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

Continue Reading

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!!!

Continue Reading

Hot for the Holidays!

I know, I know... WHERE have I been?? Apologies... between post holiday work to catch up on... judging blogs and wondering where the hell did the year go... I've been a busy gal but I'm back... plus side I'm down 5lbs since my last blog so I'm clearly doing something right but a bit of a team challenge will keep me focused! There's a dress I want to get into for New Years so that's my non-scale goal...

I'm one of those people who think Christmas should wait for December before is rears it's head... I cannot believe the selection boxes are already in the shop... What about Halloween? It's is a favourite holiday of mine! Fancy dress to be sorted too!!!

So... here's the new challenge.. since there's so many holidays in the near future... I've rolled them all into one challenge... It's 14 weeks till New Year... 2013 incoming! So a pound a week...

Hot for the holidays!

A challenge within a challenge... A mini goal with Halloween with a full forward burst for Christmas and, dare I say it, NEW YEARS!!!!

14 weeks! Which means 1 lb a week means a stone off ringing in those bells AND that my friends is A DRESS size!!! I mean what a nice pressie for the new year!

To break it down its 5 weeks to Halloween...  not to be sniffed at either... then 8 to Christmas, over half a stone, with only 1 week after that till New Year... It's totally doable.. if not more than 14lbs!

So.. who's in?!? Add your name if your in.. and commit! It's only 14 weeks and that's a dress size smaller for Santa!! Yay!!

I can't wait.. I've missed you all!!

Doll x

Continue Reading

Hitch your wagon....

Uh oh!!  The wagon is circling!!! Anyone care to join me?! After two weeks in the sun... a weigh-in to face on my return... Next Tuesday I'll be getting all religious and praying at the scales!!!  Its time to climb aboard and get 'hot for halloween' (yep the next challenge is in progress!!! And it's gonna be short but sweet!) 

So yes.. Some of us stage dived off the wagon with gusto and flare... But surprisingly I noticed I'm all about the good choices.. So I'm learning something!! To be fair I wasn’t really “off the wagon” so to speak but I certainly haven’t had the ‘oomph’ and ‘yippee-iness’ that I usually have with my weight loss but I’m back with a vengeance!

There is a difference in life when we just roll with the punches verses when we have a plan, goals, measures, results and rewards. My experience in bootcamp (more on that soon!) had me so focussed but since then I’ve been on holidays, faffing about and coasting and it’s not as much fun. Time to focus!!! 

If you have heard of the S.M.A.R.T. approach to a goal then its time to set one for yourself, and get set to check in for the Halloween challenge! 

Here's mine! 

S – Specific – Lose 15lbs

M – Measurable – Yes

A – Attainable – Yes

R – Relevant – Yes

T – Timely – by Halloween 

Doll x

Ps: the blog has been short listed for the 'Blog Ireland awards'... I'm super thrilled!! I was happy to be nominated!!! Thanks to those who nominated me, support and follow the blog ... I get so much out of every comment and have made some genuine friends with great attitudes and motivation!! Thank you so much... xxx

Continue Reading

M.I.A.

Hey Dolls...

Apologies for the absence but all will become clear in a couple of posts time! I've been away at BOOT CAMP - heaven help me and I'm playing catch up as well as easing my poor blisters and muscles! More on boot camp in a later post...

Awesome losses on the final week of the Summer challenge... lots of people off on their jollies too.. but fear not theres a 'Hot for Halloween' challenge incoming that should get everyone FIRMLY back on the wagon! I'm guilty in the last week of falling off myself ... I'll be totting up the final weight loss today!

Also.. my blog has been nominated in THREE categories in the Blog Ireland Awards 2012... thank you to whoever nominated me.. I'm in very good company and am quite humbled to be included on such an amazing list of blogs! It does mean a lot that people enjoy it too.. I get so much out of this and have met some amazing and inspirational people... So its win win!

Last night I popped down to the launch and it was all kinds of fab! Very exciting indeed and I've also signed up to be a judge for some of the other categories so whilst I may be quiet .. it'll be business as usual around here!

Again well done to all on the summer challenge! You totally rocked it!

Doll x

PS: How AWESOME were the Olympics?!?

Continue Reading

Push it! Week 7

Second last week of the challenge... time to really push yourself! Weight losses are FAB! This final push will make a huge difference...

