September brings new opportunities and new challenges

Hello my lovely readers J

Just back from a great week in the Netherlands! I won’t lie long distance relationships are HARD but when you finally get to see the person it is all worthwhile!

I also had my Irish oral exam with college last week and it went great so that definitely has kept me in high spirits all week J

Also stood on the scales this morning with my usual fear of ‘’OH MA GAWWD I bet I’ve gained another 10lbs as usual’’ and wanna know what I did a happy dance I’m up like 3lbs…3 frickin lbs! That to me is amazing J J I won’t lie I had a few too many ‘share’ chocolate bars which I so obviously didn’t share! But most of the meals I ate were free or almost free on Slimming World EE/ Weight Watchers f&h so in reality I went off track only abit so BOO YA happy days J

 

 

By the way this seriously was the best way to spend my Friday night ;)

 

Anywho, September 2^nd already, it is crazy how fast the year goes by! Soon enough we will be planning for Christmas and then New Years and then we’ll be into 2015!

Personally I’m happy to welcome September in! As much as I enjoyed my Summer it was just abit too hectic for me in terms of monitoring my weight and doing my usual exercise! I like getting back into a routine!

September is the start of a hectic few months for me – I have my second teacher practice starting in just 3 weeks and it will last for 5 weeks! Before and after that I’m back to work in my local Primary school *starting tomorrow*. I won’t lie I’m excited about getting stuck into my workload as it means I am getting closer to finishing!

Hell all I have to do before I finish in April 2015 is complete:

·         3 weeks of classroom observations

·         10 weeks of teaching practice

·         1 project

·         1 Irish exam

I mean four items to tick off the list and then I am FREE. Well maybe not free but free from college, but then the real life decisions need to be made and some I am not looking forward to but that’s life I suppose and not all decisions can be easy to make.

Anyway there is a point to this post I promise you I’m not just going to rant and rave on *Okay slight lie I will rant and rave but for a purpose* J

 

So anyway September brings about the start of Autumn *well technically August did but we all deny it and say it is still Summer*.

The lovely trees that began blooming in Spring with beautiful leaves are not beginning to change colour and soon the trees will be bare but before long the cycle will begin again! Just like us! January 1^st brings about lots of resolutions to become a better person to lose weight etc and for many people by June the resolutions have fallen to the side and by Winter they are regretting the choices they made and plan a new set of resolutions for the coming year, a life cycle just like that of the beautiful trees.

Not sticking to resolutions is not a sign of weakness it can just be a sign that we made resolutions that are just a tad unrealistic. I mean I’d never stick to a resolution if I set myself a challenge of loosing 4lbs a week or something unattainable like that! Set small challenges for yourself and you will succeed.

So anyway I’m calling on all you lovely people to make a challenge for yourself for the month of September *or from now until Christmas* J

Like I mentioned earlier September is bringing a routine back into my life which I love. With this normal routine in mind I’d love to set myself a separate challenge from now until December 31^st . I’d like to see myself back to where I was or as close as possible to my lightest weight which was in fact December 2013. Now if I don’ achieve it I’ll get over it, I might be aiming a little too high considering I’ve a lot of college work as well as life commitments to deal with but God loves a tryer! J

I’ve another family wedding the end of December just like last December, with the same family that saw me at my lightest and flooded me with compliments and well if I’m honest I’ll be dammed if I’m turning up to that wedding not looking as good as I did last year! So if that isn’t motivation I don’t know what is!

Anyway sorry back to my September challenge, I get a bit carried away I know :P I’m not setting myself a number of lbs to lose as that stresses me out instead it is all little habits I want to change or get back into! I’m already a great water drinker but if you are not set yourself the challenge of drinking 2lt of some good old H2O a day!

 

 

For me my September challenge is:

 1.       Zumba twice a week (Highly achievable) *The last 8 days of September will be difficult with TP but I will try my best*

2.       Gym 3 times a week (I got lazy recently so 3 times a week will be a good achievable number) *The last 8 days of September will be difficult with TP but I will try my best*

5.       Ensure I run 2 times a week (At the gym – treadmill)

3.       Say something positive about myself everyday (even if I feel I look like a bloated pregnant heifer)

 

 

So there is it my challenge for September. As I said I will be try my best to achieve all my targets. I particularly like my 3rd point as I can be a very negative person when it comes to me. I judge every aspect of my body and appearance. I will put myself down many times. I guess many people would say low self-esteem. Don’t get me wrong tho in front of other people I will not put myself down, in front of other people I seem to ooze confidence which in fact is all an act! But while I might criticize myself I will never allow other people the opportunity to do that to do!

