And I'm feeling good....

Thursday 9th January 2020
Each day is a blank canvas, go and make some marks.

I'd forgot how hectic and tiring January is as a WW coach, well it has been 12 months since I had one!  Yesterday started as ludicrous as Tuesday when my car wouldn't start, I rushed round to do my paperwork from the night before, give Alfie a quick walk round the block, sort mom, I had to risk missing my stock delivery, hoping the note on my door would instruct him to put it up my alley way because I needed to take my car to be fixed. I got to the mechanics just after 9 as instructed and you couldn't make it up could you, he wasn't there and a chap waiting across the road informed me, wait for it - He'd broke down - so I rang him and he said he'd be an hour but his worker chap would be 15 minutes.  I decided to drive and try and get some cash in case I had to pay for a part etc, couldn't find anywhere, found a bank, the two outside weren't working, the one inside wouldn't accept my card (you couldn't make it up, or as my mate said when I was telling her, you just need Benny Hill music playing in the background.  Went back, lad couldn't leave the unit so I had to get a lift and that was how my day started - YAY, what should have took 20 minutes was an hour longer.  

Well I'm stressed by now ain't I and I have loads to do so what do I do first?  I decide to do a cooking demo 😂 because that's a priority (not!).  Find the video here https://www.facebook.com/WWBev/videos/452987658729863/
I'd got a fridge full of stuff that needed using before it walked out, I also had a couple of recipes I'd wanted to try out and to me it made sense to put the two together, I also find it better to do those videos completely unprepared like most of us are in real life when we want to cook and think we're too busy.  I knocked this lot together in half hour, oh and the washing up took me 15 minutes afterwards.  Here's the recipes;  

Kale and cheese egg breakfast muffins

Made 8 4SP - 2 for 1SP on 💙💜or 2SP each on 💚

Ingredients

• 8 eggs (14SP💚) (0SP💙💜)
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 100g kale (chopped small)
• 125g Arla grated protein cheese (4SP💚💙💜) (or low fat / full fat cheese - adjust point accordingly).

1. In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs with salt and pepper.
2. Add kale and cheddar to the eggs.
3. Use a spoon and mix together the ingredients.
4. Spray 8 muffin cases with spray light. I used WW silicon ones and they don't need spraying.  I also believe they cooked them better than normal ones!
5. Divide mixture equally between the muffin cases.
6. Bake for 15 minutes at 180C / Gas mark 4 

Note

Refrigerate leftover baked egg cups in an airtight container. They will keep for 2 to 3 days. To reheat place the kale and cheddar breakfast cup on a microwavable safe plate and heat for 30 seconds or until heated through.

Orzo with butternut squash, spinach and blue cheese

total dish 23SP

Feeds 4 - 6SP per portion 💚💙💜 

(If you can get wholewheat orzo, it would only be 2SP on 💜)

Ingredients

250g cubed butternut squash 

Spray light

salt & black pepper

160g regular (14SP) or whole-wheat orzo (zero on purple)

100-150g shredded spinach

2 clove garlic, minced (you could use the rest of the bulb too and roast with the squash) 

55g St Agur blue cheese (9SP) crumbled

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 180˚C / gas mark 4. Spread chopped squash onto  a baking tray (I used a liner to save sticking) I also put some unpeeled garlic cloves on there too - I like garlic!  Bake until cooked about 30-40 minutes. (Apparently squash can be roasted up to 5 days ahead and kept refrigerated. Rewarm before serving. I've never tried this myself)

Spray light a frying pan and quickly fry garlic then remove from heat, put together with spinach in a large bowl. 

Cook the orzo according to packet instructions, test it a minute or so before they say, you don't want it soft. Put in colander, pour over half kettle of boiling water and drain well, then add hot orzo onto the spinach and stir in to wilt spinach.

Add butternut squash to the pasta, along with the cheese.  

Toss until well-combined and serve warm. It doesn't taste bad cold either to be honest. 

RECIPE NOTES

Make-ahead: Roast the squash whenever you have a spare moment and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm it in the microwave, a low oven, or in the skillet with the garlic before tossing with the pasta. Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

There you go, a couple of meal ideas for you to try.

The rest of my day was equally as busy, Alfie was much better, I took him a good long walk and think I finally tired the little devil out.  Crazy busy night at workshops, then when I got home mom was lovely, I didn't want to go to bed because she was really lucid and we were having a laugh and a lovely night, I caved at 10ish and slept well until Alfie decided we should all wake up at half four, so today will include coffee for sure. 

I've just ate a huge bowl of watermelon, it's kept a good few days in the fridge, and I've had it since last Thursday when I bought it cheap, I'll buy again for sure especially now I've been advised to cut it up before I eat it so that I don't have to shower and redress afterwards, I know I'm like a toddler learning to live, what can I say - you should be inside my head, you've only got to watch that cooking demo video to get an idea of the speed of my thoughts by the speed of my mouth, as my bestie says, I have too many tabs open!

