Why are you doing it? Or why do you want to do it!

Monday 13th March 2023

Never forget why you're doing it!

We ask WHY quite often in our huddles, I'm doing it for health & energy, I won't mind feeling better in my clothes and enjoying buying them again too though, why are you doing it?

Was I golden over the weekend, no, but I did have a wonderful weekend and I continued to track everything so that I was aware of what I was doing.

Saturday we had a sausage sandwich using the honey & mustards sandwiches from HelloFresh, omg I wish they sold them separately rather than part of a meal because they were delicious, 236 calories for 2 though.  

For our dinner I made up t-bone steak, we used up the leftover chippy chips from last night, although I left mine, I just ate half the steak with the peas and mushrooms, I was full, this is a new feeling.  I had the smaller steak of the two, that plate is his.  

 

What was left of my steak, I made a sandwich of it last night for tea, it was lush with some mustard on.  The tbones were from Essington Fruit Farm, they're £23kg, they hadn't gone up in price since the last time we fetched some which impressed me and it's around the same price as I've paid anywhere over the last few years, Westwood's is another butchers I've used in the past.  You can probably get them cheaper but they wouldn't be the thickness these were I don't think, always check the per kg price.  

Breakfast was cheesy scrambled egg on toast. The bread I bought had sourdough in which was why I picked it up but I hadn't realised it was thick bread so almost 150 calories a slice - ouch.

Dinner was simple, I'd chopped and frozen leftover beef in gravy a few weeks ago, we had it with spinach mash and carrots, the ingredients left from the HelloFresh meal I hadn't cooked and the sprouts I'd had from Aldi last Monday, they kept really well. I didn't put loads on anyone's plate, said 'there's more in the pans in you want it", but no one did, so we don't need the portions we usually have!.

We had a lovely weekend, I look forward to him arriving as much on a Friday afternoon as I did the first time he knocked my door 18 months ago.  We enjoyed our steak meal in front of the tele just as much, if not more than we would've enjoyed going out for a posh meal.  

So a lot of red meat this weekend, need to balance that out now, I can tell from my stomach it's much more difficult to digest. I've got a Gusto box coming today, I'm already impressed by the contact from them, the email tells me when the meals needs eating by, that's saved me the job of checking the dates which I have to do with HelloFresh, these are the meals I've chose;

  

  

The dates are good too, I could keep one for Friday for all of us and the other for the weekend.  

Anyway, I need to get my backside to the pool, I know have exercises to do in the water, but my memory is so bad I'm never gonna remember them all lol, I'll try and remember a couple and build up over time.  I've been a little achy this weekend, but that's muscle ache which will go away.  Ooo I've got a massage this afternoon to work on my pain, I've also got a check up with the nurse today, gonna tell her about my acid reflux and heartburn whilst I'm there.

Let's have a healthy day, I'm still working on my fibre, I need to work on the water intake, it's been a little better the weekend because he drinks it which reminds me too, but the cold weather doesn't encourage me.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Real life involves enjoying food & drink!

 Saturday 11th March 2023

Plans change - that's okay!

 

Well yesterday didn't go as planned!  But it was excellent :)  It started with a message from school to say it was closed, I let him shower before sharing the news and he sat with me for an hour and we had a catch up and a natter, laughing at the silliness of some of the stories on Good Morning Britain.  

He then disappeared to enjoy what he enjoys best, gaming, it's what kids do now isn't it and to be honest, I'd rather have him in his room than walking the streets with the things you hear on the news.

I couldn't decide what we were going to have for dinner after discovering we had sausage and mash last Friday - oops, as he never comments on what I feed him, I thought I better not give him the same tea again, although he did say, if you've started it, I don't mind, he's a good bloke.  He's also made me late this morning but I've just got 35 active minutes on my Fitbit so I won't complain (TMI!) 

As the morning went on, I had my physio appointment over the phone and he was really pleased with the walking in the pool and the walking I'd managed to do, he said I've been doing a different kind of physio and he's sent me some pool exercises to do and given me a 6 month open appointment where I can call and ask to speak / see him if I feel the need.  He also agreed in the power of massage so I'm going to continue with that.

