A walk, a takeaway & a whole lot of fuel!

Tuesday 26th April 2022

Believe in yourself, you got this. 

If walking up a big hill makes you want one thing - it's a drink of water!  Me and the lad went for a walk again yesterday afternoon, back to the Wrekin but this time we walked further round the side before choosing a steep path I thought was bringing us up the back way but we hadn't gone that far round, we were walking up the side and came out short of the top so still had to walk a bit further.  

The bluebells in the woods below were glorious and when he spotted a deer on the way down, well that just made my day, I then spotted two more, so they were a family by the looks of it, so lovely. 

Just a glorious sight. 

Now I'd had quite the morning, done all my jobs, been back to Ikea and Dunelm for the stuff to make another headboard for the van, had a healthy brunch of scrambled eggs on toast with stir fried mushrooms, peppers, spinach, chorizo, then I threw in the last bit of salad I'd chopped in a tub and it was delicious for 387 calories. 

Then we decided to go for a walk and I went to fill up with fuel but because I was distracted, it was so busy so I parked the other side to where I usually would and was more concerned about whether the hose would stretch, next I realised it was pay at pump only which threw me again because it doesn't take my cashback card so I had to use my credit card, once I'd filled it with £80 - yep crazy prizes, we were stuck behind a car who was doing her weekly shop I think, I'd pulled forward so the chap behind me could fill his car up and we're sitting patiently when I hear a thump.  Then a few more and I say, 'is that the car making that noise', so I turn the volume down and yeah its the car and I just know immediately what I've done, I've put petrol in a diesel car!  Deep sigh!

I move the car to a space on the car park and ring himself expecting him to shout, he didn't he laughed saying 'you'll only do it once', he then correctly guessed my Greenflag wouldn't cover it so I ended up with Fuel Fixer coming out and it was a very expensive mistake, the cars driving, well it was yesterday, we got to the Wrekin and back okay, I'm just hoping it starts again this morning. 

It didn't ruin our day though, I was just pleased he wanted to go for another walk because I really want him to want to walk with his dad and myself regularly as it's what we enjoy doing. 

The conversation on the way down was what he could have for his tea, he was staving!   I agreed he could have takeaway pizza, but we ended up stopping at a garage for a meal deal as soon as we passed one because he was 'starving', seriously, I've not seen him eat that fast since he first came to stay with us lol.  

I am obviously being 'good', trying to lose some weight but because it's been recommended so often I decided to have some chicken wings (I love a wing) Manos grill & Pizza (Wolverhampton) - Pizza, Grill in Wolverhampton (manosgrillpizza.com) 

I tracked it all, weighed the fries and this plate, there's 5 wings on the plate and it worked out at  1223 calories!

 Thankfully, I only ate 3 of them, I'd asked for lemon and herb chicken which I always thought was a very mild chicken flavouring but these were stinging my lips!  Don't get me wrong I enjoy a curry as much as the next person but I didn't want stinging lips, I wanted lemon chicken. so I saved some calories, my meal cost me 963 calories because I've just remembered I had a McDonalds sweet and sour dip with the chips.  

See I did leave them lol; 

My day ended on 1739 calories, just 51 shy of my daily allowance, but walking earned me 741 calories which will hopefully help the weight loss.  I think my app is set for me to lose 1lb a week, I like my food too much to aim for 2lb a week! 

Back to work today, looking forward to seeing everyone, at least I can walk down the hill to Stubby Lane if the car won't start!  But first to dry my hair and get dressed (I have a dressing gown on, don't worry I'm not tying naked!) just finishing my coffee which is my second cuppa of the morning, breakfast has become a mug of tea followed by a mug of coffee and I'm not hungry till lunchtime.  I'm not saying that's the 'right' way to eat but as we say in our huddles YOU ARE THE EXPERT and you choose the way you lose your weight and what your version of healthy is.

Okay let's get this day started, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

A weekend on track!

Monday 25th April 2022
But first coffee...

What a difference a week makes, this time last week I knew I was getting back on track and I expected it to be really difficult because I've not found it easy for a very long time, even when I've managed to lose weight, it's been a challenge.  I finally feel like I've got it under control and I want to lose weight - for the right reasons too.

I made it through another day, ended on 1643 calories, not bad to say I ate out too, the seabass I opted for was absolutely delicious, I was really pleased there were calories on the menu, it did help me make my decision, this was 637 calories and worth every one of them!