I did wake up this morning, go down stairs turn the radio on and start dancing though, so I think that says I'm in a good mood which is always a bonus.  Another bonus was my tracker yesterday, I ended on 27SP (check me out!) and I earned 13 FitPoints oh yeah I did, check my bad self!  My weeklies are a distant memory but I do have 22FitPoints remaining to help me make it through the weekend.  It's all about zero heroes today, got those kale and egg muffins for my breakfast, I'm going to have the Orzo for dinner, might take a piece of salmon out to have with it, then I have a some chicken breast left to fill me up at lunch time.  Yeah I got this, I'm full to the brim on watermelon right now, I can't even drink my cup of tea. 

Another crazy day ahead of me, the bloody car better start, I never told ya did I - there's nothing wrong with my car, so it has to be the battery and as I've only had it 50 weeks (yay to under the year), he's getting me a new one on Friday for free - whoop whoop. 

This is where I shall be for most of the day, thanks to my incredible sister I'm still able to work, if she didn't sit with mom it just wouldn't be possible when I got back from garage yesterday, all the doors were unlocked, the back door was actually open with the back gate unlocked, the front door was only pulled too - anyone could've come in and had a field day!  She can't be left anymore, it's heartbreaking to see this strong women be destroyed by this disease.  Moving on to happy again, looking forward to seeing my Bloxwich birds and boys, hoping for lots of new members like I've had in all the other workshops this week, MyWW is great!  There's a great sign up offer too, free goodie box, free month go check it out https://www.weightwatchers.com/uk/

I survived another day and I sure as hell plan to survive this one because it's seriously better than the alternative!

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

It's all about surviving!

Wednesday 8th January 2020
At midnight, even bad days come to an end. 

Well I've just eaten my watermelon so now I need a shower and a change of clothing, seriously how messy is fruit!  It's filling as well though and I'm getting used to eating it, turning it into a habit.

This week isn't going quite as easily or as well as last week but if I'm honest I didn't expect it too, if it was easy I wouldn't have a weight problem.  Anyway, my day started calm, mom didn't wake up until I was just about to leave to go to work, I was even running early, so I chatted to my sis for 10 minutes, we rarely get to do that, usually we tag each other at the door.  Then I got in the car and it wouldn't start - arrrggghhh!  Mine is not the kind of job you can just call a taxi to get there, not with all the stock I take with me, thankfully once again Bonnie's hubby came to the rescue and I got there, still early for what is a 8.30 start but I'm usually there well early as I like to take my time and a few of my members like to nip in on their way to work.  The usual stuff happened when you're in a rush, things got dropped, stuff went wrong, you know how it is, thankfully it ws too early in the morning for wine (my go to stress reliever) and there was nothing in grabbing distance to eat and do damage, plus I was actually too busy to think about doing the old comfort eating thing, unfortunately there would be plenty of time later for THINKING about food! 

I get home and Alfie wants walking even though it's raining, we go out for about 40 minutes, then I start doing my paperwork (well computer work really isn't it but that doesn't sound right) and he's driving me insane, pacing up and down, panting, jumping up me (all signs of dog stress & anxiety - I've made a vet appt), this is then affecting mom so I put my shoes on and take him out again, the panting stops the minute he's outside, but then he just stands and stares around, drinks out of a puddle (what's that all about, there's water bowls all over the house!) eventually he walks and we're out another hour and he really doesn't want to go home, but I've got to, I have stuff to do.  I called my sis whilst walking and she said the same, mom had been a diamond today it was Alfie being a nightmare.  By now I'm wound like a coil, so I go hide in the kitchen and make a cheese and potato pie with onion and mustard in whilst having me a cry because there are no calories in tears and that did me more good than opening the cupboards and eating some crap.  

I get to go back for a rest at half four and we have a busy night, which is buzzing as was the morning one, love a busy workshop, great to see so many coming to give one of the 3 plans a go, something for everyone in MyWW.  One of my members bought a couple of gadgets to check my car - see WW is more than weight loss, it's friendship and community, I know the best people thanks to WW.  My battery ain't charging enough, so it's either that or the alternator, so a visit to the mechanic for me this morning, I now understand a bit about cars - knowledge is power and all that, I do love a gadget!  I'm even considering buying my own jump leads, I'd still need another car obviously to do that but at least I wouldn't have to keep getting Bonnie's hubby out of bed. 

Thankfully when I got back I had this beauty made ready to eat with some homemade baked beans courtesy of Angie,  

I fried some onion in a bit of oil and stirred into the mash with a tablespoon of dijon mustard, then added a grated block of this Arla cheese.  Delicious, once topped with a bit more cheese and grilled.  Served 4 at 8SP each portion on blue. 