Anyway, by the time that was done, the roads were clear and I decided to drive to the shop to get some dinner, asked my sister if she wanted to come so we had a shopping trip, oh that's dangerous, 3 shops later we had food and we'd had a catch up so it was healthier than going for dinner.

Well I bought Aryn some sausage rolls and though I'd have on as a treat, well they forgot to put the sausage in I think!  look at it...  My morning eggs were lovely though and other than a pear that was all I had all morning.

When I got back from the shop, himself arrived as I was putting the shopping away, so he was really early, normally I don't want to go to the pub but yesterday I said yeah and we went and did some daytime drinking!  Which then led to this...

We were home just after half six and as you can see we shared the food, half a pie, half a doner, half a saveloy and a handful of chips with curry sauce which I didn't eat all of.  I wad dreading tracking it, I'm not gonna lie, but I've just done it, taking photos helps and I'm over on my day by 500 calories.  I managed just over 8k steps and although my leg twinged a little whilst in the shops and stood in chippy, it wasn't anything like what it was a month or so ago which pleases me greatly.

Yep, yesterday was a very, good day and I enjoyed every mouthful of food and booze had.  Back to good behaviour today, we'll eat some of that food I bought yesterday lol.

Looking forward to our huddle this morning, especially after we had to close Thursday night, then I'm not sure on what the rest of the day holds, I fancy ten pin bowling I think, we'll see.

Whatever you're up too - enjoy.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

I hate snow!

Friday 10th March 2023

Make it a good day.

This will be mostly what some of my day involves!

Have I mentioned I hate snow!  The drive to work yesterday was fine, heavy, slow traffic but roads good, half hour later when I moved my car, it was horrid, my car went all over the road at one point and the snow was still coming.  Elle said the forecast on tv had been it would get even worse from 3pm so we decided to cancel the evening huddle to protect our members safety.  I drove home whilst Elle did the lunchtime huddle, my car skidded once when I tried to brake but thankfully nothing hit or broken.

I fancied a pork chop dinner, I'd already had a chicken and beetroot toastie for breakfast, forgot photo, added a little cheese too, that with the pear and cuppa came to 2calories.  Then when I get home I had the last bit of chicken with a slice of bread and soft cheese.  SO now I've already eaten almost 600 of my daily allowance but I still wanted the pork dinner.

Aryn's school were sent home at lunchtime because of the weather, he graced me with 10 minutes of his presence before disappearing upstairs where he fell asleep!  I made our dinner, I cooked us 2 chops each - WAY TOO MUCH and it beat me but that was the leftover onion gravy and potato from last week and I added lots of veg, there's green beans under that gravy, so I may have gone over my calories but I did hit 24g of fibre, 1784 calories consumed,  couple of seafood sticks, some wine, it all adds up.

I've put HelloFresh on hold and ordered a Gusto box as I had 70% off, then 25% off for the first 2 months, we shall compare them.  I know there are other boxes like this, I'll have to research.

It's snowing again grrr, I have a physio appointment this morning at 10, otherwise I wouldn't leave the house, I can't see me going swimming in this, unless it stops and the roads clear and my house suddenly tidies and cleans itself!  At least I've been three times already and did those couple of walks.

I'll make the sausage dish today, although it's onion gravy that Aryn won't like, I can make him a bit of bisto I guess.  Proper comfort food sausage and mash, 617 calories the dish so not too bad.

I'm going to go strip the bed and get that done out the way, can get it washed and dried and put back on, save me sorting another set out.  Then I'll do the litter trays - ain't our lives rock and roll.  Aryn's gonna be gutted schools open - lol, life's hard ain't it.  He ain't got a meal deal ready either, so he'll have to hsve school dinners, I'm sure he'll cope.

Here's to a fab Friday and a wonderful weekend, whatever the weather.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x

 

Brrrr.....

Thursday 9th March 2023

Not everyday is easy - but you get through.

I woke up at midnight looked out the window and saw the snow settling, that didn't make me smile, I don't like it!  It's either slippy or slushy, it makes it difficult to get around and people don't come to our huddles which of course affects our wages, so no I don't like it one bit.  It does look like it hasn't frozen but I won't know till I go to clear car off.  Just watching news it's saying amber warning for West Midlands grr!

