I nearly didn't write this update. I am about ready to give up, or do something drastic. This week I exercised 5 times, ate within my points every day except for Saturday (which would have been covered by the extra activity points I earned), got 2l of water every day, and had what I consider to be a "good week". So I should be celebrating a loss and giving my halo a polish. But I gained 1 1/2lbs. For no reason. I can't blame my monthly cycle, because I'm right in the middle of it. I'm perfectly healthy, not suffering from a cold or any other ailments. I sweated through a run, two zumba sessions, a pilates session and a legs, bums and tums DVD. I mostly ate clean, not too many carbs, lots of fruit and veg, lean meat and dairy. Over the weekend I had a few biscuits and an extra slice of bread, I refuse to believe a that would make me gain a pound and a half. Plus like I said, on the Weight Watchers system you can earn extra points from activity, and over the week I clocked up more than enough. I can't give up any more of the things I love! I drink mostly water and have almost completely given up caffiene - I used to drink almost 2 litres of diet coke a day, now I have a small 500ml bottle once a week and only allow myself one decaff coffee a day - which I don't even have any milk in. I snack on fruit, veg and rice cakes, instead of crisps, biscuits and bread. I never drink alcohol except special occasions - I've had a drink 3 times this year, whereas I would usually have a bottle of wine in the fridge on the go, and have a glass or two a few times a week. So why am I struggling to much? Why am I gaining weight when I look at what my diet and activity was like before compared to now and it is so different? I am so frustrated, and fed up. Two steps forward and one step back. I could cry.
I met my Spring Chick Challenge goal this week. I wanted to work out 5 times and I did:
Wednesday - rest day
Thursday - 30 minute run
Friday - 50 minute Legs, Bums and Tums DVD
Saturday - 20 mins Zumba + 10 mins Wii Fit
Sunday - 20 mins Zumba + 10 mins Wii Fit
Monday - 50 mins pilates DVD
This week I'll aim for the same if not more - some activity every day, even if it's just 20 minutes Zumba or a walk. This week's challenge is to try a new recipe - which is something I love doing anyway so I'll be sure to blog about it too. I got a new WW mag at my meeting today, so I'll try something from there.
I am so disheartened. I want this so badly, I am trying so hard, I can honestly say that since my birthday I have barely put a foot wrong, but I'm not seeing the results. It's all I think about, but it's making me miserable. I just don't know what to do any more.
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Review: Weight Watchers Garlic and Herb Chicken Bag 'n' Bake
I eat a lot of chicken. Not every day, but at least 3 times a week, so I'm always looking for new ways to cook it without adding too many ponits/calories. I spotted these new bag 'n' bakes at my meeting this week and for 85p I thought I'd give it a go. I'e cooked with these baking bags before, the idea is that you put your ingredients, meat, veg etc in the bag, add the seasoning and bake, and you end up with moist juicy meat, no added fat and great flavour, and they do work! Chicken breasts come out much less dry than they would simply baked with a bit of foil over the top, and have a nice herby/barbeque/cajun or whatever seasoning.
The one I bought comes in a little box, which contains a favouring sachet, the baking bag and little tag to seal it with. It serves 2 and has a ProPoints value of 0!
The instructions (printed inside the box, took me a while to find them!) say to add 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts and 250g veg to the bag, along with the seasoning sachet. I used more veg than this because I wanted some leftover roast veg for the next day (courgette/zuccini, red onion, red and yellow bell pepper). I also added some new potatoes, so I wouldn't have to cook them separately.
Seal it up with the tie provided, pierce a couple of holes in the top and put it on the bottom shelf of the oven (the bag mustn't touch any part of the oven) for 45 minutes at 180/360/gas 4. I stuck it in, went for a run leaving Mr FGS strict instructions to leave it alone unless it exploded and it was ready when I got back!
It was very tasty, and I'll definitely try it again, but there are a few changes I'd make. because I used so much veg, and cooked the potatoes in the same bag, the flavour wasn't as intense as I'd have liked. So next time I'd either add a clove of garlic to the bag, or cook the potatoes separately. I'd also change the veg up a bit - on the box it shows baby sweetcorn and cauliflower, which would be tasty! I get bored of the same veg sometimes, and I think roasted baby sweetcorn would be nice.
