It's not your door...

Ever feel like you're pushing and pushing and getting no where... maybe you're pushing the wrong door... sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what you've been doing and work out why it's not working for you... If ProPointing isn't the way... try Filling & Healthy... and vice versa... if you're not challenged by your exercise, do something different... I meet a man in my local park walking all the time... and one day he had changed direction... it was funny because I timed my laps on how quickly he got around the same circuit... this particular day he said.. 'I need more hills so I'm going backwards' and laughed heartily... The park I walk in is by no means 'hilly' but just by changing direction my walk was more challenging too... I have a long slow uphill as opposed to a quick steep incline and a long meander downhill... 

Little things will change our journey... small little things that you might think make no difference can make all the difference... 

Today look at what you're doing and change just one little thing it might make all the difference!

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You choose...

You know those cream cakes you walk past in the supermarket, ok RUN past, those chocolate croissants in the board room... that cheese all melty on buttered toast ... you know how good all that stuff tastes... next time you feel like dipping your paws into the biscuit tin just remember this... 

There's a reason why all the foods that are bad for us taste so good, between the bad fats, MSG, all the 'E' numbers and additives these foods are addictive! That slogan 'Once you pop you can't stop' is so true! Anyone know someone who opened a tin of Pringles had one and put them away?!?!?! No way! There's an entire industry, within the food industry that's there to make us want products more, they add flavours and chemicals to food so that we all drool at the mention of its name... and no one is saying you can't have a cream bun now and then... but the bad stuff, that's going to stay in your system a lot longer than the 30 secs that you get to enjoy it in your gob! And sometimes that's all we crave, that smell, and taste, once its made it's way to our tummies we just feel guilty and crap and lethargic... 

This week be more mindful of what you're eating... is that cupcake worth the momentary bliss or can you eat something else that would give you that same satisfaction but without all the apres binge drama... question things before you just put it in your mouth and forget it ever happened... that old saying 'a minute on the lips a lifetime on the hips' rings true! 

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Don't make resolutions...

Yep.. you read it right... don't do it... don't promise yourself you'll lose 5 stone by Paddys Day... don't pressure yourself by telling everyone you're going to the gym 5 times a week... You're giving up bread for the year... no... just no... 

Every year people make resolutions and end up feeling like crap when they can't keep up with them... if you already go to the gym 5 times a week and did so before Christmas then it's some thing you can already do... you don't need to put pressure on yourself because its a New Year... You can re-evaluate ... make healthier choices of course, but Easter will come with all the chocolate eggs, Bank Holidays will be here bringing BBQs and picnics outside (I'm optimist about the weather aren't I?!?!), Pancake Tuesday will arrive, with all the Nutella and before you know it we'll be back at Summer holidays and facing Christmas again, I'm not wishing my life away but life is too short... and life is to be lived... and making resolutions that aren't realistic just adds to the misery of the January blues... So here's my thinking... make a plan not a resolution... 

Promise yourself one thing and one thing only ... to be a better version of you... to be less stressed, feed your body better and be happy with who you are... these aren't resolutions... they're things you should be trying to do every day of the year... these are things your need to do everyday to be a better, happier and calmer person... 

Life will throw things at us in 2015... family get poorly, some of us will lose people we love, work will get on top of us... we'll struggle with money and not having enough time to do things, we'll feel down at certain times of the year and be miserable, just like every year ... those are the times that can make you lose focus on being healthier... you don't have the time or energy to treat yourself well, and you put yourself last on the list... we rush to get everything done for everyone else and our bodies suffer because of it... so this year instead of making a 'resolution' and then live in fear of breaking it and feeling lost when you realise you can't keep it up along with everything else... make a pact with yourself to look after you... and when you're at your best... everyone else benefits! A happier you.. means a happier person to be around and kicking yourself because you didn't make the gym 5 times doesn't help any one... throw in a little walk and get over yourself... you're still being kinder to you, and your family and friends will reap the benefits... 

Year after year I made resolutions, joined gyms, quit being any fun, only to fall at the first or second hurdle into a pancake in February! Then hating myself for being such a loser.. I was horrible and mean to myself... 'I'm useless'... 'I'm always going to be a failure'... 'what was the point, when I can't even last a month?!' and the cycle would continue...

