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Mar 31, 2011

WEIGH IN #10



So the offical weighin took place today! Given the recent upheavel in my life, Bob the Builder has a jcb in my kitchen (I only WISH I was joking!) and I've crossed over to a new age box on the census form! Strap this to St. Patricks day, "one more load should do it" moving out pizza and "wheres the wok gone?" moving in chinese, I have actually lost weight in the last two weeks. Now... saying its ONLY half a pound would have in times gone by had me rolling my eyes! But clearly I'm making better choices without even realising it, I've been buying fruit, so I've been eating it, I've been drinking my water, probably because we lost the kettle for 48 hours but still.. these are all new habits that I seem to be doing naturally. I still have to get the tracking everyday down to an art and focus on the exercise more, but I'm chuffed! I really thought that moving, birthdays and irish drinking sessions would send me back to the start but hey the plan works! Doll x

Mar 30, 2011

PPPOTD - SWEET & SOUR



There are no guarantees, but remember: Even in the future, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour. Vanilla Sky 2001


Confucius say DOLL LOVES CHINESE... so whilst doing my weekly shop I thought I'd do a little comparison... Sweet & Sour sauces... Now I've only done three.. but its enough to show just how different they can be propoint wise and how you can save an extra point here and there if you're smart! These are only the sachets, I'm not a huge fan of the jars as they are full of additives and god knows what, also they tend to "coat" the food rather than flavour it, I'm no domestic goddess (watch out Nigella!) so I like to add the flavours but with out all the E numbers ..

First up... Amoy Thai Sweet and Sour - 4 pp per 120g, that works out at 2 pp per person but if like me you use tonnes of free veg you can make those points count the next day for lunch!




Next its Uncle Ben - Careful with this one.. this works out at 4 pp per 100g (but the sachet is 150g which technically serves 3 people - 6pp for the whole sachet)... this means 2 pp per serving... Although this one looks quite thick so adding a little water to your sauce might stretch it.. it would be easy to just divide this by two, meaning it would be 3 pp per serving... Its also very ... um.. bright in colour!




Finally my favourite range ... Blue Dragon Sweet & Sour - this sachet is again 120g for 2 pp .. so its only 1 pp per serving.. there's lots of flavour in this ... and compared to the Uncle Bens one.. looks like there's less colouring and additives in this one too ... (note - this is the new packaging.. you made still find the old style packs in your supermarket but the propoints are the same..)

Mar 29, 2011

PPPOTD - Jamaican cake!



A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.
Ludwig Erhard


Sometimes I can get caught on the hop with my friends ... this evening is a good example ... I dropped into a friend for a cuppa after a class and she produced a "treat" ... normally this would send me into panic mode.. Have I got enough propoints left? Will I have to exercise this off tomorrow? Will I have enough time? Luckily I've not touched my 49 extras this week so I could indulge albeit cagey ... and YUM! Its been a long time since I've tried this ginger cake and its something I would have again.. its 3 pp per slice.. I don't have any weights for this because the breakdown is based on the cake being sliced into 10 slices, which was done ... it would be too easy to add a little extra.. but one slice was more than enough.. its rich, moist and something different.. as you all know I'm all for variety in food... Show me butternut squash soup again till next winter and I'll scream.. I mean it!! If you love ginger.. and have the strength to slice it up and be honest (I mean who are you kidding really!?) .. it one you can add to your basket.. Doll x

Mar 27, 2011

PPPOTD - Breakfast Biscuits



Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first. ~ Josh Billings


Considering I worked in advertising for so long and understand the ins and outs of a campaign and how marketing has to get in your face... Lisa Snowdon and her Brrreaakfast biscuits drive me nuts! So much so that when I spotted them in the supermarket I thought - "lets see how good your BRRRREAAKfast biscuits really are madame!!" These are MASSIVE in points for breakfast ... at 2 pp per biscuit and 4 in each pack, you're looking at 8 pp for 4 thin biscuits, which I guarantee will not fill you up.. I had two for my breakfast and 10 mins later I was wondering if the clocks could go forward again to get me closer to lunch! They are malty in taste, and quite dry so you would have to have them with tea/coffee/milk... compared to the likes of Special K, Weetabix and better yet porridge, or my new fav breakfast - fruit smoothies with a dannone actimel thrown in ... we're being robbed! If they are on your shopping list.. save them for emergencies (in the car, desk at work) and wrap them up in smaller portions so you don't get carried away!! Doll x

Mar 25, 2011

The Secret is OUT!


