Buzzing ain't I!

Thursday 23rd May
Difficult roads often lead to BeYOUtiful destinations. 

I went to bed with the biggest smile on my face last night, I know it should've been because I'd lost weight at the scale that morning - 2lb taking my total up to 5.5lb in May and getting me into the next stone bracket but that wasn't the reason, it was because I had just seen 2 fox cubs playing in my back garden, too cute!  I knew I had a fox under my summerhouse and now I know she's had 2 cubs, yesterday I'd woke up to find a plant pot half way up the garden and a few other things moved and I had a feeling they'd been out playing, so it was wonderful to see for myself.  I ended up going to bed later than planned but I woke up buzzing anyway, so plenty of water and good energy food to keep me going through the day.

I made these delicious egg nom noms yesterday, I'm using up what's in fridge so had spring onions and a yellow pepper although you could use any veggies and I use a mini muffin tray (£6.45 on amazon), but guess you can use a bigger one 

Diced spring onions and pepper - you can use any veg.

Share veggies between muffin case, then I popped a bit of phili light in each one, used 80g in total which was 6SP, this would work with light cheese triangles also, adjust points accordingly.  

Whisked 6 eggs and add salt & pepper (and any herbs or spices you fancy) and pour in each one to cover over


Cook in oven, mine took 20 mins at 180 or until cooked


They were so good straight from the oven, I got 5 for 1SP, great cold too. 

I decided I needed food before pay day, so nipped into Aldi on my way home, returned a camera to Amazon so was £72 in credit (been trying to get those foxes on camera all month, the minute I send it back, I see them in real life) those images are in my head forever.  

I finally got round to trying the SlimWell Chicken Tikka Masala, the greedy cow inside me was trying to convince me it was alright because its only 3SP but the lover of good food was screaming nah, it’s not for me, some of the chicken pieces are chewy & the sauce is a little on the tomatoey side, if I could buy the sauce on its own for about a point a jar & add my own chicken, maybe I would but I wouldn’t label it tikka masala, it's nothing like the one I love from M&S but that's 16SP so that says it all.  I think I might have to have a cook of my mates butter chicken recipe, that's delicious.  I'll pop the recipe at the end of this blog. 

For my tea I had this minted chicken kebab, I used a Flava-it mint sachet, which is 1sp per quarter or 6SP for the packet, I used half so that was 3SP.  The rice was 5, half a microwave packet and 1sp for the dressing. SO GOOD! I do love food and I'm loving that I'm making time to cook for myself.  

Now I've never been to one of this ladies classes but I get a lot of excellent feedback about her so I asked her to make a video for my members about next weeks topic and she did, here it is if you want a watch Strength training, she also starts a new Yoga class at the hub at Ashmore Park tonight at 7.30 if you're fancying something new, I'd love to be able to go, yoga is something I enjoy, but I'm still at work and because of mom it's not feasible, so if you can and want to - GO for me ;) 

Well I am in a very, great mood this morning, I'm 1.5lb off my next little goal of 7lb, I hadn't seen this number on a set of scales in a Workshop in a very long time, I'd seen it naked on a Monday morning after going to the toilet but they won't let ya undress in a workshop so I was delighted to see it yesterday, once I've got that 7lb, I'm aiming for 12st 7lb as the next one, breaking it down into small goals.  None scale goal today is to drink my water to help keep me going through my 12 hour day, because I have a feeling I might be having another late night now I know those fox cubs are there.  

Enjoy your day, if you're struggling, remember I was too (well I still ain't finding it easy) but let's take it one meal at a time and together improve each and every day xx 




Here's that epic recipe from my mate Claire

Butter Chicken feeds 7sp per serving, plus rice or use cauliflower rice for zero

180g dried rice is 18sp - cook according to instruction

550g chicken breast diced (or more as it's zero)
5Tbsp Tandoori spice 3sp
1 ½ tbsp can't believe it's not butter light 3sp
5 green cardamom pods lightly crushed
1” cinnamon stick
4 cloves
2 small onions finely chopped I used 3 shallots
1 heaped tbsp grated ginger
1-2 green chillies slit lengthwise
2 tsp paprika
2tsp curry powder (any)
2 tsp garam masala powder
3 tbsp tomato puree 1sp
120ml Elmlea light cream 7sp
5 teaspoons sweet freedom syrup 4sp
1/2 tsp fenugreek leaf powder (Sainsbury's)
Salt to taste
Chopped coriander for garnish

Marinade chopped chicken for few hours in the tandoori spice then oven cook till tender.