If you've never made the baked beans, give it a go, 

WW Baked Beans  💚 6SP 💙 0SP 💜 0SP

1 can haricot beans (including the juice in the can)
Passata to cover beans
1 sachet of WW BBQ sauce
Add salt and pepper to taste, if you like your beans a bit sweet, feel free to add a little sweetener.

Put it all in a saucepan, bring to the boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes until thickened and the beans have softened.  Make sure you taste it as you want those beans to be soft like the canned varieties. 

This is the BBQ sauce available in your Workshops 

My evening was tough, Alfie took a while to settle, mom at one point asked if she'd given birth to him, obviously thinking he was a baby not a dog, I'm thinking food would help this situation, or at least make me feel better, but instead of going to find something to eat, I posted in my Facebook group to help remind myself and my members, the answer to a tough day isn't in the cupboard and I'm happy to say ended my day on 38SP which I know is well over budget but it was controlled and I did earn 12FP thanks to all that walking and work.   I SURVIVED!

On days where it all feels hard for you, remember to check in with yourself.  Did you:

• Ate some healthy food
• Drank some water
• Got some sleep 
• Went outside for a bit of fresh air
• Cleaned your teeth 
• Interacted with some people 

If you can tick those things off, you survived and remember, you've survived every bad day you've had up to now and we'll continue to do so won't we because we have each other, our WW community rocks!

Bless mom, she's aware this morning, she woke me before 5 and I lay there smiling thinking on days I don't have to get up, she wakes early, but when I got out of bed and she said, 'Did I wake you up, I tried to be quiet but my door squeaks', this made my morning because it means today she's aware, it also reminded me that I had meant to find some WD40 to sort her door out and had forgotten, I've done it now, it no longer squeaks and mom thinks I'm a mechanical genius. Oh and Alfie is asleep on the chair in my office so he's calm at the minute too - yay!  

Now to get my car sorted so I don't have the same problem as I had yesterday, my car not starting makes me turn into a major league drama queen I won't lie.

Here's to surviving another day and trying to pull back a few points and earn a few more.  

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Juicy January!

Tuesday 7th January 2020
Life always offers you a second chance, it's called tomorrow.

Well I'm getting used to eating fruit, but boy does it take some time to eat!

That was delicious, I'm not going to lie, but it took a good 15 minutes to eat, now that's a good thing for my belly and brain because it's telling them they're getting full and enjoying it but time wise in a morning, 15 minutes is precious then you've got to go wash your hands and face - well I did anyways.   Don't worry I'm not going to use that time as an excuse to not continue, I was just aware of the fact I've started my blog later than usual, but it's worth it.  I've even got mom eating some, I've removed all her biscuits from by the side of her and she's being much better, having one or two with a cuppa instead of eating from the tin continually!  Yesterday she ate 2 pears and a big slice of melon, yeah we're making it Juicy January!

As you can see I'm still on track, I did use a lot of points yesterday thought, 43 to be precise but I'm going for progress and not perfection.  I did earn 10 FitPoints thanks to Alfie wanting to walk and walk, we were out 2.5 hours in total yesterday!

One change at a time, at the moment that's fruit, I've already got the water nailed, I have a tumbler in my bedroom, one in my office and one in the kitchen for taking to work and having in the living room.  In other words there's water everywhere I'm likely to be.  Now if I could get that to be my go to in the evening instead of red wine, that would be a massive step, mmm maybe I'll work at that next, not completely replace it but have it there as an option.

Looking forward to the working week that starts today,  especially as I've had a good nights sleep on my new mattress, we went up early again too which was a bonus.  Mom had been brilliant till about an hour before we went up.  We'd had a lovely day, she talked to me in her room on the morning, telling me a tale of her childhood, then I went away and come back and she realised I was me, said I've just told you a story ain't I, I thought you were the nurse at the home, we had a little giggle, she asked me if she was going mental and I explained she wasn't, we talked about Alzheimers being a disease and she was okay.

Oh my beef stew was immense yesterday, I'll have it again today, I might serve with with that Kale if it hasn't walked out the fridge yet.  Right I've not go much to say today so I'll get off, here's to all of us having a good day, we can do this.

Mwah, luv ya


Love me x

What you going to do today?

Monday 6th January 2020
What you do today will affect all your tomorrows. 

2lb off that's the first week in the bag, I ended on minus 15 weeklies which is more like minus 22 as I don't point my skimmed milk in my drinks, so if I used a pint over the week, that's 7SP.  I have cut down massively on tea and coffee though, at one time it would've been 1/2 pint a day minimum.  2lb off means I'm back in the 12's, now to get to 12st 6.5lb, that's my short term goal, well end of Feb I'm hoping, it'll take me 1/2lb lighter than I got to in 2019.  Half a stone, that's a pound a week but I need to remember it's my birthday this month so that might interfere, but not much to be honest as I won't be actually doing anything and it's on a Sunday so I already drink then anyways lol.

