Slimming World #14 - I`ve Hit A Wall

No weigh-in for me this week as hubby has a football meeting; he runs the local youth football team for under 8`s. Tonight is the bi-monthly meet up.

Anyhoo, in some ways I am glad that I can`t get to group tonight. I seem to of hit a wall....no matter how hard I try I can`t get my weight down below 11st 3lbs.



This week I have upped my exercise levels and been on plan bar a naughty Cadbury`s Galaxy Salted Caramel bar, naughty but ohhh, so nice!

I ran 3k on the road on Sunday. If anyone tells you that running on a treadmill is harder then on the road they are lying to you!! I can comfortably run 4k on the treadmill but almost died at only 3k on the road!!! I`m guessing that on the treadmill you are kept at a steady pace and not going off too quickly and burning yourself out??


On Monday I even tried playing netball with the school mums for the first time in about 18 years!! I LOVED it, but it showed just how unfit I am as by the 2nd quarter I was huffing and puffing like a steam train! It was going amazingly well until I was pushed over and heard a very loud ping with shooting pain in my right calf muscle, it felt ok to begin with but within a few minutes I knew that I had done something big. 3 days on I still can`t place my foot flat to the floor without my leg feeling like its being pulled off and have a lovely swollen foot, from searching on the internet it sounds like I have torn my calf muscle. I haven`t been to the doctors as dont want to take an appointment for just a sore leg.

I`m hoping that this injury doesn`t mean that I can`t run the Run Or Dye race in July as the recovery period can be as long as 18 weeks...eek!!

So then, I`ve eaten good, hearty and on plan meals but still I weigh the same as last week. What am I doing wrong?? I know that the decrease in my exercise levels whilst my leg heals will make an impact on the weight loss but I`m getting to the point of quitting and I really don`t want that.

Let`s see what happens in the coming week xxx

Starting Weight - 12st 5lbs

Current Weight - 11st 3lb

Weight Loss To Date - 1st 2lbs

Starting Clothes Size - 18/20

Current Clothes Size - 14/16

Fab Food Friday #4

Hi there and welcome to the 4th week of Fab Food Friday. #FFF

Last week was very quiet and sadly no-one linked up but we are back this week with the hope we will get the highest number of linkers so far!!!

Last night I went to weigh-in and was pleasantly surprised at a 1 1/2lb loss. I say surprised as I have been a bit naughty this week; I have been on plan for all my meals  but have had a few naughty snacks in between meals. A visit to the park with good friends on a very sunny and warm Tuesday resulted in an ice cream treat. I didn`t have any signal on my phone so couldn`t check my app for the syn value of my chosen ice cream....a peanut butter Cornetto. I was shocked when I got home and checked the app that it had 10 syns!!!! Ooops...then yesterday at work a dozen of Krispy Kremes appeared and my favourite chocolate dream cake was there staring at me, I was good for 2 hours whilst everyone else was tucking in to theirs and refused to have one; but at the end of my shift it was still there calling me and my willpower caved and I loved every mouthful. Sadly I did check the syn value and it was a whopping 16 syns!!

This week I am back on plan 100% as I NEED to get my Club 10 award, only 1 more lb and it will be mine!!

If you love the food that Slimming World allows you to create then dont be shy, grab yourself a cuppa and show off your delicious creations.

If you do link up we would love it if you could grab the badge below for your posts to show you are proud to be part of Fab Food Friday #FFF xx

<div align="center">
<a href="http://poolemamma.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Fab%20Food%20Friday" title="Fab Food Friday"><img src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/poolemamma/3d554ead-183b-4df9-b048-53fe22760897_zpshmtvefky.png" alt="Fab Food Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Allergy Awareness Week

This week sees the start of Allergy Awareness Week, 20th -26th April.


During this week many allergy charities and companies trying to provide some relief from allergies are trying to maximise the awareness of the general public to allergies; their symptoms and how to try to alleviate them.

Millions of people in the UK are living with one or more allergies. A whopping 44% of allergy sufferers are living in daily fear of having a reaction, yet 66% of the sufferers have no idea how to use an adrenaline pen which could save their lives in a severe attack.

The most common allergy that people think of is hay fever or asthma, but in fact you can be allergic to literally anything and everything.



If you suffer from allergies then here are a few things you can try to alleviate the symptoms, some of which are a really good idea but some are not always easy to apply to normal life!!

