My Weight Watchers Year

I can't believe that it has been just about a year since I joined weight watchers for what I promised myself would be the last time. I am not saying that I wasn't determined in January, I was and I had a plan and a goal in mind. The thing is, there was always that doubt in my mind that said I wouldn't be able to do it. But here I am, 1 year later and 50.5 lbs lighter than I was and only 9 lbs from goal. I haven't lost every week, there have been some gains, some stay the sames and lots of small losses but what I have really learned is no matter how bad a day/week you have, if you really want to then you can get back on track. It just depends on how bad you want it. Nothing is stopping you from losing weight except yourself. That makes it sound much easier than it actually is - and easy it is not. The

Happy Christmas

Hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas Day!! Whether you are counting propoints or having a day off completely, just make sure it's wonderful xxxx

Weigh In 47 & 48

Well the silly season is upon us and so I have been a bit AWOL from this. Between work, parties and Christmas shopping I haven't even been near my computer in about a week. So here is a double update.

From my last weigh in update, I was completely relieved to have been only up half a pound and so was extremely good that week to be sure it wasn't a false reading, and to make up for it if it was. And my hard work paid off and I was down a pound. Its not a lot but it brought me back to where I was the

Chicken & Ham Tangle Pie

The hairy dieters have done it again. I am telling you that book is a god send. There is not a recipe I have tried that I haven't liked. And considered I have only had the book about a month I have already tried more recipes than I have in any of my other books, because they ALL look so good. This is one my favourite so far (but I will most likely say that when I try the next one.)

As a weight watcher, or anyone looking for healthy recipes, then go and buy this book. It is by far the best "diet" recipe book out there.

Mustard Pork Chops

I got a lot of pork chops recently and was trying to find different ways of preparing them. They can go quite dry and chewy really quickly and I have never really been a big fan of them. I had this recipe from one of my old WW recipe books and also was interested to try it but never did. So I pulled it out and recalculated for propoints and hey presto. It was really quite tasty! I served it with sugar snap peas and butternut squash chips which worked really well.

Servings: 2

Propoints

Weigh In 47

It's only been a few days since my last weigh in post, but I managed to find a meeting today so I could face up to the damage done over the weekend. Can you imagine my shock when I look at the scales and all I saw was a gain of half a pound. There are only a few explanations for this miniscule gain -to be fair after the blowout I had then I would have been lucky with 2lbs up.

Christmas treats

I have decided to calculate the propoints in some of the christmas treats that you may buy for your home, or be offered in other peoples homes over the holiday season. These are not neccesarily good options, though some are. The point of this post is more to be aware of just how high some things can be. I know I was shocked by some of these and would have "guestimated" them as lower, and others were about right. Not that I will be depriving myself of treats over christmas but the knowledge may help me make the best options possible when faced with temptation.

Cadbury Magical Elves - 2 propoints each

Weigh In 46

I sit here on Sunday night after a weekend of more eating that I think I have done in over a year!! I have been too busy to post all week and things have just gotten on top of me. Tuesdays WI was a very undeserved STS and I was so disappointed. I had been so good, not eaten all my weeklies, stayed off the drink and been really organised and all I wanted was to see some sort of loss. I knew what I had in store for me this weekend and I needed to see a good result on tuesday.

Roast cod with chickpeas & chorizo

This is another super quick and easy dinner that is great mid week. Recipe can be easily double and good when you have friends over as it is easy to cook and have a conversation/entertain at the same time! Also despite how easy it is, the flavours go really well together and it is an impressive combination!

Chunky Chilli Bean Soup

This will be the fourth week running that I have made soup for work. By friday I get a bit sick of the same soup but its worth it because without my lunches made I run the risk of going off track. So far I have had cumin spiced butternut squash, celeriac leek and potato and minestrone and this week its chunky chilli bean. I think I prefer the chunky soups as it really feels like a proper meal and I don't feel the need to have bread with it. This one is so easy, quickest one yet and it is very tasty too!

Weigh In 45

This is going to be brief, its not good news I was up half a pound. I wasn't expecting it, had been good but I am prepared for the last bit to be tough. This is the weight my body stuck with for the longest so my body may just be stalling a bit! Not giving up, just have to work a little harder at it I guess!

