Get your pom poms out!

It's that time of year... yes all the Christmas ads are on the telly... and the shops are killing us with all the festive stuff and even the die hard Christmas fans are starting to struggle! but that's not what I'm talking about... This is the time of year for stage diving off the weight loss wagon!  

For those of us on a weight loss journey, this time of year is really hard... We're surrounded by goodies and the parties will be kicking off in the next couple of weeks... Work lunches, coffee and mince pies, selection boxes and those big tins of sweets at reception and you swear you'll only have just ONE! (WHO are you kidding!??!!) Now is the time we tend to throw in the towel promising that 2014? 2015? 2016? 2017! will be OUR year... and leap off the wagon giving ourselves permission to lose the plot... ALL the plots! Only to return in January miserable, half a stone heavier and with all the guilt of 'WHY?! Why did I do it!?' .. and it is hard... we're only human... and we know what we SHOULD do but it doesn't always work out like that... So how do we keep going? You've got to surround yourself with support... you've got to have a team.. YOUR team.. you've got to live and no one wants to be under the mistletoe with Little Miss Misery! But do you REALLY need to face plant a full Christmas cake 'just because it's Christmas!' So, get your supporters around you... I mean if Trump can rally people ANYONE can! (and no political comments/fights/arguments I'll need to start another blog for that!) 

Today, find someone else who is struggling, someone who's sent a tweet that it's Monday and they're fed up 'STARTING AGAIN!' send them a message... maybe you feel the exact same, maybe you'll find an ally to message every Monday to keep you both on the straight and narrow, or least get through the next few weeks without the misery and guilt ... 

When you're lurking on Face Book at lunchtime and someone comments that they derailed over the weekend, spur them on... they'll love your honesty that they're not alone... if you're struggling too, you'll not only motivate them, but you'll motivate YOU! 

As the quote says, we rise by lifting others... so this week, get your pom poms out and be a cheerleader for someone who needs some pep in their step! 

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Soya Ice Cream from Alpro...

One for the ice cream fans... Soya Ice cream from Alpro... 

3 flavours spotted in Tesco ... anyone tried them? 

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Alpro Soya Ice Cream, Vanilla, per 100ml (2 'normal' scoops) - 5SP

per 500ml tub (you know you do it too!) - 24SP 

Alpro Soya Ice Cream, Coconut, per 100ml (2 scoops) - 5SP

per 500ml tub - 26SP

Alpro Soya Ice Cream, Hazelnut Chocolate, per 100ml (2 scoops) - 6SP

per 500ml tub - 29SP

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It's beginning to look a lot like...

It's beginning to look a lot like... OK FINE... but whether you love it or loathe it there's no escaping it! Christmas is coming at us faster than you think! 

Just like last year I'll be doing some posts on what goodies are out there for the festive season... Some will be high and some low in points but the trick with Christmas and Christmas treats is knowledge... Knowing you can have what you like if you want it and being able to plan around it... if salted caramel pudding is your thing then you've come to the right post! If you're gagging for a mince pie since last year stay tuned... There's no reason why you can't have it, enjoy it and brag about it! It's how you plan your silly season that counts so you CAN enjoy it all! 

I was luckily invited to this years Tesco Christmas party 

and here's some of the goodies to look out for when you're out and about! 

Tesco Finest all butter pastry deep filled mince pies with Cognac 

per 65g mince pie - 11SP

Tesco Finest Mini all butter pastry mince pies with Cognac 

per 20g pie - 4SP

Tesco mince pies, per 54g pie - 9SP

All butter heat & eat shortbread stars (these will make the house smell gorgeous and you can 'claim' you bed them cause technically you did!)

per 17g star with the sugar on top - 4SP

For the Bet Lynch wannabes in  your life... 

Tesco Finest Safari Collection chocolates per chocolate - 3SP

Tesco Finest Glitter Shortbread (YES, this is finally a thing!!!)
per 19g shortbread - 4SP

Tesco Chocolate Sprouts per 13g truffle - 4SP

Tesco Chocolate new potatoes (Who is gonna steal these out of the cupboard on you!?!)

