Fit and Fab for 30

[EmmaM]

Back to work today and I was feeling very grumpy about it. I didn't sleep well last night but actually after the initial shock of 150ish emails it hasn't been as bad as I thought. I have missed Grace heaps today though. I'm gutted that work has to interfere with my exercise schedule too! It was so much better doing it in the morning but finding the energy in the evening after Grace is in bed is hard work.

Had a lovely dinner at Mum's yesterday and followed it up with banoffee pie. Took me way over syns I think! I did my 30 day shred in the morning though and the rest of the meals were good.

Porridge (Hex B) with water and banana
Half of cheese leek and ham pasta n sauce (0.5 syn) with a griddled pork steak, courgettes and a load of frozen mixed veg stirred through.
Roast Lamb (I loaded my plate with veggies) but I did have 3 roasties and 2 yorkshires
Banoffee pie - Yummy but my tummy hurt after, I'm not sure that my body can cope with much dairy/fat anymore.
I used my HexA for milk through the day.

I think I guilt-ed Ben into exercising yesterday as I did my 30 day shred while he played with Grace and then he did it straight after. He told me this morning he has lost 4 pounds, I'm not sure when since but if it is right then I should stop being so mean to him. I wonder if maybe he would be better off just eating healthily without a real plan, maybe calorie counting would work for him. He is off to the gym tonight too so maybe he has had the kick up the bum/motivation boost he needs. It is really unfair when you see someone who needs no effort to remain a healthy weight or those people who eat everything in sight and never put any on. I've got to just remember that I'm doing this for me and not to let him distract me. For instance on Saturday we had mince that needed to be used and none of my suggestions suited his fancy (I knew he was angling to either not cook or get a take away) so I made burgers anyway and they were so yummy that he had no choice but to like them!

I've been very efficient today and left a chicken garlic and lemon casserole in the slow cooker for when I get home as I know I won't feel like cooking anything. It feels like it has been a very long time between pay days this month (it's not til Monday and there have been 5 weekends since the last one) so I can see some odd concoctions coming out of the cupboards this week. I did a mini-shop that was delivered on Thursday (£50) and it seems to have all gone so my budget is £20 quid this week and the fruit bowl is empty : ( so I'm writing a little list for shopping and some budget meal ideas before I head home. Any imaginative ideas are welcome!

x

 

[EmmaB]

Back to work today and I was feeling very grumpy about it. I didn't sleep well last night but actually after the initial shock of 150ish emails it hasn't been as bad as I thought. I have missed Grace heaps today though. I'm gutted that work has to interfere with my exercise schedule too! It was so much better doing it in the morning but finding the energy in the evening after Grace is in bed is hard work.

Had a lovely dinner at Mum's yesterday and followed it up with banoffee pie. Took me way over syns I think! I did my 30 day shred in the morning though and the rest of the meals were good.

Porridge (Hex B) with water and banana
Half of cheese leek and ham pasta n sauce (0.5 syn) with a griddled pork steak, courgettes and a load of frozen mixed veg stirred through.
Roast Lamb (I loaded my plate with veggies) but I did have 3 roasties and 2 yorkshires
Banoffee pie - Yummy but my tummy hurt after, I'm not sure that my body can cope with much dairy/fat anymore.
I used my HexA for milk through the day.

I think I guilt-ed Ben into exercising yesterday as I did my 30 day shred while he played with Grace and then he did it straight after. He told me this morning he has lost 4 pounds, I'm not sure when since but if it is right then I should stop being so mean to him. I wonder if maybe he would be better off just eating healthily without a real plan, maybe calorie counting would work for him. He is off to the gym tonight too so maybe he has had the kick up the bum/motivation boost he needs. It is really unfair when you see someone who needs no effort to remain a healthy weight or those people who eat everything in sight and never put any on. I've got to just remember that I'm doing this for me and not to let him distract me. For instance on Saturday we had mince that needed to be used and none of my suggestions suited his fancy (I knew he was angling to either not cook or get a take away) so I made burgers anyway and they were so yummy that he had no choice but to like them!

