92 Days of Summer Day 21

Prawn, chilli and Tomato Spaghetti
(recipe was linguine but I updated
 it for my no count on weightwatchers!)

Part of being able to walk so well and loosing weight is being able to eat well.

Sounds funny I know!

But one of my favourite things to do is to really flavour things up!

And I'm always looking for ideas of food to eat, everywhere!

Sometimes I wonder if people think we don't eat on a diet, and we do, so here are some of the meals I've had (over the past week actually!)

Pancakes! WeightWatcher Style,
lets not get too excited!

 

Green Lentil Curry inspired by
 eat well for less (with chicken and rice)

One of my favourite programmes to watch is "Eat Well For Less" (I'm sad I know) but I love to watch it and they did something they don't normally do this week. This couple were eating terribly, they were filling up on Chocolate and Sweets and not really eating meals. They increased their shopping bill but showed them how to prepare food, how to eat, and I think that is really important, is to eat, actually eat! It makes such a huge difference when you eat properly!

Any of my friends, I have the recipes for all the pictures above!

Steps today:13,512
Steps Total:  279,028
Steps to go: 720,972

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

19/01/18

This morning we all got into the car ready for the school run.... It wouldn't turn over 😕

It was twenty to nine Yasmine's school is a 20 minute walk by myself without snow. With Yasmine it is safely 25 minutes. So Yasmine and I jumped out and walked to school, I called them on the way to tell them she'd be late and why we got there at about five past nine and they were lovely about it. 

From there I got the bus up to Stanley and got to my weigh in (Yey!) 

Philip kept Joseph home with him, because Joseph had a temperature, I couldn't expose him to the cold like that and take him to weightwatchers (Bless him).

I have been posting more this week so I think you know how this week went.

I've been keeping my walking up and although last night I got to the end of the day 2.000 steps off my 10,000 a day (Which was my aim for this week) the rest of this week has more then made up for it! the day before 11,128, day before 12,824, 10,649... So I talked myself out of having to make myself do those steps, When your lazy day is over 8,000 steps when weeks ago it was half that, you're fine.

So I've really been focusing on toning and building muscle along with loosing the weight. my legs hopefully are showing this already, but I am also doing some more gentle exercises on my arms which I would love to start to show!!

Having said it all, another loss this week!

Weight loss this week:-3lbs

Weight loss total: -39lbs or 2 Stone 10lbs
COME ON THREE STONE!!

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!

12/01/2018

Can YOU see a difference?

So today you'll notice a light difference with my photos immediately and hopefully I can explain why.

So this week I've been fitbtiting and its been very interesting!
Over 68,000 steps later I can feel the muscles!

I'm going to be like She-Rah! 

Yes that is almost 10,000 steps a day and apparently this is the recommended number of steps. Can I just be the first to say, that's a lot of steps! You do that many, and you are fit.

But I want to be the first as well to say this.

I think we underestimate how many steps we do.We tend to think we have to go out and walk for miles and miles on end to be fit, and where its true that we should be getting out and exercising for at least a little while, we can easily forget what we are doing.

There is a HUGE emphasis on physical activity and there should be, but I think it can guilt us, it can guilt us into believing we don't do anything and we won't hit the target so why even bother? Thats me in a nutshell you know and I greatly underestimated what I do. 

On Wednesday I think I had over stepped the mark and I wasn't feeling well so I've had a relaxed Wednesday and Thursday, Thursday I did nothing I was really not well and I still managed over 4,000 steps. Just let that sink in, I literally did the bare minimum I was sat most the day and I still almost got half way.

It hasn't been a huge life changer to actually hit my steps this week. What I would like to do is not almost hit those steps averagely over the week but to hit them, every day. 

Honestly its been reteaching me what it is to walk, what it is to exercise... and along side with the walking I've been doing some of the exercises with the fitbit trainers and I'm not kidding my stomach ached after for days! 
But they say NO PAIN NO GAIN! I don't think I can live by that saying!

All I can say is, people START WHERE YOU ARE.
have an active day around the house, 
go out for a walk, 
stick on some F.R.I.E.N.D.S for half an hour on Netflix and step forward and back in front of a couple of episodes (Yes I did this one day!)

So because my muscles have been building and muscle weighs more then fat I was quite chuffed when Claire said I had stayed the same from last week!

It means I've lost some weight really but my fat is turning into muscle.

So the picture above is one of me before Christmas and now, can you tell the difference in the muscle rather the fat, let me tell you I can! Lets keep going! 

Weight loss this week:-0lbs

Weight loss total: -36lbs or 2 Stone 7lbs

Week beginning 05/01/18

Greetings all!
So, I did go to weight watchers last week which was great actually despite having put no 2 1/2 pounds over Christmas! It was good to know that the damage I did wasn't reversible.

