The Butcher grill - Brunch Club

The Butcher Grill is another Ranelagh spot that you might 
overlook for brunch at the weekends... 

and if you haven't been for dinner here you're missing out... it's a carnivore heaven! 

Confession time...  the 1st night I came here Johnny Sexton was on the table beside me and I totally fan-girled... and no matter HOW much I tried I couldn't get a pic of him... 

... sake... 

anyhoo... back to brunch... yes! A big huge delicious YES! 

Usual suspects on the menu... including their burger *drools*

which is a must if you get the chance to try it! 

This used to be a butcher shop (the clues in the name eh?) and there's some lovely details left from that time... The tiled walls, the fab tiles on the floor and the mirrors... 

the counter which is a fab spot to sit if you're on your own and just read the paper... 

and you know how much I like to see what's going on in the kitchen! 

Proper cutlery for my eggs... it all adds to the character of the place... 

Orange juice... so so good... 

The 'Mixed grill' looks like so... with a smokey flavour to the beans which were yum!

Yes... I steal other peoples food... the problem is?!?!

My usual... Eggs Benedict, beautifully cooked on a toasty muffin...  

loads of spinach and PERFECTLY runny... 

Excellent coffee... I can't vouch for the tea drinkers but this was lush... 

We just caught the end of the Christmas fun... 

but like I said, the details from the old shop are just charming 

and really add to the experience as well as delicious food! 

Definitely worth a look for brunch 

and the place to bring your carnivore pals for a night out! 

They open at 12 on Saturday and Sunday... 

You'll find their menus online >>> HERE  <<<

Continue Reading

Ta Da! #final-weigh-in

We made it!!! WOO HOOO!!!! Final week of the challenge... 

People sometimes ask 'why do you bother doing challenges?' and the answer is purely selfish... I need motivation... I need to see others losing weight so my competitive side will up its game! Yes there are times when I'm about to go to bed and I think 'feck I've got to do the chart' which is why my ability to lose count is bad! But if you look below, everyone who stuck it out, is down, be it half a pound or a stone, everyone is NOT UP and that was the goal in the run up to Christmas... people motivate each other, and seeing that, stops me face planting a bun! Simple as that... it's all about me dontchyaknow! 

I won't add up the grand total till early next week once everyones checked in but seriously look at the losses... you're all amazing and I KNOW no one wants to lose all that again when January strikes! 

AND, a HUGE thank you to all my guest posters.. if you ever need to check in with someone who's journey is real and they've been struggling too, people who have really been there... these people are the ones to follow... No one likes Miss Smug in fat camp... especially when you've been struggling all your life like me... so knowing that you've had a bad day/week/ month... it's nice to know that we've all been there and that you can start again without all the guilt and emotional head wreck and still continue your journey! 

If you need a boost over the next two weeks... have a scroll through their blogs and I guarantee you'll be back on track before you know it! 

John - http://19st-10k.blogspot.ie

Verette - http://www.abetterme.ie/joomla/

Jacqui - http://jwacqui.blogspot.ie

Rob - http://twelvereasonswhy.com

Vicki - http://happybubblegal.blogspot.ie

Zoe - http://59lbstogo.blogspot.ie

Claire - http://theniptuckfoodblog.blogspot.ie

Paddy - http://smallerplate.blogspot.ie

Stacey - http://www.soupyd.com

I'll do a final post next week before Christmas to tot up how much the group have lost but be very proud of yourselves... imagine if you'd thrown in the towel a few weeks ago... I know for sure I'd have been up! So well done everyone! x

Continue Reading

The hardest step is always the first.... #weigh-in-10

Penultimate week of the challenge! One last week to get the head down before it all kicks off! Well done to those sticking it out to the end... I know it's the hardest time of the year with temptations EVERYWHERE!!! 

This weeks guest post is by an amazing person, who life dealt a devastating blow... This time last year she lost her wonderful husband Chris, just 9 weeks after their wedding day ... When you read her blog you will just be in awe of how amazing she is... She has lost an amazing 5 and a half stone and is currently training for the London Marathon in 2015! You can find Stacey AKA SoupDragon ... 

