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What's stopping you? - Week 4

I know its the Halloween post so you'd be expecting how many Propoints in a mini crunchie but you guys know all this stuff (3 by the way!) ... but this weeks meeting was a bit of an eye opener so to speak.. I wanted to share ...

You've re-joined... its not the first time... and you're hoping this will be the last... what's stopping you?  what's holding you back? My leader spent 15 years losing 5 stone.. the same 5 stone over and over and over... she joined with sisters, pals, neighbours, work colleagues... and whilst they all lost, got gold cards, silver sevens and stones, she was yo-yoing up and down.. and always just gave up? So why did she always stop? What held her back? Didn't she want it enough?

This week she told us her story... and even though I've heard it before... she tells it with such honesty and you're nodding your head because she's actually talking about YOU!

A family party invite would arrive... and panic would set in.. what will she wear? Everyone will be staring at her... She won't enjoy it because she's not going to be comfortable... so she would send her husband, who would return with stories of how much fun it was and what a fab night she missed out on.. all the while she had consoled herself with a bottle of wine and a curry keeping her company... and all the excuses were used... can't get a babysitter, kids need a lift here there and everywhere ... She'll definitely come the next time... and a few hours after the wine buzz had gone and that over stuffed, bloated feeling from the chinese was still there.. she would start to feel crap.. guilty for letting herself down.. foolish that she just didn't get dolled up and enjoy herself... everyone had missed her.. but she let her weight rule her life... Finally she realised she had to put herself first.. and once she realised that if she wasn't at her best.. then she couldn't give her best... something clicked! She was so busy taking care of everyone else... she was last on the list..



I've had that moment.. but every now and then you get that week when you just can't find your groove... This week I'm down another half pound and I'm not going to whinge about it.. its down.. and some many things have improved so far with my weight loss... my health .. a new wardrobe... all round healthiness... look at the bigger picture.. would I really want all that weight back on again? Half a pound .. nice to see you gone!




This week ... remember its not selfish to take care of yourself.. if you neglect yourself.. you're doing a disservice not only to you... but to those you love.. its your responsibility to be as healthy as you can be..  to have the energy to live the best life you can..

Great losses Dolls! 101.8lbs so far!!! AMAZING!!! Mr. Q has won the first stone! *applause*

Don't go crazy over the halloween.. have your treat.... use your 49 PP to do it.. and enjoy it.. no need to hoover all the chocolate in the land.. it'll all still be here next week!

Doll x

Its not in the fridge! Week 3...



I know I'm great at preaching the .. 'there's no such thing as ONLY a half pound' .. but this week I sighed getting off the scales... Down a half and still not happy... My new mantra this week... 'its not in the fridge!' Whatever problem I've got.. and on the world scale they don't even register.. the answer.. no matter how hard I look... isn't in the fridge!

Does anyone else find that fighting the cravings becomes worse than the cravings?!?! This won't turn into a landslide... I've come too far to let it all fall apart... just a week with a brain overload... and experience has taught me that filling my tummy doesn't remove that knot of discomfort that was already there... it just moves over... creating a rock and a hard place just below the waist of my jeans.. I know the solution... care more about yourself first.. treat yourself self like you treat others... and know that looking after yourself .. in the long term.. you are looking after everyone else!

Great losses this week!!! It appears Mr. Quinlivan will be the first stone of the challenge unless anyone .. ahem... Rachel... can catch him next week!

I've recorded the losses from last weeks post... If I've missed you out let me know.. and anyone can join along the way... I've added your names so pressure is on!

Have a great week....

Mini challenge this week.. is drink 1 extra glass of water a day... this weather predisposes us to pop the kettle on.. and who can have tea without a biccie?!?! You'll feel better for it.. I promise!

Doll xxx



Week two... Just say No!



Ever have that moment when you really want to say 'NO' but your mouth, without engaging your brain says okay... sigh.. why do we do it to ourselves? Why is it we tell certain people what they want to hear? It seems like an easy option at the time but if you backpedal it's only more stress... sigh... Here's a few tips I've picked up this week when I asked pals and colleagues ...

You're first response should be 'can I get back to you on that?' Then decide what you REALLY want to do.. and stand firm...

Ask yourself 'what's the worst that could happen if I say no?' ... life will go on.. parties will happen.. people will get the bus... and probably the stress you thought you face will go totally unnoticed! The consequences are rarely as bad as your imaginations would lead you to believe!

Remember your time is precious to you! Telling someone to their face that you just can't help them out this time.... lets them know that you simply have something else on... its not personal...

Keep it simple... The more reasons you give the weaker your 'no' becomes! .. 'I already have plans' is enough.. 'I need to focus on work/study/family right now' is fine.

Be consistent! If you're turning someone down because you have a personal rule, just say so... I know we all cringed at Charlotte in SATC about lending Carrie cash.. but if its your policy not to lend money to friends ... say that.. It lets them know your 'no' isn't a once off...

End on a positive note.. if its a work thing suggest a solution.. if its a friend thing.. suggest a pal who would fit the bill better.. or offer to do it at a time that suits you!

Its time to look after number one.. if you burden yourself with endless favours you leave no time to take care of you!!!!