• Don`t hang the allergy sufferers clothes out on the washing line to dry as pollen can attach to the clothes and bedsheets.
• Stay indoors on dry and windy days and try to keep the windows shut.
• Keep indoor air dry with a de-humidifier, or if possible install a HEPA ( High-Efficiey Particulate Air) filter.
• Avoid outside activities first thing in the morning when pollen counts are at their highest.
• Avoid wearing hair gel or similar hair products which are pollen magnets.
• Immunotherapy injections are available to try and gradually desensitise you from your particular allergy.
• If you suffer from contact allergies try and create a protection layer over your skin with a barrier cream.
• Don`t use scented bathing products and use non bio washing powder.
• Use natural or unscented cleaning products when cleaning the house to prevent any unnecessary allergens to be introduced into the air.
• Don`t dismiss drugs and over the counter remedies; if you can tell what the trigger symptoms are of an attack then you can greatly minimise the effects the attack has on you. 

Across the UK the top 5 cities most at risk of dust mites are:

City	% at risk of dust mites	% with an existing allergy
Leeds	65%	21%
Southampton	58%	20%
Sheffield	57%	12%
Bristol	56%	19%
Manchester	55%	29%

ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK: 57% OF BRITS AT HIGH RISK DUST MITES

New research has revealed millions of Brits are at high risk of dust mites in their homes due to poor bedroom hygiene.

Online bed retailer Time4Sleep.co.uk conducted an independent survey¹ into the nation’s cleaning habits in aid of Allergy Awareness Week (20^th – 26^th April).  

The research found a huge 57%² of Brits are failing to take precautions against dust mites in their homes, despite their potential to cause allergic reactions.

To find out more about dust mites and see if where you live effects your chances of getting dust mites click HERE.

50 Things That Make Me Happy

What makes you happy???

I have been tagged by Elaine at entertainingelliot and Amy from everythingmummy to take part in the new blogging sensation of listing 50 of the top things that make me happy.

Here goes, in no particular order, just as they came into my head!!

1. The smell of freshly cut grass
2. The sound of my children giggling
3. Crochet
4. Clothes shopping
5. The warmth from the first sun of spring
6. A long soak in the bath, not that I get to spend very long in the bath any more!!
7. Ben & Jerry`s half baked chocolate fudge brownie and cookie dough
8. Breakfast in bed
9. My children
10. A tidy house ( a very rare occurrence!)
11. Friends
12. Walks on the beach
13. The smell and feeling of fresh bedding
14. Changing into my pj`s
15. Family movie nights
16. The smell of freshly washed baby hair
17. Being silly with my boys
18. Getting the whole extended family together 
19. Wine and giggles
20. Getting my hair coloured ( very necessary since the pesky greys have appeared)
21. Finding a 5iver stashed in my wallet
22. A naughty take-away night
23. Listening to Ben trying to have a conversation with his older brothers
24. Reminiscing looking back at old photos
25. Writing blog posts
26. Newborn puppies
27. Chocolate
28. Ice cold beer on a hot day
29. Dipping my feet in the kids paddling pool
30. Christmas...I LOVE everything to do with it!!
31. Watching my tv series on call back.
32. Family wrestling time
33. Drying loads of washing on the line in the summer
34. The smell of bbq`s
35. Rocking Ben to sleep in my arms
36. Sunday roasts
37. Singing out loud in the car
38. My husband
39. Watching Alfie play football and score a goal
40. Going to the gym!!
41. Seeing the scales go down each week at Slimming World weigh in
42. Fitting into smaller clothes than this time last year
43. Making my friends smile
44. Receiving random kisses and hugs from the boys
45. Date nights with hubby
46. Redecorating the house in my head
47. Making plans
48. Potting plants
49. Watching any James Bond film and remembering my dad
50. Cooking.....anything!!

Now that`s my 50 things, I tag Laura from maxandmummy, Natalie at OneBusyWAHM and Debbie at superbusymum....go, go, go!!!!

Fab Food Friday #3

Hello and welcome to this weeks Fab Food Friday!! #FFF

Thank you for popping back for another link up of fab Slimming World and healthy meal and snack ideas.

Last week we had the lovely Emma aka MrsShilts link up with her lush recipe for Synfree Diet Coke Chicken.

I`ve seen loads of recipes for diet coke chicken in the slow cooker but never for conventional cooking methods; this is definitely going to be tried in the Wood household this week. I`ll let you know how it goes!!

What have you created this week??? Grab a cuppa and share with us your favourite recipe; new or old xx

If you do take the time to link up please grab the badge below to show you are proud to be part of Fab Food Friday.

<div align="center">
<a href="http://poolemamma.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Fab%20Food%20Friday" title="Fab Food Friday"><img src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag33/poolemamma/3d554ead-183b-4df9-b048-53fe22760897_zpshmtvefky.png" alt="Fab Food Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up