Weigh In .. Pleased ..

 

I wasn't feeling very confident at this weeks weigh in, main reason I wasn't feeling very well so I felt really heavy. I had an okish week, could of been better but also could of been a lot lot worse. I had missed an exercise session as well which didn't put me in a very confident mood.

 

I was very apprehensive when I stepped on those scales. The weight said 13.4 but I couldn't remember what my weigh in was last week and I forgot to look at my book so when I was passed my book back I nervously looked inside to see that I had in fact lost 1 1/2 pounds!

 

I'm extremely pleased with that, I had gotten off the weight I had put on last week, I am now well on my way to my 3 1/2 stone award! Come on!

 

Also on a side note I would like to say congratulations to my best bud and fellow slimming worlder Gareth for getting his 5 Stone Award. Yep that's right 5 Stone! Really pleased and proud of him, hes definitely my inspiration and he should be yours too, so go check out his blog here because he must be doing something right!

Weigh In .. Getting Motivated ..

I'm a little late putting this up I know, but Tuesday evening was weigh in day and I had put on 1 and a half pounds, a little disappointing but also expected I guess. I had too much bread I know this and I wasn't getting into my diet at all, I was just generally struggling. I have yet to lose my 3 stone weight loss though so this I am pleased about.

 

A good thing to come out of a gain though is motivation. So after I had my Tuesday treat of a pasty I gave myself a stern talking to, got to keep going and start trying harder!

 

I'm only two days in but I am doing well, from snacking on syn free things to low syn meals. I've already been to the gym and I'm going again tomorrow. I will have a loss next week!

Weigh in .. Speechless

This weigh in blog is going to make me sound like a liar.

In my last post I mentioned how I had a bad week and I was expecting a large gain. I stepped on the scales to be shocked into oblivion, not only had I NOT gained or even maintained I had lost 3 lbs!!

How you ask? I haven't a clue. The only conclusion I could come up with is the stepping up of my exercise and the healthy meals I was having, because even though I was snacking I was still having my low syn meals.

 

This week I am taking no chances though. I believe last weigh in was just an unbelievably lucky fluke. So this week is a low syn week, plenty of superfree and lots off exercise.

 

Also this week I got my gold body magic certificate and sticker for stepping up my exercise for 8 weeks, I going to celebrate this by going to the gym.

 

In group this week there was lots of new starters. It was great see, all new people starting a fresh and making a new change in 2013! I wish them all the best of luck!

Weigh In .. Final One of 2012 ..

The after Christmas weigh was upon me and I was prepared for anything. The scales could do their worst, but as it turns out I wasn't quite prepared for what I was looking at when I looked at the screen.

 

For the week over Christmas I had only put on 1 and a half pounds on, I was delighted, I hadn't really done any damage at all. This is manageable, well it's more than manageable, it's amazing.

I am at the moment  13 stone 7 lbs, so I am still maintaining that 3 stone weight loss!

 

I couldn't be more back on it if I tried, ready to battle onto my 3 1/2 stone award! It's salad tonight and tomorrow it's Iceland's Lamb Shanks in mint gravy, served with lots of superfree veg. I get the frozen lamb shanks, 450g each, 3 syns each.

 

So as this year is closing I wanted to say a big thank you to Slimming World because they have made my life drastically change, I can honestly say I would of never got this far without it. Never have a found a diet more easy and more productive than the Slimming World one. I have amazing meals, things I wouldn't even tried, and yet still I get results. I have pushed myself in the gym more than I ever thought possible, I mean I have never run on a treadmill before now and now it's the first thing I do when I enter a gym.

 

More importantly though I would like to say thank you to my consultant Mandy and the rest of the group because they are inspiration, support and friends. Would never have kept this up as good as I have without them. I now look forward to going and can't wait to spend time there, chatting, supporting and learning!

 

I am loving going into a new year a healthier, happier me. So I will see you next year, I hope its a good New Years Eve for everyone!

Christmas Break ..

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and you're going to have a great New Year.

I've just had a Christmas break from the blog and from Slimming World, but now I am back on it. Blog and Slimming World!

I gave myself the break because I knew I had so many things in the house I wanted to eat, from Pringles and chocolate, to my favourite slices of pie. I wanted to completely indulge and enjoy my Christmas so I gave myself a deadline, and the deadline is today. It ends now, I'm back on it!

It's 100% that I have gained, haha, but I am okay with this, I have come to terms with it. It was Christmas, it's going to be hard to lose any weight at Christmas. I think sometimes you just need a break from dieting sometimes, sometimes it can be a bit monotonous. So Christmas is a great opportunity for this.

