Troops and followers

Now, I may upset a few people with my opinion, but people are allowed to express themselves. So here goes....

Do you know what I hate?




Things like that! Why should I have to 'Get Behind' our troops and be happy with what they are doing and think it is a brave thing to do? My opinion is, it is a job and they know what danger they are getting themselves into before they sign up to be service men or women. Yes they are serving their country, but so are nurses, teachers, firemen the list goes on. Yes people die in the armed forces but that is what you sign up for. Yes it is sad when it happens but I don't like it being rammed down my throat every time I log onto my Facebook page with the Armed forces are great, you are shit if you don't support them.

Do people think I am brave because I go to work everyday and do what I am paid to do? No!

I support that people can be whoever they want to be, if they want to go away and leave their families behind and not take care of their children because they are posted abroad then go ahead, but do not tell me that I have to be happy about it and listen to preachers saying how wonderful these people are and make me feel guilty because I don't condone it.

My view is probably because my step dad decided that the Army was more important than spending time with his family. He wasn't allowed to join due to heart problems, so as well as a full time job, he decides to join the cadet force and the TA in his late 30's early 40's and leave my mum to raise all the children alone and not have a social life. Needless to say he is no longer part of my life anymore and he has recently done a post with the TA in Afghanistan when his new girlfriend had just had a baby. Strange to me that the baby was not the priority.

I may be tainted with my view and am making a huge generalisation but I do not support the troops as it is their own choice and don't make me feel guilty for not wanting to.

Slimming World

So I have started Slimming World again. The faddyness of Slimfast was not for me and I actually wasn't losing anything and it gave me a terrible tummy ache!

I am a huge fan of Slimming World, I love the variety of foods available and love not having to count and measure.
So my first week has gone, I lost 3.5lbs, that is 1/4 of a stone, I honestly thought I hadn't lost anything as I felt huge, this week is no different! I feel huge again and I fear I may have put on or stayed the same. I get weighed tomorrow but I have been on it 100%. Lets just see what the proper scales say.
I weighed myself on my fab scales again yesterday in the morning, on one part of my bathroom floor I was the same weight as I was last week, then I moved it and I was 1st and a half lighter! I do think it is time to throw the scales away.

So my meals this week have been:

Gammon and Potatoes with brocoli and gravy, mmmmmmmm
Pork Curry with Spinach and rice, yummy!
Chicken Rogan Josh from the curry house with plain rice, I looked it up before hand, 6.5 syns
Roast Chicken with Stuffing (4 syns), Yorkshire Pud (2 syns) and gravy, gorgeous!
Left over Pork Curry.
Tonight I am having whatever is in the fridge/freezer, it is pay day tomorrow and the cupboards are very bare! Probably chicken and salad with Mayo.

Fun fact, did you know that mini milks are only 1.5 syns each? I am stocking up when I go shopping next!

BzzAgent: Taste of India Review

So I have been asked by BzzAgent to sample the new Taste of India range at Tesco.
So on Friday after a very long week and a weekend away looming, I decided that I did not want to cook it was the perfect day to try it out. So these were our choices:

The choice was very disappointing from Tesco Extra - Stevenage. I am not sure if it was the time of the day and stock was low, but only a few shelves were stacked with the products and only a few options, all chicken based were on offer. I have seen that there are beef dishes and we would have loved to sample this. Unfortunately this was not an option.
But enough about the negatives, I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty these dishes were after a quick 18 minutes in the oven. Gave me time to hoover the car out and not have to worry about stirring and properly cooking a meal. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE cooking and making new dishes, especially curries from scratch, but it was a Friday, I had to pack for the weekend and get up early, this was a great easy option.
So we have plated up our dinner:

Yummy it was indeed, it was great to share the different dishes out to taste them all, we probably could have shared a naan bread, but what is a curry without having to undo your top button? They come hand in hand!
There wasn't a lot of spice option and as my partner loves spice, he wasn't too impressed but you cannot ignore that the flavours were there and it was a truly enjoyable meal.
4 stars overall, now Tesco you just need to expand your range!

I look forward to my next review of other products. Please get in contact if there is anything you would like me to review next :)

Slim Fast vs Biggest Loser

So today I decided to use up some left over powder for a Blissful Banana shake from Slimfast.
I must admit that it was very yummy, maybe because it was made with milk rather than water which the Biggest Loser shakes did.
I did feel fuller on the Biggest Loser, but I will be popping to the shops later to fill up on Slimfast products to see how I fair.

