Feeling like a beached whale!

Is anyone else feeling like they have eaten and drunk far too much over the last few days?

I laid in bed last night and my stomach felt so heavy. I feel like I’ve eaten a months food in just a couple of days! The scales said the same this morning too!

I’m a bit surprised that I felt like that, as I didn’t think I’d been that bad! I know I have been running around so much prior to Christmas. I even had a few days where I never actually sat down, until bedtime. Surely that must have helped me? Exercise burns calories, right?

Christmas day and Boxing day, I had only a light breakfast, consisting of a roll from my HEB and a ‘free’ filling. So why do I feel like a beached whale?

Well, as today is my weigh in day, It’s a good time to be honest with myself! I might have made some really good choices, but portion control? Who can say honestly, they kept their portion of Christmas Dinner to a minimum? It’s so difficult. When you think about what you serve up, there is no way I had portion control.

I cooked the dinner this year, so I know how everything was cooked. We had roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, pigs in blankets, turkey, gammon, prunes wrapped in bacon, butternut squash, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts with bacon, carrots, parsnips, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, bread sauce and of course the cranberry sauce. I missed out the mashed potato and the 2 sauces, but the rest were all on my plate!! Even if I had on a spoonful of each veg, that is a lot of food!

Starter was healthy. A prawn cocktail with freshly made bread! Again, I made the bread so I knew what was in it! Ok, it might be healthy, but i’d already had my HEB for breakfast!

Dessert was a challenge too. Why is it, even though you are really full, you decide you can still manage a small pudding! This year the options were Christmas pudding (which I hate!), my mums homemade trifle and apple pie, chocolate Yule log and custard or cream. I opted for the yule log, but to be good I didn’t have the custard or cream!

Then of course, we had champagne. It’s Christmas after all!

Boxing day, I had a wholemeal roll with turkey and poached egg for breakfast. A good start!

I didn’t start finishing the 2 open bottles of wine in the fridge until the evening, so that was good. I wasn’t bothered about drinking last night, but as the wine was bubbles, it would have ended up being poured down the sink, which was a waste!

I have so much left over food, I decide to make a turkey and ham pie for dinner! I only had a pastry lid, to help keep the calories down! I didn’t have pudding.

I’m finally on the sofa relaxing, before I have to go to bed, as I have an early start tomorrow as I have to get up for work. Ooh look, some Galaxy chocolates. I’ve been good all day, so a couple won’t hurt!

So now I’m lying in bed feeling awful. I can’t even think about food or drink. I feel like a beached whale! I really don’t understand why!

WHO AM I KIDDING!!

I know exactly why I feel this way! Today, I’m back to work. It’s time to start again! Today is another day! I’m going to group tonight. I’m going to make a commitment to myself! I’m going to do this!

I know what I need to do, and I’m going to do it! I don’t need that chocolate! I don’t even really enjoy it! I have a goal, and I’m going to achieve it!

Do you like to give or receive gifts?

With Christmas only just over a month away, many of you like me, may have already started your Christmas shopping. Some of you will be running around on Christmas Eve, still shopping for ideas.

With the exception of my food shopping, I have completed mine! I start almost as soon as New Years Day has passed! Yes, it might be early for some, but there are many reasons why I do it early.

1). I really can’t stand shopping in crowded shops, queuing at checkouts, or finding parking spaces!

2). I like to make sure I have everyone’s present early, so if for any reason I’ve forgotten someone, I still have time to buy it! (not that that actually happens!)

3). I can get it all wrapped and under the tree from the beginning of December, so it looks more festive under the tree.

4). December is such a busy time, to have to make sure I have time to shop, something else would have to give! That would be too much pressure!

5). By buying presents over the months, I can ensure I spread the cost.

6). I can buy presents when on offer, so I can either save more, or buy more for someone.

There are also downsides though!

1). I forget what I have bought, and duplicate presents.

2). You have to store them somewhere.

3). You see more things you like for someone, so you end up buying them more presents!

I absolutely love shopping for others. I make a list of who I have to buy for. During the year, I make notes of what they like doing, sizes, dreams etc. I then try and match the presents so they mean something to them.

I’m not a fan of giving money to people, as I don’t feel that there is any thought gone into it. Also, if they are like me, it is so easy to just spend it on something like food shopping, just because its in your purse.

I will however buy a voucher for a specific shop, if I know they really like to buy things like music.

Children are great to buy for. I know I always spend a lot more on my nieces than I plan to every year. I always buy them something they have asked for, then lots of other things I have seen throughout the year that I think they might need, or enjoy.