Well I didn't spend time in the kitchen yesterday morning as I said I was going to because when I'd finished my blog, mom was coming up the stairs and when I asked what she was doing, her reply, "I was coming to see if your dad was okay but the lights still off in his bedroom".  Dad died a very, very long time ago.  I decided it was more important to distract her, I suggested we go watch 'The Voice' and we spent a lovely few hours together, she was in a good mood, so I made the most of it, we watched 'The Greatest Dancer' next. In a nutshell my day was spent watching tele with mom and walking Alfie (over 2 hours he had split over 2 walks and he still wanted to keep going!) I'm ringing the vet today, I want him checked over, something's not right with him, I can just tell. 

A picture speaks a thousand words but hides so much at the same time ❤️

Before I walked him for the second time, I did manage to get a big pan of beef stew going, the beef was reduced in the Co-op when I went to get mom a paper, so I couldn't resist, the whole pan is 37SP but there's easily 6 bowls. 

2 packs 400g lean stew beef
800g cubed potatoes
5 carrots sliced
2 large onions sliced
8 oxo cubes crumbled in boiling water. (use oxo to your taste, I like a rich taste hence so many!)

put it all in a pan, make sure there's enough water to cover everything, bring to boil and simmer for hours and hours on a very low light. 

We ended up going to bed at 7pm, after being awake with mom since 2am, I was happy to go, bless her its 7am now and she's still asleep, so she was obviously exhausted.  Alfie had me up at midnight, he could hear the foxes, but thankfully he settled quickly and didn't wake mom. 

I will mostly be eating this all day today, whilst trying to resist bread and spread with it.  I've already had my fruit this morning, 2 satsumas, banana, apple, I need to get more, I'm almost out!  Check me out, I've got a bin full of peelings and cores on my desk!  Just placed an online order to come tomorrow afternoon, checked NO substitutions so they can't send me an elephant instead of a bunch of grapes!  I've only used them again because I had the coupons to use for the previous cock-up, next time I'm going to try somewhere else or as my sister offered nip out weeniest she's here.  

Anyway, it's Monday, however your weekend went, it's time to get back to it, if you're back at work today, which I know a lot are, it's time to get on it, kids are back to school, normality resumes.  I've got a busy morning planned, my mattress is being delivered, I've got to get to the chemist, hopefully the vets, sort my workshops for the week ahead, do some computer work, mmm yay for my day off lol.  Will spend a little time planning and thinking about meal ideas for the week ahead. 

Here's to a great day.  If you need to know where to find me this week, here are all the details for my workshops

Short Heath Methodist Church

Wesley Road, Short Heath,

WV12 5QT

Tuesday (8.30am weigh only) 9.30am & 5.30pm

St Albans Church Hall

Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park Estate, Wednesfield WV11 2LJ

Wednesday 5.30pm, 6.45pm.

St John's Methodist Church 

Victoria Avenue

Bloxwich 

WS3 3HS

Thursday (8.30am weigh only), 9.30am, 10.45am, 5pm & 6.15pm

United Reform Church

Old Fallings Lane, Wolverhampton

WV10 8BH

Saturday 9.00am

Search for Bev’s WW on Facebook, sign up online at www.ww.com/uk if you haven't already.

Mwah 

Luv ya, 

Love me  

You still thinking about it?

Sunday 5th January 2020
Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

If not now, then WHEN?

Christmas is over people, we're at the end of the first week of 2020, time to sort it out, the parties over!

I'm on the last day of my first week back on track, it's not been perfect, but I did pull back yesterday though thankfully, I ended on Zero Points left in any category, daily, weekly or FitPoints, they're all gone but I'm not in deficit and I only have to make it through today before it all resets tomorrow.   Thank the universe for FitPoints and a weirdo dog who didn't want to stop walking yesterday, overall we were out a couple of hours and I earned 12FP over the day.

Foodwise I enjoyed a chicken curry with chips, a tin of home pride curry sauce (12SP per can) always takes me back to my childhood, it was one of the meals mom would cook and because of that I love it.

Chicken in HomePride Curry Sauce & Co-op skinny fries 

💚 14SP 💙 12SP 💜 12SP
💙 #bluebird 

Did I mention I've been awake since 2am, that will make getting through today on track a challenge, thankfully we went to bed just after 8 I think, so I've had almost 6 hours sleep.  Mom woke me up asking me where I was and could she have a hot water bottle and a cup of tea.  I tried to go back to sleep but it wasn't happening then about 3am she starts singing which made me smile because it was nice to hear her singing but bittersweet because of the time.  Another half hour later and she's getting up to go downstairs, no concept of time at all bless her.

To help me make it through the day, I'm already drinking plenty water, I've had 2 satsumas, I'm on the banana now and then I have an apple, I'm getting used to eating this fruit, it's not making me smile yet but hey, you don't have to like everything you do, no one likes cleaning the toilet but it has to be done doesn't it.  I'm going to buy some tinned fruit I think as a back up, my pears have gone soft too quickly for my liking, I'll have to buy them in smaller quantities or try and encourage mom to eat them when they've ripened.  (this is an exciting blog isn't it lol, what can I say, I've no one to talk to here, moms now asleep and so is Alfie, plus they don't listen anyways).