Heat a heavy bottom sauce pan and add the butter. Add green cardamom, cinnamon stick and cloves. Fry for 20 seconds, add the onions and sauté for 5-7 mins on medium heat until they take on a light brown colour.

Add the grated ginger and slit green chillies. Fry for a further minutes and add the curry powder, paprika, garam masala powder along with the tomato puree. Stir well and cook for a couple of minutes. Now gradually add the cream stirring continuously to mix all the spices with the cream. Simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes. At this stage add a splash of water if the curry is too thick. Stir in the syrup and the fenugreek powder. Season to taste. Now add the cooked chicken pieces and simmer the curry on a low heat for 8-10 minutes. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice.

Broke a promise to myself!

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
If you improve by 1% every week, within a year you will have improved by 52%

So #MyMay got real yesterday!  I admitted Monday, I finished my week on minus 94 which was probably over 100 because I'd pointed the yogurt wrong, anyway I'd promised myself I wouldn't get on the scales before weigh day because they can fluctuate so much and I don't want my journey just to be about the numbers.  Well I broke that promise and I'm glad I did, I stood on my own scales in the workshop yesterday morning and it was showing I'd lost (I know they might be different today) but I have to say it motivated me massively, I came home cleared out my kitchen scales, made a public declaration of my start weight (yeah I put it out there for the world to see) and the love and support I got from that post was BeYOUtiful!  

It reminded me how important it is to find your tribe, those that make you feel like the best version of YOU, the ones that lift you up and help you remember who you truly are.  Those that remind you that a blip in the road is just that, a blip, if you're going through a tough time, they will walk beside you until you come out the other side.  They are the ones when you walk out of a room, they've made you feel better than when you walked in.  Your tribe are the ones that even if you don't see them face to face, you feel them heart to heart, if you haven't already, find yourself that kind of tribe and love them hard.   I've found mine in my WW family, I have met so many incredible people over the last 15 years, some I've never met in person but thanks to Facebook we've been able to connect. 

So it's out there, I started on May 1st at 13st 4.5lb, back at my start weight but I am in the process of crawling my way back to being Bev rather than just being a carer for my mom, it's taken me a few months to get my head right, but I'm feeling the best I've felt in a very, long time.  And I've got to this place by focusing on those little wins, giving myself some attention.  Rejoining a workshop has helped me massively this month because it's made me focus and be accountable, posting on Facebook yesterday is going to add to that accountability, it'll be a reminder that I want to do this. 

Seeing all the success in my workshops is inspiring me too, yesterday there was so many pounds lost on my scales, almost 10 stone in total, there's proof right there, WW works! 

I've lost 3.5lb so far and hopefully today that'll be more,  I'm under no illusion it isn't going to be easy, but I've done 3 weeks and holding in there and anyway 'm not in any rush, I love food & wine way too much to deny myself completely. I can't put my wellbeing on hold whilst caring for my mom - I matter too, I can't let her illness and behaviour continue to send me to the kitchen for comfort either.  So last night when she refused to take her tablets, I just said okay and rolled my eyes as I left the room, they'd gone this morning so either she took them or hid them but hey - pick your battles is something I've learned the last few years ;) 

I've been going old school since rejoining, I'm using a paper journal to track my journey, I still use my app to point stuff and because I want those wins, I already have the metal bottle, I have my eye on my next prize.  Yesterday I cleared those kitchen cupboards, got the old sharpie pen and marked the points on everything, anything I scanned and decided was too high in points and not worth it, went in a bag for the food bank.  Look at that for organised!  The coffee mate is for my brother when he visits, so not worth the points! 

I made breakfast muffins on the morning, for anyone who hasn't made them here's photo instructions, so easy, I added some leftover blueberries this time.  Usual ratio is 1 egg, 1 banana, 30g porridge.  