Older family members are more difficult as they tend to have everything. By buying early, I have time to think about what they might need, more than a last minute rushed buy.

Even Fido and Lola get presents. I will still hide them from them, so its a surprise to them too!

Its not only Christmas that I like buying things for people. I’m a very generous person by nature, and will treat people to things throughout the year. I am not however good at telling people what I would like or being treated.

I dread every year that question! ‘What would you like Maria’! That could be Christmas or my birthday. I really hate giving people ideas. I don’t like imposing a set cost onto them. I don’t want them to have to go out of their way to get something, and also, I love surprises.

My hubby is terrible. I can say it on here as he knows how I feel. Every year he asks, and every year, I ask him to surprise me! He never does. I have to tell him exactly what I want. Many times, I have even bought it and he has given me the money back. It takes the joy out of receiving presents for me.

We are all different. He likes to know what he is having. He doesn’t like surprises as I do.

So how do I get around this? I put together a list of things as I think of them. Amazon is great. You can easily set up a ‘Wish List’. You can select items at varying price levels. This can be emailed to family and friends if they ask the dreaded question. They can choose off there or not. You don’t know. If they buy something else, it really doesn’t matter.

On Christmas Day, hopefully there will be a surprise under the tree. That’s the excitement and pleasure of receiving gifts.

For me, it isn’t the amount of money someone has spent on me, it is the thought that has gone into the gift.

I know many people find Christmas stressful. The cost of presents has gone up year on year. What children ask for these days, compared to most of us at that age, has significantly changed. Instead of asking people for specific things, maybe ask them for a list? Think out of the box and buy something thoughtful.

Don’t feel pressured to spend money you don’t have. It is the thought that counts. If you have really thought about the present, and you know it is something that they will use or like, the price tag doesn’t matter. And if the person receiving it doesn’t agree, then ask yourself why you are still buying for them.

If money is tight, try making your presents. It could be homemade fudge, toffee, biscuits or cakes to knitted jumpers, scarves and hats.

Happy shopping!

Getting around Krakow!

The best and easiest way to get around Krakow is on foot. Its also free of charge, and a great form of exercise!

Krakow is flat so you don’t need to worry about any hills, well in the centre that is!

One of the great things about Krakow, is that the centre is pedestrianised! You can walk around, relaxed, without worrying about cars. It makes getting around so much nicer!

It also feels very safe!

There is so much to see around the city, that it would be a shame not to put at least a day aside to just wander! Whilst the square is pretty in itself, as you explore the streets, you will see so much more on foot.

Don’t forget to look all around you, both in front, side to side, and upwards. Many of the buildings have beautiful paintings or statues on them.

You can’t really get lost if you keep to the rule, that all things end up back in the square!

When you visit the castle, take a walk over the river to view it from another perspective! Its such a unique castle, with different types of architecture, it would be a shame to miss it. If we hadn’t done this, we may have missed the fire eating dragon!

The parks are small, but again worth a walk. You will fall upon different sculptures along the way. Many of them hidden amongst trees, or on benches.

There are many churches in the city. If the doors are open, pop in and have a look. I was blown away by some of the decorations inside. Remember to have your shoulders and thighs covered though!

If walking isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are a couple of other options. How about a tour in an electric car? Prices will vary depending on where you are going and for how long. I would say no more than £20 per person. Ask the driver and agree a price in advance. We took one of these for the short ride to the Jewish Quarter, for dinner. It was only £2.50 each for us, as it took probably only about 15 minutes!

Here you will find a square of chairs, dedicated to the Jews who lost their lives. Its situated just over the river in the Ghetto, and worth a visit around sunset, where the chairs are lit up!

You will also see many horse drawn carriages. They leave from the square, and take you for an hour ride around the city. Again agree a price before you start. They are usually around 400 PLN (£100) and can seat 4 comfortably, but if you negotiate you may get it cheaper! On a sunny day, it is quite a nice way to explore the city.

Trams are plentiful. At under 4 PLN (£1) each way, they are a cheap way to get around. They run from 5 am to 11 pm.

If you want to go further afield, I would certainly recommend the train service. We used it to go to the Salt Mines.

To go into the Salt Mine, you just have a 5 minute walk up a slight hill. The cost is 89 PLN each plus 10 PLN if you want to take photos or videos (£25 in total). Certainly a nice day out and well recommended.

The station is clean and everything is easily signposted. It cost us around £0.85 each way for a single trip lasting about 20/30 minutes.