What shall I eat today?  I've got a fridge full of veggies, I've also got a bag of potatoes, I'm thinking a dinner with gravy or a cheese and potato pie using the Arla protein cheese.  I could do both and keep one for tomorrow, cook today to keep me occupied.   Yeah I'll go have a play in the kitchen for a couple of hours I think, it's only 5.30am now and I feel like I've been up all day.

Yesterday's workshop was what it's all about, likeminded people in a room enjoying each others company, having a laugh and learning new tips and reminding each other of ways they've used previously for success.  I hope my members came away feeling as good as I did, like I could handle anything the day had to throw at me and stay on track and I did.

Right I'm off to peel some spuds because that's how I roll!  I have ideas going through my head that involve the Kale I was sent in my shopping instead of a cauliflower!  I hope your day is as exciting as the one I have planned lol.

Mwah, luv ya


Love me xx

71SP but I still have 1 FitPoint left!

Saturday 4th January 2020
A river cuts through a rock, not because of it's power but its persistence 

If it's not there you can't consume it! 

Unfortunately it was there and I did, so yesterday wasn't as successful as the four days prior, it's all good though, I tracked the lot (honestly which is a little painful when you see the numbers start to add up.  I ended the day having used 71SP which means I've used all my weeklies and I only have 1 Fit Points left, my points don't reset until Monday but this is real life.  I know it's highly unlikely that I'll come in on budget but is that a reason to stop trying - hell no, I will continue to do my best.  I'm not going to lie I enjoyed everything I had yesterday.  The last bit of Boursin on the last of the crackers and a bag of Walkers cheese and onion crisps mmm.  Then there was the bottle of sherry that ended up in my house - doh!  I can drink that stuff like wine, so as you can guess I had more than a schooner full, although that had been my intention, I even measure out 30ml - who was I trying to kid. 

Anyway on a positive I did some cooking, I made chargrilled vegetable and roasted garlic couscous, that will last a few days.  I also did honey and mustard chicken tonight and a chicken curry using a home pride curry sauce.  That means I have curry for today and a few dishes have gone into the freezer.  If the Tesco garage have a cauliflower today, I can have cauliflower rice with it, they didn't send one in my Sainsbury's delivery, they substituted it with Kale!  Can't make rice with that can I!

I'm still feeling good and positive, I didn't go into full on sod it mode yesterday, if I had, that number would've been a hell of a lot higher, I made choices, they may have been choices that will set back my weight loss success, but that's okay, yesterday they added to my satisfaction scale, my honesty has cost me 6SP since I starting blogging, as I've remembered stuff I had that I hadn't tracked, so that 71SP above was only (lol only) 65SP ten minutes ago, but then I remembered that couscous and realised I was lying to myself about how much Boursin I had, so I amended it. 

Persistance, that's what it's all about, I hear a lot of members say, "I don't want to be fat and 50 (or 40 or whatever age those significant ones are for that individual)". Turns out it's too late for me not to be fat and 50 as I only have 15 days to lose 3 stone to get to a 'healthy bmi', thankfully I have no desire to get that much weight off so I'll aim for getting healthier in my fifties.  Why?  Because not being isn't much fun.  In the front of every members 'My Success Planner', is a place to write 'My Why', as it states, we talk a lot about the importance of finding your why, how it's different from your goals, and how to use it to fuel your journey.  Writing down your why can make it even more powerful.  If it changes over time, just update it.  When you need a boost of inspiration, remind yourself of your why.  

One of my why's as yak as it may sound is to be able to easily get Alfie's poo up when we're out walking, I noticed over Christmas when we were out one morning, I had to think about navigating that manoeuvre, I was shocked.  I've always been so supple in the past and here I was struggling to bend down!  Yep those WHY's don't have to all be, you know the ones, 'So I'm round for my children', they can be like mine, you can have lots of why's just keep listing them down.  I suppose mine could really help me if everytime I go to overindulge I think 'dog poo', you never know it could work lol.

Here's to hiding the sherry today, actually no I should really get my sister to remove the sherry from my house, I should've done that when it arrived really, I knew it wasn't safe on the side.  Anne if you're reading this, take it with you, it's in the wine rack in the kitchen (I hid it so you wouldn't see how much I'd necked!.

At least I've started today off well, already had 3 pieces of fruit (apple, pear, banana), I've got my water in front of me, already drunk a full tumbler through the night, when mom wakes me I have a bit.

Let's all survive the weekend as best as we can, let's be honest with each other, I loved seeing my members being open and sharing in our Facebook group yesterday, sharing experiences is so much better than hiding away.  

I'm off to get ready for this mornings workshop, looking forward to it as I always do.  