I used 2 bananas, 2 eggs, 2 packets of WW raspberry & chai seeds porridge 10SP (there's 45g in each packet so you could use 95g of porridge or 10SP instead. 

break up banana in a jug or bowl

 then mash them up 

add the eggs

 

and mix in 

 stir in porridge

 I added blueberries, you could add raspberries 

 share between a mini muffin tin  (£6.45 on amazon)

 take them out about 20 mins later or when they look cooked (mine were on 180) 

 eat some warm but be careful those berries burn! 

 20 mini muffins, 2 for 1SP, delicious. 

If you're interested this was what I ate yesterday, some of those mini muffins, my lunch was a random mix of liver and onions leftovers and I cooked some lentils and stirred them into the onion gravy it worked, great way for me to hide lentils which of course are a zero hero.  

Dinner was cod in butter sauce (3SP each), I had 2 because I was hungry and I'm using the freezer contents, mash and veg, 

Then I did indulge in a glass of wine and a bag of crisps, like I said I'm taking my time on this journey, I'm in no rush to get to goal. 

Today's weigh day, off to be weighed by the lovely Elle at my WW workshop this morning, wish me luck, here's to another good day for all of us, not sure what's on my menu but I'm going for a 23SP day today, no wine tonight because it's a long day at work tomorrow.  Need to go freezer diving to see what I've got to tempt me! 

& so my working week begins.

Tuesday 21st May 2019
When things inside you change, things around you change

Well I had some energy and enthusiasm yesterday, I loved it.  I started my day with a dog walk then tried to make these eggs, put the egg in the middle of a ring of red pepper, it didn't work as the white of the egg wasn't cooking as quick as the yolk, won't do that again!  I had to flip then over easy and that's not how I like my eggs.  

 I spent the morning cleaning, a proper good spring clean, everywhere downstairs is now spick and span and my office is well, it's not ;)

I had this for lunch for 3SP, it's the only one of the big soups that's low in Points and fills a gap, be great with an extra chicken breast shredded in there.

I got a bit creative for my tea, had liver and onions in gravy but added chorizo (weighed it) and olives (counted them) and this set me back 15SP but was absolutely delicious.

This photo came up in my FB timeline, can you like my FB page please, https://www.facebook.com/WWBev/ I'm going to use it for my personal WW journey, keep all my meals and food finds in one place, the more people that like it, the more FB will put it in newsfeed, if you see something on there you like, share it.  Anyway back to this photo, that's the smile I've got back 100% this month, going back to WW as a member has helped with that for sure, it's not just about the numbers on the scales, it's much more than that, it's reminding me each week that I am work that effort, even after #MyMay is over, I will continue to prioritise myself. #MyMonth every month I reckon, #JournalJune will help too, journaling makes me aware of my eating/drinking behaviour even if it's more SmartPoints than in my allowance.

Here's what we got up to yesterday to add to that collage above, me and mom using Facebooks sitting in the garden and being silly after we'd had another drive out in the countryside. 

I've always believed happy people make healthier choices and I'm proving it this month, I'm thinking more about how what I eat/drink will affect how I feel and it's helping me make different choices.  My levels of patience and tolerance are higher, this makes a massive difference, because if I'm not as angry or frustrated as I could be given the circumstances, I don't open the fridge looking for a distraction.  If I'm already happy, I'm not looking for my happy in the bottom of a bottle, if I'm enjoying my day, I'm not looking for fun in the kitchen cupboards.  Yeah food is delicious and I'll always really enjoy a good delicious meal which will most likely ensure I never hit a healthy BMI again, but I'm not looking to food for comfort, happiness or anything other than the delicious taste  this month because I'm finding those things in other places.

Who know cleaning the house could make me feel so good afterwards despite the fact my back was in bits, Alexa played me some serious 80s pop tunes and I sang my heart out as I scrubbed the wet room floor.

Now for today, what to eat, I'm going to make some of those porridge mini muffins as I have 2 bananas on the turn and some blueberries that didn't taste as good as the last lot, simply mash 1 banana, 1whisked egg and either a packet of WW porridge or 30g porridge, and I'll throw the leftover blueberries in too.  Then bake in muffin tins until cooked about 20 minutes I think on 180.

I'm eating from what I have already in the freezer, I have liver and onions leftover so will probably have that today and maybe a WW chilli con carne, we'll see. Whatever I have it will be adding to my healthy eating and I'll enjoy.