To be continued...

So I did Slimfast for a long while, about a week and I lost 1lb! I had chronic tummy ache and it was not good at all, to be honest both diets gave me tummy ache and I won't be doing it again. Slimming World for me now, sensible food!

Diet

So I have finished doing the Biggest Loser challenge, overall I thought it was easier than I thought it was going to be.

I was going to buy some more products, like Slim Fast but I have now got used to eating normal food again!

So yesterday I went food shopping and bought not a lot for £70. This week I am trying to eat salads for lunch, even though it is freezing!! Today I have had:

Muller Light Breakfast Corner Yoghurt
Salad made with coleslaw (reduced fat), ham, lettuce, watercress and spring onions and some feta cheese to add to it :) I am actually a little excited as I do like a good salad every now again, not sure if it will work through out the week though, especially if it keeps being this cold.

With these two, I have had about 750 calories. That does leave me with a lot for dinner, but it is crazy really!

Anyway, as I was making my salad last night I was keeping and eye on the calories, basically my salad is about 600 calories. Which I think is quite a lot, especially as I was having 600 calories on Biggest Loser for my Breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks combined.

Current weight 12st 13lbs.

Day 11 - Biggest Loser Diet

So it has been a few days since I last posted.

I have still been having my shakes and bars, but I have been a little naughty with my evening meals at the moment. The past 3 days, my dinners have consisted of:
Indian Takeaway
Pub Dinner (Nachos, Mozzarella and Basil Filo parcels and Goats Cheese and Pepper Bruschetta's all with lots of sour cream!) I also had a few biscuits (maybe about 8 in the evening) I did only have one meal replacement that day.
Home-made pizza

So I back to the proper diet today. I have realised that I have got a wedding at the end of the month, would be great if I could be a stone lighter!

I weighed myself this morning - 13st 1lb so a total loss so far of 6lbs, not too shabby at all!

Today I have had:

Chocolate Shake - this is my last Biggest Loser Shake (I start the Slim Fast Banana one tomorrow)
Berry Snack bar - this is my favourite as it is fruity and covered in a yoghurt flavouring.
Mint Choc Meal Replacement Bar - My least favourite but this is my last one luckily.
Snack - Fruit
Dinner - going to my mum's, she is going to actually cook this time, not my sister, I have been told I am having pasta.
Snack - Probably nothing as I have rehearsals.

Day 6 - Biggest Loser Challenge

So today is the first day of the Jubilee Weekend and I am wondering how I will be able to stick to my diet. It helps that I am working all 4 days.
Last night I jumped on my scales as customary, I weighed 13st 2lbs in some places, 13st 3lbs in others and also got to 13st 4lbs. So I gave that up and weighed myself this morning, I am now back to 13st 3lbs. A bit confusing as I am only at a 4lb loss again. I am thinking this may be a pattern! It is at least down and a bit worrying that I didn't lose any weight over night! I am going to blame the fat fairy.

Anyhoo todays menu:
Breakfast - Choc Crunch Meal Replacement Bar
Snack - Strawberry Crunch Snack Bar
Lunch - Meal Replacement Bar of some sort, I have Berry, Choc Crunch or Mint Choc to choose from.
Snack - Probably fruit or a Snack Bar
Dinner - I am going to a friends house so I am not sure, hopefully something relatively healthy.

To be honest I am feeling a little bored of the diet at the moment, I miss cheese on toast. I am usually a cheese fiend and I have not touched the stuff for a week! We usually spend about £30 a month on cheese alone, probably more than that for 2 of us.

I will try to perservere for the Jubilee weekend, but it will be tough tomorrow with the BBQ coming, will have to behave!

Day 5 - Biggest Loser Challenge

So yet again my morning consists of weighing myself. I feel I may be getting a little obsessed, I weigh myself at night and every morning. So the tale of the numerically challenged scales continues. I am now back to 12st 13, well 12st 13.5, so overall, supposedly, I have lost 7.5lbs overall. Which in 5 days is fantastic.
I don't think I mentioned, but my delivery of the Groupon deal from the biggest loser was delayed and as I usually do, I complained about the poor service. I never complain unnecessarily, but I am a firm believer of giving a company feedback, either positive or negative.

