Rehydrate!

It's January... it's cold... and lets face it all you want is a hot chocolate with some marshmallows and a biccie... now before someone gets on their high horse, lot of January grumps around at the moment, I know you can have them on the plan... everything in moderation and that, but getting your full intake of H2O is vital, especially at this time of year... we're in hibernation mode, central heating, fires, and the heaters blowing in the car and office can dehydrate us... we're more sluggish... we're not moving as much as we would in the summer... well some of us aren't... and to keep everything 'moving' and your skin clear you've just got to get it into you... so my tips... 

First up... Buy yourself a 'water' glass... something fun or cute or with a bit of bling on it... something that's not a plastic bottle! Also a fancy water bottle doesn't need to cost the earth! Keep a bottle/glass ... in ALL these places... 

Beside the kettle, whilst you're waiting for it to boil down a small glass... On your desk,  sip it throughout the day... In the car, every traffic light, take a swig...  In your gym/swim bag, the more your exercise the more you need to replenish fluids! ...  Beside your bed,  often you're thirsty not hungry, so try a glass first before you head to the fridge for a mid night feast! 

Mine are all from Homestore & More, IKEA, Dealz, TK MAXX... they all have funky glasses, large one off wine glasses and hipster jam jars! Trust me on this, you will drink more... 

Next up.. get yourself a proper water bottle... then get another one... again leave them where you regularly sit... desk, car coffee table... again out of sight out of mind... if they're there you're more likely to sip! 

Clearly I'm a big fan of the 'pink water bottle'... 

Then... make water taste better... This post from Jamie Oliver >>> HERE  <<< made me rethink how I could enjoy water more and this post from the Yummy Life >>> HERE <<< drool! I challenge you not to want to try them out... if you love fruit like I do, get out the glass jug from the back of the cupboard, chop up some oranges, melon, some kiwi, any fruit except bananas to be honest and flavour your water naturally, feck it get a cocktail glass too if it'll make you drink it! Make it the night before and it'll be full of flavour by morning! 

Load up your fruit, top tip - give everything a good squeeze on the way in 
so the natural juices can flow! 

Play around with flavours, chopped apple, chopped grapes and lemon is delicious... 

Stock up your jug with fruit... add your water and let it 'stew' for as long as you can.. 

Apple and Blueberry a new fav of mine... again make sure you squash the blueberries so you get the flavour going... 

After 10 or 15 mins you'll see it go cloudy and that's ALL flavour! 

The orange season is nearly done, so the bigger ones are super juicy right now.. 

I leave this in the fridge with my over night oats  

and its SO refreshing in the morning! 

Just so I'm down with the kids! ahem... 

Tangent - When I was a kid, if you drank out of a jam jar 
you felt like a third world citizen! Now it's THE cool think to do! 

Oh and never underestimate the power of a straw.. you'll drink loads more with one... and most of the shops do them... the pound shop / dealz do some very cool ones... IKEA have their SUPER straws coming in again soon so keep an eye out for them, bargain too! 

Other tips... When you're out for dinner place your water glass on the side of your dominant hand... you'll automatically reach for it... we're creatures of habit! Plus think of the hangover! 

First thing after you wake up, don't reach for the coffee... try a mug of hot water with a slice of lemon... it's good to kick start your liver and kidneys... sweeten it with a drop of honey if you don't like the taste... 

Eat your water... melon, celery, cucumber, soup... lots of ways to add more to your diet.. A lot of times we're not hungry we're thirsty so have a glass of water before you reach for something to eat! 

Drinking water is so good for you.. for your skin, hair, digestive system, your liver, kidneys there's nothing negative about drinking the stuff and you're 75% made of water! 

The science bit... If you need any factual back up, check out the graphic below, you can find it >>> HERE <<< I know its American based but the facts are still the same, water is good for you! 

Continue Reading

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! 

Continue Reading

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

Banana pancakes...

Relax it's not pancake day just yet... although it seems like the year is flying by already!

These are everywhere at the moment so I thought I'd give them a try... and yes banana pancakes are YUM! Mine work out at 2PP... 3PP with the yoghurt... and SO easy!

I use 2 small bananas, I buy the kids size ones so I don't overdose on them! 

1 whole egg and 1 egg white 

Spray oil for the frying...

Pop everything into your blender/mixer ... 

at this point you can add other ingredients to vary it a little, peanut butter, 

blueberries, nutella (my next batch!) chocolate shot or 

just use tablespoon of cocoa powder whatever takes your fancy... 

just remember to point the extra bits if you have to! 

Whizz it all up and done... 

Spray your pan and... 

get ready to spoon it on... 

I kept mine small because I eat with my eyes and my mixture got me 16 baby pancakes! 

So it looks like LOADS on the plate... I KNOW!

Flip and brown on both sides and you're done in a couple of minutes... 

Great for breakfast or a quick lunch and if wanted to get all fancy a bit of icing sugar would get them looking all 'bake off!'  

Continue Reading

Game on...

Normally on a Monday I do a motivational kind of post, something to kick off the week ... it's usually something that's crossed my path that week or something someone has shared or was relevant at the time... but being January we're being bombarded with motivation and it's almost overwhelming... where were you people when I needed you in December?! So todays post is a bit from the heart...

Most people who know me well, know I’ve a bit of a thing for rugby… Since I was a kid, rugby has always been one of those things that's just been there… and yes I swoon over the players… but seriously have you SEEN those thighs..!?!?! I mean LOOK!