Let me make it clear, I haven't been counting food for the last three weeks! I've been watching what I've been eating, but not counting, I've been eating chocolates right left and centre.

So when I went back today and I lost three pounds from last week... I'm half a pound lighter then before Christmas!! And I'm okay with that!! (Actually quite chuffed I was able to shift it quite so easily!)
So today I'm back in the habit (yes Sister Act 2 pun intended)

Back in the Habit!

I have to start tracking my food again!


No More Junk!!


Except maybe the cadbury's heros still under the tree... because you know....



No chocolate would drive you mad!


I also invested in a fit bit. I'm quite excited really! I've wanted one for ages and I really want to get into the fitness side too, to help shape me as I shrink... I couldn't believe just how quickly I clocked up half a mile! Just pottering this morning.


It monitors your sleeping too and that is a big thing for me because I am a terrible sleeper! I suck at it and lately as well I've been quite tired, so I'd like to see the pattern actually and see the differences between the good nights and the terrible nights!

So looking forward to the next week people!

Weight loss this week:-3lbs

Weight loss total: -36lbs or 2 Stone 7lbs

29/12/17 Week 14

Greeting everyone!
Those of nimble mind might have noticed there was no post last week.

Reason being, I was running around like a headless chicken (or perhaps turkey would be more festive) getting stuff ready before my daughter broke up from school I was so busy that week! So So busy!

So I didn't attend my weight watchers meeting.

I hadn't really weighed myself so was dreading it.

I was dreading the meeting!

I was hoping I had done okay and not put on too much!

I haven't counted in two weeks. I've been in and out of fast food (not kidding KFC, MaccyD and Pizza hut!)

I've had chocolates. (LOTS AND LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!)

I feel (and probably look) bloated from the sheer junk in my trunk!

I've not been on my weight watchers app in two weeks!

But you know I didn't feel guilty about it, I made a decision to try and make some healthier choices over the holidays but, I was not stressing over points.

It wasn't Claire again today (she wasn't very well get well soon!) and so Mandi did weigh in. There was only me who showed up (No surprise you should have seen the snow, I was almost put off my it!)

"That's not too bad you'll get that off in no time!" she said to me, I looked at her "2 1/2 on."
"Really?!" I sigh in relief. "Cool!"

I'm not big on new years, I might have some sholer, so starting diet again today.

I want the stuff I gained over Christmas gone this week!

Wish me luck!

Weight loss this week:+2.5lbs

Weight loss total: -33lbs or 2 Stone 5lbs 

What is the matter with me?!

So you know that 2 1/2 pounds I lost last week?

Well you might as well say I've put it back on because since weigh in day I've eaten nothing but junk! I'm not even kidding.

I've had chocolate ice cream.... TWICE

You know those packets of mini chocolate segments you get? I swear I just ate half a packet... I don't even like chocolate oranges!

I think I'm self sabotaging. Seriously I feel sick with everything I've had....

So I'm putting my foot down.

Because I need to be accountable and I don't need to put weight back on I've lost.

And I'm not obsessing over the diet either, I don't want to be one of those girls who don't eat because of their diet thats not me,

but two chocolate icecreams in 3 days....

I'm not a Gilmore Girl I can't eat this amount of food and get away with it!!!

Focus Keene! You can do this!

End of Week 12

Inside my week its been a hard week!

There is Christmas stuff EVERYWHERE!

You can call me a scrooge all you like.

But there is a ridiculous amount of emphasis on food!

I like food

I love food!

You don't get overweight being indifferent to food!

BUT the food is EVERYWHERE!

Chocolate
Shortbread biscuits
Chocolate
Cake
Chocolate
cheese
chocolate
mince pies
chocolate
pork pies

and did I mention the chocolate!?

It has to be the hardest time ever to lose weight!

I don't know about everyone else. I stayed within my points don't get me wrong. But I felt as though I had done an awful job! I think even when you're not eating it you're thinking about it maybe and so inside your head its much worse?

And even when you don't give in, its still hard on the mind isn't it, like a mini meltdown inside your head?!

And you know something? You know come new year there will be a ton of stuff all diet orientated for your "new years resolution".... which pitter out by the end of February....

You know what my new years resolution was last year? Was to lose some weight. I put a short term goal up of the walking I did at the beginning of the year but then by the time I started this I knew I had to diet and it wasn't as if I did it because I realised time was running out for my resolution for the year wasn't being seen to (there are plenty of years I ignore this) It just came, with a determined resolution and I was at the beginning of the year but apart from the walk I did nothing towards it. Nothing. I wanted to lose weight for a very personal reason and I wanted to get some done this year. At the time I thought a pound a week would be enough and I maintain that, a pound a half pound off is enough for me. I didn't go all year but where I have gone its been awesome and I have been lucky enough to loose every time.