Here are my complaints just recently:
Tesco - I bought Tesco Everyday Value Strawberries, 95p which is a bargain as I looked at the label on the shelf, 95p for 400g, great! But I look at the punnet of strawberries and they are only 300g! I know it is only going to be a few pence difference, but with the cost of living increasing I felt robbed. So I took my photo's of the evidence and wrote my email.
The outcome - £5 voucher to spend in store and an apology.
Biggest Loser Groupon Deal - Poor delivery time and customer service.
Outcome - Approximately 6 Meal Replacement Bars and 4 Snack bars, that will keep me going for a further 3 days on this diet! I have also been given some Slim Fast Shake powder from my boss in Blissful Banana so I can keep this diet going on for even longer!
Echo Fall White Zinfandel Wine - I am not a huge drinker but I absolutely love my wine. I love all White Zinfandels because they are so fruity! So I bought a new bottle and proceeded to pour myself a glass after having a glass from another bottle. I went to take a sip and it was so bitter that I could not finish the glass let alone the bottle, which I would obviously have no issue in completing normally. So unfortunately I could not drive to get another bottle, I was over the limit and I could not finish the one I had, which lead me to writing a slightly tipsy email to the customer services department at Accolade Wines (not Sainsbury's as they wouldn't really do anything apart from refund). So the email went off and they sent me a box to send the wine to them for testing.
Outcome - A week and a half later, a letter to say the wine was oxidised, but they cannot confirm if it was before the bottle was opened or after. The wine would have been long gone if I was making this up, wine would not get the chance to get oxidised if I could have drunk it. Anyhoo, I received a £10 voucher to spend and considering the wine was on offer and cost me £5 I can hopefully now buy 2 bottles in replacement, overall not a bad little haul.

Anyway, back to the diet:
Breakfast - Double Choc Shake - not as bad as I thought it would be
Snack - Berry Crunch Bar
Lunch - Choc Fudge Meal Replacement Bar
Snack - Banana or Apple, have not made my mind up! (The life of a dieter ay?)
Dinner - Gammon with salad and home made chips/wedges.
Snack - Yogurt or fruit

I also worked out yesterday that my sister cannot cook. So me going over to my mum's for dinner (she worked late), proceeded a text from my sister saying I am going to cook. So I asked for something healthy, which she replied, are potato waffles healthy?

Needless to say, I took my own dinner (chicken with lots of veg in a tom sauce and rice), she did boil the water for me to cook the rice though.

Day 4 - Biggest Loser Challenge

So we shall continue the tale of the mental scales! So yesterday morning I was a lovely 12st 13lbs which is fantastic, this morning according to my wonderful scales I am 13st 3lbs, so I have put on 4lbs in a day. This morning I actually lept out of bed, I was so excited (I know, bit much!) to weigh myself as I was getting such good results. But no, I am back in the 13st mark. It is 4lbs overall, but lets see what the crazy scales give me tomorrow!

Todays Meal:

Breakfast - Vanilla Bean Shake - Very yummy 

Snack - Choc Fudge Snack Bar

Lunch - Mint Choc Meal Replacement Bar

Snack - Pineapple

Dinner - Something nice at my mum's.

Snack - not sure if I will have time to have one.

Thursdays are my rehearsal days, I am part of an Am Dram group, so we do a bit of dancing and singing, means I should get my exercise for today.

Weight Lost so far - 4lbs in 3 days (not too bad)

Day 3 - Biggest Loser Challenge

So, I think that my scales are officially broken! I weighed myself in the morning yesterday and I had lost 6.5lbs, I weighed myself last night before bed and I was 13st 7lbs! So I put the 6.5lbs back on within a day. I think my scales just pick a number any number.
Anyhoo, weighed myself this morning and I am now 12st 13lbs! So that is an 8lb loss in 2 days if it is to be believed.
So todays food is:
Breakfast: Choc Mint Shake
Snack: Choc snack bar
Lunch: Berry Crunch Meal Replacement Bar
Snack: Banana
Dinner: Chilli with Rice
Snack/Dessert: Low Fat Yogurt

Overall I am actually finding this diet easier that I thought. I am not too sure how long I would be able to manage this for, but during the week at work and when it is sunny it is relatively easy. Nice to only have to think about what I am having for dinner, I am making a conscious effort to eat more veg, but I must say, I am a little gassy (the veg does not help this!). Times like these make me wish I had a dog.

