Getting rid of the chocolate cake!!!

A friend of my mums called up yesterday, it was her dog I was grooming. She paid me....and then handed me a chocolate cake,

I had one slice....thats my story and i'm sticking to it...I swear I dont know what happened to the other two slices of it LMAO

Well today....I'm getting rid of it! I've it cut into slices...along with the apple tart thats been in the fridge screaming at me all weekend. We have a guy working on the patio today with my brother....hopefully they'll demolish all the cake and apple tart!

It's me or the cake!  I choose ME!

Confidence in other areas of life

Lately I've really notices I've become alot more comfortable about who I am as a person...I know what I want to lose weight and I know its for me and me only.

This summer I'm really putting my self out there..into the big bad world with this home grooming business. For starters I'm broke...so forking out nearly 400 euro on equipment is ALOT of money for me! Could have got another puppy for that! HAHA!

I don't know if its down to doing well in college and my work placement that my confidence has grown or maybe its down to losing weight. That I'm living a more healthy lifestyle now and people are seeing that, I'm no longer invisible. I like to think its a bit of both : - )

Good Things Come To Good People Who Work Hard!

So this is kinda what I've been up to lately...

Proud Mammy!

My two boys finally getting along and playing!
7 year old Charlie (the blonde) and 10 week old Rua (the red head)

Cream of Leek and Potato Soup with Shredded Chicken (Serves 4)

Serves: 4
Propoints per serving: 3

Ingredients:
1 medium Onion
2 medium Leek, sliced finely    
5 spray(s) Lo-Cal Cooking Spray

200 g Potatoes, Old, Raw, peeled and cubed    

 1/4 teaspoons Dried Rosemary

 1 Knorr vegetable stock pot

 300 ml Skimmed Milk

 175 g Chicken Breast

 1 teaspoons Black Pepper
 2 teaspoons Chives
 1 pinch Salt   

Instructions:

Spray a large saucepan with cooking spray and gently saute the leeks, potatoes and onion for 10 minutes or until softened.

Add the herbs, stock or water and chicken breast. Cover and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the chicken and wrap it in foil. Transfer the soup to a liquidiser or food processor and blend for about 20 seconds, or until smooth. Return to the saucepan, stir in the milk and gently heat through, until piping hot. Season to taste, with salt and pepper.

Finely shred the chicken and divide between four warm soup bowls. Ladle the soup over the chicken and sprinkle with the chives.

It's Puppy Day!

My new walking machine! Rua! Such a cutie!

Non Food Rewards

Well this summer I'm doing ALOT of big things....

1. Losing weight
2. Started a home business
3. Starting to drive

I used to use food as a reward...for anything....ah I've had a long day...I deserve a muffin....oh god I've had a horrible upsetting day I deserve a ben & jerrys. Or I use food to compensate for a crappy emotional family crap.

Well with everything going on this summer I do deserve a reward! So I'm getting my self a new puppy TOMORROW!!!!!!. I'm getting a stunning Irish Red Setter. They need lots of excercise! Which will be my responsibilty! Means lots of walking! Lots of activity points! We live on a big farm, but at least once or twice a week want to go down to the local park...hopefully it'll bring in some business too as I'm a dog groomer...and what dog lover wouldn't stop to look at an Red Setter!

So you have been warned....expect lots of puppy pictures! My non food reward!

Rua is going to have his own blog too! Hopefully he'll keep me busy for the summer with training!
Can't wait! 12 hours and counting to puppy time!

My First Charity Walk

Wooo! Did my first ever charity walk today :) It was only a small walk, but the fact I actually did it the big deal!

It was a fun walk from Carrigaline - Crosshaven  along the walkway. It was 5 miles, so that's about 8km. I didn't know if I'd be able for it, as the most I've ever walked was 5km in an hour and that was on a treadmill. So I aimed to cover 8km in about one hour and forty minutes....and I did it! Woo! Delighted..I even qued up with all the kids to get my certificate. haha! Cheesy I know! But hey..who knows...this time next year I could be doing the mini marathon ha ha!