I've been very efficient today and left a chicken garlic and lemon casserole in the slow cooker for when I get home as I know I won't feel like cooking anything. It feels like it has been a very long time between pay days this month (it's not til Monday and there have been 5 weekends since the last one) so I can see some odd concoctions coming out of the cupboards this week. I did a mini-shop that was delivered on Thursday (£50) and it seems to have all gone so my budget is £20 quid this week and the fruit bowl is empty : ( so I'm writing a little list for shopping and some budget meal ideas before I head home. Any imaginative ideas are welcome!

x

red onions are on offer at aldi, so maybe a French onion soup? U got any freezer food you can whip out? Or maybe a late night trip to tescos reduced section, sometimes that can be really good for meat?
Thats good that he's lost 4lb, bless him. You're right it is for you, glad you made your burgers and they were yummy is there no chance of 20 mins on the wii before grace wakes up? X

 

[EmmaM]

I've never had onion soup but will give it a try. I think I might use my syns for an extra hex b this week then I can use up the Finns crisps I have in the cupboard for snacks where I'd usually have fruit. Luckily I have meat in the freezer and cupboard staples so I just need to do a little plan and factor in lots of frozen veg.

Grace's wake up times are unpredictable can be anywhere between 620 and 730. I normally get up at 650 (unless she's awake earlier but I could get up at 0620 and fit something quiet in (I'm like an elephant when I do 30 day shred ) . I keep looking at the couch to 5k but will need to buy some trainers first, that way I can chuck some clothes on and sneak out without waking either of them and get it done first thing.

Gonna hit the bike now for 20 mins and then make a start of packed lunches and the usual evening chores.
X

 

[EmmaM]

The bike thinks that burnt 430 calories!! Just felt like celebrating that.

Right chores time!

 

[VeggieBev]

Well done you! Wish I had space for an exercise bike but I'm in a tiny 1-bed flat so I'd have to put it in the middle of the sitting room... a kind of centre piece I suppose! I've also been looking at the couch to 5k but not sure if I'd manage it at the moment. I'm trying to build up to it by getting in the habit of going out walking 3 times a week then I'll see how I feel about it in a couple of months. I'll be interested to hear if you go for it though...

 

[EmmaB]

With her French onion soup mum normally pops a crusty bit of bread on top, and then grills cheese on the top until it melts. That's the traditional French way to eat it, and makes it seem way more luxurious than just onions. Lol.
Good luck with running, think that's a fab idea, and to start with you shouldn't be sweaty so a quick body shower and ull fresh as a diasy for work.
I joined a running group before I got ill, and was trained by a gold medal winning Olympian in marathon running, so if u want some tips to get you started, I might be able to help a little. If your serious about getting trainers too, try to get a bit of advice on them.
Good luck Hun, hope work isn't such a chore today and your getting back into the swing of things x

 

[EmmaM]

I managed another 25 mins on the bike this morning (at the ungodly time of 0610!). It actually made me feel quite good. When we got into bed last night I said to Ben I was setting my alarm early to do the bike and he reckoned he had the same plan too but there is only one bike (and Bev ours is in the living room too, I move it when anyone except my parents come round- it's also bright orange!). I traded and said as I had done so much on Monday night (mini-shopping trip, picked Grace up, put her to bed, cooked/finished cooking dinner, made soup for today and made some smash cheese scones) he would have to go running. He actually did go to!

Yesterday's food was ok
Porridge with milk and water (hex A)and frozen berries
Cous cous with salad and left over grate a veg
Chicken, garlic and lemon casserole with rice and a pile of frozen veg (cauliflower, peas, carrots and brussel sprouts)
Syns - Mikado, I think I ate about 3/4 of the box : / but they were too moreish

Today's plan is
Post bike session - 500ml water and a banana
B - Porridge with milk ( from hex a) and frozen berries
Syns - 2 chocolate biscuits (8 syns!!!!)
L - Butternut squash soup with 2 cheese scones (2 syns) an apple and a satsuma
D - Extra lean pork mince with stir fried veg and noodles.

I think I'll try and get 30 day shred done this evening and not do anything tomorrow morning. I'm due to weigh in the morning and this morning when I went on the scales they were showing 1.5 more than the day before (I had drank 500ml of water and eaten an banana) and I really don't want to have a skewed result. I must stop weighing when it's not WI day!

