92 Days of Summer Day 58

Me and My Boy

 Today me and the kids went for a walk down Derwent Walk, just a 2 mile segment the rounded back again making a total of 4. 

And yes for 3 out of the 4 miles I carried Joseph on my back. Its really funny Joseph is actually lighter then all the weight I've lost (in fact I think I would need to carry Yasmine in order to get close to it) and he's heavy man! I was carting around more then him! That's a bug deal! I think I've been putting myself down a lot in forgetting just how far I've come, try carting a toddler around you'll soon remember how much weight you've lost!


Steps today: 15,630
Steps so far: 826,656
Steps to go: 173, 344

I knew he'd fall asleep in there!

Beautiful babies and me

92 Days of Summer Day 49

Today I went for a really long walk!

 Philip had to drop off a computer in Dipton which is quite close so I said to just drop me and Joseph off and I'll walk home with him.

It took a while, but I had a lovely walk all the way round!

So When I got home yes I was tired but  I got really close to 9 miles and then once your there you might as well make it to ten!




So I did it! I'm a little insane!

Steps today: 25,085
Steps so far: 712,799
Steps to go:287,201

I may just take the day off tomorrow! I've basically done 2 days worth in one! (There's a map at the bottom of where I walked!

love spending time with this fella!

 Also, for my Weight Watchers buddies Pizza just there is only 6SP! So all you do is 50g of 0% fat free yogurt and 50g of flour for the base, homemade tomato base ham and pineapple then cheese (well I used protein cheese) YUM! Other people use it!

Anyone who knows the area knows where I walked but I took out the names of places just so people can't just guess where I am!

92 days of Summer Day 3

Can I just give a shout out to my baby boy here?
My Walking has been such a gradual thing, and its been happening over his lifetime really, He's been sitting in his little pram (or his trike) for a lot of it, we go off on an adventure in his pram and he's sat in snow been plowed through it in some cases, and its a lot for a little boy with lots of energy, he's always dressed appropriately for the weather don't worry....

But he's been my little walking buddy on so many days! And now, he's wanting out of his pram the other day he walked from out house down to the school (a mile by the way) with his reigns on (You can't see but he is attached to the pram here!)  but he's really starting to develop now!

 Phil and I were talking about it, about how both the kids are active kids, they both go swimming (Joseph is still wearing armbands) both will walk and be outside happily, I never wanted inactive kids, and I think sometimes we're put off by the "organised" school team events, or at least I was, I was never any good at races or netball or football or dodgeball (I'm sorry but people threw those balls really hard!) and I was asthmatic! I was always better at swimming and walking things which weren't measured against other people to say how "good" you were. Maybe Yasmine and Joseph will be different, maybe they will be good at organised exercises, but I want them to know its good to be good at walking, at swimming (either competitive or not) and it still counts as exercise!

Steps Today: 13,083
Steps count to date: 41,531

92 Days of Summer- Day 2 Up the Hill!

Today, I did something I'm really proud of! Well, I know its not a lot to many but to me its an achievement. Today I climbed up Roseberry Topping! Its a short walk of 1.5 miles but it is all up! Elevation of 565ft! 

Let me tell you! Wow! I'm not afraid of heights, I can be in a plane looking down and be fine, but you know when you're really far back in the theatre and you're climbing all the way up to the top where your seat it, I can't look back I feel so scared that I'll fall! Its an irrational fear in a theatre but climbing up this in parts, it was so real! I kept telling myself not to look down one side of the hill because I knew I would freak out! I walked all the way to the top really climbed in places and when I was at the top I walked out pretty close to the ledge at one point, again not afraid of the height and I was far enough back that I knew I wouldn't fall! It was so worth it!

Out on the ledge!

 So yes today is a good day! I feel so blessed to have my man beside me, especially today 12 years and 1 day married to this guy! I'm one lucky today!!!

Steps Today: 15,865
Steps count to date: 28,448

Turkey Stuffed Roasted Squash- Zero SmartPoints!!!

 I made this as described only I only used one Butternut Squash because I made it for 2 people not four, and at 0 Smart Points it was a bargain after the terrible diet I've had today. I've been stressed to high heaven so I've just been eating whatever is at hand, I've not exercised since Saturday and I feel lazy! 