The poor dog is wrecked! He didn't know what the hell was going on he's not used to 800 people joining him on his walk! The girls writing the certs even gave pool ole Charlie a cert. Bless! He's starting to get a bit stiff in the ole joints. He's only seven but he's been walked a lot from day one. So maybe its time to start easing up on his walks. Normally if you say "walkies" he'll knock you down to get to the door...after today I don't think he wants to ever walk again! Not even a tail wag out of him!

I'm actually totally chuffed that I did the walk! My fitness wasn't even an issues...the only thing that got to me was walking on the hard tarmac...that stuff is lethal. Even the regular experienced walkers were complaining about it. Its just a horrible surface to walk on in general! So had a good day out...out in the fresh air, away from the TV and Laptop. Got some exercise in, earned 9pp! Which I enjoyed in the form of Malibu and Diet Coke with my dinner :P haha!

I use my activity points instead of using my weeklies. So I didn't mind spending all the points I earned on a few drinks this evening! These days I'm doing ALOT of exercise, so a couple of drinks with dinner once in a blue moon isn't going to undo my hard work!

For the week coming I'm hoping to earn about 36 Activity points from weights and cardio So that's only 10pp short of a full weekly allowance. This way works for me! And if I need my real "weeklies" they are there.

Off to a charity hairdressing night Wednesday...hopefully learn how to do ghd curls...although be handy if owned a ghd first i suppose! Doing lots, keeping busy...and away from the kitchen this week! Woo!

Chow 4 Now! x o x

Weight Watchers Online

So I'm doing ww at home, cos well I cant really afford the meetings plus when I was in college the times didn't fit around college. I have a really good fancy ass scales, paid small fortune for it, so its pretty damn accurate! Plus added advantage of ww at home....I get to choose my WI time and day. I like Saturday Mornings, cos I can kinda relax a tiny tiny bit at the weekend...knowing I've a whole week to the next weight in. Means I have have a nice "treat" dinner Saturday night...and that kinda covers my WI treat and Saturday treat. Two birds one stone kinda thing.

It also means I can have my WI and go straight to breakfast....none of this fasting all day for an evening WI kinda thing...I'm such a foodie...I'd never manage that. Hey don't laugh....at least I admit it! Admitting is the first step to recovery isn't that what they say! ha ha! Also means I save like 28 euro a week compared to going to meetings! Plus normally starving when I come tut of there so end up going for lunch with a friend...so adds up. Doing ww at home...prob easily saving my self 50 or 60 quid a month now. Like I went to ww meetings for like a year and a half...thats like....what...75 weeks....10 euro a pop....plus...call it another 15 euro a week on lunch/bus/taxi home if weather was bad.

Basically I've come to the point where I'm losing weight for no one else but my self...if I have a bad WI....I only disappoint my self...and I don't want to be disappointing my self any more! I'm doing this for me and me alone. So if I want to see the loss each week...I gotta work hard. If I work hard...and still don't get the losses...then I can't be disappointed in my self cos I know the loss will show in other ways...like inch loss and will probably show in the scales at a later date.

If you genuinely work hard for it....you will get the rewards one way or another...

Que the dramatic music!!!! What you've all been waiting for.....the number......DOWN 1.6lbs

My Last Chance Work Day!

So tomorrow is Friday, going to have me a last chance workout day before WI Saturday! Really doing it to push my self, to push my fitness. One really really tough day...will my make my normal works outs seem that bit easier.

So tomorrow I intend to do an hour of weights/toning followed by 40 to 50 mins on treadmill...I will be dying...but its so going to be worth it. Feel the burn! I've been feeling so great this week since getting back to exercising and eating right. Sleeping better and all the exercise must be releasing some happy hormones cos I just seem to be feeling more positive.

