Welcome!

Hi everyone thought I would start this blog to keep track of the bits & bobs I get up to each day. I am a stay at home mum with 3 children who are in their teens & twenties. I have had Chronic Lyme Disease for at least 14 years if not more. I am constantly trying to improve my condition. I am a great fan of moneysavingexpert.com and have discovered a few ways of upping my income without too much effort

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Encouragement - Wednesday 30 January 2013

Just tried a top I bought a few years ago but was too tight - It now FITS!  I will have to tone up a little bit more if I want to wear a jumper underneath but I am thrilled at the progress made, just the encouragement I need to keep going.   I've got another summer top was too tight when I bought it, so my next goal is to get comfortably into that.


Tuesday's Menu

B: Raspberries, ground almonds & flax with cream.
L: Low Carb bubble & squeak with 3 sausages.  Few salted almonds.
D:  Baked Pollock with celeriac chips & green beans.  85% chocolate



Wednesday's Menu

B: Scrambled Egg & bacon
L: 2 lamb chops and roasted green beans.  Salted Almonds
D: Bolognese with cabbage.  85% chocolate.

Callanetics: 45 mins



Monday 28 January 2013

Monday's Menu - 28 January 2013

Determined to have a quiet week this week, not going to House Group or any other meetings.   Had a lovely quiet, restful day today and yesterday.

Sunday's Menu

B: 2 boiled eggs.
L: Pork chop, mashed celeriac, cabbage, sprouts, broccoli & carrots. 1 slice  Molly Cake
T: Egg & cheese salad.  85% chocolate.


Monday's Menu

B: Fried egg & bacon
L: Pork chop & stir fried cabbage.  Mixed Nuts
D: 3 sausages, mashed celeriac, mashed swede, cabbage, sprouts & broccoli.

Callanetics; 45 mins

Saturday 26 January 2013

Slight Improvement - Saturday 26 January 2013

Been having an easier few days and I'm beginning to feel the benefits.  Energy levels have improved.  I've also managed to cut out the milk chocolate (so far) and that has made a big impact.   On Thursday I had a Church meetigng to attend in the evening so I did very little during the day apart from a few surveys.  On Friday I did Callanetics, so again did very little the rest of the day.  Today will be busier as I've got the Lidl shop and a few things online that must be submitted today.  Decided I'm not going to Church tomorrow as I don't think I'm up to it just now, will just listen to some teaching on the internet.


Thursday's Menu

B: Fried egg & bacon
L: 2 boiled eggs.  mixed nuts
D: Chilli with cabbage.  85% chocolate.   Mug of Cocoa


Friday's Menu

B: 2 boiled eggs
L: 2 lamb chops.  Peanuts
D: Fish pie (fish in a creamy sauce, topped with mashed cauliflower), broccoli.  85% chocolate

Callanetics: 45 mins.


Saturday's Menu

B: Flax, raspberries & cream
L:  2 boiled eggs.  Mixed nuts
D: Fish pie, celeriac chips & green beans (if I can gets some from Lidl)  85% chocolate

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Bad Patch - Wednesday 23 January 2013

I think Christmas and the extra activity these last few weeks are taking their toll.  This week I am struggling.  I've absolutely no energy, have brain fog and can't think straight.  Eating chocolates and sugary foods has not helped, in fact I think its a major contributor to how I'm feeling at the moment.  Finding it difficult to plan, cook meals, and then have the energy to eat them.   Decided today to keep house work, meetings etc to  a minimum.  I've made a pan of cauliflower and cream cheese soup that will do lunch for the next 3 days.   Decided I will have 85% chocolate each day until I get the cravings under control and then gradually cut down so I only have chocolate at weekends.  When will I learn! Each Christmas I say I will not give in to the high carb foods or chocolates and each time I fail and end up like this!  Despite the lack of energy I'm determined to keep up with the Callanetics even if it means not doing anything else.  I have cut back to doing them only twice a week instead of three but I do feel much better once I've completed a Callanetics session.


Menu

B: Fried egg & bacon
L: Cauliflower & Cream cheese soup.  Piece of Lactofree cheese
D: Bolognese with cabbage.  Mixed nuts.  85% chocolate.


Hoping to tackle a small portion of the ironing pile later today - I need some clean clothes to wear!

Thursday 17 January 2013

Menu -Thursday 17 January 2013

Didn't get time to post yesterday so here's yesterday's and today's menu's.

Wednesday

B: Fried egg, 3 rashers of bacon
L: 2 Lamb chops with stir fried cabbage.
D: Smoked Haddock with celeriac chips in a cream cheese & onion sauce.  Mixed nuts.  Mug of Cocoa

Thursday

B: Fried egg and 3 rashers of bacon.
L: 2 Lamb chops with salad.
D: Smoked Haddock in cream cheese & onion sauce with celeriac chips & roasted green beans.