We are back at group this Sunday evening and whatever the scales say I'll be happy, I have now drawn a line under it and I am starting a fresh. I've set a new goal in sight. At the start of June next year some friends and I are going on a week away to Bulgaria so for then I would like a whole new wardrobe of summer clothes preferably in a size smaller than I am now and also I would like to be 11.5 stone! Right now I have to lose 2 stone to get that but I haven't had my after Christmas weigh in yet.

So to sum up I have had an amazing Christmas and I'm prepared for weigh in, in two days time.

If you're in Slimming World and have had a bad Christmas get back to group and stay for the meeting, you'll get the boost you're needing to get back on it.

Alternatively if you have put on some weight on over Christmas that you are not happy about or you want to start 2012 a new person, why not get down to your local slimming group?

If you don't know where that is you can go on the website www.slimmingworld.com and search by your postcode or even easier use the iphone and Android app!

I guarantee you will get a warm welcome and ton's of support, you will get the help you need and an easy way to do it. I can honestly say that this is the easiest diet I have ever been on and the most successful by far!

So come on and take that first step to the new you! I'll see you there!!

 

 

I also would like to take a second to thank people who read this, you give me inspiration to write more and to help others, knowing someone is reading his keeps me going and keeps me motivated so have a great New Year and all the best for 2013!

 

 

Weigh In .. Expected ..

First off let me mention that I have one more weigh in before Christmas and I need to lose 3 and a half pounds, oh my god I can do this. This week is a complete low syn week of salads and pasta. I have to reach my Christmas target, I'd be so ecstatic!

 

So I told you about my horrendous week of meals out, I was going to try and be good the other days. That didn't really work out for me, from pasties at 2 in the morning (motorway services), hot chocolates and a take away. It has not been good, not to mention I had no exercise like I planned, it seemed everything was in my way last week. On Wednesday I had a poorly child, on Friday I caught his illness and couldn't even get up never mind go to the gym, and on our usual Monday swim night they closed the sport centre.

 

So all in all I had a bad week, and the scales showed that, I was pretty much hoping for less than 5lbs so I was pleased when the scale said I'd put on 2 and a half, I can cope with that.

 

After weigh in it was our Christmas raffle and I was delighted when I won a hand blender and a soup recipe book, I now have new recipes to try in the new year. Also I was really pleased the friends that we sit with all won something, including Gareth winning an actifry!

 

So on it this week for 3 and a half pound loss, wish me luck!

Weigh In .. Meal Out ..

Yesterday was weigh in day, feeling optimistic I was hoping for a 2lb loss. I got onto the weighing scales and came away with a 3lb loss. I'm really pleased with that, that's 6 1/2lbs in two weeks, I can definitely say my head is in it. I now need 1 more pound for my Christmas target of 3.5 stone loss.

 

After the weigh in it was time for our Christmas meal out. What a great night it was, full of laughter, great company and lovely food. Set at The Viking in Goole, I started with the Tomato and Basil soup with a crusty baguette which I savoured since it will be the only piece of bread I'll have this week. Next came the Traditional Turkey with all the trimmings, this including Yorkshire pud, stuffing ball, pigs in blankets and veg. It was absolutely delicious, for desert I had the Raspberry Blondie which was packed full of flavour and I even took a sneaky peek. It was a synful but gorgeous meal.

 

So today is the start of a difficult week, a high in syn meal last night, and now today is an in between day where I'll have salad, and it's gym tonight to really push myself. I really hope I can try and keep a maintain next week at least but we'll see. Also here's a pic of me and Gareth enjoying last night.

Weigh In .. On It ..

After having a brilliant week where I really concentrated and tried so hard everyday, except one for Saturday where I was lured out to an Italian meal I am pleased to say that I lost 3 and a half pounds! I'm now down to 13 stone 4 1/2 pounds, and I only need 4 pounds off for my Christmas target. I'm pretty sure I can do this 3 weeks.

 

My head is seriously in it now, after this great loss I feel great and I'm ready for next goal. There will be no meals out this week so there is nothing stopping me. It is next week that will be a problem, 3 meals out. The first one will be our SW Christmas meal out, a 3 course meal after weigh in. Then onto Thursday where I'm going to London for the day and finally Saturday where I'm heading to York. This week has to be amazingly good to make up for next week.

No Weigh In ..

I'm not attending weigh in this as I have family matters at home, but in a way I am glad because I've had a horrendous week, from going back to old ways of snacking and too much bread, also drinking when I was out Saturday. It can only mean that I have put on.

 

This has been a quite a depressing start to the week, dieting and other matters at hand. Today I really sat down and had a word to myself, I had to stop this snacking, telling myself I'll be better later on in the week and not doing it. I'm going back to basics and writing everything down, I'm going to try cutting out bread completely this week to see if it helps.

