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The old ones are the best…


"The good old days are now"
Tom Clancy


The good old faithfuls… Try just one off the list… 

Start moving…
You don’t need a gym membership or expensive workout program to get started, you just need to move! Put your kids in their buggy and go for a walk… grab the dog and hit the park…  Put on some music and dance around your house while you clean…  Leave the house… walk for 5 mins and you HAVE to walk home! Up it to 10 mins, 15 mins and before you know it you're flying around for an hour! Its a great way to stalk the neighbourhood too! 


Step it up…
Whenever you can find a way to get in extra steps during the day, do it! Park at the far end of the car park when you go to the shops, take the stairs instead of the lift, etc.  It all adds up, trust me! A girl in one of the classes I go to… can't get out to exercise at the moment so she carries each piece of clean laundry up the stairs ONE AT A TIME! Not even a pair of socks, one at a time! But she's getting her work out in… there really is NO excuse! You got a step in your house? then off you go...


Follow the 'One Mile Rule'...
If your errands are less than one mile away, walk instead of driving… or park where you can do all your little jobs within a mile radius instead of moving your car each time.



Dance at the ads…
Get moving during the commercials of your favorite TV shows… each break is approx 3 mins…  Dance, jump rope, run in place…anything that gets your heart rate up… a friend of mine, is as I would put it a Soap Queen! Monday night starts with Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Eastenders then another Corrie, and for each ad break, she does step ups on her yellow pages! He husband thinks she's a bit mad but she's getting exercise into her day and burning calories… smart lady!!! 


Strength Training…
Add in some strength training to help build muscle and boost your metabolism.  No weights?  No problem!  grab two tins of beans or fill up two water bottles and your good to go… any more excuses? Push-ups, crunches, and basic squats are a great way to tone your muscles using your own body weight. No equipment required! Do a few when you first wake up in the morning to get your blood pumping.. you all remember my LUNGE around the house day… if no ones watching… know what I'm saying… 


Don't eat anyone elses food! 
This is for the mums… You’re not a garbage disposal, so stop finishing your kids’ food! You know exactly what I’m talking about. That half a fish finger on their plate… that piece of toast they couldn't finish… All those extra calories add up over time… stop it! Tip: squirt some fairy liquid over it and its now inedible! Once I'm done in a restaurant I cover my plate with salt… even if I WANTED to eat it I wouldn't be able… 


Get rid of the junk...
It’s simple – if it’s not there, you can’t eat it!  Go through your cupboards and fridge and get rid of the junk food… This means all the goodies you know are there from Christmas… the fancy cheese.. the little box of choccies you got 'just in case' someone came over and you didn't have anything for them! all the things you know are bad for you and they will be screaming your name when temptation comes running and you just can’t seem to resist… if they're not in the house.. you're not going to go off track!


Eat more colors
Replace the junk with fresh fruits and vegetables.  Need something crunchy? Try raw carrots or cut up some bell peppers. Craving something sweet? Keep fresh fruit on hand for a sweet treat.

Don’t drink your fruit
I know juicing is all the rage right now, but skip juice and eat the whole fruit instead... You’ll get more heart-healthy fiber in your diet, and you’ll stay satisfied longer… a glass of orange juice is 1PP an orange is 0PP because of the way the body uses energy to break it down…



Keep a tracker…  
Keeping a food log helps control what you REALLY eat..  Write down how much you eat, and you’re more likely to practice portion control. It also gives you a better idea of what your eating habits really look like.  Do you skip meals?  Do you go straight for the ice cream when you’re feeling stressed?  Seeing these things in black and white can be a real wake-up call, and can help you see what changes you need to make.

Drink more water…
Make water your best friend. Besides quenching your thirst, water helps flush toxins from the body, aids in digestion, and helps maintain the health of your hair and skin… Water can also help alleviate hunger by making you feel full… a lot of the time you aren't hungry you're thirsty!


Drink water with lemon… 
Adding the lemon helps to detoxify the liver and metabolizes fat, so this can speed up your metabolism.. its a difficult habit to get into but its so worth it… 

Make a date...
You are more likely to stay motivated if you have someone doing this with you.  Find a friend to exercise with you, buddy up with someone in class, and make it a weekly (or daily) date to get together… even if you exercise alone… find a pal online you can be accountable too.. they'll check up on you and you can check up on them! its win-win

Get technical…
Use technology to help keep you motivated...  Sign up for e-newsletters from your favorite health & fitness sites, follow your favorite.. ahem.. fitness celebrities on Facebook and Twitter, (see what I did there? ahem.. ) or join an online fitness group for accountability and support… for anyone wanting some running motivation and inspiration check out @quinlivan's blog >>> HERE <<< 

Set goals
Start small, such as making it your goal to exercise three times a week or lose five pounds this month... When you reach one goal, set a new one... Work up to your big goals, and reward yourself when you reach each small goal – but not with food! Treat yourself to some new workout gear, or a massage… something just for you!


