Challenge Extended

So on Saturday morning I cleared out freezer (odious task) and then asked Mr Bee what he fancied for dinner. He thinks he is so witty. He answered (thinking this was about as likely as flying to the moon) "steak, chips, onion rings and some spicy prawns on the side". Smart arse. Challenge extended.

"Done", I said. Challenge accepted.

I knew I had 2 rump steaks in the freezer so trimmed them of all fat, seasoned and fried for no more than 90seconds each side in fry light. It was tender, succulent and delicious. I also always keep a big bag of raw, frozen, ready to use prawns in the freezer. Sprinkled with chilli flakes and sautéed quickly in a hot pan, there's your Surf and Turf.

Slimming World chips are easy peasy. Chop potatoes into chunky chips, parboil for 6 minutes and drain. Chuff up (thanks Jamie Oliver) in the pan and allow to dry. Place onto a baking sheet sprayed with fry light, spray a bit more fry light and bake at 200 degrees C for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway.

The onions and mushrooms were dipped in egg and then dusted in wholemeal breadcrumbs (half of my Healthy B choice for the day). I added garlic salt to the crumbs after I made the onion rings and they were crispy and delicious too. Serve the lot with a lovely side salad (not pictured) and you have a great healthy meal. To be honest even without a salad you have plenty of veg in your onions and mushrooms.

This doesn't look or feel like a diet dinner in any way, but it is absolutely free (as long as your B choice is used for the bread crumbs). This was a big, luxurious feeling dinner. Plus I got to feel just a little bit smug as I put it on the table.

You're welcome, Mr Bee! ;)

In the beginning

In the beginning there is a fat girl trying to be thinner. Over the years I have tried and had mixed success with the dieting thing, losing and gaining the same 3 or 4 stone again and again. It's going to be different this time, I hope.

With my new mindset, new ethos, and desire to be a new me, I decided a few weeks ago to join Slimming World. I tried it years ago with the red and green days and found it too confusing, but now they have introduced the Extra Easy plan which is ideal for people like me, people who cook and don't want to stop cooking. I don't want to live on "diet" food forever. The extra easy plan allows me to eat as much a I like of certain foods (veggies, fruit, lean meat, pasta, rice, noodles, eggs, herbs, spices, certain low fat dairy products) without weighing them. I then have a Healthy Extra A (calcium and dairy) and a Healthy Extra B choice (wheats and cereals). I'll refer to these as HEA and HEB in coming blogs. Everything else gets synned, allowing 10 syns per day for treats etc.

I am 3 weeks in and have lost 13.5lb following this diet. This is a drop in the ocean. I have just had a week off with visiting friends but I am not daunted by the idea of getting back on it. Instead I'm pretty hyped up about it. I have been reading a few more of the success stories and other peoples experiences and I find them both helpful and inspiring. I hope this blog will offer others the same, plus I hope it will encourage me to keep on at it. Keep watching for recipes and daily diaries and hopefully ideas of new things to keep you going too.

You never know, it might just work.