Pull you in knickers and small changes.

Dear reader,

Welcome to my blog, I have new followers and a jump in readers. It's brilliant to have you here.

As you know, I have taken the crazy decision to start my New Years diet resolution a bit early.

You know when a girl has her heart set on a certain man (who is usually no good? ) and there's nothing you can do to changer her mind. She has to do it herself. Well that's how I've got with being overweight. I've read all the magazines, seen all the before and after pictures, I know what to eat and how to exercise. So why haven't I done anything about it. It's the same as the girl with the loser.
There's nothing you can say or do until she's makes her mind up.

That's me, I've made my mind up. There are so many benefits from being slim and fit and none to being fat and unfit. It is uncomfortable. My jeans made an ugly red mark round my stomach the other day. I can't bend over easily to do up my shoes. How bad is that? There a tyre there that stops me!
I get out of breath easily. Clothes don't look good and I feel like I'm wearing the baggy loose stuff now.
Does it cover my fat arms?
Do my thighs look huge?
My bum looks massive.
My worst area is my stomach. It's the biggest part. My lower legs are good. Top of arms not so great unless I was a shot putter. Thighs large. Face has double chin.

I have tried the pull you in knickers for special occasions. Ok to start with. A few hours and a couple of drinks later and I feel like my blood has been cut off. The trouble is, where does the roll of fat go that they push in? Well I know, it goes up and over the top of the waistband. Nice!
How many times have I ripped them off in the toilet? (For comfort reasons, thought I should say as sounded a bit sexual)

I wanted to make small changes straight away. It will be a challenge over Christmas and I don't mind having a few treats but I don't want to gorge, feel bloated and sit in front of the telly trying not to fart!
Sorry to mention the wind issue but if I eat loads I do suffer from the odd bit of wind. Sadly we don't have a dog to blame it on. (It's better in a car as you can blame the one in fronts Catalytic convertor.)

I don't know about you but I do use a bit of oil when I cook. Olive oil, a small splash in the pan when frying onions for a curry or a drizzle over a salad. You know when you think you use a small splash, it's probably about a tablespoon. Nothing major, just a tablespoon, OR SO I THOUGHT.

It's bloody well 119 calories in that tablespoon of olive oil and 100% FAT.  A banana has 89 calories and an apple about 50.

That's the first thing I'm changing. Oil.
I do fry a few things, onions especially as I use the for a base for lots of dishes. Well I will be using one of the spray oils now. Fry light is the one I like. One calories a squirt-much better.

That's my first little thing I will change.

If I lose a pound of fat, I will be getting rid of this from my body and that has to be a good thing.

Please join us by adding your name to my list. You don't have to disclose your weight and you can wait till the New Year to start. I just think if we do it together with regular updates, tips from each other and discussions we can learn from each other and be more successful. I plan to do giveaways, recipes and pictures of my weight loss journey. 

Don't be shy, be brave.

X

Come, lose some pounds with me.

Dear reader,

I asked yesterday for you to join me in a weight loss challenge for 2014. I know, I've said it before, I've done this diet and that diet. I've promised other bloggers I'd join them, they've promised me the same blah, blah, blah.
Written my blog while munching on crisps and writing how I'm going to diet.

Well, no more! I am determined, neigh totally committed to getting rid of this fat.

I would like to lose about 3 stones in total. I'd also like to get fitter too. I'm coming to that age when it all can go a bit Pete Tong. I'm 43 now, things are sagging and loosening!

I am delighted to say that the following bloggers are on board. Some have done brilliantly already. Some want to lose more than others but the best thing is, we are going to do it together.

So Maria, Highlandhearts, Katie Jane, Welsh Poppy and One life three kids, I am totally thrilled.
I can feel a new me coming on. Miss slinky.

I think I'm going to set myself a goal because I achieve things better when I have a target, so I'm going to try to lose 10% of my body weight by the end of January. I reckon I'm 14 stones. (Big man wanted the batteries from the scales for something else) so that's 14 stones multiples by 14 pounds in a stone which makes 196 pounds so 10 per cent is 19.6 pounds. I'm going to round it up to a stone and a half.
Wow that seems a lot in a month and a half. I think I will make it the end of  February.

What do you reckon?

If anyone want me not to publish their comments/goals, just say so and I won't.

Let me know if you want to join in.

X

Shocking scammers- please read, this is important.

Dear reader,

I had to give this its own post. I am really hoping that some of you may be able to pass this information on or may stop this happening to you or someone you know. Perhaps and elderly neighbour, a friends parent or similar.