I'd put a gammon joint in the slow cooker and so we had some for tea with the veggies I'd planned on cooking, we weren't eating out originally , this cost me 326 calories, I never put butter or milk in my mash, they were good creamy spuds anyway.

My next step on my journey is to cut down my alcohol intake, I've naturally cut it anyway because to stick to my calories, I'd have to.  It's just become a habit, don't get me wrong I love my red wine but I also love t-bone steaks and don't feel the need for it every day!  

I've not been wearing a fitbit for a while but my phone tells me I did over 13k steps yesterday which is a great improvement.  After walking up the Wrekin and having lunch out, we went to Ikea and Dunelm to get the stuff we needed to make a head and foot board for the bed in the motorhome, I have to say he did a good job of it too, looks like it was meant to be there.  He wanted it to stop him damaging the net and curtains when he's tossing and turning!  

There's already a piece down the side and I think he's matched it up really well, he can still open the windows if he needs too, clever man ay, not just a pretty face!  Now I've got to go get the stuff to make one for the front bed apparently, so much for my day off, but as he had to get up for work at 4, I can't complain.  That's me and the lad left to our own devices for the week whilst he's working away, I can stay on track easier when I'm only feeding me too.

I fancy scrambled eggs on toast today, I'll have the mushrooms in the fridge too if they're still okay, plenty of stuff in the freezer to work my way through as well, maybe go and do a little meal planning make life easier.

On that note, I'm gonna go get our meetings planned for the week ahead, I was contemplating going back to bed but I'll have an early night later instead.

Have a marvelous Monday, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Check me out - on it ain't I!

Sunday 24th April 2022

Be kind to your mind. 

Well GO ME!  I weighed yesterday morning and I'd lost 3lb since Tuesday, it was just the motivation I needed to keep me on track this weekend and that's exactly what I'm doing.  

We went over the pub yesterday afternoon and I had a bottle of prosecco but when I got back my tea was a tuna salad - yeah you read that right and no more alcohol either. 

This morning we've got up and gone and walked up the Wrekin (5.5km because we had to park a bit away from the start), it didn't kill me as much as I thought it would thankfully because I know I'm unfit and overweight so expected to be dying.  My face was proper red when we got to the top though ;) 

Driving back we made a last minute decision to go for lunch at The Crown on the Wergs road.  They had a trio of roasts which was 2,136 calories, I opted for and truly enjoyed PAN-FRIED SEABASS FILLETS & CHORIZO, roasted red pepper & onion confit, lentils & grains, baby potatoes, pea purée 637kcal. 

 

I won't lie I was tempted with the roast but having seen the calories and I had a roast dinner last weekend, plus I cook a damn good one myself so I'd rather pick something I'm unlikely to cook at home.  The lad couldn't eat all his so I ate the skin off his chicken and his carrots and yes I've tracked that too - I'm really in the zone but finally I've stopped finding it difficult, I'm enjoying good, healthy food again.  

Now to make it through the rest of the day, I had put a gammon joint in the slow cooker this morning so if they get hungry later they could have cobs or sandwiches maybe, we shall see.  The suns shining and I'd like to spend the afternoon in the garden but I think we have to go to the shops first - boo.

Here's to a great rest of the day.  We got this xx

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx
 

Survived eating out!

Saturday 23rd April 2022

Do it for you!

Yeah I am, I'm doing this for me.  Don't get me wrong there are lots of other reasons I could do it for, so my members see me practising what I preach, so my other half gets to see a smaller body (he doesn't and hasn't ever passed comment about my weight and we've had the 'I love you for you' conversation, so that's not my reason).  What triggered me to sort my act out was my health and the fact whilst we were away over Easter I kept pulling my tshirt away from my belly because it was snuggling round it and making me self conscious, not something that usually happens because I don't wear 'tight' clothes.  As regards my health, I've been going 'giddy' for a couple of weeks and I was chatting to Elle and she suggested I might have low blood pressure so I went and used my sisters to test it and it was sky high according the the NHS website I needed to see a gp within the next few days, so I went over my docs and they booked me into see the nurse that afternoon.  Well I came home whilst waiting thinking, 'no wonder your blood pressures high, you're overweight, you drink too much, you're not walking anymore, basically you're living the high life and not thinking about the effects it's having on your body.  Turned out my blood pressure was okay, a little high but since it's tested fine, I'm due to go back next Friday for another check and also an overdue NHS health check, I've also got a mammogram booked up too, so I'll get a good all over health check but I know I can help myself by losing some weight.