 

I have had a good start today at turning it around, I've had 2 syns all day, by having a salad with mayo, and a fruit salad. I used my Healthy A on a babybel in my salad and I have my Healthy B left for a Hi-fi bar later on. I have quite a a few leftovers in the freezer so I will be using them up this week, and the frozen meals are all free.

 

I've come so far, I have to realise I can't mess it up now.

Weigh In .. A Little Late ..

Just got back from the gym with Gareth, and now I feel great. Always feel better after the gym, feel like I've contributed to my weight loss. Today is a great start to the week, got my superfree in and my Healthy A and B. For lunch I had left over chili with 2 slices of wholemeal bread followed by fruit. For dinner I made a favourite of Spaghetti Bolognese. Completely syn free, I had my Healthy A left so I popped a bit of grated cheese on top! Lovely!

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Fry Light

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

340g extra lean minced beef

230g button mushrooms, thinly sliced

400g can of chopped tomatoes

280ml beef stock

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

seasoning

280g spaghetti, dried

 

1. Spray a pan with Fry Light and cook the onions and garlic for 2-3 mins until just softened. Stir in the mince and cook until browned.

2. Add the mushrooms and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire sauce. Season lightly and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15-20 mins until reduced and thickened. Check the seasoning.

3. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions. Drain and divide between 4 plates. Top with bolognese sauce and sprinkle with cheese if you want.

 

So easy, syn free and filling!

 

Also I haven't informed you of my results of this weeks weigh in. I stepped on the scales thinking of a gain and received a maintain! I'll take it, after the week I had, of alcohol, apple pie and just random snacking I'm pleased with that result. I really thought I'd blown it, I would like to keep losing every week but at this stage anything is better than a gain. So I am set for a new week, still need 7 1/2 pounds for my Christmas target. In 5 weeks, can I do it?



Weigh In (Insert Sad Face) ..

Weigh in was last night, and it did not go well for me at all. I gained 1 1/2 pounds. Obviously I'm not happy about it. Nothing much has changed over this week food wise. The only thing I can think of is the extra gym training I did Sunday afternoon. I've been feeling aching and my muscle are really hard from the circuit training I did. So I am hoping its that and I've got some water retention, which would mean that it all comes off next week! 

 

Since Gemma had me doing circuit training, I am blaming her. Ha ha. The question is now though do I keep doing some sort of circuit training every week and make my body get used to it, or just scrap it all together. Gemma just put up a great little home exercise as well for toning, be sure to go check that out here. Looks like a great little work out that you don't even need to leave the house for!

 

So today is the start of a new week, I have my meal plan that I will stick to. Tonight on the menu is Tuna Pasta Salad, quick, easy and completely syn free, might even have a Weight Watchers petit pan for my Healthy B as a side. My head is completely in it this week. Nothing is going to stop me and I will get my Christmas target of 3.5 stone weight loss!

Weigh In .. Wooo

 

So the time has come to tell you the result and I can tell you I am delighted, no that's not the right word, I am ecstatic! I got my new 2 and a half stone award and got myself into a new number I lost 6lbs, unbelievable! Of course we have to thank the tonsillitis for the most part, obviously my body didn't go into shock and store up my fat. I am now 13.9 and well on my way to my interim target which I set at 12 stone. I'm also 1 and a half pounds from my 3 stone award and I am going for it. I've set my target at 2lbs this week and nothing is stopping me getting it!

 

I'm so gleeful its unreal. As well as getting my 2 and a half stone award I also succeeded in my body magic silver, since I've been going gym twice a week and swimming once, so I got a nice new shiny sticker and I am now onto building up for my gold. Also because I lost 6lbs I got slimmer of the week, another award and shiny new sticker! I am seriously loving this week, if I needed any inspiration for next week, I have it now!

 

Feeling Better ..

 

So I'm finally getting over tonsillitis, I can just about manage solids and I've got a little more energy, meaning I can actually walk around without leaning on the wall for aide. The anti-biotics they gave are working amazingly, plus they're great for food managing since I can't eat with them, I can't eat hour before or after taking it. I knew I could find a plus for an illness!

 

Weigh in is tonight, which I will drag my body to, to attend. I hoping for a loss since I've been ill. But I also have to factor in that my body will have gone into shock and probably stored some fat, not to mention I haven't moved that much in a week! My lack of exercise is what scares me, but my food intake has been minimal. From low fat ice cream, soup and on Sunday I manged lunch with mash potato, soft veg and chicken cut up into little pieces. I felt I was eating my 5 year old meal but I just about manged it. Yesterday I had some pasta with  a Dolmio express sauce, cabonara. I hardly ever have them these days, but it was something quick and easy since I didn't have the ingredients in to make my own sauce. So I should mention that this pouch was 150g and is 8.5 syns. Very high but really quick and easy when you don't feel good.