For those who follow Weight Watchers on Twitter or Facebook, you'll know that recently they set out to find a panel of "Superfans" to research, comment, review and get down with the real members! Well, 10 lucky people from across Britain and Ireland were chosen, all at different changes in their journey, some with large losses, some baby-weight losses, some emotional eaters, a good bunch of enthusiastic members who have lost by attending meetings or online, some are at goal and are on maintenance, there's someone that everyone can relate to whatever stage they are at in their journey! AAANNNNDDDDD Miss Doll can announce, drum roll please... that she is amongst the chosen few... YAY! We'll be swapping ideas, tips, recipes and lots more fun, helpful and informative stuff in the near future. Lots of things to help everyone get to their goal... Doll x ... or should that be Superdoll? ;)

PPPOTD - PIES!



“Men may come and men may go.....but Pie goes on for ever.”
George Augustus Sala, British journalist.
'America Revisited' (1882)

Here's one of the nicest chicken pies I've come across to date! This Chicken and Herb pie is 13 pp which may seem like a lot for one serving but to share one with a big plate of steamy veg its a bargain dinner! Its got lovely mash (so your carbs are covered) and creamy sauce, button mushrooms are throughout and the seasoning is truly "herbie", YUM! There are a few variations in this range, I've also tried the "Superior fish pie" and there's no shortage of chunks of salmon, shrimp and smoked haddock, again its topped with creamy mash. It too is 13 pp. Doll x

Mar 23, 2011

PPPOTD - Perky!

Be a coffee-drinking individual - espresso yourself!
~Author Unknown


OK .. Caffine purists look away now! EVERY day, in every office, I suspect there's a daily coffee run.. in an office I frequent trays of lattes, mocha's, hot chocolates, muffins (I KNOW!) appear around 10.30am.. and sometimes it can be hard to get a small skinny latte in the mix, PLUS you KNOW if a grande (I'm fluent in coffee don't you know!) arrives you'll only drink it! Considering some coffee shops don't even HAVE slim milk... you can really pay (propoint wise!) for a cup of coffee and chat.. in fact some of lattes can cost you up to 8 pp .. so if there's a regular coffee run in the office you don't need to miss out... here's a list of the ready-to-go choices out there.. I'm currently trying the Nescafe Skinny Cappuccino Caramel Flavour and its really nice, and for only 1 PP, its instant, tasty and can be just the thing to fill that gap!

NESCAFE CAPPUCCINO SKINNY = 1 PP

NESCAFE MOCHA SKINNY = 2 PP

NESCAFE LATTE MACCHIATO = 3 PP

NESCAFE LATTE SKINNY = 2 PP

NESCAFE CAPPUCCINO UNSWEETENED = 2 PP

NESCAFE CAPPUCCINO = 2 PP

MAXWELL HOUSE CAPPUCCINO = 2 PP

Mar 22, 2011

PPPOTD - Bubbles!



"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius


Something to malTEASE you.. ahem.. another easter egg which has pointed quote high considering how many of us use the mini snack bags of malteasers as a choccie fix... Again, if you're going to have an egg or someone is going to buy one for you, this one would be a good one to share and the fact that there are 3 mini bags means you can give them away - if you're strong enough! Doll x

The EGG = 15 pp
The Mini bags are 3 pp = 9 pp
The Total PP = 24 pp

Mar 20, 2011

PPPOTD - Choc Orange!




Here's a breakfast bar which isn't too bad considering its ALPEN! At 2 pp per bar these are a filling "on-the-go" snack as the fibre content is high.. These are made by WEETABIX so they're not too dissimilar to the others I posted here it will keep you going longer than the sugar coated options out there plus you get enough chocolate to make it count .. Remember when you're shopping its the LIGHT version...

Mar 19, 2011

PPPOTD - MINTY!



Personally I like my mint in a Mojito! But there are those among us who are all about the mint-choc-chip! Here's one of the better Easter eggs (if 24 pp is a better option!) .. For a quarter (1/4!!!) of the egg itself if 4 pp and the bars are 4 pp each.. might be a good one to share on Easter sunday, plus you get a Minty Tea Mug to dunk your egg into! Although I DEFY anyone to eat just a quarter of an egg.. I mean seriously! Doll x

Mar 17, 2011

PPPOTD - Féile Pádraig




Being the day that's in it.. seems only right to add my national drink to the PPPOTD! I won't be indulging as I'm a G&T gal, and yes today its green! The country is gone green today.. seems wrong not too.. Guinness per pint = 6 pp

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

Mar 16, 2011

PPPOTD - EGGS!