Yesterday I finished on 1344 calories and that was with eating out last night!  We went to the New Pheasant Pub for tea, I drove so diet coke there, I ordered Himali lamb with pilau rice, 2 poppadoms and I pinched a chicken wing of his mixed meat platter which looked epic.  We had 3 meals for under £45, the meat platter was £17 but it was huge, there was enough food on there for 2 people easily! 

When it came out I thought it didn't look that big in those pretty bowls.

but then I started to put it on the plate and realised it was quite large, so I ended up leaving this...

which filled a small takeaway plastic tub to come home with us, 

he can eat it for his lunch - I'm on a diet!

I'm being weighed today, changing my weigh day as I mentioned in yesterdays blog, I'm hoping I've lost a little since Tuesday but whatever it shows, I'm gonna continue getting my healthy back because I want to lose some more weight, at least 21lb more, it goes on easier than it comes off doesn't it.  

Oh and now hearing him say 'I'm losing weight' and showing me his belt holes is motivation too, I'm not having him doing better than me, he was even offering to come and do a talk last night cos he's losing weight and I've been gaining it - proper wind up merchant he was being!

I'm looking forward to the meeting this morning because we've been talking about takeaways /  fakeaways and I proved last night you can do it, the pub does deliver through Ubereats and Just Eat, I'm never going to be the person who stops living to lose weight, I've spent too many years putting my life on hold looking after mom, it's not happening now I have my new life.

Right let's get ready for work, I'm weighing him today, I wanna see if he's really lost weight, he even said this morning he'd eaten and drunk loads last night so he has a good starting weight and he'll lose well next week - erm he's a pro at this weight loss business obviously!  

Have a superb Saturday, 

mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Day 3 started to feel like day 33!

Friday 22nd April 2022
Invest in yourself, it pays the best interest.

Having chatted with Elle yesterday, we agreed that I should change my weigh day to Saturday, that way, it might stop me starting my 'weekend' Thursday night once the meetings are done, keep me a little more on track Friday and make me mindful over the weekend, so that's what I'm going to do, I shall weigh tomorrow and hope I've lost a little since I jumped on and weighed Tuesday morning. 

Day 1 back on track all I thought about was carbs, day 2 I indulged in the unplanned packet of crisp, day 3 I didn't even think about food or eat until I got back from the huddles at 1ish, I was beginning to think it felt more like I was starting day 33 when I got out of bed on the morning but thankfully day 3 was much easier than day 1 or 2 and I know as soon as I see a few pounds lost, it'll motivate me to carry on tracking.

I ended my day on 1304 calories which was a huge improvement on the day before and I wasn't at all hungry all day, I skipped breakfast because I wasn't hungry and didn't even think about eating on the day I leave the house the earliest.  Got back at one and wanted salad, so decided to have half the packet of ribs that I'd defrosted for the man child to put in his noodles, they cost me 253 calories, I had the smaller half. 

Then for tea I had honey and mustard chicken (cooked in slow cooker) with potatoes (microwaved) and broccoli, this was delicious and only took 10 minutes to get on the plate when I got back at 7ish. 

I enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine and I went to bed at 10 after being on the phone for 1 hour and 22 mins, it's the only communication we get in the week because he works away.  What can I say we both have s a lot to talk about!

Got a busy day ahead of me, eye test this morning, lots of housework, need to change the bedding (boringhell) then me and man child are having a cooking session, he wants to make his own pasta salad and Yorkshire puddings, so I thought we'd do that and make a toad in the hole for tea maybe.

Right I'm off for a cuppa coffee cos my tea didn't taste good, have a brilliant day.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

That lovely dress will fit me!

Thursday 21st April 2022

The struggle is part of the journey

Day 2 tracked, I had an unplanned packet of crisps and an extra glass of wine, but hey I was sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine, these were the meals I opted for yesterday; 

 

proving I'm not an ark, everything doesn't have to go in 2 by 2!

 
I added pineapple to the Sainsbury's pizza so it was 500 calories total

The man child cooked my tea, it was off the scale delicious, noodles, steak strips, asparagus, cavola nero, spinach and a delicious broth  

I've found my motivation, I bought a dress last October time which I needed to lose a few more pounds to get in, I fell in love with it when it arrived in the post, red with pretty flowers, now I've got to lose those few pounds plus the pounds I've gained since - doh!  I'm going to though because I want to be in that dress, I also want to be able to walk up a hill without dying. 

Our members give me inspiration too, yesterday Julie received her 3 stone having started in January and Amy received her 2 stone, we can all do it if we put our mind to it.