Doing an 8km (5 Mile) Charity dog walk this Sunday. I've never done more than 5km in one stint, I think its going to be tough, but if I can get through a pretty tough day of exercise tomorrow...the walk should literately be a walk in a park....I just hope the weather is dry...I'm not walking in the rain! LOL

Last summer I was working with a personal trainer, so she did out a intense work out plan for me based on my fitness, weight, ability. I saw her every two weeks where she changed and upped the intensity of the work outs. I have all the equipment here at home, weights, kettle-bells, benches, dumb-bells, resistance bands, treadmill. But with college last few months, just literally did not have time time to use them

This is the plan I'm working to at the moment, I tried matching up the exercises to clips in Youtube to give people an idea what I'm getting up to, that makes me so stiff and sore.


10 mins fast walking (about 5kph) 
Step ups 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDlSd8rWXY
30 second break

Chair Squats 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRhFR...eature=related
30 second break

Lat Raise 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASNNE44n_Zk
30 second break

Two rounds of each before moving on to next block

Lat Pull down (resistance band) 12 Re[s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq8RaSktmx0
30 second break

Over Head Dumbell Press (3kg) 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGrpvGlu-R8
30 Second Break

Biceps 21s (3kg) 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp9N9BhX8vg 
30 second break

Two rounds of each before moving on to next block

Seated Ab Roation (5kg dumbbell) 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8vHrK-8hUg
30 second break

Wall Push ups 12 Reps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtM3L00BUU

Cool down 10 mins brisk walking
The whole thing should take about 60mins including warm up and cool down.

Creamy Blue Cheese Sauce

Pro Points Per Serving: 5
Serves: 4

Ingredients480 ml Milk, Skimmed   
2 tablespoons White Flour
1/8 teaspoons (level) Chilli Powder   
30 g Cheese, Stilton   
30 g Cheese, Parmesan, grated   
2 individual Fig, Dried, chopped   
1 tablespoons Chives, Fresh, finely chopped       
1/4 teaspoons (ground) Pepper, Black
1 pinch Salt

Instructions
Combine the milk and flour in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat. Cook, stirring with a whisk, until the flour is dissolved.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the chilli powder and cook, whisking constantly for 5 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.

Add the blue vein and parmesan cheese to the milk mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts. Add the figs and chives and stir to combine.

Serve over cooked pasta...be sure to add extra pp for the pasta.

Notes
This sauce is best made just before serving.
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
It is best reheated on high for 1 minute in the microwave.

Thai Dipping Sauce

Pro Points Per Serving: 1
Serves: 8

Ingredients
2 tablespoons Sugar, Light Brown
45 g Chilli, Green or Red, use red   
1 clove(s) Garlic, crushed
1/3 teaspoons Coriander, Fresh   
1 tablespoons (grated) Ginger, Root   
2 tablespoons Thai Fish Sauce
2 tablespoons Lime Juice, Fresh, or less to taste
1 teaspoons Oil, Rapeseed

Instruction
Place brown sugar in a small saucepan wih 3 tbsp water over high heat.
Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 minute to dissolve sugar.
Set aside to cool.

Combine chilli, garlic, coriander and ginger in a bowl.
Add sugar mixture, fish sauce and lime juice.
Stir to combine, then set aside

Quick Mushroom Sauce

Pro Points Per Serving: 1
Serves: 2

Ingredients
50 g Mushrooms, button variety
1 medium Lemon, grated zest
1/4 teaspoons (as purchased) Mixed Herbs, Dried
150 g Weight Watchers from Heinz Mushroom Soup
1/2 teaspoons Parsley, fresh, chopped, to garnish   
1 pinch Salt, and black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions
To make the sauce, put the mushrooms into a small frying pan with the lemon zest, herbs and the soup.
Bring to the boil and cook quickly until softened. Remove the mushrooms with a slotted spoon.
Place the mushrooms on the plate your serving on and pour sauce over mushrooms and what ever your serving.