 

Anyway so my rant has come to an end. I have to go and plan lots of teaching related stuff :)

I hope you all will set yourself some form of a challenge for the month ahead, it doesn’t have to be weight or exercise related it can be anything :) I’d love to hear about the challenge you decide on also J

Until next time,

Grá J

 

 

 

 

Hello....Is it me you're looking for....?

Is it too early to start making a list of things I want to do in 2015?!

I know some people are probably thinking I should enjoy the remainder of 2014 before thinking of  

2015 but it's important to have goals that you want to achieve!

So as of August 21^st 2014 my goals for 2015 *so far* are: 

1.       Run my first half marathon --> The Great Limerick Run May 2015, I’m already registered for it J

2.      Take part in and complete my first ever triathlon --> I

 e-mailed a club about 20miles away asking about joining

3.       Hopefully take part and complete the 'Hell and back'  challenge :)

4.       Complete my teacher training  degree

5.       Get a Primary school teaching job

6.       Continue to be happy and healthy

The following 2 goals are ones I want to achieve some day…maybe not in 2015 but definitely by 2016

1.       Qualify as a Zumba instructor à I already know all the details to do this just need to find the time

2.       Do an evening course on Nutrition à Course already picked out again just to find the time

Notice how I haven’t included anything about reaching my ‘ideal weight’. In December 2013 I said 

‘2014 will be my year to get to my ideal weight’ and you know what it hasn’t been!

I haven’t written a proper blog post since the end of 2013 and you want to know why? I felt ashamed, 

too ashamed to admit that I gained some weight. Also I felt like a hypocrite because I gained weight! 

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t gain ALL 5st 8.5lbs, I gained about 1.5 stone. 

This was down to a 

variety of reasons à getting injured and not exercising, a lot of parties and events, all of which were 

close together and I just never lost what I had gained during the previous get together before the next. 

Not being able to go to a WeightWatchers meeting regularly was the big problem though as I really 

need the support of the group and also the fear of being weighed in by someone else!

But and it’s a big BUTT *excuse the pun ;) *I’m like yeah that’s life, no point crying over spilt milk! 

2014 has been a great year for me apart from the weight gain

·         I’m the fittest I’ve ever been :)

·         I’ve almost 70% of my teacher training completed *roll on April 2015*

·         I’ve made some amazing friends this year

·         I had an amazing time down in the Gaeltacht with college where I felt confident in myself

  One of the many great nights in Dingle                                                              Dún Chaoin, looking out to the                                                                                                                                                              Blasket Islands

·         I’ve had people come to tell me how I’ve inspired them to make a change and get healthy :)

        · I’m happy :)

·         My facebook page ‘Adventures of a Melting Diva’ has over 600 likes à I mean 600 people actually 

took the time to look at something I started just because. Amazing feeling :)

>LINK<

So while I might not be where I had planned in terms of my weight, I’m where I want to be in so 

many other areas of my life, and isn’t that what is important?! What good would I be at my ‘’ideal’’ 

weight if I wasn’t happy or doing what I love?!

I’m back losing weight now which is a good thing. My fellow WeightWatchers please don’t judge me 

for this * :P * but I had to join Slimming World BECAUSE there is no evening WW meeting at home 

for me to attend. The Slimming World plan is basically the SAME as filling & healthy with a few 

differences. So while I’m being weighed in at a Slimming World class, I’m tracking using both 

systems.

If any of you lovely guys are on Instagram I post most meals *stating WW and SW values* :) You’ll 

find me at ‘Gra_Adventuresofameltingdiva’ :)

>LINK<

Anyway this is possible the biggest mish-mash of a blog post I have done to date and I apologise for 

that! It was very much unplanned. I decided to take a break from prepping for my Irish oral exam on 

Saturday *wish me luck, I’m super nervous* and this blog post is the end product of my break :)

I’m delighted to have written this post as now I’ll hopefully get back to blogging regularly as I’ve 

ousted my ‘shameful’ weight gain!

Isn’t it amazing how the number on the scales can really play havoc with one’s mind!  It’s awful isnt’ it!

Anyway my lovely readers, if there are any of you left since I’ve abandoned you all for soooo long, 

have a lovely day and hopefully I’ll have another post for you all soon :)

Until next time

 Grá :) 

Subway Pro Pointed

Hello everyone :)

Long time no post I know right!

