There is more to life

Right, well been feel pretty crappy this week. I failed my driving theory test, which I actually had studied really hard for! I also finished up on the contraceptive jab which I have been geting every three monthes for the past 3 or 4 yearss. So at the moment until I can get the implanon bar put in, I am a hormonal mess! I have 3 years of PMS boiling inside me. I had forgotten that the PMS me is a bottom less pit hungery me! I have been eating all round me....you know the way angry at the world teenagers will drink and do drugs...well an  angry at the world weight watchers will EAT!

It was only last night when I was trying to figure out why I couldn't get a grip on my self and my eating....this time last year the same thing happened. Cabin Fever! I've been stuck in this house obsessing about eating and drinking for six weeks! I finished college 12th May....I say the only time i've left the house since then is to stuff like grocery shopping and other things like that. So it's kinda taking its toll on me, mentally....and the fact i've gained like 1/2 stone over last two weeks .....clearly taking its physcial toll too, although I know some of that will be water retention from hormones going gaga!

So yeah....as the title says....I need to find my life and start freaking living it! But first gotta sort out this implanon thing...find someone that will put it in! :)

Feeling better now! After I had my little breakthrough last night I got the BEST nights sleep....was just what I needed! Ready to take on the day!

Food Diary (Good Day)

Breakfast:
40g Tesco Hot Oats 4pp
150ml Skimmed Milk 1pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
WW Toffee Apple Yoghurt 1pp
Pears, Tinned, Drained 0pp
8pp

Lunch:
50g Ainsley Harriott Thai Cous Cous 5pp
Yellow Fin Sole 5pp
10pp

Activity:
30 Minutes Treadmill Walking
3pp Earned

Snack:
Banana Bran Muffin 3pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
5pp

Dinner:
Quorn Pasta Bake
15pp

Snack:
Options Hot Chococlate (11g)
1pp

Original Basic Bran Muffin Recipe 4pp (Serves 6)

This is THE bran muffin recipe. I tweaked to suit my tastes and points...and cooking ability...lol (i could not for the life of me get them to rise)

but this is the ORIGINAL recipe which works out at 4pp per muffin

100ml Skimmed Milk
100g Plain Flour
60g Wheat Bran
60g Soft Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of cinnamon

if using berries 125g of chopped berries eg blueberries, raspberries, strawberries. 

if using banana's about 2 and 1/2 soft mashed bananas per 6 muffins

1. Preheat the oven to 190C (gas mark 5)

2. Put skimmed milk and wheat bran and soak for few minutes.

3. While bran is soaking beat sugar and eggs untill well combined and then mix into above bran mixture.

4. Sift in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, bicarbonate soda. Fold in GENTLY with a metal spoon. Stir in the berries to distribute them evenly througout the mixture.

5. Devide into 6 paper cases in a muffin tin.

6 Bake in preheated oven for 20 - 30 mins (until the muffins are well risen and firm to the touch, timing can very to oven to oven) 

7. Cool on wire rack, then store in airtight tin or seeled container in fridge.

NI per serving
143kcal
2g fat
0.5 sats
12.8 sugar
4.7g fibre
0.4g salts

This is the NI given in the cook book, I used the ww online recipe builder (im an online member) to point the recipe...


Changes I made along the way:

I use self raising flour and 1tsp of both baking powder + bicarbonate

I sift the flour TWICE. to add air to the mixture.

When combining wet to dry mixture...from research online...I learned to should NOT beat it too much...and you should still see lil tiny pockets of dry flour.

I prefer banana's over berries (theyre cheaper...and supermarkets sell soft old banana at 1/2 price)

I also only use 40g instead of 60g of soft brown sugar and reduced the bran from 60g to 30g.

This means they are only 3pp per muffin.

I love the banana taste so i kinda bumped it up to 3 bananas per 6 muffins...bananas have natural sugars that will sweeten the recipe.

I also find they freeze exceptionally well...and only take about an hour to defrost. DO NOT thaw in microwave. they go hard!

If you find them too dry just omit some of the bran wheat.

they're a great source of fibre...nearly 5g per muffin! great for when your bloated!

Enjoy with a 11g sachet (1pp) of Options hot chocolate for a yummy low fat 4pp snack!

Food Diary

Breakfast 11am
40g Tesco Hot Oats
150ml Skimmed Milk
Pears,Tinned, Drained
Pint of Water
5pp

Snack 1pm
Skinny Mocha
Bran Muffin
6pp

Lunch 3.30pm
50g Cous Cous
Aldi Ham Cubes
Salad + Dressing
8pp

Activity 4.30pm
45mins on Treadmill
4pp Earned

SnackSkinny Mocha
Bran Muffin
7pp

Dinner 7pm
Tortilla Quiche
Salad+Dressing
13pp

Tortilla Quiche

So I got this recipe from the Rosmary Conley Magazine and just pointed it my self. The whole thing comes to only 12pp! wow! I had to give it a try....to see if it was too good to be true!