Try one of these this week… make it a New Years Habit… resolutions get broken... goals are achieved! 


Goldilocks...


"Ahhh, this porridge is just right," 

she said happily 

and she ate it all up. 

Goldilocks

Goldilocks & the three bears - Robert Southey


You all know I'm a porridge gal… sadly as a brunette I'm never destined to be Goldilocks, in fact in the mornings I'm definitely more of a bear! But I wasn't always a fan, I was one of the 'it-tastes-like-wall-paper-paste' types… but I've learned how to 'spice it up' so to speak… tip for the newbies to porridge - cinnamon!! no really!

The good thing about porridge is you don't need to be on Masterchef to make it… it's filling and you can add stuff to it to make it more yummy… A colleague adds a teaspoon of Nutella to hers and it smells AMAZING! Plus she feels like she's getting her chocolate fix… A chopped banana, some berries, a dollop of honey… they all work… and its SO filling … it'll keep you going all through the morning! Plus is really good for you and your insides!



Special K brought out their version of 'porridge' last year and I thought I'd give it a go.. 

The Simply Original one is LOVELY! The pots for 'on-the-go' are great… just the right amount to keep you going till lunchtime and for 5PP each you can add all the fruit you want and it doesn't need any extra sugar … You make it with boiling water from the kettle and if you think its going to be watery, don't worry it won't be! I like my porridge creamy and this is fine with hot water…

If you're legging it out of the house, or you just keep on in your desk… they're very handy… The sachets are 3PP each, the pots are 5PP each… and you use the little sachet as a jug to measure your water or milk so you can fit it in a mug! Less washing up! YAY! For some reason there's 7 sachets in the original box and only 6 in the other two… no idea why… and at the moment its €2 for the Original flavour box in Tesco...

The flavours, like most things are down to personal taste… the Almond & Honey one is sweeter so you don't' need to add sugar, the red berries one is not so nice but then I'm all about adding real fruit rather than processed… and it is very sweet, but if you've got a sweet tooth its all yours! 

I've found these especially good for that gap between work and college… and its a nice change from all the zero point soup plus its harder to find somewhere to heat up soup these just work with boiling water… and coming home after a days work and 5 hours of study will just send me to the toaster, with butter and cheese!  If I have this straight after work, just add boiling water and let it sit for two minutes and bingo… full but not 'I'm gonna fall asleep in front of my tutor' full… and I'm not famished when I get home…

With the mornings due to get colder, starting with a warm tummy full of energy can only be a good thing right… there's lots to choose from … more reviews incoming...

Definitely worth a try, especially if you're new to porridge or fancy a change now and then… want to know more… check >>> HERE <<<





Pots are 5PP each






Sachets are 3PP each




and so it begins….

Happy new year!!! I hope you all had a lovely break over the holidays and enjoyed time with your loved ones… Motivational Monday is back and there's some new additions coming to the blog in the next couple of months to spice things up! But to ease us back in… think of this time last year… and this time next year… 



Here's to an amazing 2014! The year to get to goal!!!

Despite the crazy weather out there! 



and the oscar goes to….

So here it comes the end of 2013 and all the Christmas festivities… This kinda reads like an oscar speech but its all practice for when George Clooney brings me on the read carpet yeah?


On me way George...


I want to wish you all a very happy, safe and healthy Christmas… regardless of your weight or size… I hope you are spending quality time with the ones you love… you never know where we will all be this time next year so live in the moment and tell them you love them… blame the brandy butter but just do it… people like and need to hear how much you love them…  life is short… and as they say.. its not a dress rehearsal!

Regardless of religion or your beliefs, most of you spend this time with family… silly socks, karaoke and movies you'd never admit to watching at any other time of the year… these are the memories you will make… and the memories you have of loved one no longer with us… so cherish every second!! If there is someone you know who might be lonely or need a bit of company … take the time to drop in… send them a txt… have a coffee with them… it might make all the difference… and they'll be so grateful…  and if there's someone who you've fallen out with… argued with or just simply let fall off the radar cause you were too busy… make the effort… I've done it… its worth it! 