I had a hectic two months with college, teaching practice and I was without internet for 4 week after the storm!

Anyway due to a few requests I decided to pro point the Subway menu!

Be warned the values do not include cheese (unless stated) and are based on the 9-grain wheat bread!

The nutritional information was not provided for the different cheeses so us your own personal cheese knowledge to help work it out ;)

Pro point values were calculated using the nutritional information from www.Subway.ie and the Ultimate Value Diary app.

Happy reading :)

Subway Menu Pro Pointed

6 inch low fat subs

***Values are based on 9-grain wheat bread with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green peppers and onions - Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Beef – 7PP

·         Chicken breast -8PP

·         Chicken tikka – 8PP

·         Ham – 7PP

·         Chicken teriyaki – 8PP

·         Tandoori chicken – 8PP

·         Turkey breast – 7PP

·         Turkey breast and ham – 7PP

·         Subway club – 8PP

·         Veggie delite – 6PP

6 inch regular subs

***Values are based on 9-grain wheat bread with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green peppers and onions - Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Chicken temptation

·         Chicken & bacon ranch melt

·         Italian B.M.T

·         Meatball marinara

·         Spicy Italian

·         Subway melt (incl cheese)

·         Steak & cheese

·         Tuna

·         Veggie Patty

·         Big Beef Melt

6 inch low fat flatbread sandwiches

*** Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Beef – 8PP

·         Chicken breast – 8PP

·         Chicken tikka – 8PP

·         Ham – 7PP

·         Subway club – 8PP

·         Chicken teriyaki –  8PP

·         Tandoori chicken – 8PP

·         Turkey breast – 7PP

·         Turkey breast and ham – 7PP

·         Veggie delite – 6PP

6 inch flatbread sandwichs

*** Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Big Beef Melt -11PP

·         Chicken & bacon ranch melt – 13PP

·         Chicken temptation – 11PP

·         Italian B.M.T – 11PP

·         Meatball marinara – 12PP

·         Spicy Italian – 13PP

·         Steak & cheese – 10PP

·         Tuna – 10PP

·         Veggie Patty  10PP-

·         Subway melt (incl cheese) – 10PP

Breakfast Subs Values

***Values based on 9-Grain wheat bread, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions. Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Bacon – 7PP

·         Sausage – 10PP

·         Egg & cheese – 8PP

·         Bacon, egg & cheese – 9PP

·         Sausage, egg & cheese – 12PP

·         Mega melt – 13PP

Breakfast Flatbreads

***Values based bread, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions. Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Bacon – 7PP

·         Sausage – 10PP

·         Egg & cheese – 9PP

·         Bacon, egg & cheese – 9PP

·         Sausage, egg & cheese –13PP

·         Mega melt – 14PP

Salad Bowls

***Cheese and dressing are not included and will have to be added***

·         Beef – 3PP

·         Chicken breast -3PP

·         Chicken tikka – 3PP

·         Ham – 3PP

·         Chicken teriyaki – 4PP

·         Turkey breast – 3PP

·         Turkey breast and ham – 3PP

·         Subway club – 4PP

·         Veggie delite – 1PP

Sides & snacks

·         Bowl of meatballs – 9PP

·         Cheese toastie – 6PP

·         Pepperoni pizza toastie – 7PP

·         Melted cheese nachos – 11PP

Sauces/dressings

***Be careful – these values are based on 21g & 15g for the mayo! More than likely you could be provided with twice if not three times this amount so pro point with your eyes***

·         Sweet onion sauce (21g) – 1PP

·         Honey mustard sauce (21g) – 1PP

·         BBQ (21g) – 1PP

·         Light mayo (15g) – 2PP

·         Chipotle southwest sauce (21g) – 3PP

·         Ranch dressing (21g) – 1PP

Treats

·         Chocolate chip cookie -8PP

·         Rainbow cookie – 6PP

·         Chocolate chunk cookie – 6PP

·         Double choc chip cookie – 6PP

·         Oatmeal raisin cookie – 6PP

·         White chip macadamia nut cookie – 7PP

·         Chocolate donut – 7PP

·         Sugared donut – 6PP

·         Blueberry muffin – 10PP

·         Chocolate chunk muffin – 11PP

·         Double chocolate chunk muffin – 11PP

·         Chocolate chip candy – 6PP

·         BEAR pure fruit raspberry yoyos – 1PP

I hope this information will help you make wiser choices the next stop you stop by Subway. 

Personally I always have a ham salad bowl with light mayo YUM :)

Until next time,

Grá :)