I am of course looking after two sick children which is why but all the same!

This one is a nice warming recipe, the spice is like a undertoned chilli spice, it was hot but it wasn't an overbearing hot (no doubt when coupled with the very plain Butternut Squash it was made to go together just right. 

I wouldn't share this one with the kids just because of that chilli spice (Yasmine would wave her hand in front of her mouth and say its too hot!) and if you don't like chilli spices this one isn't for you, but we (unfussy eaters we are) enjoyed it!

Leek and Potato Soup with Chicken

We're having a ill week here in our household. So loaded down will cold like symptoms we all needed some simple food!

Yes its pointed BUT it is the nicest soup I've had in a while.

2 Leeks and  200g of potatoes were lightly fried in a pan, 2 chicken breasts were popped in the oven.

600mls of veg stock was added to the potatoes and leeks along with some garlic salt and a little bit of pepper.

Once the stock was cooked down in the potatoes and leeks I cooled it all the way back down to room temperature then added 200mls of semi skimmed milk. Stirring as I went. I then blended the ingredients and added the chives.

once the chicken was cooked I sliced it and served.

Both kids loved the lot and so did I. Real treat at 3 Smartpoints!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Yummy!

Teriyaki Chicken

So I made a couple of changes to the recipe on this one 

1) My shop didn't have any Teriyaki Paste/Sauce/marinate so I had to make it from scratch which is okay because I found a really simply recipe which I adapted (because it called for white wine and I don't drink) but I pointed it all and it turned out my changes made it 2 Smartpoints not 3 as per recipe.
2) I also didn't serve it with asparagus as suggested because my kids wouldn't eat that but instead I served with green beans and broccoli.
3) I didn't serve the sesame seeds for Yasmine, she doesn't like sesame seeds. 

 My Teriyaki Marinade

• 8tablespoonsAmoy Light Soy Sauce

  
  

  33 Points
• 4tablespoonsShloer White Grape Sparkling Juice Drink

  
  

  22 Points
• 2tablespoonsArtificial sweetener

  
  

  00 Points
• 1clove(s)Garlic

  
  

  00 Points
• 1teaspoons, levelGround Ginger

  
  

  00 Points

Shared by four this works out as 1 Smartpoints per serving.

And there are the rest of the ingredients. 

We served with rice (6 SmartPoints worth about 60g) 

Yasmine LOVED it! The chicken thats it, she didn't eat the rice. I said I would need to make it with chips next time for her she seemed very enthused by this!

Joseph had a nibble of the chicken and the proceeded to just eat the rice. 😒(trust my kids!)

We both enjoyed it, it was very tasty, only problem was is that I wanted more!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Stars WeightWatchers

You're pulling on my....

Arm!

Now that was unexpected. 


But you know I am happy with where my weight comes off in general.

But the main place where the weight is very visible is my arms. 

And I know why.

Its very difficult to 'use' those (what is popularly known as) 'bingo wings' muscles Even lifting children.... They don't get used.

So I've taken to doing a online video which is only three minutes long but it makes your arms burn! (I'll contact the youtuber later and see if I can include a link... if of course it works....)

So, I've done it 3 nights this week, I don't know if you can tell the difference yet but I think I shall keep you informed and keep an eye on my weekly pictures and tell me if you notice a difference!

Zero Point Moouse

With Jelly crystals (like the harley ones 0smartpoints) boil up 1/2 a pint (285mls) stir and allow to cool to room temperature add upto 1/2 pint (285mls) of fat free yogurt. Stir together then put into moulds (as you can see I've just popped them into 4 small plastic tubs) there's no bubbles in the moose but its really nice at 0 smartpoints good for snackers with a sweet tooth!

Quick and Easy Breakfast

Breakfast is ready!

Those of you who know me know that I love a cooked breakfast! I've put them on here before as a victory 'look what I've done for very few SmartPoints' kind of thing. There are some days however you just can't make yourself do it right? 

For all a healthy breakfast is a great start to the day I think we are sometimes fooled into thinking that actually being full for longer is less important then the calorie intake.  

