Tracey's healthy yummy lovely journey

[vintagepockets]

I know how you feel on the job front. I've had a few jobs that have made me feel that way which is why I've changed jobs a few times! My goal now is to get a job that challenges me and that makes me feel valued. I get bored really easily which probably is due to me doing jobs that either don't interest me (marketing) or jobs that a trained monkey could do (temping).

So you use 30g and count anything extra as 1.5 syns per tablespoon? I'm confused! :/

It would be a lot more straightforward to use 30g as healthy extra but i had already had milk and some cheese on my sandwhich earlier that day before i decided to have carbonara. I used 60g of grated parmeasan in the whole dish for four people. Syns online says it is 5 syns for 25g. Does that sound right? So does that mean that I used about 13 syns in the whole dish so about 3 syns each? I'm confused. That means 60g would be about 8 tablespoons, does that dound about right? Seems like a lot. I don't want to over syn or under syn.

The other thing i'm confused about is why they distinguish between whether its from a block or if its bought grated etc. Is it different?

With the parmesan try not to over think it as your just confusing yourself .

Basically you can count 30g as your HEXa. If you're not using it as your HEXa then I syn it at 1.5 syns per tbsp or 5 syns for 25g depending on if your using tbsps or grams as your measure of weight.

To calculate your meal just take tbsps out of it and just use grams. If syns online says 5 syns per 25g that's 1 syn per 5g therefore if you used 60g of parmesan that is 12 syns. Divide 12 syns by 4 people is 3 syns each. So your meal was 3 syns. Haha too much maths too late at night!

I don't worry about the block/pre-grated thing. I expect they add stuff to the grated form to keep it fresh/separated but it depends on how strict you're trying to be. If it worries you then just buy the block and grate it at home so you know for sure that your not going over.I'm just lazy xx

 

[xJoanneJJx]

I could have written that post about your job myself! xx

 

[newbee89]

I'm liking the look and sound of the Burgen seeded bread. When OH and I were in Australia two years ago I was following the weight watchers core plan which was very similar to SW and one of the foods you could have was 2 slices of seeded bread. I used to love a hefty sandwich with lots of chicken, salad, mustard on burgen soy & linseed bread... Yum yum yum!

Thats the exact one I had Honey. It was burhen soy and linseed bread. Complete tweak on the Healthy Extra front but I figure one slice can't hurt. It's my favourite bread! I did the Core plan years ago and I loved it but then they got rid of it for some reason!

 

[newbee89]

I know how you feel on the job front. I've had a few jobs that have made me feel that way which is why I've changed jobs a few times! My goal now is to get a job that challenges me and that makes me feel valued. I get bored really easily which probably is due to me doing jobs that either don't interest me (marketing) or jobs that a trained monkey could do (temping).

With the parmesan try not to over think it as your just confusing yourself .

Basically you can count 30g as your HEXa. If you're not using it as your HEXa then I syn it at 1.5 syns per tbsp or 5 syns for 25g depending on if your using tbsps or grams as your measure of weight.

To calculate your meal just take tbsps out of it and just use grams. If syns online says 5 syns per 25g that's 1 syn per 5g therefore if you used 60g of parmesan that is 12 syns. Divide 12 syns by 4 people is 3 syns each. So your meal was 3 syns. Haha too much maths too late at night!

I don't worry about the block/pre-grated thing. I expect they add stuff to the grated form to keep it fresh/separated but it depends on how strict you're trying to be. If it worries you then just buy the block and grate it at home so you know for sure that your not going over.I'm just lazy xx

Haha thanks for the parmesan advice, it makes perfect sense to me now! At least I know I was right cheers!

I'm the same as you on the job front hun. I hope to find something in the future where I feel challenged and appreciated etc. I miss the theatre so much but I also love the 9-5 life. I need that kind of structure in my life. I literally live for Fridays at 5.30pm. Will your OH be lucky with work where you're moving?

X

 

[newbee89]

I could have written that post about your job myself! xx

Are you working there long hun? What do you do? Where do you work? X

 

[vintagepockets]

He's already got a job he's just taken a year off so he'll be going back in February. We just don't know where his next project is going to be yet. It's me who has to find a job (again). So sick of job hunting now. I can't wait to get into something and stay in it long term! I'm the same with you on the 9-5 front. I used to work at the BBC as a production runner. Even got my name on the credits and stood in as an extra lol. But long term it wasn't an option. Partly because I hated living in London but mainly due to there being no job security and working 16 hour days 6 days a week. It makes you realise there's more to life than a job!