It's not selfish to take time to look after yourself... to treat yourself... you become a nicer person to be around... so take your 10 mins to breathe, paint your nails or make that hair appointment... when you're so busy trying to take care of everyone else you can forget about you... So just try this mantra for the year ... 

Have wonderful New Year Celebrations wherever you may be... 

It's my favourite holiday of the year!!! 

and a sincere thank you to everyone who has been on here, reading, following, 

supporting and kicking my butt when I needed it! Thanks to all who did the challenges... 

I hope everyone enjoyed them as much as I did... 

and here's to a continued success for all in a healthier and happier 2015!

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Forget the plan... Monday Motivation...

It will never go to plan... so don't give up because it didn't go the perfect way you thought it would... if everything was to go exactly to plan in life... I'd be a size 8 and an olympic ice skater, I'd also win XFactor but I'm not bitter... much!!! 

The plan will change... the path will lead you somewhere you don't want to go... it will piss you off... and you will want to give up... a birthday... a wedding... a good old girls night out... they're not set backs... they're you living your life...  you will have bad weeks... you will also have amazing weeks... the trick is to never lose sight of the goal... ultimately that's where you want to be... and if you have a bar of chocolate and a few gins on the way... at least you enjoyed the trip! 

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DO THEM!

WHAT are you waiting for? and WHY? and for WHO? 

This week… put yourself first… trust me… the planet will still turn and noses might be a little out of joint but I can guarantee that the people draining your time and energy will find solutions to their problems and work stuff out for themselves! If people know they can get away with it… they will and will continue to until you stop them… 

All those things… get planning and do them! Life's too short… 

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ONLY!?

There's no such thing as ONLY!

Losing 1 - 2 lbs a week is the healthy way to lose weight.. 

it didn't go on over night its not coming off overnight either!

0.5 lb a week = 26 lbs a year / 1st 12lbs

1 lb a week = 52 lbs a year / 3st 10lbs

1.5 lbs a week = 78 lbs / 5st 8lbs

2 lbs a week = 104 lbs / 7st 6lbs 

Just think where you can be in a year!

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H to the O... yo… week 4!

a little one bed I'm thinking I should do up and live in... 

Firstly, Apologies I'm a day late and all kinds of 'jet lagged' ... ahem ... chart will be updated on this post tomorrow... I want to go through all the comments and make sure I don't miss any body out … 

This week, week 4 (HOW did that happen so fast!) its all about water... 

The recommended intake for a healthy adult is generally a minimum of 8 to 12 glasses of water per day. Here's a  Hydration Calculator ... it's good as a guide..... 

Tap Tips… 

1. Find your source. In most places in tap water is just as good as most bottled water, so don't feel like you have to buy your water. If you do live in an area with lime or hard water or the taste of chlorine is strong then invest in a  filter jug… they're in most shops and keep it topped up… 

2. Drink and Drive!
Leave a bottle everywhere… by your desk, at the sink, beside the kettle, in the car beside your bed… there's no excuse not to have a glass or mug for your water intake so whenever you see it.. you'll drink some… its a great habit to get into!

3. How do you take it?  Cold? Get a jug for the fridge... Room temp? Leave the jug on the counter... Or drink from the tap if you like... Iced? Be sure you have some ice trays full every night... Be prepared... Flavor? Don't like plain water? If you can't stand water, try putting a slice of fresh lemon, lime, or orange in your glass. Get juicing.... Add some sugar free cordial.. whatever helps you to drink more then do it… if all else fails, just drink it and quit moaning! You'll get used to it... and feel better for it!

Freeze slices of lemon... I sound like the boy scouts but ALWAYS be prepared!

4. Every morning, first thing in your mouth before anything else, drink a glass of water. Your body WANTS it, 74% of you is water and feels so much better... Then, have a glass with every meal, it does help fill you faster and you tend to eat a bit less. Even if you are just sitting down to have ONE biscuit, have a glass of water first…  you'll snack less! Drink a glass when you *think* you are hungry or want to eat… you're not hungry.. you're thirsty!

5. Go one-for-one at happy hour... When you're enjoying a cocktail or three at happy hour, try to drink at least one glass of water (or, even just half a glass) for every alcoholic drink you take down. It's a great way to heal the hangover and munchies that come with it the next day too...

6. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal. Its not always easy to remember.. But when I do it, I notice that I don't hoover my food as fast when I sit down to eat my meal normally...

7. AND.. remember that when you exercise you need to replenish those lost fluids… all common sense!

Water increases your metabolism, flushes out toxins, gives you clearer skin, relieves tiredness, helps digestion and so much more all for ZERO calories!

New chart up tomorrow and back posting in full swing on Monday! 

From the posts I see everyones doing great!

   

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Back to school!

If there were no schools to take the children 

away from home part of the time, 

the insane asylums would be filled with mothers.  

~ Edgar W. Howe

Back to school… 

With most of the little people all firmly back behind the school gates and the traffic piled up with one child per car… (car pooling mammies.. think car pooling!) I was thinking of my first day at school.. remember yours? Excitement… or tears? Love it or loathe it.. it happened to us all! I LOVED school… I still love doing courses and learning… although I suspect my slight addiction to fancy school stationary MIGHT have something to do with it… ahem…

1st day.... summer uniform!

Once I got to those gates I RAN into the classroom… my poor mother in tears… 'only child syndrome' means she got teary at every event… still does… and my tears came when the summer holidays began and I was back to being just a playground of one again… 

There are so many nice memories though… some bad ones too… the nuns were not kind… pigtails were pulled… and many slaps were dished out… but the learning part I loved… 

The smell of fresh new books… and new uniforms… that first page on your copy book when you nearly didn't want to spoil it… and your handwriting was SO neat… that by the end of term the last few pages had to be deciphered by hieroglyph experts! 

and picking a new pencil case was the BEST THING EVER!

Favourite subject? Surprisingly, I loved maths… still do… and I'm still doing maths everyday with my PPs!

MATHS

Do the maths and you'll get the right answer… Now I suffer from PCOS… so losing weight is always going to be a challenge… but the weeks I religiously stick to the plan… it works… its a formula… and most diets are the same… consume less calories than you spend.. simples… add your Propoints up properly and you will lose weight… it works for so many people that it can't be wrong… same principle with the 'Slimming world' plan… counting calories... 

ENGLISH

Its out there… all you have to do is focus and read it… success stories online… FB pages with others who are looking for support just like you and me… magazines… forums… twitter… your WW books… whatever way you look at it… there's people telling their story, asking questions and looking for support… 

HISTORY

I HATED HISTORY! But … it terms of weight loss…  the past is very important… its where we're coming from and DON'T want to go back to… we've got to learn from the past… if you keep doing what you've always done… you'll get the same results! learn and move on and remember history repeats itself… how many of us have lost loads of weight and thought we knew it all and put it ALL back on again… only to be back at the starting line… 

ART

one of my fav subjects… and considering my career path… not surprising… creativity… I have been know to get a little creative with my tracker… but all jokes aside… WHO exactly am i fooling? my leader only checks my tracker when I HAVE been good and somethings not working… usually its not drinking enough water… The members in my class don't care whats on my tracker… so the only person I'm fooling with my creative maths is ME! duh!

P.E.

We all tried to dodge this one… apart from the really sporty girls who ran faster to avoid hearing our eyes roll at them… moving more will speed up the weight loss… pick an activity… something you really love… you won't stick with the GYM if you'd prefer to be running outside… as a starter… put on your trainers… walk out the front door and keep going for 10 mins… turn around and you HAVE to come home! 

GEOGRAPHY

Map out your journey… plan the goals… first silver 7… 5%… 1 stone… 50lbs certificate… 100lbs certificate… first time you walk a 5k, 10k, jogged them… ran them… first dress size down… those jeans that are a little snug… sometimes the end result can seem like so far away… looking at losing 100lbs can be the very thing that makes you give up… but my leader tells everyone… you only need to lose 7lbs… then we'll talk again… but that's your goal… and mentally you think… well I'm pretty sure i can lose 7… and suddenly it all seems doable… 7 + 7 + 7 and you're away!

1st day.... winter uniform!

But one of the most important things about school is the routine of it… and routine is SO important… when we head off on our jollies… we can have breakfast whenever we like… we eat dessert because… 'sure we're on holidays' … but being back into a routine is SO helpful with weight loss… we're up and full of porridge and out the door… lunch is at lunchtime… dinners are prepared and planned because we don't have time to faff about… lunch boxes are prepared… and soups are made in advance… The little people are back, we should be too!