Anyway, that's my whinge done, oh no it isn't the bin men broke the lid off my bin when emptying it yesterday!  I have been online and asked for a new one - let's see if I get one shall we.

On to much more positive things, we had a lovely huddle yesterday and when done I decided I would go swimming, I'd gone home to get my costume and nipped upstairs to do a spot check on Aryns room, despite asking him to put his rubbish in bins there was stuff all over the place, so I did it myself!  I told him, I'd start doing it myself if he didn't do it and I felt so much better for doing it, I don't want litter strewn everywhere.

I did an hour in the pool, half swimming / half walking and I felt good when I came out, came home and finished working on the journal, just need it proof reading by Carol now.  Aryn got home just after 3 and said, 'let's go to the gym' YAY, lol.  I managed to do a mile walking on the treadmill before the pain kicked in so bad I had to get off and sit down, it was still a mile, just shy of 20 minutes and I haven't done almost 10k steps in a very long time.  I did pay for it the rest of the day, sleeping was a bit uncomfortable too, but use it or lose it, I've got to keep trying.  

For dinner I made this, it was delicious and absolutely full of fibre, about 18g, very tasty, I could make it without the Hello Fresh but there North Indian Spice mix wouldn't be easy to get, could use curry powder I'm sure.  

 

the sachets, there was about a teaspoon or 2 of nigella seeds and 1tsp per sachet of the spice mix.  It was really tasty, ready cooked lentils, reminding me I do like lentils, as long as they are flavoured well, they are delicious and Indian cuisine knows how to flavour them.

If you want a free one, message me I have a box, or use the code for discount

I'm gonna try Gusto next I think, I've been given a discount link, just need to sit and look at it.

I was in bed by 8, watched a bit of tele, chatted on the phone to himself, then fell blissfully asleep waking up every few hours, first time because on of the cats was scratching my bedroom door - grr.  Woke up about midnight for the loo, wasn't impressed with the view out my window, then just woke up to move my joints around the rest of the night.  I have managed 8 hours sleep though. 

Other than my dinner, I had a chicken and beetroot salad, will the last bit of chicken be okay, I cooked it Monday?  I then had a carton of mushroom soup for lunch, plus a packet of Worcestershire sauce French Fries that Elle bought me, 80 calories of niceness.   Later I fancied a bag of salt and vinegar crisps with a slice of bread and spread, nom nom, that did take me over my daily allowance by 200 because I'd already had some wine, but I did earn 681 calories apparently being active, check me out.  MY fitbit says I used 2558 calories and my Nutracheck app says I ate1761 calories so still a deficit.

I know it sounds like I'm being a bit full on, but it takes seconds to track stuff and the fitbit does it all for you, I just look at it to blog the next day, I'm actually probably spending less time thinking about food than I was before I got on track because it's not the only thing I'm thinking about.

Here's hoping we have a happy huddle day and all our members make it to us, not sure what's on our menu yet, I have an HelloFresh sausage meal but I thought about saving that till tomorrow when we're all here, I've got some pork chops in fridge but again they'll keep till the weekend, I could have leftovers from last nights, I'm not sure, will see what Aryn fancies as he ended up eating a meal deal last night because there were too many onions in the dinner, he didn't like it.

Let's enjoy the day, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

Success at the Scales!

Wednesday 8th March 2023

Prove to yourself not others.

Well check me out I lost 2.5lb, that's 7.5lb in 4 weeks, really pleased with that, shows by tracking and eating fewer calories, this weight loss lark does work and you don't have to starve to death.  I have noticed I'm getting fuller quicker, so cutting my portions isn't bothering me so much.  Increasing my fibre is helping, although it isn't easy at all to hit the recommended 30g a day when you're trying to lose weight too, I got an average of 20.8g last week and I can feel the effect on my body from it.  

I went swimming yesterday morning too, did an hour of half walking, half swimming, then spent the rest of the day working, loved the huddles, I'm now over halfway through the new journal, Coco doesn't help, as soon as I get my laptop out, he want a fuss!

I spent half the time, trying to stroke him and type one handed!  You don't ignore Coco, his claws are sharp :)

Foodwise yesterday, I used up the leftover cooked Heck chicken sausages by making 2 sandwiches on Nimble wholemeal with them, a bit of turkey ham and beetroot, I used salad cream instead of spread and they were lovely.  I couldn't eat the two at once, so had one for breakfast, one for lunch,   Had my banana and pear too.

