Happy New Year... Happy New You!!

As it's almost New Years Eve which is one of the most busiest nights of the year to celebrate and party I thought it was only fitting to post about it. Whether you are heading out to party the night away, throwing a party of your own or celebrating in your own way I have put together some useful tips to help you stay on track.

Confesssions of a forgotten Blog...

      

I have really been neglecting my Blog lately, but to be honest with the whole build up to Christmas and especially as it was Michaela's first I have been more than distracted the last few weeks.Also with the stress of getting things organised I haven't been following much a healthy eating plan either. As I am writing this I realise just how ''forgetful'' I have been. I am not due back to Weight Watchers and Zumba till January so I feel that I need to start the motivation this week before throwing myself back in the deep end. I don't want to feel that I am pushing myself too hard, after all it's been about 3 weeks since I actually filled out my tracker or did anything that remotely resembles exercise!!..

Weigh Day!!

Weigh Day was Friday as usual but I'm only getting a chance to post today. Well it was not good news at all on the scales. I gained 2 and 1/2 lbs!! Yes, I am still in shock. I know I didn't have the best week and I didn't attend any of my Zumba classes either so I think all  of these were factors that contributed to my weight gain this week.

The diet that will melt belly fat!!

 I read an article in the magazine WOMAN about weight loss a couple of weeks back but being so busy lately I am only getting the chance to post it today. There was some useful information in the piece that I want to share with you. I have said it before, I don't believe in quick fixes when it comes to weight loss, I believe you have to put in the hard work and determination before you start seeing results - and patience is a must!

The article was simply giving a few steps that would

 GUARANTEE YOU TO LOSE 3LBS THIS WEEK!

Weigh Day!!

At today's Weight watchers class I was steady in my weight which I was surprised about as it is TOTM for me so I was expecting to be up weight, as I am usually but I am happy about that result. I was good this week although I did have a take away once. I went to 1 Zumba class as I could not make the other with the weather being so bad I could not get a spin. I feel like the time is flying leading up to Christmas and with my Xmas party just a few days away I am so excited and looking forward to having a night out with all the girlys who I miss sooo much in work, so the prospect of getting dressed up and having a great night is making the week much longer :( Is it just me or is December like a party a month!! My plan this week is to stay positive and try not to dip into my weekly points as when I do I feel a lot more bloated and I REALLY want to look my best. I have tried on that red dress and with the help of my trusted knickers I  feel more comfortable in hiding my wobbly bits which I am still working on. I feel that Zumba is toning my stomach but I do need to start doing sit ups most days to get the results I want. I am a patient person but there are some days that I just wish the results would speed up but I know it will be worth it in the end - even if it does take longer than I want.
I hope all of you have a good weekend,
regards, Naoimh

Weigh Day!!

Hey, I know it's not officially Weigh Day and this week I actually got weighed on Thursday morning as  I was up in Dublin bright and early Friday morning because I got the 5am train - still recovering from exhaustion.
This week I gained 1 lb but it's not all bad though because I got to see Riahnna in concert and it was just FAB!! I danced my socks off so hopefully plenty of activity points for that and it will show on the scales next week.
I drank a good bit of wine last night and I thoroughly enjoyed my night so I'm just relaxing tonight staying in with my daughter watching t.v.
I can't believe Christmas is just a month away I got some really nice clothes shopping up in Dublin and I really want to feel good wearing them so gonna be wise with my food choices before the big Turkey eating day when I am going to just enjoy all the foods I love.

Regards Naoimh

I just can't do it!!

This post is dedicated to all of you out there that feel losing weight is impossible. Like my friend ( who does not want to be named on my blog - she's shy) who has the constant excuses like; it's too hard, I don't have the time to be tracking or I don't even like healthy food!

I have had countless conversations with her explaining how I eat more than her in a day and I manage to lose weight most weeks but most importantly I eat healthier and I am satisfied for longer with the foods that I choose to eat. She said to me if you could just write out everything for me to eat that would help me lose weight then I would eat it. So, like a fairy god mother I have granted her wish and made out a week menu of the same foods that I would normally eat that I would like her to try for the week ahead.I have taken into consideration that she does like to have a drink on a Saturday night and she always has a takeaway on a Sunday so I have Incorporated that into her menu.