Twitter HERE

Facebook HERE

Instagram HERE 

Blog HERE

The hardest step is always the first step...

By Stacey Lynch

SoupDragon

Long before we were married, Chris would tell me it didn't matter to him what I looked like, or what dress size I wore, or what food I ate – he would always tell me he loved me for my heart and what was inside. The whole inner beauty argument. I guess the comfort of knowing this deep down and having his reassurances meant that I became happy with myself and didn't have a burning desire to change. I was content with where I was. He was a real food lover too and we were lucky enough to have the means to eat out often and enjoy great home cooked food too. I had very good intentions of losing weight for our wedding and did try – but the age old nemesis – my crumbling spine – put paid to all that. I was prescribed steroids and various other medications and my weight just ballooned upwards. I was not able to do very much exercise either – even walking from the bedroom to the bathroom was torture enough some days. I was so unhealthy and my weight was having such a detrimental effect on my back condition. Sore back = no exercise = comfort food = weight gain = sore back. It was a never ending cycle of self destruction.

To be honest – my back was and always will be an excuse. I have suffered with my spinal condition for 20 years, every so often it flairs up and I am floored. I have never been a size 10 super model (and never will!) but I was using the fact I had a sore back to hide behind and not tackle the ever increasing problem of my weight. When Chris died I was over 19 stones (280lbs), was wearing a UK dress size 22/24, had terrible acne and little energy for anything. During January I had plenty of time to think – it was time to make some changes. If I didn't start looking after myself, I would be no good to Ronah or anyone else. Suddenly thrust back into being a single mum meant that I had to stand up to the mark. No one else was going to pick up the slack if I was laid low. I spoke with my GP at length and we agreed a timetable for stopping all the medication. She encouraged me to go back to Weight Watchers, knowing I had some success with them in the past. Coming off all the medication was a nightmare and it wasn't until mid February that I started the plan with any level of commitment.

 

This was something I could control. Losing Chris was out of my control. The funeral arrangements and those first terrible weeks were out of my control. My future plans had suddenly all be thrown into question. My whole life seemed to be spiralling out of control. But this was something, one thing, I had the power to change and could decide what entered my mouth – good or bad. In my world of chaos, this was one thing that helped me gain some small level of balance back. Whilst struggling to create my new “normal” after losing Chris, I was able to plan my meals and stick to the plan with some gusto. A sense of determination has helped me too. No one can do this for me and if I want to be the best Mum I can be, I have to make the changes required. I have to just get on and do it. No excuses. No hiding behind my back or my grief.

As I write today, I am over 5 and 1/2 stones down and am wearing a UK dress size 14. I still have some way to go and I will get there. I know that I can achieve what I have set my mind to. The past 10 months have shown me that I am able to do so much more than I think I can do. Chris would be proud of me – this I am sure of. I miss him every day, and every day life is tough. Many days I want to give up and go back to where I was. I just know that I can’t do that.

The hardest step is always the first step. Have you taken the 1st step today? I would love to be able to help and support you along your path to being the best you can possibly be.

Stacey x

Stacey Christmas song is her husbands favourite and a beautiful classic... 

Nearly there... again, shout out if I missed you! Can I also just do a small shout out to Emma, who reached goal this week losing an AMAZING 14, not a typo, FOURTEEN stone! That's like 3 Victoria Beckams! C'mon everyone... one last push for Christmas... 'Rockin' not 'Rolling' around the tree! Just think about how you'll feel if you have to lose the SAME weight again in the new year! 

Continue Reading

You Don't Need a New Year, Just a New Day - #weigh-in-7

Most mornings when I wake up, after I realise I'm not a Euromillions winner, I open Instagram... I love seeing everyones healthy breakfasts... and I follow loads of other weight watcher and slimming world members, so my timeline is FULL of healthy and quick ideas that stops me whinging about porridge and talking myself into a scone on the way to work! I was never a breakfast person, so I still need that kick in the pants every morning... and when I open my timeline most mornings, Zoe from '59lbs to go'  has already done a 5/10k run as well as had a delicious breakkie! There have been times when I've just got straight up and gone out my front door for a walk because of her... and THAT's why she's so inspirational! Even when she doesn't feel like it... she just goes for it! You can find her...