Anyways, I need to get a wriggle on, I have members to weigh this morning at Bloxwich Mem, hope you have a wonderful day xx

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Slim down for Summer!

Tuesday 20th April 2022
Self care is the best care.

Well I've just had the best Easter break in our motorhome by the seaside with my my ready made family, the only down side to it is the weight I've started regaining!  1.5lb went on yesterday which took me back up over the stone and I won't lie I was gutted, I'd been doing so well losing a little here and there, then Alfie passed away in November and I've steadily gained a little here and there since.  I'm still almost a stone lighter than I was but it was 22lb but it's okay, I've had a great time and I'm ready to sort it out.  

Elle and I had already had a chat last Tuesday and I'd said after Easter I was ready to do something about it and yesterday I started.  Day one in the bag but oh my, it isn't easy when you've got into bad habits again is it - I craved carbs all afternoon, plus I've got that used to eating this way, that I've forgotten what I used to eat when I was being healthier.  I'm looking forward to remembering though because I don't want to have to spend my next weekend away pulling my tshirt away from my belly to try and hide my spare type! 

I have been having some fun though, enjoying life and indulging but the thing is I know I can still do these things and not gain weight just by tweaking some of the meals we eat.  I cooked all weekend so I was in control of the menu, I have the power to make something delicious and healthy and lower in calories.  

I'm planning on emptying the freezer so yesterday I spent a tenner in Tesco on salad, eggs, milk and veggies to add to what I have already.  Yesterday, I ended my day on 1337 calories which I was pleased with as I hadn't really planned at all, I will be doing going forward.  My meals were beans on toast, no spread for breakfast, lunch was trout, roast pepper, tomato, courgette with a little lettuce, grated carrot and cucumber.  Then for tea, the lovely Sam had bought me some asparagus because it was reduced and she knows I like it, I had it with egg and chips and it was delicious. 

 

 

I even cleaned out the fridge in anticipation of it being filled with food that's going to help me lose those pounds. 

I did partake in my red wine, getting a call from himself telling me the skylight above the front bed of the motorhome had blown out wasn't the best but as I said to him, it can be replaced and you can't expect teenage boys to think for themselves, he didn't leave it open on purpose, it was an accident. Having spoken to him, he remembers closing it Sunday night so maybe it didn't fasten properly or it was broken, who knows!  Hopefully I can get a second hand replacement and if not we'll have to search out and buy a new one, the joys of owning a motorhome I guess. 

Mmm, so what am I going to eat today, I've defrosted the Sainsburys pizza that was in the freezer, it's 439 calories so I'll have that with some salad later.  I've got another bunch of asparagus to have, I might sprinkle some parmesan on it and roast, parmesan is only 21 calories for a tablespoon.  

Right now though, I need a cuppa, ah I just realised I didn't track my milk in my cuppas yesterday, so that's took my total up to 1385 calories, I have skimmed milk and had 3 mugs. 

Yeah I'm ready to slim down for Summer and Elle is ready to continue her slim down (she's been doing well), of course we're both here to help all our members on their journey, we've even put in place an offer to encourage them to embrace the challenge. 

Here's to a great day for all of us xx

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

Where did that year go?

Tuesday 22nd March 2022

The longer you live in the past, the less future you have to enjoy.

 So it's a year today since my mom took her last breathe and what a year it's been.  Somehow I've gone from being a single woman with a dog to in a relationship with a man who makes me very happy and taking care of his 13 year old son who is a wonderful kid.  It's not at all the outcome I expected but it's definitely one I'm truly enjoying and mom would be over the moon, she loved him, she'd even wrote in her diary years ago that she'd wish we'd sort ourselves out and get together because we'd work ;) some say she sent him back to me once she knew I was healed. 

This time last year I was gaining weight and heading towards the heaviest weight I'd ever been, I've gained a pound today, not unexpected after having Covid last week (any excuse to eat), thankfully it felt nothing worse that a summer 24 hour thing.  I'm still 20lb lighter though and I'm ready to get a grip.  

After a busy morning in our huddles, I had the realisation I'm doing a food journal for the lad because he needs to hit 25g of fibre a day but I'm not tracking my own food - ERM seriously Bev, get a grip.  As I stood chatting to members I agreed tracking was the solution, in my head thinking - I'll start tomorrow because I've got that leftover lamb that needs using up and I've already had a big breakfast, blah blah blah.  Instead though I came home a worked out the calories I'd eaten for breakfast, 461 in 2 slices toast with spread, mushrooms and 2 eggs.  Then I weighed the lamb, trimmed the fat off it and made a curry with it, added some red pepper and served it with rice - bloody lush if a little high at 718 calories. 