Day 2: Biggest Loser Challenge

So today is day 2 on my Meal Replacement 9 day trial.
Yesterday I ended up having a lovely healthy meal of roast potatoes (done with low calorie spray oil) broccoli and chicken in a home made tomato sauce with chili, peppers, onions and garlic! Yum yum. My final snack for the day was 2 low fat yogurts.
So today my day looks like this:
Breakfast - Banana Shake - a huge improvement on the disgusting mixed berry yesterday!
Snack - Strawberry Crunch bar
Lunch - Berry Fudge Bar
Snack - Pineapple and Grapes
Dinner - going to my Nan's will be having a low fat meal
Snack - Fruit

I weighed myself this morning: 13st 1/2lb, this means I have lost 6 and a half lbs in one day! I am pretty sure that my scales are broken but I am loving that result!

I did go for a two hour walk with the boyfriend in our village. We had a wonderful time, found a park and I went on the swings!

Here is picture of my Biggest Loser food for the next 8 days:

Groupon - Biggest Loser Meal Replacement 9 day trial

So, I am constantly worried about my weight and am now bigger than I have ever been in my entire life! Part of my new years resolution was to lose 3 stone this year, I started off the year on Slimming World which has helped in the past and I didn't have my head in the game, I then moved house and gave up on it and now eat horrendously! So I saw a Groupon deal pop up in my email for £15 I can do 9 day trial of the Biggest Loser Meal Replacement diet. It is very similar to Slim Fast, so this is what a normal day looks like for the next 9 days:

Breakfast : 1 x Meal Replacement Shake - Mixed Berry
Snack: Choc Fudge Biggest Loser Snack Bar
Lunch - 1 x Meal Replacement Bar - Chocolate Crunch
Snack: Fruit
Dinner - A healthy meal
Snack: Fruit and a low fat yogurt

Today is my first day and to be honest they taste like cardboard, but it is only for 9 days, what is there to lose? Well apart from a huge amount of weight! Here is hoping!

Starting Weight: 13st 7lbs

What a difference the sun can make!

So finally the sun is shining in the UK and it brings a huge smile to my face. I love the sun and being out in it as much as possible. I actually had a weekend off and I got paid on Friday so was doubly great!

Friday started off with me going to Sainsbury's and buying some Pimms, the staple to any sunny weekend in the UK. Saturday we (me and the fella) went to a Farmers Market in Hitchin, which to be honest is poor in comparison to the one we went to in Harpenden last year. But the normal market was on so we spent loads of money of fruit and veg. 

Then in the afternoon I went on a cupcake decorating class which was absolutely fantastic, I would recommend to anyone for a girly afternoon. I went to http://www.emilyjanecakes.co.uk/ and had a great time! Here are a few of my photo's of the cakes that I decorated. I learnt how to make all the decorations and how to pipe. 

Saturday evening I played a fun game called Petanque, it is version of bowls, but you throw the ball in the air. Needless to say we lost but was a fun game anyhow.

On Sunday the fella had to work, so I travelled to a car boot sale, I got a lovely jug to put flowers in and 2 books. I also popped into town and got some bits for the garden. I have now potted about 8 different vegetable seeds, so am hoping they will grow big and strong in this lovely weather! I then went to Bingo in the evening. I know this is a diary of a 20 something, but I probably sound like I am 60, but I had a fantastic weekend! I feel it was very British! This was my Jubilee weekend as I will be working all weekend next weekend, all 4 days!