There are a revolting breed out there who are actively targeting elderly people.  They are usually widows or widowers and live alone ( The victims, not the revolting people). I don't know how they find their details but they do.
This is what they do:

Courier Fraud

They ring the person and pretend to be either from a bank or  a police officer. They tell the person that their bank account or card details have been hacked and they need to cancel their cards or account immediately. They obtain the PIN numbers, address, everything. Let me add as this point that they could be male or female and are VERY convincing. They ask the person to ring their own bank straight away and then end the call.
OR SO IT SEEMS.........
What they actually do is to say goodbye and then stay on the line. The victim dials the number and the scammer is still there and then preset to be the bank. They ask for the details and then confirm to the victim that yes, their account is being hacked but its ok now they can stop it.
To cut a long, long story short, they tell the victim to put all their bank cards in an envelope and to seal it and sign the seal blah, blah blah. They say that the bank will send a courier to collect the cards.
A taxi or courier then turns up and takes the cards away. Bingo. Got the cards, got the PIN number. They then spend on the cards until the victim works out something's wrong a few days later.

The other scam is the old "I am a solicitor and you have won a prize. It's coming from America so you need to pay the tax to release it" blah blah blah.

I know you will be thinking, no one could fall for this, who could be that stupid?

I can assure you there are hundreds and thousands of really lonely, old folk, living alone who often don't see anyone for days, sometimes weeks. They often have a slight bit of dementia and they are getting scammed. The old man I met was 86, a widower. He lives alone and his family (one child) lives abroad. He has lost about £50 k so far. He looks after himself, cooks, cleans etc and said the man was so convincing he just can't believe that it's a scam. The "solicitor" has been ringing him twice a week for over a year!

He showed me some of his other paperwork. I can tell you he must be the most insured, covered, protected and warranteed person in the world. He has been sold every policy there is. He has insurance on his insurance. It makes me mad. They are scamming and screwing these people out of their heating money and they don't care.

When I asked him why he didn't check it with someone he told me he had no one to ask, no one to check with.

I am asking you, please could you make yourself known to an elderly neighbour or pass this information on? I know you would all help someone out anyway as you're that kind of people but maybe you could just remind an elderly person to check with you or someone before they give anyone any money.

It's a sad world sometimes.

Anyone up for a weight loss challenge 2014?

Dear reader,

Another week gone and nearly another year too. I meant to spend last night working through our money and debts and working out budgets. In the end I did 4 hours overtime at work and another 1 tonight so have not done it yet. I am off tomorrow and then got offered 8 hours overtime on Sunday and I just can't turn it down, not at the moment.

I will have to do all my jobs tommorow and will have a few hours on Sunday.

We have done without a major shop but did have to spend a few pounds today on salad to go with a steak we had. I bought two steaks ages ago when they were on offer but we decided one would do us both so the other got frozen. We fancied a quick dinner so I drizzled a little garlic oil on it and fried it on the hottest heat in a frying pan. While that was going on, I tipped a big bag of salad into a bowl and added a few olives and two chopped tomatoes. I poured some more oil into a shaker with balsamic vinegar, a splash of fish sauce and a few flakes of chilli. I browned the steak on each side and then sliced it on a slant to make it thinner. It was very rare in the middle but very tender. I then tossed it back in the pan with the oil mixture then place the steak stops on the salad leaves and drizzled the warm oil dressing over the top. I finished it with a few tiny chopped pieces of tinned anchovy fillets. They add something very nice to a dish, if you like them and we both do.

I'm pleased we made the food last this week and the bread and milk top ups have been few.

We have dried stuff in the store cupboard, rice, lentils that type of thing. We have plenty of washing liquid, cleaning stuff, toothpaste etc so we just need food for the next couple of weeks.
I'm hoping to go to Lidl tomorrow (no Aldi here) and do a cheapish shop. I'm just thinking what to cook. I am trying to get back into my Slimming World book and pick some suitable recipes.

I have decided to have a good push as debt reduction in 2014. Loads of you took the time and trouble to leave a comment which really motivated me so thank you commenters.

I also have a new follower and again thank you for that, it makes such a difference to a blogger.

I am keen to save pounds but also want to get rid of some too.

Does anyone want to join me for a 2014 weight loss challenge? I am going to add another progress bar to track it.
Let me know and I'll make a list, we won't put weights just pounds lost.

Much love x

Sharing and caring.