So I'm sticking to it firmly this week, but come Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and boxing day I'm not sticking strictly to it. (I won't over over do it) So that week I'll be surprised if I don't put on.

I'm proud of what I've achieved this year with my weight loss, and I will fight it! I will stick with it and I will continue into the new year!

Some how this week (I'm still not sure how) I lost 2 1/2 pounds....


Weight loss this week:-2.5lbs

Weight loss total: -35.5lbs or 2 Stone 7.5lbs 

Oh shout out to my sister Lisa and my Mam
Lisa got her 10% off today (Go Lise!)
And My mum got her 75lbs off and hit her goal weight. Go Mamma!

End of week 11

You totally can not see the curve of my waist in that t-shirt! Never mind!

This week, I was very unsure if I would loose at all! I was serious, I had chocolate cake I had a really bad week (ladies time you all understand!) I could feel the water retaining, it was horrible! 

I was sure the scale would read the same as last week if I was lucky.

And I was resigned inside my head to accept it and I was okay with it I've been loosing consistently and to be fair I had a sweet mince pie yesterday because it was that time of the year and I LOVE MINCE PIES! 

And its hard! Its hard to say no to pastries and crisps and chocolate because they are constantly around this time of year and to be fair its the right time for those things! I mean its winter, hibernate and everything.!

PLUS Joseph I think is teething and he has been up four nights in a row SCREAMING to high heaven! And I think we've got the worse part of it over now, settling him in his cot sitting on the end of Yasmine's bed, no eye contact just sitting there so he doesn't feel abandoned and he soon goes off to sleep.

BUT ITS HARD!

And I felt it this week.

So imagine my surprise when I stood on the scales and Mandi (who was standing in for my regular weightwatcher leader Claire) said it was two pounds off!

Relief!

I think I've been less happy about loosing 3 pounds some weeks! 

It has started to get harder to get motivated to go out even on the school runs. There is snow and ice and a really harsh Northern wind now. 

But....

Once more week and then Phil is off work for the whole week! That last week before they break up for the Christmas holidays he is off! He is going to be there for her Christmas play (Which is awesome!) He'll be there to help with the school runs and the swimming lesson during the day... 

On the downside I realise this means less exercise opportunities I'm thinking Just Dance when no one is looking, lets shake off some extra pounds...

And I'm going to look up how to start getting rid of my bingo wings...

My fat arms are starting to look out of place!

I don;t think its incredibly likely I'll loose nine pounds before Christmas (with two weigh ins to go) so I don;'t think I'll hit the three stone before Christmas (Which was silly) but honestly, I'm so happy with how far I've come anyway... 

If  I don't loose for the next four weeks I've still lost 33 pounds!! 33!

Weight loss this week:-2lbs

Weight loss total: -33lbs or 2 Stone 5lbs 

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 9

So this week I've had a really tough week!

You know that ominous feeling you get just before you get sick, sort of being a little bit on edge.

From Monday night onwards I went to bed early you know, early! Me! 

Paracetamol has very little effect on me so last night I was feeling so bad I took some Solpadeine . My neck is aching and my shoulders I feel like I could literally fall over. Earlier on in the week I was constipated. So much so on Wednesday I had to force myself to eat (and I did healthily mind you!) Its just been tough.

On top of that stuff has been happening with close family relations, I won't go into it but it adds doesn't it?

And when you have a week like that does anyone else just want to give up? 

I didn't. I stuck in my diet. But it was rough you know and it wasn't encouraging.

But this week I've decided to try and add back in some soups and broths into my diet again because they are good for me. I've also bought some figs and prunes and I'm going to make sure I drink plenty of water this week maybe cut down on the diet coke and see if it helps with the constant ache in my tummy.

Honestly my head and neck thing (along with a runny nose) is a cold, but I worry the constipation is my IBS and I don't want a serious attack of that ever again! and you know what its no good? Going to the doctors.. the last time I had constipation with it they gave me a medicine which harden your stools even more and just after I was diagnosed with it they told me to eat more fibre and then they asked me what cereal I had that morning and I said shredded wheat (one of the best things on the market for high fiber) they told me to eat some all bran and I sat there and thought, 'hold on but that will just irritate won't it? All those bits getting stuck everywhere?' I checked with a friend whose little girl has IBS and she agreed with me, its because there's a lot of fibre all at once which irritates it and I didn't go back to the doctor again. I tend to take peppermint tablets for it and drink lots of peppermint tea, which I think I'll do again. See how this week goes.

It hasn't been all doom and gloom though, people are saying they can see a difference when they see me and I think its really going to show.....

Its not where I wanted to be but its not a small achievement either, I'm still rather proud of myself....

Weight loss this week:-1lbs

Weight loss total: -26lbs or 1 Stone 12lbs (So close.... come on 2 stone off!)