Have a very, great day, Eat Gorgeous & BeYOUtiful, I plan too.

May's my fav month so far this year #MyMay

Monday 20th May 2019
Happiness is the thing we want most for the people we love most.  Put yourself on that list.

Well starting the day with a 5 mile walk really was lovely yesterday, my only disappointment was that I had hoped we could follow the wulfrun path from Essington to Northicote but as you can see from the red line below, we had to double back on ourselves because for some reason there's a gate with barbed wire about 100 yards before the Cannock Road and if they expect anyone to be able to walk around the fence, it's not happening because it's so overgrown, real shame because for the sake of that short length it could've made for a lovely walk, I wanted to follow to find out.  The 5 mile we did was lovely though through green fields and lovely views. 

When we got back I walked Alfie, unlike my bro's dogs, he doesn't do a 20 minute mile, I recorded the walks with him yesterday for amusement the first we did was 0.6m in 55 minutes, the second 1.1m in 48 minutes, but add up all the steps I did yesterday and I ended up with 9.33 miles, 142 active minutes and 37 Fit Points, not bad for a Sunday!  

Didn't have much of an appetite yesterday so picked but then to tempt mom I suggested some chicken in batter I had in the freezer, they were 6SP each because of the batter and they're processed meats, but they really hit the spot and so good to see mom eat some proper food rather than biscuits! 

For tea we both had a crisp sarnie, again it's better for her than just the crisps! 

I realised an epic fail yesterday, see even I get it wrong, it has to be zero Greek not low fat! II hadn't noticed when I bought it that it wasn't zero, I just saw 2 versions and opted for the obvious low fat one.  I’ve eaten the whole tub over the last 2 weeks thinking it was zero and it's a kilo tub with 21SP total in it, so an extra day of points, all makes a difference to the results on the scales. 

My third week on plan hasn't been as successful if you only look at the points I've used, I finished the week on minus 94 - oops but if you look at it from my #MyMay project, it's still going really well, just looking at my weekly review in my journal, and THE BEST BITS were sitting on the green with Alfie for half hour and not stressing about having to be home, my massage on Friday, walking with my brother and seeing not 1 but 2 herons and bunny rabbits running in the field, piglets playing, getting my hanging baskets and putting them on the hooks and watering them for the first time this year, really enjoying my workshops - knowing how my members feel when they either do or don't get the results they want, appreciating nature on my walks, the dandelions and pretty flowers oh and the goldfinch I've seen a couple of times.  Yeah I can't actually remember anything I've eaten this week other than yesterday because I've just wrote about it, oh I lie I remember that chicken and spinach masala,  but how good is it that I'm not just thinking about food and I'm appreciating the little things in life.  

THE HARDEST BITS, well that's resisting the nibbles I made the mistake of buying, I'm a babybel light addict, won't be buying them again, I can't resist them, same with those WW Fava beans, I know it's okay to have snacks but I can't use my wine points on them, they're not worth it.  

I have a freezer full of food and an empty purse so I need to find a way of using those foods this week, might take the liver out today and do liver and onions, I have a couple of frozen WW meals and some Penn Rd sausages, so I can stay out the supermarket really, at least till payday on Friday - where did May go!  The last bank holiday weekend until August coming so let's make it a good one.

Here's to staying within my allowance, if I don't earn the fit points I can't use the extra points and this week I didn't quite earn enough to cover my deficit. 

Hey Ho, todays another day, let's make it a very, great one. 

 

Enjoy your Sunday

Sunday 19th May 2019
Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot and are thankful for everything you've got.

So my new favourite way to enjoy a bit of me time is to sit on the grass with Alfie while he watches the world go by.  We did it for half hour yesterday afternoon and about 10 minutes on the morning, in the past when he's sat down, I've told him if he wants to lie about he can do that at home but now I realise if he does that at home he can't see so much and it's great for me because it gives me a break from mom who was being a miserable sod when we went out on the afternoon but had improved when we returned.  

He loves it look 

So yes if it's dry and she's got one on her, I'm all for going at sitting on the grass somewhere, even if we do get strange looks because yesterday it was in the middle of the estate at the end of a street - do we care - hell no we don't!  Plus we had already done our walk so hit my active minutes quota for the day, I aim for 60 minutes that's my goal, 

This is my new favourite ready meal, 11SP for the masala, 5SP for the micro rice. Ive always loved their chicken tikka masala but this saves 5SP which covers the rice. 
  