per 19g 'new potato' - 6SP

Tesco Luxury Christmas Pudding per 115g portion - 17SP

per 454g pudding - 67SP

Tesco 'Free From' Chocolate sponge, 115g - 19SP

Tesco 'Free From' Christmas Pudding 

per 115g serving - 16SP

Per 454g pudding (serves 4) - 64SP

Tesco Finest 'Free From' Chocolate cake, 

per 63g slice (one-sixth of the cake)  - 7SP 

Tesco 'Free From' Deep filled Mince pies

per 68g mince pie - 12SP

Tesco 'Free From' Choc coins, per 2 choc discs - 3SP

Tesco Iced fruit cake slices, per 44g slice - 8SP

Tesco Finest rich fruit cake per 83g slice (one-sixth of the cake) - 15SP

Tesco Chocolate Yule Log

per 28g slice (one-eighth of log) - 6SP

per 225g log - 47SP

Tesco Finest luxury shortbread selection

per 18g shortbread - 4SP

Tesco Igloo Cake Kit

per 80g slice - 16SP

per cake - 86SP

Tesco Snowman Lollipop kit

per 36g lollipop - 9SP

Tesco Sponge Pudding, Raspberry

per 115g - 20SP

per 300g pudding - 53SP

Tesco Sponge Pudding, Salted Caramel

per 115 portion - 21SP

Tesco Sponge Pudding, Chocolate

per 115g - 19SP

Tesco Christmas Pudding, nut and alcohol free

per 115g - 18SP

Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Pudding

per 100g (half the pudding) - 18SP

200g - 35SP

Tesco Finest Salted Caramel bombe, per 114g - 21SP

Tesco Finest, Toffee & pecan sponge Pudding

per 100g (half the pudding) - 18SP

per 200g (ALL) pudding - 36SP

Tesco Finest 6 month matured Christmas Pudding 

per 113.5g portion (one-eighth) - 21SP 

full pudding - 171SP

Tesco Chocolate Biscuit assortment, per chocolate biscuit - 4 SP

Tesco Lebkuchen Stars, per cake - 2SP

Tesco Finest Peppermint Dream popcorn

per 24g portion - 4SP

per 170g bag - 30SP

Tesco Finest Cocktail Collection - 

per 11g chocolate - 3SP

Tesco 'Countdown to Christmas' Chocolate advent calendar

per 3.1g chocolate - 1SP

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You ARE the bees knees!

Seriously, think about it... how low down are you on your list? I'm on the bottom... right at the bottom of mine... strangers on the street go on my list before me! Why? Because all my adult life I've believed that I didn't matter and that doesn't stem from some dreadful childhood... my childhood was idyllic, it's the real world that made me dislike myself so much... I listened to people who didn't know me... I followed people who liked me around because it made them feel better about themselves... not because they genuinely liked me for me... 

I bet you'll think, 'People will think I'm just so full of myself..' but there's a huge difference between being an ego maniac (and I know a couple of those!) and self care... taking care of you means you're in a better position to take care of those you love... being able to say nice things ABOUT you TO you, shows everyone that it's OK to do that too... So what you don't like your legs, no one does but don't you have fab teeth? an awesome smile? great nails? fabulous curly hair? The grass is always greener, ask a woman with curly hair what she admires most and it would be straight glossy hair, and the woman with straight glossy hair spends a fortune trying to add curls to her mane! We're never happy... Today stand in front of the mirror and say something nce about what you see looking back at you... isn't that person amazing? Look at what they have achieved in life!? I mean you're AWESOME! It's time we tried a little bit to realise it's OK to think you're the bees knees... because you are! x

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I've taken up gambling!

so this week in class... THIS happened...

Nope, we haven't gone to the dark side of gambling (yet!) but my leader (who is AWESOME FYI!) got us all off our bums in class... marching on the spot, squatting just onto the chairs pulling in our tummy muscles, all sorts... Now I swim a lot and walk everyday if I can, but I know this time of year I could be doing a lot more in the way of exercise but in this weather I do actually believe I'm made of sugar and will dissolve.. Plus it's that cosy time of year when we put the fire on, boil the kettle and feet up complaining that there's nothing on the telly! So she set us a challenge to get us moving throughout the day and in the house during the ad breaks when we're watching the soaps, strictly, 'insert your fav programme here' and rather than sit on our bums! Everyone has a deck of cards at home (you can pick them up in ANY pound shop) so anyone can do this.... No excuses... 

In class we chose a card from each suit and each one represented an exercise like so... 

Hearts - march on the spot

Diamonds - sit ups

Clubs - star jumps

Spades - squats

You must do every exercise at least once a day according to the number on your card... So 10 of diamonds  = 10 sit ups... 3 of clubs = 3 star jumps... 3 of hearts = 3 mins marching on the spot... Picture cards are 10, aces are high so 11 and if you pull the joker you have to do the other 3 suits twice...

I thought I lucked out with three queens at random and insisted on finding the fourth! Little did I know what each one meant! So for me this week it's 10 reps of each exercise every day and 10 mins marching on the spot... I'm already feeling the squats despite all my walking! Now if you're not able to do one of the exercises just substitute it for another one that you can do but it's such a good idea... leave the deck of cards in the kitchen and pull one out when you boil the kettle and off you go! You can march the spot in your slippers waiting for the kettle to boil, your moving your muscles and it's better than sitting on the couch for 10 mins! Next stop Vegas! 

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'Creations' from Donegal Catch

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a Pisces, or that I love being by the sea and swimming that I'm such a huge fan of fish or just that it's so tasty and easy to cook! This is the new range called 'Creations' from Donegal Catch is worth a look if you're a fan too. Flavoured fillets in pouches that can be microwaved in just 3 mins so FAST too! AND Irish! What's not to love?! Add all your zero veggies and a baked potato and you've got a fab dinner! The salmon is naturally higher in good fats hence the higher points but SO good for you! Very handy to have in the freezer for the dark evenings when you just can't be bothered to cook!

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Donegal Catch Creations, 2 Atlantic Cod Fillets, per 110g fillet - 1SP

Donegal Catch Creations, 2 Atlantic Cod Fillets with mild cajun

per 110g fillet - 1SP

Donegal Catch Creations, 2 Atlantic Salmon Fillets

per 110g fillet - 5SP

Donegal Catch Creations, 2 Atlantic Salmon Fillets with ginger & a hint of chilli

per 110g fillet - 5SP

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