A slight misjudgement of calories...

I am in the middle of festive feasting time - and packing plenty of it in.  Expansion has definitely taken place sadly.  This was not really the plan as you might have guessed.

I'm not saying I wasn't planning to enjoy Christmas eating and drinking, rather that I expected it to be a time of treats, mixed in with healthy food and seasonal exercises - dancing to my Christmas spotify list, cycling along the seafront on crisp, bright mornings or even swimming a few lengths at the pool in my new, more streamlined swimsuit.

However, that more streamlined swimsuit is still packed away - unworn, together with my favourite little black dress.  This is because the month leading up to Christmas was filled with too much work, fatigue, shopping, colds and general stress - and very little exercise.  I could almost see myself ballooning and by the time Christmas Eve arrived I knew that I was gaining rather than losing the pounds.

Strangely, despite the Christmas fare  bulging out of cupboards and fridges all around the house I was confident I wouldn't overdo it.  After all, I had bought loads of fruit and veg and some yummy low calorie puddings.  I'm not one for sweet things like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding - I prefer jelly for desert - so chances of overdosing on calories seemed less likely.  I'd even bought an alternative to the oh so filling Christmas pudding - but that's where the trouble started...

I collected a beautiful raspberry panacotta for 10 from M & S on Christmas Eve, planning, of course, to share it with my family.  But so far no one else has tucked in.  I have to say it has come as a huge shock to discover that each portion of this delicious pud contains  over 1400 calories.  That's a day's allowance on a diet...  How can this be with a desert that with fruit and jelly?  I guess I just ignored that rather nice creamy base. 

Still, I suspect that if I do get through this whole panacotta without help from family or friends I may find I no longer crave it... well, maybe!

The plan still goes like this...

The plan still goes like this ... a year on.
I hadn't realised how much I owe to Pretty Woman... or how much that 50 Shades of Grey owes to the film either.  I watched it last night and it still hits the spot.   
Day - Thursday, in December
Time - 11 am
Place - Brighton, London, Paris... who knows? Somewhere with lots of beautiful shops full of gorgeous clothes.

I walk in and the sales assistants, who have been looking bored as they tootle around the store, gasp with astonishment. They all look towards the store's manageress who regains her composure, puts on a big smile and walks towards me.

"Madam - can we help you?"
I smile nonchanantly, ( I need to practise this in the mirror) and gaze around at the rich array of designer dresses dripping off the hangers. "Perhaps, yes I think you probably can."

There is an audible buzz of excitement now in the shop.
"I need a whole new wardrobe - and rather quickly actually", I add. "I have such a busy schedule these next few weeks; you know parties, balls, school productions, skiing trips, a weekend in the Cotswolds and a few nights in Istanbul. Plus I have to fit in a bit of location managing too. Colin and Pierce have asked me to find a few beautiful secluded bays in the mediterranean. Such a bore I know, but I did promise I'd do it."

The manageress smiles and nods incessantly, whilst around her the staff run for the hangers eager to help. "Would you like one of our girls to model some outfits for you?" she asks. "I guess you're about a size 8."

I smile and thank her, then slump into an arm chair, with a glass of bubbly, as the dresses start to parade themselves before me.  An hour later, I'm out of the shop, laden with designer carrier bags, l and heading for lunch; somewhere nice of course...

BUT this plan has a flaw - just one!  I am having trouble getting to that size 8 bit.  My dream is having hiccups and I need to get it back on track.

It's the tea time treats that do the damage for me I think.  I watch what I eat quite carefully in the day - and in the evening too, but I need to arm my kitchen with self locking machines to stop me nibbling late afternoon.  And maybe add in a little zumba then too.

Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan like me the way I am, of course, but I really don't want to let myself down.  A girl has dreams you know...
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The Trouble with Diets

The trouble with diets

I'm ok eating breakfast, I'm ok with my lunch

It's when it gets to 4 o'clock I really start to munch.

I start with something healthy – an apple or a pear,

And then I might look in the fridge and try a morsel there.

A cup of tea's quite helpful, no calories in that

Just lemon and some water that will not make me fat.

But then I'll add a piece of bread, with low fat spread, of course

It's just the lump of cheese on top which brings on the remorse...

And if it's cold and dark and grey as winter tends to be

I'll turn to a nice bowl of soup, quite comforting to me

That could be pretty healthy – warm and fill me too

But with added cream and croutons I'm not sure that it's true.

So then I'll go out for a jog to keep the food away

I know that I must find ways that keep nibbling at bay

But as I pass the shops I think that since I've come this far

I should reward my efforts with a little chocolate bar

Home again, determined, another cup of tea

No milk or sugar just a slice of lemon there for me!

I've had enough to eat today if I want to get slimmer

But then my daughter says to me “Mum, what is for dinner?”