I added a cheese slice to my omelette on the morning and it was worth the 2 points to make it absolutely delicious, I've since been told you can get the light ones for 1SP so I'll keep my eye out for them and compare to see if they're as good.

I'm over on my points this week but I'm still tracking and hoping to earn a huge chunk this morning with a good walk with my brother.  I'm sure the weather affects my eating habits, I eat and behave much better in every aspect when the sun shines.  

Oh we've talked about having a growth v fixed mindset in my workshops this week, these were the 12 proven ways to master a growth mindset that I said I'd share, I had them from another website but I can't find it now so can't give the credit to wherever I had it from. 

1. View challenges as opportunities
   we are constantly faced with important decisions, the more we challenge ourselves the more opportunities we have to improve ourselves. So to develop that growth mindset look for ways to challenge yourself and learn new things. 
2. Prioritize learning over seeking approval. When your more concerned about other peoples approval you miss out on many opportunities, so stop worrying about what other people think. Instead focus on bettering yourself for your own benefits. 
3. Focus on the process instead of the end result. People with a growth mindset have a willingness to learn, that's why it's important to enjoy the learning process. Yes its important to have goals but one of the keys to success is to learn valuable lessons along the way as you deal with unexpected challenges.
4. Cultivate a sense of purpose. Keep the end goal in mind and always look at the big picture, ask yourself the following on a regular basis. Is what you're currently working on part of a major life goal, if you frequently say no to this question then take time to reevaluate your priorities 
5. choose learning well over learning fast. Learning isn't something that can be rushed, you should be willing to make mistakes and experience challenges 
6. making mistakes doesn't mean you're a failure. You're not a failure if you need to improve on something, in fact making a mistake simply means you are on the right track. You're just not there yet. So in the words of thomas edison, never get discouraged if you fail, learn from it, keep trying. 
7. Learn from the mistakes of others. You shouldn't compare yourself to other people but when you see someone else make a mistake, keep it in mind for the future when you are in a similar situation. 
8. Learn to receive constructive criticism. This of it as feedback, use it as a sign that you should work on that area of your life, don't take it personally. Often these people are trying to help you so think of criticism as a way to learn and grow as a person. 
9. Cultivate GRIT. Grit is a perseverance and passion for long term goals. You can break this concept into two components. First the ability to stick to long term goals and second the ability to keep going despite adversity. 
10. Set a new goal for every milestone you achieve. Success is an ongoing process, growth minded people are constantly setting new goals so they can stay motivated in their professional and personal projects. Personal growth is never finished, as there is always another goal to reach or another interesting project to tackle.
11. Remember that it takes time to succeed in anything. Nothing worth doing comes quickly and easily. You have to be realistic about the time it takes to learn new information. Implement it and figure out what actually works. So bottom line if you'd like to truly master something in your life. Be prepared to work at it for a long time. 
12. Reflect on your learning every day. Make sure to absorb everything you learn throughout the day, whether this means writing down the main points at the end of the day or doing a little bit more research on a top that help your interest. 

Right that's me done, I'm off to have a very great day, mmm and I'm thinking cooked dinner today possibly with meat, veg and gravy, we'll see how I feel later but I need to do some thinking about planning before eating! 

Enjoy your Sunday, I plan to enjoy mine. 

How you doing?

Saturday 18th May 2019
Put yourself at the top of your to do list. 

Every day can be a fresh start, never forget that, just because it's the weekend doesn't mean we can say oh, I'll start again Monday, if like me Friday was higher in points than planned, draw a line right now and do your best with the points you have for the rest of the weekend.  I'm on -15 already and have 2 days to go before they reset, thankfully I've earned 51 FitPoints and plan to earn lots more before the weekends out! 

I'm glad I went over in a weird way because I had the munchies and ate nibbly stuff which reminded me, not to buy anything I don't plan on eating, I love those babybel lights but can't resist them, so that was 2SP spent, the WW fava beans again they've become a 2SP extra to my day oh and when mom started being stroppy about being hungry, I made her scotch pancakes and sweet freedom syrup and ended up having one myself, eating that told me they're not work wasting 4SP on, they weren't that tasty. 