Have a good one, mwah, luv ya 


Love me x 

It'll get easier...

Friday 3rd January 2020
Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help and brave enough to ask for it.

I made it through day 4, I always find it difficult around day 4 and the fact it was on a Thursday made it even more of a challenge!  You know what helped?  Knowing others were struggling and feeling the same way too, knowing you're not alone makes a huge difference.  I thoroughly enjoyed my workshops because listening to others and just seeing the looks on their face showed me they were having the same thoughts and doubts as myself.  But all those self doubters out there - WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!  No it won't be easy, no there aren't any magic formulas but one meal at a time, one tiny change at a time will help get us where we want to be.

One meal at a time is so important too, because if one meal isn't the best, you can just start afresh the next.  Being honest about who you are, how you're feeling and the habits you have that aren't helping will all give you the opportunity to make those tiny changes.

TALK to anyone who will listen, do it by messenger if it's easier. I've helped many a member through written communication because it's easier for them that way.   I actually find writing to myself helps, it gets my thoughts from my head onto paper, helps me to process things.

Sometimes we don't want to admit we're struggling or we need help, that's when we really need to do it.  I've got much better at this over the last year or so.  But you know what's easier than asking for help - offering it!  Yeah it's not always easy to notice someones struggling but if you have an inkling, offer your help, start a conversation in your workshop with others, as you talk, they may open up.  We can all gain from talking to each other, sharing experiences, ideas, motivating each other, giving each other a shoulder to cry on.   Let's be more open and honest with each other.

I've always been very much an "I'm okay thanks" kind of person, I can manage on my own thank you very much but you know what, I can't and if it hadn't been for my sister this last year I don't know where I'd be.  She didn't wait for me to ask, she offered, even yesterday when Sainsbury's messed up my delivery, she said she'd talked to her husband and said that she was going to sit with mom so I can actually go to a shop to do my shopping.  It's so much easier than having to ask, which makes me personally feel sometimes like I'm asking too much, because she's already doing so much for me.  I can't be alone with that mindset, this is why people don't ask for help.  When I suggest members talk to me outside workshops, I have some say, 'You've got enough on your hands, I don't like to' but that's my job, I'm paid to support members, if support wasn't so important the WW app wouldn't have a 24/7 online coach facility which is there to be used.

Anyway moving on to the reality of staying on track, these little beauties helped me yesterday, I know chicken breast is zero on blue and purple but these are worth that extra point, you can have 2 for 1SP on all 3 plans and they're convenient and delicious.  They may not be cheap, a 5 pack will cost you £2.75 in Tesco, they're 35g portions, so that's £15.80 per kg where chicken breast is around the £6kg price but convenience counts for a lot

These are 3SP each (85g portion) and on offer for £1 in Tesco, but you've got to cook them first and I can have 6 of those above for the same Smart Points.

My day ended on 27SP and that included a couple of glasses of wine, I had my fruit, I've already had 2 pieces this morning too, I've got a huge watermelon that I got cheap which I'm going to chop up today and enjoy.

I had a lovely cheese crusty roll with salad for my lunch, definitely rate the Arla protein cheese, was good enough for me to have cold.  3SP for 100g.

The roll was a bit too hard though even for my crusty bread needs!  

Because I could feel myself wobbling later in the day I wanted something fast and something that felt a bit naughty so I stopped at the Co-op on my way home and bought some of those skinny fries again but I only cooked half the tray this time, the other half I can have today or tomorrow.  This was a bargain for 7SP, salmon and butternut squash crustless quiche leftovers (1SP for the cheese) and 6SP for the skinny fries.

Now to survive today!  I can do this, we can do this, it does get easier the longer you do it, you get into routines, you make those tiny habit changes, you find foods that are good to eat and low in points.  You start to remember how good healthy feels and tastes! 

Here's to making it through, I have 23 weekly Smart Points remaining and 17 FitPoints earned should I need them (hell yeah I'll need them over the weekend!) 

Going to sort my fridge out now and decide what to have to eat today.  Have a good one, mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Getting my mojo back one day at a time

Thursday 2nd January 2019
Keep taking time for you until you're you again

Another day done, I ended on 27SP and earned 11 Fit Points thanks to two long dog walks and being back at work.

I spent a few hours messing about in the kitchen, I cooked a crustless quiche and it was delicious, 

I roasted the butternut squash first and fried the onions in spray light.  Use a silicon baking dish or I use a baking sheet to stop it sticking.  The beauty of this is you can use any veggies in it you fancy.  I'd probably add more protein cheese if I did it again, this Arla protein cheese is much better than any I've tried before. 

Crustless Quiche - total 3SP on blue or purple (32SP on green)

100g low fat quark
100g Arla protein cheese grated 3SP
6 eggs
Butternut squash cubes (roasted for about 20 mins) sorry I didn't weigh it.
1 sliced large onion fried in spray light

Approx 450g salmon fillet cut into cubes

Whisk together eggs and quark then stir in other ingredients and cook on fan oven 180 (gas mark 4) for approx 30 mins.

