Mojo

Last week I maintained my weight. Far from ideal to be honest. According to my scales at home - and my Wii - I was expecting a couple of pounds off. Undeterred, I've had another text book week. Well within my syns again, I am praying that maybe, just maybe, my loss will catch up this week giving me a bumper loss tomorrow.. hopefully. With a total loss of 85lb I need to get a loss this week to keep up my momentum.

Food wise, we are still powering through Jamie's 15 Minute meals, proving again and again how easy it is to cook low or no syn grub on Extra Easy. Last Wednesday after weigh in we treated ourselves to a chicken shwarma kebab, recipe courtesy of Gordon Ramsay, and Richy cooked us a family meal of chicken cacciatore at the weekend. It was so delicious even Heather ate the hidden mushrooms which she claims she doesn't like!

The big news this week is clothing related.  Armed with Christmas money, I took a trip to New Look - a shop previously off my radar. They do have a Plus section in fairness, but in honesty walking through the "normal" section to get to it was too awful and uncomfortable - dragging yourself through the thin person racks to get to your "bit" isn't fun. I had fun though, perusing the normal clothes... taking clothes to the changing rooms..  disregarding the ones which were too BIG... walking out on cloud nine with a bag of size 14 loot. That's right folks, 14s. Another size down in my jeans too and even the shoes I got were a 5 instead if my normal 6. Who knew feet would shrink!?

Tomorrow marks one year since I joined Slimming World so this weekend when I go out in my new togs I'll get a photo and do a then and now for my next post. Bet you can't wait!

In the middle

I've been back to class and weighed in. I have gained 3lb since the week before Christmas and I am quite happy with that. I predicted 3 before I jumped on the scales so it's all good. This means now that my interim target is 3st away, and I hope to get that by the middle of the year. Last night was a rare occasion of not staying to class, but I did leave clutching my new pack (it's so pretty!), the new Slimming World magazine (which is discounted in group) and full of promise for today and my ongoing journey. Under the circumstances the gain hasn't dampened my spirits - I'm simply inspired to carry on.

And carry on I have. I have gone right back to basics today. It's a new year and a fresh chapter for me so I want to refresh myself with the plan and get interested again. There are lovely new things allowed as A and B choices (nuts!) so I really need to check the book regularly just now to make sure I am making the most of the plan.

When Megan was asleep and Heather was at nursery I had my lunch, browsed the new magazine, planned a week of dinners using my new books and read my new Food Optomising book, just like the new members. Also like all brand new members, I am writing a food diary again. Slimming World ask you to keep a diary for at least your first four weeks but I only did two last year before I bored myself. I'm hoping that I can manage at least two this year and that it makes me think again about what's going in my mouth. Will power back in place, I even refused to eat Megan's leftover pizza despite being starving hungry! My lunch of carrot, coriander and lentil soup from the new magazine that I whipped up this morning was wholesome, delicious and filling but hours ago and I'm now more than ready for my tea of Greek Chicken and couscous from Jamie's 15 minute meals.

The soup making thing was a spur of the moment thing, inspired by a box of carrots which needs using and seeing the recpie in the magazine. Quick, tasty and warming it was perfect for this freezing day. The girls had some tomato and orzo soup which I think is my favourite. That's quite a statement when you know how I feel about soup. Both soups are delicious although the tomato gets the edge for me, sprinkled with black pepper and parmesan. Honestly though it's just nice to have found a couple I can eat, offering me a healthy, free lunch which isn't salad. Much as I love a nice salad I want heat in the winter.

Anyway I'm off to get my tea on, fill my tummy and look forward to day 2.

See you there!

Indian Winter

I could bang on and on and ON about how wonderful recipe books are. Honestly, there are few things I love more. This week I've gone through my new books, pulled out some recipes and had some great free or low syn dinners. Jamie Oliver has brought us Chilli con carne meatballs with lemon bulgar wheat (more on that in my up-coming series of posts on the subject of 15 minute meals, but what I will say is that bulgar wheat is now On My Radar). Tomorrow, Nigella is bringing me  butterflied leg of lamb with bay and balsamic vinegar. Suitable for the whole family, I suspect I will serve this up with veggies and syn free herby roasties. As for tonight,  we dined on a Gordon Ramsay recipe from his new book; Ultimate Cookery Course.