Well oh my god....it wad delish! So simple to make....so tasty & filling but light enough that it didn't leave you heavy and bloated!

Its pretty much a Quiche made with a tortilla wrap as the base instead of pastry. I've always found the Weight Watcher Wraps tear really easily....so I opted to use Tesco Light Choices Wraps for 5pp each.

What You Will Need:

8 Inch Sandwich Baking Tin
1 Tesco Light Choice Tortilla Wrap

2 Medium Beaten Eggs

150ml Skimmed Milk

Medium Finely Diced Red Onion
Medium Finely Chopped Tomatoe

30g Dubliner Light Cheese, Finely Grated

Dash of Dried Basil

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6.

Press the tortilla into a sandwich cake tin, making sure it sits into the creases without splitting.
Grate half the cheese into the base and cover with the chopped tomatoe and onion.  

Combine the milk, egg and dried basil together and pour over.

Grate the remaining cheese over.

Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes until set.

Serve hot or cold

Food Diary

Breakfast 10am
40g Tesco Hot Oats
150 Skimmed Milk
Pears, Tinned, Drained
Nescafe Skinny Mocha
7pp

Lunch 2pm
200g Aldi Minute Steak
Zero Point Salad
Tiger Thai Dressing
10pp

Activity
30 Minutes Treadmill @ 5kph
3pp Earned

Snack
Mullerlight
Nescafe Skinny Mocha
4pp

Dinner
Chicken Lasagne
Zero Point Salad
Tiger Thai Dressing
16pp

Dessert:
Pears, Tinned, Drained
Mullerlight
2pp

Food Diary (Grocery Shopping Today)

Breakie 10m
40g Tesco Hot Oats
150ml Skimmed Milk
Nescafe Skinny Mocha
7pp

Snack 1pm
Mullerlight (160g) New york Cheesecake Flavour (2pp)
Bran Muffin
6pp

Lunch 3pm
Ham Omlette
- Aldi Hame Cubes
- 3 Whole Eggs
7pp

Activity
Treadmill 30 Minutes @ 5kph
3pp Earned

Snack 5pm
Pears, Tinned Drained
Mullerlight 160g Strawberry Cheesecake flavour
2pp

Coffee 6pm
Nescafe Skinny Mocha
2pp

Dinner 7.30pm
Chicken Pasta Bake
15pp

Weight In Day!

Down 4lbs!
Oh my god! Delighted doesn't even begin to describe how I feel today! I actually feel like I can take on the world today...that I can take on this weight!

4lbs is a AMAZING start to my summer! It's also half of my June Mini target. By the 3rd of July I want to have lost 8lbs...so I'm half way there!  I think I can get 4lbs in 3 weeks if I put my head down and keep doing what I'm doing!

Next week I won't be expecting such a big loss after 4lbs this week!  Like oh my god....4lbs...I haven't seen that big a number since first week in January! I'd be THRILLED if I get 2lbs next week!

Well...all I can say gang is...if I can do it...anyone can do it! Just be honest with your self. Write and track everything. Track the pointed foods, the zero propoint foods and your water intake! Water is the cheapest weight loss tool we got! Use It!

Track how your feeling...if you feel life shit and could not be arsed cooking tonight....track it...if the same thing happens on the same night the following week...you know you have a pattern that needs to be broken!

For the next week coming....Salad is on my must try to eat more of...so off shopping I go...must get gerkins and Thai Salad Dressing...after a week of mainly Quorn...I'm hanging for a bit of steak! So thinking Minute steak cut into strips over salad!  (and if i dont like it I can always ditch the salad throw on a few eggs...steak and eggs for lunch...now that aint bad)

4lbs.....gotta say it again....4 freaking lbs! WOOOOOO!

PLAN, PREPARE, TRACK,

Thai Chilli Beef Curry

ProPoints® Value: 13 Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 20 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Forget the takeaway menu! Instead capture the flavours of Thailand in this easy one-pot curry.
Perfect for the weekend and it won't throw your budget off track.

Ingredients
5 spray(s) Cooking Spray, Calorie Controlled
300 g Beef, Rump Steak, Lean, cut into strips
1 medium Onion,
1 medium Pepper, Red, deseeded and cut into strips
20 g Red Curry Paste
1 individual Chilli deseeded and thinly sliced
1 can Blue Dragon Coconut Milk, Reduced Fat,
1 Knorr Vegetable Stock, made up with 500ml water
1/2 medium Lime, Whole, juiced
240 g Noodles, Egg, Dried
150 g Mange-tout, halved
125 g Green Giant Baby Cobs, (baby corn cobs)
2 tablespoons Coriander, Fresh

Instructions
Spray a wok or sauté pan with low fat cooking spray.
Add the beef and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until seared and browned.
Add the onion and pepper and stir-fry for 2 more minutes.