You could grate another 100g of protein cheese on top for an extra 3SP. It's huge so you can spare the points!

I also made some soup to use up my parsnips.  

Curried Parsnip Soup  

2 teaspoon curry powder

1 large onion

250 g chopped small parsnips (6sp or zero on blue/purple)

25g rice (2sp)

1 pinch salt

1 litre vegetable stock (use oxo cubes) 

  

Chop & put the onion in a pan, with 3 tablespoons of twater and the curry powder. 

Cover and simmer for 3 or 4 minutes.

Add the remaining stock, the parsnips and the rice. 

Bring to the boil and then simmer for 15 minutes, or until the parsnips and rice are tender.

Pop in food processor and blend to make a smooth soup.

Then I made a lentil bake but it was missing something, https://bakingqueen74.co.uk/courgette-butternut-squash-lentil-bake/ there wasn't enough flavour in it for me, I think if I bothered to do it again I'd roast some cloves of garlic first and dice them up in it maybe.  I prefer the curry lentil bake I've done in the past. 

Zero Curried Lentil Bake –  YES 0SP on Blue or Purple! 21SP on green (it is a large tray of food though)

Spray light

1 large onion (finely chopped)

1 tsp finely chopped garlic

1 celery stalk (finely chopped)

 2 medium carrots (finely chopped)

1 tbsp curry powder

175g red split lentils

 580ml vegetable stock (I used 2 cubes

240g butternut squash (cut into approx. 1 cm cubes)  

100g frozen peas

3 eggs (lightly beaten)

1. Pre heat oven to 180C/350F/Gas4
2. Spray light a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery and carrots then reduce the heat to low and cook for approx. 10 mins (until softened) add a splash of water if needed to stop it sticking and don't be afraid to add a few more sprays of spray light. 
3. Meanwhile, put the butternut squash cubes on a baking tray and spray light them, then pop in oven for about 15 minutes, keep your eye on them, you want them cooked but firm. 
4. Add the curry powder to the frying pan and cook for a further minute
5. Add the lentils & stock, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer until cooked, soft and stock absorbed (approx. 20 mins)
6. Once lentils are cooked, allow to cool slightly and then add the butternut squash, egg and peas. Stir until combined.
7. Place the mixture in a greased, ovenproof dish (roughly 10" x 7.5")
8. Bake in the oven for 30-40 mins or until set and golden, timings will vary with ovens.
9. Slice and serve.

It's delicious warm or cold, great to take in your sandwich box for work, a filling, healthy meal for lunch, dinner or breakfast if you're a bit weird like me.

Now I need to work on eating for two!  I bought fries from Co-op reduced on the morning because they were use by that day. 

They are delicious, only 6SP for half the packet or 13SP for the whole tray, they fill a baking tray as you can see. Half a pack really is plenty, well it would've been for me yesterday with everything else I'd eaten but I was greedy and ate the lot, thankfully it didn't take me crazily over my allowance, but if I hadn't had them all, I'd have rolled over a couple of points for the weekend.   

6SP on the left, 13SP on the right on Blue or Purple, (9SP or 16SP on Green)

Going forward when I buy stuff fresh that can be frozen and won't keep, I'll split the pack and freeze the rest, I did that yesterday with pork chops, they were reduced too so I split the pack, froze two and Alfie got the other two as his New Years day dinner, they were as cheap as dog food! 

Today's my busy, busy day, not planned meals which isn't good, but I have some leftover quiche in the fridge I could have for breakfast or lunch.  I've already eaten a pear and an apple, this is going to be my new ritual, eat some fruit with my water in the morning whilst writing my blog.  Actually, I might have a fruit bowl on my desk - perfect!  All about those tiny tweaks, they will all add up and make a big difference.

Remember amazing things happen when you try!

Mwah, luv ya 


Love me 

Let's do this

Wednesday 1st January 2020
2019: thank you for the lessons 2020: Let's do this

Happy New Year, here's hoping we survive it!  I was going to get all into what the decade that's just gone has taught me and what I hope for the next one but the truth is, I don't live my life like that, as I was reading peoples Facebook feeds, I realised this, I live day to day, sometimes hour by hour, even more so with moms disease, she can change in a heartbeat as she did yesterday so I'll continue to not overthink stuff, I'm leaving 2019 exactly where it should be IN THE PAST, the only bits I'll remember about it are the positives, the good stuff, I choose to forget the negatives as I don't want to relive that crap. 

I did end the year 'diet wise' exactly how I hope to live this year, on track, accountable and in control.  

Now this weeks workshops are about reflecting and hitting refresh.  Looking at what's worked over the last year for us and what challenges we've faced.  I've actually found this to be very useful for me.   My challenges are different now to what they were when I first joined WW or the last time I joined.   As difficult as I find it to admit or write Mom is now my challenge.  Her moods, behaviours and illnesses cause me to emotionally eat and drink as an escape, I need to address this and replace it with other behaviours.  Crochet has helped but obviously not enough as I'm still overweight!  

