Finding 5 minutes...

3^rd October 2017

Maybe it’s not about a happy ending, maybe it’s about the story.

Well I ended up in a changing room yesterday, even though I went to look at kitchen tiles!  I never did get as far as the tile shop.  I did however enjoy trying on clothes and I know if I lose a few more pounds I’ll enjoy it even more, so that’s the plan. 

I also know, talking of plans that as one of my members put so well in our group yesterday, ‘if I plan, I have time’, how true is that!

Whilst we’re on the subject of plans, I truly know that Smart Points is the plan for me, it’s so liveable whether I plan or not, I can go with either Counting or No Count so there’s flexibility too, yeah it works – when I do.

Yesterday I had an eggy crumpet for breakfast with mushrooms and tomatoes, later on I had leftover savoury turkey mince with roasted squaffles (butternut squash shaped like waffles).  This is probably the first day I’ve hit my 5 a day in a while, I’ve just not been focusing on ‘me’ and my health enough, there’s been so much going on.

That stops now though, my kitchen is workable and I can get cooking again and re-focus on the healthy as well as the happy.  Seeing my members post their meals in the group is helping to motivate and inspire me too, all though autumnal meals, the soups makers and the slow cookers coming out of storage. 

Time is obviously still going to be an issue, I’m as busy as ever which is where the planning comes in I guess, although if all I have in my cupboards is healthy, then I can only make healthy meals whether I plan or not.

I keep thinking I need to sit and plan and shop, but I don’t have time, then when I do, I don’t want to do that.  But the truth is I can still be on plan without a plan.  I just need to open the fridge and cupboards at mealtimes and see what I have available.  I know I have the crumpets and eggs, mmm I’m going to make an omelette this morning with a crumpet chopped up in it rather than eggy crumpet, it’ll be a crumplette ;-) I can add diced veggies to this to get towards my 5 a day.

I know I’ve got chopped butternut squash in the freezer which I could roast at lunchtime and make a nice soup or I might make this as I think I have the rest of the ingredients if I get my spices out of storage and it’s No Count;

Scrumptious pot!  

1 tbsp olive oil

2 chicken breasts
2 onions, chopped
3 crushed cloves garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp curry powder
½ tsp cinnamon
1 butternut squash diced
100g dried lentils (I used puy lentils because that was all I had.)
200g brown rice
750ml stock

In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat; cook onions, garlic, cumin, curry powder and cinnamon, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in squash, chicken, lentils and rice, pour in stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for however long it takes for the rice and lentils to be tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. 

Anyway whatever I choose to eat today, I’m going to focus on the healthy and happy and find a little time to take care of me.  What’s your plan BeYOUtiful?

You've got this!

2^nd October 2017

The beauty of life is, while we can’t undo what is done, we can see it, understand it, learn from it and change.

How true is that quote, it’s truly important to stop looking backwards – you’re not going that way.  When I logged onto facebook this morning I was greated by this amazing transformation photo;

 

Elle's Weight Watchers

I’ve known Jodie a long time, she attends Elle’s Saturday morning meeting at Wednesfield and now is 85lb lighter, looking and feeling amazing with her new slimmer self.  She is on person that stopped looking at how many times she’d tried to do it and decided that this was the time she would succeed, a true inspiration and a wonderful lady.  Also proof that Weight Watchers works and with a coaches support great things happen.   That photo has made my morning!   

I’m guessing Jodie has learnt to love herself, have you?  I have, I like the version of me I am these days whatever I weigh, I like to take care of myself and eat healthy because I know keeping an eye on my weight is good for me.   How do you start to love yourself if you don’t’ already?  Here’s a few things you can try…

Fix what needs to be fixed – ask yourself what’s stopping you from loving yourself?  Think about it, what do you want to change and what could you accept that can’t be changed.

Accept you aren’t perfect, what is this perfect we all talk about anyway.  If you are waiting for perfect conditions to do something especially lose weight you’ll be waiting forever and if you think losing weight will make everything perfect – you’re sadly mistaken.