Twitter >>> HERE <<<

Facebook >>> HERE <<<

Instagram >>> HERE <<<

Blog >>> HERE <<<

You Don't Need a New Year, Just a New Day

by Zoe Cathcart

Like so many other weight watchers out there I have often thought the New Year is the best time to join.I have always found this time of year the most difficult to lose weight, and being a serial joiner in the past if things weren't going well, I would usually stop trying some time in the October-December timeline. The last time I joined was the first meeting in January 2012. I had also joined the previous January and while I had a good start in 2011, when I met my boyfriend things slipped a little.

 

So why did I wait until the following January to try again? Looking back on the end of 2011, I really don't know why I waited. My cousins now wife's hen party happened In August. When I saw the photos I was disgusted and knew something needed to change. Their wedding was the end of October and I wanted to change by then. My biggest mistake was thinking I could go it alone. I used my money on a gym membership instead of weight watchers (although I could have easily done both). So the weeks went by, and I was regularly using the gym, but I had no control over what I was eating. 

Before I knew it my cousins wedding was upon me. The photos from his wedding
once again disgusted me and should have been enough of a kick in the backside to realise what was happening. The problem was, at this stage it was November and in my mind I thought 'Whats the point, it's the worst time of year to lose weight, I'll do something in January!'. We all know that pre diet binge you have the night before you rejoin weight watchers, and eat whatever you want. Well my entire November/December 2011 was a full on binge. I did not go near a scales in that whole time period and have no idea what I weighed before the binge but I do know that by the time January rolled around I was over 14 stone, the heaviest I had ever been in my life.

I did join Weight Watchers that January and by November 2012 everything had changed. I was so close to my goal weight and nothing was making me give up. I was having such a hard time losing the last few pounds and it was hugely disheartening. Week after week I was seeing either no loss, or a small gain followed by a small loss. On November 13th I weighed 9 stone 9 lbs and the last weigh-in before Christmas it was the same. I was proud of myself though, it would have been so easy to give in and gain half a stone to a stone in the same time. I enjoyed my Christmas but did not use it as an excuse to go wild. I chose the days I was having off and tracked every other day. When I went back in January I still weighed 9 stone 9lbs. It only took me a few more weeks to get to by goal weight, and if I had given up who knows if I would ever have gotten there. 

I'm not going to lie and say that this is the easiest time in the world to lose weight. Social events, tins of chocolates everywhere, specials on crisps and biscuits in the supermarket, seasonal specials in the coffee shops and hot toddy's to help with a cold. Temptation is all around us and we are told to let our hair down and enjoy it. I read somewhere that the average person gains 7-10lbs between now and Christmas. With 6 weeks to go before Christmas you have 2 choices, you can decide that its too difficult and gain that 7-10lbs, or you can give it your best. In 2011 I gave up, but in 2012 I gave it my best and I never looked back!

Zoe x


Seriously what an inspiration! Zoe's Christmas tune will get you ALL rocking! 
Slade!!! I know!

Lots of 7's added on the board this week... great losses! Again, if I've missed someone let me know I was away last week and someone might have slipped through ... and finally... FINALLY... I got my 8th stone! 5 weeks to go... no giving up! I won't allow it! 

Continue Reading

She's asking AGAIN!?!? ... sake...

I know, I know you all thought the begging was over... but it's just a quickie, and I'll only ask* once ... I'm in up in two categories for the UK Blog awards and am looking for your vote... I feel like a politician! But you know... don't ask... etc...                 *beg


Life style... 
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-skinny-doll-journey-this-girl-is-losing-it/


Health... 
http://www.blogawardsuk.co.uk/candidates/the-skinny-doll-journey-this-girl-is-losing-it-2/


*Curtsies-in-advance*

Fank you.... x 

Continue Reading

A little of what you fancy...