Bacon & Spinach Pasta Bake

I've been craving carbs like mad this week! Really in the mood for pasta and also needed something quick and easy that would do for two nights dinner. I found this gem in one of the old WW magazines - no idea which one as I had pulled out the page and put it in a folder. I have to say this really hit the spot and it was a really decent sized portion. It looked so good I forgot to take a picture before I ate it so I took a picture of the leftovers.

Weigh In 44

I DID IT!! I have now officially lost 50lbs, a loss of 2lbs this week brought me to 50.5lbs. Not only that but I got my seventh silver 7 and I am now within a healthy BMI. Hitting 3 mini goals in the one week feels great.

I find it increasingly difficult to judge how I've done each week the closer I get to goal.

Saturday Breakfast!!

We weren't in the mood for bread this morning and my OH is not a fan of omelettes so I decided to try something a little different and make homemade potato cakes and poached eggs. Only 5pp and it hits the spot for something a little different.

Recipe Book Review!

I got a great new recipe book this weekend, and it made me think about the ones I already have. I have to admit I don't have many. I have always just used weigh watcher recipe books, for the convenience of things being pointed for me. I realised this weekend that its really not that difficult to work the propoints out. So I am going to start investing in some other low fat recipe books but for now this review will be very heavily Weight Watcher recipe book based.

Weigh In 43

Gonna be a quick post this week. I am down the pound I was up last week. I was secretly hoping for a little bit more - I wanted to be down a little bit more, I am now back where I was 2 weeks ago. Despite my initial disappointed I am happy. It is another step closer to goal and this close to goal I have to take every loss.

Cumin Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

I have been meaning to make soup since the weather turned and my mum bought me a lovely hand blender so I had no excuse other than laziness not too. Well I finally got around to it yesterday and made a huge pot of soup for lunches this week. Really very tasty and warming!! Recipe came from the Complete Kitchen - my favourite Weight Watcher Cookbook!!

Lemon Honey Chicken

Decided to go for the cheaper cuts of chicken the past week - trying to keep to a budget. They usually come with the skins on but they are easy enough to pull off. This was super tasty, warming winter dinner. Takes some cooking time but easy to do. 

Weigh in 42

It was one of those weeks, and I knew it was coming. I was all over the place - despite my list last week I did not stick to any of it. Tracking went out the window, I had no planning done so I had no idea what I was eating day to day and I was just hungry all day every day. I had no control and I think that was my biggest problem. Its the worst sort of week to feel like that, with a bank holiday weekend its tough enough to feel like that.

I have to say I feel relieved that stepping onto the scales all I saw was a 1lb gain! I think my saving grace is all the walking I am doing now I live in the city centre. Anyway I have drawn a line and moved on - and planning is on the agenda this week. Have no major plans this week so hopefully that will help things too!

Good news wise it is Halloween which is my favourite time of year! Honestly I prefer it to Christmas. I love getting dressed up and this year was twice as fun as recent years as I actually felt like I could wear whatever I wanted and not worry about my body. Two years ago when I was just home from traveling 3 weeks and really very uncomfortable with all the weight I had gained I wore a box as my costume - I was a birthday present. The costume itself was quite cool but it was worn out of necessity, and I was not even at my heaviest ever. This year was a different story and I got to try out a costume that I've wanted to do for ages - a puppet. And I felt great in it, and fit into a belt that hasn't fit me in about 4 years so YAY! Anyway here are some pics of the 2 costumes so you can see the difference!

Halloween 2012

Halloween 2012

Chicken Nuggets!

Finally going to get back to posting some recipes - I know I haven't in a while. I have a few things I have tried recently that I will post over the next few weeks. I really fancied a chipper one friday night recently but didn't have the propoints. I knew if I went to the supermarket I would buy something unhealthy, that was just the mood I was in. So I decided to make some chicken nuggets and chips, as close to chipper as I was going to get and they were really very tasty, satisfied my craving for something "bold". And they were very easy.

Weigh in 41

I'm just going to dive right in and say how relieved, amazed and happy I was to see 1.5lbs come down this week. I swear it must have been a combination of the extra walking I'm doing and how good I had been the 2 weeks previous because I really lost the run of myself. I don't know if I deserved the loss because well tracking wasn't my strongest point this weekend. Against my better judgement I am going to list the worst of my sins. Confession is good for the soul and all that, I guess writing it down will snap me back on track - or that's the plan anyway.