Last lamb on my menu for a while, it was a super treat anyway, the cost of it is extortionate so we'll be eating chicken again and everything that's in the freezer for the rest of the week.  No weekly main shop this week, if I need bread, milk or anything fresh I'll go get that separately. 

There's a Sainsbury's pizza in the fridge which I'm hoping the lad will share with me for tea, if not I may freeze it, we'll see, it's 439 calories total so it would make today's total high but at least it would be tracked.

It's not about perfection, it's about being accountable and getting back into the habit of tracking again.

I'm ready for a summer enjoying life, walking in the countryside, going to the seaside, we've been over the park this afternoon and played tennis very badly for half hour, but we've played it which is a starter, it's activity.  We've got a swingball in the garden which is easier to play and much more fun so we'll keep going with that too.

I've still got mom and Alfie's ashes under the stairs so one of our trips needs to be to Wales to scatter those, hopefully soon. 

Here's to continuing to make new memories with new loved ones to add to the wonderful memories I already have in my heart that I made with my mom.

Mwah, luv ya 

love me xx

  

Moving this Monday!

Monday 14th February 2022
If you feel overwhelmed today, be gentle with yourself.  Life can be a lot to handle!  

Well, being a menopausal woman can be challenging, not just for the woman but for those around them!  Saturday morning, he comes down and comments on me singing and where do I get my energy, Saturday teatime, he's asking me why I'm crying!  What makes it worse is, I don't even know!  I have no reason to be upset or sad, life is good right now, really good actually, don't get me wrong it ain't all sunshine and rainbows but there's no issues we can't handle together.  

Friday we'd drove to Hereford after he'd finished work so we got there after five, he followed me back and it was horrendous rain and getting darker by the minute, but we made it and we were back by half seven, both of us shattered after a week of very, early morning.  We both worked Saturday so I think I was just really tired.  I know it's coming up to a year since mom passed and I had stopped to have a chat with a friend when we went to buy bedding for the motorhome, she was telling me how she was caring for her mom who has cancer and working too and oh I felt for her so much because I've been there haven't I.  Whether that triggered my tears I don't know, I'm not sad moms dead, I know that might sound cruel but I can't miss the woman who sat in ths house this time last year, she wasn't my mom.  My mom may have stopped breathing on 22/3/21 but she died years before, so I did my grieving for my best friend a long time ago.  Anyway the tears are what they are, they'll come and go as they need to and I'll be okay.

Yesterday we ran a few errands, then they went to watch motocross in Aldridge whilst I enjoyed pottering and cooking a pork dinner, bloomin delicious it was too, loads of veggies on it, carrots, cauli, cabbage, peas, roast parsnips and mash nom nom, not forgetting stuffing.  I just need to get the man child to eat the veggies ;( He can get fibre from those Fibre one bars but it's not the best way of doing it is it!

Up at 4 this morning, so when Elle posted she'd been for a walk, I decided to do the same, my ribs are loads better and I need to get my fitness levels back up somewhat.  I was out 45 minutes and covered 2 miles, 5k steps.  Perfect start to the day, it's glorious out there. 

Drinking water has really made a difference this week too, we went to buy water bottles Wednesday and I can feel a difference for sure, the dark bags under my eyes aren't as bad, so I will definitely be keeping that up.  

I've just finished cleaning the kitchen, I couldn't be bothered to wash all the pots yesterday, we were shattered and ended up in bed by 7 knowing we were up at 4, we slept too. 

Off out for lunch today, will try not to go crazy as I do want to lose more weight, another stone at least, a stone and a half would be amazing to add to the 21lb that's already gone. 

The weeks forecast is much better, dry and sunny most of the week - we all need some sunshine for sure,

Here's to a fabulous week, enjoy your day. 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

International Woman's Day

Tuesday 8th March 2022 

Here's to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.

Up early this morning, I've already done a load of washing and got a stew on the hob which might be eaten today but as they always taste better the day after, we may wait to eat it.  Yesterday we had chicken hotpot, it was delicious, had broccoli with it and that too was tasty, love comfort food like that.

Yesterday went so quickly, I went food shopping, really enjoyed walking round the supermarket for a change with no rush in me, I usually have it delivered, not something I'd want to do every Monday but now and again definitely.