For dinner I'd had an HelloFresh delivery, I've postponed it for the next 6 weeks as I want to use up freezer stuff before Easter, catch up with the cash issue.  

This was the meal, well this is what it should've looked like; 

This was mine but DAMN IT WAS FINE FOOD, I will definitely make this again, I've actually put the recipe in our new journal :) I forgot to put the yogurt on so that's not necessary.  

 

I usually like fish cooked so you can just taste the fish but this marinated with tikka paste added to the flavour and you could still taste the fish, really, really delicious.  If you fancy trying it claim this £47 promotion towards your first box of fresh ingredients and delicious recipes. Start your cooking adventure today. and use the following promo code: HS-XMWMARD2P. Happy Cooking! I do have one free box, if you want it message me, but please only do it if you'll use it, first come first gets. I have really learned a good few tips having these boxes for cooking myself. The rice last night was made tasty by adding some garlic, tikka masala paste and coriander to it whilst cooking, took it to another level flavour wise.

So that was my day, I did have a cheeky glass of wine and a couple of seafood sticks, I was over my allowance by 47 calories too, but that's not the end of the world is it, progress not perfection! 

I feel good right now, I've had my 'monthly' mood swing last week and survived it, I may not have periods anymore but I still have moods that I can't put my finger on why I'm being grumpy or moody so I'm blaming my hormones, well this time I didn't head for the kitchen or the wine to 'cheer' me up because lets be honest, it only 'cheers' you up for seconds, then you're bloody miserable cos you're still fatter and just added a few pounds.  

I will get into that damn dress I bought October 2021!  Yep I will and I'm looking forward to having to buy myself a smaller swimming costume too, a lovely lady gave me 3 when I started swimming and I was very grateful not having to try and work out my size as they were perfect, I've actually worn one out, I noticed a lovely one in Sainsbury's the other day and I thought do I buy it?  I also want just a plain swimming costume, I might actually order one of them today, you know the kind you wore at school, does absolutely nothing for ya lol, maybe I need to rethink that one! 

Back to today, we've got another HelloFresh, I'm looking forward to it because SJ made it last night and raved about it North Indian Style Cauliflower & Lentil Dal 1with Caramelised Onion and Spinach, it serves 4 so can have the rest tomorrow or freeze.  Aryn can have a bit of leftover chicken with his if he wants some meat.

Looking forward to this mornings huddle, might skip the swimming as I went yesterday and try for a walk if it doesn't snow!  I'm trying to build up the muscles again around my knee and sort my back.

Whatever your day looks like, take a bit of time for you, it's not selfish, it's self-care.

Mwah, luv ya

Love me  

Let the scales smile today!

Tuesday 7th March 2023
 

This was me yesterday, I had me an hour enjoying my book with a cuppa in-between working my way through my to-do list, work/life balance - you can't beat it.  

I started my day in the swimming pool, then dropped Aryn at school, couldn't make him walk in that rain, although I did let him walk home, that's different, he can get dry once home.  

Nipped to Aldi for a chicken, fancied one Sunday so needed to get it out my system.  Put it straight in the oven when I got back and started working on this weeks chat, all about food, saving calories and money.  

I had a pear and banana whilst waiting for my chicken, also a couple of seafood sticks, but then when it was cooked I had this; 

 

Now I bought the grains for the fibre content, 8g in half pack but I've got to admit I wasn't keen, I ate them but I wouldn't go out my way to eat them again!  Even if I could get over the texture, I wasn't keen on the taste of this particular packet.  I do have another packet to try in a different flavour so we'll see what I think of that.

The chicken cost me £4.15, they were 2 for £8 in Co-op but they didn't have any and I didn't really need two anyway.  I used more of it in our dinner, pasta and chicken with peas and carbonara sauce that had been in the cupboard a long time as the use by date was 16/3/23.

Using the ZenB pasta upped the fibre on this dish, it's not as good as white pasta but it's alright.