 

[newbee89]

He's already got a job he's just taken a year off so he'll be going back in February. We just don't know where his next project is going to be yet. It's me who has to find a job (again). So sick of job hunting now. I can't wait to get into something and stay in it long term! I'm the same with you on the 9-5 front. I used to work at the BBC as a production runner. Even got my name on the credits and stood in as an extra lol. But long term it wasn't an option. Partly because I hated living in London but mainly due to there being no job security and working 16 hour days 6 days a week. It makes you realise there's more to life than a job!

Oh absolutely, while I would love an amazing job where from the outside people think it sounds great, I have never had a proper routine before and that is the one thing I love about my job now. I start at 9.15 and without fail I leave at 5.30pm. Having weekends off is just amazing. There is a little part of me that knows i could stick at this for a couple of years, but sales isn't for me. My next move, wherever that is, will hopefully be a nice job where I feel challenged, good enough, appreciated and also where the hours are office-hours. Most job descriptions nowadays specify the hours so I would know when applying. My gutt feeling is telling me to stick this out for a year. A years experience in education management/sales/marketing/advertising/admin looks a lot better on the CV than 6 months, or 8 months etc. I also don't want to burn any bridge or piss anyone off so when I do decide to move on I would like it to be amicable. Chances are he won't want to lose me because i'm doing well in terms of sales, but sales is so not for me! I'm just going to embrace it and focus on the move in february. Once we've settled and i'm paying rent and bills etc i'll have a better idea of what i'm looking for etc. some months i get great money with commission, other months I really don't. I'd rather just a constant guaranteed decent basic salary. I like the idea of that much more. The pressure of sales is constant and its very uncomfortable knowing your constantly being watched and your money depends on your perfromance. Not for me!

BBC sounds like what the theatre was for me. Late unsociable hours but such a cool job in lots of ways. Unfortunately not great money though and I had no life!

I'm hoping that with a years experience here, 5 years in the theatre and the promotion i received there alongside my BA degree, MA and now a diploma in marketing, pr, sales and advertising, i'll have doors opened to me. Positive thinking

What kind of jobs are you applying for? What would your dream job be? X

 

[xJoanneJJx]

Are you working there long hun? What do you do? Where do you work? X

Oh it's a permanent job, I've been here 1 year and 3 months now. I like the stuff i do- it's the company I work for what I really dislike. The 2 directors are probably the worst people i've come accross in my life and they just drive their staff away. I'm the longest serving person in my post for a long time and that says a lot! They honestly don't treat people like humans. I work for a company which does private psychotherapy and counselling, my job role varies a bit. I help the therapists and their clients (who are all lovely, they're technically self employed but practice through us) plus admin and finance for the company. We're also a training organisation in the same field so we have hundreds of students doing part time diplomas and masters.I would LOVE to change jobs but I'm on 2 months notice period which makes it virtually impossible Can't afford to leave this job until I have another secured. Dream job is in the travel industry but it's hard to crack! xx

 

[newbee89]

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!

I had my weigh in yesterday and i lost 2 pounds. Absolutely delighted with life. That means I have lost 9.5 pounds in the past 5 weeks. It feels absolutely amazing. I hope to lose another pound or two this week and then maintain over christmas. Hopefully that works out. The only days i'll be taking 'off' plan are christmas day and stephens day.

I was a bit indulgent last night and with dinner i had a couple of chicken wings and half a chicken wrap which had fried chicken tenders in it. We then went to the cinema and I had some popcorn there because no other shop was open. I had about 14 syns to use so I would imagine that i went over by about 15 last night. The plan is to have 5 syns today and then only 10 tomorrow to make up for it.

I have not got much on this week but i am going out on Saturday to a friends 40th birthday. I'll be having dinner before I go out, or if we do decide to eat out it will be something like steak. I will save about 20 syns to cover me on the drink front on Saturday night. I'll be drinking wine which is my favourite drink. I know its fattening but i don't go out every week. Only once or twice a month so i feel that saving about 20 syns and then just enjoying myself is OK. So far thats worked for me anyway! You have to live and this journey is about finding a liveable way to lose and maintain weight for me.

Sunday i'll be christmas shopping and we will probably get Nandos for dinner. Such a bargain at 6.5 syn and I enjoy it so much. Might sound weird but i always out balsamic vinegar on my spicy rice when i'm there.