Should she stick to this, with a little bit of exercise e.g walking, swimming or just more than she normally does at least 3 times in the week she is guaranteed to shed some lbs. If she agrees to try my menu for the week I will report back to you and tell you if she has lost any weight. In the mean time if any of you would like to try this please do and  let me know what the results are for yourselves.

Weigh Day!!

Yep, it's that day again already...
 I am pleased to say that I have lost half a lb this week. It wasn't one of my best weeks, I admit as I had a pizza AND a Chinese takeaway but I still managed to be down due to, I'm assuming Zumba, as I didn't get much exercise other that one class on Monday. I also had a few drinks last night as I went out to bingo in the pub - BIG jackpot didn't win - same old same!!I feel like I didn't try my best this week at all-but that's not to say I'm not pleased to be down weight, I just feel to be honest,  it was like a lucky result on the scales.

With a new week ahead I am going to start trying to up my exercise regime a bit more. As I am seeing positive results in Zumba, like my legs have become very toned and I am back in my pre pregnancy skinny jeans (woo hoo)!! what I really want to is start toning my stomach. I have heard great reviews about pole dancing classes or running and by the sounds of it they seem like two of the best ways to tone your tummy. If any of you out there have any other ideas or are trying anything else that you think is really helping contribute to a toned tummy it would be great to hear from you??

I hope you all had a good week on the scales :)
Kindest Regards,
Naoimh

Weigh Day!!

So today is weigh day and I am just back from my Weight Watchers class. I couldn't be more pleased to say that I lost a WHOPPING 4lbs this week!!!

MY SILVER 7!!

And on top of that I have finally earned my first silver 7... what an excellent result. I am so thrilled with this as I had 2 previous weeks of gaining weight and it knocked me back but as the saying goes
 that which does not break us only makes us stronger.  I feel like I came back and really showed what I was capable of achieving. This will make me work just as hard to be down another few lbs for Christmas (yes I said it) now I know it's only November but it's exactly 6 weeks and 2 days to the day so I was thinking what better time to set a target for myself - if I lose 1lb a week until then I will be down a stone which is a full dress size!!! Simples :-) .
 I also have a Christmas party coming up on the 5th December with my previous job in Falcon Travel where we will be staying the night in a swanky Hotel which I am really looking forward to. So as I want to look my best and feel great that night I will definitely be sticking to this target or at least try my very best anyway. I have a beautiful red dress hanging in my wardrobe which I REALLY want to fit into, so will power is a must!!

I hope all of you out there have had a good week too.


P.S This is my smiley face for the scales this week...
Regards, Naoimh

                                                                                          

The day before Weighday...

Hey all, just thought I would get a post up as I have some spare time on my hands. I have been busy giving my blog a little makeover the last few day and I hope you like it, especially the new page I have set up with some really tasty recipes most of which are from Weight Watchers booklets free in class. There are some great ideas in there!!
 It's weigh day tomorrow- would you believe it what a fast week!!  This week I felt I really tried hard. I exceeded my daily points allowance on 2 days so even though I really tried not to use them unfortunately I caved.So what remains is still 29 weekly points, but hey that is LOADS for me because normally at this stage I wouldn't have any weekly points left.
The only downfall to this week is that Zumba class was cancelled last night which means I only got 1 class done but I have been going for walks, just short and brisk, but still exercise none the less for the last few days. I have been eating filling, low pro point meals and have been very careful not to have too many treats so I can't see any reason to be up weight in the morning. I am feeling very optimistic about tomorrows result and I really hope it shows. Good luck to anyone else with a weigh in this week too.

Regards, Naoimh

Breakfast

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I completely agree, why would you not want something filling and delicious when you get up? Your tired and sometimes cranky - if your anything like me on early mornings and just need a good start to the day. In this weeks Weight Watchers meeting we were given a newsletter all about healthy and low Pro Point breakfast, from your favourite cereals to good old eggs or even fruit there is soo much delicious breakfast foods out there to try.Here are some benefits given in the booklet of having a breakfast in the morning.


It is proven that eating breakfast can help boost energy levels and improve phsical performance.

Time and time again research has proven that people who eat breakfast regulary tend to have lower cholesterol levels and are less likely t be overweight than those who skip breakfast.

Eating  a good breakfast can help regulate blood sugars and prevent later cravings.