This is how my week ended; 

 

Went over twice on calories but made up for them the rest of the week, plus I'd lowered my allowance to try and ensure a weight loss, last week it was 1540 calories a day, the week before 1790, so hopefully I'll get that weight loss today, I'll be happy with a pound, I'd be chuffed with 1.5lb to give me the extra half from last week and if I got 2lb that would be half stone since I got back on track on the 17th February after my holiday and remember I didn't gain on holiday - woo hoo.

My other focus last week was fibre, to increase it not to hit the 30g target, I don't want to go from one extreme to another in a week, can you imagine the result of that!  Although to be honest I haven't noticed any difference, if any it's been a healthier toilet experience!   Overall I've doubled my fibre for the week, pleased with that.

 

I expected that by upping my fibre, I'd automatically hit my 5 a day - I was wrong, so that's this weeks focus, to up the fruit and veggies, I'm already eating 2 pieces of fruit a day, pear and banana, they're edible for me and work out at about 15p each.  I need to buy some salad I guess, it's just a bit cold to justify it on my plate! 

My fitbit is showing I managed to exercise 3 times last week, hopefully will manage a couple of walks to add in this week making it more, that'll up my steps too.  I'm feeling better than I have in a while regarding my pain, my knee hurts after I've walked but I can cope with that if I can get the sciatica under control!  I'm having no problems sleeping though :) 

SO this week's focus is upping the fruit and veg, I know I'm not drinking enough fluid either, so I need to watch that, but one thing at a time, can't change it all overnight, if I could I wouldn't be in this situation would I!

I really enjoyed my day yesterday, had me another bath, couldn't decide whether to read book, magazines or watch tele once I'd finished the notes for weeks meetings and I spent a few hours putting together our next journal (if you've got a recipe that needs sharing, send it to me please).

Now I had HelloFresh delivered yesterday so might do one of them later, but I have chicken left to use, I'm thinking a chicken and turkey ham sandwich for breakfast, see I needed some salad or spinach to add to that and I don't have any!  Maybe a little beetroot, there's one of my 5 and some fibre. 

Boringhell, hark at me, all on it like a car bonnet :) I do feel better for it though, just the feeling of being in control is good.  I've cut down on my wine, I had one glass Sunday and one yesterday, bottles lasting 3 days - who knew that was possible!

Here's to a very good day, hope you join me, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx
 

I'm improving all round!

Monday 6th March 2023

Start thanking yourself today!

 

They say 

And I have to say at the moment I agree, I do feel better already, I started tracking on the 17th February so it's not quite been a month, so it's just over 2 weeks and yes I do feel it, I managed to go for a half hour walk yesterday, I haven't done that in a long time, it was 20 minutes before my leg pain started to hurt and 25 minutes before I wished I was home but I did it and it was improvement.  I give credit for that to a few things, my weight loss isn't getting any yet, it isn't enough and I'm re losing weight I'd already lost, so no.  It's more likely to be the walking in the pool I've been doing, the couple of epsom salt baths I've had and most likely the winner for it is Nikki she's given me a couple of treatments including cupping to focus on my pain.  Now I've been asked what cupping is so here's the info; 

Cupping therapy 

What is it & how can it help you?

Have you noticed more and more celebrities showing up to events with little round marks on their backs? These come from cupping therapy. But what is it?

Cupping is a type of alternative therapy that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. This suction is thought to improve the flow of energy in the body and facilitate healing.

One of the oldest medical texts to mention cupping therapy is Eber’s papyrus (1550 B.C.) from Ancient Egypt, though cupping is a part of many ancient healing systems, including Chinese, Unani, traditional Korean, and Tibetan.

Greek physician Hippocrates, often referred to as the “father” of medicine, even compiled descriptions of cupping techniques.

Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed. This may relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new blood vessels in the tissue.

Cupping is thought to alleviate symptoms by promoting peripheral (close to the skin) blood circulation and improving immunity.

According to the 2018 review, the effects of cupping therapy include:

• promoting the skin’s blood flow

• changing the skin’s biomechanical properties

• increasing pain thresholds

• improving local anaerobic (without oxygen) metabolism

• reducing inflammation

• boosting cellular immunity

The red marks, caused by the cups, are a result of the blood being pulled into that area & are NOT bruises. The darker the mark, the more stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) were dredged up during treatment. The marks last anywhere from a few hours to several days. The more often you receive cupping for the same issue, the lighter the marks will be.