And this year is World Cup year so between my regular Leinster games, the Six nations and that...  I'll probably be more annoying than usual but I just love it! I love the game, the passion of the players, the crowd, the atmosphere, getting to the games... just everything about it gives me a buzz... Everyone's got their vice right??!!

Last week a good friend of mine, commented on how much I’ve changed, based on my trip with them to one of Leinster games over Christmas… We don't go to matches together very often but see each other at games for a drink but it'd been a while since we'd sat together, which is a shame cause he's gay and we can perv in peace! I asked him what he meant... but first you'll need a bit of background information... 

Before I lost weight… my mind on match day would go like this… 

Wake up and *panic*... I mean literal panic... fretting and stressing... often contemplating just not going to a game based on my weight... what was I going to wear that would be comfortable? That I could sit in and not be too hot or freeze? I'll need to find out exactly where our seats are… Would I get to sit between two of my friends so I wouldn’t feel like I was invading some poor strangers space… no one wants to sit beside the fatty right?! If I got luckyI'd be at the end of a row... Flat shoes yes… even though I SO wanted to wear my nice winter boots…  regardless of how cold and wet I’d get, flat shoes it was… there’s walking and it would be bad enough that I would be all hot and sweaty just getting there without my knees hurting too… hopefully we’d get a taxi as close to the gate as we could yeah? fingers crossed… Save the knees… or if we were going to the pub first, then we’d meet early enough to get a seat so I wouldn’t be standing for too long… not that any one would know I was hurting… I’d smile through it and be in agony the next day… this was all before I even left the house! Beating on my jersey… feeling like shite because I couldn’t rock it like I really wanted too… making sure I had enough layers to cover my arms but something that would get me through a bite to eat after without looking like I was a stuff toy! Pretending I was the organised one by ordering taxis and restaurants.. with the right seats so no one would have to move for the ‘big girl’ … I was so ashamed of who I was, I still am but I'm working on it ... it's exhausting… and clearly it showed... 

May I just inject with this… no one ever called me out on any of this… people enjoyed my company and my enthusiasm… and no one ever made a comment that made me feel like I didn’t belong… well maybe at the internationals when I was the only one wearing a wallaby jersey in the entire block of Irish supporters but still that just shows passion right?! I did my nails, put on the war paint and all the silly stuff and smiled but it was a constant battle just being there... it's actually ridiculous! 

we even eat rugby cake... 

Getting closer to the stadium I had to negotiate to the turnstiles… I had to negotiate them in my mind first... I never went through them for ages… I always panicked… I always went through the wheelchair access door, with people on crutches, with small kids… I had labeled myself 'disabled' because of my size… only once did I feel embarrassed when the young guy on the gate didn’t know what to say to me when I asked him if I could use that door… he was more embarrassed by it than me I think… and honestly I always fit through them… but my mind was in charge and all the 'what if I got stuck' dramas were being played over and over... I'd be a laughing stock... the girl who got stuck in the turnstiles would be on my headstone... if I had stopped listening to the voices years ago, life would be a lot easier… 

Then the trek to our seats… I made sure I didn’t have to leave my seat at half time so I wouldn’t have to pass lots of people in case someone made a dig at me… the whole row would have to stand up and move out to let the fat girl go to the loo/bar whatever... but no one ever did… No one ever cared… I was a supporter… on their team… I was one of them...  but I’d built up what should have been many wonderful experiences into a stressful, emotional roller coaster, every single game … in my mind I wasn't really one of them.. they were all just being nice to me... showing me pity... but it wasn't... 

The day came last year when I was with a big group of people … some who I didn’t really know that well, friends of friends, and others who didn’t know the mind games in play between my ears before the ACTUAL game … and I HAD to go through them… I HAD TO ... and you know what... I did … with ease… I couldn’t jump about or shout but I texted my best friend and practically ran up the steps in the Aviva! It was a non scale victory that made me so happy… but I had doubted myself for years... No one wants to be ‘different’ everyone wants to fit in…  I’d made life so hard for myself for so long… and there I was.. just strolling through! In fact.. I was holding people up looking at them from the inside! 

Whats this to do with his comment? Well the conversation went like this... 

Him: Geez that was a great night wasn't it?
Me: Oh yeah... 
Him: You really are happier now aren't you?
Me: How do you mean?
Him: Well you just really enjoyed the night... Its lovely to see *hugs me* 
Me: Ah stop... *getting teary* 
Him: Well it's true... I love seeing you happy again... 
Me: I got something in my eye... 

Happier... I am happier... My face wasn't stressed out... I enjoyed the game...  all of it! I didn't have to over think every single moment of the night... I went to the bar at half time and didn't rush back to accommodate anyone else... I wore my fancy boots and went for a burger afterwards and walked most of the way to get it without being out of breathe or needing medical attention... my jersey slipped over my dress and I didn't look like I had got lost on the way to bootcamp or was an unemployable mascot ... I just had a good time and clearly it showed... and when your gay best friend says it.... girlfriend you KNOW he ain't lyin'... 

What's this to do with motivation? The thing is we're all on the same team... even losing weight... no one is an expert... I've got another 5 or 6 stone to go... I struggle just like everyone else does... more so now than before because I get cocky and think that I can do it by myself but I can't... if I could, I'd have done it years ago... but everyone can learn from someone else...  it's the main reason I stay to my meetings even though I should be at work... the tips, new products, recipes and sometimes the kick in the butt is enough to get you going again for the following week... So if you feel like you're on your own you're not... there's plenty of supporters out there shouting for you to succeed and there's no need to rain on anyones parade cause when its your turn, I'm here with my pom poms shouting for you, if you shout for me... deal?! 

Continue Reading