Green Pesto Sauce

Pro Points Per Serving: 5

Servings: 6

For best results, use extra virgin olive oil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients
25 g Pine Nut Kernels, lightly toasted
1 clove(s) Garlic, crushed
50 g Basil, Dried, Ground, fresh leaves, torn into shreds
5 tablespoons Oil, Olive, extra-virgin
3 tablespoons Cheese, Parmesan, finely grated

Instructions
Put the pine nuts, garlic, torn basil leaves and 2 tbsp olive oil into a mortar and pound with a pestle to form a rough paste.

Add the Parmesan cheese and pour in the remaining olive oil, stirring to combine. Alternatively, blend the ingredients together in a food processor.

Use at once or store in the refrigerator in a screw-topped jar for up to 2 weeks.

Hollandaise Sauce

ProPoints Per Serving :    2
Servings:  8

Ingredients

2 medium Egg Yolk   
2 tablespoons Water
40 g Butter, melted   
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice, fresh   
1/4 teaspoons Salt, or to taste   
1/4 teaspoons (ground) Pepper, Black 

Instructions

In a small metal bowl, using a stainless steel whisk, whisk egg yolks and water until completely blended and frothy. Place bowl over low heat; whisk constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and continue whisking to help cool a little. Slowly whisk in melted butter; whisk in remaining ingredients.

Serve warm.Yields about 2 tablespoons of sauce per serving. 

Basic Tomato Sauce

Makes 4 servings
ProPoints value | 1 per serving

This versatile tomato sauce is packed full of flavour.
If you don't like it spice...leave out the chili....if you want it spicier...add more chili

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 can tinned chopped tomatoes
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 tsp allspice
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, or until the onion is lovely and golden.

Chuck the tinned tomatoes, chilli, cinnamon, allspice, 100ml of hot water and a really good pinch of salt and pepper into the pan. Mix everything together really well and bring to the boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes so that all the flavours develop, stirring occasionally.

This would be great for spag bol, lasagne, or even frozen in ice trays to have on stand by, great with home made wedges...instead up ketchup....I say a couple of tablespoons would probably be 0pp

Bran Muffins

Serves 6 Large muffins (4pp each) or 12 cupcake size (2pp each)

Preheat oven to 190c.

Cooking Time: 30 mins, oven can be turned off at about 26 mins, but dont open the oven...let them bake in the remaining heat. and let the oven go cold. Opening the door too much or too fast will cause them to sink.

If your doing cupcake size..they will prob do in a faster time, so keep an eye on them. I use silicone muffin trays from dunnes stores.

I double line them with paper liners. the mixture is a bit soggy so a single muffin paper just went soft...but i found if i used two muffin liners per muffin..the muffins kept there shape and rose better.

125g white self raising flour
40g Light brown sugar
15g splenda
30g odlums wheat bran (dunnes stores)
1 whole egg
table spoon of low fat natural yoghurt
100 skimmed milk
Fruit of your choice (strawberries, blueberries, rasperries, banana. ect)
1 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Soak the bran wheat in the milk for 10 mins.

Cream the sugar/splenda/egg/yoghurt together.

Sift the flour/baking powder/bicarbonate at least twice to get it nice a fluffy.

Combine all of the above ingredents. taking care not to work it too much or they will sink and go flat. You should still be able to see little tiny pockets of dry flour even after folding.

Gently and evenly fold in the fruit of choice. If using bananas have them thouroughly mashed with fork before hand

To make them even better again you can also use self raising brown flour...I've only seen it in super valu stores

When i made these this week...i experimented and added a few drops of Vanilla baking essence.....oh god they were so nice! I put the vanilla in with the milk while soaking the bran. So ended up having Banana Bran Vanilla Muffins!

A song for anyone who's ever been underestimated, de-valued, belittled, or ditched for "someone better"

Oh they are going to be sorry they ever wronged me! World domination will be mine...and they will be grovelling at my feet for my forgiveness...they think they are so much better than me...well you know what...I am better than you(the ones who put me down)...because I don't step on people to get to where I gotta go ....I didn't crap all over you to make my self feel bigger. I may not be perfect...but at least I don't walk around acting like I am! I own my faults...I learn from them!