OK preachy bit over… 

To all of you who've done the challenges this year… commented… tweeted… and motivated me and my followers… thank you… the support on here is unreal and I'd be lost without you! This little blog started with me being very lonely and wanting some support on my journey and because of you lot I'm well on the way to goal… still a bit to go but even I can really see the difference … 



Says it all I suppose...

All the positive comments, the support and advice you give each other and even the way I now deal with the negative ones, just shows how much I've come on my journey and its a privilege to follow you on yours… there are some AMAZING losses on the challenges if I was to start naming people you'd be here all day and there's selection boxes to be opened people!



This year I could CHOOSE what to wear... NOT wear clothes JUST to cover my ass!



To my amazing new leader… Thank you for being the positive motivator that you are… facing the scales every week, even on the BAD …. VERY BAD weeks turns out to always be for the best… x


11lbs in total for the Christmas Challenge in Class..


Mr. Q over >>> HERE <<< with his motivational posts! the pics say it all…

The twitterati… the FB gang… and all the instagrammers who don't block me when I bombard them with the PROPOINT values of my daily dinner… cause its clearly FACINATING! ;)


To my AMAZING personal friends who drop the comments that they've been on here and read a post… you are FABULOUS!!! I love you all!

There are some changes coming to the blog in the spring time… more fun stuff and challenges to get to final goal … and there's a new twist to the WW program in the new year… I'll post about it when you've all come down from your Christmas sugar high! 

Don't panic you won't need to buy new cookbooks! Tangent: THAT was my biggest fear!!! Remember last time and it changed to PRO points not just points… HOURS spent pointing recipes!!! not this time!!! Its the little things… ahem… 


Have a very happy Christmas, remember its Christmas DAY not Christmas MONTH so don't go too MAD but enjoy every second and here's to a fantastic start to 2014! 


Do it… week 13!





This week…. JUST DO SOMETHING… anything…. do the water challenge.. lunge your heart out… go for a walk every day… but start now… Don't wait, because tomorrow never comes… You can sit there on the sofa eating cookies and crisps for the next year waiting for the right day or the right time or the right feeling to hit you to start… Or you can change now… Yes christmas is close… but its only one day… think about how you're going to feel if you get up on the scales in January and have to lose the same weight ALL over again just because you didn't bother… or just didn't care… yes there are parties… yes temptation is everywhere… but you're worth so much more… moderation is the key… and believe you can do it because you can!



Here's a list of all the goodies that might cross your path over the next few weeks… 
have them… enjoy them… just don't overdo them!


BISCUITS
Chocolate Kimberley - 3PP
Chocolate Kimberley Tea cake - 3PP
Elite Honeycomb Delight - 3PP
Micado/Coconut creams - 2PP
Viscount Mint - 2PP
Cafferys Snowballs - 3PP
Lidl Shortbread Luxury Biscuits - 2PP
Almond Fingers - 5PP
Cadburys Fingers - 4 = 3PP
Why Not bars - 3PP
Time Out - 2 Fingers = 5PP
Boasters Belgian Choc & Hazelnut - 4PP
Cadburys Double Chunk Cookies - 4PP
Kelloggs Plus Bar - 3PP
Kit Kat - 
   1 finger = 2PP 
   2 fingers = 3PP 
   4 fingers = 7PP
Fig Roll - 2PP


CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS
Dunnes Christmas Pudding 100g - 9PP
Lidl Luxury Christmas Pudding 100g - 8PP
Aldi Twin Pudding - 8pp per pudding
Foxes Chocolate Bombe Christmas pudding 500g - 70PP < NOT A TYPO!!!!



CHRISTMAS CAKES
M&S Lattice Mince Pies - 7PP
Mr. Kipling Rum & Raisin slices - 4PP
Mr. Kipling Pudding Slices - 4PP
Tesco Chocolate Yule Log - 32PP