Moonwalk 2012

So, I completed the Moonwalk this weekend. Boy oh boy is it hard!
If any of you don't know, it is a 26.2 mile walk around London at night time, so not only are you doing a marathon, you are doing it with no sleep! Plus they ask you to do it in your bra! So I decided back in November I think, that it was a good idea to do this, thinking that I am going to be skinny and in shape blah blah blah, but instead I am the biggest I have ever been and I have done no training!
I was on many occasions thinking about just not turning up, but I had a word with myself and decided I should do it! So I turned up, with no training behind me, only to find out that the Central line was shut off, so I ended up walking about a mile to get to the big pink tent in Hyde Park, then about another half a mile to the back of the queue. So really I should only walk 24.7 miles right? I have also noticed, that after this 1.5 miles my right knee and right side of my groin muscles are already hurting! So after about 5 hours of waiting around, we start walking at 11.20pm. I say we because I went with a girl from work and her friend (it was the girl from work's idea to do the thing in the first place!). We kicked off and started at a steady pace, approximately 3 miles an hour, I was fine until about 9 miles and I started to flag. The half marathon walkers were veering off to finish their walk and we still had so much left to go! I was sooooo tempted to jump in one of the cars that were taking injured people. But I persevered. I ended up walking from mile 11 by myself as I was too slow for the other girls and I did not want to hold them up, so in went the iPod and I was left alone with my thoughts.
I finally made it to the end with my knees burning and my back hurting. Much older ladies passing me and one giving me a pat on the back as she passed. I must admit, I did cry to myself along the way, but I eventually crossed the finish line with my feet covered in blisters and my legs in agony. But here is my medal! 9 and a half hours completed!

Work

So, I have been made aware that my boss is pregnant and will be going on maternity leave. After initial congratulations and arranging flowers etc from the team, I am thinking great, this is a fantastic opportunity for me to step up and get some more experience.
So a meeting was put in place with my manager's manager with the pretense of discussing the next steps (I did not suggest the meeting). So I am thinking this could be positive. But no, I am apparently not ready to step up! I may have been doing a very similar role, but apparently I do not have enough experience to manage relationships with stakeholders. Apologies, I didn't realise I needed more experience with speaking with people, I thought I could hold a conversation.
But alas, there is nothing more I can do. I love the company that I work for and want to stay here for a number of years, but what do you do when you feel you have done all you can in your role and you are just going with the flow. I want to be challenged and motivated and at the moment I am not feeling the love. So, a plan of action is to be put in place. To be continued...

Cauliflower Rice

So at the weekend I made a lovely Pork Curry in my slow cooker. I had it on since Friday evening and ate it about 4pm on Saturday, the pork was lovely and tender and the spices were really powerful.
So as I try to eat healthy (well I want to lose 3 stone, but I have no will power at the moment), I decided to make Cauliflower Rice. I found the recipe on another Blog and decided to try it for myself.

The recipe is:

Cut up a Cauliflower head and place into a Food Processor and pulse until it looks like the consitency of Cous Cous.
Then cover in a microwavable bowl (add flavouring if wanted, like spices and seasoning). And microwave for about 2 minutes.
Serve. A great way for bulking out a meal without the extra carbs.

To be honest, it tastes like Cauliflower but with a strong curry it is fine. Yummy.

An Introduction

So this is the first time I have ever done something like this and not sure if anyone is even going to want to read this. I am just an average 20 something trying to get by in life. I am hoping this to be a mixture of money saving tips, recipes and general questions about the meaning of life.
I have decided to start a Blog, because quite frankly I am sitting here bored at my part-time job. I want to look busy so I am typing away but really I am posting on here. 'Oh yes, of course, I will send that email out straight away!'
So I currently work 4 jobs, trying to live a comfortable life. My main job is working in Recruitment. No I do not work in an Agency, do not tar me with that! I work in-house and I really enjoy my job. I get paid a good salary but unfortunately I got myself into a lot of debt when I was younger by taking out Credit Cards and spending the money on absolutely nothing! Then paying back the minimum payment due each month. So I finally decided to take the leap and go with a Debt Management company, who I pay £300 to pay my debt. I am hoping to be debt free by next year.
So because of my debt and not wanting to compromise on my lifestyle choices, I have part-time jobs too. Firstly I work every other Saturday at an Estate Agents in the lettings department, showing people round houses. Today is a particularly wet Saturday and we have no viewings booked in. I am also an Avon Lady (Ding Dong), I don't tend to do a lot of work with it, just friends and family, and I end up spending all the money I make on products for myself! And finally I work casually at a local radio station doing promotion work.
You might ask, does she have any free time ever? And the answer is yes, I have a lot of free time and I get bored easily. I used to work part-time in a bar for about 2 years until I decided to leave due to working about 20 hours a week on top of a 45 hour week in my main job. I have also thought about setting up a side-line business from home making home-made gifts. I suppose you would call me a work-aholic.
I never have enough money and am always checking my bank account to see how much I have to spend, I don't have any savings and I spend way too much on food.
So this is my first post and my second one will probably be a recipe of some sort as I absolutely love to cook!