I then picked up 100 chocolate Easter eggs for the children at the Haven refuge to give them a little bit of happy this Easter in what's obviously a difficult time for them and their moms. 

I took Aryn over the park where I fell of the longboard and broke my ribs and head, he'd got his helmet on, but I have to admit I felt a bit cautious watching him.  We walked the path where I fell and he showed me the bin my board hit (I don't remember any of it), sent me cold I won't lie.  

Looking forward to a busy day with 3 huddles to look forward too, but first breakfast, I'm thinking a ham toastie maybe, we shall see, I'll go check the date on the eggs too but I want something filling to keep me going till I get back later.

Right let's have a productive day, lots of stuff to do, insurances to sort on motorhome and house, I've also had a letter about having my first breast screening so need to call them, I'm not sure if they'll want me to wait a little with my broken ribs which are still bloody hurting btw but compared to the poor folk on the news trying to get out of Ukraine my pain is nothing is it.  I've cried this morning watching it. 

Have a wonderful International Woman's Day, I'm blessed to know so many amazing ladies out there but I also have some amazing men in my life too, I've just checked they do get their own day in November thankfully. 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

One week into March already!

Monday 7th March 2022
Don't spend another year doing the same stuff.

Today I shall mostly be planning, the meetings for the week, our meals too (just in this house though not everyone's :) but that could be part of the meetings).  

We had a busy, exciting day yesterday, we've been looking at motorhomes/campers for weeks now and not been able to agree 100% on anything we've seen online or been and seen in person, then yesterday we were browsing on ebay etc and boom, there it was, I'd found my perfect match and he agreed :) woo hoo.  We messaged the seller to ask if we could go to see it yesterday and he was unsure as he had family coming and he'd got to drive somewhere to pick something up but he finally agreed as we said we wouldn't be long and YAY we drove to Hereford and bought ourselves a motorhome.  Well we've put the deposit down, just got to sort insurance, tax, bank transfer etc and we'll pick it up this weekend.  I'm a little excited at having lots to look forward too, you don't have to drive far to find somewhere beautiful to spend a night and have a lovely long walk.  Our new baby....

We ate at a Beefeater, a roast beef dinner, not the best meal I've eaten out but it was food and not too much so wouldn't have broke the calorie bank.  For tea we enjoyed a picky plate, cold meats, french bread and a honey camembert thing that was leftover from a valentines meal deal, nom nom.  

I'm thinking pasta bake today, man child wants one with a white sauce, I was going to make a tuna bake which I know is normally a tomato based sauce but hey there are no rules, we can mix tuna with a carbonara sauce if we want, I shall have a play, throw some sweetcorn in for the fibre and boom sorted. 

Just the rest of the week to decide on meals, I fancy corned beef hash at one point, need to get the ingredients though first and I'd like to use up some of what I already have, will go and do a freezer/cupboard inventory to see what I have already.  Could I hide veggie fingers in some kind of pie so the man child don't notice them, I need to get creative. 

Right let's get on with the day, work at making the week healthier and hopefully lose a little weight.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Yay, it's Friday!

Friday 4th March 2022

It's a slow process but quitting won't speed it up.

Well it's been almost a month since I last blogged and as expected it was on a Monday because on a Monday I'm always ready to have a good 'diet' day.  It'll be 5 weeks Monday coming since I broke my ribs and smashed my head open, everything is healing slowly, I'm now able to sleep lying down which is amazing, I can't lie on my side where the ribs are broken which is the side I'd normally lie on and I don't know if I'm not snoring as much or he just ain't moaning about it because he knows I gotta lie on my back to sleep :).

Yesterday was 6 months since he knocked my door and that time has flown and I'm a very, happy lady, we've always been friends, the time was just never right before, and the last 10 years with mom well I didn't have time for anything did I.  

It's a year on the 22nd since mom died, again where has that year gone and now to make it an even more difficult month for my amazing sister, her husband is in hospital, we would like a break right now to be honest and I think there's so many others out there who are feeling the same. 

Why haven't I been blogging daily?  Honestly, well partly because a lot of the things going on in my life now don't just involve me and I don't think it's right for me to choose to share other peoples business, it's not like when it was just mom and I and we were happy to share our lives 100%.  I now have a teenager living with me who won't even have photos taken lol.  What I can say about that though is we're a very, happy unit dealing with anything that comes our way in the best way we can. 