Without being immodest, I'm no novice in the kitchen, but that doesn't mean that this book can't offer me anything. I've already made a soup for Richy from it and then tonight's massively successful dinner of murgh makhani (butter chicken). Make again? You betcha. I'm not part of the "better than a takeaway" crew. If I'm getting a takeaway it's because I don't want to cook or I don't want to clear up. Simple. However since starting Slimming World takeaways are a massive treat and the fact that tonight's cooking took less than half an hour and cost me a fraction is really neither here nor there.

So here is is, slightly adapted from the recipe as published: Coriander, Ginger and Chilli butter chicken, the way I made it.

Serves 4.

500g chicken thighs, cubed

Marinade:
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1tbsp grated ginger
1 red chilli finely chopped
Juice of 1/4 lemon
2tsp coriander seeds, toasted
1tsp cumin seeds,  toasted
1/2 tsp turmeric
150g fat free natural yoghurt
Salt and pepper

Sauce:
1 small onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp grated ginger
1tsp ground coriander
1tsp garam masala
1/2tsp turmeric
Pinch chilli powder
2 tbsp tomato puree
25g butter

Coriander to garnish

Mix the chicken with the garlic, ginger, chilli and lemon juice (marinade list). Grind your toasted seeds and mix with the yoghurt and turmeric, add salt and pepper and pour over the chicken. Mix well and allow to marinade for as long as possible, overnight is best.

When you're ready to cook, heat a pan on a medium heat and spray with frylight. Add your chopped onion, a pinch of salt and a drop of water. Allow the onion to soften slowly for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, fry for 1 minute then add the ginger and fry for another minute before adding your ground spices (and a bit more water if it gets too dry). Once it smells aromatic, add the tomato puree and mix in well. Add the butter and allow to melt before stirring.

Remove the excess marinade from the chicken and add the chicken to the pan. Cook on a medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, lower the heat and add the remaining marinade to the pan. Cook gently for 5 minutes - don't cook on a high heat or the yoghurt will split.

Serve with rice, sprinkled with coriander leaves and enjoy!

I calculate this to be just shy of 2 syns per person on Extra Easy, although as always I would recommend you check your own syn values. Mr Ramsay's printed recipe is as above only he uses oil or ghee instead of frylight. Whether you make it his way or mine, try it.

I'll definitely be making it again!

New Year, new me

Happy New Year!

Did you eat? Did you drink?

Were you merry?

I did. I was. Ooft.

Every other diet I've ever done has stopped way way WAY before Christmas so I haven't ever had to consider it as an issue. Obviously this year is different because I actually made it to... well,  past April to be honest.

I've enjoyed my Christmas and New Year. It only comes once a year and I love it. I haven't weighed in officially but my scales reckon about 7lb on. I'm not worried about that. It was an after dinner weigh in for starters, and I can be up 4-5lb on an average Sunday night and still lose 2-3lb on the Wednesday so I'm hopeful that by a week today when I go back to class most if not all of that will have gone. I retain water badly after drinking and seeing as I was mostly drinking for the last few days it's no surprise to me that I'm holding on to water. Anyway I said before Christmas that if I can go back next Wednesday still retaining my 6st award I'd be happy and I stand by that. I think...

I am bizarrely excited to get back to normal. To detox a bit I suppose, cut back on the booze and get back on it. My body needs it. After 2 weeks off plan to varying degrees I am lacking in energy, slightly headachey and *whispers*... a bit gassy. The change in food hasn't agreed with me especially and I would never have believed it would be the case. I suppose a year is a long time though (they reckon it takes 6 months to form a habit) and over the year my habits have definitely altered. On the way back from my mum's today Richy joked of an old habit "will we get a pizza tonight then?"... how we laughed! We have changed. I have changed. And it's a lifestyle change I'm glad to have made. Instead of a takeaway we sat as a family and ate prawn linguine - it was from Jamie's 15 minute meals, was quick (obviously), delicious (naturally), free on Extra Easy (mais oui)... and even better, the kids wolfed it down.

Tonight I'm sat here,  having had my first day back on plan and raring to go. I've browsed my Christmas gifts of Jamie's 15 Minute Meals, Nigellissima and Gordon's Ultimate Cookery Course and have planned my week's meals using all three books.

Can't wait to get started!

Control (of sorts)

Merry Christmas! I hope every one of you is having a lovely festive time. It's been a mixed one for us - Christmas day was lovely but aside from that we have spent the past week dipping in and out of ill health. Unfortunately the dreaded norovirus claimed us as its victims, and Heather now has tonsilitis. Nasty.

