Snack Attack.. WEEK 5!

SNACK ATTACK!

Midnight munchies… 'I'm staaaarrrving!' … 'Dinner was HOURS ago, I won't make it till morning' .. paws up who's said one or all THREE of those… yep.. thought so…

Snacking is one of the hardest things to control... unless you plan for it! 

There is nothing bad about eating at night, as opposed to eating at any other time of the day.. If you eat 29PP per day, it's the same whether you eat them in the morning or at night. It's still 29PP … BUT … how much you eat and when can alter your energy levels… its how your body processes the food with the job it has to do... That's why the experts tell us to eat a big, healthy breakfast to give you energy to start your day. If you eat a ton of food at night, you don't get to burn it off before going to sleep… it sits on your stomach while you try to sleep! 

The real problem with nighttime eating is that usually, it ends up increasing your food intake… You have a really good healthy day… Then it's time to wind down after dinner… Unless you're going to run a midnight marathon or do 500 push-ups at 2 am, you don't NEED any more food… You're done… or you should be! But mindless eating at the telly, a biscuit or 3 with a cuppa, 'sure the X-factor is on'… its like one of the 'rules' to have a glass of wine… with peanuts… and toast before bed… Every time you go into the kitchen something mysteriously ends up in your gob but never on your tracker!

Not eating after your main meal in the evening is a really good way to cut back on all those extra calories, plus your body isn't designed to be digesting food as it sleeps! You might fall asleep in a carb induced coma but you're more likely to wake up during the night and be a right grumpy sod in the morning! Plus heartburn and indigestion are rife! That old saying 'don't dine after nine' … is one to listen to!

Saying 'I'm not eating after my dinner' is all well and good and its a good habit to get into …  but you can snack if you want to… but make it stuff that you can control…

Sugar free jelly (make it with diet 7up and its tingly!), fruit skewers and stick a few marshmallows on them! 

If you have the willpower… count/weigh out some sweets or nuts and enjoy them… These ones are 60 PP (you heard me!) for the bag and at the moment Dunnes is doing a BOGOFF deal… there's a few handfuls in it… I personally would have them hoovered in minutes! STAY AWAY from them!!!! 

Have a slice of chicken, a yoghurt and some fruit if you miss a dessert, we're not starving, add a meringue to keep it sweet and low and LIGHT on your tummy!… we're bored, annoyed, and have made snacks at certain telly programmes a bad habit… Have a cup of tea… there's no law in this country that says you have to open a packet of biccies too though!

Allow some points for a slice of toast with a laughing cow triangle…  

Brush your teeth… crisps do not taste the same once your sparklers are clean! 

Being a crisp junkie, my go to method of diversion is nail polish! Now… its become a slight addiction but I don't eat crisps in the evening any more.. greasy nails and polish do not work! My addiction is being monitored! *coughs* >>> HERE <<<

Being hungry a few hours after you've eaten your dinner isn't an emergency… but ask yourself are you hungry… REALLY hungry.. its actually good to feel hungry… you're listening to your body and it will tell you what it needs! 

Going to bed with a little grumble in your tummy isn't the end of the world… It isn't even terrible… It is OKAY to feel hungry… its about treating your body right… and if you have little people in the house you're setting them up with habits to last a lifetime... Snack responsibly!

Chart below.. finally! After my hols I think I was up about 2/3 lbs but I managed to pull it right back this week with a 2lb loss and a tracker that WW would frame its so perfect! If I've missed a weigh in for you please let me know.. there was a long list to go through and it was late last night when I finished it and I may have missed one, plus feel free to correct my maths! 

Over 70lbs lost so far! That's a Victoria Beckham! 9 weeks to go... big push now people!!! Santa claus is coming!!!

Continue Reading

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!

   

Continue Reading

Lazy...

Continue Reading

The pen is mightier than the scalpel... WEEK 3

OK... So it's tracking... I know ... I know.... 

Don't you just get fed up pointing things sometimes? Wouldn't it be nice to just get up... have your breakfast and not fret that you won't have enough points by dinner time... just to eat and enjoy food... and on holidays you do... in the past, sadly, its always led to a big fat UP on the scales... but this holiday I'm noticing I'm making changes without even trying...  strangely.. I'm brainwashed... I'm pointing in my head subconsciously... I know by looking at something how many points are in there... and without using the numbers I'm just making better choices, funny how you never switch off... maybe that's a life changing thing ... but tracking is the one thing all successful members remark on... and honestly... the weeks I track diligently, are the weeks I'm down... medication or not... so it feckin works...  

