Weigh-in Wednesday

Not much to say really...... Haven't lost anything.
On the plus side, I didn't gain any weight either.

The Excuses
I know perfectly well why I didn't lose any weight. It's because I spent most of Monday afternoon stuffing my face with cake my friend's baby showers.

The Plan
That was last week. I just need to focus this week and try to have some self control.

12lbs in 7 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 6lbs 7oz

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another 2lbs off.

Despite my plans last week to do lots of exercise, it didn't quite happen! I have been walking everywhere but I didn't get to the gym, haven't managed pilates this week and haven't been swimming. In fact I've been a bit of a lazy bum!

I did, however, manage to not drink any wine this week so I'm now thinking that the wine is to blame for my slow weight loss.

My goals for the week ahead is to try and do some exercise, ideally a run or a swim.

12lbs in 6 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 6lbs 8oz

For my husband : Happy Father's Day

He's exhausted! 

A combination of working during the day and a lot of disturbed night's sleep. He is the ultimate "hands-on" dad and the kids and I are lucky to have him.

Happy Father's Day, Paulie.

Post natal Pilates

Since February I have been attending post natal pilates classes with this lovely lady.
There are 3 of us who regularly attend the classes, although this is about to increase to 7.

We bring our babies with us and we can pop in and out of the class as and when our babies need a feed or a change. Sometime the babies come into the studio with us, and sometimes Priya's husband becomes "Daddy day-care" and looks after them.

While Pilates alone won't help me lose weight (only aerobic exercise and a healthy diet will do that) it does tone muscles. Pilates focuses on your core muscles, and I've found over time that my posture has really improved. I'm now standing taller and straighter. It's also helping me to become aware of my body, posture and core muscles when I'm doing my other exercises, especially when I go for a run.
The other thing I love, is how invigorated and refreshed I feel afterwards. It really spurs me on and motivates me to exercise more.

But if I'm honest, what I love the most about these classes is the good company. As we are all mummies with similar aged babies, it's great to exchange stories and share handy hints and tips while we work on toning up our post pregnancy tums!

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another pound off.
I'm a bit disappointed though. I was hoping for more as I have been pretty good with the food. I think wine is still my major weakness and I'm not exercising anywhere near as much as should be.


This week my plan is as follows:

• Only drink wine at the weekend (and only 1 small glass in the evening)
• Go for a run/jog/walk at least twice
• Try to walk as much as possible instead of taking the car
• Go swimming once. (Taking Esme for a bob around the pool doesn't count) Aim for 40-50 lengths.
• Go to post natal Pilates.

Next week my target is to try to lose 2 lb. Just think in a couple of weeks I may well have lost a stone and reached my first big milestone. 

That thought shall be this week's motivation. 

10lbs in 5 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 8lbs 6oz

Baby loves her food!

We have been introducing Esme to new foods for about a week now. So far her favourites seem to be watery foods like melon and cucumber. I think it's because they are soft so she can get her gums in and suck out the juice.

melon boats

 As with my own diet, I've been struggling for breakfast ideas. So with a little bit of help from the internet I've found some great ideas for a BLW breakfast.

• Drop scones
• fruit and yoghurt
• toast
• raisin bread
• eggy bread
• Savoury flapjacks (follow link for recipe)
• bitesize shredded wheat (dry or with a little bit of milk soaked in)

We had drop scones this morning - which went down very well.

I was a bit worried about food waste while doing the BLW approach, but with the exception of meat, our chickens seem to enjoy polishing off the leftovers.

Savoury flapjack -perfect toddler snack or BLW nibbles

ok - I have no idea on quantities as I do this one by eye.
They are sooo yummy, imagine an oaty cheese straw, and are the perfect snack for toddlers or as a good BLW breakfast for baby to get their gums into.

Melt equal quantities of butter and cheese in a pan.
Take it off the heat and stir in enough porridge oats for it to form a gooey lump.

Spread out onto a baking tin and bake for 10-15 mins at 180 - 200.
Cut into square while still warm.

Optional extras: try adding some chopped up fresh tomato into the mix or other veg.

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another pound and a half gone!

Again, I am surprised (in a good way!).
I've been sticking to the slimming world extra easy plan during the day, however, in the evenings I've been allowing myself a couple of glasses of wine. Wine is not good for dieters. On the slimming world plan it is 8.5 syns for 175ml of red wine. You are allowed between 5-15 syns a day.

I also find breakfasts difficult, usually sticking to Bran flakes with skimmed milk. This uses up my healthy "a" and "b" choices on the plan. So this week I've been trying different things.

Good options:

• 28 g Porridge oats with skimmed milk, blueberries and a little bit of splenda sweetener (I have a sweet tooth)
• Fruit with fat free fromage frais or yogurt.
• Baked beans on 1 slice of wholemeal toast (NO BUTTER)

I find it helps to have a good variety of foods, otherwise I get bored and then start to fall off the wagon.

I've been struggling to do any "proper" exercise this week, so I've been trying to walk to the shops rather than using the car. I've also been doing some yoga stretches in the morning.
I'm hoping that next week I'll be able to do some jogging and maybe even go swimming.

I suppose it does go to show that some small changes to your diet and a little bit of exercise, really CAN make a difference - slow and steady.

9lbs in 4 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 9lbs 6oz

Baby led weaning

We went down the purée route when we started Thomas on solids. This time round I liked the idea of BLW, mostly because I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered boiling up veg to mash up.

The beauty of BLW is that we can all sit down as a family for mealtimes and Esme can eat (or gum) whatever we are having.

Esme's first meal: marmite toast fingers!


Today's lunch was sandwiches, fresh pear and banana.


Tonight's dinner will be chicken breasts, potatoes, broccoli, carrots and gravy. I can't wait to see her get her gums into that!

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An eczema treatment that works!

We have tried various lotions and potions on Thomas' skin. Some have been on prescription from doctors and others on the recommendations from friends and family. However, I have now found one that seems to be working after just 2 days and it is sooooooooo cheap and easy to do.

1 old sock
1 elastic band
handful of porridge oats
1 bath

Fill the sock with the porridge oats and ties the elastic band around the end.  Chuck the sock in the bath and run the water (usual bath temperature). Give the sock a squeeze and the bath water will turn a bit cloudy and milky. Allow yourself a good long soak (or if the bath is for your kids, then have a good splash and play with the ducks!)
Use the sock as a sponge over the particular dry areas (legs in T's case).

Voila - Beautifully soft and moisturised skin!

Weigh in Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means weigh day.
I was not expecting much this week as I've not managed much exercise this week as Thomas has been in hospital. We've also been eating pretty rubbishly as well, grabbing sandwiches when we can and even ordered in pizza a couple of days ago!

So today's weight is 11 st 11lbs a weight loss if 1 pound.

Again, it's not great, but all going in the right direction.