Weigh in 40!

Another week and another pound gone! Never get tired of posting a loss!! Getting closer and closer to goal that it is actually starting to feel real. I really believe that this time I will make it to goal.

Weigh in 39

Well its been a busy week, so I didn't have time to post after my weigh in. I've been busy moving house which is a nightmare. Have to be racking up the activity points with all the lifting and running around I've been doing. Also am now living walking distance from work so will be doing an hours walk every day just getting to and from work which can only help things. Had a treat of a takeaway and half a bottle of cava last night to celebrate moving day but I still have 17 weeklies left. So I am feeling pretty good about getting weighed this week.

Weigh In 38

Down 2lbs this week! So delighted with it, would have been happy with anything. I know things slow down towards the end. And I am ok with that as long as things keep on moving the right direction. I got back on track with my fruit and veg this week, especially at the weekend. It was the big thing holding me back - was snacking on all the wrong foods at the weekends and just completely losing the run of myself.

Weigh In 37

I thought I had been so good this week, I was not nervous at all about weigh until tuesday actually came. And to be honest I just put that down to my usual pre weigh in nerves. So you can imagine my surprise when I stepped on the scales and saw a big fat ZERO. Now I know a stay the same is not the worst thing that can happen, and if you are putting in the effort the loss will come eventually. But I was not happy and I reacted badly and binged after my meeting - whole pizza to myself with full fat coleslaw and then 4 weight watcher digestives - and of course felt worse. 

Weigh In 36

In an ideal world I would have lost all 2.5lbs that I gained last week but well I didn't really think that was going to happen. To be honest, I was just hoping to lose anything. The week after my TOTM the most I have ever lost is half pound - so my hopes were not high. But I decided that I was going to do all I could and not give up - tracked everything, didn't drink, did not use all my weeklies, drank loads of water. And it all payed off, I was down 1.5lbs.

Pesto topped cod

I had some sundried tomato pesto in the fridge that needed using up. I had bought it and used it as a bold meal before I got back on track and I had some left. I also got some cod fillets in Lidl last night so I thought I could combine the 2 and it was delicious and ridiculously easy. So here goes:

Weigh In 35

I felt just like the kitty when I stepped on the scales. All day long my stomach felt like there was a rock in it. I swore that my belly was sticking out about a foot and I had convinced myself throughout the day that the scales would scream that I had gained a stone or something.

Sun, Sea Sand and Food!!

So I'm home!! Not jumping straight into the negative, firstly all the positives of my week away - weight and not weight related. Had the most relaxing week. Mornings lazing by the pool, afternoon lunches and drinks, adventures on the quad bike, mini golf,  dinners out and more drinks. The weather was fab all week and I felt mostly fine in my bikinis and shorts - was keeping a close eye on my figure all week, glued to the mirror like a mad thing.

Weigh In 34

No delays on posting this week! I did it, got my third stone and my 6th silver seven. Not only that but I lost a whopping 3lbs this week which brings me 2lbs over my stone - 44lbs in total. I knew I had done well this week, was going for the pound and hoping for maybe 2.

Weigh in 33

Slightly delayed post - I would love to say it was because I was so super busy with my hectic schedule, but the reality is I was avoiding writing this and then all of a sudden it was monday! (In my defence I was quite busy but I could easily have made time for a quick post)

Tarragon Chicken

Having used Quark in  a dessert I wanted to try use it to make a savoury dish. I love chicken and tarragon together so decided to try a creamy chicken and tarragon dish with mushrooms and green beans. Quark is tricky when adding heat, because it curdles more easily than I was expecting. I made this twice a week apart, the first time was a curdled disaster but I made it again tonight and it worked much better. Philidelphia and WW cream both deal with the heat better than quark - but the quark is lower in propoints for the amount you get and is not as strong tasting as the philidelphia.

Weigh In 32

There is one thing I absolutely hate, and thats when I am disappointed with a loss. I know I should be happy to see anything down on the scales and I really am happy that I got a loss - but I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed it was more. I know this is not the right attitude to have, the weight did not go on overnight (though sometimes it feels like it did), so it won't come off overnight.