Figure out who you really are and what you want from life – get to know yourself, what do you believe in, what are your values, what’s important to you and why?

Give yourself a break, forgiveness is a wonderful thing, we’re quick to forgive others, then constantly give ourselves a tough time.  Stop it, forgive yourself, let go of the past, live now.

Start to practice self-care, make time to do things for you, self-love and self-care go hand in hand. You know it makes sense. 

Most of all, NEVER GIVE UP, you might get frustrated, you may struggle and feel like giving up but don’t – you’ve got this!

With just 12 weeks to go until Christmas, look how much weight you could lose between now and the end of the year. Make use of your meetings and know your Coach whoever that may be will be there to support you to stay on track to achieve your milestones and ultimate goal.

Let’s make today count, we can do this BeYOUtiful!

No shame in a maintain!

1^st October 2017

What’s meant to be will always find a way.

The first of the month and we’re well into autumn, if needed have you turned over a new leaf?  I’ve weighed and I’ve stayed the same this week, I’m 2lb under that stone bracket I wanted to be in so I’m happy, if I can work on those other 12lbs this year I’ll be over the moon.  I am aware I’m not 100% on plan, it’s not always been easy through September with all the work going on in the house and all the extra work I’ve been doing for WWers but I’ve done what I can.

Take yesterday for example, I couldn’t really cook anything because I had workmen in my kitchen till gone six, we had sandwiches from the Co-op, I had an Onion Bhaji sarnie, it was lush for 12sp!

I was just looking on my pc for my white sauce recipe and this popped up, mmm sounds lush, great if you’re no count, you could change the rashers for medallions.  I’d be tempted to swap the bacon for chorizo maybe, just mess about with the points for counting.

Bacon and white bean soup (total 15sp)

1 tsp olive oil (2sp)

2 lean smoked bacon rashers, chopped (fat trimmed 2sp)

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 onion, chopped

3 thyme sprigs

2 x 400g cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (11sp)

850ml/1½ pints vegetable stock

2 tbsp chopped parsley

freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the bacon, garlic and onion and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until the bacon begins to brown and the onion softens.

Add the thyme and fry for a further minute. Add the beans and stock to the pan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and blend with the parsley and pepper until smooth.

Return the soup to the pan and heat through, then ladle into 4 bowls and serve immediately.

 Then I found this yummy recipe;

Asian-inspired meatballs

SERVES 4 ~ Prep time 10 mins ~ Cook time 20-22 mins

SmartPoints 5 per serving ~ No Count

1 green pepper, quartered 1 egg white

1 tsp ground ginger

2 garlic cloves, crushed

4 tbsp dark soy sauce

500g skinless chicken breast, chopped finely

Calorie controlled cooking spray

2 tbsp artificial sweetener

2 tbsp cider vinegar

1 bunch spring onions, sliced

225g water chestnuts, drained and sliced

Boil the pepper for 8 mins, drain and chop. Meanwhile, combine the egg white, ginger, garlic and 1 tbsp of the soy sauce. Add the chicken and pepper.

Mist a frying pan with cooking spray. Divide the mixture into 24 balls and fry for 8-10 mins. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Combine the remaining soy sauce, sweetener and vinegar with 125ml water. Add to the pan, boil for 3-4 mins. Add the spring onions and water chestnuts, then return the meatballs to glaze.

I found the white sauce recipe too, we were talking about it in one of my meetings, when everyone was saying how they like lasagne, so here it is.

White Sauce

Serves 4, at 4sp each

40g low fat spread (5sp)

40g plain flour (4pp)

450ml skimmed milk (6sp)

1 bay leaf

Throw it all in a pan, it won’t look good, place over a medium heat and cook, stirring all the time until the sauce thickens and comes to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.  Remove bay leaf.

To make it cheese sauce add cheese, how much you add depends on how many points you can spare, you could use Protein cheese.

Anyway, I’m going to try and get some stuff done in kitchen before Mark comes to get on with his work in there.

Enjoy your day, make it a good one, start the month as you mean to go on.