SAD and Snap Peas

The sun is shining and I feel like I've got my mojo back!

I read through all my posts since I started this blog last summer and was a bit disappointed that my bright, positive attitude to weight loss/exercise/life in general had started to deteriorate in the Winter. I really think I suffer from SAD as my doom and gloom 'I hate my life' mood has lifted considerably since we are having light mornings and lighter evenings.

I feel suitably motivated and chirpy again - hallelujah, amen!

My PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) has co-incided with some purchases...ahem. I just thought what the hoo - I work hard for the money goddammit! So went about my merry way in ordering a printer (FINALLY), a dress I loved off ASOS for a forthcoming wedding (not mine), some mineral eyeshadows and possibly my best purchase: a heart rate monitor (HRM).

I recently bought the Jillian Michaels book: Winning by Losing as it was only a few quid on Amazon, and in it she recommends using a HRM. I really wanted one myself so I know how hard I am actually working and to get an accurate reading of the calories I have burnt (rather than going off the grossly inaccurate gym equipment readings and having a blind guess of the APs on WW). After reading a post on the WW message board and consulting this Heart Rate Monitor website I decided to buy the Polar FT4 - quite pricey at just under £60 but it is a well renowned range and has got great reviews - hopefully that should be arriving tomorrow so I want to wear it to my Zumba class and see if the 500-800 cal burn is accurate (methinks not!)

In other news, I have found a new snack (or lunch accompaniment I should say) Sugar Snap Peas! I've seen them all over other people's blogs, and I like them in stir frys, so attempted them raw. They ain't half bad! I prefer to have them with a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar over the top and for 0 points they been great at being an extra kick at lunchtime to help fill me up. I take a handful of them to work with me every day now - a nice change from carrot sticks.

Nomnomnom

V Overload

V Festival is only hours away! Music! Mates! Fun! The rather lovely looking Kings of Leon! This is all I can think about at the moment :)

I had the day booked off work and spent much of it faffing around picking out what i'm going to wear over the weekend. It was a hard task as God knows what the weather is going to do. I went for the layer option so hopefully i'm prepared for every eventuality. I just hope the ground isn't going to get wet and muddy as you really need to sit down at some point!

Anyways, It has come to the end of my 12-week challenge and even though my official weigh in day isn't until Sunday I weighed myself this morning and it looks like I am 2-3lbs off my target of 15st. I'm not disheartend by this as I have lost more than a stone over this period and feel so much fitter and mentally ready to push on with this weight loss malarkey.

When the V weekend is over I am going to start the 30 day shred on Monday, working in the Pilates for Dummies DVD also (did that last night) and obviously keep up the gym workouts. So I think I will set myself my next weight goal over the 30 days. I'll post that on Monday - can't get my head around anything non-festival related at the minute!

Also, I will report back on how my eating went over the weekend. I'm taking a few Nairns oatcakes and breakfast bars for snacks, but obviously can't take a lot more as don't want to cart round a heavy bag all day. From what I can remember from last year there was a healthy eating corner of the food stands (although we didn't visit that area!) so will check that out.

Right, well i'm off to faff around some more and get an early night :) Xx

Let's Get Popping!

Pop! Pop! Pop! What a great sound. So carrying on from the theme of snacks I decided to buy a bag of plain old popping corn this lunchtime and made a small bowl of it for an after dinner snack...and it was delicious!

Just so quick and easy. I just stuck half an ounce (around 14g) of corn into a bowl (with a lid) and popped into the mircowave for 2-3 minutes. I could eat it plain but as I only made a small amount (which in fact made a load!) I treated myself to a teaspoon of sugar sprinkled over.

It works out at 0.5 points for the 1/2 oz of popping corn and another 0.5 points for the teaspoon of sugar. Very reasonable! Also, it's very filling and because you can leave it to pick at it you really feel like you've had something substantial - which I don't feel like when I have a snack bar (which are higher point values).

So, just to clarify, I love homemade popcorn!

I did spoil the low point snack by having a mini muller rice pot as well - but I have more than enough points left over today so I can afford it! :)

Today's letter is S...

...and the topic is...snacks!

I've been thinking about healthy, energy-boosting snacks I can easily take with me to V Festival. Last year I ate rubbish and I really don't want to mess up my good behaviour. I don't mind compromising with the main meals (I found a baked potato stand last year...well they do have everything in fact!) but want to go for the healthier options - noodles etc. Also, I'm thinking because it is a full on two days, I want to have a pack of little energy-boosting snacks with me so that I can keep my energy levels up. The other thing is that they have to be small and light enough to be packed in a little box, and has to be able to last all day in a bag.

So far I have come up with the following ideas:

• Rice cakes.
• Oatcakes with peanut butter (hmmm, not sure if the PB will last though..)
• Pieces of fruit - apple, banana.
• Breakfast bars.
• Small handful of walnuts.
• Seeds.

Nothing mind blowing but a friend suggested I go to Holland and Barrett and stock up on the a few little packs of snacks - like seaweed covered peanuts (although I think they can be quite calorific -like most nuts, so again, would only be a handful). So think I'll make a trip there sometime this week - will have to stop myself from eating them at work though!