PS: There is a challenge starting next Friday… paws up who's in… 

Finishing 'big' school! LOL 

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Tis the season..

'As she planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of Karma.'

Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Don't panic.. I'm not going to mention the 'C' word.. although tins of sweets are ALREADY in Tesco! I kid you not! I'm talking about harvest season! We're always being told to buy local and seasonal food… but sometimes we get swept up in the bargains on offer!

Grocery shopping takes time… and if you're not a list person or you don't have meal plans for the week *raises hand*… it can be overwhelming not to mention pricey… If you buy seasonal foods they taste better and are usually cheaper than the food that's travelled thousands of miles to get to you…  I'm watching your carbon footprint people! If you’re unsure of what’s in season, google will get you there in seconds, but September is harvest time and fruits and veg abound, good news for us WW peeps! Good news in fact for everyone! Grocery stores tend to stock up on these items in bulk because they are plentiful, making them less expensive for you… anyone seen the mad rush of french and runner beans at the moment… even better too when they go on sale… You can whip up a batch of soup and freeze it for those emergency late nights at work or lunchtimes .. or stew your own fruit to make some sweet desserts that are point free…  

September is a ripe old month… juicy plums, apples & blackberries… *drools* 
I've added a few recipes throughout that are worth a look!

Apples - the cooking ones.. core them, put some splenda/canderel into them and roast them in the oven… a dollop of creme fraiche… you. are. welcome!

Artichokes 

Aubergines

Beetroot

Blackberries

Blackcurrants

Blueberries

Broccoli

Butternut Squash 
   - Dear God I'd be lost without it! Best 0 PP chips EVER! Recipe >>> HERE  <<<;

Brussels sprouts 
   - I don't allow these in my house.. one of the few veggies I don't eat!

Cabbage 
   - So much goodness in those green leaves… no turn your noses up.. give it a try!

Cauliflower 
   - I use this as half and half with my mash potato.. you can't even taste the difference! 
     Half the points! >>> Here's <<< another great recipe for cauliflower!

Carrots 
     - Make you see in the dark! again, lovely mashed with your potatoes for less PP 

Celery

Courgettes 
   - Amazing done as a gratin! Great recipe >>> HERE  <<< my cheese points this out at 3pp per serving but I leave the olive out.. but trust me its devine!

Cucumber 

Damsons

Elderberries

Figs

French Beans 
   - they're all over the place at the moment!

Garlic 
   - Who doesn't love it!

Horseradish 

Leeks - Part of the onion family.. great in casseroles, stir fries and soups.. 

Lettuce - Last of the salad days ahead… 

Mushrooms - Spray oil and crushed garlic… all the noms!

Nectarines

New Potatoes

Peaches

Pears

Plums

Pumpkins

Quinces

Raspberries

Red Onions

Runner beans 
   - These are getting cheap in the supermarket because they're now in season!

Sloes 
   - For the gin lovers amongst us… Yes I'm making my own sloe gin.. 
     I'm gonna need a different type of meeting soon!

Spinach - quick and easy and SOOOOOO good for you!

Squashes - Great for soups and roasting as a zero point carb

Sweet Corn - 1pp for 30g

Tomatoes - Roasted as a base for your pasta sauces

Turnip 
   - Great mashed but do it yourself the 'mash direct' pre packed versions 
     are 3PP for the tray!

Watercress - to fancy up your salad… I'm not a big fan but its very good for you… 

Have a lovely weekend x

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Get on track...

If you're not an avid tracker .. be it on paper in your hand bag.. or on an app on your phone.. for this week... TRACK! Grab a note book...set up a document on your lap top.. use the notes tool on your phone.. just for one week... it will reveal your habits and when your munchie moments are...

People who are successful at weight loss.. KNOW what they're putting in their bodies every day.. they know what they're having for dinner.. they've PLANNED their weekend... so pick your favourite below and put it somewhere that it will remind you to track... and remember no ones got a perfect tracker all the time but when you have a good week you can look at it and see why... same with a bad week!  Your tracker is a useful tool in your weight loss kit!

Doll x

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