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit better so all is good, I even managed to stand a little in the huddles last week as standing actually hurts quicker than walking.  

They also say this months choices are next months body, which is why I'm really trying to make wiser choices because we're going away at Easter which is a month away and I really want to have a go at Snowdon, even if I don't make the top, I'd like to make it some of the way up.

But back to now, we had a quiet weekend, after the huddle Saturday we ran a few errands then as Aryn was still recovering from his bug, we took advantage and went to the Broadway for a carvery, I think I have a gravy problem!  I have to say the meal beat me though, I'd got me a standard and him a large, then when he was offered one or two Yorkshires, he said one!  I was like WHAT, thankfully the lovely chap let me have his other one, I mean the are the best bit of a carvery for sure.  They have the calories on display too which helps not just with working out how many you've had but making you think about what you're opting for.

  

I finally got round to chopping up my pineapple, which I'd bought over a week before, 95p got me a good portion when chopped, definitely worth buying whole when you look at the chopped up prices, but not always an easy task I appreciate. 

Sunday morning I made up a healthy breakfast, I used bacon medallions and chicken sausages, no spread on my toast but I did have seeded bread.  It was delicious and kept me full most of the day as we ate it early.  

 

I couldn't decide what I wanted for dinner but we nipped to Farm Foods, they picked what they wanted and I just had a chip butty and a glass of wine (one glass check me out!)

Another weekend in the bag, even managed to hit my fibre 21g Saturday and 18.5g Sunday is a massive improvement on last weekend, pears and bananas helping to boost that.

This is what I came down to this morning, gotta love cats!  

I've had a lie in till 6am, 9 hours WOO HOO, but I will be going swimming, just a little later than usual, this walking in the pool as well as swimming seems to be working so I shall keep it up, on days I can't get there, I'm going to try and do a little walk to build that up.  I will get active again!

I'm still doing my 3 good things a day too, that helps to refocus your head when it's having a wobble.

Right I'm off to find my swimming costume and get this day started, I've got a meeting chat to plan too, I wanna talk food and meals so I need to get my thinking cap on for sure, plus I have an HelloFresh box coming so might cook one of the today.

Let's have a great day shall we, ignore the fact there's a frost outside and focus on the positives ;)

Mwah, luv ya

Love me xx

Let's March 4th!

Saturday 4th March 2023

Well it's 6am, cold and the internet is buffering - YAY, what a great way to start the day!  I'm drinking a mega mug of tea though, so all is good in my world.

Yesterday turned into a washing fest, apparently Aryn only brings it don't in piles and piles rather than daily grrr!  

I still managed to stay on track though and upped my fibre again, 19.4g which I'm pleased with, especially as I only consumed 1117 calories!  I can enjoy a little more today because of that I reckon.  My meals yesterday were my regular omelette, this one had mushrooms, spinach and parmesan cheese.  They really are filling and keep me going.  I had this when I got back from my swimming, I managed 45 minutes, wasn't in the mood yesterday, plus I had to ring the school for Aryn.

 

I had my sausage, mash and onion gravy but I bought Heck chicken sausages, they were on offer and I have to say, they were alright, they did the job and unlike pork sausages, they didn't repeat on me or give me heartburn - result. 

I did have a since of Hovis nimble with a bit of soft cheese and some wafer thin turkey ham on it at lunchtime, forgot how much I like Bernard Matthew wafer thin turkey ham.

That was my day really, I had a glass of wine, which was out of my bottle but then he went and poured me another glass which I decided was okay to have, then he topped it up with more but that was cold wine and I won't drink cold wine so it spoilt the glass and I didn't want it, which saved me calories.  I'd tried to stop this happening by giving him his own bottle but he was 'being nice', not wanting to moan but I don't want nice I want helpful and supportive lol.  

We've talked about saboteurs this week and as we've said, most of the time, they don't do it on purpose which is what happened last night, I resisted thankfully, so easy to be lead astray, especially when it's something you enjoy.

I did have a massage yesterday which was the highlight of my day, I'm trying to get rid of my pain and this is part of the plan.  The lovely Nikki, did me a back massage and some cupping which isn't what you'd call pleasurable but she made up for it by adding on an Indian head massage and some reflexology.  I'm hoping this combined with weight loss and the walking in the pool will help.  I did manage to stand in the meeting for 10 minutes Thursday night before the pain took over and became too much - that's progress, especially as I hadn't taken painkillers this week.