Its difficult to get your head around sometimes that its the foods and whats in them which are important. One of my favourite things at the moment are eggs. When they brought in the Flex Smartpoints eggs were one of the food which weightwatchers changed from having a points value to them not having points at all. The reasoning is that studies showed that eating certain foods had no effect on the rate that you loose weight (if cooked and prepared in the right manner).

So naturally WeightWatchers websites have exploded with foods which can be made free (or very low) in SmartPoints. Now Egg was not the only free food found on the Flex but it does help with making delicious foods!

So this is breakfast on the go. I'll tell you before I show the ingredients they are 1 Smartpoint for two cups.  They are great for people on the go, food you can literally prepare in advance, pick up and run and they really take very little time to prepare as well (though I'll admit I didn't time it!)

What You'll need

A Muffin tin

6 eggs 

3 bacon medallions

3 mushrooms

6 cherry tomatoes

Fry light Spray

1. With the frylight, spray the muffin tin with it
2. break the eggs placing one egg in each cup
3. get a fork break the yokes and whisk the eggs lightly in the tray (don't worry if its not scrambled completely)
4. cut up the bacon medallions and share equally among the six cups
5. Cut up the mushrooms and share equally among the six cups
6. cut up the Tomatoes and share equally among the six cups
7. Place in oven 190 (fan oven) gas mark 5 for 15 minutes.

I've also seen this done with cheese though you will need to add those points/calories to the final count.

Per recipe:

Bacon medallions =97 calories /1 Flex SmartPoint

eggs=338 calories/ 0 Flex SmartPoints 

Mushrooms= 85 Calories/ 0 Flex SmartPoints

Tomatoes= 15 Calories/0 Flex SmartPoints

Frylight spray=6 Calories/1 Flex SmartPoints

For those on weightwatchers its a great little snack if you are on the hungry side and the plus side is they are made up already to go!

Sausage and Sweet Potato Bake

I purchased The New Flex Cookbook from my WeightWatchers meeting today and took the time to make one tonight.

Now I know the cookbook says 6 SmartPoints but I ate 10, because we shared our meal between 2 of us not 4.

But hopefully the recipe I followed will help you point or calorie or syn as you see fit. SmartPoints are in Blue.

Ingredients 
255 g Sweet potato(es), raw 8 
1 tablespoons, level Wholegrain Mustard 1 
1 medium Red pepper(s) 0 
1 medium Yellow Pepper 0 
1 large Onion(s) 0 
1 poron(s), small Mushrooms 0 
250 g Cherry Tomatoes 0 
1/2teaspoons, level Paprika 0 
6 piece(s) PORKY LIGHT SAUSAGE 11



OH MY!! It was really really good! Easy to make straight into the one pot. You're really just throwing it together... 

Philip liked it. I mean it did have sausages in! There was nothing in it not to like. 

Well worth the ten points!

End of Week 10

So this week food wise, I thought I had done okay. I'd gone over a couple of times but that's what weekly points are for.... plus I've been under rather then over on most days and last night in particular I felt entitled to a hot chocolate a weight watchers chocolate bar and a (homemade) rice pudding....

Last night was not good. I walked down to the school to get Yasmine and decided it was too dangerous to be pushing the pram up home with Yasmine too so we went to wait for a bus. HALF AN HOUR later it STILL hadn't showed we were standing in the freezing cold poor Joseph was crying so we walked along to my mam's house and I asked Phil to come home early and come and get us from Mam's (as dad was not leaving the house in the snow (understandably so) Phil got back to our house and said he wasn't driving down to mam's as people were driving crazy (because of the snow) He walked down to get us! I was not a happy bunny last night I already assessed it was too dangerous to walk up the hill.... apparently it was safer to walk then to drive (which actually I could well believe because the gritters hadn't been out). Phil pushed the pram up home and I think he could see why I made the assessment not to walk up there with the two of them on my own....

                                                              So maybe it was the 2 mile round trek which helped?

Maybe it was the fact I'm no longer bunged up and felt like I was carry half a stone extra around with me when I went to weight in?