Making a habit of eating breakfast is good for concentration- studies suggest that eating a bowl of cereal at breakfast time can cut decline in performance throughout the day by more than half.

Eating a nutritious breakfast develops good eating habits that will last a lifetime.



Here as some cereals with Pro Point values, keep note that some cereal are based on 30g and some 40g servings, all you have to do is add the Pro Points value of whatever milk you choose to use.There are also some delicious recipes if you are not a cereal person. I will post these during the week.

These are just some tasty cereals you could try out if your not used to eating a breakfast or choose to skip. It couldn't be simpler so no excuses. Get set up for the day and enjoy!!

Regards, Naoimh

Weigh Day!!

So yesterday was weigh day and I was so busy I didn't get a chance to post it. I gained 1 & 1/2 lbs  :-( !!!

 I am really disappointed but the more I think about it it was an inevitable result to a bad week. Firstly I forgot to take a tracker in class so I used a notebook instead which definitely was not the same.I couldn't get used to it and even though I had no excuse I just stopped tracking mid week.

My weekend went well even though I drank much more alcohol than expected when I was out Sunday but I had anticipated to exercise and gain back control.Then I only attended 1 Zumba class as Mondays class was cancelled because of Halloween. On top of that I didn't go for any walk or do any sort of exercises at home either. I had a takeaway Monday, a large hot chicken roll during the week which was over 12 Pro Points alone and a fry up in town with my sister Thursday morning. I had a REALLY bad week but I felt because I wasn't tracking and couldn't see all the bad things I was eating, I could just ignore what Pro Point values they had and they would not contribute to my weight gain. Denial is not just a river in Egypt!!!

This week I am really going to have to be strict because I can feel bad habits kicking back in so. So I made sure I got my tracker for starters. I did the weekly food shop and took advantage of the fruit offers in the supermarket, also pears are in season now and they are delicious. This morning I got up early and I took Michaela for a walk in her pram and right now I am eating a bowl of fruit and having a pint of water while finally getting the chance to update my blog. I also haven't touched any of my weekly points either and I am half way through the weekend, I am intending not to use them this week and  also try another activity like water aerobics.

I have had 2 bad weeks and I refuse to have another. So wish me luck for the week ahead ( I think I'm gonna need it ) and hopefully as our leader said in class this week we will all have happy faces at the scales next week :-)

p.s hope all of  you out there had a good week!!

Regards, Naoimh 

Halloween

As it's Halloween I feel it only necessary to write about all  the lovely treats we can have without using up too much of our Pro Points. In last weeks Weight Watchers magazine that was free with the RTE Guide there were some tips especially for the Trick or Treat Season and after reading through the magazine I found some great Recipes. I am going to try and make the pumpkin pie later. This is my pumpkin carved and I saved the bits inside for pie.

Weight Watchers  Pumpkin Pie - 25 Pro Points Per Recipe

Weight Watchers Halloween Cupcakes - 81  Pro Points Per Recipe

 As we all know treats laying around can be very tempting and when your not keeping track of how many little sweets or crisps your eating those can be the worse times for over eating and maybe the times we actually forget to track!

There were also some helpful tips on how not to over indulge ourselves and  teach the kids a healthy attitude to treats.



Happy Halloween :-)
Regards Naoimh

Post Natal Depression

                                                                          Today I would like to draw your attention to a man named Patrick Holford. I had never heard of him until recently when my aunt was telling me that she signed up to his newsletter and how some information she received was very beneficial to her. So I did a bit of research and found out that he is a pioneer in new approaches to health and nutrition, specialising in the field of mental health. He is regarded as Britain's best-selling author and spokesman on nutrition and mental health issues. Also he is frequently being quoted in national newspapers from the Daily Mail to the Guardian so this guy knows what he's talking about. He is a popular on radio shows as a presenter and on national television as both interviewer and guest.

But the main reason I have brought him to your attention today is because on his newsletter this week he talks about Post Natal depression (PND). Fortunately I have not got (PND)  but I think it is only fair to gather some information for those who feel they may have symptoms or are going through it. It is difficult enough after having a baby without feeling depressed so below is some information I have quoted from his newsletter I received this week.