I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO HELP MYSELF!

And as the date says, let's all MARCH 4TH today :) 

Have a great weekend, 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

Here's to a Friday of control

Friday 3rd March 2023

We go this!

It's just gone 6am Friday morning, I'm going to go to the baths even though I'd rather stay snuggled up on the sofa watching tv because I want to get my healthy on and lose some weight.

This week I'm focusing on upping my fibre intake which also means I should up my fruit and veg intake at the same time, yesterday I ended on 29.1g fibre, 8.3 portions of my 5-a-day so Nutracheck tells me, plus 1411 calories meaning I was under target and I've even changed the settings to lower my daily allowance.

Breakfast had mushrooms and tomatoes in my omelette - 2.2g fibre.

lunch was beans on toast, I couldn't eat this every day, I'm just not really a fan, maybe if I put cheese in the beans, but they give me heartburn which doesn't make them an appealing lunch, there was 17.2g fibre in them though! 

I snacked on an apple and a banana - check me out!  But Elle and I spent some time 'talking what to have for dinner' whilst at the scales last night, not very wise for us not to have planned what we were going to eat.  I made the mistake of asking our members what they were having which made me hungrier and full of cravings.  When I got back Aryn still didn't want anything so I behaved and opted for a jacket potato with tuna mayo and peas, giving me another 7.1g fibre = result, I actually enjoyed it too.  

I then had a bit of wine, now if they were to bring out an high fibre red, all would be good in my world, especially if it was low calorie and high alcohol and tasted exactly like my Beyerskloof :) 

Aryn's still not well, he spent the day in his room lying down, I think he's had a better night but I don't think he'll be going to school, for one I don't want him to pass it on to anyone else, but he also looks so tired, he's barely eaten for the last two days.

I'm going to nip to the shop when I come out the baths, I fancy sausage, onion gravy, mash, carrots, cauliflower and peas for dinner and I need sausages.  I wanted it last night but if I'd stopped at the garage, I wouldn't have made the veggies, I'd probably just have had a sandwich and as tasty as that would've been, it wouldn't have been so healthy.  Check me out, taking control of my desires!  

Other than cleaning up the house, I've not got anything I have to do today, got an appointment this afternoon, so I think I'll do some of our Happy Owls journal and then a bit of chilling before himself arrives later.  I'm staying away from Aryn as I don't want to catch anything.

Let's take control of our thoughts and have a wonderful day shall we?  Have a good one x

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me 

The bugs hit the house - thankfully not me!

Thursday 2nd March 2023

Make your story great!

Oh ma'an I have a poorly boy on the sofa!  He didn't go to school yesterday, looks like he could have the bug going round and I've heard him up in the night too so I don't think he's any better.  He didn't eat a thing yesterday, so I know he's proper poorly!  Gutted because he had 100% attendance and he's just started his new subjects for his option but heck I missed an awful lot of school because of my Epilepsy and I've done okay, so we won't worry too much.

As for my day yesterday, I had a very hungry day, I think it was partly started because I went to do an hour in the pool, Aryn messaged me as I got out to say he was poorly and could I call school so I came home to check on him before work, rang the school, made sure he was okay then went to work without having had anything to eat.  I got back just before 11 starving and decided on skipping the omelette and going straight to the soup but that ended up with a side of cheese toastie!  The bread was there on the side - stale, so I thought, I could fry that and add a bit of cheese - foolish woman, 538 calories later!  It was delicious though, I used 40g of cheese too when 30g would've been plenty! 

I waited and waited to eat my tea because Aryn had came to sit with me and I'd asked if he wanted food and he'd said no so I didn't want to eat in front of him making him feel worse.  When I did eat again I was starving (I wasn't starving but I wanted lots of food) 686 calories on that there plate, damn it was god though and I'd fancied egg and chips since the weekend, the chips were good but not amazing, I'm yet to find an amazing frozen chip.  I cooked these in the actifry which made them better I guess.