Just to mix things up i'm not having bread this week apart from the weekend. I'm sticking to Alpen lights for the HexB factor as bread always comes with laughing cow lights (as butter is too high) and i'd rather use my HexA this week on Philadelphia light with carrot sticks.

I haven't sone any cooking lately really. I plan to make something nice tomorrow evening such as home-made soup and either a chilli con carne or bollognaisse that i can have for lunch in work the next day too. I want something packed with veg. I'll cook something at the weekend too hopefully. Ive just been so busy and on-the-go between the gym, christmas shopping, my course and trying to wind down at the weekend. I'm eating lots of fruit though in terms of superfree. Really craving veg though...

I better get back to work. So excited that i have only 7 days left in work and then i'm off for a glorious 12 days. I'm so excited. I feel sorry for OH though. He's only off on Christmas Day and New Years Day. We will make the most of it though and enjoy the weekends too!

Getting my hair done tonight too! Its been 4.5 months so its very exciting.

 

[Honeyoc]

Woohoo!!!!! Amazing loss Tracey! You must be so proud! Fabulous!!!!!!!!

 

[newbee89]

Woohoo!!!!! Amazing loss Tracey! You must be so proud! Fabulous!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Honey, i'm delighted!! Xx

 

[newbee89]

Todays food Diary...


Breakfast -1 cherry bakewell hifi bar. OMG these are amazing!! I felt like I was eating a cake. I also had a kiwi.

Lunch - 1can of Tesco Irish Stew which is free. It was nice and I would have it again but i wasn't overly excited about it.
Carrot sticks with 60g of Philadelphia light sweet chilli flavour (i believe 75g is a healthy extra A, even the flavoured versions. Please correct me if this is wrong)
A muller light coconut yoghurt (.5) a banana and a mandarin orange.

Dinner - mugshot (free) and a small salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, chicken, 1 tablespoon of light salad dressing (1) and a teeny sprinkle of parmesan (.5).

Snack - muller light coconut yoghurt (.5) and a hifi lemon meringue bar (6). I was bored/hungry and this was impulsive but my God did i enjoy it. Its so amazing!

HexA- 60g of philadelphia light with sweetchilli. I also had milk in two teas so that would be the rest of the hexA + 1 syn

HexB - hifi cherry bakewell bar.

Syns - 8.5

 

[vintagepockets]

Well done on your loss that's fantastic!

I've seen some people say the flavoured ones don't count as a HEXa but I've always counted them as I didn't know and I had no problems. It may be worth asking your consultant about it if your not sure.

I guess I don't really have a 'dream job' anymore just a dream company! I'm really interested in getting into education administration as reading up on it the role can be drastically different dependent on the uni and department you work in. It's also really challenging and you need to be willing to develop with change and adapt, which really excites me as I get bored really easily. Your CV sounds fantastic and you seem to be thinking sensibly about your current job. My main concern is that my CV makes me look flaky as I've tried a few different things and each job has been short term due to temping. I was at the BBC for 1 and a half years and did marketing for 6 months (the company were awful! Similar story to joanne) and the rest is temping. Its mainly because we've moved around a lot, but I'm so ready to commit and stay somewhere for the long haul. I absolutely hate looking for and applying for jobs!!!

 

[xJoanneJJx]

Any flavour philli light is HEX A btw I remember a member of Stevie's group rang the Syns hotline x

 

[newbee89]

Well done on your loss that's fantastic!

I've seen some people say the flavoured ones don't count as a HEXa but I've always counted them as I didn't know and I had no problems. It may be worth asking your consultant about it if your not sure.

I guess I don't really have a 'dream job' anymore just a dream company! I'm really interested in getting into education administration as reading up on it the role can be drastically different dependent on the uni and department you work in. It's also really challenging and you need to be willing to develop with change and adapt, which really excites me as I get bored really easily. Your CV sounds fantastic and you seem to be thinking sensibly about your current job. My main concern is that my CV makes me look flaky as I've tried a few different things and each job has been short term due to temping. I was at the BBC for 1 and a half years and did marketing for 6 months (the company were awful! Similar story to joanne) and the rest is temping. Its mainly because we've moved around a lot, but I'm so ready to commit and stay somewhere for the long haul. I absolutely hate looking for and applying for jobs!!!