Basically, what he has said is that a new survey from the charity 4Children has found that three in ten new mothers may experience postnatal depression (PND). The figures show that around 33% of mothers who experienced depression symptoms during pregnancy went on to have PND and 25% of mothers still suffered from PND up to a year after giving birth. Worryingly, 70% of those who sought help were given antidepressant medication, predominantly SSRI's.
The safety of using SSRI's for the babies of nursing mothers is unknown. Some studies have linked the maternal use of Prozac to colic in nursing infants. Women may choose to take antidepressants and not to breastfeed. This not only compromises the baby's early nutrition, but deprives the mother and child of bonding which can worsen the depression.
There is good logic and substantial evidence that optimum nutrition can be a highly effective alternative to SSRIs. Common nutritional imbalances connected to depression are blood sugar imbalances, lack of chromium, amino acids, B vitamins and essential fats. The solution is a low-GL diet, high in omega 3 fats.
It's important to realise that your baby is the number one priority by your body when you are pregnant, and also during breastfeeding. This means that any nutrients it requires it takes from you. If you do not take precautions, the likelihood is that you'll be deficient in some key nutrients by the end of pregnancy. Low levels of certain nutrients, such as omega 3 fats, magnesium and zinc, have all been linked to PND. Progesterone deficiency is also a common cause. Totally Nourish offer specially formulated before and after pregnancy products to ensure you keep yourself and your baby healthy.

All of the above  information is quoted from an email I received by signing up to his website. I just felt it was better explained in his words as I am not a doctor and the information was easier understood by myself in his explanation.You can sign up to his newsletter for free through visiting this website http://www.patrickholford.com/

He also goes on to say that he has a book Optimum Nutrition Before, During and After Pregnancy that gives more detail on how to avoid PND and what to do if you already have it. There is also a section on how hormone imbalances can lead to PND in his new book Balance Your  Hormones.

I hope this may be of some help to any of you out there that feel you or a friend may have symptoms to PND. Remember you are not alone.
Regards,
Naoimh

Weigh Day!!

 Today is weigh day and needless to say I am not surprised that I gained 1 lb. Like I said it is TOTM for me so, naturally I'm nearly always up on weeks like this. I will try my best this week as I always push myself that bit harder on weeks I am up.I don't mind so much this week but I want the scales going in the opposite direction next Friday.

I know I am going to need a lot of self restrain, especially for the weekend as I will probably go out for a few drinks tomorrow night and with Halloween approaching with soo many treats lying around I will be lucky to have my weekly 49 pro points left by Monday. Once the weekend is over I should be back on track. So preparation is the best thing for the weekend ahead. 

I like to keep account of  how much alcohol I consume when I am out which can be hard, especially when I'm enjoying myself, but by having a pen and piece of paper in my handbag I just put a tick down for every drink I have consume and so when I am applying my lipstick in the toilet or something I just put a tick down for every glass or bottle I have had. It seems a bit awkward but trust me it's way easier than trying to remember the next day.I can point everything when filling out my tracker.I think any tips that you feel are working for you are always worth sticking to.

Regards, Naoimh

Temptation Times..

  I can't believe it's Wednesday already. I have just realised I only have one day left to my weigh in Friday morning. I have been good excercise wise and I went to my Zumba classes this week, I am actually just back from tonight's class where our teacher Liana had us do 10 dances one after the other which was a  really  good work out. But in regards to eating this week I haven't been so good. I made an apple tart the other day so lots of pastry and it's TOTM for me so I felt I needed something sweet today and ate 2 croissants which did nothing but fill my tracker sheet with 12 extra points that could  really do with not being there at all. I feel like my silver 7 is slowly slipping from my grasp! Also the amount of ''special offer'' chocolate that keeps making it's way out of my fridge and into my mouth is beyond ridiculous. I need more self control!! HELP!! 

 I have tracked everything I ate all week and looking back at what I consumed I am shocked. I would't be surprised if I have gained a few lbs. Also with the Bank holiday weekend  AND Halloween approaching  that can only lead to more than a few glasses of vino and  a lot of picking at treats
But I am only human so the best thing for me to do is to try and be extra good Thursday and allow myself a nice healthy day with lots of fruit and veg, like a healthy detox, and hope the scales have something nice to say  to me Friday morning...