The Olympics has to be mentioned.. and I usually only change the mast for the seasons.. but its a big deal... I know people either love it or hate it.. but even just to watch one event shows how dedicated people are to succeeding! Working for 4 years to build up strength and stamina to be a the peak of their health and performance.. kinda puts Miss Doll firmly on the lardy couch! But if you only take one pinch of the drive and determination they have.. you're already a winner.. if you want it badly enough.. you will succeed! It might be a long slow slog.. some of us have stones to lose and we know it will take months.. some only pounds but it has the same meaning to everyone! So take a peek or follow your heroes and think of what they had to do to be where they are... the early mornings... the training in the freezing winter.. the high protein diets.. they are focussed and want it! Take a look at the Irish boxer Katie Taylor ... that girl WANTS to succeed...

And if you have already decided you want it.. otherwise you wouldn't be weighing in and reading this! You've already made the choice to weigh in either at class or at home.. you're following a programme and doing it! So what if you're not an athlete.. you're you and on your journey and there will be medals for all at the end of it! So COME ON!!! I'm donning my cheerleader outfit.. make this week count.. there's only one more left in the challenge!!!

This weeks mini challenge is... 'don't use your 49 weekly points' .. I know I know.. they're life savers but they are extras.. and lets face it we spend most of em on bad stuff! So use your exercise points for treats but give your body a break and really push yourself! Its just for one week and you CAN do it! So many of you are proof that that little bit of effort can make such a difference.. I'll be weighing in tomorrow.. and am not sure what to expect after the drama of the last couple of weeks but its back on track 100% ... and don't forget how important it is to track too!

Exercise of the week .. is 10 of everything we've done along the way... push ups.. lunges.. skipping.. stretching... the works... do 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening... like a mini workout to get you up and a mini workout to wind down.. you'll sleep better I promise!

Losses are amazing... Juleser, Time to Change and Jennifer M drop me an email with a postal address, you are all on your second flower, in fact close to your third!!! You skinny minnies.. treats ahead!

Continue Reading

Lifes too short.. Week 5 & 6!

Ola... firstly... thank you so much for all your wishes, prayers and messages... all greatly appreciated! Our man is off for a quadruple bypass on Thursday and hopefully on the road to recovery after that... talk about drama...

All this time spent in waiting rooms and beside his bed.. made me think how I put my life on hold so many times because of my weight.. so todays blog is about just that.. WHAT is holding me back?!?

I'm always starting sentences with.. 'when I'm thinner...'  like suddenly the world is going to change and life will be SO different.. it won't! it'll be just like it is now only I won't weigh so much! So many people live in the past.. when I was happier.. when I had a job.. when I was with him or her..  well sadly, I live in the future.. I'll be able to go meet this person ... and do this... that.. and the other... I'm constantly on hold for when it all happens.. but last week I realized.. I might never get to goal.. don't get me wrong this isn't a cop out... and I'm slowly making my way there .. all the while life is passing by and I'm in a sort of limbo ...

You've got to led a healthy happy life today! That's about the size of it.. and if your weight is holding you back from living your life to the max (get me and my street lingo!) then enough of the yo-yo dieting.. enough of the feeling miserable.. 'I'll go when I'm a bit thinner'... 'I don't want anyone to see me' .. 'I'll be the biggest person there...' enough I say! Embrace life and be healthy.. sure a chocolate bar won't kill you but we're not over weight from ONE chocolate bar! Look at the bigger picture.. if we eat 21 meals a week and one is a treat (pizza, chips, chicken wings.. ahem.. gin! ) the other 20 should be running our bodies like a well oiled machine.. its like the analogy of how we treat our cars.. we service them.. only put the best we can afford into them... oil, fuel, tyres... yet we dump crap into our bodies and feel sluggish and tired all the time without a second thought... step back this week and look at your tracker.. where could you have made a better decision.. did you really need that Kit Kat? I'm always saying life is to be lived.. but we won't be here for long if we don't take care of our bodies.. we only get one.. so look after it!

This weeks exercise is... try a new cardio! Play a game of tennis with a pal... jog instead of walk.. get the bike out.. swim... hula hoop (the latest hollywood trend I'm told!) skipping rope.... try something different to get your heart rate going and it will appreciate it! If you change things up a bit .. you'll notice the changes in your breathing and heart rate too!

Weigh ins below and I'll post the new chart Thursday!
Doll x

Continue Reading