Whilst waiting for this food I'd been hungry and ended up with some avocado smash on another slice of bread.  The last bits going in the bin, it's bloody stale for god sake and white bread is crap, I didn't buy it, himself did so I'm not losing out am I.  We're not on the breadline (Literally) yet!

I ended on track though with 3 calories to spare lol.  I like having a few left in the week though in case I indulge at the weekend, hey ho.  I earned 490 calories through my Fitbit so that's a bonus.  

My aim this week is to up my Fibre, I've been going really low which I ignore because my bowels work well but fibre isn't just about having a poo is it now, it helps our digestion and cardiovascular health and it encourages stable blood sugar levels - see much more than just having a poo.  It also of course helps us feel full and manage our appetite which helps with our weight loss journey.  

Anyway, I managed 18.8g yesterday and 17g the day before which was about treble what I was eating the weekend!  Need brown bread see not that white stuff! 

I'm sat in my bedroom because he's on the sofa and I don't want to disturb him, I like it up here though, it's warmer on my bed with my feet under the covers.  The cats are still here though, wherever I go they follow and crate havoc!

Busy day ahead, Elle's car has broken so she's being dropped off but I'll be playing taxi today, seriously between us, we aren't having any luck with cars! 

Now food wise today, I'd planned to make a pork dinner tomorrow but I hadn't planned todays meal, with Aryn being poorly, I might just have beans of toast (lots of fibre there) and keep it simple no need to defrost or prepare anything, if he improves he could have the same or maybe he can have some scrambled eggs.  I ask my mom advisor Elle what to feed poorly kids :) 

Right let's get ready for the day, I'll have my omelette for breakfast, mushrooms don't have much fibre in them 100g = 7g fibre, a medium tomato has 0.8g fibre in it.  I can eat a red apple I guess for another 1.2g.  Oh I have a cauliflower (1.8g per 100g) that needs using up, now I'm not eating that for breakfast but I could do something with it today. 

Have a great day, think about your choices.

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me xx

I lost a little half...

Wednesday 1st March 2023

Chapter 3 of 12

WOW, Spring is round the corner, the clocks go forward at the end of the month, apparently we are set for the coldest March in a decade but hey Summer is still closer than it was yesterday!

I'm up early as I'm off to the Swimming pool for an hours exercise, just booked it so I'm guaranteed a place, it's busy this morning by the looks.  

Yesterday was busy on the roads, what with lorry crashes on the M6 causes local roads to be blocked and there's 4 way traffic lights on the Essington Road that's creating chaos!  It meant some of our members struggled to get to us but most made it thankfully.

At the scales, I lost 1/2lb, that's 5lb since I got back from my holiday, so in just over 2 weeks, plus I didn't gain on holiday which was an excellent result.  Another day on track, I started with an omelette and a spoonful of Smashed Avocado, lunch was a bowl of leek and potato soup.

  

Then for dinner I made pan fried salmon, with courgette, spinach and cherry tomatoes, served with spaghetti in a bit of Philadelphia light. NICE!

 

Other than work and food, yesterday was a quiet day, I ignored housework, managed to do the washing up and give the hob a wipe, so my afternoon today will be cleaning, sorting the cat litter trays and generally being a domestic goddess.  I'm keeping dinner simple though, we're going to have egg and chips, the biggest decision I need to make is beans or garden peas?

Aryn's school timetable changed yesterday as his options were finally put in place, so he's gonna start getting lots of homework I reckon, I get daily emails from Go4Schools, how times have changed, when I was at school, our mom might get the odd letter! 

The Nutracheck lets you can now customise the diary meal occasions - add more, change the names and pick new icons, one of our members yesterday said she'd added one which she'd called 'extras' where she was going to write in her unplanned food, then use the notes to write why she ate it.  I've done the same, only I've called mine 'Unplanned' as extra's to me sounds like a good thing :)

In my unplanned yesterday was a bag of cheese and onion crisps and a slice of bread and spread, I've been fancying a packet for a couple of weeks now, so I got them out my system whilst I had the calories spare, they were lovely.

Right I'm off, here's to a great day, hoping it's a little warmer than yesterday, but I won't hold my breathe!  The heating is going on when I get home lunchtime if it's as cold as it was yesterday, although I should work up a sweat doing my housework - NOT! 

Mwah, luv ya 

Love me x