You all thought I was going to talk about Mr. Clooney or Mr. Farrell again didn't you... *swoony*

Weight Watchers recently asked me to take part in their latest blogging challenge called the 'Feel Good Food Challenge'... It's being done by a variety of bloggers everywhere, food/fashion/beauty bloggers... some who are trying Weight Watchers products for the first time to others who do it religiously... The basis of this challenge is 'No food is good or bad' and you don't have to give up anything you love... it's all about balance and moderation... you know the old adage... 'a little of what you fancy does you good...' So we were sent some of their products to try out...

Over the last few weeks I've been documenting the Weight Watchers products I use regularly and I like.. I've also tried some new ones... my biggest surprise the Weight Watchers cheese! It's fab! I made some mini pizzas with their pita breads and wasn't expecting the melty yumminess I got... I pretty much gave up cheese when I started this properly, I avoid the cheese counter in the deli ... and the laughing cow cheese is my 'treat'... and I could find any excuse to straighten the block of cheese in the fridge before going to bed... So it was nice to try something new... 

I tried their Tikka Sauce, 6PP for the jar... Indian spices are something I always get wrong with recipes... curry is about as close to success as I can get.. so I tried the sauce, served with the creamy korma poppadoms and it was a hit with my taste testing team! 

  

and if you're a regular on here, you know about my eternal quest to get breakfast on the go... these breakfast biscuits tasted lovely... the honey taste was nice and a sugar buzz was needed in the car after a swim on the way to work, as you'll see I had them with a banana and an apple and my usual bottle of water ... 4PP per pack

The other product that I loved was their dairy spread... 0PP per 10g ... I use soya butter but this was a treat when I had a crumpet last week and I MISS real butter.. sigh...  

The new breakfast cereals filled me with dread to be honest... In my mind FIBRE = CARDBOARD... but again I was surprised by this, a dash of milk and piles of berries it was a fab and filling breakfast... 3PP per 30g...  

We live in stressful times, money is tight... jobs are to be cherished... and at the end it, we're all spinning about on this planet just trying to get along and enjoy it while we're here... our family time, our social lives, just getting up on a sunny day can make life that little be nicer... I don't work for Weight Watchers... I don't sell their products... I love their yoghurts, but won't touch their Ocean pie (it's a LONG story for another post!)... The new greek style yoghurts are really creamy, 2PP per pot ...  and the Steam & Serve pouches are great for an emergency! Dinner in 8 minutes... My fav is the Sweet Mango Chicken, 7PP per pack... I added some sweet chilli sauce and some soy sauce .. *drool* 

The ProPoints plan works for me... I need structure, I need portion control, and accountability! PLUS I can have whatever I want as long as I work it into my day... Either earn the activity points or use my weeklies... Don't ask me what 'filling and healthy breads' there are... I couldn't tell you but I will guide you to other bloggers who will sort you out... there are loads of people I know who are doing that version of the plan... they're losing weight and loving it! Good on 'em! 

My Weight Watchers heros! 

I'm not a big fan of WW ready meals, only because I LOVE they cookbooks and the recipes online and in the Weight Watchers magazine..  but I do have one or two in the freezer for late nights, starvation and for when the 'big snow' arrives again! *drama much* .. Their sauces are so handy and low in Pro Points that I keep a couple for for emergencies...  I've had their breakfast bars after swimming because I when I get out of the pool I'm ravenous and you can munch them in the car ... I SWEAR by their cookbooks ... FYI my leader is AWESOME at emailing us recipes every week which are just delicious... she should have her own cook book!P

For the 'bake off' watching... I tried out the Mini Jaffa Rolls 2PP each and the Double Choc Chip Cookies, 2PP for a pack of two... both delish and the non weight watchers were none the wiser when they were out of the packets! Result!

So here's a selection of my breakfasts, lunches and dinners 
over the last couple of weeks trying out the new stuff... 
I eat lots of fruit and drink loads of water.. some days I'm a human fish bowl!  
... and I included the amazing PIZZA for treat night! a gazillion pro points! eek! ... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqEY-3b9E7I&feature=youtu.be

and fear not, I'm not venturing into vlogging... this face is for radio people!! 

If you want to see other bloggers (there's some lovely recipes up already!) then check out the hashtag #WWFEELGOODFOOD and big thank you to Weight Watchers for including me! 

Continue Reading