A medium (165g) chicken breast is 4ProPoints, and we had 200g new potatoes which is also 4PP. All in all 8 points for the whole meal is reasonable, and really I didn't need all of the potatoes. I will definitely buy this again!
What do you think? Have you ever tried a baking bag? What do you do to pep up chicken?
Hx
The one I bought comes in a little box, which contains a favouring sachet, the baking bag and little tag to seal it with. It serves 2 and has a ProPoints value of 0!
The instructions (printed inside the box, took me a while to find them!) say to add 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts and 250g veg to the bag, along with the seasoning sachet. I used more veg than this because I wanted some leftover roast veg for the next day (courgette/zuccini, red onion, red and yellow bell pepper). I also added some new potatoes, so I wouldn't have to cook them separately.
This is what it looked like with everything in - probably too full!
It was very tasty, and I'll definitely try it again, but there are a few changes I'd make. because I used so much veg, and cooked the potatoes in the same bag, the flavour wasn't as intense as I'd have liked. So next time I'd either add a clove of garlic to the bag, or cook the potatoes separately. I'd also change the veg up a bit - on the box it shows baby sweetcorn and cauliflower, which would be tasty! I get bored of the same veg sometimes, and I think roasted baby sweetcorn would be nice.
A medium (165g) chicken breast is 4ProPoints, and we had 200g new potatoes which is also 4PP. All in all 8 points for the whole meal is reasonable, and really I didn't need all of the potatoes. I will definitely buy this again!
What do you think? Have you ever tried a baking bag? What do you do to pep up chicken?
Hx
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Tuesday Treat - Good Jeans
If you're anything like me, a good pair of jeans are hard to find, especially as it seems like as soon as I find a decent pair I'm shrinking out of them (not that I'm complaining!). So when I was asked by Daxon (you may have spotted the button in the sidebar) if I'd like to review an item from their new plus size range I jumped at the chance. I'd never heard of Daxon before, but apparently Daxon is part of Redcats, which is the 3rd largest home shopping organisation in the world. I'm all for a bit of home shopping! I chose this pair of indigo straight leg jeans by Celaia in a size 18 (they go from a 10 to a 24), which were £37 (more than I'd usually spend, but currently reduced to £22) and waited anxiously for them to come. I didn't have to wait long and was pleasantly surprised when they arrived.
The problem I have with jeans is that I have a small waist, big tummy and short legs. So to get jeans that fit in all these places is near on impossible. Most of my jeans are way too long, and this isn't helped by the fact that as I have to get a size that will be comfortable on my tummy they will then slip down because they're too big on the waist. These jeans are a perfect leg length for me, and I can wear them with heels or flat shoes without treading on the hem. If you are taller than 5'2" you might want to go for a longer length though. I went for straight leg, where I usually chose bootleg or similar because I can tuck them into boots that way too. Perfect. They are a little snug around the tummy and waist, which I was disappointed in. I almost ordered a size 16, since all my other size 18 jeans are almost too big for me now, but I'm glad I didn't. Going by the measurements on the Daxon website, I would be a 26 though! Another thing I like about these is that they don't have any elastic in the waistband. I'm not a fan of elasticated waists on jeans, but in plus sizes they seem to be the norm.
They're made by Celaia, another brand I had no previous knowledge of, but a quick google tells me they're a French brand who also supplies to LaRedoute. I was impressed to discover that they guarantee their clothing for a year, which goes to show the quality. And also means that when I inevitably break the zip (I seem to be heavy on zips...) they'll replace it.
Daxon currently only deliver to the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and BFPO Germany, and charge £2.95 for standard delivery. If you spend over £60 at the moment you can get free delivery with the code 8024.
All in all, I would definitely recommend Daxon, and will be shopping with them again. I've got my eye on this swimsuit...now to just get some pennies from somewhere! Did I mention it's my birthday tomorrow...