The trains were clean and spacious. They have ticket machines on board if you don’t have time to get one before boarding. Alternatively, there are ticket machines on platforms, if there isn’t a ticket office. It is also a nice way to sit back and take in the scenery. I do love looking at other peoples lives. The houses, streets and countryside always interest me.

Taxi’s are also plentiful. A ride from the airport is around 90 PLN or £20.

We also took a private hire to Autschwitz as there were 7 of us. It was all included in the price for the tours. The cost was 160 PLN each (£40), but well worth it.

There are so many options to get around the city, there really isn’t any excuse not to explore.

Size does matter!

So you want a glass of wine. You look into the cupboard and see 2 glasses ! A champagne flute and a large wine glass! Which do you choose ?

Recently I have been using the champagne flute ! I want a glass of wine, but I don’t want lots of calories ! In my head, using this glass, I feel I’m still drinking, just a little less ! If I want more, I have to physically walk back to kitchen to fill it up ! It should slow down the drinking and burn calories in steps ! I’ve got it all sorted !

Tonight, my hubby poured me a large glass of wine ! I need to be good, so I fetch the champagne flute out of the cupboard! I start to decanter the large glass into my champagne flute ! Hubby is looking on! I don’t think either of us were expecting what happened next ! The large glass full of wine fitted into my champagne flute !

OMG!

This is a massive lesson! Size certainly does matter ! Just because something looks bigger or smaller than something else, it doesn’t mean it actually is !

This is such an important lesson in making sure you measure everything ! How often have you said ‘I’ve been so good this week. How have I put weight on?’.

Calories can easily creep into our lives without us knowing it !

If you are serious about losing weight, or even not putting it on, you really need to have your eyes wide open!

Is that really a teaspoon full of food? Or is it an actual tablespoon ?

Don’t get caught into that trap! Weigh everything!

Success will come if you let it !

If you are unsure, do the same test ! I guarantee you will be as shocked as we were !

Good luck on your journey too x

When you see your name in print!

Oh wow, how excited was I on 21st August , when I opened my emails? There, in black and white, was an email from Countryfile Magazine, telling me a photo I had sent in of one of my dogs, was selected as the winning entry, for the September edition of their magazine. The competition was being sponsored by Halti, so I was also to receive a selection of their products!

I have been a fan of Countryfile ever since it started! Thankfully, my husband really enjoyed it too. It has become a religion in our house now. Every Sunday evening, we would have a roast dinner, then curl up on the sofa, to watch that weeks episode.

One day, I was sitting in a waiting room waiting for my medical. On the table was a Countryfile magazine. I had never seen it before, but was so absorbed in it, I was gutted when I had to go in for my appointment.

I immediately went out and subscribed to the magazine. That was June 2012. And I’m still subscribing to it!

Every month, I have read the articles, looked at the walks and the competitions. I have mentioned to my hubby many times that he should enter the competitions. Both hubby and I love photography. I have seen his photos, and I firmly believe he has some award winning pictures of his own.

I have never really thought any of mine would be good enough. Then in July, after a trip to Isle of Skye, I saw the competition regarding pets on holiday.

I love taking photos of Fido and Lola, and had been pleased with how they had come out. My hubby actually was the one who thought I should enter one of them into the competition.

I thought – why not! What have I got to lose? So on 16th July, I send off my photo.

When I received the email telling me I had won, I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t care about the prize! It was the fact that someone had thought my photo was good! I couldn’t stop smiling. Immediately, I started spreading the news! I was now an award winning photographer! Ok, it isn’t like I’m on TV or anything, but I was having my photo published in September’s edition of Countryfile Magazine. I mean, Countryfile!

I have been waiting in excitement to see it in print.

Last night a friend received her copy of the magazine. Mine hadn’t arrived, but she sent me a photo. I was again in ‘smile’ mode! She promised to bring me the magazine into work the next day.

When I saw it in print, it was like I had won the lottery! Ok, most people won’t know me, but everyone who buys the magazine, will see the picture I took of Fido!

I was always into photography and competitions, just not both together! This has given me a new motivation, to get out there and take more photos. Learn more about my camera and explore the countryside.

Sometimes, you just have to have confidence in your own ability. If I hadn’t won, I wouldn’t have been disappointed, however now I have, I feel 10 feet tall. I am very proud of myself, but more importantly, I am proud of my husbands word. I know he takes some amazing photos too. I will be pushing him more to get his work out there now!