I had an email yesterday from Amazon to say the book I'd ordered was on its way!  I thought to myself, I haven't ordered a book, but when I went to look, I'd ordered the book back in September to be sent when it was published, it's called 'Tiny Habits' by B J Fogg and I'm looking forward to reading it and using it to help me and others.  I've always talked about the power of making one tweak a week, I think this is along the same lines.  I've only flicked through the pages so far and I like what I see, just in the introduction some of the highlight bits say; 

Tiny is mighty

Tiny is fast

Tiny can start now

Tiny is safe

Tiny can grow big 

and the one that really caught my eye was 

TINY DOESN'T RELY ON MOTIVATION OR WILLPOWER 

This is so important to me right now because I know when mom isn't good and I get tired both my motivation and willpower go out of the window. 

This is the reason I'm going to start reading this book as soon as possible, maybe as soon as I finish this blog. 

I've already started on my tiny habit changes this week, fruit, I'm going to make it a habit if it kills me (which we know it won't as fruit is good for you).  I've sat here eating 3 satsumas this morning, yesterday I cleaned my teeth first so then couldn't eat them because they taste vile afterwards.  I did eat an apple yesterday morning though.  If I can do 2 pieces of fruit a day, that's big for me, I had an orange around 11 and I actually had a banana too later one so that was 3 portions - whoop whoop, go me, go me.  Yeah that's something I'm going to start doing too, bigging myself up for the small victories,  acknowledging those tiny tweaks because if this weight loss lark was easy - we'd all be thin!

Yes I am ready - are you?  I'm going to proudly be that person this year who makes resolutions, who decides a New Year, a New Decade is an opportunity to make changes and start over.  My resolution is I'm going to take care of myself better.  That covers a magnitude of things then doesn't it!  I'd like to say I resolve to keep my house clean and tidy, to cook healthy meals every day, but I know I won't do either other those things daily, so I know I can work at taking care of myself better.  This will include doing those other two things often but it will also include giving myself a break when I don't have the emotional or physical energy to do either.  I'm hoping by taking better care of myself, I'll be emotionally stronger and have more energy to do those things.

Yesterday as I pulled off my drive to go back to work, mom had been a nightmare all afternoon, I could her face thinking and saying horrible things and I honestly had a thought go through my head, "I'm not gonna come back!", then reality kicked back in and I realised yeah I would, I couldn't leave my sister to handle that on her own.  I did manage to make it through the day without letting her behaviour drive me to food or drink for comfort though, that's what I need to continue to work on.  Maybe that's another resolution for me, "I will not let the behaviour of others affect how I eat and drink'.  That's a tough call ain't it!  Instead I'll resolve to work on my emotional eating habits.

I could replace overeating and drinking with making myself a nice cuppa, it'll give me a couple of minutes to breathe whilst I'm waiting for the kettle to boil.

I'll start reminding myself and finding meals to eat that I enjoy and are healthy for me, I need to get used to cooking for one, I can't make mom eat properly but I don't have to eat the food I would've used on a meal for her!  I really enjoyed a simple salmon and cucumber sandwich last night, I used tinned salmon and added some vinegar like we did when we were kids and it was delicious.  Angie offered to get me a bit of shopping as she was going anyway and I said yes, I'm going to say yes more often when people offer to help me. Thanks to her I have a few things in my kitchen now to help me have a healthy week, then over the rest of the week I can work on my online shop to keep me going on my healthy streak.  This was one of the things I asked her to get me as I knew it was on offer in Sainsbury's for £2, I've cut a little off to taste and it's got more flavour in it than other protein cheese I've tried.  3SP for 100g, I could live with that. Especially as you only get 29g of Cathedral City Lighter for the same points!

I haven't planned any meals today yet, although I did take some salmon out the freezer yesterday, I'll be making something with that.  I've now got some veggies, courgettes, squash.  Maybe I'll make a frittata, they're really filling and good hot or cold so could have some for breakfast and the rest for my tea.  Maybe I'll have a go at making some soup.  Lots of Maybe's there, see I need to go right back to basics and focus on the tiny habits as we don't want to start big and fizzle out, I want to keep this up.

I decided when talking to my members yesterday morning that I want to lose 9lb by the end of February, this takes into account my 50th this month and the fact that January/February is a crazy busy month for a WW coach.  It's also admitting mom does affect me and I'm not going to overcome that issue immediately.  9lb will take me lower than I got last year by1/2lb, that would be a massive boost for me and keep me going.  I'm also going to ask my coach to remind me of this goal if she notices me slipping.

Well my water glass is empty, so time for a refill.  I'm ready for another decade, are you?

Mwah, luv ya, let's do this...


Love me