Hx
Item provided for review consideration. Opinions 100% my own. Please see disclosure policy for more information.
The problem I have with jeans is that I have a small waist, big tummy and short legs. So to get jeans that fit in all these places is near on impossible. Most of my jeans are way too long, and this isn't helped by the fact that as I have to get a size that will be comfortable on my tummy they will then slip down because they're too big on the waist. These jeans are a perfect leg length for me, and I can wear them with heels or flat shoes without treading on the hem. If you are taller than 5'2" you might want to go for a longer length though. I went for straight leg, where I usually chose bootleg or similar because I can tuck them into boots that way too. Perfect. They are a little snug around the tummy and waist, which I was disappointed in. I almost ordered a size 16, since all my other size 18 jeans are almost too big for me now, but I'm glad I didn't. Going by the measurements on the Daxon website, I would be a 26 though! Another thing I like about these is that they don't have any elastic in the waistband. I'm not a fan of elasticated waists on jeans, but in plus sizes they seem to be the norm.
I can tuck them into my Uggs...
I can wear them with flats...
...or with heels...
...although probably best that it's not at the same time...
They're made by Celaia, another brand I had no previous knowledge of, but a quick google tells me they're a French brand who also supplies to LaRedoute. I was impressed to discover that they guarantee their clothing for a year, which goes to show the quality. And also means that when I inevitably break the zip (I seem to be heavy on zips...) they'll replace it.
Daxon currently only deliver to the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and BFPO Germany, and charge £2.95 for standard delivery. If you spend over £60 at the moment you can get free delivery with the code 8024.
All in all, I would definitely recommend Daxon, and will be shopping with them again. I've got my eye on this swimsuit...now to just get some pennies from somewhere! Did I mention it's my birthday tomorrow...
Hx
Item provided for review consideration. Opinions 100% my own. Please see disclosure policy for more information.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Tuesday Treat! Lush goodies review
Hi! Tuesday treat on a Wednesday for you!
As part of Operation Fit and Fabulous I was sent some Lush goodies to review. I'm a huge Lush lover and love their bath bombs and bubble bars as an affordable treat every now and then. Even my boys love an Ickle Baby Bot bath fizzer, and Ollie always asks for a robot when we pass the shop. So you can imagine my delight when a package of three new products to try was handed to me by the postman last Tuesday.
The three things I was sent were a Phoenix Rising bath ballistic, a Rose Jam Bubbleroon and a Friends with Benefits massage bar.
Rose Jam Bubbleroon - £3.50 each
The first thing I chose to try out was the bubbleroon. Up until recently I've stuck to bath ballistics on my trips to Lush, but I got given a bubble bar for my birthday this year and haven't looked back! You crumble them under running water for an amazing bubbly bath that smells divine. Lush describes Bubbleroons as macaroon inspired bubble bars with a shea butter and coconut oil base and a coconut oil cream centre. Unfortunately mine arrived crumbly but it didn't matter as you crumble them into the water anyway, and if you were clever you could save half for another time ;)
I not usually a huge fan of rose or floral smells, but this wasn't overpowering at all, and actually made me feel really girly sitting there in a pink bath surrounded by 11tybillion bubbles smelling of roses!
I wouldn't say my skin felt overly moisturised, but it was by no means dry at all, unlike some bubble baths I've never found a Lush bubble bar drying on the skin.
Friends with Benefits massage bar - £6.50 for 65g
Getting a massage from my other half is about as likely as George Clooney landing his helicopter in my street, knocking on my door with a rose between his teeth, whisking me off to a 5 star Parisian hotel and having his wicked way with me, and then feeding me deep fried Mars bars in the morning. Ok, so that's an overly long analogy, but you get the picture! So, I had to resort to using the massage bar on myself.
Lush say it is a sexy massage bar with a chocolate orange scent for enjoying with your very best friends. The smell of tagetes, the essential oil from African marigolds, has notes of chocolate to it. So here we blended it in a fragrance with cooca absolute, then put that in our lovely fair trade organic cocoa butter, which has its own strong chocolate notes too.
As part of Operation Fit and Fabulous I was sent some Lush goodies to review. I'm a huge Lush lover and love their bath bombs and bubble bars as an affordable treat every now and then. Even my boys love an Ickle Baby Bot bath fizzer, and Ollie always asks for a robot when we pass the shop. So you can imagine my delight when a package of three new products to try was handed to me by the postman last Tuesday.
The three things I was sent were a Phoenix Rising bath ballistic, a Rose Jam Bubbleroon and a Friends with Benefits massage bar.
Rose Jam Bubbleroon - £3.50 each
I not usually a huge fan of rose or floral smells, but this wasn't overpowering at all, and actually made me feel really girly sitting there in a pink bath surrounded by 11tybillion bubbles smelling of roses!
I wouldn't say my skin felt overly moisturised, but it was by no means dry at all, unlike some bubble baths I've never found a Lush bubble bar drying on the skin.
Friends with Benefits massage bar - £6.50 for 65g
Getting a massage from my other half is about as likely as George Clooney landing his helicopter in my street, knocking on my door with a rose between his teeth, whisking me off to a 5 star Parisian hotel and having his wicked way with me, and then feeding me deep fried Mars bars in the morning. Ok, so that's an overly long analogy, but you get the picture! So, I had to resort to using the massage bar on myself.
Lush say it is a sexy massage bar with a chocolate orange scent for enjoying with your very best friends. The smell of tagetes, the essential oil from African marigolds, has notes of chocolate to it. So here we blended it in a fragrance with cooca absolute, then put that in our lovely fair trade organic cocoa butter, which has its own strong chocolate notes too.
The result is a massage bar with benefits: cocoa butter and shea butters to give your body a moisturised glow, tagetes to help sore, red or damaged skin and a posh chocolate fragrance that leaves you smelling irresistible to everyone around you. All you have to do is reap the rewards.
The scent to me reminds me of those yoghurt coated raisins you get - sort of creamy but with a definite sharpness to it. I started by rubbing the bars on my thighs and as the bar warmed up it melted and glided over my skin, leaving a film of shea butter. It wasn't sticky at all but would be too much for everyday moisturising
- although perfect for it's intended use if your partner is more amenable than mine! I rubbed in the residue and my skin was left soft and hydrated, and I can (only) imagine how nice it would be when used for a proper massage.
Phoenix Rising Bath Ballistic - £2.95 for 100g
Bath Ballistics are my favourite of all the Lush goodies, my favourites being Mrs Whippy, Honey Bee, Butterball and Vanilla Fountain - if you know Lush you'll know these are all quite similar, creamy, vanillary scented bath bombs. So Phoenix Rising was quite different for me, as Lush says he'll release gentle shea butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil to leave your skin feather soft, and exotic essential oils of fruit and spices, which take your mind on a flight of fancy to distant shores where you are lying on a beach drinking spiced rum. I'm not usually a fan of spiced scents, but this is a very delicate spiciness, and it's so pretty! The outside of the bomb is a lovely purple colour, with gold lustre sparkles which float around in the bath making it look all potion like and mystical. Then when you get to the middle of the bathbomb it turns green, which turns the vivid purple murkier and somehow even more mythical. Every now and then the piece of cinnamon bark that was on top of the bomb emerges from the depths and it will be great for cold days when you need warming up! My only complaint was the colour it turned my bath afterwards...but I can live with that!
Overall, I would completely recommend these products, or any Lush goodies, to anyone who'll listen to me rambling on about them. My favourite was the Bubbleroon, and I'll be checking out the other "flavours" Green, and Yuzu & Cocoa next time I get to a Lush store. Go for Phoenix Rising if you're a fan of spice, or if you're not and want something different. The massage bar wasn't for me, at least until I trade the old man in for a newer model, but if your better half is more willing definitely give it a go. You can buy these online at www.Lush.co.uk now and in Lush stores from 15th October.
How will you be treating yourself this week?
Hx
PR sample provided for review. Opinions are my own and 100% honest.
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