But end of week ten as you can see, I lost 10% of my start weight. thats averaging 1% lost in a week which is 3.1lbs a week which is 31lbs lost. This has also put me safely past my two stone mark!!

I feel I should post this on Facebook I'm so chuffed with it! I got my ten percent keyring! Part of me thinks to keep it in the box but another part of me wants to take it out and carry it around with me! And the good news is... I've still got 24 days until Christmas Eve....

What do you think another stone?

Weight loss this week:-5lbs

Weight loss total: -31lbs or 2 Stone 3lbs 

End of Week 8

 So this week Ladies and Gentlemen has been an interesting week...

I've been on Flex Smartpoints this week and if you like its a step between Smatpoints and no count.
Weightwatchers have added more stuff which you previously had to point to their no count list BUT they take 7 Smart points off your daily allowance....

The idea behind it is that these new no count items can be added to your daily intake and not be counted.

Now wait and see what was on the list. Eggs, fish (unsmoked, non processed) chicken breast (no skin not processed) turkey Breast (no skin not processed) peas (not mushy) sweetcorn (including corn on the cob) all lentils and legumes. All of these include canned veg and canned fish. (unless its processed)
These are a HUGE deal. I love love love peas and sweetcorn but avoided them because they were pointed 2, for a veg... (I think not!) Now this week they've been there and I've been eating them guilt free!
Eggs used to be 2 per egg. Now free you only have to count the bread and you can have dippy eggs for 2 (for one egg and one buttered crustless bit of bread) or 4 (for 2 eggs and two buttered crustless bread) instead of 6 and eight respectively.

You can do a veg broth for free, add lentils to your soup... completely free!

Chicken dinner.... nearly all free (just count those potatoes!)

I was on it all last week, I was not hungry once and I only once went over my daily allowance but it was because I was being greedy and had a flake soooo.... that was worth it!

Along with this of course was the fact I didn't use all my dailies everyday.... So you can roll onto your weekily four a day. So you can roll over a reserve and have treat you want if you like.

The science?
Proteins found in these food keep us fuller for longer. So by encouraging us to eat them we eat less naturally anyway...

I've seen people go on and say if I'm allowed to eat two chicken breasts I will just eat them....

WHO can eat TWO chicken breasts with their dinner and not be full? I mean HOW?! Unless you are Adam Richman, ya can't! And if you really can...  I want to meet you and shake your hand!

This little girl passed her level 4 class in swimming this week.... as a result she took me swimming Thursday night.... and she worked me hard! My legs and bottom were killing!

So the result?

I lost my regular 3 pounds.....

Is this true Mammy?   No no it isn;t!

Now hold up and listen...

This to me is a huge success.

Its the week after my monthily ladies and this is my heavy week. This time last month I only lost a pound in that week so to loose as normal is a big deal.

As well.... I didn't feel like I lost, I told my husband so, I told Joseph's swimming teacher so, I even told my leader so. So it step on and see that.... Its just awesome!!.... Also it marks my 25 pounds lost in 8 weeks! I'm not even at the end of month 2 yet.... I so want to loose three next week, that will mark my 10% and my two stone!

Five SmartPoints on Flex

Weight loss this week:-3lbs

Weight loss total: -25lbs or 1 Stone 11lbs

My Potato Epiphany

I forgot to get a couple of things at the shop on Saturday, call it what you will, old age, sleep deprivation I clear out forgot. So Phil dropped me off up at the local supermarket and I went into get my select few items.

One of them was a bag of potatoes, because I'm eating more of them, just as well really I like potatoes but anyway I get the 2.5kg bag, purchase it and out it in a bag for life.

I was thinking it was the perfect opportunity to just be lazy and get the bus down home, the bag is heavy because of the potatoes. we get to the bus station, its freezing cold and we've just missed on by a matter of minutes, and I think there is no point just standing here waiting for a bus when we could be home in that half an hour, and you know what, the potatoes aren't that heavy right?

So bag for life in one hand with my little bag and pushing Joseph's trike with the other, I start for home. I find myself naturally swapping hands because actually those potatoes are a little heavy, but I'm carrying them carrying them and I start to wonder if someone didn't put more potatoes in the bag then necessary, because its getting heavier, or seems to be...