See, thats how i am. I just want to work for a good company more than anything. I'm currently in education admin. Its a small private college but my job is mainly focused on sales! I think you would enjoy the admin part by the souds of things. Its nice knowing the students are happy too.

I wouldn't worry too much about your CV. Maybe you could include a part in your CV that due to your partners work commitments you have moved a lot and now you have bought a house and are settled long term now. It might look good even on the cover letter even. Its good that you have variety though, i think that says a lot about how you can adapt to different roles and types of work.

I am doing a sales course at the moment and the other day the lecturer was talking about CVs and how theyre all so boring and the same and we should be wanting to stand out and sell ourselves etc. He also told me something I did know, you know how at the end of an online job application (if using a jobs site that advertise lots of jobs) there might be three questions such as do you have a degree, do you have more than 1 years work experience in a similar role etc? Well if you don't answer yes to all three your Application is weeded out and it doesn't get sent to the employer. I had no idea. Sometimes I would say 'no, but...' And all that time it was just automatocally crossed off! Interesting.

Applying for jobs is soooo draining. I applied for about 40 before I got this one. Got one call, one interniew, and started 2 days later. It was crazy how it all happened. But really i had only been applying for 3 weeks or so. It just felt like it took over my life.

I really think you will find something great! Have you applied for any in Manchester yet?

X

 

[newbee89]

Any flavour philli light is HEX A btw I remember a member of Stevie's group rang the Syns hotline x

Thank you joanne thats great news!!

 

[newbee89]

Todays Food..

Hi Everyone. I am having an impromtu trip to town after work to visit some old work friends and maybe get a few christmas bits and bobs. I'm looking forward to it. I won't get home till about 9pm so I will be eating out. The plan is to have a baked potato with tuna, cheese and salad and coleslaw on the side. All syn'd of course

Edit : I ended up going to Nandos. Makes things easier to syn!

Breakfast - aplen light bar (1/2 hexb) and a banana.

Lunch - will be an erin low fat savoury rice (1.5) carrot sticks, half of a HexA of philadelphia light with sweetchilli, a muller coconut greek style yoghurt (.5) and a kiwi.

Snack - Gapes and another alpen light (1/2 hexb).

Dinner - in Nandos. Butterfly chicken (3), Spicy rice (3.5). corn on the cob (0) and about 5 tablespoons of Nandos marinade sauce (2.5)

That'll be it then. I'll have 2 mandarin oranges before my dinner to make it superfree.

Hexa - 35g of philadelphia light sweet chilli flavour and skimmed milk in 1 tea.

Hex b - 2 alpen light bars.

Syns - 11

Between today and yesterday I've saved about 10 syns. I plan to save 7.5 tomorrow and 7.5 on friday to allow for a few drinks on Saurday night! Going out on Saturday night I should have about 20 syns to play with. Yes, my alcohol will be far worse but this is what seems to be working for me, and I only go out about twice a month, if even.

After tomorrow I will have made up for the 15 syns I went over on Monday night. I hope to have a low syn day on Saturday before I go out and I still want to make that soup!

 

[newbee89]

I haven't been to the gym all week. Whoops! Normally I go twice. I know I really should go tomorrow and Saturday, I'll have to see how things go. I am going to try and be really good and go on Friday and then on Saturday too. The absolute effort but I will feel way better after it. I got my hair done on Tuesday so that's why I didn't go Tuesday or Wednesday, didn't want to ruin my hair. Sad I know!


Todays Food Diary

I'm just about to leave work and head in to town for my course. It's the last night of the course till February. I'm looking forward to 6 weeks of free Thursday evenings! It's a recap/revision night tonight so I have to pay attention. My friend is in the course too and we have met a really nice girl in the class so we are going for a few drinks tonight. I'm not going to syn them because it's just impossible for me to stick to this and syn alcohol when I go out so rarely. There are just a few things coming up over the next few weeks due to it being Christmas time so I plan to stick to low-syn drinks and I am hoping that once my food is 100% i'll be OK. That's the hope anyway. In theory, Vodka has practically zero calories anyway so I don't see how 3/4 Vodkas could make a difference.

Breakfast - 1 alpen light bar, a couple of grapes and a banana

Lunch - Erin Low Fat Savoury Rice (1.5), a grilled chicken fillet, 50g of Philadelphia light with sweetchilli (some of HexA), carrot sticks, a muller light greek style coconut (.5) and an orange. Seems like a huge lunch when I list it but thats my normal lunch usually, apart from the chicken. I had it today because my brother kindly left it for me after he cooked some last night and I loved it. Free too! I'm treating lunch today as more like a dinner though because I can only have snacky things before my class due to time restraints.