Despite ending my day on 49SP, believe it or not that could've been so much worse, I resisted the welsh cakes (5SP) and walkers cheese and onion (4SP), all about the small wins.  I also went on a second walk I really wasn't in the mood for but Alfie wanted so that was FitPoints earned. 

I did get to relax though which was much needed, mom wasn't helping with the relaxation process yesterday which could've been a reason for my munchies.  Or actually I think it's more that I've been 'being good' for over a couple of weeks and as usual I gets a bit complacent because I've started to feel better in myself, I need to remind myself of my WHY, how I was feeling a few weeks ago, that'll keep me on track and focused.  

I've got an M&S chicken tikka masala for my dinner today which is high in SP so I need to work the rest of the day around that and find zero stuff because I really want it, I've been looking forward to it all week.  

Ooo I pointed and tweaked that Mornay recipe I found yesterday, it does sound like a must do, here it is; 

Cod, cauliflower and chorizo mornay

Feeds 4, 13SP per portion.

1 small head of cauliflower, cut into florets

100g chorizo, roughly chopped

25g low fat spread

3 tbsp plain flour

500ml skimmed milk
140g cathedral city light cheddar, grated

500g cod loin (or any white fish) chopped into large chunks

50g breadcrumbs

½ small pack parsley, finely chopped

Method

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bring a large pan of water to the boil and blanch the cauliflower for 3-4 mins until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan and cook the chorizo for a couple of mins to brown, then remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil behind. Melt the low fat spread in the pan, then add the flour to make a roux. Pour in the milk gradually, whisking constantly, until smooth. Add the cheese, stir until melted, then season.
• Put the cauliflower in a baking dish (or divide between individual dishes) with the chorizo and cod. Spoon over the cheese sauce and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and parsley. Bake for 30-40 mins until the top is golden.

Right, that's me, I need to get myself ready for my workshop this morning, see some of you there, don't forget if you missed your regular workshop you're more than welcome to come visit and draw that line, or as it's open house, you can just come and enjoy checking us out - everyones welcome.

Here's to a very, great day, whatever life has to throw our way!  

I have the best tribe...

Friday 17th May 2019
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a TRIBE, call it a FAMILY, whatever you call it, whoever you are - YOU NEED ONE! 

The vibe in my workshops this week have been amazing, so much weight loss, inspiring stories and motivation to keep going, if you walked in struggling you left feeling 'damn yes I can do this!' That's down to each and every one of my members that stayed and supported each other, teamwork really does make the dreamwork. 

We've been celebrating our small wins, because when they're added together you get weight loss and success over time, things like saying no to that sarnie run at work, or those cakes that lovely lady bought in because it was her birthday, the bar of chocolate your son bought you for doing so well as a treat, opting for fish when you went out for a meal.  All these things make a difference.  

One of my favourite stories I heard yesterday was my lovely members who has mobility issues, she had surgery on her spine and when she joined she had a mobility scooter, now she's on a stick and has sold the mobility scooter using the money for a holiday!  When she started she was losing 1/2lb a week but she chipped away at it, this week it was 2lb, she's been walking over the chase, she's loving having her mobility back and being able to get about - NOW that is a real non scale victory! 

Everyone has been so supportive towards each other, it's true behind every successful individual is a tribe of amazing people who have their back and that's what you get in my workshops and I love it, I really do.  

I survived another day yesterday, yes I used some of my weeklies but heck that's what they're for, I enjoyed a packet of cheese and onion crisps and a big glass of wine before going to bed exhausted from a long, busy day and not much sleep the night before, I've had a lovely 8 hours sleep.  

I ate well yesterday, for breakfast I had scrambled eggs, I remember thinking oh I want eggs but then I'll have to have them on toast, before questioning that thought pattern and realising erm no I don't have to have toast, so I just ate them out a bowl!  Egg's don't need something to put them on! 

Lunch was Harj's curry leftovers she gave me Weds night, nom nom, as always, 

For dinner last night, I had this 7SP ready meal which was okay but for £4 I wouldn't buy it again, I do like cod mornay though, will look for recipes, this one sounds amazing but needs pointing and tweaking first https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cod-cauliflower-chorizo-mornay

I've made this chicken up to either pic at or make a salad with today, it's a Flava It packet and works out at 6SP a packet, but only 1SP for a quarter of a pack so if you use 4 breasts, 1SP each.  I've picked a bit of to taste, it's very nice.