The other reason I probably haven't blogged is because my weight loss journey ain't been great.  I haven't been able to do much physically with my ribs, so there was a lot of sitting round, I couldn't even lift stuff, I haven't hoovered yet cos I can't pick it up (that's my excuse and I'm sticking too it, thankfully there are other people here to do that for me).  This all means I've not been burning so many calories, add to that I've been comfort and boredom eating well that caused a 3lb weight gain, then a stayed the same, finally this week I lost a pound.  Not the end of the world thankfully, my total weight loss is still 21lb so I'm happy with that.

Last nights huddle gave me some great meal ideas so I've got my foodie head back on, the boys are gonna have to eat what I fancy or feed themselves because I like what I like and I need some of these meals in my life.  Corned beef hash, stuffed mushrooms were just two of them, then I have these in the cupboard and they're only 75 calories each, so I'm gonna get my cook on with them too; 

Today though, we have steak pie because he thought it was a good idea to bring one back from the posh butchers where he was working away - dead healthy that, but I'll give the boys most of the pastry, I'll have lots of veg and some mash with mine, it'll be lush I'm sure. 

The pasta dish I had yesterday was delicious too, I'm not usually a fan of tomato based meals but his was really tasty, 131 calories in half a jar.  

 The pasta I used was ZENB UK | Plant-Fuelled Goodness - Taste What Plants Can Do it's not cheap but it's super high in fibre which is important in this house, 11g in a 85g portion, plus it's gluten free and actually tastes like regular pasta.  I bought 3 boxes to try it, got 40% off, didn't want to pay P&P so when I realised I had to I didn't buy it but they emailed me the next day to say I could have free p&p.  I'll definitely order more, there's 4 portions in a box and I can do the 40% again and send to my sisters so I'll stock up!

 

Yeah it was so good I ate it two days running. 

• High in Protein
• High in Fibre
• Source of Iron
• High in Potassium
• High in Phosphorous
• Gluten Free

Anyway, enough pasta talk.  I'm off to see the nurse this morning, she's gonna take bloods that'll tell me if I'm menopausal, I didn't think it'd work as I'm on the mini pill and assumed that would interfere with what my hormones are doing anyway - who knows!  

I do know my peri-menopausal symptoms have been better since I went on the mini pill but I'm not sure if it's because of that or just that my life has improved all round, life was hard this time last year, really bloody hard.

Let's not focus on what's gone though, let's look to the future, losing some more weight, getting my healthy back, I can't wait to start walking without it killing me, build back up slow and steady.

Here's to a wonderful weekend and making March matter.

Have a great one. 

Luv ya, 

Love me xx

Well I never expected that!

Monday 7th February 2022

Better an oops than a what if!

Sneezing is a truly memorable experience!  Well it is when you've got a couple of broken ribs anyways, I've always been a fan of a good sneeze until the last few days and now not so much!

This time last week, I woke up and the weather was a bit grim, it was wet and I remember thinking ooo we won't be able to go longboarding and I can relax all day.  We'd gone to check out Dartmouth park, Wednesbury the day before and had a lovely half hour boarding on the smooth wide paths which were just the right steepness for us to play safely - HUH little did I know. 

It had dried up when the man child surfaced earlier than he normally does and he was ready to go before you knew, by then I was okay with going and half hour later we're on the car park, half hour after that, I'm unconscious...

All I remember is choosing to go down the steeper path that we'd steered clear of the day before because the park was full, I felt my board getting faster and faster, then starting to wobble, me trying to get my balance back, then...... nothing until I opened my eyes to Aryn stood over me asking if I was okay.  I managed to get up, apparently someone gave me a bottle of water and I made my way to a bench where I said I'd be okay in a few minutes, which then changed to 'give me half hour'.  At this point Aryn didn't give up until I allowed him to call 999, they asked questions and said because I'd managed to get up and I was breathing, they wouldn't send an ambulance but would get a paramedic to call us back immediately (mmm that didn't happen!)  We slowly made our way back to the car park, I was in agony, blood running down my neck, basically feeling crappy.

I struggled to get in my car just so I could sit, heck that hurt, who knew sitting down could hurt so much, I knew the A&E was only 3 minutes away because I'd joked on the way in when we passed it, that at least the hospital was close if we needed it, mmm little did I know.

Anyway we waited and no phone call, I was about to call a taxi, no way could I drive when a car with two lads pulled onto the car park so I went and asked if they'd give us a lift to the hospital which they did thankfully.  As we pulled on the car park Aryn tells me the paramedics called us, I'd completely forgotten about that until he told me the next day.