I may well pick your brains on running Emma! I want to find something that I enjoy. The belly dancing we looked at before has moved to a leisure centre 30 mins away. I must catch up with my friend and see when she'll be well enough to exercise. (I can't remember if I said she had weight loss surgery a couple of weeks ago). xx

 

[EmmaM]

Decided against 30 day shred. Got a horrible bloated tummy and a bit clogged up (TMI sorry). Ben is late home (again) so waiting for him for dinner. I've done all the usual stuff and now curled up on the sofa with a cup of slimmatee (which has senna in it). Hope it helps, couldn't have come at a worse time than day before weigh in : (

 

[VeggieBev]

Decided against 30 day shred. Got a horrible bloated tummy and a bit clogged up (TMI sorry). Ben is late home (again) so waiting for him for dinner. I've done all the usual stuff and now curled up on the sofa with a cup of slimmatee (which has senna in it). Hope it helps, couldn't have come at a worse time than day before weigh in : (

Aw Emma, I can totally sympathise with you at the moment Fingers crossed it won't make a difference at WI tomorrow x

 

[EmmaM]

Stayed the same this week (stupid poo!). I was up quite a lot in the night with my tummy and it still doesn't feel good, it has the added bonus of meaning I'm really snoozy today so I've had two cups of coffee already (but also 500 ml of water) hopefully lot's of liquid will help.

I asked Ben last night if he wanted to use the exercise bike this morning and he said ' oh don't you?' I told him my reasons and he immediately changed his plan and said 'we'll see' needless to say he didn't get up and do it!

I've decided to join a group next week in the hope of kickstarting a loss and also making some new friends. I've been feeling a bit isolated lately and I really need to improve my confidence. I also need to take Grace to more things where she socialises with children (we tend to spend a lot of time with my family when I'm not working). Her childminder had to tell her off for hitting other children at playgroup and I really don't want her to be 'that' child. I've always avoided them because I find it hard joining a group that is already established and also feeling like I might be judged. I'm such a worrier, I just need to bite the bullet and do something instead of over thinking everything.

Today's plan is
B - Pineapple and strawberries. Weight watchers cherry yoghurt
L - Butternut squash soup and a small salad (lettuce, ham, cucumber and cherry tomatoes)
D - hmmmmn no idea. I didn't get anything out of the freezer so we shall see.

x

 

[VeggieBev]

Please don't worry about joining a group, I'm sure you'll love it. In some ways I think it would be better to go alone, it will force you to speak to people and join in more. I mostly go with my sister and we tend to just sit at the back and keep ourselves to ourselves. When I went on my own to the new group a couple of weeks back, I spoke to more people in one night than I have in 5 months at my usual class!

 

[EmmaB]

Hi Hun,
hows your belly? Hope it's settled down a bit. I really enjoy going to group. My mum came with me to start with but I've been going for about 2 months now on my own. All the ladies are generally lovely, and whoever I sit near if I make an effort to talk a bit so will everybody else. Always bumping into SW people now, probs about 1 a week and its nice, feels like a little community ready to help. X

 

[EmmaM]

My tummy is feeling much better today. Have had 2 hex A's (to correct the tummy) and 2 hex b's today but having slow cooked pork for dinner so a cheating green day but really needed lots of food so could class them as syns I guess.

Had an awful start to the day, left the house in tears after a mini row with Ben (He'd been asking me what to make for dinner when I was trying to get ready and all I wanted him to do was think for himself so I said he should read the bl**dy book and then he'd know what was ok - really he should know after nearly 4 months anyway so I also told him he might not be that bothered about losing weight but it matters to me and then I cried because I'd upset him) - stupid hormones! and then my shoe flew off on the escalator down to the tube this morning so everyone was stuck behind me while I bent to retrieve it (ungracefully) Luckily the rest of the day has been uneventful and dull.

Have been texting my friend who has now lost 2.5 stone after her op! I really wanted her to come for a cuppa tonight but she's feeling poorly so we are going to have a coffee on Saturday and she is going to help me pick some new glasses. I have been wearing contacts since I was about 15 and have had my current glasses for about 5 years, beacuse they are so old I never wear them and it's apparently very bad to wear lenses non-stops so I want to get some 'cool' ones. She can exercise again from next week so I really hope we can fit a session in together. Next week is awful for me. I have a conference at work on Monday so leave home at 6am, that will run til 6pm then I have to travel to East London and stay over night so that I can do registration at a huge conference that our company runs. I have no idea what time i'll finish there and then need to head home. Then Wednesday and Thursday I'm in the office as usual and really want to go to the group on Wednesday evening. Then Friday I have a early flight to Dublin (although I have left myself some time for sightseeing or shoppong) to do a conference on Saturday and then home Saturday about 10pm. I just need to make sure that all the hecticness doesn't affect my food!