Finally I can you see you crystal clear!

Don't underestimate the thing I will do!

Why I want to lose weight....

I cant wait to get back horse riding...I've only realised how much I missed it recently when younger members of the family started riding!

For my next birthday I'm going to hire out a horse up at the riding school and just have the day to to my self. I should be 3 or 4 stone lighter by then.

I want to be able to be invited some where like a communion or a party...and not have to die a little inside thinking about oh jesus...what am I going to wear..without looking like a frump???? would love to have a wardrobe of lovely clothes I can go to...or to pop into any random clothes store and find my size...

I want to wear a ball gown and look nice! I didn't go to my debs cos I didn't want to be a cow in a dress...the dress would have had to be costume made probably and cost a bomb! and even then i would have hid away from the cameras....I would love to go to the annual ball down here in a dress...and feel comfortable, at home in my own skin...I'm a good person...I'd like to look at least...some what pretty...

I want to be confident enough to be myself! To put my self out in the world! I always settle for the wrong men...cos I'm afraid to go for the ones i like...out of fear of being rejected over my weight...If men are going to reject me...I want them to reject me for who i am....not what i look like...if that makes sense.

I want to be confident enough to take chances in life! Go for the things I want...without thinking "oh god no one wants to hear from the fat girl"

I want to live my life to the full!

The Plan...well having the good intentions is a start!

I've been doing ww since November '09....and between various hickups, stress and what not have only lost about 35lbs in six months. Then I started college in September '10 and gained back about a stone between september and christmas!

But pro points came in! Oooooooh i love it! tiz great! I've lost stone and a half since January 1st 2011...and it just keeps falling off!

Exams are a thing of the past! For another year at least so now i'm ready to hit the ww wagon and the gym for the summer with pro points!

So its now Wednesday....but for arguments sake...lets call it Monday. So i have about 15 or so weeks ahead! Looking to lose about 20lbs over the summer...i've lost 35lbs already and hoping to get to 77lbs lost by New years...oh yeah...just in time for the sales! And you know what....I think i can do it! Totally ready to cop my sh*t on and do it!

Finished exams Thursday...just took the weekend to kinda relax and get organised, tidy the house, have the ceremonial burning for exam papers!

For the summer I will be working out five times a week, two sessions a week of weights and toning and three sessions of cardio. My cardio is walking on treadmill at about 5km per hour...its just not safe to walk around the roads near me with traffic. The weights i'm doing are based on a programme I did last summer with personal trainer which she designed for me...so I'm doing it all correctly with warm ups and cooling down...and biggest looser vomiting moments....oh yeah thats right....she pushed me so hard i got sick...felt amazing...worked harder than i knew was possible!

So Monday 16th just gone had a good day *happy dance* stuck within my pp budget of 43pp and did an hour of weights...oh god i was so stiff and sore but its worth it!

Tuesday 17th...another good day! I always say it...just takes one good day to get you on a roll, I only got about 45 mins of walking in on treadmill...i was just so damn sore from the weights...but all movement is good!

Wednesday 18th....woo today :P started this blog to keep track of my summer journey...my own space to vent and flourish and share and laugh and cry about things...where no one can bark at me about what i write....my place...my rules! Today was my rest day...important to give the body a chance to recover especially from new exercise! Also made a batch of Bran muffins...they are SOOOOO nice and healthy....will post the recipe later with some pics! they are really high fibre...great for bloating...and great for snack fix...without reaching for crap!

This blog is going to be....random....quirky....obscure...creative...bizzare...i'm sure there will be nights i come on drunk....haha and some days venting about how i want toast! and then ranting about why I'm kicking my self for eating toast....a slice of toast is fine...but with me...its like a loaf of bread....as toast :O toast is my Pringle!