SAVOURY TEETH!
King Cheese & Onion crisps (from 6 pack) - 4PP
Salted peanuts 25g - 4PP
Kelkin popcorn 25g - 3PP
Pringles Sour Cream & Onion 1 tube - 24PP
Pringles Original 1 tube - 24PP
Pringles Texas BBQ 1 tube - 27PP
Doritos Tangy Cheese 1 x 175g bag - 24PP
Doritos Chilli Heatwave 1 x 175g bag - 24
Doritos Original 1 x 175g bag - 24PP
KP Meanies (25g bag 6 pack) - 3PP
Treble Crunch Cheese & Onion per bag - 3PP
Velvet Crunch Cheese & onion per 20g bag - 2PP
Tesco Sweet chilli coated peanuts 1/8th bag / 25g - 4PP
Tesco BBQ coated peanuts 25g - 4PP
KP salted Peanuts 25g - 4PP
KP Honey roasted peanuts 25g - 4PP
KP dry roasted peanuts 25g - 4PP
Mini Cheddars 25g - 4PP
Bombay Mix 30g - 4PP
King Crisps Lite - 3PP
Hula Hoops 34g - 5PP



MINCE PIES
Lidl Snowy Mince Pies - 5PP
Supervalu Deep Filled Mince Pies - 7PP
Mr. Kipling DEep Filled Mince Pies - 7PP
Tesco Deep filled Mince Pies - 7PP
Dunnes Deep Filled Mince Pies - 7pp
Dunnes 'Better for You' Luxury Mince Pies - 6PP
M&S luxury Buttered Mince Pies - 13PP … you read that right too!!!


CHOCOLATES
Celebrations (1) - 1PP
Celebrations (5) - 6PP
Celebrations (15) - 17pp
Roses/Quality Street (1) - 1PP
Roses/Quality Street (5) - 7PP
Roses/Quality Street (15) - 20PP
Terrys Chocolate Orange (1 segment) - 1PP
Matchmakers Mint or Orange (4) - 2PP
Toblerone 1/2 a standard bar (50g) - 7PP
Thorntons Classic Collection (1) - 2PP
Dairy Box (1) - 2PP
Black Magic (1) - 1PP
Walnut Whip, Vanilla - 5PP
Smarties (1 tube) - 5PP
Flake - 5PP
Revels 35g pack - 5PP
Milky Way 22g - 3PP
M&Ms Peanut (small bag 45g) - 6PP
M&Ms Chocolate (small bag 46g) - 6PP
Galaxy Minstrels (small bag 42g) - 6PP
Galaxy Milk Chocolate 50g - 8PP
Thorntons Alpini Bar 35g - 5PP
Thorntons Viennese Bar 38g - 6PP
Bourneville 50g - 7PP


TINS OF SWEETS
Roses tin - 108PP
Heros tin - 100PP
Celebrations tin - 110PP
Quality Street tin 125PP
Cadburys Biscuit 380g tin - 53PP
Baileys 1 litre - 120PP
Lemons Iced Caramels 350g box - 39PP


CHEESE
Cheddar 40g - 5PP
Cheddar Half fat 40g - 3PP
Double Gloucester 40g - 5PP
Double Gloucester Smoked 40g - 5PP
Edam 40g - 4PP
Emmental 40g - 4PP
Feta 40g - 3PP
Goats 40g - 4PP
Goats cheese half fat 40g - 3PP
Lancashire 40g - 4PP
Red Leicester 40g - 4PP
Red Leicester half fat 40g - 2PP
Stilton 40g - 4PP
Brie 40g - 4PP

I"m away today… so the final chart will be up next week… well done to those losing.. you're an inspiration! xxx



Christmas 'treats' ...

All you need is love. 
But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.
Charles M. Schulz 



Mr. Kipling Winter Whirls - 4PP  each



Mr. Kipling Black Forest Whirls - 4PP  each



Mr. Kipling Iced Top Mince Pies - 6PP each



Mr. Kipling Deep Filled Mince Pies - 7PP each



Dunnes Stores Deep Filled Mince Pies - 6PP each



Dunnes Stores All Butter Mince Pies - 6PP each



Cadbury Mini Triple Choc Yule Logs - 3PP each



Cadbury Festive Flake Cakes - 3PP each



Mr. Kipling Christmas Cake Slices - 4PP each



Cadbury Snow Star Gateau - 8PP per slice
6 portions per cake - 48PP per cake



Tunnocks Tea Cakes - 3PP each



Dunnes Marshmallow Teacakes - 2PP each



Caffreys Mallows - 2PP each



Jacobs Chocolate Mallows - 2PP each



Christmas Toblerone - 4PP each per 25g portion
Careful… these come in 100g, 200g and 400g



Terrys Chocolate Orange - 5PP for 4 segments of choccie
there are 5 'portions' per pack so the whole thing is 20PP

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