No.. not the "over easy", "sunny side up", "poached or scrambled?" kind.. the CHOCOLATE kind.. I'm sure at this stage everyone has been into a supermarket/corner shop/deli or petrol station and been faced with the WALL of chocolate! DAMN! TOP TIP: don't make eye contact! Avoid the aisle at all costs... but for those who do have to venture into the territory... Here's the first of some I've come across..

THE MORO Egg..
Now .. this comes with 4 mini bars which are 3 pp EACH.. so thats 12 before you ever get to the egg... the EGG, for half of it.. (like anyones going to eat HALF!!!!) is 7 pp .. so the full egg with bars is 26 pp... I could think of better ways to spend my ProPoints and still get my chocolate fix! More eggs to come... Doll x

Mar 14, 2011

PPPOTD - Juicy


"When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out - because that's what's inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside."
Wayne Dyer


Morning all... I know we're all suppose to drink our body weight in water.. but sometimes its SO hard.. I really feel like I should stick a couple of fish in there to happily swim about! Something our leader has told us about is mixing a little juice with the water to trick our minds.. (again!) I came across these Ribena Blackcurrant drinks in individual portions, they are 2 pp per 200ml and are VERY sweet! But if you are in car and have a bottle of water you can easily squeeze in a little juice and get it down easier!!! They aren't sugar free like the cordials in the range but I suspect there are sugar free versions which would be lower in ProPoints...

Mar 11, 2011

WEIGH IN #9



Well well well.. that's it.. I'm on the top of the hill and now I'm picking up speed! Hopefully I'll be light enough to start slowing down soon.. so Beerday is over and I'm happy to report that 3 dinners out, a cocktail class and a chocolate biscuit cake in the shape of my car has allowed me to stay the same this week.. which I'm happy about.. I made good decisions at all the "dos" .. I was yapping so much for two of them I came home hungry! So I'm not feeling too bad about it.. however now the fun times are over and I'm officially OLD.. its time to get this fat arse into gear! We're nearly moved into the temporary house .. so I've got all my woks, blenders and steamers in place.. so no excuses! Doll x

Mar 9, 2011

PPPOTD - WEDGES



Fish, to taste right, must swim three times - in water, in butter, and in wine.
~Polish Proverb


Being that its fish and chips in this house tonight... I thought I'd investigate the ready made chips out there and thought I'd try these... Spicy wedges.. they come in a small bag which means two nice small portions... and again its something different to the norm... and its the spice of life.. as they say! For 100g frozen = 4 pp , backed or grilled is 5 pp... With a nice piece of fish, a handful of prawns and lots of veggies they're a nice change..


EDIT TO ADD... I've just heard back from McCains re the point difference when cooked and here's what they said..

Dear Doll

The reason why the calorie count is higher on oven-baked products than fried products is due to the moisture loss during reconstitution.

As the product is cooked, the moisture level decreases due to evaporation, this means the frozen nutritional values such as fat, protein and carbohydrates increase. Because moisture is present in a much smaller amount once baked or fried, the proportion of nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates increase, thus replacing the lost moisture.

As a result of the moisture loss and the increase in nutritive values, the calorie count increase, for the reason that the calorie count is worked out on the fat, protein and carbohydrate values. I do hope this helps explain the difference.


Mar 7, 2011

PPPOTD - Jordans breakfast bars..





I'm always on the hop in the morning.. one of my failings as a WW member... breakfast always seems to come last.. so this week I'm pointing breakfast bars .. starting with this blueberry version from Jordans... Each bar is 3 pp and while they do taste nice ... they're not going to fill you up for the morning like a bowl of porridge or a smoothie! One of the less evil bars on the market... more to come... Doll x

Its all connected...




I'm discovering a link with happiness and the people I surround myself with... I mean we all have someone who drains us emotionally, no matter how much support we give them and I'm starting to think that emotions are contagious.. like a virus. I mean if you hang around with people long enough you catch their habits, moods, state of mind, even body language, so it stands to reason that you can catch a little happiness to boot! I'm glad I'm surrounding myself here with happy positive people. The good vibes from other achievers on the same journey is amazing. I'm not thinking of culling every friend I own, everyone has their down days, its just that I need to focus more on the happy people so I can be happy too. I'm getting an attitude.. a good one and I like it! Doll x

Mar 5, 2011

PPPOTD - Dragons...


Old packaging ...