Is being slim a crazy dream?

Tucking into a breakfast on holiday in Turkey

I'm back again!  Back here, back with some new dollops of fat - which I thought I'd seen the back of - and it doesn't feel that great to be honest.

But I'd rather get thinner than fatter and there's no time like the present to get started.  Here are some quick tips taken from Sparkpeople's site.  I think they are quick and simple  enough to get me moving in the right direction!


 When it comes to losing weight or making healthy choices, you probably think that it takes hours at a gym plus long nights preparing and planning nutritious meals. What you may not realize is that quick and easy changes can really improve your immediate health and wellness.

So just how quick is quick? One minute—that’s it! Try any one of these 60-second activities to easily reap the healthy benefits.

1. Drink a tall glass of water. We all know the many health benefits of drinking water, but did you also know that even mild dehydration can cause fatigue? So, the next time you feel your energy waning, grab a glass of cold water and guzzle it down!

2. Twist it out. So many of us spend every weekday seated in front of a computer. Not only can sitting all day wreak havoc on your posture, but it can also compress your spine and exaggerate its curvature. Not fun. A simple twist can help undo this. As you sit in your desk chair, simply twist your upper-body to one side, hold for 30 seconds, and then repeat on the other side. If you have the space to sit on the floor, try this torso twist stretch. It’s guaranteed to make you feel better!

3. Take a deep breath. How often do you think about breathing? If you are like most people, you probably don’t think about it often enough. For a quick pick-me-up, simply take five deep breaths. Slowly inhale for at least five seconds and exhale for 10 seconds each time. Your body will thank you for the extra oxygen.

4. Do 20 jumping jacks. Research has shown that long periods of sitting can be detrimental to the body and our overall health. So get up out of that chair and jack it out! Just one minute of jumping jacks is an easy way to get your heart pumping and blood flowing.

5. Smile. Smiling can actually make you happier. So go ahead—smile!

6. Go outside. You’ve probably heard the health buzz about vitamin D lately. Preliminary research suggests that vitamin D helps regulate the immune system, supports heart health, can help normalize blood pressure and promotes healthy aging. Vitamin D has also been linked to improved mood. If you have a minute to spare, step out into the sunshine!

7. Put on a favorite song. There’s nothing quite like your favorite music to perk you up and get you feeling good. Listening to music has been shown to improve immunity and release endorphins. Bonus points if you dance along!

8. Sit up straighter. Did you know that bad posture can put unnecessary stress on your low back? Take a minute to focus on sitting up straight with your shoulders down and back. Don’t you feel better already?

9. Be grateful. Write down five things you’re grateful for, no matter how large or small (your hair, your family, your morning cup of Joe—whatever). Do you feel more thankful, generous and overall happier after? Funny how a little reminder of what we have can turn a frown into a smile.

10. Tell a joke. Awake your inner child and tell a silly joke—whether it’s a knock-knock joke or even a funny line from a movie. Anything that gets you laughing is enough to get your happy endorphins flowing!

11. Do 10 pushups. Being strong is important, but having functional strength is even more important because it makes everyday activities easier to accomplish. A push-up is a great, quick exercise for building functional strength. Drop down and give me 10—or as many as you can do in 1 minute.

12. Encourage someone. Isn’t it interesting how you always seem to feel better after helping someone else feel better? Whether you post a supportive comment on a SparkFriend’s page or write a few kind words in a card or an email, taking a minute out to help someone can quickly boost your mood.

13. Set a goal for the day. Fact: People who set goals have more success than people who don’t. So why not take a few seconds and write down what you want to do today? Then, just commit to making it happen!

14. Focus on one thing you love about yourself. At times, we put so much effort in focusing on what we don’t like about ourselves that we fail to see the good. Take 60 seconds to think about what you like about you. Is it your eyes? Your strong legs? Your giving nature? Thinking about how great you are will instantly increase self-confidence.

15. Wash your hands. It seems like cold and flu season is always in full force (or just around the corner).  One of the simplest and easiest ways to stay well year round is to wash your hands. All you need is warm water, soap and 20 seconds of rubbing to rid your hands of unwanted germs.

16. Compliment a stranger. What better way to make yourself feel good than to unexpectedly brighten someone else’s day? The next time you admire someone’s clothes, positive attitude or eyes—say so!

17. Try aromatherapy. A number of different smells can have a positive effect on your mind and body. For example, peppermint is known to calm the stomach while its smell can energize you through a workout. And the scent of jasmine has been shown to reduce anxiety. To benefit, grab some scented lotion and either take a whiff from the bottle or rub some on your hands.

18. Salute the sun. Sun salutations are a well-known set of yoga poses that are said to warm up the body and increase blood flow and flexibility. So grab your mat and do one or two sets—rain or shine!