Stir in the Thai red curry paste, chilli and lime zest, stirring for a few seconds, then add the coconut milk and stock. Bring up to the boil, then reduce the heat.

Add the noodles, mangetout and baby corn and cook for a further 5-6 minutes, until the noodles are tender.
 Add the coriander and a squeeze of lime juice, then serve.



Food Diary (day before weight in)

Breakie 11am
40g Tesco Hot Oats 4pp
150ml Slimline Milk 1pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
Pears, Tinned, Drained 0pp
7pp

Lunch 3pm
Chicken Omlette
Large Chicken Breast 4pp
3 Whole Eggs 5pp
9pp

Activity 4.30pm
40 Minutes on Treadmill at 5kph
3pp Earned

Snack 5.30pm
Bran Muffin 4pp
Pears, Tinned, Drained 0pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
6pp

Dinner 7pm
Quorn Lasagne 14pp

Snack 8.30pm
40g Tesco Hot Oats 4pp
150ml Slimline 1pp
Pears, Tinned, Drained 0pp
Aldi Hot Chocolate 1pp
6pp

Through out the week I've also had 2 x 200g tubs of Light Soft Cheese aswell as A full packet of Wholegrain Ryvita. This amounts to 39pp. Had a little every night around 9pm. Healthy snack. I took this from my weeklies, although the odd time I had a couple of points left from the day.

So the break down of my week looks something like this:
Used all my dailies (43pp) every day.
Used approx 35 of my 49 weekly allowance.
Earned 18 Activity Points, But did not eat these.

Tomorrow is WI day! Hopefully all my carefully planning will have paid off. This week hasn't been that difficult. I haven't been hungery, I've eaten very nice filling tasty foods all week! Just took a little preparation and planning.

Puppy Update....

This little guy is growing up so fast! I just have to show him off before he's all grown up. In two weeks he's almost doubled in size! So I must be doing something right.

Below is Bob the Havanese coming to have a bum shuffle with Rua...It's kinda the doggie way of saying ecome on....come play...your own dog has probably done this to you....just banged there hip against you it's kinda "na na na na you cant catch me"



So we have Rua, now 12 weeks. Bob who lives next door, and Susie is the jack russell, who rua has made his granny.

And now we have Charlie & Rua finally playing like they've known each other all there lives. Rua LOVES charlie. Anything Charlie does Rua wants to do too. Which may turn out to be great...or nightmare. Charlie is great with cars he knows....if he's outside and see's a car he knows he runs to the front door to greet the people....if its a car he doesn't know....the fecker chases it! But so far all the cars are new to Rua....and he has no interest in charing (THANK GOD) 

I've WARNED my brother to drive slow coming in the dirve...cos our drive way is steep. so you gotta put your foot down...but incase rua is exploring and wondering around the garden just wanna make sure he could stop in time if a dog did wonder across the drive way. We got a pretty BIG garden...perfect for a red setter....who I have been told are the horse of dogs...

The Steep Drive way...I'm going to need a driving lession just to figure out how to leave and get in our drive!

Charlie waiting at the door with other jack russell...Debbie. She's blind & nearly deaf.

And we also have this little bit of a feild out the back the dogs love to run in! This is where my business will be set up if I go ahead with it...to the back of the picture is a hill....during the boom years...the view was worth....I don't want to say...cos it's just depressing! Watch this place...you could see "Carrig View Livary" crop up, Home of Champion in Show Red Setter Carrig Rua.

Right...now for the main event.....puppy...although soon to be dog pictures!

He LOVES his kennel...all I have to say is "Bedtime" and off he goes...Charlie goes into his kennel...Rua into his one with Susie

I'm actually so proud of this little pup...and well kinda proud of my self aswell. In the two weeks I've had him...he's had a huge growth spurt, I this down to me giving him the right diet (Beta Puppy, and I weight out the food and portion it in bags) He's also house trained...bar the rare accident...which is really down to us not leaving him outside...so our fault really. He's walking on the lead. He's also used to the bath, I've washed him three times in the two weeks. First bath to get the smell of all his former "pack" off him so my dogs would accept him. Second bath was some tea tree shampoo cos he was too young to treat for fleas yet and he was so itchy, he was being driven mad. In fairness I only did find like 2 or 3 or the buggers...but on a puppy thats torture. Third bath was few days ago with a flea shampoo and he behaved perfectly!

I think he's going to grow up to be a magnificent creature! I like to think he's in the best hands to bring on his potential!