Triage at noon told me that because I'd been knocked out I had to stay there otherwise they'd have sent me to minor injuries because even if I had broken my ribs there was no treatment, she said my stats were okay so she wasn't worried and they'd redo my obs in 2 hours.  half hour later my head had started bleeding again so Aryn made me go tell someone, I ended up back with the triage nurse who said she wanted a doctor to look at it so she wouldn't glue it and wrapped a bandage round my head instead.  It was gone 5 when I finally saw someone else, thankfully I'd managed to get Aryn taken home, I couldn't speak to anyone as my phone signal was only strong enough to send messages so now Daragh is working away in Leeds stressing because he doesn't know what's happening, he's saying 'I'll come home', I'm telling him not to there's no point, he can't do anything and my battery life on my phone is going down every time I send a message.

The doctor examines me, looks at me with that 'how old are you, you should know better woman' face and tells me I need my head gluing, maybe stitching and that he wants me xrayed because he believes I've cracked my ribs.  They're crazy busy and someone is looking for a bed for a patient so I offer to sit on a chair in the corridor as I can't lie down anyway.  The xray is painful, they ask me to take my bra off, it's one of those you lift over your head, not a chance, I say cut it off, they apparently can't so I ask for scissors to cut it off myself.  Doctor confirms 2 of my ribs are knackered and he wants a CT scan because he's concerned they're facing my lung and he wants to make sure they're not going to puncture it and he may keep me in 1 or 2 days so wants a catheter putting in my arm.

It's gone 9 when he comes and tells me the lung is safe and I ask if I can go home to which he replies, 'only if you can cope with the pain', I'm thinking I'd rather be in pain at home than on a ward, so he agrees to let me go with a prescription for painkillers.

Vicky picked me up after ten and when we got back she helped me undress and put pjs on, I've never been so glad to be home. 

The rest of the weeks been painful, the first few days was painkiller sleep induced, not much else, poor Aryn has had a cough and a cold for the last few days and I've been sneezing with a snotty nose for the last couple of days too, probably picked up at hospital although thankfully not covid.  My body wants to cough but I can't bear the thought of that on top of sneezing which hurts like a bitch.

Sleeping on a settee sucks at the best of times, but in pain sitting up it's no fun at all.  I didn't like what the prescribed painkillers were doing to my head, so I stopped taking them Thursday and I'm just taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, I'd rather the pain that the odd feelings in my head.  My head really hurt for a good few days but the painkillers are keeping it at bay now, my whole body hurt, I must have bounced I reckon cos my face was all grazed, my left shoulder blade hurts like a bitch, doc thinks my board broke my ribs, then my right leg really hurts at the top, oh and my lower back lol, yeah the longboard has been retired for me forever!  

Aryn's been golden all week asking me if I needed anything, Daragh took over when he got back Friday night, I've been truly looked after.  I'm still in a lot of pain and discomfort but nothing like I was last Monday/Tuesday, so that's great.

We've also got Aryn's new school confirmed so he can make a new friend and they can use my board ;) but they'll have helmets and pads on them, I'm actually thinking body armour, I had a padded jacket on but it didn't stop the ribs breaking, having said that Aryn's more sensible than me, he did tell me not to go down that hill!

I didn't eat much last week and I didn't drink at all but I enjoyed my food again this weekend, a lovely chicken dinner yesterday and I was finally allowed a glass of red last night, he didn't think I should take drugs and drink, but I'm only on paracetamol now so that was my justification, plus it's a week since the bang on the head, I did enjoy it but it didn't really help me sleep like I'd hoped.  I miss my bed, I miss lying down, but I also miss my work wife and my members.

I need to make an appointment to have the stitch removed from my head, they put one in to hold it together to glue because it wouldn't have stayed in place without.  How lucky was I when you think about it...  VERY... and very grateful for all the wonderful people in my life.  

What a difference a year makes, this time last year mom was poorly and she was taken into hospital on Valentines day, let's hope this years is more romantic although with these ribs it ain't gonna be very sexy lol, oh well, there's the rest of the year to enjoy once I'm well.  I can't wait for the sunshine, days out and weekends away, holidays, all those things I haven't done for the last decade.

I really need to renew my passport and get Aryn his first so we can all have fun together.

Right here's to a day of trying to get comfortable and taking painkillers every four hours!  Leftover chicken with some salad on the menu today I think, I've not even thought about the scales, they will say whatever they do and I will get my healthy on again, but replace longboarding with walking!

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx