35 days, REALLY!

Saturday 19th November 2022

Be your own kind of beautiful.

After waking to go to loo about four, then having a coughing fit where I wretched, I went back to bed and slept till the alarm at six, glad I managed that extra sleep.  

I did my bit of housework yesterday, bless Aryn he did the hoovering when he got back from school, whilst I cooked tea.  We had pork fillet, mash, beans, carrots, cauli cheese and honey and mustard sauce.  The pork in mustard sauce was from Aldi, a new range according to the sign, I'm sure it cost £4.50 and it was really delicious and cooked in 30 minutes.   It didn't say to heat the sauce though, so I'm not sure if you could put it in a cup of boiling water if you wanted it hot?  We just had a bit on the side to dip in if they wanted and Aryn didn't want the sauce at all.

We started watching 1883 - it's very good (it's the story of the Dutton family from Yellowstone which we love back in 1883).

Just a chilling Friday with lots of laughter which I love, always great when he gets back, love seeing Aryn happy too, can't believe it'll be a year at the end of the month since he entered my life, such a great kid. 

He's bought the motorhome home this weekend, he wants to do 'work' on it!  That'll be fun - not, I shall stay out of it and let him get on with it, at some point we've got to drive down to where he was working to get his car, as he's off somewhere else next week and the week after.  He did suggest catching the train but they're all over the place and the price of them is crazy, I'd rather drive down with him and drive back on my own.

Looking forward to our mornings huddle, need to think about food for later, not thought about anything yet, might get the chicken wings out the freezer - I've actually just stopped and gone and took them out, we'll have a picky tea I think, I have some wraps that need using up by tomorrow too.    

Cats are running round like loonies, jumping all over each other this morning, they do know how to have a good time that's for sure. 

Not much to write today, but I like days like that, it means all is calm in my world and there's been no stress - perfect. 

If the worst thing in my day is a snotty nose and a cough - how blessed am I!

I also have no idea what the weather was like yesterday because I didn't have to leave the house, after a week of rain I didn't miss not going out there!  

Here's to a great day, a wonderful weekend and a clear motorway when we drive to get the car ;) 

I'm trying to ignore it's only 35 days till Christmas!  That's so scary, we've got Aryn's birthday first, then I need to find some money to buy some gifts lol, ah well, we'll enjoy it regardless of how much is spent, it's about being together isn't it? We'll soon find out I guess lol. 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Early to bed - early to rise!

Friday 18th November 2022

It is not selfish to do what's best for you.

Started my day with tomatoes on toast yesterday, made time for breakfast despite getting up later than usual, I've been awake since half three this morning and I got up as I wanted the loo and a cuppa.  

I was cold and hungry again yesterday, I finally caved and put the heating on when I got home from the morning huddles, and I left it on for the rest of the day.  I even fell asleep for 20 minutes after I ate my lunch which was this....

Now I do have a recipe on our website Corned Beef Hash (behappyowls.com) but I didn't follow it yesterday, I cheated a little and used these and they worked really well.  

£1.65 from Morrisons, I bought them a few weeks ago and there were a few left in the bag.  The only problem with corned beef hash is you can eat more than a portion, I should've done some veggies on the side to bulk it out then I would've resisted overeating.

Aryn had a takeaway pizza for his tea as he had the £10 just eat voucher he won, then when I got back from the night huddle, I say his pizza box and wanted one myself!  I found this in the freezer and added pineapple and sweetcorn.  These are only £1.15 in Farmfoods, I enjoyed it, a lot of calories though, 824 for what's in the box - ouch.

 

Yeah, we can safely say I went over my allowance yesterday!  I've still not got rid of this lurgy, woke up in the middle of the night all bunged up with my throat hurting, done a covid test this morning again just in case, it's clear, I've just got an infection that's taking it's time to shift.

Good news, I had my doctors phone appointment and spoke to a head nurse, she's referred me for physio, so that's great, says it'll come through in 3 weeks too, which is great.  

An hour or two of housework this morning, I can't see the coffee table right now and it's a big table, I also want to change the bedding too, I want to go swimming, but I don't think I should as not 100%.  

Right, I want another cuppa to soothe my throat!  Let's have a good day shall we x

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Running Late!

Thursday 17th November 2022

It'll all wait!

Wide awake at half two this morning but I refused to get up, I lay there and after about an hour I finally managed to go to sleep, the cat had fell asleep on my chest which wasn't fun but thankfully once the other joined they both went and I slept till my alarm which for some reason was set for half six so now I don't have as much time as I normally would have.  Hey ho, it'll all wait!

I got the munchies last night and had crackers with cheese spread, then a slice of bread and butter with a bag of cheese and onion crisp - bugga.  WHY?  Well, I think it was because I hadn't had enough veggies during the day to fill me up.

I'd been swimming on morning and don my 32 (half mile) lengths but didn't eat until I had beans on toast with Aryn around 11ish!  They were so good though, I really enjoyed them, I also caved and had a couple of Toffee muffins I'd baked for Aryn!  

I then spent an hour doing housework, I deep cleaned the bathrooms, took the shower curtains down and gave them a wash, feeling complete in my accomplishment, I then sat on my ass and watched a Christmas movie until Aryn came back and we went to the gym, he seems quite keen, so we shall do it.

Dinner was this lasagne, it was okay, but I should've done veggies with it!  Aryn had a load of onion rings with his, I just had mine on its own - big mistake, hence the munchies later.

I have chuckled when I came down this morning to find this...

They obviously thought I'd cleaned the bathroom to make it a playroom for cats!  

Anyway, I gotta go, I've not got long to get ready and I'm hungry too, so I'd like time to eat as it's a long, busy day.  Hope you're up for a good day, let's make it a good one, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

I was hungry yesterday!

Wednesday 16th November 2022

Do it for yourself.

Busy workday yesterday and it was cold and damn wasn't it, not a nice weather day at all!  I don't know if it was the weather or what but I was hungry all day.  I had a chicken mayo toastie for breakfast - yeah I wanted to use the last of the chicken but I enjoyed it too, cost 442 calories but worth it. 

For lunch I had a tin of chicken soup, we'd talked soup in huddles, and I fancied some and didn't really want to make any from scratch, I might today though as I have more time.  I added a handful of extra chicken, thinking the protein would help fill me, I also had a slice of bread and butter with it so that was another 457 calories. I ate this just before 1, and I was still hungry.  If I'd been in a restaurant, it would've been the starter.

I ended up cooking my dinner after I'd eaten the soup and having it just after 2 - oops!  Another 434 calories gone but finally I was full. 

In news other than food, I lost 1lb at the scales, not gonna lie, I expected more, mainly because I'd put 2lb on last week, but I soon realised I hadn't started tracking and eating properly until Thursday so only done a 5-day week, I also wasn't anywhere within my allowance the other days.  

I'm happy because I'm back in control of my eating and my attitudes better, having said that I did go over my allowance yesterday, I was peckish when I got home and had a slice of bread with Dairylea light on it, really enjoyed it too.

Anyway, today there's a lasagne in the fridge with use by 16th so we either have that for dinner or it goes in the freezer, the chicken has all gone.  I fancy tomatoes on toast for breakfast I think.

I've slept really well, at least 8 hours I've managed so I'm ready for my day, I think Aryn might want to go to the gym later, but I'm still trying to decide if I'm going swimming this morning.  I don't want to do too much too soon, I've still got a bit of a cough, mmm decisions, decisions. 

Let's have a great day, whatever it may bring, I'm looking forward to the huddle at Wimborne Road this morning, it was great to have Carol back yesterday but of course Elle was miss, thankfully she's not feeling poorly, she should test negative soon I'm sure. 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x

Scales day!

Tuesday 15th November 2022

Don't stop until you're proud.

4am and awake today, thanks to cats, the wind outside, that weather sounds yak this morning, who am I kidding the wind inside got me up too, I needed the loo, it might have something to do with all these sprouts I ate yesterday... 

I was really hungry after I'd been swimming, I ate that dinner at 10am, it was the leftovers from Sunday dinner, and it was bloomin delicious, cost me 748 calories and I left a couple of spuds, but it kept me full all day.  I managed 34 lengths at the pool, 439 calories burned apparently.  I was dreading it a bit if I'm honest, having not been for almost two weeks, but the water was warmer than it has been and I enjoyed it once I got going, it was good to be back.

I nipped to Aldi for eggs, B&M's for a curtain pole for our bedroom in Ireland, I ended up treating myself to a fluffy blanket to sit under in the living room as the cats have pinched moms purple on.  My new one is lush, sage in colour and has a thermal lining, really snuggly it was last night Aspen Faux Fur Throw - Sage | Throws - B&M Stores (bmstores.co.uk) still no heating on in our house, Aryn and I have got tough, different story when himself is here.

When I got back, I did a little housework, then wrapped a couple of gifts for Aryn ready for his birthday at the end of the month and himself for Christmas, stocking fillers, cheap stuff.   

Aryn and I then went to the gym, we're hoping to get fit, but we need to build up, so we did 14 mins cardio and 15 mins on the weight machines, that's enough for one day.  My knee wasn't too impressed, but I managed it, use it or lose it they say, so we shall see.  I did nip over the doctors and managed to get a phone call appointment for Thursday, I can explain it all just as easy over the phone as I can face to face. 

I made us chicken chow mein for dinner, I inhaled it, it was that good, yeah I really enjoyed it, definitely back on my regular to eat list, so easy. Chicken Chow Mein (behappyowls.com), not gonna lie though I did have a double portion, still under 500 calories though.  I used udon noodles too because that's what I had in the cupboard, nice, very, very nice.

Now I have more chicken left, I didn't freeze it in the end, so I'll be using it today, I'm thinking a chicken pasta bake maybe, or quesadillas, we shall see.  I'm sure a chicken toastie for breakfast is on the cards though, it'll help use it up, plus I have plenty bread too.  Busy day today, Carol's back after being poorly, Elle has Covid so she'll be staying home so as not to pass it on, thankfully she's not really poorly.  

 Oh I finished under my calories again yesterday - woop woop, go me!  I did have a glass of wine though, I've got to confess, I was sat watching Grey's Anatomy thinking 'I could just enjoy a glass of red', I had plenty of calories left, so I caved and had one glass, cost me 190 calories and was amazing.  I was contemplating a hot chocolate and a bag of crisps which would've been as many calories - so nah, I had what I fancied.

I've just checked, I ended with 15 calories lol, but I did earn over 500 with my swimming and gym which I didn't use.  Now for the scales to tell me how I've done, I'd gained 2lb last Tuesday, I didn't get on track until Thursday, so let's see what the scales have to say.  Whatever the result, I feel so much more in control this week, I've enjoyed my food, I've enjoyed cooking, washing up the dishes not so much, they're never-ending aren't they.  Kitchen needs tidying again, I can only just see the worktops.  

Right time for another cuppa and some breakfast, I'm not going swimming this morning, don't want to overdo it too soon, plus a very, busy day without Elle, so I've got 2 hours before I need to leave, I can take my time getting ready.  Here's to a very, good day.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x 

I will stay strong & resist temptation!

Monday, 14th November 2022

Surprise yourself - I am!

Another day in the bag, I'm so glad I sat and had a word with myself last Thursday, I know deep down I'm a greedy, drunk fat bitch at heart but I'm not going to accept that and give in to her, I want to lose some weight and I will use every ounce of motivation I can muster to do that.  On days I can't find my motivation, I'll hopefully have pre-planning in place, if all I have in the house is good foods, I can't do much damage can I.

Yesterday, when we got up early, I offered to make breakfast, the reply was 'what we got' so I said, crumpets, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs and leftover gammon, YES was the reply.  Now because I'm aiming for a weight loss, instead of 2 crumpets covered in butter, I opted for 1 slice of toast and I had less of the gammon, it was still 569 calories though, real butter see, worth it though it was very tasty. 

Yes, I could've eaten more, especially another slice of toast, but I didn't need more, this meal kept me satisfied until we had lunch at half two. 

I wanted chicken and we hadn't got any, so I nipped to the Co-op, they're now £5 each or two for £8 so yeah they've gone up like everything else, but I decided to buy 2 and cook both in the oven at the same time, saving on the electricity, and I'm going to freeze some after I've shredded it, I'm also going to make Chow Mein with it today Chicken Chow Mein (behappyowls.com) 

Anyway, my dinner was epic, worth every one of the 830 calories it cost, I also drank me a bottle of wine whilst cooking, eating and watching tele after.  Perfect afternoon.

I had managed to go back to bed around 5 on the morning and get another hours sleep, so it wasn't too bad after all but when himself left to go back to work at teatime, I decided to go catch up on 'I'm a Celebrity' in bed, I managed one episode before falling asleep, so I reckon I fell asleep about 6.15pm lol, then woke up for a few minutes when he called me at half seven to say he'd got there safe, then I slept most of the night, waking to go to loo or turn over in bed, before cats got me up at five this morning, no pain either, woo hoo, happy days, love sleeping I do.

I'm off to swim this morning, it's too easy to get out the habit isn't it, I haven't been because of the chest infection, but I'm 98% good now, just a bit of a cough.  Here's to burning some calories depending on how many lengths I manage, it can be anything up to 500, not bad.

Now, temptation is everywhere and Mcdonalds have already started on me this morning by email, telling me I can have a single McMuffin for £1.19 this morning if I want, they know I'm going swimming.  Sounds like a bargain doesn't it but a sausage and egg mcmuffin would set me back 423 calories, then I'd add a coffee, another 97 calories for a cappuccino taking the cost up by another £1.69.  Nah you're alright Maccy's, I'll come home and have something else later, I have a fridge full of food, might do bubble and squeak with yesterday's leftovers from dinner.

I will stay strong and think things through before falling for these offers.  I will lose weight, I will not be defeated, and I will not drink wine today, it's a dry day.  I've got this - have you?

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Who needs sleep!

Sunday 13th November 2022

Surprise yourself!

Well, what can I say, put your phone down for a moment and give me a round of applause, I didn't just stay on track yesterday - I SMASHED IT!  

I skipped breakfast because I wasn't hungry, then at noon when I made Aryn his 'breakfast' I had a slice of bread and butter with a slice of bacon on, nice.  Then we went to B&Q to get paint and tiles for the house in Ireland, got us a real bargain too, got some of the paint out of the clearance section £3 instead of £15 a tin - nice.

Then I made our dinner, I'd put the gammon joint in the slow cooker earlier and we had it with beans, mash and parsley sauce, I actually left a bit of mash because I'd put way too many beans on the plate.

 

I had a little bit of sticky toffee pudding and custard, it still cost me 325 calories though, I split the rest between the boys.

We'd already agreed we'd have some red wine and we split a bottle, I expected us to open another one later, but we didn't, we watched tele and went to bed to watch more tele about half eight, but both of us started falling asleep so we turned it off.  I slept a little but kept waking up in pain, my bloody leg!  In the end I got up at one to find some cream to put on it, but then I was wide awake, I did try and go back to sleep but gave up when I was still wide awake at quarter to three so I've been listening to my audiobook in the living room and having a fuss off Coco, silly sod got himself locked in the alley way because he followed me out to the tumble dryer and I hadn't realised, he was out there a good few hours, good job I did wake up at one wasn't it.

I'm starting day 4, on track, I'd opted for an easy day yesterday but still had 1,000 calories left by the end of it woo hoo.  I could've easily put off getting back on track till the New Year, but I know I'd be 7-14lb heavier if I did.   This way, there's a chance I could lose half stone before we go to Ireland, then at least I will have a bit of leeway in my clothes.

I put this together and posted it this morning, if you haven't seen it, have a read - food for thought.  

Don't delay taking care of yourself, it doesn't make sense!  We can still have nights out, indulge now and then but when we aren't doing that, we can focus on eating healthy.

Speaking of which, I have no idea what we're eating today!  If the fancy a cooked dinner, I have lamb chops I could take out, or I have salmon we could have with rice.  I shall ask them at a reasonable hour when they wake, it's still only half four in the morning here!  I'll be shattered by teatime, but I can have an early night cos he goes back to work later. 

I think I need to try and get an appointment at the doctors about my leg, it's not getting any better, I can't stand for any length of time without it hurting, I have to crouch down in shops if I'm in a long queue because it's so painful.  Having said that, the creams took the edge off, I can handle the knee pain, but the sciatic type pain is vile.

Hey Ho, let's focus on something else, I'm thinking they can have crumpets for breakfast, I'll do eggs with it and some beans and the leftover gammon maybe.  I fancy tomatoes on toast, I like crumpets but only if they're drowned in butter and I'm not wasting that many calories today, I'd rather have a big dinner.  I fancy a chicken dinner, ooo I have chicken wings in the fridge, nah I could send him to get a chicken from the shop and roast it in the oven, I know I can do it in the Ninja but I don't like it as much that way.  I want parsnips, potatoes and peas with lots of gravy and a yorkie ooo and carrots, sprouts and I have swede and brocolli too, yeah a nice cooked dinner, I won't give them a choice. 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Saturday morning & I'm still on track!

Saturday 12th November 2022

One meal, one day at a time.

Well, I made it through Friday, it helped that I made it an easy day on the app, by doing that I came in 223 calories below budget, check me out!

This is how my day went, I wasn't hungry when I got up, didn't even think about eating to be honest, so I went food shopping at 8ish, that's no longer fun with the cost of everything going up!  I did get a handful of 'whoopsies' though, so I have two taste the difference ready meals now in the freezer for in the week and two packs of lamb chops that were reduced by £2 a packet - love a bargain I do.

When I did decide it was time to eat, I still wasn't hungry, but I fancied bread and the crust at that, so I had a cup a soup and a slice, it was tasty, but cost me 316 calories, so not low on the numbers.

Whilst shopping I bought the ingredients to make a Greek Pastitsio, basically a cross between a lasagne and a pasta bake, but then himself come home just after one and said what shall we do, well of course we ended up at the pub for a couple, then back home in time for Aryn getting back from school.  So now I've had 3 halves of Guinness on a half empty stomach, so I'm happy, I get my cook on, tell Alexa to play me some tunes and I make a lovely mess in the kitchen cooking up the dinner, which went down a treat, the boys really enjoyed, I thought there was a bit of flavour missing but I do like strong flavours.  Some chorizo in it would make it out this world, but it was already high in calories as I added extra parmesan.  I used some feta which I wouldn't next time, good old fashioned strong, mature cheddar would've added more flavour, definitely a do over though, I'll look at some other versions of the recipe and see what they do. This is the one I followed Greek Pastitsio recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (supergoldenbakes.com)

 

671 calories a portion but there were 6 good sized portions in the dish!  Now the problem began when the recipe called for 175ml of white wine!  Of course, that means there's 575ml left in an open bottle - not anymore there isn't, I managed to find a couple of unsmashed empty wine glasses that held the remainder equally and we consumed.  The next problem was 575ml split two ways doesn't last long and I'd bought a meal deal in Sainsbury's that had another bottle of white wine as part of the deal, you know what's coming don't you!  We opened another bottle and destroyed it.  It was a good job I hadn't had much else to eat wasn't it.  We were in bed by half six lol, drunk and full of food, now that's a perfect day.  I woke up thinking it was morning, it was midnight lol.

I did wake up at 4 and I've already done a load of washing, cleaned the mess up I'd made cooking, jeez that was a big mess, done the washing up, went back to bed for half hour when himself woke up (no more details needed there), had a shower and two mugs of tea later, I'm ready for work with a smile on my face.

Oh, and I've put a joint of gammon in the slow cooker for dinner, thinking gammon, spuds and veggies, then any left can make a sarnie if he gets hungry later. 

Right, here's to surviving another day and living life at the same time - you in?

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Fridaylicious!

Friday 11th November 2022

Stop making excuses!

Well yesterday I acknowledged I'm full of excuses and I'm now in a really good place to sort this all out.  I don't have the stresses I've had, I'm not as busy as I've been, no mom to care for, Aryn's nowhere near as hard work as she was and let's be honest, lots of people have children and they manage to lose weight!  I don't work the hours I used to, again nowhere near the hours I used to work.   I have plenty of time to take care of me, to cook healthy meals, to make sure do some exercise, my cough is almost gone so I can get back in the swimming pool, I will wait till Monday just to be on the safe side I think, I'll burn some calories doing some housework this morning.

After having my word with myself, I got my journal out and started tracking, I also got myself an accountability (booze) buddy, we're going to support each other on our weight loss journey and encourage each other to cut the booze down because we know it'll help us lose weight.  

Breakfast was an egg toastie, no butter because it does give me heartburn so it's not helping me is it.

I really enjoyed my lunch, chicken salad tacos, absolutely scrumptious, I do love a taco shell and they're only 66 calories each. 

I couldn't decide what I wanted for my dinner, I wasn't that hungry, but I knew I needed to have something, so I opted for this can of Irish stew, it was 236 calories and £1.45 from Aldi. 

And I finished off with the last glass of wine in the bottle.

I drank water yesterday, remembering to fill up my water bottle and take it to work with me.  I was so desperate for some salad (wow that sounds sad) that I nipped to Sainsbury's in-between huddles and got a cucumber, lettuce, spring onions, plum tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms for a fiver, I will go and do a proper shop today most likely.  I really want to get my cook on again, try and cook up some deliciousness, get Aryn to try new foods and give some of the veggies he's not so keen another go, I can hide them in the meals, I'm sure. 

I've just took a gammon joint out the freezer, one of two whoopies I have left, should've been a tenner got them for £4 each - love a bargain.  I can slow cook that and have with spuds and veg, then with a salad if there's any left.  Don't know if it'll defrost in time to eat today though, but tomorrow is good.

I'm gonna spend half hour looking through recipes this morning to find some low-calorie stuff we'll all enjoy, I enjoyed going to bed last night knowing I'd stayed on track.  I've changed my nutracheck app so that Friday, Saturday and Sunday are easy days so I can have more when himself is home and pull it back in the week.  I've put it to lose 1lb a week and next week I'll get back to the baths and my swimming again, hopefully get in the gym a little too with Aryn, so that'll burn a few calories too.

Here's to half stone off by Christmas, I can do this!  So can you!

What do you say, who's up for ....

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Time to get a grip!

Thursday 10th November 2022

Change is uncomfortable but necessary!

Two quotes today!  I think Pinterest is trying to tell me something.  

I wouldn't say losing weight is a 'dream' but it is something I'm aware would improve my health and therefore a necessity.  I'd also feel more comfortable in my clothes, so I need to get a grip and sort myself out.

I didn't start tracking yesterday either, I didn't eat healthy either, I had a crumpet for brunch, then chicken and chips for dinner.  Oh, I did manage a bit of corn on the cob but that was it.

Right, himself gets paid today so I'll have shopping money and I actually want some salad, I desperately need to go shopping, even the freezer is going down lol.  Just opened the last sachet of cat food so defo need a trip to the shop and shop for some healthier choices.  

We've got pizza today, last one from the freezer, that'll set me back a good, few calories, but if I count them and track them, it's okay.  They are cheese and tomato, so maybe I can put some veggies on it or have a side salad.  Being poorly has really knocked me off track, I've just not been bothered, but I'm on the mend now, so no excuses.

I was really proud of Aryn yesterday, he's been getting certificates every week for one thing or another and yesterday, he got a special award with a £10 Just Eat voucher for overall improvements and progress this term.  He was very pleased with himself, even messaged me on his way home to ask if I'd checked my emails as there was a voucher (he never messages me!).  Well he's been after KFC chicken wings for days and I've said no because we're skint so when he walked in, he said chicken wings but I had to break the news they weren't on the menu on Just Eat.  You guessed it, he got his wings, I got fleeced and there's still £10 on the voucher! 

Right, I'm going to have a healthy day, no more excuses, no more 'I can't be bothered', I will post photos of my food because then I have to eat better.  I'm still not 100% fit and well, but I'm 90% I reckon, so eating well can only help me feel even better.  

Hope you're up for a great day too...

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Mid-week already, these weeks fly by

Wednesday 9th November 2022

Everything is hard before it is easy.

Well, it turns out, being poorly, not swimming, resting up and generally trying to get through last week feeling rubbish didn't do me any favours on the scales - I gained 2lb.   The struggle is real!

Joking aside, I thought I'd maintain but it is what it is, I'm still not 100% so I won't go swimming this week until I'm right because I don't want to get a chill again.

On a positive, I'm not drinking red wine every night so that's not just going to help me save calories, it's saving me money (which I need right now), plus I'm hoping once I stop the damn coughing, it'll make my sleep better too - we shall see.  I did sleep better last night I think, and the coughing wasn't quite as bad either - YAY!

If I start one of our new journals today, it will take me up to 21st December, that's an option to help focus me, I have to track Aryn's food in a book, so why not mine as well.

Positives from yesterday, I got my Happy Owls water bottle back out and filled it, then drunk it!  I'm aware of the fact I'm not drinking enough water since the temperature dropped but I know it's good for me, plus it helps to stop me coughing. 

I also went to bed before 8 to stop me being tempted by the kitchen, if I'd stayed up I would've just watched tele and be tempted by food in the fridge, but no sooner had I got in bed than I was falling asleep, himself called me at 9.15 and woke me up so I was tired and I slept till half five this morning. 

Here's to focusing on the positives, that 2lb will go and I will continue to eat as healthy as I can afford to do, I did order more pasta from ZENB yesterday because it's go so much fibre in, Aryn can eat a bowl of it and get 17g in one meal, I also managed to get it to give me the WELCOME40 offer which gave me 40% off, it's not cheap see, so 40% off is a good offer and I've bought plenty to keep us going for a few months.  He had pesto pasta yesterday, but I can make a pasta bake with it next week, I need to get a list of high fibre meals for him, so he has some choice, there's nothing worse that repetition in meals!  I need to think of a couple of good rice meals using brown rice, I'll have a play on pinterest later.

Right, I need another cuppa, then a shower, my new favourite item of clothing is a pair of fluffy socks, that together with my fluffy zip up blanket hoodie is saving me putting the heating on. 

Here's to a great day, see some of you this morning at Wimborne Road, then I think I need to catch up on a bit of housework now I'm starting to feel better - boo! 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

Tuesday - let's do this!

Tuesday 8th November 2022

You can do hard things.

Another quiet day in my house yesterday, lots of rest, tv, hot drinks and it's worked, apart from a tickly cough, I'm good again, the cough hasn't been so bad in the night either, so I've had good sleep.  The loony cats woke me at 4am chasing each other round the house and using my bed as a trampoline!  I shut my door and thankfully managed to go back to sleep till 6ish.  

Foodwise, we enjoyed our cottage pie with gravy and veg, Aryn had onion rings with his, they help with his fibre intake so who am I to disagree. 

 It was really tasty, the photo doesn't do it justice, no clue how many calories, I haven't counted anything whilst I've been poorly - not the best I know but let the scales tell me how I've done this morning.  I seem to have maintenance sussed but I'd like to lose some for sure.

I've not been drinking my red wine because of being poorly so I'll keep that going for a bit see if it helps with the weight loss.  I'm still working our way through freezer because I'm skint this month, so that should help too - no temptation if no supermarket shop.  I'll nip to farm foods this morning for more crumpets for Aryn, they're his latest fad and they're cheaper in there.  I might have another lamb dinner today with the last of the leftover lamb, I have giant yorkies in the freezer and some leftover mash and carrots - sorted, meal.  Aryn can have that or something else, his choice.

I've got plenty eggs so might have eggs on toast for breakfast, that's me sorted for today, I tend not to eat a third meal, if I have a big lunch, but if I do, it'll be something quick and easy.

Looking forward to the day ahead, we're talking stress eating in huddles this week, a subject we all relate to I'm sure!  

Let's aim for a stress-free day, shall we?

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Coughing and Crazy Cats

Monday 7th November 2022

It's okay to try again today.

Well, I'm still coughing!  Loads better than I was though and until my work wife Elle told me not to even think about going swimming this morning, I was contemplating it, but she's right, I'm not 100% and it's probably not a great idea.  I'll have another rest day so I can be fit and well for work tomorrow.  

Seriously though, I'm sick to death of coughing, it's gotta be one of the most annoying symptoms, disturbs your sleep, oh and when you get to a certain age, you gotta make sure you don't pee yourself at the same time!  TMI?

I did make a Sunday roast though, put a leg of lamb in on low for hours and nipped to Farm Foods for parsnips and it was delicious, cabbage, beans, carrots and peas as veggies, yeah, a roast dinner has to be one of my favourites.  I cooked extra mash and defrosted some beef mince and made cottage pie for today.  

I've got leftover lamb, now to decide what to do with that - I'm sure I've typed that line before lol. 

Curry is an easy option, I do like a good curry, but I'll check out Pinterest, it was a big leg and it's freezable so it's all good.  I had lamb tagliatelle at The Malt on Saturday, and it was delicious, never thought about putting lamb with pasta, but mmm it works!

As all we really did yesterday was watch tele, there's not much to talk about, Enola Holmes 2 was good, and we watched Fishermans Friends which I enjoyed the first time.

The crazy cats are zooming round the house, they were doing that at 4am too - grrrr!

Right, let's have a good day, 

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

Snuggle down Sunday

Sunday 6th November 2022

Busy week in huddles and a lot of success at the scales and giggles in the chats, it's great to see everyone being realistic and enjoying their journeys.

Not blogged for a couple of days, partly because Friday I couldn't think of more than a few lines, then Saturday morning the laptop started 'updating' and it took over an hour, so I had to go to work!

It's been a calm few days though, I've got a chest infection which is working its way better day by day, a lovely cough to go with it too!  I think I may have shared my germs with himself, just like Aryn shared his with me, but I actually think he had the start of the lurgy when he arrived home Friday, so I won't take the blame.

Not overeaten the last few days which is a bonus, did enjoy some of the cheese and potato pie my sister made me.  I cooked chicken and chips for tea Friday which we washed down with a glass of champagne to finally celebrate having Aryn permanently thanks to the judge agreeing it was best. 

We went to the Malt at Landywood for lunch yesterday, it was delicious, we were supposed to go to the bonfire at Himley last night but when we found out they'd sold twenty two thousand tickets and were recommending people caught the bus, we weren't so keen, add that to the fact I wasn't 100% better, we gave Aryn the choice and he chose not to go, so we treated us all to lunch instead.  Looking at the comments on their Facebook page, I think we made the right call.

We spent our chill out time watching the rest of Yellowstone, all four series watched now, and the next series starts on Paramount+ next Sunday apparently, we don't have that, but we'll get to watch it at some point.

My awesome sister got me a leg of lamb so I've just put it in the oven on very low and will cook it for hours, I want roast parsnips, so will nip to Farm Foods and buy frozen, I was going to nip in Aldi on way back from lunch yesterday, but they were queueing to get on the car park, nah I ain't doing that!

I've missed not swimming, not been since last Monday, hopefully be well enough to go tomorrow, Aryn wants to start the gym so maybe we can start that too, gently at first of course!  

