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Spooky tights!

I'm a MASSIVE fan of halloween so my search for spooky goodies and outfits started months ago...  but I was doing some sneaky online shopping at work and LOOK!!! Spooky tights!!! If you're not into the whole dressing up gig... then you can still get into the spirit of things with some fancy tights from ASOS! Just had to share... You can find them >>> HERE <<< 




These 'pumpkin faces'  glow in the dark... you heard me! 








The spiders web come in regular and plus size... I LOVE THESE!!!!



Jacobs Mediterraneo Tapas Crackers

For those with a savoury tooth like me... Jacobs have a new range of 'Tapas' crackers out and they're currently at the bargain price of €1 per pack in SuperValu! I've only tried the oregano ones but they are LOVELY!!! Let me know if you've tried them!


Same ProPoint values for all the flavours... 
1 cracker - 1PP
2 crackers - 2PP
3 crackers - 2PP







OCTOBER!!! #wwphotoaday



Can you believe we're already at October!?! EEK! The #wwphotoaday challenge is up on Instagram for anyone wanting to join in the weight loss love! You can find me >>> HERE<<< 



Remember that moment...



We all get them... the wobbles... the 'I'm going to be this weight FOREVER...' *WAILS*

that is the exact moment when you need to remember why you weighed in that first day... 

that photograph... that comment... those jeans that wouldn't close... 

remember those moments...

and think about how you'd feel if you were back there starting all over again... 



Funny thing happened on the way to the theatre...

A personal post today... about my recent trip to the theatre... Sadly not the musical theatre... but the operating one to get some 'unusual' lumps and bumps removed to see if they're just hanging out in me for the craic or if they have a more sinister plan in mind...




About 5 years ago, I was in a similar position and I had a particularly bad experience with the anesthetist... not that we had words... I was too scared to speak... and, like this time, every vein that popped up... collapsed seconds later... I'm a human pin cushion it seems... I digress...



The story from 2010, goes like this...

I arrived at the hospital... registered... and cried... was led to my cubicle and told to get into my gown and into bed so they could start the pre-op fun stuff ... I beeped the nurse... The gown didn't fit... I needed a plus size gown... they head off to find one... they couldn't take my blood pressure on my upper arm because it was too fat... Every single thing they tried to do was compromised because of my weight...  My blood pressure was high... I was teary and just wanted out... but I knew I had to go through with it... you don't want to mess with 'unusual' cells and cysts...

My consultant knew I was a nightmare about needles and hospitals so I was given a 'carer' of sorts to stay with me until I was put in the holding room... I have been known to do a runner with my gown open, bum out to the world, asking for my stuff, telling them that 'I'll happily come back another day'... however... more tears and the anesthetist came out to look at my file and run through the list of illnesses I don't have... and then checked my weight... the conversation went like this...

A - Is this your correct weight?
Me - Yes *sniffles*
A - Well there's no guarantee I can bring someone of your size back round...  You're BMI is very high
ME - *silence*
A - I mean really how did you let it get this bad...
ME - *tears*
A - Sign here but you are a HUGE risk...
*turns to the porter who has been reading the paper to me to keep me in the bed and says* What are YOU doing here? there's NO need for you...
Me - *signs form*

I know I was nearly 9 stone heavier... it was not a surprise to me that I was over weight... it's not like I looked down and went 'jesus how did that get there!?'... I'd been in that hospital with PCOS for years... This was not new information... but she did this in a room of people who were all scared about going under the knife... nurses who were just doing their job... why she felt she had to humiliate me that day was beyond me... Fat shaming? I'm ok with with it for some people tbh but right then? Really? Wrong place wrong time lady...

So time warp to last week, when a scan showed some lumps that were 'suspicious' and they wanted to go in and get things out!

I arrived at the hospital... registered... and cried... was led to my cubicle and told to get into my gown and into bed so they could start the pre-op fun stuff ... I beeped the nurse... I needed a plus size gown... turns out I didn't... and they took blood pressure on my upper arm because it was normal way to do it... My weight didn't factor in any of the pre-op fun stuff... My blood pressure was slightly high, but that's because I'm a 'flight risk'... I was teary and just wanted out... but I knew I had to go through with it... My consultant popped in and she wanted to check some stuff, including my weight...

It went like this...

Me - *stands on scales*
Dr. - um... hang on a second... can you just pop off it for a second?
Dr - *turns scales off and on again*
Dr - Hop up for me...
Me - *stands on scales*
Dr - Have you... Have you lost 9 stone?
Me - 8 stone 10 lbs actually...
Dr - *jaw drops*
Me - *fistpumps*




I got back into bed in my fetching gown... They really shouldn't call them gowns, but that's for another blog post... The porter with me, was doing the crossword and we were all set to get me down to theatre... I was insisting that I can walk there myself, there's nothing wrong with my legs, however  I was told everyone gets a free spin... I'm a nightmare patient... He wheels me into the holding room and a lovely Russian nurse looks at my arms and says 'you've been through it this morning haven't you...' 6 attempts to get blood out of me, all failed ...  it takes her 10 seconds to get the IV in and I'm none the wiser... a complete pro... I hear my name being called... I'm in next... I'm telling myself, no tears... and here she is... Miss Anestheist 2010! It goes like this...