“Meddle not in the affairs of the dragon; for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.” Anon

So.. since I'm now officially ahem.. drum roll please... 40 (eek!) ... I'm even more driven to get this weight off.. fat and forty.. not a good combo! We're aiming for FABULOUS and 40 thank you very much! I'm cooking one of my own tried and tested stir-fries.. you all know as much free veg as you can handle.. mangetout, spinach, peppers, courgettes, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes the list is endless.. and you can tailor it to be something you really love... Add your protein, again whateer takes your fancy.. chicken, tuna, beef, pork.. tofu, quorn... you can even add egg white! But the most important thing for stir fries.. are the spices and sauces.. I find this range from Blue Dragon (I've added both as they are currently changing their packaging) are great.. and this small sachet is only 4 pp and is loads for two people in fact I get two dinners and lunch the following day EASILY out of this packet.. The range varies so I'll point the rest as I go along.. but this one is a fav! Doll x

The new look..

Mar 3, 2011

PANCAKE DAY!!!



Yep.. an official day to EAT! (who doesn't love that!) ... at our meeting this morning, our leader, Bernie gave us a recipe for pancakes the weight watchers way! She had some with her and even thought they were cold they tasted every bit as good as the fatty oily ones! Remember fruit is free so lash it on.. TIP - if you gently heat berries in a pan with some of your zero pp sugar, you'll get a nice sticky syrup (what Gordon might call a jus!) .. save points on the maple kind! If you really want something naughty.. grate some DARK chocolate over the top and it'll melt a dream... being stronger in taste you won't want as much..


Weight Watchers ProPoint Pancake Recipe:

4 large pancakes = 3 pp

Whisk together 120g plain flour, 1 large egg,
pinch of salt & 1/2 pint slimline milk until smooth

Spray pan with your 1 cal spray oil

Pour in small amounts of your mixture to thinly cover the pan

As the batter cooks it will start to come away from the edge of the pan & will slide more easily

Toss the pancake or turn over until the other side is cooked



Suggested toppings:

Chocolate Spread (Nutella) 15g - 2 pp
Sugar, 1 tspn - 1 pp
Sweetener, 1 tspn - 0 pp
Fresh Lemon - 0 pp
Sliced banana - 0 pp
Fresh Berries - 0 pp
Jam, 1 tspn, 18g - 1 pp
Honey, 1 tspn 15g - 1 pp
Butter, 2 tspns 10g - 2 pp
Low Fat Spread, 2 tspns 10g - 1 pp

WEIGH IN #8



There's no excuse other than I didn't track and I didn't plan! We are currently living out of boxes.. we're between houses and I didn't allow for the all day/night packing and not preparing dinner.. not having my snacks to hand.. allowing myself the EASY way out.. "oh lets just get a takeaway" would normally have me running to the kitchen to make my own chinese but I was lazy and took the easy road .. and it showed on the scales.. My leader always says.. the week ends when you step on the scales and starts when you get off... I went straight from class.. (which was all about about pancakes.. I'll post the recipe later... ) and went to my green grocer and bought €30 worth of fruit and veg... I'm stocked for the rest of the week and the only event is my birthday which I'm saving my 49 pp for tmrw night.. the plan works.. but lesson learned.. you HAVE to following it COMPLETELY ... "kinda" tracking in your head.. "oh I'll remember later" .. "I'm SURE I can't have gone over today" .. no no no no no no no no! I'll prove this next week with my weigh in! chin (or should that be chins!) UP!

Mar 1, 2011

Who are you really?!?!?!


I've only recently become conscious of the fact that in my mind ... my life will begin once I get to goal... I constantly say "if only..." or "when I lose this weight..." of course its part of the big conspiracy going on around me... you know, how I blame all the saboteurs! Well breaking news folks.. I'm one of em! I'm my own worst enemy it seems... The reality is, we're all responsible for our state of mind, and its so easy to blame lots of things for your unhappiness but its something that can easily change ... I'm forever telling people "I'm a worrier", "I'm stressed out". These are labels that I've given myself, and in fact all the labels I've given myself are negative ones... At no point have I ever said out loud "I'm a great cook" ,"I'm a loyal friend" its all the negative stuff that's out there! That's got to change! Time to question if I'm just taking on that role of "worrier" to make others happy? And some of these labels have been with me for years! Its time to relabel Doll and time to get to know the real her again... Its time to change the identity I've given myself ... I've been so consumed with how low it makes me feel, how awful it is, how long the journey will be... I'm even dragging me down! My happiness is up to me! I'm off to make some new name badges! Doll x