Peanut Butter Crunchers

This week WW magazine has a great little section on cookies, which all look delicious. So I'm going to try as many recipes as I can over the next few weeks and my first attempt were the peanut butter crunchers.

Romantic Meal In

It can be tough to be following any weight loss program and keeping the people around you happy/not bored of hearing about it all the time. Support is so important but you don't want to be shoving it down peoples throats either. I've always been into cooking, and it was something I like doing for my boyfriend. He is so supportive of  my weight watchers but I still want to be able to cook him a dinner that doesn't feel like its a 'diet' meal.

Weigh In 31

After last weeks disaster of a weigh in, I was determined this week to get those 2lbs back down. So I decided despite the bank holiday weekend it would be a booze free week for me. I like to do this for a boost. So I stuck to my dailies, still used weeklies for treats - had a bit more chocolate than usual this week which I was a bit nervous about, but still optimistic as I had 20 weeklies left over when I got to weigh in. Trust me all day today to feel bloated and like I weighed 20 stone so I was my usual bag of nerves heading up to the scales. Got a few nice compliments from some of the members of my class when I got in so that gave me a bit of a boost. And what do you know, I was down a whopping 3.5lbs. Delighted is an understatement. It brings my total lose to 41lbs, just one pound off my third stone and have now lost over 20% of my original weight.

Am starting my new job on Thursday and have so much more confidence now than if I was starting 8 months ago. And I really think that confidence helped me get the job - you carry yourself better when you feel good about yourself. And if you can present a positive image of yourself then it is easier for people to see the positives in you.

Here is a chart of my progress over the past 7 months. Only 2 blips on it which I am pretty proud of and seeing it in chart form really just spurs me on to get the last 18.5lbs down.

Weigh In 30

Well I knew it wasn't going to be a good result on the scales this week, and I was not wrong - 2lbs up. I was away at knockenstockan for the weekend and from friday morning all tracking went out the window. So the 2lbs is well deserved. I'm determined now to get at the very least that 2lbs down this week.

Have had an exciting couple of days. Firstly I got a new job!! I'm due to start next week, not sure what date but it is very exciting. In my current job my contract was due to run out in 2 months and not knowing what was happening was a major source of stress.

Weigh In 29

I have had a busy week this week. It was my birthday which meant all the celebrations were happening. First of all was the actual birthday dinner - chose something relatively healthy but my absolute favourite and we had sushi. The naughty side was the chocolate cake and all the wine. More than worth it and if you can't have a treat on your birthday then when can you.

Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew

I have a habit of using a lot of my daily propoints in work over lunch and in the afternoon. We have all free food in work and sometimes it is hard to resist ( i need to realign my will power a little). So to counter that I have been making ratatouille or veg curry to bring to work for lunch or to have for dinner after work when I have used most of my propoints. This week I decided to try something a little different and hopefully a bit more interesting and filling. Have only had a small taste but I think its yum and at only 2pp a serving its a perfect lunch.

Weigh In 28

Down another pound today. Knew I had had a pretty good week, but I had some pretty unhealthy foods (all within my propoints) and I was feeling very bloated. So I just didn't know what to think. I always second guess myself but I am following this properly and I deserve the results I've been getting. I really have to keep telling myself that because sometimes I just can't believe its true. This week I am doing a serious push on the power of positive thoughts for this week.

Weigh In 27

I'm a bit behind again this week. Have been all over the place, but I am happy to report that I was down another pound. I find myself starting to lose my will power at times a little - most of the time I am fine, but especially when others are indulging I just want to be able to have what I want when I want. Which is what got me in the position I was in January. So its time to revisit the mini goals I set back in April and get myself motivated and back on track! So I exceeded the previous targets I set for myself - and I felt they were totally reasonable.

Weigh In 26

No loss this week, big fat 0 on the scales. Pretty happy with that, one too many vodka and burger king on saturday night probably had an awful lot to do with it. I most definitely went over my weeklies between friday and saturday so a 0 is welcome sight.

Beef Wellington

Made this for my lovely OH's birthday the other night. Its his favourite meal and I wanted to make it for him and also one for me thats WW friendly. Apart from mine being much smaller than his (still very filling) - he still got the lower fat ingredients and he thought it was lovely.