Don’t ever doubt yourself. Push yourself out there! Sometimes, it turns into nothing, but other times, it fulfills your dreams and more! I certainly will be doing more photographic competitions. You never know, once day it may even get me on the TV with my photo in the Countryfile calendar!

You have to have a dream and ambition!

I have now started uploading some of my photos to YouTube. If you are interested, subscribe to my channel.

Stay to Group

I’m ashamed to admit it but after reaching target last year, I lost the drive and motivation I had getting there!

To begin with, I would gain only a few pounds. I thought it was fine, especially as my hubby felt that my target weight was too low. I stayed to group every week and tried to pull it back. One week I would lose, the next week I would gain.

Then life just got really busy and stressful. I found that I didn’t have the time to stay to group. Working away, late trains, birthday meals etc, meant that I would run in and weigh, then leave. I thought just weighing in was enough. I had been doing Slimming World for over a year. I know what to do. Why did I need to stay? It won’t change what I am doing. Oh how wrong I was!

As I said, I have been doing Slimming World for over a year so I know about free and speed food, syns, and my Healthy Extra’s! I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and never cook in oil, eat the fat off meat or the skin on the chicken! All said and done, my 3 main meals a day are on plan! Ok lets think about this. If all this is true, then why did I put over a stone back on?

The one main thing was breakfast. Because I was always tired or in a rush, I stopped weighing my HEB’s! I mean, we all know what 40 g of oats looks like don’t we? I got complacent. I thought I could guess how much I was having. Then the other day, I went to put granola into a bowl. There was hardly anything in the box left. I was just about to pour it into my bowl when I thought out of interest I would weigh it! It was 75g! Wow. That is more than double what I was allowed.

Lunch was always ok. I can be honest with that! I would have salad without dressings, using ham or roast skinless chicken and boiled eggs. Perfect!

Dinner again fine. Lots of fresh vegetables, lean meat and no sauces! Oh hang on, there was the pre-packed burgers from the supermarket. They were their finest range so must be healthier! Ah, and I had that chilli and rice dish the one day! We have had lots of Braai’s so there were those nibbles and garlic bread!

At work, everyone used to say how good I was as I never went for the biscuits or samosas. One day recently there was a big box of samosas for staff. One of my team was shocked when I asked her if she wanted one! As we both went to get one, I was then tempted to have a spring roll too. I even went back later that day for seconds!

My boss saw my staff member with the food and said to her she should have eaten it when I was at the gym so I didn’t know! She was shocked when told I also had one! If only she knew it was more than 1!

I might have prepared a healthy lunch, but I was now snacking during the day! It is amazing how the extras can add up!

The long hot summer also meant more wine! Whilst I was drinking mainly Slimline Wine, I was still having more syns than I am allowed! In my head I was drinking a low calorie wine so it didn’t count!

When I look back, no wonder I have put weight on! Going to weigh in was just to tick a box. I was no longer passionate about my journey.

The day I stepped on the scales and saw a number I did not like, I realised I had to put a stop to it. I decided staying to group had to happen. I needed my motivation back. I needed to listen to other peoples journeys and get ideas. More importantly, I need to take an hour out of my busy stressful life just for me.

So at my first week back to group, with a heavy heart and close to tears, I listened to the group. In previous sessions, I have been known to put food ideas onto my Tesco shopping app to try new recipes from the group. I started doing this again! I bought the magazine, and made a promise to myself to read it cover to cover!

I left group determined. I went home and planned my meals for the week ahead. I vowed not to have anything at work unless it was planned in. I would save my syns for the evenings, and then only have them if I really needed them.

I chose the gym rather than work lunches out! I cooked at home rather than a takeaway, even when time was limited and I was absolutely exhausted.

The following week, I walked back into group. I was hoping for a big loss! I know I have a long journey ahead of me to get back to how I was. I stepped on the scales and saw a 3.5lb loss. I was absolutely gutted. I wanted more!

I feel stupid now feeling like that. Most weeks I would have been overjoyed at that loss! I wanted more because I am so desperate to get back to my target weight. The reality is, it is going to take me a few weeks for that to happen.

I decided to buy myself a 12 week plan. That way, I could take the pressure off myself. I could give myself small loss targets per week. That way I won’t be disappointed. I can also give myself treats without feeling deprived.

I really want target again. When I get there I am also not going to fall back into the trap I am in now!

Nothing feels better than looking in the mirror and liking what you see. I know to achieve this, I need to keep going to group. I need to keep recipes ideas fresh. I need to take time out for myself.

The next 12 weeks will be a journey but I’m going to do it. I know I am because I know how much I really want it!