A - I've seen you before haven't I?
Me - Yes
A - Let me just read through your file... *flips through pages* you have a very low patient number you've been with us for a long time... all the lolz...
Me - *stares*
A - my goodness ... you've lost a lot of weight since the last time you were here... well done...
Me - *stares* I know I was bursting to say something but I was afraid I'd call her a bitch or something worse and she wouldn't wake me up!
A - How are you doing it?
Me - Weight Watchers and exercise...
A - They really are very good...
Me - *stares*
A - Well, well done... you still have a bit to go but ... I do understand ... I'm a big emotional eater...
Me - *growls*


When I woke up... she was there... see the last time I tore the recovery room apart trying to get the cables and tubes off me... ( I KNOW!) ... and these people keep notes!

A - You're doing fine... it went very well... much easier than the last time... all that weight loss has made a huge difference...
Me - *stares* I think I threw up then too... eek... still she got the message...


Thankfully I am home and grand... awaiting results... today check out your lumps and bumps, and get your loved ones to do the same... it might be one embarrassing conversation but if it saves their life who cares... if there's something not right get it checked... it only takes a minute... it could be nothing... it could be something... but its best to know...

Doctors and nurses are looking at everyones bits every day... there's nothing, NOTHING they haven't seen... if they don't have something similar to yours then they've looked at 100s just like yours! So don't let your pride or embarrassment stop you from getting things checked... Don't put it off... for 5 mins on the table you can save your life...

Normal service now resumes... thanks for all the nice messages and wishes.. it was lovely to wake up to!






'N' - #xmascountdown


'N' is for NO... 

Go on, say it out loud.... NO... and again.... Honestly, say it out loud... get used to hearing your voice saying it! 'No thank you' ...  'No thanks'... Just plain old NO... you don't need to explain yourself... don't start raving "No i can't because...' we're all adults... Don't lie... Don't make excuses... Don't over explain... Just simply say no... You can, you're allowed to! When you say yes to everyone all the time, you're saying NO to yourself and your needs... How many of us have reluctantly said 'Yes...' to keep someone else happy... eaten food we didn't even like, let alone needed because we might offend someone if we didn't have a slice of Auntie Marys' apple tart... I mean seriously how ridiculous is that!?!  It's OK to just say no... and mean it! How many hours have you wasted doing something you never intended to do but felt you'd be letting someone down if you didn't? Only to realise that not only are they getting on with their life but the one person you've let down is yourself! Do it once... and honestly you'll be surprised how people just get on with things and find another solution to THEIR problem and you can focus on YOU! So practice... 'No' is a complete sentence.. you don't need to explain or justify it! If something makes you miserable or drains your energy don't do it! Don't apologise for saying 'no' either... it's a very Irish thing to start with 'I'm so sorry but I can't do XYZ for you but I could try to do it over the weekend or maybe next week...' on and on it goes... lose the guilt... the job will get done... the world will keep on turning... you are your number one priority... so put yourself first! 


'N' RECIPE

Nut roast!!  This is a fantastic recipe from WWUK! Perfect for this time of year! Only 6PP per portion!







'N' INSPIRATION

One of my favourite weight loss blogs is 'No thanks to cake!' (SEE JUST SAY NO!)  >>> HERE <<< Kelly is an inspiration... following her on her journey has inspired me so many times and her recipes are simple, healthy and SO delicious... Check her out! 



'N' ZERO HEROS
Nectarines... 
Nutmeg...


13 weeks left to Xmas! How fast has that happened?!!
Set a goal with yourself today that you'll lose 'x' lbs 
by the time the man with the red suit gets here! 


It's up to you...


Wouldn't it be lovely is someone else could hop on the tread mill for us... 

Someone to jump in the pool and eat all the healthy stuff for us ...

Sadly it's never going to happen... but we are responsible for our body and our lives... 

we over indulged... we didn't exercise and we can't expect anyone else to fix it!

Family who love us would love to do it for us... but its up to you and me to get the job done! 

Lets do this! 


Chicken & Leek Pie





So this delicious recipe is in the October issue of Weight Watchers magazine... it is super easy and SO good for the cozy nights... I've adapted it slightly... and made enough for 2 nights... and like a good curry... it just tasted better... for only 5 pp per portion!

What's in it?
3 skinless chicken breasts - 12 pp
Stock cube - 2 pp
2tbsp creme fraiche - 1 pp
Grated Low Low Cheese - 3 pp

ZERO HEROS
Spray Oil
3 leeks
1tbsp tarragon
Green and french beans
Butternut squash

Total ProPoints per portion - 5 pp
Total ProPoints total recipe - 18 pp

How?


Line up your ingredients... 


Spray the pan and fry off your chicken... 


Dice your leeks... 


and add them to your chicken... 


add your stock...


and simmer... the take it off the hob and allow it to cool... 


peel and chop your sweet potato... pop it in a pan of cold water and bring it to the boil... 


once its done... season and mash! I'm a pepper nut... Not even sorry! 


pop your chicken and leeks (I've added french beans...) to a casserole dish to cool slightly... 


then add your creme fraiche... 
I use this half fat one from tesco in everything, both sweet and savoury.. it's great in curries... 
but Aldi have brought out a 'light' one too so check that out!


Layer your mash on the top... 


and pop it in the oven, Gas mark 6, 200˚C, 180˚ Fan oven...
 for about 20min till the top is crispy... 


I added some Low Low cheese on the top...  


et voila! 


add some steamed veg and a very big bowl... delish! 







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