Since my last post I had my Christmas night out with work. My dream all year had been to wear a size 16 dress and wear one I did. I must confess I felt a million dollars on the night, but no way was I on plan or counting syns. The previous Wednesday had been my final weigh in before Christmas though (3lb off taking my 2012 loss to 6st 4lb) and control was nigh on impossible. Cake in the office? Sure. Buckets of wine? Why not. Yes, it's Christmas but unless I want to weigh in on the 9th with a massive gain (which I don't) then something has to give, so (Christmas day aside) I been mostly behaving in the day and going a bit off plan at night or vice versa. Stomach bug aside, naturally... I ate nothing then!

Basically after New year I have a week to sort myself out before I weigh in, get my new books and throw myself into 2013's challenge - REACHING TARGET. Hopefully on the 9th I can at least maintain my pre-Christmas weight, although to maybe even lose a little would be nice. I know that it will be hard to get back into it. I know the first few days properly back on it I will feel like I'm dying but I also know it's going to be ok, and I can do this. My one year anniversary is the end of January and it would be nice to be close to my 100lb by then but the thing is, since not losing it in 2012 it's less of a marker. My next challenge is to go for an interim target of another 2st 11lb (total loss 9st 1lb) and take it from there. Very probably another stone from there will be the right place, but I won't know until I'm nearly there. 2012 has been great for me, but 2013 is definitely going to be my year.

Now I'm off to have a Happy New Year and I hope you do too!

Mistletoe and wine

I am really struggling. Christmas is just around the corner and today was my last week at work before the big man comes to visit. I've tried my very best this week,despite having Friday night drinks with a couple of lovely friends and a group lunch with a bunch of mummies at Pizza Express on Saturday.

Oh, the wine!

Oh, the pizza!

Oh, the mince pies.

Mentally I am in a really mixed place. I want to stick to plan, I really do. With so much yummy going on though, this challenge is the greatest yet. December was always going to be tough and whilst I'm certainly not going to ruin my Christmas by being mean with myself, I also don't want to for too far off plan. I still have so far to go and I am going to have one hell of a battle to get back on track in January but Christmas really does come just once a year and I want to enjoy it. My other issue is my physical being - I'm starting to feel really good now when I'm dressed up but in my darkest moments I am still massively disheartened by what I see.

Really I would like to stay on plan as much as possible until Monday but I have nights out on Friday and Saturday and honestly, I know I won't be on plan then. Tomorrow is my last weigh in before Christmas and I won't weigh again until Jan 9th. Sounds like a long time but I have a full week after New Year to get back on plan. Basically I'm going to try and be as good as I can.

After all,  it's a whole year until next Christmas.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat

But I'm not.

It's true I am now some way from achieving my 100lb loss in 2012, but I have lost 85lb (6st 1lb) and I know that's a great achievement. That's 4 dress sizes and a total of 52.25" of fat gone forever. I'm not done by far, but I look at these numbers with a small swell of pride. Lots of people have asked me how I stay motivated and I have various methods,  none of them is anything complicated but the are all helpful in their own ways.

I try to be kind to myself and I try not to give myself too much of a hard time (not always easy). I look at my book frequently, covered in stickers, and it shows me how far I've come. Every sticker and ring of the bell in class spurs me on. As does my own success.... and failure. If I don't lose,  I try harder the next week so I know I WILL lose the next week. When I lose then I float home to plot the loss on the Slimmimg World website, happy as a pig in mud. I really think motivation and success feed off one another. When I do well I feel motivated, and when I'm motivated I do well. If I can do this, anyone can because one thing that's held all of this together for the past 10.5 months  is belief in myself.

My main thing though is to keep my food interesting and use my syns. At the end of the day this is a lifestyle change for me and I need to know I can stick to this for the long haul and that won't happen if I pretend I'm never going to drink wine/eat pizza/dine out ever again. I don't want to be a big fat fatty again and I've got rid of all my clothes to make sure it can't happen. That said, December is proving to be a challenge already. Heather turned 4 last week (cake, pizza hut), plus there's boxes of chocolates a-go-go and wrapping presents never feels the same without a glass of wine (or this year a glass of alcoholic chocolate milk). It feels although the season to be merry is well and truly here, so I need to be careful that it's not all merry and no careful. I would feel different if I was target but with another 3-4 st still to go I simply can't lose control. 

The bonus is that I will be attending Christmas parties this year wearing a dress size I thought I would never be, and soon I'll be out of it the other side.

Because you've got to have a dream.