I get  about 3/4 of the way home and I start to think, kilograms ummm that must be about 6 pounds right? So I check when I get home and sure enough 5.5 lbs=2.5kg.

And its hit me, two weeks ago I was carting around this bag of potatoes. except I didn't have the option of shifting where my weight was, it was there, on me, I know I have very little control of where it comes off too but I was carting this around all the time not just from Stanley down to my house all day every day and I think wow seven weeks ago I was carrying around four of these! And although for a short time it makes no difference at all you can lift it and carry it for a little while but carry it all day every day... let me tell you I don't think I'd want to carry round that bag of potatoes all day!

It made me think, even if that six pounds takes you twelve weeks its a bag of potato!

A bag of potatoes!!

Weekly treats and breakfast

This week was bonfire night and me and my Min went to our town firework display and for the first time, I counted in my treat! I thought I was insane at the time because... well can you see the size of that burger! They were huge! But we went and she had such an awesome awesome time! I may live to regret it if I don't loose any weight but all the same! Look at her! No amount of weight loss would satisfy me more then having a good time with my girl!

So this was my breakfast yesterday... and yes, I'm on a diet! Beans could have been added for another 3 smartpoints which I wouldn't have minded because everything added up on here is 8 smartpoints but I didn't because I didn't want beans.

I personally don't miss the fat on the bacon. The medallions for the three are one smartpoint, the sausages are three (they are direct from the butcher who said they are the same as the slimming world sausages just it has more herbs in (meaning they would be no more smartpoints) tomato and mushrooms are free, the egg is 2 and the bread is one and I added one for the fry light cooking spray I use. (I used 20 sprays for the whole thing that egg included) so I use ten to coat the pan and I look everything but the bread and the egg together, the sausages I put in first because they take a while to cook through (I don't know if its meant to be pink inside at all but I really get freaked out when I see pink so I have these in the longer so they are cooked to my specifications) get everything cooked pop my bread in the toaster and another ten sprays of the cooking spray and egg in... 

I love the fact I can have a cooked breakfast and still stick to this diet. 

As for weigh in tomorrow, I don't know how I feel, my wii fit tells me I've lost a pound from last weigh in but it has told I'm heavier then the weightwatchers scales before.... I hope its more then one pound but if not, actually one pound is one pound. Still an achievement, still a pound off... but we'll see how it goes....

Get your bake on!

I like to bake. It is honestly one of the  have only ways I'm a good little housewife. I love to bake cakes and biscuits and I like to cook meals at the end of the day! Mostly because I think when you like good food you want it at home so you learn.

Its always one of the things I miss when I go on a diet, so when the weightwatchers magazine for November came through, and there were bakes in there... well you weren't going to stop me.

 Yasmine helped me bake this one. she was happy to fluff up the mix while my arm was resting and I think she found it interesting. She likes to bake too, so since she's just finished her turn at cookery club... guess who gets to bake with her now!

 

 You can see it looks a ... little different! So here is what we did. Our cake tin was 24cm not 20cm... and they say size doesn't matter! Well I managed to get it cut in half but I bet I would have been more comfortable with a 20cm or smaller case! 

Having said that, its still a good bake and I was surprised how the case turned out considering just how little flour and sugar is in it! (Side note, I only seemed to have plain flour so I did use baking powder in my cake because I used plain flour, I may need to experiment with the amount I put in see if it makes any more of a rise!)

I also think the mousse, although made to the specs needs another gelatin leaf if its going to look like anything like the one in the magazine! Not that mine is terrible or anything, as you can see it hold its shape just fine!

Yasmine told me to leave the bits out next time, but despite the fact it was quite a tart gateau she seemed to enjoy it. 

We did used frozen mixed berries rather then just blackberries AND I used strawberries to decorate rather then blackberries because those things are expensive in shops!!

It did however taste very nice. Both me and Phil enjoyed it and its a nice little treat for three Smart Points, considering only three would get you a plain special K bar too!

                                Thumbs up Weightwatchers magazine, thumbs up!
                                                                   👍👍👍