I hope you are all having a good week, if not let me know or share some tips of what you do if your having an off day!?
Regards, Naoimh

Kettle Bells

Aah Sunday afternoon. I love rainy days like this just curling up and watching the telly. Except this morning I had been burdened with a slight hangover from the wine I drank last night. I'm not too sick as I   didn't drink that much wine. I had 2 measures of 175ml. For every 175ml of white wine I drink there are 5 Pro Points which I mix with 7up Free that has a 0 Pro Points value, great I know!!! So I know exactly what I drank and have it pointed ahead of time.

I was up early enough with Michaela so the sickness had subsided  by 12 and seeing as it looks like the floods outside I couldn't even go for a walk. So I tried a work out I recorded on the telly ages ago. It's called  Kettle Bells For Mums and its not too much of a high impact workout. It was just what I needed to get me sweating after the alcohol I had last night and get me moving around.I also drank lots of water which I think helped too.

It's starts off with your stretching, you see cardio exercise will help with overall fat reduction  but if  you want toning it's mostly about doing non-moving exercises like the plank, performed on knees or toes (which is supposed get you a toned tummy without doing sit ups)!

Here is a demonstration of The Plank. It is a bit hard the first few times you try it but I promise it does get easier with practice.

                                           



The main workouts are mostly a lot of stretching exercises, particularly using 1 or 2  kettle bells. It is a great way of getting your upper body strength back. I remember when I first tried to do a sit up after I had my baby and I just could NOT get my body to cooperate, it was like I was incapable of it but I suppose it's just because the muscles have not been used in sooo long it takes time for your body to adjust. So it's good that there are workouts out there that are solely for mothers getting back in shape because the worst thing you can do is push yourself too hard by doing things your body isn't ready for yet and get an injury.It's also very hard trying to get back in shape after a baby so to know that these workouts are especially for your post baby body that work on your problem areas is a good thing to know.

Here is a demonstration of a kettle bells exercise for beginners. The particular exercise I did I recorded from the Active channel on my Sky Box.

                       

Hope this of some help. Let me know if any of you try this out or find any other helpful exercises or tips.
Regards,

Naoimh

It's Weigh Day!!

 
So today is Friday and as you all know by now 'It's Weigh Day'. This is my favourite day of the week, especially if I'm happy with what the scales has to say about me. I was really happy with myself as I lost half lb. It wasn't the full pound that I was hoping for but hey half way there! Just think losing anything is much better than gaining something. I'm really happy today as I am almost there to my first silver 7. Your probably thinking will she ever get that 7 we are hearing of every week, but I will not rest until I receive it.
I had a good week food wise, although when I came home from Zumba Thursday night I ate a full pizza with a pro points value of 12. Not the worst thing I could have ate and fortunately I had accumulated enough activity points throughout the week to cover it. I had a moment of weakness and just felt I couldn't resist...so I enjoyed it, pointed it and moved on.
All in all it was a good morning at Weight Watchers. It was very busy as there were a lot of new members which is always great to see and a lot of other people in the group are doing really great. I love staying for the meeting as I like hear other peoples stories and share tips and recipes. We were talking of Halloween and the ALL the sweets that will come our way. I will have to be careful as I do have a bit of a sweet tooth!

There is a FREE Weight Watchers magazine in the RTE GUIDE today which I went out and purchased right after class. Inside there are some great recipes and tips as well as inspirational stories of other members who achieved there weight loss goals. It's great to read the experiences of other members as it reminds you not everyone is the same and just because you are not losing weight as fast as others, once you don't give up you will eventually get there!

Hope you all have a good weekend :-)

Regards, Naoimh

Fast Food

 
BUT ARE WE LOVIN' IT TOO MUCH?

Today I would like to talk about fast food, with one company in particular,  Mc Donald's! I don't think there is a person you know that hasn't heard of this company. The company now operates 77 restaurants in Ireland, 41 of which are drive through outlets with some restaurants being open 24 hours a day.

In weight watchers we are reminded not to deprive ourselves of anything. It is not a diet we are doing instead we are making healthy decisions about what we eat. My leader, Sinead, said something great  in class this week. She said you should never feel guilty about anything you eat, enjoy it, point it and just move on. I totally agree with this, food is there to be enjoyed. I just feel that in our society today people tend to eat way too much  fast food, but what is this doing to our bodies in the long term? I feel we need to train our  brains into eating healthy for example if I have a day where I feel I just want to give up I just remind myself :
                              
          looking good in my bikini will be way more satisfying than eating this!!
 