Callanetics: 40 mins


Don't know where the time has gone today I feel as though I've been chasing my tail all day and still have loads to do.  Got the Church quiz tonight so no time to think of anything different for tea.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Bye Bye Mr T - Tuesday 15 January 2013

Succeeded in avoiding Mr T's today.  Got all I needed from Aldi, Iceland and Sainsbury's.  Must admit I think it will be slightly more expensive but I'm going to try and manage.  I much prefer Sainsbury's for Customer service.  I will get vegetables and meat etc from Lidl at the weekend.


Menu

B: Flax Porridge
L: Lactofree cheese.  Nut mixture (walnuts, Brazil's & hazelnuts)
D: Chilli with Celeriac wedges & cabbage.  2 squares 85% chocolate.

Snack; Peanuts.


I think because I didn't have a substantial enough lunch I felt hungry this evening so ended up eating chocolate and peanuts.   After shopping I just didn't have time to prepare a proper lunch.   Hope to do better the rest of the week.   Have recently discovered that Cashew nuts are quite high in carbs so I'm hoping to phase them out and gradually stock up on lower carb nuts such as walnuts, Brazil's etc.

Monday 14 January 2013

Weight Gain - Monday 14 January

Discovered I'd gained another llb this weekend :(   Both girls are now back at Uni so hopefully I will be able to give my full attention to losing weight.    Started again in earnest on Saturday after a terrible week of eating rubbish.   Decided the only way forward was to stop eating chocolate altogether until I get things back under control.  It is DS birthday next week(he wants to go to an Indian Restaurant), so if I can make it 'til then without chocolate I intend to reward myself with Curry and RICE.   Since starting low carbing I've only had rice twice and it is something I really miss.   I've also been drinking more which I think is helping.


Sunday's Menu

B: Flax, blueberries & cream
L: Pork chop, mashed celeriac, carrots, cabbage, sprouts & cauliflower
T: 1 slice ham, 2 hard boiled eggs & salad.  Peanuts


Monday's Menu

B: Scrambled egg, 1 sausage, 1 bacon
L: Lamb chop, cabbage & roasted green beans
D:  Bolognese on a bed of cabbage.

Callanetics; 40 mins


Had a run in with Tesco last week re stocking lactofree products.  After several emails to Head Office and them indicating if I had any trouble to ask for the Duty Manager.  The week before Christmas when I was doing my Christmas shop I could not find any Lactofree products.  After emailing Head Office I was informed they had been moved to a different aisle.  Last week I went looking for Lactofree hard cheese, couldn't find it so asked an assistant working on that aisle.  I was told it had been discontinued.  I decided to ask for the Duty Manager after I'd finished my shopping.  At the Customer Services desk  I was told the Duty Manager was not available but if I gave them the details they would get back to me.   Two days later I received a phone call confirming the cheese had been discontinued due to lack of demand.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who buys this product but I think due to Tesco's inconsistency  in maintaining supplies people have gone elsewhere.  I have decided to do the same, so tomorrow when I do the weekly shop I will be boycotting Tesco.  I have been buying more and more in discounts shops such as Aldi and Lidl anyway so I think I can survive without Tesco.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Sleep Deprivation - 8 January 2013

Have not slept well for the past two nights.  Been getting to sleep well after 1am and waking around 4-30 am, hence I've not had much energy or been able to concentrate on much.  Caved in and had 5 Quality Street chocolates today, just so tired and no will power to resist.


Menu

B: Blueberries, flax and cream
L: Ham salad.  Peanuts.
D: Smoked haddock with celeriac chips and roasted green beans.   Mug of cocoa.  2 squares 84% chocolate.

Monday 7 January 2013

Happy New Year - 7 January 2013

I wonder what the year will bring!  I'm not feeling very positive about it.   I think there will be judgement brought upon the UK government for going against Gods way when they pushed for the Gay marriage bill.  Things also look very bleak in the Middle East.  It is fascinating to see bible prophecy being fulfilled before your very eyes - read Isaiah Chapter 17 or Psalm 83 verses 1-5  I am looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus - Maranatha!



Now on to the more menial matters of health and low carbing.    I did really well avoiding carbs until the Friday after Christmas, from then on it all went downhill.  As a result I have put on 3lbs and feel terrible.  Today is the first day of strict low carbing and I've had a headache most of the time.

Today's menu

B: Scrambled eggs, 1 sausage, 1 rasher of bacon.
L: 2 slices of ham, salad.  Peanuts
D: Bolognese with cabbage.  Mug of cocoa

3 squares 84% chocolate as I was tempted to delve into the sweetie (Quality Street etc)tins and thought this was a better option.

Callanetics: 30 mins.

DS is now back at school but both daughter's still have a few days left until they return to Uni.  It has been great having them home.