Food Diary

Breakfast: 10am
40g Tesco Hot Oats
150ml Slimline Milk
Nescafe Skinny Mocha
Pears, In Juice, Drained
7pp

Snack 1pm
Bran Muffin
4pp

Lunch 3.15pm
250g Baked Chicken Breast
3 Scambled Eggs
Pears, In Juice, Drained
11pp

Treadmill: (3pp Earned)
30 mins on treadmill at 5kph

Snack 5pm
Bran Muffin
3pp (1 bran muffin is 4pp, this is my 2nd one, 2 bran muffins are 7pp)

Dinner 7.30pm
Homemade Quorn Lasagne
14pp

Food Diary

Breakfast: 10am
40g Tesco Hot Oats 4pp
150ml Slimline Milk 1pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
Tinned Pears (drained) 0pp

Mid Morning: (kinda cold today) 12pm
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp

Lunch: 3pm
Ham Omlette
- Aldi Ham Cubes 2pp
- 3 Whole Eggs 5pp
- 1 Egg While 0pp
Tinned Pears (drained) 0pp

Activity: (earned 3pp)
30 Mins on treadmill at 5kph

Post Treadmill Snack:
Bran Muffin 4pp
Skinny Mocha 2pp

Dinner: 7ish
Roast Chicken Breast in Maggi So Juicy Seasoning 4pp
350g of potatoes as weddges 7pp
50g Extra Light Mayo 1pp
25g Thai Sweet Chili Sauce 1pp

Oh my god I have eaten so much food today! Yet I still have like 8 Propoints left! I'll be up late, so later I prob will want a nibble. I'm thinking Bran Muffin & Hot Chocolate for 4pp!!!

Food Diary (43 Pro Points)

Breakfast 10am
40g Tesco Hot Oats (same as readybrek) 4pp
150ml Slimline 1pp
Nescafe Skinny Mocha 2pp
Total = 7pp

Snack 1pm
400g Tinned Pears in Natural Juice (drained) 0pp

Lunch 3pm
Chicken Omlette
- 3 Medium Whole Eggs 5pp
- Large Chicken Breast 4pp
Total = 9pp

Activity
30 Minutes walking at 5kph on treadmill
Earned = 3pp

Post Activity Snack 4.30pm
Fruit Pastille Lollie 2pp

Coffee 6pm
2 Banana Bran Muffin 7pp
Skinny Mocha 2pp
Total = 9pp

Dinner 7.30pm
Quorn Pasta Bake 15pp
Baked Apple with Spelenda 0pp
Total =15pp

Evening
Aldi Mint Hot Chocolate 1pp
Water Intake = 3 Litres

Same Points Lighter On the Pocket!

So when I'm doing my shopping I try to get value for money, value for points and value for flavour! Its a fine balancing act. I want to enjoy the food I'm eating, but I've noticed the tastier things tend to be a killer on  points! I hate "adding" cheese for the sake of taste, like oh my god that could be three or four points just on flavour. I personally rather have a larger portion than forking out points on a pinch of something.

I don't go out of my way to use weight watcher products, but I will use them if they prove to be the lowest point option...and if they don't cost too much...because some of the weight watcher products are crazy prices!

I used to buy the weight watcher tins of spagetti alot, because they are quick and easy snack, and instant way to bulk up a meal in a hurry. Bit of scrambled egg and small tin for 7pp for lunch isn't bad!

But lately I had a poke around pointing other brands to see how much of a difference there really is.

 

To the left above is Weight Watchers Spaghetti 200G which is 3 Propoints and is about €0.50 a can

To the right above, Tesco Spaghetti Rings in Tomatoe Sauce 215G which is also 3 Propoints and €0.39 a can

Now I know I was ranting on about cheese earlier, but sometimes a recipe calls for cheese. I make a Lasagne with my own white sauce which needs just a little cheese. When it comes to cheese I've also noticed the points also depend on amount your using.

For example 20g of Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Mature Block is 1 Propoint, and 2 Propoints for 30g. I can't quite seem to lay my hands on my last receipt but I do know its pretty pricey!

However Dubliner Light Block is also 2 Propoints for 30g and is a slightly more reasonably priced €2.59

And the last of my "ligther on the pocket" finds for today is....Tesco's own version of Readybrek. Readybrek/Porridge is such a filling healthy start to the day. You can customize it to suit your own taste with fruit, jam, honey, nutella or what ever takes your fancy.

It's also pretty reasonable on points. General rule of thumb with breakfast cereals/porridges seems to be 3 Propoints for 30g! Not bad at all! Woo!

Readybrek isn't that expensive...you can get a large box 750g for about €2.84 in most supermarkets. However Tesco have recently launched there own version...it's exactly the same product...same texture, consistancy and same size box for nearly half the price of €1.59 (2 for €3 at the moment 5th June 2011)

It's just the little things like that help the weekly grocery bill. Means you can spend your money on things like high quality lean cuts of meat as a source of protien.