Losses this week are great ... -31.6 lbs lost in total so far, with a few to still check in... arses appear to be in gear!! Love it!

Doll x


Weigh in #1

OK arse kicking time... WHY are you losing weight?! Ask yourself.. go on.. out loud!!! WHY? Cause you think you should? You mum said so? A cute fella at work? WHY? So many times people ask me.. I just need to lose it.. but they don't know the real reason WHY they should... or even want to... got an answer?!? did you just tell yourself a little fib???

We've only got ONE body... if we mess it up.. we can't replace it... (well not yet but I'm sure pretty soon enough... I digress..) Only a few weeks ago I arrived back from holidays feeling amazing.. I had drunk my bodyweight in water every day... I had fresh fruit for breakfast.. I didn't care for sweets and all my comfort hiding zones were FAR away... not a Pringle in sight! I walked and swam everyday... Yet here I am wrapping up and telling myself bit fat fibs.. that its cold and sure one latte won't hurt.. don't forget that scone thanks waitress!!! Sure aren't I made of sugar!!! I'll dissolve if I walk outside in this weather!!!

This week I stayed the same.. ggggrrrrr.... I didn't track properly and when my leader asked what goals I had set for myself.. I told her I had so many mini goals it wasn't funny... She asked me to remember what had brought me through the door that first day at weight watchers.. WHAT had driven me to walk into a room full of strangers and declare (not like they couldn't see for themselves mind you..) I'm over weight and I want to be a healthier happier version of me .. that is one of the best things about class.. every one has the same mindset.. be it 7 pounds or 7 stone... everyone knows how you're feeling... cause they feel it too... and spring, summer, autumn, winter.. they'll keep coming and going..  Just because its winter its an excuse to cover up in layers and wait for the panic to set in next spring.. it doesn't mean we're not damaging our bodies... Now...  lets get this next stone off for the new year and face 2013 with a sparkly smile! Its the year we'll all get to goal!!!

Now will someone please kick ME up the pants!!! 

Doll x



Pepperpot Beef

Long time since I posted a recipe... and since the weather has turned all wintery on us.. I whipped this up from one of 'The Complete Kitchen' from Weight watchers and for those who followed me making it on twitter and instagram the other night.. here's the recipe as promised! This is direct from the cookbook but I've added my own extra veg and seasoning, (in italics!), because I wanted to make it more of a stew...  PS: Got three days out of it and it just got better every night! AND once its assembled its pretty much doing all the work for you, an hour in the over.. feet up and catch up with The Great British Bake Off!! Enjoy! Doll x

Weigh in post following later! 



PEPPERPOT BEEF

28 ProPoints per recipe
20 mins prep
1.5 hours cooking
Serves 6


Ingredients
15g of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
500g lean diced casserole steak
Spray oil
2 x cans of chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp of light soft brown sugar
1 tbsp of red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves crushed
2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce
1 - 2 tease of hot chill pepper sauce
410g can of kidney beans in water
3 bell peppers 
2 carrots
1 parsnip
1 leek
3 onions
handful of french beans
Stock cubes



How to... 
1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 2/150˚C/fan oven 130˚

2. Mix the flour, ginger and seasoning together and toss the beef in the mixture to coat. I also added a teaspoon of smoked paprika and crushed pink peppercorns.




2. Heat a large non stick frying pan, spray with oil and add the beef in batches... Brown for 4-5 minutes, turning over halfway, the remove to a plate and repeat with the next batch. DON'T over crowd the pan or the meat will steam rather than brown... you just need to seal it... 



3. In another pan sweat off the garlic, onions and peppers to caramelise them slightly... I added the sugar here... you don't need oil... The recipe doesn't say to do this but I like my onions soft and sweet.. helps with all the pepper! 



4. Meanwhile, dice the remaining roots veg ..


5. Layer in a casserole dish, with the veg and beef 

NOTE:
5. The recipe here says... Place the tomato, sugar, vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and chilli pepper sauce in a lidded flameproof casserole. Bring to the boil and add the beef, veg etc...  I prefer to add mine in the pot and give it extra time in the oven to soak up the flavors...

6. SEASON.... this is where you need to experiment and try out new flavors... adding herbs and spices are what will make you eat healthily and not get bored with dishes... it can go horribly wrong but you just might hit on something that's divine! My new find is the Bovril stock cube... 0PP and will beef up ANY dish!



7. Add 500ml of stock, I made two stews... me and my good deeds... I tried both of these... Bovril is 0pp, the Bouillon is 2pp per cube both delish!


8. It'll look something like this... I added a few mushrooms hanging about in the fridge!




9. Then pop in the oven for an hour... 



10. When times up... check and see if it has reduced enough... if not leave it for another 15 - 20 mins... if you can keep your hands off it!! NOM! Your kitchen will smell LUSH!!!





I made some cauliflower and spud mash and spooned it over.. SO filling and tonnes left for lunches for the week and tomorrows dinner! AND like a good curry it just improves with time... 5PP serving, 8PP including the mash! 





On a side note, they I found PINK onions on my shopping ventures ... its like they know my soul!!!



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