I'm so looking forward to a slow day, got my massage this morning, not had one for two week and my back and feet are screaming YAY.

I'm also looking forward to tomorrows workshop because they'll give me more inspiration to stay focused and on track over the weekend.

Here's to a great day, #MyMay is still very much helping me stay focused, I'm in in for the long haul not the quick fix - what about you?

Celebrate the wins

Thursday 16th May 2019
Keep going, because you did not come this far, just to come this far.

Well I lost 1/2 pound, at the beginning of the week if I'd known it would be half pound, I would have been annoyed but my thinking has changed over the last few days, I'm in this for the long haul not the quick fix.  I heard a lady say to a little girl when I was shopping Monday, 'what you want, what you need and what you get are all very, different things'.  It made me smile but it's such a true statement, so re weigh in yesterday, I wanted my half stone, I needed to just make progress and I got a half pound weight loss confirming that I am.  because I changed my mindset before getting there, I was okay with my little half, I enjoy food and wine and I don't want to cut it out of my life too much, plus even if I lose 1/2 a pound a week, I'll still lose 2lb a month, which give's me my half stone by summer and my stone by autumn, I'll be on course for my personal goal weight for my 50th. 

Turns out sleep is the key for me, I did enjoy up eating more than I'd planned last night, what didn't help is instead of going to bed early, I stayed up later, partly because mom was making a nose so she'd have kept me awake anyway but mostly because I wanted to watch Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 back to back as they were crossover episodes, I'll regret that today I'm sure!   My Fitbit's telling me I've had 5rs 49 mins with 12 restless minutes, I had more restless than it says because mom woke me for the first time at 3, then 4 and from then I dozed and kept checking the time till I got up at 5.  Hey ho.  I've got all my meals planned for today so that should help and I'm going to make sure I'm hydrated because that helps too. 

Oh and you don't need the details but I've been to the loo which I needed to do before I got on the scales yesterday! Just saying!  So after my workshop, I decided this week to celebrate the small wins to keep me motivated, it's not just about the weight loss, they were last week, resisting walkers cheese and onion (although this week I've had a packet already!), leaving food on my plate that wasn't great, weeding the garden, resisting cake.  

I've made these promises to myself for the coming week

I will journal honestly & accurately each day. 

I won’t step on any bathroom scales to my workshop next week. (I made this mistake last week and I was a lot lighter Sunday and Monday than weigh day - it does nothing for your mental health so I'm staying off them).

I will continue to make myself a priority. 

I will drink 2 litres of water each day. 

Yesterday I made egg bites using some frozen peas and mushrooms, just pour over whisked eggs and bake, they're there to nibble on for zero points, I forgot to add a bit of salt and pepper though. 

My lunch was amazing, roasted butternut squash with Katsu chicken, so that's an uncle beans Katsu sauce it's 4SP a pot but I only ate half.  The chicken is a breast, I dipped in egg and then coated with 20g of breadcrumbs for 2SP, really tasty.

I've resisted these for a while but last night I just fancied one at the workshop - I'd say being tired tempted me here. 

This was my tea, a bit of this and that, I really enjoyed this too, babybel for 1SP, 2 broghies 1SP, cottage cheese with pineapple 3SP

I ended my day on 32 Smart Points which to say I had a bag of cheese and onion crisps, fave beans, wine and another baby bell, that ain't bad at all!  I earned 12 FitPoints and had 88 active minutes, did a bit of gardening and I've still got 19 weeklies left.

Today's message is keep going, one win at a time, my plan this week is to make a note of those wins, I'm looking forward to my planned day of delicious food, everything in my fridge is going to be enjoyed for sure, I'll eat it in use by order ;) 

Let's have a very great day, 12 hour work day for me, well more to be honest because I start from home as soon as I finish this blog and I'll get home tonight about 8ish, so yeah I need to keep my energy and water levels up - we can do this, we've come this far, let's agree to only tell ourselves things we want to come true.  Today, bad vibes don't go with my outfit, my outfit being whatever I can put my hands on that's clean and fits ;) 

Mwah, have a good one BeYOUtiful xx