Have been pretty tired today, despite sleeping much better last night so will try to do exercise bike tonight and in the morning. I really find that exercise boosts my energy levels and helps me sleep better. I need to do a follow up measurements too, haven't done that for ages so would be good to see if although the scales aren't moving massively there are other non-scale related wins! x

 

[VeggieBev]

Sounds like you've got a manic week ahead of you. I'm sure you'll do fine food-wise, forward planning is probably the key.

It's funny how these little arguments can really get to us sometimes. I'm sure you were just having an off-day, being a woman is such a pain sometimes!!

 

[EmmaB]

Hi Hun, hope your well?
Glad your bellys back to normal!
Sometimes we go upset by something little and when I think about it, I normally find it was something else I was upset about. Men can be so irritating, and super annoying is I can't whinge to mum and dad about Chris because they always, without fail, stick up for him! Grrr. Lol.
Look forward to seeing your new glasses
have a lovely weekend x

 

[EmmaM]

Just a quick update to say I'm alive. Had my first WI in what feels like ages and down to 10 stone 10.5. Will do a full update when things calm down a bit. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the sunshine. x

 

[VeggieBev]

Nice to hear all is well! Well done on the loss x

 

[VeggieBev]

Hi Emma, just checking all is well, you've been quiet for a while xx

 

[EmmaM]

Hey,
I'm alive. Everything has been crazy busy and I've been here there and everywhere for what feels like a month. I had a bad week last week and ate whatever I wanted! Did a big shop on Saturday and got my bum back in gear. Weighed in on Sunday and scales showed 10 stone 12.25, it's started creeping back up grr!

Had a good food day on Sunday (helped by the fact I was home all day)
B - Satsuma, Omelette with splash of skimmed milk (1 syn), mushrooms and green pepper. Served with wilted spinach, kiwi
L - 2 carrots with syn free hummus (I got the recipe from the most recent magazine and although it doesn't taste like real hummus it's edible). Ham and beetroot sandwich (hexb)
D - A failure, I tried to do smash pizza but it ended up like slop on mash. Topped with hex a of low fat mozarella, passatta, mushroom peppers and courgettes, with a huge green salad.

Monday was spent enjoying the glorious sunshine. I'd had Grace alone for 4 days as Ben has been working so hard (don't get me started on that) so it was nice to have Ben home for a day. While the two of them napped on the sofa, I laid on the decking (in a bikini) and soaked up the sun and silence. 4 days of non-stop toddler questions is tough! Although my tummy needs some (a lot) of work I was actually pretty comfy in my bikini.

Been good on Tuesday and Wednesday too but didn't keep a full diary. Yesterday was an exercise feat. I did 10k on the bike before work. Walked over 3 miles and then did a 10 minute abs session (from you tube) in the evening. The 10 minute abs lady is a machine, there were some moves that I just did not have the core strength to do but it was good to find something that can be done quickly (and without making any noise) I've got a bit bored of the exercise bike and 30 day shred sounds like there is an elephant in the house so can't be done while everyone sleeps.

Today is my last day in the office before I travel to Ireland for a conference so I'm being very good and will try very hard to not go too crazy while I'm away. Although there will be some wines/vodkas I'm sure. My flight is at 2 so I know I'm going to need to get lunch at the airport but I will steer clear of the pret baguettes! Going to make a huge fry up before I go too so I'm not starving. Then on Saturday I need to avoid the conference food and biscuits as much as possible. The hotel isn't really near any shops so I was think ing of taking some alpen cereal bars with me. Any other ideas for stuff I can get there in one piece in hand luggage? I guess a bag of apples. Then it will be an airport dinner too. So much temptation!

I forgot to add..... I bought and fitted into some size 12 top shop skinny jeans! Here's a picture
I hope everyone is ok. I'll try and fit in some diary catch ups this evening. xx

 

[VeggieBev]

Nice to hear from you Emma. Sounds like things have been manic but you've done well to only put on 2lb - that'll be back off in no time.

You're looking fab in your pictures - I haven't braved a bikini yet but I'm planning on taking some on holiday with me. That give me just short of 5 months to work toward a half decent bikini bod!