Dear reader,

Thanks so much for all you tips, comments and advice about saving, budgeting and being prepared for unexpected bills. That's what I love about blog land the way we all share and learn new stuff together. The sealed tin we now get excited about from SFT's great blog, the days and nights of no central heating but snuggling into bed early-courtesy of Frugal Queen. The unusual but lovely dinners we sometimes have after learning about using up food from Mean Queen Ilona. She helped me stop smoking too. 7 months, a month blip and now off them again a week today.
I am more creative in the kitchen and have learned to see what I have-Karen at Chelmarsh Chunterings is a great cook! Pam from a good life in Tydd also does good recipes and I always read her blog, a very honest read, Mortgage free in three is always uplifting and has taught me how to put my big girls knickers on and just get on with it- thanks Elaine.
I would never have heard of Approved Food without you all. Your stories, your jokes-Bernard's backwater! Your problems and how you overcome them are all inspirational. Sometimes some of you go away for a while and I find I miss you as you would a friend, Miss Piggybank is back!

So this weekend I will sit down with a nice Earl Grey and sort out which account is for what and how much needs to go in each one. I'll let you know what I come up with.

I have managed not to do a food shop since 19/11/13 but have had a few milk and bread top ups.
I will go this weekend but it will be a cheap one.

Good night all, I am in bed in my onesie that my mum bought me last Christmas. No heating on today so Another day that I won't be paying British Gas!

If you have elderly neighbours please, please say hello, check they're ok and give them advice.
I'll tell you why tomorrow, it's a shocking story about a money scam that will make you so angry!

For now, goodnight.

FIB x

Bills and budgets.

Dear reader,

A tight month here. The dreaded car of mine ended up costing £2,500 in total to get everything repaired. The original garage didnt spot the correct fault so after I'd forked out £1,800 to them I had to pay £450 for the fuel injectors to be replaced. Then it was due a cam belt change at £350.
Wonderful big man paid for the latter two bills from his car account.
An expensive bill and I will have to keep the car for several more years. It's already 11 years old.

On a positive note, we are still paying off our debt and although you may not be able to see a massive change, the progress bar has moved a bit more. We are now down to just over £24,000.
Our mortgage will reduce in January and the extra saving will go towards the debt.
Once that is paid off we will overpay the mortgage.

I am determined to have proper funds in place next year for cars, household bills that come round yearly such as insurance, chimney sweep and boiler service. We pay the others monthly by direct debit.
I also need a Christmas and birthday present account so I have enough put by. It's not as if these things are surprises so I should be prepared. Something always seems to come up and I need to use the money elsewhere.

How do you do it? Do you have separate accounts to cover all eventualities?

Have a great day. X

December days.

Dear reader,

Wow can't believe we are so close to Christmas and the end of another year.
For most it will have been a steady year but for some the worst year of their lives.

Life is like that sometimes I think. I recall 1985 for me as being particularly horrendous. So if 2013 has been terrible for you and yours I wish you love and laughter for 2014.

Today was a leisurely but lovely day here in Bucks. Cold and sunny so the fat dog was walked as promised. He gets so excited he actually screams when I go to collect him.

We had a cheap lunch of hot dogs as I had some hot dogs rolls in the freezer that I got for 10p with fried onions and ketchup. I know they're not the greatest food and I don't even want to know whats in them but it was tasty.

I crushed 6 garlic cloves with my pestle and mortar with 3 sprigs of rosemary and half a teaspoon of rock salt. This was mixed with garlic oil and rubbed and stuffed under the skin of the leg of lamb.
I roasted it long and slow and it gifted us with a superb light crispy skin with tender moist meat that just fell off the bone.

I couldn't be bothered with all sorts of veg cooking in different pans so we peeled potatoes, carrots and a swede ( that's a lie, we is actually big man- thank you darling) chopped and par boiled and then were roasted with a dash of oil and some of the lamb fat.

There is just loads of the lamb left over, easily enough for 3 more meals each in some form so I don't feel too bad about the price.

I have been reading about different ways Christmas will be celebrated in your houses this year, or not as the case may be. For me, it's not Happy Holidays its still and will always be Merry Christmas.

We do buy presents for each other and parents. We have one of those twig trees with lights and a garland on the door, that's about it for decorations.  A few cards will be sent to friends and neighbours and a nice dinner with plenty of alcohol will be consumed.

On the menu this week here will be lamb curry, (had to be in there) lasagne, perhaps some faggots and mash, lamb with piri piri mayo (AF) in some wraps with lettuce, onion and tomato and perhaps something light like omlette one evening.

I hope your day has been great and December brings you a happy close to the year.

Much love

FIB. X