As some of you may be joined weight watchers I have done a bit of research for you.So below is a list of everything you can order in Mc Donald's in Ireland and as I like to help you all along our weight loss journey I have pro pointed them all for you.I am not encouraging people to run out and get a Big Mac I just hope that by knowing what propoints are in what it may help you to make better decisions when eating fast food. So enjoy your food, but remember to eat in moderation and as part of a balance diet.

Regards, Naoimh


BREAKFAST 

Sausage & egg Mc muffin  12pp                              
Double sausage & egg Mc muffin  15pp
Bacon & egg Mc muffin  9pp
Double bacon & egg Mc muffin  11pp
Bacon roll with brown sauce  9pp
Bacon roll with Heinz tomato ketchup  9pp
Bacon & cheese toastie  6pp
Ham and cheese toastie  6pp
Cheese toastie  6pp
Pancake and sausage (no syrup)  18pp
Pancake (no syrup)  14pp
Pancake syrup  5pp
Muffin and jam  5pp
Hash Brown  4pp
Oatso simple (plain) with milk  5pp


SALADS

Grilled chicken caesar salad  5pp                          
Crispy chicken caesar salad  9pp
Side salad  0pp
Croutons   2pp
Low fat caesar dressing  1pp
Low fat balsamic dressing  1pp


DESSERTS

Fruit bag  1pp                                                        
Apple pie  7pp
Sundae-caramel  8pp
Sundae-chocolate  8pp
Sundae-strawberry  6pp
Nestle tollhouse triple choc cookie  7pp
Nestle tollhouse choc cookie  8pp
Sugar ring donut  6pp
low fat blueberry muffin  8pp
Double choc chip muffin  14pp
Smarties McFlurry  10pp
Crunchie McFlurry  10pp
Dairy Milk McFlurry  11pp
Shake chocolate 475ml  10pp
Shake chocolate 610ml  14pp
Shake strawberry 475ml  11pp
Shake strawberry 610ml  14pp
Shake vanilla 475ml  11pp
Shake  vanilla 610ml  14pp

BEEF

Hamburger  7pp                                              
Cheeseburger  8pp
Double cheeseburger  12pp
Big Mac  13pp
Quarter pounder with cheese 13pp
Double quarter pounder with cheese  18pp
Big tasty  23pp


CHICKEN

McChicken sandwich  15pp                        
Chicken legend with mayo  13pp
Chicken legend with salsa  14pp
Chicken McNuggets (4pce)  5pp
Chicken McNuggets (6pce)  7pp
Chicken McNuggets (9pce)  11pp
Chicken selects (3)  10pp
Chicken selects (5)  16pp

FISH

Filet-O-Fish  9pp                          
Fish fingers  5pp

FRIES

Fries (small)  6pp                               
Fries (regular)  9pp
Fries (large)  13pp
Twisty fries  15pp

CONDIMENTS

Barbeque dip 25ml  1pp                  
sweet & sour dip 25ml  1pp
sweet curry dip 25ml  1pp
Ketchup dip pot  1pp
Ketchup sachets  0pp
Mayonnaise dip pot  4pp
Sour cream & chive dip 50ml  5pp
Sweet chilli dip 50ml  3pp
Smokey bbq dip 50ml  2pp

DRINKS

Diet coke (small)  0pp                             
Diet coke (medium)  0pp
Diet coke (large)  0pp
Coca-Cola(small)  3pp
Coca-Cola (medium)  5pp
Coca-Cola (large)  6pp
Sprite (small)  3pp
Sprite (medium)  5pp
Sprite (large)  6pp
Fanta (small)  3pp
Fanta (medium)  5pp
Fanta (large)  6pp
Natural mineral water 0p
Tropicana  3pp
Robinson's fruit shoot  0pp
Cappuccino  2pp
Latte (tall)  4pp
Latte (grande)  5pp
Milk 250ml  4pp

WRAPS

Sweet chilli crispy chicken wrap  12pp         
Spicy vegetable wrap  12pp
Crispy chicken & bacon wrap  13pp
Salsa & mayo grilled chicken wrap  9pp