 

I will go to weigh and face my fate, hopefully it's a happy result, but if not tomorrow is the start of a new week, and a healthy one at that! I will keep you informed...



Weigh In, Pizza! ..

 

So yesterday was weigh in day, no point going around the houses to tell you I maintained. Which is much better than gaining but I was half a pound away from my 2 and a half stone award. It's frustrating but its my own fault, I had too much bread this week, I know this. I have to cut down on it, not to  mention them cheeky snacks. Last week my motivation was shot. Sometimes you just get those weeks, the weeks that are harder than others. I needed a boost, some sort of shot of inspiration. Today is a brand new week, and I have my inspiration. I have made before and after pictures for my friends and a couple of others but never for me, I didn't think there would be any difference, but today, with my inspiration gone I thought why not? So here it is, my inspiration to keep going!

 

 

 

So the weigh in came and went, and it was time for something to eat, Tuesdays I always say is treat night, I like to have a bit of chocolate or something, but with my maintain I by passed that and went straight for my dinner (another treat). Pizza, garlic bread and chips, now I know what you're thinking, 'one slice of take-away pizza is 25 syns!' But don't worry I had a full plate of these things and it was only 7 syns!

 

I had a gorgeous homemade chicken pizza, SW chips and petit pan garlic bread.

 

 

To get this meal to 7 syns I have to use both my Healthy A and B. Also you can't eat the whole pizza, I have a quarter, or if you can have half for 12.5 syns, which still is acceptable. Really easy as well, all takes under 30 mins.

 

Ingredients:

 

150g basic pizza base

tomato puree

any free toppings you wish

reduced fat mozzarella ball

Weight Watchers petit pan

1 tbsp of Flora Extra Light

1 tsp garlic powder

1.5 tsp mixed herbs

couple of big potatoes, peeled and cut into chips

Fry Light

 

To make the pizza spread the tomato puree on the pizza base, add topping of choice and cover with sliced mozzarella. Put in oven at 170c for 10-15 mins.

For the garlic bread mix the Flora, garlic and mixed herbs in a bowl. With a knife make slits in the petit pan and spread a little of the garlic butter in each one. 1 tbsp is 1.5 syns so make sure you don't go over. Bake this in the oven with the pizza for 10 mins or until browned on top.

To make the chips I spray a small baking tin with Fry Light, add the potatoes and spray Fry Light on top, put in oven at 170c for 20-25 mins, then raise temp to 190c for 10 more mins to brown them a little.

 

Here's how I work it out because I think a few people will be a little dubious.

 

Quarter of the basic pizza base is 5.5 syns.

I use my Healthy A for the cheese.

My Healthy B for the full Petit Pan.

A tbsp of Flora Extra Light is 1.5 syns.

 

All together a healthy option for a take away night and a very satisfied Charlotte!

Weigh In ..

 

Okay so it was the dreaded weigh in day today, and I lost 2 and a half pounds! Woohoo ha ha.

I was quite surprised by that and also ecstatic, I am now 14st 1lb, I need 1/2 a pound for my 2 and a 1/2 stone award and a 2lb to get into a number that I haven't been in years. I know I can achieve that next week!

 

Today was taster week to start the 12 weeks to Christmas countdown, some lovely things to try. I made and brought in aromatic chicken bake. It consisted of a walk into town to buy ingredients so I got some body magic in today. Then I got cooking, really easy one to make again since it all takes just over 30mins and it is all baked in one pot. I think it went well down at group since I made a full casserole pot and there was only about a quarter left. I thought it tasted great and I will definitely be making this one again!

 

Also won the raffle tonight! First time ever, was quite excited. I won ingrediants to make a nice casserole or a chunky soup.

 

 

 

Ingredients:

Fry Light

800g Skinless and boneless chicken, cut into large bite-sized pieces

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 red pepper, deseeded and diced

2 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped

1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1cm dice

200g green beans, trimmed and cut into 1cm lengths

3 cardamom pods

2 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

250g dried paella rice

500ml chicken stock

salt and pepper

chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish.

 

1. Preheat oven to 180c/Gas 4.

2. Spray a large casserole pot with Fry Light. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 10-15 mins until golden on all sides. Add the onion, garlic and pepper to the pan and cook for 5 mins.

3. Stir in the tomatoes, carrot, green beans, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick , paprika and rice.

4. Add the stock. Season to taste, and bring to the boil.

5. Cover with lid and transfer to the oven and cook for  20-25 mins or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

6. Fluff up the rice, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

 

Amazingly easy and syn free!