Whether its a nice notebook, try a free program online like the Daily Plate, FitDay, or Sparkpeople  or a fancy app on your phone... there are lots of ways to track your food! so excuses will be ignored!

Check out Mr. Qs post >>> HERE &lt;&lt;&lt;

It's even better if you're the organized type who can plan out your meals and know you'll have exactly 5PP every morning for brekkie... 6PP for lunch... etc... because you know exactly what you're having... and how many Propoints you'll have for dinner, treats, birthday parties, date night, cinema trips... and meal planning is so economical... just sitting down before you go food shopping can make a huge difference when you've got a precise list and don't deviate from it! No supermarket specials allowed!!!

Writing everything down make you see exactly where you're going wrong and what kind of eater you are... you might think you're an angel till you track your munchies at night time... you might weigh out your pasta and see your portion sizes are way off... Write it ALL down... every bite... if you eat your kid's left over fish finger, write it! If you dip it in ketchup write that too.. if you lick the bowl after you make a cake, track it... If you taste dinner as you cook it, track it... Every single thing... If you've never done this... it will be an eye opener... and it doesn't matter if you're writing Propoints, Syns, calories.. whatever plan you're on ... it will make a difference... we can be very 'forgetful' sometimes! It will also show you how much or how little you're eating of certain foods... not enough veg? too much fruit? mid-night feasts? 

For people rolling their eyes "I do this ALLLL the time"... then write down how you feel... are you happy? sad? annoyed? angry? Look at the time of day you are eating and why? How hungry were you really? on a scale of 1 to 10? Were you even hungry at all? Think about WHY you eat what you do and see if you make a healthy choice every time... 

No chart this week but post your losses below and normal service will resume shortly ... *hiccup*... x

Continue Reading

Diddly-squats!

Today's mini challenge is squats... standing at the kettle... squat... brushing your teeth.. squat... ads breaks on the telly... squat... and make everyone in the house/office/kitchen with you do it too! Waiting for the microwave in work.. squat!!! Not sure how it would go down on the tram but feck it.. won't it be worth it shaking your very toned booty at the Christmas party!

Squatting is good for the bum (think JLo for Xmas!)... the thighs.. and makes your core muscles stronger... imagine you're about to sit down to watch Paul Hottywood knead some buns (phnnaaarrrr!) (no judging!!!!!) and you suddenly remember you've left the tap running and your bum doesn't quite hit the seat and you use your glutes and core muscles to lift yourself back up again... now do that 20 times... GO!!!! Note: don't leave the tap running that would just be silly!

There's loads of 'how to' videos on You Tube here's one that's short and sweet and might help... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJrBgI2RxA

Continue Reading

'Lunge to the loo!' © Doll

OK today... LUNGES... awww you all sound so happy!!! 

So you might feel like a bit of an eejit but if no ones about.. these are SO good for toning your legs! 'Lunge to the loo' (I'm copyrighting that one!) ... hanging out the washing... lunge your way there... Blow drying your hair... why not?! Only person in the aisle at the supermarket... I DARE YA! If you are taking the lift... lunge in there.. give security a giggle! 

Today... do minimum of 20 on each leg today... hell do 20 side lunges too!

What you should look like.. You're all brunettes yeah?

Want to make it harder... do it off a step... you will feel this in your bum!!!

again here it is explained MUCH better...  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0BQS2W80k

and since you all seem to love them so much... if anyone fancies challenging themselves... heres one to try out... 

Continue Reading

Gone crackers!

You know when you get fed up of bread... that! Some to try...

Ryvita Crackers for cheese - Black Pepper : 1PP each or 3 for 2PP

Weight Watchers maths in our favour here!

(these are square crackers like your standard cream crackers)

Ryvita Thins - Multi-seed : 1PP each

Ryvita Thins - Sweet Chilli : 1PP each

I've tried these they are YUM! 

Ryvita Thins - Cheddar & Cracked Black Pepper : 1PP each

McVities Lunchtime Mixed seed Flatbreads : 1PP each

I've tried these they are YUM! 

Ryvita Cracked Black Pepper : 1PP each

Ryvita Fruit Crunch : 1PP each or 2 for 3PP

Maths going against us.. meh... 

I haven't tried these but someone in class suggested them with the choc philadelphia ...

Ryvita Sunflower seeds & oats : 1PP each

Ryvita Multigrain: 1PP each

Ryvita Pumpkin Seeds & Oats : 1PP each

Ryvita Fine Rustic Bakes - Cranberry & Hazelnut - Posh eh?

2 - 1PP,  3 - 2PP

Continue Reading