Oh speaking of Aryn, I went for his review at school on Friday and it all went well, so that was a relief, it's not even been a year since he arrived in the UK (December 6th will be the year) and it's been a hell of a journey for him, but he's done so well and I'm so, very proud of him and how far he's come.  

I'm looking forward to a day of rest, cooking a dinner and doing not a lot of anything snuggled down on the settee.

Whatever you're up too, have a great time xx

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Thankful Thursday

3rd November 2022

Celebrate your small wins.

Yesterday I was thankful for Elle, I didn't blog because I spent most of the day in bed. My little head cold that turned into full on lurgy Tuesday night and by the time I woke up yesterday, I barely had a voice, Aryn thought that was hilarious!  I woke at 4ish after getting a decent sleep thanks to Night Nurse, my ribs hurts, my voice had gone and I felt generally yuk, so I had a cuppa and went back to bed and slept till tennish.  I managed to sort Aryn's breakfast and dinner, did the washing up, through some washing in the machine, then tumble dryer then I spent the rest of the day in bed.  I felt worse than when I had covid earlier in the year, it's not covid, I've tested every day, it's just a virus that hit hard, but I've woke up feeling much better, my pains loads better, I can actually breathe again, my voice will take a few days to come back lol, but I'm gonna have a shower and I'll be good to go.  It really helped being able to have a day off and rest, in our previous jobs, we couldn't do that because we didn't get paid but also because we struggled to get someone to cover our meetings, thankfully there's two of us now so we can do a day off.

I've managed to eat, I enjoyed scrambled eggs on toast yesterday, the day before I had Sainsbury's carrot and coriander soup which cost 55p and was delicious, I had it with 2 slices of toast.  

For dinner yesterday I made stewed steak and dumplings, with peas and mash, all using store cupboard stuff, it was delicious, even if Aryn did mock my dumplings, said they were more like scones. 

 

Aryn also had battered onion rings on his, now we've tried a few of these and his favourite are Coops, they're £1.70 for 454g, Monday I picked up a packet in Farm Foods, I think they were £1.49 and the bag had 750g in them, he didn't comment so I'll assume they were good enough, because he's quick to notice if I change something.  That's a good saving, so I'll be buying them from now on.  

Upside of being poorly, no drinking, so some calories saved there.  

We're supposed to be going to Himley Bonfire Firework thing on Saturday, but the forecast is rain for starters and apparently, they've sold out, 22,000 tickets and recommended people take the bus because of parking troubles that they had last year.  That sucks!  I don't fancy having to arrive 4 hours before the fireworks to guarantee we get in.  Wished I'd not bothered now.

I've got a chicken in fridge, I'll put that in the ninja later I think, quick easy meal again, maybe have it with microwave chips, use up some of the freezer stuff again, 

Here's to Thankful Thursday, what are you thankful for?  Me, it's having food in the kitchen, a warm bed to sleep in, people who love and care for me and two crazy bloomin cats who think it's funny to run round like tornados in the middle of the night!

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx 

Hiding doesn't help!

1st November 2022

Dear November, I'm just using you to get to December!

I like this idea of 'Choose-Day', I'm going to choose to drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy, what are you going to choose to do?  

November is a month that is easy to ignore and wish your way through, but two months later, you'll wish you'd started today.  We can either have a great month, or a rubbish one and do more damage, I know which I prefer the sound of.  Hiding away doesn't help does it? 

So how can we make this month matter, ooo we could do NOvember, start saying no more often.  I really like that idea, rather than giving something up completely, which can be really difficult, I prefer the idea of saying NO a little more and resisting temptation, that way whatever kind of November you have instore, you can still take part.  Yep, success is about persistence not perfection, so that's the plan and hopefully it'll work!

Who's up for that?

So today, choose to say NO!

I went shopping yesterday morning, the prices of everything are a joke, I found myself buying a few things that are on offer so I can stock up for when they aren't. I did treat myself to some nice yogurts for breakfast though, I haven't had a yogurt for so long and I thought they would do me good healthy wise. That's breakfast sorted, now to decide the rest of the day, thinking soup for lunch later. I might have a meat free day today because my throats all swollen so it's not much looking forward to food to be honest, maybe cheesy mash later. All it wants right now is soluble paracetamol.

Night Nurse was taken last night, and I've been unconscious most of the time, woke at 4 needing a hot drink to help me swallow. Yeah, I'm choosing lots of tea today.

Let's choose to have a positive day and say No to things we know aren't going to help us hit our goals.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me x