for her, which I did and ended up having a bag, if I hadn’t had a bag, I would’ve felt resentful of my diet and probably pigged out on other stuff later, but because I did I now know I can stay on track all day today and tomorrow no worries.
Once I’ve finished doing my paperwork this morning, I plan to spend some time in the kitchen, then later I’m having a massage to chill me out ready for my weekend, because all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy.
Here’s one of the recipes I might be doing, haven’t decided yet.
Spinach & Cheese lasagne – serves 2 – 5½pts
Low fat cooking spray
200g frozen spinach (defrosted and drained)
100g low fat soft cheese with garlic and herbs
6 sheets dried lasagne (100g)
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
50g low fat grated cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper
Preheat oven to Gas mark 4 / 180oC. Spray small ovenproof dish with low fat spray.
In a bowl mix together spinach & soft cheese, season with black pepper. Place two sheets of lasagne in the oven dish, spoon over half of the spinach mixture.
Place two more sheets of lasagne on top and spoon remaining spinach mixture on to it. Repeat with the last two sheets, pour over the chopped tomatoes, season and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake for 20 mins or until golden and bubbling.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Mmm lifestyle changes! That’s what I was thinking about as I was walking Alfie this morning, that’s the only true way to reach your goal and stay there. You can try this out, try that out but only by making things permanent will you find long-term success. So for example walking Alfie every morning is one of mine, by doing a 20-minute walk each morning I’m burning off extra calories on a daily basis, and when possible I’ll walk him more than once, mom takes him out too.
At the same time its ok to try something’s out short term, so if you’re doing Zhumba at the moment and that fad lasts 6 weeks, that’s awesome, because once you’re bored with that you can replace it with the next big thing! As long as you’re keeping active it doesn’t matter what that activity is! Variety is good.
Balance – that’s what it’s all about, I was talking about this word to a friend yesterday, what does it mean to you? Because to us it appeared to mean two very different things! She saw it as being in the middle, potentially being mediocre! And this is what has been stopping her from attaining it, because she doesn’t want to be mediocre – ordinary, average, run of the mill! No, that’s not my friend at all – trust me! I however see balance totally different, to me its having equal amounts of everything in your life and not too much of anything, being able to cope with all the peaks and troughs that arrive, so in diet terms that would mean, if one weekend you had 3 nights out planned due to celebrations, the next weekend you would balance it out by having a quieter time and using less points. Because too much of anything can be toxic, you can even have too much water – it’s called drowning! You can also have not enough of most things too, if you don’t get enough water, you’ll see the effect it has on your body almost immediately, starting with headaches.
So balance is important for long-term success not just with dieting but also in life in general. I know that if I cut out everything that was bad for me from my diet, I wouldn’t stick at it, for example last night when I gave my helper a lift home she asked if I could stop at the yellow chip shop for her, which I did and ended up having a bag, if I hadn’t had a bag, I would’ve felt resentful of my diet and probably pigged out on other stuff later, but because I did I now know I can stay on track all day today and tomorrow no worries.
Once I’ve finished doing my paperwork this morning, I plan to spend some time in the kitchen, then later I’m having a massage to chill me out ready for my weekend, because all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy.
Here’s one of the recipes I might be doing, haven’t decided yet.
Spinach & Cheese lasagne – serves 2 – 5½pts
Low fat cooking spray
200g frozen spinach (defrosted and drained)
100g low fat soft cheese with garlic and herbs
6 sheets dried lasagne (100g)
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
50g low fat grated cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper
Preheat oven to Gas mark 4 / 180oC. Spray small ovenproof dish with low fat spray.
In a bowl mix together spinach & soft cheese, season with black pepper. Place two sheets of lasagne in the oven dish, spoon over half of the spinach mixture.
Place two more sheets of lasagne on top and spoon remaining spinach mixture on to it. Repeat with the last two sheets, pour over the chopped tomatoes, season and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake for 20 mins or until golden and bubbling.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Thought I'd share a bit of my brother's video talent with you
It always makes me smile anyway ;-")
And this one shows that Staffies aren't so tough ;-")
And this one shows that Staffies aren't so tough ;-")
19th August 2010 - facebook email
Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. Author Unknown
Do you look at a cheeseburger and fries and think to yourself, 'delicious?' If so, you might want to think again. The way you look at food will affect the choices you make and your level of satisfaction. So this weekend view the foods that sabotage your efforts, not as friends, but as foes.
Redefine Delicious
The simple beauty of a bowl of ripe berries with yogurt can be even more delicious than the most decadent dessert. It's all in how you see at it.
As a nation we’ve done this before, if you’re old enough to remember ;-“) back in the 60s cigarettes used to be sexy and glamorous but now people look at them and say, they’re killer coffin nails, that's not something I want.' We need to make a cognitive shift as a country and change the way we look at food. Instead of viewing that huge plate of nachos and fries as a guilty pleasure, we have to look at it and say, 'That's not going to make me feel good. In fact, that's pretty disgusting if you think about what’s in it!"
What are your favorite foods that are both delicious and healthy?
All week I’ve been trying to make the healthy choice, yesterday I actually included bread in my meals but it was new Kingsmill Oaty bread so there was some goodness there. If I fancy a snack I’m having fruit, I even added Strawberries to my tandoori chicken sandwich last night - it was lush, see blog tracker for details.
I made my tandoori chicken from scratch with a special Schwartz mix, I’m really enjoying cooking tasty meals and I have to admit they are tasting better than the ready meals and quick options I tend to grab!
So come one lets REDEFINE DELICIOUS!
Here’s one of those delicious recipes shared with me by a friend that I plan on trying this week.
Salmon Stir Fry mmm (7pts)
Thinly sliced carrot, tender stem broccoli, pak choi, salad onions, sugar snap peas and baby sweet corn. OR any stir fry veggies.
Put them in the microwave for 1 minute just to soften. then mix up –
2½ tablespoons of Shaohsing Style Cooking wine (Wing Yip is the best and has less calories than usual Shaohsing wine which tends to be sweeter),
2 tablespoons of Light Soy Sauce,
1 tablespoon of honey (2pts) and a sprinkle of Schwartz Stir Fry Special Blend Chinese 5 Spice.
Mixed that all together and left on the side until needed.
Then take 2 small salmon fillets (9pts) and cut them up in half centimetre slices and put to one side.
Then heat a wok (or frying pan) until it was smoking. Pour in 1 tablespoon of Wok Oil (2½pts) and let that heat up.
Quickly add 2 crushed garlic gloves and within a second add the wilted veg from the microwave. Keep the veg moving the whole time. Add the sauce and let that literally coat the veg before adding the salmon. Cook for 1 minute and it should be ready.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Do you look at a cheeseburger and fries and think to yourself, 'delicious?' If so, you might want to think again. The way you look at food will affect the choices you make and your level of satisfaction. So this weekend view the foods that sabotage your efforts, not as friends, but as foes.
Redefine Delicious
The simple beauty of a bowl of ripe berries with yogurt can be even more delicious than the most decadent dessert. It's all in how you see at it.
As a nation we’ve done this before, if you’re old enough to remember ;-“) back in the 60s cigarettes used to be sexy and glamorous but now people look at them and say, they’re killer coffin nails, that's not something I want.' We need to make a cognitive shift as a country and change the way we look at food. Instead of viewing that huge plate of nachos and fries as a guilty pleasure, we have to look at it and say, 'That's not going to make me feel good. In fact, that's pretty disgusting if you think about what’s in it!"
What are your favorite foods that are both delicious and healthy?
All week I’ve been trying to make the healthy choice, yesterday I actually included bread in my meals but it was new Kingsmill Oaty bread so there was some goodness there. If I fancy a snack I’m having fruit, I even added Strawberries to my tandoori chicken sandwich last night - it was lush, see blog tracker for details.
I made my tandoori chicken from scratch with a special Schwartz mix, I’m really enjoying cooking tasty meals and I have to admit they are tasting better than the ready meals and quick options I tend to grab!
So come one lets REDEFINE DELICIOUS!
Here’s one of those delicious recipes shared with me by a friend that I plan on trying this week.
Salmon Stir Fry mmm (7pts)
Thinly sliced carrot, tender stem broccoli, pak choi, salad onions, sugar snap peas and baby sweet corn. OR any stir fry veggies.
Put them in the microwave for 1 minute just to soften. then mix up –
2½ tablespoons of Shaohsing Style Cooking wine (Wing Yip is the best and has less calories than usual Shaohsing wine which tends to be sweeter),
2 tablespoons of Light Soy Sauce,
1 tablespoon of honey (2pts) and a sprinkle of Schwartz Stir Fry Special Blend Chinese 5 Spice.
Mixed that all together and left on the side until needed.
Then take 2 small salmon fillets (9pts) and cut them up in half centimetre slices and put to one side.
Then heat a wok (or frying pan) until it was smoking. Pour in 1 tablespoon of Wok Oil (2½pts) and let that heat up.
Quickly add 2 crushed garlic gloves and within a second add the wilted veg from the microwave. Keep the veg moving the whole time. Add the sauce and let that literally coat the veg before adding the salmon. Cook for 1 minute and it should be ready.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Wednesday 18th August 2010 Tracker
Breakfast
Leftover rice and mango 3.5pts
Lunch
Tandoori chicken with stuffed mushrooms & 2 slices bread! 8pts
Snack
Raspberries 1pt
Dinner
Sandwich = 7pts this tasted delicious, great combination! Strawberries an odd addition but it worked!
Tandoori chicken
Sun blushed tomatoes
Strawberries
Mayo
Bread
Lettuce
milk in tea = 2pts
Pedometer = 4pts
Leftover rice and mango 3.5pts
Lunch
Tandoori chicken with stuffed mushrooms & 2 slices bread! 8pts
Snack
Raspberries 1pt
Dinner
Sandwich = 7pts this tasted delicious, great combination! Strawberries an odd addition but it worked!
Tandoori chicken
Sun blushed tomatoes
Strawberries
Mayo
Bread
Lettuce
milk in tea = 2pts
Pedometer = 4pts
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
August 18th 2010 - facebook email
The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. Benjamin Disraeli
What a beautiful morning, fabulous sunrise if you were awake at 6am you may have seen it ;-)
Soooooo who watched the Channel 4 programme last night about dieting! What a buffoon that man was (in my opinion of course!) If you didn’t see it, it was about whether a personal trainer could get more weight off someone than an alternative therapist. I really don’t believe bullying, berating and generally shouting at someone is ever going to get good results and even he had to change his tactics halfway through the programme and get gentle to get results if you noticed! If you missed it, catch up on http://www.channel4.com/programmes/who-knows-best/4od
I personally believe that a positive approach, support and motivation is going to get you further than anything. I also believe you have to change your mind before you can change your body. Yeah weight loss is a battle and it’s one that’s worth the fight!
There is no quick fix solution it’s a combination of changes and that starts in the mind, change your attitude change your life!
Alternative therapy can help as long as it’s alongside a healthy eating plan and hopefully moving more where possible.
There I feel better now I’ve had my little rant ;-)
Yesterday was a great healthy eating day for me, I cleared out my kitchen, threw away out of date spices etc and when and stocked up. Had a look through the Irresistable mag that we have in the meeting this month (you can buy it for £3.50 and get this months WW mag with it for free) and found a delicious recipe for mango rice, mmm it was delicious, I was a little lazy and used microwave rice but the end result with mango and coriander and I threw in some sun-blushed tomatoes was delicious with my salmon. Definitely recommend that one.
So do you have a favourite recipe that you regularly cook and is low in points, if so can you either email it me or bring me a copy into the meeting. I’m thinking of putting together a booklet with members’ favourites in – even if its one out of a previous handout I’ve done let me know so I can include the favs for future members.
Midweek already! Soon be the weekend, doesn’t life go by quickly, so remember.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
What a beautiful morning, fabulous sunrise if you were awake at 6am you may have seen it ;-)
Soooooo who watched the Channel 4 programme last night about dieting! What a buffoon that man was (in my opinion of course!) If you didn’t see it, it was about whether a personal trainer could get more weight off someone than an alternative therapist. I really don’t believe bullying, berating and generally shouting at someone is ever going to get good results and even he had to change his tactics halfway through the programme and get gentle to get results if you noticed! If you missed it, catch up on http://www.channel4.com/programmes/who-knows-best/4od
I personally believe that a positive approach, support and motivation is going to get you further than anything. I also believe you have to change your mind before you can change your body. Yeah weight loss is a battle and it’s one that’s worth the fight!
There is no quick fix solution it’s a combination of changes and that starts in the mind, change your attitude change your life!
Alternative therapy can help as long as it’s alongside a healthy eating plan and hopefully moving more where possible.
There I feel better now I’ve had my little rant ;-)
Yesterday was a great healthy eating day for me, I cleared out my kitchen, threw away out of date spices etc and when and stocked up. Had a look through the Irresistable mag that we have in the meeting this month (you can buy it for £3.50 and get this months WW mag with it for free) and found a delicious recipe for mango rice, mmm it was delicious, I was a little lazy and used microwave rice but the end result with mango and coriander and I threw in some sun-blushed tomatoes was delicious with my salmon. Definitely recommend that one.
So do you have a favourite recipe that you regularly cook and is low in points, if so can you either email it me or bring me a copy into the meeting. I’m thinking of putting together a booklet with members’ favourites in – even if its one out of a previous handout I’ve done let me know so I can include the favs for future members.
Midweek already! Soon be the weekend, doesn’t life go by quickly, so remember.
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
17th August 2010 - Tracker
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Breakfastblackberry coulis, oats, yogurt and drizzle of honey. (4)
lunch
stir fry veg with philidelphia light chilli flavour, served with poached salmon. (6)
Dinner
Chilli rice with mango, sunblushed tomatoes and coriander served with microwaved salmon (8)
Snack
banana (1.5)
milk in tea (2)
points earned on pedometer (4)
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
August 17th 2010 - facebook email
It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help. Epicurus
I’m back in the zone like you wouldn’t believe, this new ‘healthy eating’ rather than losing weight mentality is really working for me. I went shopping yesterday and everything I picked up I asked myself is this good for my body and health. So there was no red meat or processed foods this week, lots of fish and veggies though and a few yogurts for desert! Just got to make sure I make them all taste good.
It's gonna be a souper week! I’ve decided I’m going to be filling up on scrumptious low pointed soups this week. Yesterday I roasted a butternut squash and blitzed it together with vegetable stock for a thickish soup ready for today.
Below is a very vegetable soup recipe which also helps make it easy for you to get your 5 servings of vegetable a day, if you include this stew-like soup as part of your menu.
I’ve got Salmon for lunch today, going to look for ideas of how to cool it and I’ll let you know. I’m tracking on my blog so if you do want any ideas you can always look there.
It’s 6 years today since I got my goal and received my gold pack from my leader, I can’t tell you how good that felt, but do you know what’s an even better feeling, to be still at it 6 years on, not to have given up. Don’t get me wrong I’ve gained weight and gone over my goal but I’ve never given up! As I said to someone last night it’s a lifelong battle but one that’s worth fighting!
So remember, life’s for living
& it starts now....
Are you living yet?
Very Vegetable Soup
Total recipe points = 4
WW oil spray (0.5pt)
1 large onion, chopped
2 green and/or red peppers, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 small green cabbage, sliced
2 large carrots, sliced
1 courgette, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
I large can tomatoes
1.25 litres/2 1/4 pts vegetable juice (3.5pts) or use vegetable stock for zero points!
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4tsp crushed red-pepper flakes
Spray a large saucepan with the Weight Watchers oil spray over a medium heat. Add the onion and chopped peppers, and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cumin, and cook for 1 minute. Add the cabbage, carrots, courgette, squash, tomatoes (with juice), vegetable juice, black pepper, and red-pepper flakes.
Heat to boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
This is a great filling lunch that you take to work in a flask, you can even have a bit of bread with it if you fancy as long as you count the points.
I’m back in the zone like you wouldn’t believe, this new ‘healthy eating’ rather than losing weight mentality is really working for me. I went shopping yesterday and everything I picked up I asked myself is this good for my body and health. So there was no red meat or processed foods this week, lots of fish and veggies though and a few yogurts for desert! Just got to make sure I make them all taste good.
It's gonna be a souper week! I’ve decided I’m going to be filling up on scrumptious low pointed soups this week. Yesterday I roasted a butternut squash and blitzed it together with vegetable stock for a thickish soup ready for today.
Below is a very vegetable soup recipe which also helps make it easy for you to get your 5 servings of vegetable a day, if you include this stew-like soup as part of your menu.
I’ve got Salmon for lunch today, going to look for ideas of how to cool it and I’ll let you know. I’m tracking on my blog so if you do want any ideas you can always look there.
It’s 6 years today since I got my goal and received my gold pack from my leader, I can’t tell you how good that felt, but do you know what’s an even better feeling, to be still at it 6 years on, not to have given up. Don’t get me wrong I’ve gained weight and gone over my goal but I’ve never given up! As I said to someone last night it’s a lifelong battle but one that’s worth fighting!
So remember, life’s for living
& it starts now....
Are you living yet?
Very Vegetable Soup
Total recipe points = 4
WW oil spray (0.5pt)
1 large onion, chopped
2 green and/or red peppers, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 small green cabbage, sliced
2 large carrots, sliced
1 courgette, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
I large can tomatoes
1.25 litres/2 1/4 pts vegetable juice (3.5pts) or use vegetable stock for zero points!
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4tsp crushed red-pepper flakes
Spray a large saucepan with the Weight Watchers oil spray over a medium heat. Add the onion and chopped peppers, and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the garlic and cumin, and cook for 1 minute. Add the cabbage, carrots, courgette, squash, tomatoes (with juice), vegetable juice, black pepper, and red-pepper flakes.
Heat to boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
This is a great filling lunch that you take to work in a flask, you can even have a bit of bread with it if you fancy as long as you count the points.
16th August 2010 - tracker
Great day, I did 7 points on my pedometer for starters, that means throughout the day I covered 11 miles!
Breakfast
I made a smoothie that wasn't very nice so only had half of it! (2pts)
milk in tea for day (2)
Lunchtrout fillet with dill, ginger, lemon and garlic cooked in a foil parcel with veggies (courgette, carrot, spring onion, mushroom) and a roast pepper. (4.5)
Tea
Udon noodles with stir fried vegetables (brocoli, carrot, mushroom) and ham, served with a few sun blushed tomatoes. (7)
Snack
Frankfurter sausage (2)
No cravings, no wanting alcohol, my new healthy eating has finally kicked in. Hurrah!
Monday, 16 August 2010
16th August 2010 - facebook email
No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living. Marie Beynon Ray
Well I've had a superb weekend and food nor alcohol came into making it that way I'm happy to say, yesterday we went to a place called Airkix to do indoor flying/skydiving and it was brilliant and my body knows about it too this morning, feel like I've done a workout!
Foodwise I was pretty good too, didn't have breakfast just in case I was sick, not usually good with heights, lunch was a roast chicken Sunday dinner in pub with veggies, yorkshire, stuffing and gravy. Supper was 2 ww toast and sardines and then we had a delicious slice of Courgette Cake which was mmmm - yes courgette! From the ingredients I was given it worked out at 8.5pts for a quarter of a huge cake or 4.5pts for an eighth!
So back to work today and feeling full of enthusiasm, did I mention I had a reiki session on Friday night, and I don't know if its coincidence or something to do with that (I don't care either way) but I feel like it's clicked, the diet that is, I just feel even more focused than I did. I have spent the last week telling myself its about health not weight and that's helped enormously but I just feel very in the zone now, and I've had about 100ml of red wine all weekend that was it, I just haven't wanted a drink which we all know is very rare ;-0
Anyway I hope you're all feeling as positive as I do today, I'm going to pop to the supermarket once I've done my morning meeting and buy lots of fruit and veg so I can cook up some tasty, healthy meals this week.
On that note, I'm going to start my day with a walk with Alfie, and if you got out of bed thinking, boo it's Monday, take a step back and restart your day with a little more positivity!
Remember life starts now....
Are you living yet?
Sunday, 15 August 2010
August 15th 2010 - facebook email
"You are not perfect, and you don't have to be. You are making progress and that's what counts".
Mmm perfection! Don't even strive for it because it doesn't exist, well I suppose it depends on your definition of the word, my perfect life would be one where I have more good times than bad and when the bad arrives I have the strength to handlt it. Oh that's my life now so it must be perfect ;-)
I had a productive day yesterday, I even cooked a delicious zero point carrot and ginger soup (recipe on my blog tracker yesterday), it wasn't very gingery so more ginger could be added, but it did the job and I didn't eat anything else until we got to Cosmo restaurant on the evening and even then I was very restrained, the food is excellent and so much choice, but I stayed away from deep fried things, opted for a little sushi, and the a bit of steak and scallop from the Teppanyaki Bar, the one thing I did indulge on was a couple of sticky ribs and a taster of the deserts, although I'm not a massive dessert fan and didn't eat much of them. I didn't even drink, only had about 100ml of red wine, I just didn't want to, I was too busy enjoying the pint of diet coke I'd ordered! Think I may be possessed! ;-)
Or maybe my new thought pattern of eating for health is working, and my new affirmation "I love myself enough to take care of my body by eating well and moving more." is also hitting my subconscious. YAY for positive thinking.
For those of you that have never tried it, I really do recommend you give it a try, I started reading a book yesterday called "The Power" by Rhonda Byrne, it's a follow on from her book "The Secret" which was a global success and had a film made about the concept. The Secret takes of 'The law of attraction", in universal terms, the law of attraction says: like attracts like. What that means in simple terms for your life is: what you give out, you receive back. Whatever you give out in life is what you receive back in life. Whatever you give by the law of attraction, is exactly what you attract back to yourself.
I've found some people react quite extremely to this concept when it's bought up in discussion, so just observe your own reaction right now!
In the words of Isaac Newton "To every action there is an equal or opposite reaction."
So therefore every action of giving creates an opposite action of receiving and what you recieving and what you recieve is always equal to what you've given. Whatever you give out in life must return to you. It is the physics and the mathematics of the universe. Mmm interesting!
So instead of talking about the negative things that have happened in your day (and yes everyone has a degree of bad in their lives, it how you approach that bad that matters) talk about the good things that that occured.
In the book she says this;
"If you parrot negative things and squawk about the things you don't love, you are literally jailing yourself, like a parrot in a cage. Every time you talk about what you don't love, you are adding another bar to the cage and you are locking yourself away from all the good. People who have great lives tend to talk more about what they love. By doing so, they gain unlimited access to all the good in life, and they are as free as the birds that soar in the sky. To have a great life, break the bars of the cage that is jailing you; give love, talk only about what you love, and love will set you free!"
Mmm, so back to dieting, focus on the positives, what do you love about eating healthily and moving more? Rather than why is it so difficult to lose why, why is it NOT? I had a fabulous night last night, I didn't feel deprived because I didn't stuff my face, I felt great because I didn't come home feeling stuffed and bloated with heartburn, unlike my greedy brother ;-)
So today think of all the positives of everything in not just your diet but your life, the difficult aspects of your life will always be there but you don't have to focus on them, move your attention to the positive and choose to have a fabulous day.
Well me and Alfie are off for a walk, enjoy your day.
Remember life start now, a really fabulously good one.
Are you living yet?
Mmm perfection! Don't even strive for it because it doesn't exist, well I suppose it depends on your definition of the word, my perfect life would be one where I have more good times than bad and when the bad arrives I have the strength to handlt it. Oh that's my life now so it must be perfect ;-)
I had a productive day yesterday, I even cooked a delicious zero point carrot and ginger soup (recipe on my blog tracker yesterday), it wasn't very gingery so more ginger could be added, but it did the job and I didn't eat anything else until we got to Cosmo restaurant on the evening and even then I was very restrained, the food is excellent and so much choice, but I stayed away from deep fried things, opted for a little sushi, and the a bit of steak and scallop from the Teppanyaki Bar, the one thing I did indulge on was a couple of sticky ribs and a taster of the deserts, although I'm not a massive dessert fan and didn't eat much of them. I didn't even drink, only had about 100ml of red wine, I just didn't want to, I was too busy enjoying the pint of diet coke I'd ordered! Think I may be possessed! ;-)
Or maybe my new thought pattern of eating for health is working, and my new affirmation "I love myself enough to take care of my body by eating well and moving more." is also hitting my subconscious. YAY for positive thinking.
For those of you that have never tried it, I really do recommend you give it a try, I started reading a book yesterday called "The Power" by Rhonda Byrne, it's a follow on from her book "The Secret" which was a global success and had a film made about the concept. The Secret takes of 'The law of attraction", in universal terms, the law of attraction says: like attracts like. What that means in simple terms for your life is: what you give out, you receive back. Whatever you give out in life is what you receive back in life. Whatever you give by the law of attraction, is exactly what you attract back to yourself.
I've found some people react quite extremely to this concept when it's bought up in discussion, so just observe your own reaction right now!
In the words of Isaac Newton "To every action there is an equal or opposite reaction."
So therefore every action of giving creates an opposite action of receiving and what you recieving and what you recieve is always equal to what you've given. Whatever you give out in life must return to you. It is the physics and the mathematics of the universe. Mmm interesting!
So instead of talking about the negative things that have happened in your day (and yes everyone has a degree of bad in their lives, it how you approach that bad that matters) talk about the good things that that occured.
In the book she says this;
"If you parrot negative things and squawk about the things you don't love, you are literally jailing yourself, like a parrot in a cage. Every time you talk about what you don't love, you are adding another bar to the cage and you are locking yourself away from all the good. People who have great lives tend to talk more about what they love. By doing so, they gain unlimited access to all the good in life, and they are as free as the birds that soar in the sky. To have a great life, break the bars of the cage that is jailing you; give love, talk only about what you love, and love will set you free!"
Mmm, so back to dieting, focus on the positives, what do you love about eating healthily and moving more? Rather than why is it so difficult to lose why, why is it NOT? I had a fabulous night last night, I didn't feel deprived because I didn't stuff my face, I felt great because I didn't come home feeling stuffed and bloated with heartburn, unlike my greedy brother ;-)
So today think of all the positives of everything in not just your diet but your life, the difficult aspects of your life will always be there but you don't have to focus on them, move your attention to the positive and choose to have a fabulous day.
Well me and Alfie are off for a walk, enjoy your day.
Remember life start now, a really fabulously good one.
Are you living yet?
Saturday, 14 August 2010
August 14th 2010 Tracker
Breakfast
Kiwi Fruit smoothie (4pts) made with natural % fat Greek yogurt, 3 kiwi fruits and honey. It was a little sharp but drinkable.
Lunch
Homemade Carrot and Ginger soup zero points and delicious, here's the recipe
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1/2in piece fresh ginger grated or 1 tsp ground ginger
1½ pints stock
350 g carrot(s), sliced
Heat the onion and ginger in a covered pan, with about 6 tbsp of the stock. Add the sliced carrots when the onion looks soft. Pour in the remaining stock and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes. Either mash the soup with a potato masher or liquidise it.
I've had a light lunch as I'm off to Cosmo for tea, but I plan to be sensible! I've also took Alfie out twice for decent walks earning me points.
Kiwi Fruit smoothie (4pts) made with natural % fat Greek yogurt, 3 kiwi fruits and honey. It was a little sharp but drinkable.
Lunch
Homemade Carrot and Ginger soup zero points and delicious, here's the recipe
1 medium onion(s), chopped
1/2in piece fresh ginger grated or 1 tsp ground ginger
1½ pints stock
350 g carrot(s), sliced
Heat the onion and ginger in a covered pan, with about 6 tbsp of the stock. Add the sliced carrots when the onion looks soft. Pour in the remaining stock and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes. Either mash the soup with a potato masher or liquidise it.
I've had a light lunch as I'm off to Cosmo for tea, but I plan to be sensible! I've also took Alfie out twice for decent walks earning me points.
13th August 2010 tracker
Breakfast
sardines on toast (4pts)
Lunch
Beef stir fry
made with 200g stir fry beef (4pts)
250g mushrooms
spring onion chopped
red pepper diced
served with 1/2 packet of savoury rice (3pts)
Snack
apple (1/2pt)
tea
microwave chips and a medium glass of wine! (5.5pts)
I've earnt 2pts on my pedometer thought, that's the least this week, most days its between 3 and 5.
sardines on toast (4pts)
Lunch
Beef stir fry
made with 200g stir fry beef (4pts)
250g mushrooms
spring onion chopped
red pepper diced
served with 1/2 packet of savoury rice (3pts)
Snack
apple (1/2pt)
tea
microwave chips and a medium glass of wine! (5.5pts)
I've earnt 2pts on my pedometer thought, that's the least this week, most days its between 3 and 5.
14th August 2010 - facebook email
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. John Lennon
O my word, I'm drinking a kiwi fruit smoothie I've just made and its a bit sour for 7am! I'm hoping the vitamin C of the kiwi will do me good, did you know just two kiwi fruits provide twice as much vitamin C as an orange. And they are fantastic for beating water retention too apparently. The fiber in them makes them very effective intestinal cleansers, and they improve the digestive system as well as the immune system. They remove excess soldium from the body which helps stabilize the water levels in the cells and reduce blood pressure. So my smoothie should do me some good, and I'd have it again too.
As you can see I'm getting serious about this healthy eating thing, I wanna feel full of energy and life, not sluggish and stuffed up! I
I'm also loving honey in hot water too, did you know honey is another source of vitamin C, it's twice as sweet as sugar and a good choice for sweet-toothed dieters because a little goes a long way! Here's a lovely recipe for honey and ginger ice cream (8pts in all of it).
Thumb-sized piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbsp honey (3.5pts)
500ml low fat bio yogurt (4.5pts)
put the ginger and honey in a small pan, add a little water and boil, stirring for 10 minutes. Leave to cool. when cold, stir into the yoogurt. Transfer to a freezer-proof container and freeze for 4 hours; remove, stir and return to the freezer for a further 4 hours. Serve with tropical fruit.
Sounds nice doesn't it!
So not much got done in my house yesterday, once I'd finished all my paperwork I chilled out, had a long bubble bath and read my book then watched some tv. It was great. Today I'm going to do something, be productive in some way. Already walked Alfie, we aint afraid of the rain, no he doesn't care at all if I'm getting soaked.
Enjoy your day, remember life starts now.
Are you living yet?
O my word, I'm drinking a kiwi fruit smoothie I've just made and its a bit sour for 7am! I'm hoping the vitamin C of the kiwi will do me good, did you know just two kiwi fruits provide twice as much vitamin C as an orange. And they are fantastic for beating water retention too apparently. The fiber in them makes them very effective intestinal cleansers, and they improve the digestive system as well as the immune system. They remove excess soldium from the body which helps stabilize the water levels in the cells and reduce blood pressure. So my smoothie should do me some good, and I'd have it again too.
As you can see I'm getting serious about this healthy eating thing, I wanna feel full of energy and life, not sluggish and stuffed up! I
I'm also loving honey in hot water too, did you know honey is another source of vitamin C, it's twice as sweet as sugar and a good choice for sweet-toothed dieters because a little goes a long way! Here's a lovely recipe for honey and ginger ice cream (8pts in all of it).
Thumb-sized piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbsp honey (3.5pts)
500ml low fat bio yogurt (4.5pts)
put the ginger and honey in a small pan, add a little water and boil, stirring for 10 minutes. Leave to cool. when cold, stir into the yoogurt. Transfer to a freezer-proof container and freeze for 4 hours; remove, stir and return to the freezer for a further 4 hours. Serve with tropical fruit.
Sounds nice doesn't it!
So not much got done in my house yesterday, once I'd finished all my paperwork I chilled out, had a long bubble bath and read my book then watched some tv. It was great. Today I'm going to do something, be productive in some way. Already walked Alfie, we aint afraid of the rain, no he doesn't care at all if I'm getting soaked.
Enjoy your day, remember life starts now.
Are you living yet?
Friday, 13 August 2010
12th August Tracker
milk in tea 1
Breakfast
crumpet and lemon curd 2pt
apple 0.5pt
Elevenses @ 9am!
Chicken Tikka salad sandwich 3.5pts
Lunch
Fruity Tikka Masala and microchips 7.5pts
Tea
Sushi 6pts
Breakfast
crumpet and lemon curd 2pt
apple 0.5pt
Elevenses @ 9am!
Chicken Tikka salad sandwich 3.5pts
Lunch
Fruity Tikka Masala and microchips 7.5pts
Tea
Sushi 6pts
13th August 2010 - facebook email
It’s taken me until now to understand that I don’t need to understand everything!
Late with my email this morning, Alfie insisted on his walk first and we’ve been out an hour because I’m not in a rush to be anywhere, which is great. I did have a busy day planned but it’s been cancelled so I can chill and take my time – result!
So the weekend is almost upon us and I know from experience this is almost everyone’s time for struggling, some of you are off on holiday so will have double whammy of struggling, or you may just decide to enjoy it and start again on your return. Others will have just returned from their holidays feeling a bit yuk, you miss being there and now maybe you weigh more too ;(
Even if you overdid it, it doesn't mean you've blown your entire weight loss effort, accept the setback and get straight back to it. Up your fruit and vegetable intake, ideally, consume at least five fruit and vegetable servings per day. These vitamin-rich foods boost your fibre and antioxidant intake and help you feel full. Why not replace that mid-afternoon can of pop or bar of chocolate with a medium orange as a snack.
In addition arrange some exercise time, schedule it in then you’ll be more likely to stick to it, if you’re going on holiday or just have the weekend free, you can still do this. Try to get in 30 minutes almost every day if possible; this can be a walk round the block twice a day for 15 minutes!
Most importantly remember “Don't Deprive Yourself” focus on what you're going to eat rather than what you're not. Don’t skip meals trying to get quick results - it doesn’t work!
Wherever and whatever your plans are this weekend, why don’t you decide to make every day a holiday!
Everyone deserves a holiday! Why not inject some feel-good factor into your everyday routine.
If everyone else is counting down the days until they jet off to the sunshine, but all you've got in your diary is a doctor's appointment and a reminder to pick up your dry-cleaning, don't despair...
The feel-good factor that comes from skipping work and absorbing the rays can be injected into your normal routine, whether or not you have booked a holiday.
So mix yourself an exotic fruit juice, and learn to relax and enjoy life as if the rat race was a million miles away, every day.
Conjuring Up the Holiday Feeling
Lie down and do nothing: It doesn't matter if your sun lounger is in your living room or if you just find a patch of grass in the park, doing nothing is good for you. Yoga experts recommend lying on your back with your heels together, and your arms 45 degrees from your body, palms-up.
Imagine yourself far away: Stretch out on the patio, in the park, or even in your living room, and put on some world music to create a holiday atmosphere. Anything from Senegalese to Spanish will do. Browse the world music section of your local music shop or library for inspiration. We take holidays to experience the exotic so why not introduce diversity via your Walkman or iPod?
Fake it: Looking like you're relaxed and sun-soaked could help you feel more chilled and relaxed. Slap on some self-tanning lotion, or book a St Tropez session at your local salon, and dig out your floatiest summer frocks and little cardigans to get the holiday buzz every day.
Go out mid-week: Throw caution to the wind and partake in some mid-week decadence. Dress up and go out for dinner to your favourite restaurant - or for drinks and a show. It will break up the week - and give you something to look forward to.
Bare it: For poor sun-deprived Brits, one of the greatest luxuries of being on holiday is feeling the sun on our skin. So be adventurous - do the gardening in your swimming cossie, the shopping in your shorts, and trip to the office without tights. Remember to slap on plenty of high-factor sun cream and wear a hat.
Explore your surroundings: Change your walking/jogging route, or take a Sunday drive to somewhere you've never been before. You won't believe what's just around the corner.
Do the tourist thing: take some photos of the family or friends while you are out and about. Then share!
Cook yourself out of the country: Experiment and exchange your usual recipes for an exotic dish. Use coconut, coriander and cayenne, to spice up your life. Eat outside.
Whilst the days are longer, have some friends over to sample your sundowner cocktails. Combine 100ml champagne and a vanilla pod or fresh strawberry - to create a delicious alternative to the usual sweet and sticky concoctions.
Just remember, if you can't get to the Med you can create your own paradise instead!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Late with my email this morning, Alfie insisted on his walk first and we’ve been out an hour because I’m not in a rush to be anywhere, which is great. I did have a busy day planned but it’s been cancelled so I can chill and take my time – result!
So the weekend is almost upon us and I know from experience this is almost everyone’s time for struggling, some of you are off on holiday so will have double whammy of struggling, or you may just decide to enjoy it and start again on your return. Others will have just returned from their holidays feeling a bit yuk, you miss being there and now maybe you weigh more too ;(
Even if you overdid it, it doesn't mean you've blown your entire weight loss effort, accept the setback and get straight back to it. Up your fruit and vegetable intake, ideally, consume at least five fruit and vegetable servings per day. These vitamin-rich foods boost your fibre and antioxidant intake and help you feel full. Why not replace that mid-afternoon can of pop or bar of chocolate with a medium orange as a snack.
In addition arrange some exercise time, schedule it in then you’ll be more likely to stick to it, if you’re going on holiday or just have the weekend free, you can still do this. Try to get in 30 minutes almost every day if possible; this can be a walk round the block twice a day for 15 minutes!
Most importantly remember “Don't Deprive Yourself” focus on what you're going to eat rather than what you're not. Don’t skip meals trying to get quick results - it doesn’t work!
Wherever and whatever your plans are this weekend, why don’t you decide to make every day a holiday!
Everyone deserves a holiday! Why not inject some feel-good factor into your everyday routine.
If everyone else is counting down the days until they jet off to the sunshine, but all you've got in your diary is a doctor's appointment and a reminder to pick up your dry-cleaning, don't despair...
The feel-good factor that comes from skipping work and absorbing the rays can be injected into your normal routine, whether or not you have booked a holiday.
So mix yourself an exotic fruit juice, and learn to relax and enjoy life as if the rat race was a million miles away, every day.
Conjuring Up the Holiday Feeling
Lie down and do nothing: It doesn't matter if your sun lounger is in your living room or if you just find a patch of grass in the park, doing nothing is good for you. Yoga experts recommend lying on your back with your heels together, and your arms 45 degrees from your body, palms-up.
Imagine yourself far away: Stretch out on the patio, in the park, or even in your living room, and put on some world music to create a holiday atmosphere. Anything from Senegalese to Spanish will do. Browse the world music section of your local music shop or library for inspiration. We take holidays to experience the exotic so why not introduce diversity via your Walkman or iPod?
Fake it: Looking like you're relaxed and sun-soaked could help you feel more chilled and relaxed. Slap on some self-tanning lotion, or book a St Tropez session at your local salon, and dig out your floatiest summer frocks and little cardigans to get the holiday buzz every day.
Go out mid-week: Throw caution to the wind and partake in some mid-week decadence. Dress up and go out for dinner to your favourite restaurant - or for drinks and a show. It will break up the week - and give you something to look forward to.
Bare it: For poor sun-deprived Brits, one of the greatest luxuries of being on holiday is feeling the sun on our skin. So be adventurous - do the gardening in your swimming cossie, the shopping in your shorts, and trip to the office without tights. Remember to slap on plenty of high-factor sun cream and wear a hat.
Explore your surroundings: Change your walking/jogging route, or take a Sunday drive to somewhere you've never been before. You won't believe what's just around the corner.
Do the tourist thing: take some photos of the family or friends while you are out and about. Then share!
Cook yourself out of the country: Experiment and exchange your usual recipes for an exotic dish. Use coconut, coriander and cayenne, to spice up your life. Eat outside.
Whilst the days are longer, have some friends over to sample your sundowner cocktails. Combine 100ml champagne and a vanilla pod or fresh strawberry - to create a delicious alternative to the usual sweet and sticky concoctions.
Just remember, if you can't get to the Med you can create your own paradise instead!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Thursday, 12 August 2010
August 12th - Facebook email
Even if we can’t change the reality of a situation, we can choose our response. The wise know when to be proactive and when to let things be. When we stop trying to control life – and other people – doors open, miracles unfold, and the world is more hospitable. The path of least resistance leads to happiness.
Thursday already, this week has flown! Another day of healthy eating yesterday, I made a delicious fruity tikka masala, it was scrumptious, the recipes below and you can see a photo on my blog. I also had a delicious breakfast with raspberries, 0% greek yogurt, oats and honey, the even meal was so successful but at least it was healthy!
Serves 4 at 4 points per portion
400g Chicken breast strips (cut into pieces) or use breast (8.5pts)
Tin Chopped Tomatoes
250g mushrooms
Bundle spring onions chopped
75g Tikka Masala Paste (3.5pts)
1 pineapple & 1 mango Weight Watchers Yogurts (1.5pts)
In a frying pan, stir fry spring onions in a bit of water, after a couple of minutes add tikka masala paste, stir for a minute or two then add chicken and after a few more minutes add tinned tomatoes, simmer for 15 minutes or until cooked. Finally stir in yogurts and warm through.
I served it with ½ pack of Vegetable Pilau Microwave Rice. (2.5pts)
Great weight losses in the meetings this week, especially considering the time of year. I’ve even given out a few 50lb certificates and gold packs which is always a good feelings.
Sorry folks, gotta go I’ve got an Alfie barking at me for his walk ;-)
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Thursday already, this week has flown! Another day of healthy eating yesterday, I made a delicious fruity tikka masala, it was scrumptious, the recipes below and you can see a photo on my blog. I also had a delicious breakfast with raspberries, 0% greek yogurt, oats and honey, the even meal was so successful but at least it was healthy!
Serves 4 at 4 points per portion
400g Chicken breast strips (cut into pieces) or use breast (8.5pts)
Tin Chopped Tomatoes
250g mushrooms
Bundle spring onions chopped
75g Tikka Masala Paste (3.5pts)
1 pineapple & 1 mango Weight Watchers Yogurts (1.5pts)
In a frying pan, stir fry spring onions in a bit of water, after a couple of minutes add tikka masala paste, stir for a minute or two then add chicken and after a few more minutes add tinned tomatoes, simmer for 15 minutes or until cooked. Finally stir in yogurts and warm through.
I served it with ½ pack of Vegetable Pilau Microwave Rice. (2.5pts)
Great weight losses in the meetings this week, especially considering the time of year. I’ve even given out a few 50lb certificates and gold packs which is always a good feelings.
Sorry folks, gotta go I’ve got an Alfie barking at me for his walk ;-)
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
11 August Tracker
Big Breakfast needed for mid week busy day = 5pts and 1 of my five a day
1 crumpet with lemon curd = 2pts
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raspberries (1/2pt) 20g oats (1), 0% greek yogurt (1pt) honey (1/2pt) = 3pts
ooo I'm on a roll, I've just invented and cooked a fruity tikka masala! Here's the recipe, only 4pts a portion.
400g Chicken breast strips (cut into pieces) or use breast (8.5pts)
Tin Chopped Tomatoes
250g mushrooms
bundle spring onions chopped
75g Tikka Masala Paste (3.5pts)
1 pineapple & 1 mango Weight Watchers Yogurts (1.5pts)
In a frying pan, stir fry spring onions in a bit of water, after a couple of minutes add tikka masala paste, stir for a minute or two then add chicken and after a few more minutes add tinned tomatos, simmer for 15 minutes or until cooked. Finally stir in yogurts and warm through.
I served with 1/2 pack of Vegetable Pilau Microwave Rice. (2.5pts)
My evening meal wasn't such a success, did something with lamb and mushrooms, but turned out not so good so won't share that, but it was about 7 points. All in all though a healthy day.
11th August - Facebook email
The stupendous fact that we stand in the midst of reality will always be something far more wonderful than anything we do. Erich Gutkind
Did you know Ramadan starts today, one of the most holy periods in the Islamic calendar and a time of fasting for Muslims and it continues for 30 days until 9th September.
That means Britain's 1.7 million Muslims will refrain from eating, drinking and sexual contact during daylight, and spend more time in prayer and religious contemplation. Fasting this year will be particularly difficult for British Muslims, for whom daylight fasting means going 18 hours without food. Living in a non-Islamic country will makes fasting very difficult, as working hours remain the same, so they have to continue with their regular tasks.
Think about that for a moment, we struggle with losing weight, cutting down on food, changing what we eat but imagine having to go 18 hours a day, every day for a month without eating, and even worse drinking, and I don’t mean alcohol, I’m sat here with my morning cuppa and I can’t imagine not having it! Very difficult and something I don’t think I could or would be willing to do!
So I plan to eat healthily instead, yesterday went well, I was busy so I popped into the co-op for odds and ends, and bought a little bit of fruit, however I’ve been told Lidl’s is the place to go for cheap fruit so will be venturing there sometime this week!
I also stuck with my eating healthily theme, got back from meeting and opened a tin of hotdogs, after realising how much boiled ham I could have instead I changed my mind and opted for that, this was the easy 10 minute meal I made which contained 2 portions of my five a day;
Creamy Ham Pasta
5½pts per portion, serves 2
120g dried pasta
frozen mixed vegetables
200g wafer thin ham
80g Philadelphia extra light or 25g Philadelphia light soft cheese
chicken oxo cube
Cooked pasta with veg for 10 minutes, crumble chicken oxo cube in approx 200ml boiling water and mix together with soft cheese in a pan whilst warming up on the hob. Drain pasta and veg and mix into sauce with ham.
For my evening meal I had soya mince and onions cooked in taco powder, topped with some low fat grated cheese (which is on offer in the co-op) stuffed inside a pitta bread with lettuce. Very nice for 7 points.
So I didn’t reach my five unfortunately but I did get closer than I have been doing and there’s always today!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Did you know Ramadan starts today, one of the most holy periods in the Islamic calendar and a time of fasting for Muslims and it continues for 30 days until 9th September.
That means Britain's 1.7 million Muslims will refrain from eating, drinking and sexual contact during daylight, and spend more time in prayer and religious contemplation. Fasting this year will be particularly difficult for British Muslims, for whom daylight fasting means going 18 hours without food. Living in a non-Islamic country will makes fasting very difficult, as working hours remain the same, so they have to continue with their regular tasks.
Think about that for a moment, we struggle with losing weight, cutting down on food, changing what we eat but imagine having to go 18 hours a day, every day for a month without eating, and even worse drinking, and I don’t mean alcohol, I’m sat here with my morning cuppa and I can’t imagine not having it! Very difficult and something I don’t think I could or would be willing to do!
So I plan to eat healthily instead, yesterday went well, I was busy so I popped into the co-op for odds and ends, and bought a little bit of fruit, however I’ve been told Lidl’s is the place to go for cheap fruit so will be venturing there sometime this week!
I also stuck with my eating healthily theme, got back from meeting and opened a tin of hotdogs, after realising how much boiled ham I could have instead I changed my mind and opted for that, this was the easy 10 minute meal I made which contained 2 portions of my five a day;
Creamy Ham Pasta
5½pts per portion, serves 2
120g dried pasta
frozen mixed vegetables
200g wafer thin ham
80g Philadelphia extra light or 25g Philadelphia light soft cheese
chicken oxo cube
Cooked pasta with veg for 10 minutes, crumble chicken oxo cube in approx 200ml boiling water and mix together with soft cheese in a pan whilst warming up on the hob. Drain pasta and veg and mix into sauce with ham.
For my evening meal I had soya mince and onions cooked in taco powder, topped with some low fat grated cheese (which is on offer in the co-op) stuffed inside a pitta bread with lettuce. Very nice for 7 points.
So I didn’t reach my five unfortunately but I did get closer than I have been doing and there’s always today!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
10th August Tracker - time to get healthy!
So after watching last nights Biggest Loser and looking through some awful trackers I've been reminded its not just about the weight loss it's about feeling well, being healthy, having energy to do the things you want to do and getting to live longer! So today's the start of my new "Healthy Me" plan! Watch this space ;-)
So the morning started well with -
40g porridge 2pts
Weight Watchers orange + nectarine yogurt ½pt
1 pint skimmed milk for drinks and cereal 2pts
When I got home I decided to do something with pasta, and I did consider hotdogs, so weighed out 4 which came to three points, so weighed out 3 points of ham and realised you get a lot more ham than hotdogs, so Alfie got the dogs! Cooked 120g dried pasta with frozen mixed vegetables for 10 minutes, at the same time, weighed out 2 points of philedelphia light, crumbled a chicken oxo cube in approx 200ml boiling water and mixed together in a pan whilst warming up on the hob. Drained pasta and veg and mixed into sauce with ham. Delicious for 5½pts each portion, served 2.
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Mmm both work out at 3 points, I know which I'd opt for everytime.
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Five and a half points of tasty - if I do say so myself!
Tea was soya mince and taco seasoning topped with cheese in a pitta bread and lettuce. Not bad at all for 7pts.
Great day, not quite my five fruit & veg but not far off!
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August 10th - Facebook email
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. Buddha
Good morning, well apart from the voice a cough I’d say I’m recovered and raring to go. I watched the Biggest Loser on Sky1 last night and have to admit to enjoying it! What did it home was what the chap said who got sent home, he wasn’t talking about image or looks, he was talking about being fit enough to live a healthy long life and be around for his family. How true is that, how many of us are so focused on the “FAT” that we’re forgetting the benefits of getting healthy, eating the right foods and enjoying the feeling they give us!
So I’m going to make a conscious effort this week to eat my five a day because I know I’m guilty of not doing all the time. I see some dreadful trackers (I’m guilty of a few myself) and although these members might be losing weight they’re health really isn’t benefiting from it. A tracker that only has, cups of tea and sandwiches on isn’t brill. A good tracker should look something like this;
Suggested days menu - Total - 18 points
Breakfast – 2pts
Medium Bowl of cereal, not sugar coated 1½pts
¼ pt (142ml) skimmed milk ½pt
Orange ½pt
Lunch – 4½pts
Pitta Bread 2½pts
60g wafer thin chicken 1pt
tbsp of low fat mayonnaise ½pt
5 cashew nuts chopped ½pt
shredded lettuce
Side salad
Lamb chops & Mash – 8pts
2 medium lamb loin chops – grilled 5½pts
2 scoops of potato, mashed 2pts
carrots and broccoli
Gravy made with a teaspoon of granules ½pt
Snacks
Sugar free jelly
WW Yogurt ½pt
Apple ½pt
200g strawberries 1½pt
¼ pt (142ml) skimmed milk for drinks ½pt
See how much you can fit into one day when you try! So what is a portion of fruit or veg that you can use towards making your five a day. All fruit and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned, dried and pure juices, count. The only exception is potatoes, which are a starchy food and so aren’t included in the recommended 5 A DAY. Meanwhile, no matter how much you drink, a glass of pure juice only counts as one portion because it’s not a good source of fibre and the juicing process squeezes out all the natural sugars that are normally found between the cells of the fruit or vegetables, with the result they’re less healthy for teeth. Pulses such as kidney beans, lentils and chickpeas also only count as one portion, regardless of how much you eat. This is because they don’t contain the same vitamins and minerals as other fruit and veg.
It’s important to eat five different fruit and veg each day to get a wide range of vitamins and minerals. For example, you could add dried apricots or sultanas to cereal, have an apple with lunch, serve dinner with two veg such as carrots and broccoli, and snack on a nectarine. It’s as easy as that!
On average, a portion of fruit or veg is equivalent to 80g. Below are some examples of what counts as one portion:
· 1 apple, banana, pear, orange or other similar sized fruit
· 2 plums, satsumas, kiwi fruit or other similar sized fruit
· 1⁄2 a grapefruit or avocado· 1 large slice of melon or fresh pineapple
· 3 heaped tablespoons of vegetables, beans or pulses
· 3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad or stewed fruit
· 1 heaped tablespoon of raisins or sultanas
· 3 dried apricots
· 1 cupful of grapes, cherries or berries
· 1 dessert bowl of salad
· 1 small glass (150ml) of pure fruit juice
Go on get fruity today ;-)
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Good morning, well apart from the voice a cough I’d say I’m recovered and raring to go. I watched the Biggest Loser on Sky1 last night and have to admit to enjoying it! What did it home was what the chap said who got sent home, he wasn’t talking about image or looks, he was talking about being fit enough to live a healthy long life and be around for his family. How true is that, how many of us are so focused on the “FAT” that we’re forgetting the benefits of getting healthy, eating the right foods and enjoying the feeling they give us!
So I’m going to make a conscious effort this week to eat my five a day because I know I’m guilty of not doing all the time. I see some dreadful trackers (I’m guilty of a few myself) and although these members might be losing weight they’re health really isn’t benefiting from it. A tracker that only has, cups of tea and sandwiches on isn’t brill. A good tracker should look something like this;
Suggested days menu - Total - 18 points
Breakfast – 2pts
Medium Bowl of cereal, not sugar coated 1½pts
¼ pt (142ml) skimmed milk ½pt
Orange ½pt
Lunch – 4½pts
Pitta Bread 2½pts
60g wafer thin chicken 1pt
tbsp of low fat mayonnaise ½pt
5 cashew nuts chopped ½pt
shredded lettuce
Side salad
Lamb chops & Mash – 8pts
2 medium lamb loin chops – grilled 5½pts
2 scoops of potato, mashed 2pts
carrots and broccoli
Gravy made with a teaspoon of granules ½pt
Snacks
Sugar free jelly
WW Yogurt ½pt
Apple ½pt
200g strawberries 1½pt
¼ pt (142ml) skimmed milk for drinks ½pt
See how much you can fit into one day when you try! So what is a portion of fruit or veg that you can use towards making your five a day. All fruit and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned, dried and pure juices, count. The only exception is potatoes, which are a starchy food and so aren’t included in the recommended 5 A DAY. Meanwhile, no matter how much you drink, a glass of pure juice only counts as one portion because it’s not a good source of fibre and the juicing process squeezes out all the natural sugars that are normally found between the cells of the fruit or vegetables, with the result they’re less healthy for teeth. Pulses such as kidney beans, lentils and chickpeas also only count as one portion, regardless of how much you eat. This is because they don’t contain the same vitamins and minerals as other fruit and veg.
It’s important to eat five different fruit and veg each day to get a wide range of vitamins and minerals. For example, you could add dried apricots or sultanas to cereal, have an apple with lunch, serve dinner with two veg such as carrots and broccoli, and snack on a nectarine. It’s as easy as that!
On average, a portion of fruit or veg is equivalent to 80g. Below are some examples of what counts as one portion:
· 1 apple, banana, pear, orange or other similar sized fruit
· 2 plums, satsumas, kiwi fruit or other similar sized fruit
· 1⁄2 a grapefruit or avocado· 1 large slice of melon or fresh pineapple
· 3 heaped tablespoons of vegetables, beans or pulses
· 3 heaped tablespoons of fruit salad or stewed fruit
· 1 heaped tablespoon of raisins or sultanas
· 3 dried apricots
· 1 cupful of grapes, cherries or berries
· 1 dessert bowl of salad
· 1 small glass (150ml) of pure fruit juice
Go on get fruity today ;-)
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Monday, 9 August 2010
Tracker 9th August 2010
Time to stop messing about! I've been poorly for a week now but I feel better in myself and my voice is almost back, just got a cough which is a little annoying but it will go in its own time.
Breakfast
1pt skimmed milk for cereal and cups of tea = 2pts
40g oats = 2pts
Weight Watchers pink grapefruit = ½pt
Nice yogurt and I feel in a good frame of mind today, I spent a couple of hours yesterday putting together a week of menu plans and looking through cook books, I've got my mojo back and I'll ready to get healthy again.
Lunch (main meal today)
Roast beef, mashed potato, sprouts, peas and gravy 8pts
Dinner
left over potatos and veg with primula cheese! 6pts
Pedometer 19,000steps = 4pts
Breakfast
1pt skimmed milk for cereal and cups of tea = 2pts
40g oats = 2pts
Weight Watchers pink grapefruit = ½pt
Nice yogurt and I feel in a good frame of mind today, I spent a couple of hours yesterday putting together a week of menu plans and looking through cook books, I've got my mojo back and I'll ready to get healthy again.
Lunch (main meal today)
Roast beef, mashed potato, sprouts, peas and gravy 8pts
Dinner
left over potatos and veg with primula cheese! 6pts
Pedometer 19,000steps = 4pts
August 9th - facebook email
When you take responsibility for your life you can start to change it. Satyadaya
Okay so it’s Monday morning already, I really would have liked one more day of sitting round doing nothing but never mind lets get to work.
How was your diet this weekend? Did you manage to enjoy the weekend and stay on plan? I spent some time putting together a weeks quick and easy plan, complete with recipes and shopping list which I shall get printed out and sell to raise money for charity, our next Charity of choice is the Alzheimer's Society and this will be our charity for the next year at least. So keep your eye out for the menu plan and other similar things.
Am I right in thinking we’re 1/3 of the way through the 6 weeks holidays? That’s gone pretty damn quick, I’m a little disappointed that members are using it as an excuse not to get weighed, they will really regret it come September because we can do so much damage in 6 weeks, you’ve only got to look at the damage we do when we go on holiday!
Sticks-n-Stones May Break my Bones, but Labels Can and Do Hurt Me
Were you falsely labeled as a child? "You're so lazy," "You'll never amount to anything if you don't..." and other unkind comments. Often they were because you didn't clean your room or forgot to take out the rubbish; things that probably weren't important enough to give you a lifetime label, but there you go; it happened and now it's done. If you were repeatedly told you were bad or somehow broken, it's all too common to swallow the label whole, stuff it inside, then rush to escape through food.
Food is never mean. It doesn't yell and call you names. Food understands. It begins to make sense why food can become like a trusted companion you can always count on. After you eat you may begin the name calling again, toward yourself turning it into a vicious cycle.
Labels That Leave a Residue
Ever have a jar you like so you want to keep it, then when you try to peel off the label what happens? Big mess, part of the label comes off and part refuses to budge. Some labels we attach to ourselves can be peeled away easily while others take more time, but with persistent effort you can get all the sticky residue off for good.
Unsticking The "I'm Always Hungry" Label
If you describe yourself as always being hungry no matter what you eat or how much you eat, you are giving your subconscious mind the clear instruction to support that belief. Perhaps your core belief is that you are afraid you won't get your fair share, or you don't believe you are getting your basic needs met - no matter what, it's never enough.
Your subconscious mind will then defend and support that belief by continually reminding you how hungry you are. It'll helpfully offer suggestions so when you're thinking of eating a healthy lunch for instance, suddenly you think of chips, or maybe just going out because that'd be easier and you "want to be sure you get enough to eat." Thank you subconscious mind. What a great idea! It's easiest just to go along with those ideas too, unless you remember, "Oh, right. I was going to make an effort." Change requires some effort on your part.
Once the new ideas and beliefs are in place, your subconscious is happy to support those too. It doesn't care or judge but simply supports what it believes you really want. But, and this is the big but, during the initial period of making a change, your subconscious mind isn't too pleased. It will likely fight you, or challenge your thinking, and even try to talk you out of it. "You know that didn't work last time, why bother?" Whose voice did you think that was, anyway? It's you.
Fill in the blank, "I'm the sort of person who _________________.
Did you label yourself with your answer?
Do any of the following fit as ways you choose to describe yourself?
Time Management: I'm a procrastinator, I never finish what I start
Clean-the-Plate-Club Member: I eat everything on the plate
Exercise: I hate to exercise; I feel guilty if I don't exercise; I feel guilty because I never exercise
Food: I'm a picky eater; I have a huge appetite; I'm always hungry
By using affirmations to counteract these thoughts you can change the labels, so if you said, I'm the sort of person who has a huge appetite”, replace that with an affirmation such as, “I am completely satisfied by the food I eat, my portion sizes are perfect”
YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Okay so it’s Monday morning already, I really would have liked one more day of sitting round doing nothing but never mind lets get to work.
How was your diet this weekend? Did you manage to enjoy the weekend and stay on plan? I spent some time putting together a weeks quick and easy plan, complete with recipes and shopping list which I shall get printed out and sell to raise money for charity, our next Charity of choice is the Alzheimer's Society and this will be our charity for the next year at least. So keep your eye out for the menu plan and other similar things.
Am I right in thinking we’re 1/3 of the way through the 6 weeks holidays? That’s gone pretty damn quick, I’m a little disappointed that members are using it as an excuse not to get weighed, they will really regret it come September because we can do so much damage in 6 weeks, you’ve only got to look at the damage we do when we go on holiday!
Sticks-n-Stones May Break my Bones, but Labels Can and Do Hurt Me
Were you falsely labeled as a child? "You're so lazy," "You'll never amount to anything if you don't..." and other unkind comments. Often they were because you didn't clean your room or forgot to take out the rubbish; things that probably weren't important enough to give you a lifetime label, but there you go; it happened and now it's done. If you were repeatedly told you were bad or somehow broken, it's all too common to swallow the label whole, stuff it inside, then rush to escape through food.
Food is never mean. It doesn't yell and call you names. Food understands. It begins to make sense why food can become like a trusted companion you can always count on. After you eat you may begin the name calling again, toward yourself turning it into a vicious cycle.
Labels That Leave a Residue
Ever have a jar you like so you want to keep it, then when you try to peel off the label what happens? Big mess, part of the label comes off and part refuses to budge. Some labels we attach to ourselves can be peeled away easily while others take more time, but with persistent effort you can get all the sticky residue off for good.
Unsticking The "I'm Always Hungry" Label
If you describe yourself as always being hungry no matter what you eat or how much you eat, you are giving your subconscious mind the clear instruction to support that belief. Perhaps your core belief is that you are afraid you won't get your fair share, or you don't believe you are getting your basic needs met - no matter what, it's never enough.
Your subconscious mind will then defend and support that belief by continually reminding you how hungry you are. It'll helpfully offer suggestions so when you're thinking of eating a healthy lunch for instance, suddenly you think of chips, or maybe just going out because that'd be easier and you "want to be sure you get enough to eat." Thank you subconscious mind. What a great idea! It's easiest just to go along with those ideas too, unless you remember, "Oh, right. I was going to make an effort." Change requires some effort on your part.
Once the new ideas and beliefs are in place, your subconscious is happy to support those too. It doesn't care or judge but simply supports what it believes you really want. But, and this is the big but, during the initial period of making a change, your subconscious mind isn't too pleased. It will likely fight you, or challenge your thinking, and even try to talk you out of it. "You know that didn't work last time, why bother?" Whose voice did you think that was, anyway? It's you.
Fill in the blank, "I'm the sort of person who _________________.
Did you label yourself with your answer?
Do any of the following fit as ways you choose to describe yourself?
Time Management: I'm a procrastinator, I never finish what I start
Clean-the-Plate-Club Member: I eat everything on the plate
Exercise: I hate to exercise; I feel guilty if I don't exercise; I feel guilty because I never exercise
Food: I'm a picky eater; I have a huge appetite; I'm always hungry
By using affirmations to counteract these thoughts you can change the labels, so if you said, I'm the sort of person who has a huge appetite”, replace that with an affirmation such as, “I am completely satisfied by the food I eat, my portion sizes are perfect”
YOU DO HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Sunday, 8 August 2010
8th August 2010 - facebook email
The way you describe your day becomes your day. Always answer a greeting with “Excellent” and see what happens!
What is a diet without a bit of cheating? The fact is most people cheat on their diets, so why not incorporate that cheating into your plan, and then you won’t feel so guilty. Being deprived of your favourite foods is hell when you’re trying to lose weight and change your habits. But instead of the quick fixes, make Weight Watchers a diet for life and realise you have to make permanent changes and in those changes you want to include the good stuff too. We all know we should cut down on the fat, salt and sugar in our diets, but we also know that’s what makes food taste good. You might be surprised to know that our primary source of salt isn’t junk food but grain products such as cereal and bread! Eating bread that contains no salt is a bit boring like eating cotton wool! The key to cheating is to do it in moderation, we know a diet entirely made up of healthy whole foods will ensure you a long, healthy life, but add in a few cheats every now and then and it’ll make sure that life’s a happy one too! Never eat what you don’t enjoy!
I had a day of rest yesterday (it’s good to slow down sometimes) and the only time I left the house was to go for a massage, but I stopped at the shop to get me a magazine and I was looking at the covers, “Shed a stone in 14 days”, “Lose weight fast”, “Pound off the pounds” BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, I am guilty to admit I picked one up and looked at one, then quickly shut it when I saw that it included stupid food that took a lot of preparation and foods I wouldn’t typically eat. There are changes I’m prepared to make and changes I am not! And preparing and chopping fresh fruit every morning is not one of them, sorry, my life doesn’t have time for that. So today as I’m still feeling a bit rough and the voice hasn’t returned yet, I’m going to get all my books out and put together a quick and easy week on the plan, when it’s finished I might just share it with you all! Or even better you could put your own together, because we all like different things don’t we! And if you do send them to me and I’ll put together a little book of weekly plans – now there’s an idea for a charity fundraiser ;-)
Back to the idea of slowing down, did you know there’s such a thing as Hurried Woman Syndrome (HWS) which was first identified by a Texan Doctor in Britain in 1995! Mahatma Gandi once commented that, “There is more to life than increasing its speed”, how true! 10,000 women were questions and it was discovered that more than 75% of them showed signs of HWS. Are you wondering what the symptoms are, or do you reckon you already know. You probably won’t be surprised to ear that hurried women are overweight, tired and have a low sex drive! So today, slow down as that’s the treatment I would recommend, there’s not many things that won’t wait, remember dull women have tidy houses, no one will write on your headstone “She hovered every day!” Stop trying to be the perfect wife, mother, employee – set priorities and realise your limits.
If you’re shouting at the screen, “I haven’t got time to slow down” then you really do have HWS! Slow down and smell the roses, look at the sky and appreciate the blue (or grey this morning). Today stop and take a few minutes, if you haven’t got a rose to smell, stop and appreciate something equally beautiful – maybe yourself in a mirror!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
What is a diet without a bit of cheating? The fact is most people cheat on their diets, so why not incorporate that cheating into your plan, and then you won’t feel so guilty. Being deprived of your favourite foods is hell when you’re trying to lose weight and change your habits. But instead of the quick fixes, make Weight Watchers a diet for life and realise you have to make permanent changes and in those changes you want to include the good stuff too. We all know we should cut down on the fat, salt and sugar in our diets, but we also know that’s what makes food taste good. You might be surprised to know that our primary source of salt isn’t junk food but grain products such as cereal and bread! Eating bread that contains no salt is a bit boring like eating cotton wool! The key to cheating is to do it in moderation, we know a diet entirely made up of healthy whole foods will ensure you a long, healthy life, but add in a few cheats every now and then and it’ll make sure that life’s a happy one too! Never eat what you don’t enjoy!
I had a day of rest yesterday (it’s good to slow down sometimes) and the only time I left the house was to go for a massage, but I stopped at the shop to get me a magazine and I was looking at the covers, “Shed a stone in 14 days”, “Lose weight fast”, “Pound off the pounds” BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, I am guilty to admit I picked one up and looked at one, then quickly shut it when I saw that it included stupid food that took a lot of preparation and foods I wouldn’t typically eat. There are changes I’m prepared to make and changes I am not! And preparing and chopping fresh fruit every morning is not one of them, sorry, my life doesn’t have time for that. So today as I’m still feeling a bit rough and the voice hasn’t returned yet, I’m going to get all my books out and put together a quick and easy week on the plan, when it’s finished I might just share it with you all! Or even better you could put your own together, because we all like different things don’t we! And if you do send them to me and I’ll put together a little book of weekly plans – now there’s an idea for a charity fundraiser ;-)
Back to the idea of slowing down, did you know there’s such a thing as Hurried Woman Syndrome (HWS) which was first identified by a Texan Doctor in Britain in 1995! Mahatma Gandi once commented that, “There is more to life than increasing its speed”, how true! 10,000 women were questions and it was discovered that more than 75% of them showed signs of HWS. Are you wondering what the symptoms are, or do you reckon you already know. You probably won’t be surprised to ear that hurried women are overweight, tired and have a low sex drive! So today, slow down as that’s the treatment I would recommend, there’s not many things that won’t wait, remember dull women have tidy houses, no one will write on your headstone “She hovered every day!” Stop trying to be the perfect wife, mother, employee – set priorities and realise your limits.
If you’re shouting at the screen, “I haven’t got time to slow down” then you really do have HWS! Slow down and smell the roses, look at the sky and appreciate the blue (or grey this morning). Today stop and take a few minutes, if you haven’t got a rose to smell, stop and appreciate something equally beautiful – maybe yourself in a mirror!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
7th August 2010 - facebook email
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. Greg Anderson
Whoop Whoop it’s officially the weekend and I’m doing diddlysquat all day today! I’ve finally found my book so I plan to read. And because I’m not in a rush, this is a long one –sorry!
Last night I went to a ladies only dinner party to raise money for charity and it was great, very loud as you can imagine with 8 woman in one room but brilliant to listen to different personalities talk about the same subject, very interesting. If you can spare a pound this is Amanda’s sponsor page for the great north run http://www.justgiving.com/amandasmith-Wilcox.
So looking at the “we’re all different” theme, believe it or not, I’m quite a loud, outspoken person! Mmm ;-) but sometimes I am happy to sit back and just observe because then you learn more. We seemed to cover a variety of subjects, one of which was dieting of course, and we agreed that how you feel about yourself and your diet isn’t just about what you eat or what you weigh it’s about how you feel about yourself. Now I can say, I’m happy with who I am 100%, whatever I weigh because my weight doesn’t define me. However we live in a society that is constantly bombarding us with images and the media is telling us what we should look like and who we could be. Then there are those people in our lives who push their opinions on us – I’m sure you all have a few of those in your life. Some of us are so influenced by external forces that we have a hard time finding our own voices and expressing our authentic selves.
These tips could help you develop the confidence and conviction inside to express who you truly are. Stop apologizing to the world for being you!
Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks about you, you can’t be responsible for how others feels about you and how you live your life. So stop worrying about how they will react to your choices, and start getting real about how you feel! When you make decisions, do you think first of yourself or do you stress about what others will think or feel?” Give yourself permission to put yourself first, it’s not being selfish it’s self-care!
Do things because you want to, don’t feel obliged, give up on the guilt and decide that everything you do from now on will be because you want to.
Give up the image, are you being true to your real self! Do you portray on the outside who you truly are on the inside, or have you noticed you are trying to make out to be someone you think the world would rather you were. When the persona you show the world is based on fitting into expectations, ideals, and images set by others, you are living inauthentically. Decide right now to give up the false image and instead live from the inside out. And be your authentic true self. I did it the day I became a Weight Watcher leader full time and it’s so good not to have to try to be something I’m not.
Know what makes you unique - because you are! Every one of us is born with unique gifts, talents, and inclinations that we are naturally good at. When you find them and use them, these gifts lead you to real happiness and success. Think about Tiger Woods. Born to golf. No matter how much you practiced, you’d never be as great as him; he has a gift. You have gifts too. Start noticing the compliments you often get from people. There is sure to be a gift there.
Be clear about what makes you happy and stop trying to fit into the expectations that others have said you must achieve in order to be successful, happy, and accepted, and start asking yourself, “What really makes me happy?” Think about the times that you’ve been happiest. What were you doing? What did you have? Do the same for your most unhappy times. Compare the two to your life today and notice the gaps.
Know Your Emotional Triggers, we all have things that set us off, or that evoke an overly strong reaction. It is time to stop letting them control us! Pay attention to situations that push your buttons and maybe send you to the food cupboard. Be the boss of your emotions by having and taking responsibility for them, and don’t let them drive your life. To be your true self, you have to know what is under the surface motivating you.
Being your true self isn’t always easy but always act on what you know is right. It may require going against what everyone else is doing or thinking. Being real means being true to what feels right for you, even if it doesn't sit well with others. We always know what the best action is to take for ourselves, it’s just not always easy. Be committed to being you, even when it’s scary, and even when other people don’t like it.
It’s okay to have an opinion and to share it, so know what you believe and don’t be afraid to express it. Know your truth in all situations and share it with pride and conviction, even when what you have to say makes others uncomfortable, knowing that your voice deserves to be heard just because you’re you.
Let others see the real you! Be willing to be vulnerable. Share your most real self with the people around you and let them see all of you. The strong, the weak, the self-assured, the self-doubter, the funny, and the serious. Have and show your emotions fully—from sadness and happiness to anger and joy. When you keep the full range of your true self hidden, no one can know who you really are. While it may feel scary to be vulnerable, you’ll find that the more you show the real you, the more others will be willing to share their authentic selves too. This was the most difficult for me, in the past I’ve never shown my weaknesses to anyone, now I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever did because it brought me the best group of friends anyone could ever have.
And finally never apologise for being you!
Unfortunately, the world is full of people, including our inner critic, who want to keep us small, to play along, and to be good girls and boys. When we listen to them by apologising for who we are, or discounting our contributions, thoughts, and feelings, we squash our true selves. Know that you deserve to be all of you, all the time.
Be brilliant. Be you. And never apologise for it.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Whoop Whoop it’s officially the weekend and I’m doing diddlysquat all day today! I’ve finally found my book so I plan to read. And because I’m not in a rush, this is a long one –sorry!
Last night I went to a ladies only dinner party to raise money for charity and it was great, very loud as you can imagine with 8 woman in one room but brilliant to listen to different personalities talk about the same subject, very interesting. If you can spare a pound this is Amanda’s sponsor page for the great north run http://www.justgiving.com/amandasmith-Wilcox.
So looking at the “we’re all different” theme, believe it or not, I’m quite a loud, outspoken person! Mmm ;-) but sometimes I am happy to sit back and just observe because then you learn more. We seemed to cover a variety of subjects, one of which was dieting of course, and we agreed that how you feel about yourself and your diet isn’t just about what you eat or what you weigh it’s about how you feel about yourself. Now I can say, I’m happy with who I am 100%, whatever I weigh because my weight doesn’t define me. However we live in a society that is constantly bombarding us with images and the media is telling us what we should look like and who we could be. Then there are those people in our lives who push their opinions on us – I’m sure you all have a few of those in your life. Some of us are so influenced by external forces that we have a hard time finding our own voices and expressing our authentic selves.
These tips could help you develop the confidence and conviction inside to express who you truly are. Stop apologizing to the world for being you!
Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks about you, you can’t be responsible for how others feels about you and how you live your life. So stop worrying about how they will react to your choices, and start getting real about how you feel! When you make decisions, do you think first of yourself or do you stress about what others will think or feel?” Give yourself permission to put yourself first, it’s not being selfish it’s self-care!
Do things because you want to, don’t feel obliged, give up on the guilt and decide that everything you do from now on will be because you want to.
Give up the image, are you being true to your real self! Do you portray on the outside who you truly are on the inside, or have you noticed you are trying to make out to be someone you think the world would rather you were. When the persona you show the world is based on fitting into expectations, ideals, and images set by others, you are living inauthentically. Decide right now to give up the false image and instead live from the inside out. And be your authentic true self. I did it the day I became a Weight Watcher leader full time and it’s so good not to have to try to be something I’m not.
Know what makes you unique - because you are! Every one of us is born with unique gifts, talents, and inclinations that we are naturally good at. When you find them and use them, these gifts lead you to real happiness and success. Think about Tiger Woods. Born to golf. No matter how much you practiced, you’d never be as great as him; he has a gift. You have gifts too. Start noticing the compliments you often get from people. There is sure to be a gift there.
Be clear about what makes you happy and stop trying to fit into the expectations that others have said you must achieve in order to be successful, happy, and accepted, and start asking yourself, “What really makes me happy?” Think about the times that you’ve been happiest. What were you doing? What did you have? Do the same for your most unhappy times. Compare the two to your life today and notice the gaps.
Know Your Emotional Triggers, we all have things that set us off, or that evoke an overly strong reaction. It is time to stop letting them control us! Pay attention to situations that push your buttons and maybe send you to the food cupboard. Be the boss of your emotions by having and taking responsibility for them, and don’t let them drive your life. To be your true self, you have to know what is under the surface motivating you.
Being your true self isn’t always easy but always act on what you know is right. It may require going against what everyone else is doing or thinking. Being real means being true to what feels right for you, even if it doesn't sit well with others. We always know what the best action is to take for ourselves, it’s just not always easy. Be committed to being you, even when it’s scary, and even when other people don’t like it.
It’s okay to have an opinion and to share it, so know what you believe and don’t be afraid to express it. Know your truth in all situations and share it with pride and conviction, even when what you have to say makes others uncomfortable, knowing that your voice deserves to be heard just because you’re you.
Let others see the real you! Be willing to be vulnerable. Share your most real self with the people around you and let them see all of you. The strong, the weak, the self-assured, the self-doubter, the funny, and the serious. Have and show your emotions fully—from sadness and happiness to anger and joy. When you keep the full range of your true self hidden, no one can know who you really are. While it may feel scary to be vulnerable, you’ll find that the more you show the real you, the more others will be willing to share their authentic selves too. This was the most difficult for me, in the past I’ve never shown my weaknesses to anyone, now I can honestly say it was the best thing I ever did because it brought me the best group of friends anyone could ever have.
And finally never apologise for being you!
Unfortunately, the world is full of people, including our inner critic, who want to keep us small, to play along, and to be good girls and boys. When we listen to them by apologising for who we are, or discounting our contributions, thoughts, and feelings, we squash our true selves. Know that you deserve to be all of you, all the time.
Be brilliant. Be you. And never apologise for it.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Friday, 6 August 2010
Tracker 5th August 2010
Milk in tea = 2pts
Breakfast
2 crumpets with spread = 3.5pts
2nd Breakfast!
Ham salad sandwich on brown bread = 4pts
Lunch
Co-op chicken noodle salad = 3.5pts
Tea
Tropical Chicken Curry and Tilda lime & chilli rice = 5.5pts
Breakfast
2 crumpets with spread = 3.5pts
2nd Breakfast!
Ham salad sandwich on brown bread = 4pts
Lunch
Co-op chicken noodle salad = 3.5pts
Tea
Tropical Chicken Curry and Tilda lime & chilli rice = 5.5pts
August 6th - facebook email
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” – E.E. Cummings
Well I cooked that tropical chicken curry yesterday and it was delicious and only 3pts, served it with 2.5pts of rice for a tasty supper last night.
Well I intend to rest up this weekend and try and shake this cold so that I’m back on fighting form for my meetings next week, when I get a cold I get it good that’s for sure.
As “Your Week” was about eastern food this week, I thought today’s recipe should be along that thread. Light, zingy and full of eastern promise! And ready in 15 minutes, which is the bit I like. Quite a few ingredients but once you’ve got some of them you will be able to save for other dishes later on.
Summery-style mince
A new way with mince that’s so much more glam than spag bol! Serves 4, £1.78 per portion. Ready in 15 minutes and 1 of your 5 a day.
6pts per portion if made with quorn mince, 8.5pts per portion if made with pork minuce
100g mangetout, sliced
10-0g radishes, sliced
6 spring onions, sliced
150g beansprouts
1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped
500g pack pork mince or 500g quorn mince
125g Blue Dragon Ramen Noodles
1tbsp sunflower oil
1tsp EPC Very lazy chilli, garlic and lemongrass, plus an additional 1/2tsp very lazy chilli for the dressing.
2tsp coarsely grated root ginger
2 tsp Thai fish sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
400g pot sliced mango in juice, drained
80ml coconut milk
juice of 1 lime
Cook noodles according to pack instructions, drain and rinse under cold water. Put noodles in a large bowl with the salad ingredients and ¾ of the coriander.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the chilli, garlic, lemongrass and ginger, cool for 1 minute, and then add the mince. Cook over a high heat for 10 minutes until golden, breaking up large clumps with a spatula. Add fish sauce and soy sauce, and stir until evaporated. Add to the noodles.
For the dressing, in a food process, whizz together mango, coconut milk, lime juice, 1/2tsp Very Lazy Chilli and reserved coriander until smooth. Toss through the salad just before serving.
Enjoy!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Well I cooked that tropical chicken curry yesterday and it was delicious and only 3pts, served it with 2.5pts of rice for a tasty supper last night.
Well I intend to rest up this weekend and try and shake this cold so that I’m back on fighting form for my meetings next week, when I get a cold I get it good that’s for sure.
As “Your Week” was about eastern food this week, I thought today’s recipe should be along that thread. Light, zingy and full of eastern promise! And ready in 15 minutes, which is the bit I like. Quite a few ingredients but once you’ve got some of them you will be able to save for other dishes later on.
Summery-style mince
A new way with mince that’s so much more glam than spag bol! Serves 4, £1.78 per portion. Ready in 15 minutes and 1 of your 5 a day.
6pts per portion if made with quorn mince, 8.5pts per portion if made with pork minuce
100g mangetout, sliced
10-0g radishes, sliced
6 spring onions, sliced
150g beansprouts
1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped
500g pack pork mince or 500g quorn mince
125g Blue Dragon Ramen Noodles
1tbsp sunflower oil
1tsp EPC Very lazy chilli, garlic and lemongrass, plus an additional 1/2tsp very lazy chilli for the dressing.
2tsp coarsely grated root ginger
2 tsp Thai fish sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
400g pot sliced mango in juice, drained
80ml coconut milk
juice of 1 lime
Cook noodles according to pack instructions, drain and rinse under cold water. Put noodles in a large bowl with the salad ingredients and ¾ of the coriander.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the chilli, garlic, lemongrass and ginger, cool for 1 minute, and then add the mince. Cook over a high heat for 10 minutes until golden, breaking up large clumps with a spatula. Add fish sauce and soy sauce, and stir until evaporated. Add to the noodles.
For the dressing, in a food process, whizz together mango, coconut milk, lime juice, 1/2tsp Very Lazy Chilli and reserved coriander until smooth. Toss through the salad just before serving.
Enjoy!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Thursday, 5 August 2010
5th August 2010 Facebook email
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” – E.E. Cummings
The lurgy lingers, but its Thursday so I can rest up for 3 days after my last meeting tonight so I’m still smiling!
Here are a couple of finds for you if you have a sweet tooth;
Sainsbury's flying saucers 20g bag 1pt! Remember them Sherbet filled wafers
Sainsbury’s Pink & white sugar free marshmallows = 75g packet 2.5pts and there were 27 marshmallows in the packet so that means you can have 5 marshmallows for half point.
Sticking with the theme of food and cooking, this recipe was in July’s Weight Watcher magazine and I’m planning on cooking it today, sounds different, I do like a sweet curry.
Tropical Chicken Curry
Low fat cooking spray
1 onion
1 garlic bulb
fresh ginger
2 medium chicken fillet breast
Jalfrezi curry paste
1 small can of pineapple chunks
120g pot Weight Watchers lemon and lime yogurt
6½pts total - 3pts per serving serves 2, 5mins to prepare, 20mins to cook.
Heat a large frying pan and mist with low fat spray. Gently cook 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and 2.5cm (1in) finely chopped ginger over a low heat for 2 minutes. Turn up the head and add 2 x 165g cubed chicken breasts, stirring until sealed and starting to colour, then stir in 1tbsp jalfrezi curry paste. Add 30ml (10floz) chicken stock, made with ½ a cube and 75g chopped pineapple, stir and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce reduced. Take the pan off the heat and stir in 1 x 120g pot Weight Watchers lemon & lime yogurt. Warm gently for a further minute and serve.
Well I’m off to blow my nose!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
The lurgy lingers, but its Thursday so I can rest up for 3 days after my last meeting tonight so I’m still smiling!
Here are a couple of finds for you if you have a sweet tooth;
Sainsbury's flying saucers 20g bag 1pt! Remember them Sherbet filled wafers
Sainsbury’s Pink & white sugar free marshmallows = 75g packet 2.5pts and there were 27 marshmallows in the packet so that means you can have 5 marshmallows for half point.
Sticking with the theme of food and cooking, this recipe was in July’s Weight Watcher magazine and I’m planning on cooking it today, sounds different, I do like a sweet curry.
Tropical Chicken Curry
Low fat cooking spray
1 onion
1 garlic bulb
fresh ginger
2 medium chicken fillet breast
Jalfrezi curry paste
1 small can of pineapple chunks
120g pot Weight Watchers lemon and lime yogurt
6½pts total - 3pts per serving serves 2, 5mins to prepare, 20mins to cook.
Heat a large frying pan and mist with low fat spray. Gently cook 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and 2.5cm (1in) finely chopped ginger over a low heat for 2 minutes. Turn up the head and add 2 x 165g cubed chicken breasts, stirring until sealed and starting to colour, then stir in 1tbsp jalfrezi curry paste. Add 30ml (10floz) chicken stock, made with ½ a cube and 75g chopped pineapple, stir and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce reduced. Take the pan off the heat and stir in 1 x 120g pot Weight Watchers lemon & lime yogurt. Warm gently for a further minute and serve.
Well I’m off to blow my nose!
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Tracker 4th August 2010
Breakfast
porridge = 2pts
Lunch
Chicken soup with 3 slices of ham in it. 5pts
afternoon snack
Co-op sweet chilli chicken noodle salad 3.5pts
(see photo)
Dinner
Lamb casserole, green beans, peas, potato, yorkshire 6.5pts
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Tracker 3rd August 2010
Feel dreadful, have the lurgy, just about have a voice so food is not really a priority!
skimmed milk in drinks = 2pts
Breakfast
2 Shredded wheat = 2pts
Lunch
Birds eye cod in parsley sauce = 3pts
potatoes = 2pts
mixed vegetables
Tea
egg and chips 10pts
skimmed milk in drinks = 2pts
Breakfast
2 Shredded wheat = 2pts
Lunch
Birds eye cod in parsley sauce = 3pts
potatoes = 2pts
mixed vegetables
Tea
egg and chips 10pts
August 4th - Facebook email
Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are the ones that lead
Well yesterday I had the lurgy and no energy for anything so I spent the afternoon sat at my pc messing about and decided it was time to take my health and diet seriously to get my health back to tip top condition! So I’m gonna get back to taking care of me, it’s not about being thin, its about feeling good in myself and well.
So whilst looking through stuff I found out the following tidbits of information and a recipe to share with you;
Mmm, Diet Swap
WOW - Del Monte Raspberry Iced Smoothie only 1 point. A lot less points than a Magnum at 7 or the double caramel one for 9!
Diet Myth Busted!
Muscle weighs more than fat – FALSE
This is a physical impossibility – 1lb of muscle and 1lb of fat both weigh 1lb! The difference, however, is in the volume of each – a pound of fat is three times the size of muscle. So muscle is actually denser, not heavier.
A nice fact for you now ;-)
A glass of champagne is as good for your heart as red wine! It contains high levels of polyphenols – plant compounds that help keep blood vessels dilated, reducing blood pressure, according to a new study. (cava and prosecco are thought to have the same effect) CHEERS!
Blueberries for healthy bowels
We know blueberries are good for us, and now new research has found that the fibre in them can help prevent intestinal diseases. Researchers say the effect is even better if blueberries are eaten with probiotic yogurts – there’s your breakfast sorted – YUM!
Chicken & Prawn Paella - 5pts per portion – ready in ten minutes!
Serves 4 - £2.05 per person
Cook 1 onion, sliced and 2 cloves garlic, crushed in 1tbsp sunflower oil for 1 minute. Add 300g chicken breast, cubed, and 1/2tsp turmeric and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 x 250g packs Uncle Ban’s Express Golden Vegetable Rice and 300ml chicken stock, mix well and simmer for 3 minutes. Add 150g tiger prawns (fresh or frozen and defrosted) and cover with a lid. Continue to cook for a further 2 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve sprinkled with parsley.
See cooking and losing weight doesn’t have to be difficult and for the rest of the week I’ll find some more recipes to prove it.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Well yesterday I had the lurgy and no energy for anything so I spent the afternoon sat at my pc messing about and decided it was time to take my health and diet seriously to get my health back to tip top condition! So I’m gonna get back to taking care of me, it’s not about being thin, its about feeling good in myself and well.
So whilst looking through stuff I found out the following tidbits of information and a recipe to share with you;
Mmm, Diet Swap
WOW - Del Monte Raspberry Iced Smoothie only 1 point. A lot less points than a Magnum at 7 or the double caramel one for 9!
Diet Myth Busted!
Muscle weighs more than fat – FALSE
This is a physical impossibility – 1lb of muscle and 1lb of fat both weigh 1lb! The difference, however, is in the volume of each – a pound of fat is three times the size of muscle. So muscle is actually denser, not heavier.
A nice fact for you now ;-)
A glass of champagne is as good for your heart as red wine! It contains high levels of polyphenols – plant compounds that help keep blood vessels dilated, reducing blood pressure, according to a new study. (cava and prosecco are thought to have the same effect) CHEERS!
Blueberries for healthy bowels
We know blueberries are good for us, and now new research has found that the fibre in them can help prevent intestinal diseases. Researchers say the effect is even better if blueberries are eaten with probiotic yogurts – there’s your breakfast sorted – YUM!
Chicken & Prawn Paella - 5pts per portion – ready in ten minutes!
Serves 4 - £2.05 per person
Cook 1 onion, sliced and 2 cloves garlic, crushed in 1tbsp sunflower oil for 1 minute. Add 300g chicken breast, cubed, and 1/2tsp turmeric and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 x 250g packs Uncle Ban’s Express Golden Vegetable Rice and 300ml chicken stock, mix well and simmer for 3 minutes. Add 150g tiger prawns (fresh or frozen and defrosted) and cover with a lid. Continue to cook for a further 2 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve sprinkled with parsley.
See cooking and losing weight doesn’t have to be difficult and for the rest of the week I’ll find some more recipes to prove it.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
August 3rd 2010 facebook email
Everything happens for a reason, live it, love it, and learn from it! Make your smile change the world, but don't let the world change your smile :)
Healthy habits are great but don’t forget pleasure!
I think we can all agree that we know by changing certain habits, we change our quality of life and give ourselves a better change of living longer.
At the same time there is so much ‘advice’ over how we should live that it all becomes a bit blurred and we can find ourselves a little obsessed with it all.
We’ve stopped listening to our bodies! Our choices are more guided by the thought, “good for my health” than by pleasure or good sense. For example you’re more likely to go to the gym and sweat it out for an hour, whilst hating every minute of it because someone told you it was ‘good’ for you than you are to go for a walk with a friend for a natter whilst not thinking about how many calories you’ve burnt and whether you’ve toned your stomach muscles!
What I observe in my meetings sometimes is not so much a desire to eat healthily but more an extreme behaviour, which becomes an obsession and the quest for your ‘goal’ leads to social isolation, canceling nights out with friends or family meals. It’s important to remember that meals out are not just another way of eating but also a way of creating bonds and socializing. Relationships are just as much an important part of a balanced life as being a healthy weight!
So can you have a healthy life without going mad? I think so yes, it’s all about the balance and the first rule of healthy living is to live – someone wrote on my facebook wall yesterday
“Everybody dies but not everybody lives. Make sure you do. Don't hold back.” How true is that.
We all want to be a healthy weight but remember sometimes you don’t have to follow the rules to the letter – live a little. Take exercise example, its benefits are undeniable, but instead of making it arduous turn it into an excuse to get some fresh air, have fun and share a good time with friends or family. You can do too much of everything remember, if you exercise too much you can sprain things so getting the balance right is important in everything.
So stop worrying and obsessing, aim for balance and starting living.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Healthy habits are great but don’t forget pleasure!
I think we can all agree that we know by changing certain habits, we change our quality of life and give ourselves a better change of living longer.
At the same time there is so much ‘advice’ over how we should live that it all becomes a bit blurred and we can find ourselves a little obsessed with it all.
We’ve stopped listening to our bodies! Our choices are more guided by the thought, “good for my health” than by pleasure or good sense. For example you’re more likely to go to the gym and sweat it out for an hour, whilst hating every minute of it because someone told you it was ‘good’ for you than you are to go for a walk with a friend for a natter whilst not thinking about how many calories you’ve burnt and whether you’ve toned your stomach muscles!
What I observe in my meetings sometimes is not so much a desire to eat healthily but more an extreme behaviour, which becomes an obsession and the quest for your ‘goal’ leads to social isolation, canceling nights out with friends or family meals. It’s important to remember that meals out are not just another way of eating but also a way of creating bonds and socializing. Relationships are just as much an important part of a balanced life as being a healthy weight!
So can you have a healthy life without going mad? I think so yes, it’s all about the balance and the first rule of healthy living is to live – someone wrote on my facebook wall yesterday
“Everybody dies but not everybody lives. Make sure you do. Don't hold back.” How true is that.
We all want to be a healthy weight but remember sometimes you don’t have to follow the rules to the letter – live a little. Take exercise example, its benefits are undeniable, but instead of making it arduous turn it into an excuse to get some fresh air, have fun and share a good time with friends or family. You can do too much of everything remember, if you exercise too much you can sprain things so getting the balance right is important in everything.
So stop worrying and obsessing, aim for balance and starting living.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Monday, 2 August 2010
2nd August Tracker
Well I've been away the weekend so didn't diet, I've had scones amongst other things, but it was great and I didn't stuff my face like I have done in the past, I stopped when I was comfortably full and didn't have hot chocolate just because it was in the machine and free! So I've got a rotten cold today which has meant a lousy nights sleep so I'm going to do my best to get back on track and eat healthy. I couldn't believe it when I weighed my bread this morning to make toast, I'd take a slice and a sliver of a crust, you know the kind where its not a slice just the end bit, and weighed them and they were 3.5pts for the two, the one normal medium slice was 2 points! So I only toasted them both but gave 1/2 of the normal slice to Alfie! Therefore breakfast was 3pts.
Breakfast
Toast with Brown Sauce = 3pts
Lunch
Burger = 10pts (disgusting threw some away)
Tea
chicken, potato, veg & gravy = 8pts (delicious)
Weight Watcher cookie bar 1.5pt
Breakfast
Toast with Brown Sauce = 3pts
Lunch
Burger = 10pts (disgusting threw some away)
Tea
chicken, potato, veg & gravy = 8pts (delicious)
Weight Watcher cookie bar 1.5pt
August 2nd 2010 facebook email
You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. Rosalynn Carter
Well not sure about you but I’ve had a lovely weekend, unfortunately I’ve also had a head cold coming on and it’s finally hit me like a hammer this morning, so feeling a bit yuck today and have a busy day as always.
So I’m planning to eat really healthy and try and kill it off with good food, lots of Vitamin C!
We had a pampering break at Fairlawns at the weekend and I spent a bit of time people watching, it’s hard not too when your nosey like me. Anyway Saturday night was a 4 course meal and the first thing they bought out was a cauliflower puree which was served in a little tea cup with bread and I have to say I thought it was delicious, however the couple next to us were moaning about how small it was. What they were failing to think about was, they still had 4 courses to follow!
The starter was delicious and yes again small but enough of it, by now the chap next to me is saying, “we’re gonna have to stop at Macdonalds on the way home”, I wander if he has 4 courses at night or if he feels after one course he has to go get more! I doubt it. The main course I had was steak and there was plenty, it came served with chips, peas, carrots, tomato and grilled mushroom and I was pleased to say I couldn’t finish it and I didn’t’ even try to, funnily enough the couple at the next table shut up when their main course arrived, I think Maccy’s had been forgotten. Just for the record I couldn’t have eaten a pudding if my life had depended on it, I had a little bit of cheese and biscuits and it was served just right, just a sliver of each cheese which is all you need.
The next day when we had lunch which was a buffet bar, we had one plate and watched 3 woman eat as much as they possibly could, obviously “getting their money’s worth!” and also getting indigestion and heartburn at the same time I’m guessing. The one was a vegetarian, so she asked for the vegi option, at the same time helping herself to a full plate of pasta/coleslaw/salad/potato etc when the lady came across with the goats cheese tart thing, the woman went to take the plate which did make me giggle as the waitress was just cutting it up to give her a slice or two!
As a nation we really do need to get a grip on this ‘balance’ thing, especially where food is concerned. Just because it’s free or included in the price do you feel the need to eat it all. I used to but this weekend I didn’t, I remember getting half way through my steak and thinking, “I’m full”, then thinking, “but this is so nice and I haven’t had a good steak for ages”, but then I remembered I can always have steak another time, as Vicky asked me, “Are you comfortably full, will eating anymore make you feel yucky later?” to which the answer was “yes”, which was the end of the dilemma. Yes they were the best little bowl of chips I’ve tasted in a long time, but I really couldn’t eat them because I was full.
It’s important to slow down when you eat and enjoy and taste your food because that’s another way we end up overeating by eating too fast and not giving out brain time to realise our bellies full – roughly 20 minutes the experts reckon.
So next time you’re out, try and be more mindful of your eating and stop when you know you’ve had enough, don’t keep eating because it’s paid for.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
Well not sure about you but I’ve had a lovely weekend, unfortunately I’ve also had a head cold coming on and it’s finally hit me like a hammer this morning, so feeling a bit yuck today and have a busy day as always.
So I’m planning to eat really healthy and try and kill it off with good food, lots of Vitamin C!
We had a pampering break at Fairlawns at the weekend and I spent a bit of time people watching, it’s hard not too when your nosey like me. Anyway Saturday night was a 4 course meal and the first thing they bought out was a cauliflower puree which was served in a little tea cup with bread and I have to say I thought it was delicious, however the couple next to us were moaning about how small it was. What they were failing to think about was, they still had 4 courses to follow!
The starter was delicious and yes again small but enough of it, by now the chap next to me is saying, “we’re gonna have to stop at Macdonalds on the way home”, I wander if he has 4 courses at night or if he feels after one course he has to go get more! I doubt it. The main course I had was steak and there was plenty, it came served with chips, peas, carrots, tomato and grilled mushroom and I was pleased to say I couldn’t finish it and I didn’t’ even try to, funnily enough the couple at the next table shut up when their main course arrived, I think Maccy’s had been forgotten. Just for the record I couldn’t have eaten a pudding if my life had depended on it, I had a little bit of cheese and biscuits and it was served just right, just a sliver of each cheese which is all you need.
The next day when we had lunch which was a buffet bar, we had one plate and watched 3 woman eat as much as they possibly could, obviously “getting their money’s worth!” and also getting indigestion and heartburn at the same time I’m guessing. The one was a vegetarian, so she asked for the vegi option, at the same time helping herself to a full plate of pasta/coleslaw/salad/potato etc when the lady came across with the goats cheese tart thing, the woman went to take the plate which did make me giggle as the waitress was just cutting it up to give her a slice or two!
As a nation we really do need to get a grip on this ‘balance’ thing, especially where food is concerned. Just because it’s free or included in the price do you feel the need to eat it all. I used to but this weekend I didn’t, I remember getting half way through my steak and thinking, “I’m full”, then thinking, “but this is so nice and I haven’t had a good steak for ages”, but then I remembered I can always have steak another time, as Vicky asked me, “Are you comfortably full, will eating anymore make you feel yucky later?” to which the answer was “yes”, which was the end of the dilemma. Yes they were the best little bowl of chips I’ve tasted in a long time, but I really couldn’t eat them because I was full.
It’s important to slow down when you eat and enjoy and taste your food because that’s another way we end up overeating by eating too fast and not giving out brain time to realise our bellies full – roughly 20 minutes the experts reckon.
So next time you’re out, try and be more mindful of your eating and stop when you know you’ve had enough, don’t keep eating because it’s paid for.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
August 1st 2010 - facebook email
It's August 1st that's 8months into the year - wow how quickly has this year gone and I've enjoyed every day of it. Some days I've been successful with my diet, some days not so good and other days so bad that they were great in other ways. ;-)
But I have to tell you something – I know how our journey will end. If you want to be surprised, stop reading right now. But if you want to know, keep reading.
Are you sure you want to know?
Really, really sure?
Ready? Okay. Here’s how it ends: In less than 100 years, you’ll be dead.
Whether you decide to do this or that, it really won’t matter in the big scheme of things. So you might as well decide to do the “thises” and “thats” that blow your skirt up, and that bring a sliver of love, peace and light into the world. Aim to make the right food choices whenever you can and forgive yourself when you don't because lifes too short to constantly give yourself a hard time.
And as it turns out, today is the best day to get started.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
But I have to tell you something – I know how our journey will end. If you want to be surprised, stop reading right now. But if you want to know, keep reading.
Are you sure you want to know?
Really, really sure?
Ready? Okay. Here’s how it ends: In less than 100 years, you’ll be dead.
Whether you decide to do this or that, it really won’t matter in the big scheme of things. So you might as well decide to do the “thises” and “thats” that blow your skirt up, and that bring a sliver of love, peace and light into the world. Aim to make the right food choices whenever you can and forgive yourself when you don't because lifes too short to constantly give yourself a hard time.
And as it turns out, today is the best day to get started.
Remember life starts NOW.
Are you living yet?!
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