19. Give yourself a mini-massage. Massage has a number of health benefits, including reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and speeding muscle repair. While you may not be able to spend the time or money getting one at a spa, pampering yourself with just 1 minute of self-massage by rubbing your own hands, feet or shoulders can do wonders.

20. Be absolutely present. When we are wrapped up with work, to-do lists, and just getting by, sometimes we can forget to focus on what we are doing in the here and now. Try spending a minute just being. Focus on sounds, smells and whatever else is going on around you; instead of thinking ahead to what you'll do next, think about what you're doing right now. You’ll be amazed at how peaceful you feel. Just be!


See? In the quest to be healthier, you don't have to spend a lot of time. Even if all you have is a few spare seconds here and there, you can make a positive difference in your overall health!

Carrots and Sticks

Last night, over a wonderful meal of tempura prawns, paella and pavlova, washed down with plenty of wine (following a margharita of course!) I bemoaned the fact that I didn't seem to be losing much weight. Indeed, strangely it seems to be going on. How can that be?
My friend explained that I was too busy punishing myself, telling myself what I shouldn't do - like wolfing down the very foods I crave. As we drank our lemon and ginger tea (no milk, no sugar, no calories hey!) my friend expounded some more wise words. As this was following a bottle (or two) of wine, plus the margharita my recollection of the exact wording is a little hazy, but the gist is that rewards work, punishments don't.
So that is going to be my guiding principle for the next few months. I will eat the foods I love - but not the foods that happen to be lying around in the fridge. I will dance to my favourite music, even if it makes my daughter cringe and I will arrange a holiday, some little trips and lots of shopping outings to ensure I have nice clothes to suit the slimmer, kinder-to-herself me!!
Right now I have been given the added 'joy' of being able to walk or cycle everywhere as someone has crashed into our parked car and probably written it off. As it's pretty ancient we won't get much back off the insurance so looks like it will be shank's pony for a while. How come we pay out all this money and yet insurance companies always seem to find a way to come out on top? Hmmm.
Anyway, back to the diet. I'm off to have my favourite breakfast/ brunch of low fat sausages and tomatoes. Yummmm

I will be losing it - just you wait

Autumn is here and the leaves are starting to fall. Oh those trees have it so easy. They stand there, looking great, with different colours and textures that suit the season (unless they're evergreen of course...) and then, just when they might be saying to each other "Ooh, I seem to have put on a few pounds recently - could do with slimming down a bit," their leaves take the hint and drop off, leaving them with a stick thin figure all through the winter season and perfect for next spring's fashions when they arrive.

That is what I want to do. I'd like to be able to tell my body that there are bits of it that really don't belong on me any more and could these fat blobs please melt away right now. Wouldn't that be good!

Instead, I've found I just can't stop eating at the moment. True, I'm eating all the right things - I still have my favourite, tasty low fat, low calorie breakfasts, lunches and dinners... but in between I have my favourite high fat and sugary snacks and in the evening I enjoy my glasses of wine just a little too frequently!

Why am I doing this to myself? Is it something instinctive about preparing for winter? I love feeling slimmer and I hate seeing blobby me reappearing, but I'm finding it really difficult to get on the right track.

But today I am going to start going for it big time. I have Christmas as my goal and hope to be able to slide into something that makes me feel slim and sexy by then! I also want to go skiing - and be able to get up when I fall over... Not sure if that's affordable this year, but I hope I can find a way.

So I shall step up the exercise. Today is beautiful and I plan to cycle for a couple of hours, with some steep hills to burn off the calories and build up my muscles. And it will work! I have just refused a sausage roll offered me by my daughter and believe me sausage rolls are one of my biggest temptations and downfalls. So there it is. I will be back losing it from today!

Do the pump 'n' spray and lose some weight today,

Can you lose weight and save money in these dire times?
Well, according to the government you just need to eat less.  Control yourself and keep off the cream buns and the weight will drop off.  Hmmm.  Not so sure about that.  I find that my weight loss(or sadly gain) fluctuates with the seasons and my mood, and that what I eat is only a part of the problem.
But, clearly anything that can enable calories in to be less than calories used will help in the fight to get thinner.  so here is my top tip for the day.    Remember the 'Shake and Vac' advert?  If not you can watch it here.  

Well meet the Pump 'n' Spray.  This is from Lakeland Plastics and you fill it with the oil of your choice. 

It dispenses a fraction of the oil you would usually pour in cooking, so you save massively on the oil as well as on the calories you're putting into your meal. Plus of course it gives you a bit of exercise (you have to pump before each spray).  I also suggest a little dance around the kitchen whenever you use it - to the  tune of the Shake and Vac advert.


You may hate me for getting that tune in your head, but at least you might be thinner and richer!