Does this sounds like a big lunch to you guys?
bowl of savoury rice
handful of carrot sticks with some philadelphia light
a yoghurt
piece of fruit.

To me it seems normal and it fills me perfectly, it just sounds huge when i list it.

Snack : Pre-class I will probably have the other alpen bar out of my HexB and another few grapes. On the break of my class I'll probably have the 1.5 syn m&s sushi snack pack and some fruit salad.


HexA - 50g of Philadelphia light and some skimmed milk in one coffee.
HexB- 2 Alpen lights.

Syns - that will only be 3.5 syns. I might get another snacky thing that's about 2 syns. We'll see!

Alcohol - probably about three vodkas with diet spite. Looking forward to this actually!

 

[newbee89]

Ended up not going to m&s afterall and tool advantage of the shops before my class. I got a few bits and bobs that I needed to get so happy days. My GOD I am over-spending at the moment though. Need to look at the finances today...

I just had some dry roasted chickpeas from Holland and Barret. These are so gorgeous! They are only 88 calories so under 4.5 syns and they are a great alternative to peanuts. Omg they are so tasty. The ones I got were tomato, garlic and herb flavour but I also got sweetchilli ones to have over the weekend.

Yesterdays syns were 6.5 afterall. I was a bit short on the superfree last night though, i only had a clementine with the chickpeas, and then an alpen bar.

I went to the pub after my class and i had 3 vodka and diet 7up!

All in all, another good day.

Im so happy its Friday. Hoping this day flies in and i am going to see my grandad after work with my dad which I am looking forward to. I plan to chill out tonight in a big way. Some hard-core PJs, tea and tv watching. No idea what i'll do for dinner. I'm thinking about either pasta or something tasty like SW chips, beans and egg with veg. Either way i'll have under 7.5 syns!

I have the BEST news. Yesterday I entered a competition on Facebook along with 2,700 other people and i WON!! I am chuffed. Two Michael Buble tickets. He's coming to Dublin in July. I am over the moon. I'll be bringing OH and he is delighted

I bought another few bits yesterday for OH. We had a limit of EUR150 and i've definitely spent about EUR200. Oh well, he's worth it. I had originally bought him a personalised apron online with his name etc on it and when it arrived i was not happy about it. The colours dont work together so you cant see the text very well! Anyway, i am making him a cooking themed hamper which he will love. He LOVES cooking. So yesterday i saw this amaZing apron for EUR25. Its very masculine and the part that falls down the front of your body is also oven gloves, how handy is that? Its deadly! Then when i was paying the girl worked there convinved me to make another purchase i didnt plan to buy. It's a foodie board game and all of the questions are about putting dishes together and ingredients and generally foody things. Apparently its very popular and i saw someone else buying it, but it was EUR35!! I couldn't resist though. He will love it and i am thinking it would be so cool in our apartment when we move in. The fun we will have! I also bought him a little tray for the fridge that holds bottles in place and stops them sliding all over the fridge. Wine, beer etc. he will love that.

So yes, thats him done haha. I have lots of bits and bobs like wooden spoons, whisk, choppong boads, a digital scales, a kitchen scissors, the board game, the apron, a voucher to do an italian cooking lesson and probably another few bits i might be forgetting. I am so tempted to spend another EUR20 and add a cookery book. I think it would really make it. Overall I am probably overspending about EUR150 this christmas but then a girl in work told me that our boss normally gives a EUR250 voucher at christmas so really its fine. I just love buying people presents! I want to get a few more little bits for my mam too. So far weve gotten her a fake fur coat (which she picked herself), her armani make-up, a EUR60 gift set from Lush (omg i LOVE Lush) a few DVDs, and i want to add a few bits to it. No point worrying because it always works out in the end doesn't it?

Better look at the finances juuuuust incase, lol.

 

[vintagepockets]

Wow those are some fab sounding presents and it's lovely that you're spoiling your mum too! I tend to have a £20-25 limit on each family member and then end up spending a fortune on jack. I think I've spent about £150 on him this year which is normal really. Your OH sounds like he's going to be spoilt rotten! I bet you can't wait to see him open them!? It's definitely the best part of xmas! X