Weigh In 25

I did it. I got my 5th silver 7. I was not expecting a 2lb loss this week. I knew I had been good but I had eaten every single weekly.

Weigh In 24

This update is a little bit late - life got in the way of my blogging as I had a few busy evenings last night. But I was a little bit worried about my WI, I had used nearly all my weeklies and done my usual exercise - but since I had lost so much the week before I wasn't sure if I would see the results. Up on the scales I go and down another pound I go. Delighted with it. Am comfortably in the 11's and only 1.5lb from my 5th silver seven. I've had a pretty good week this week, used every single weekly but I've made good choices with what I've used them on for the most part. Also I'm feeling good about myself, which is pretty motivating in itself.

Weigh In 23

I had to weigh in a day late this week. Was out at Blink 182 last night (which was awesome, totally made me feel like I was 16 again - well apart from no longer being able to handle a mosh pit or drunken teenagers). But anyway - after last weeks fiasco I was dreading being weighed this week. My aim was the at least get the 2lbs I gained last week down.

Chocolate Cake with Raspberries

This cake was made for my friends birthday and it is delicious and pretty easy. Well it would have been even easier if I had an electric whisk (I really need to get one of those) but at least my arms got a work out. Ours was a little thin because we decided to make it in a heart shaped cake tin instead of a round one and the heart shape was slightly too big. So here goes the recipe. 

Weigh In 22

I am so angry at myself, I'm up 2lbs!! Its the first time I've gained weight since January and its the worst feeling in the world. I mean if I'm honest I deserve it, in the back of my mind I wasn't expecting the best result, a STS or up a half a pound or even a pound, but I didn't expect 2 of them. I guess I had such a great streak I just didn't think it was going to happen. I was very lax with my tracking and had too many treats. 

As angry as I am at myself, in a way its a good thing. Its given  me the kick up the bum I've needed to get me back on track. There have been a few weeks where I was a bit lax about tracking and somehow still managed to lose. So now I know I need to be as serious about this as I was at the start. For this week its no booze for a start. I have nothing planned so I should be able to stay well within  my propoints. I'm also going back to the gym as soon as my muscles recover from the mini marathon on monday. 

In better news, just having the weight off has made a huge difference to my fitness alone. I did the mini marathon and I managed to alternate jogging 1k and walking 1k and had a time of close to 1hr25mins which is way better than I thought I would do. So I am motivated to get back into the exercise I have been talking about for a couple of months now. Hopefully I'll be back next week with better news.

Weigh In 21

And the results are in and I'm down another pound. Still waiting for my bubble to burst and this great streak I'm on to end, but I'm loving it as long as it lasts. But in reality what I've done to make it work this time. So here are my top tips

• Tracking - I can't stress this one enough, it really does make all the difference. Every other time I've done WW my tracking has been hit and miss, but this time I'm tracking 99% of the time. I use an app on my phone, its always with me, saves a list of foods I eat regularly, has a calculator built in and it tracks my weight loss. But whatever way you find works for you then go with it.
• Planning - On a tuesday after WI I like to look at what I have planned for the week so I can work my weeklies around it. If I have nothing on I plan a treat for myself. I also try to look at what food I have at home so that I'm not caught short. 
• Bulk up with veg - I like big portion of food, I won't feel satisfied without it. So instead of making overall portions half the size I have seriously switched up my ratios. Much smaller portions of carbs, smaller portions of protein and way bigger portions of veg. 
• Have healthy snacks to hand - Its always good to have some fruit or a low fat snack somewhere near by, in your handbag, in your car, stocked up at home, on your desk at work. You want to be prepared for whenever you get a craving. Now that fruit is free on the program, its much easier to plan for these.
• Move more - I haven't really got back into the swing of exercising too much. Jogging isn't coming as easily to me now I'm a little older  (thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it) - but I am walking almost every day. You don't need to go from couch potato to marathon sprinter, but just do a little more than you used to and slowly build it up. It does make you feel great. 
• And the most important one of all - ENJOY YOUR LIFE!! Don't make following WW a chore or you will struggle from day one. You can plan for almost anything and fit your favourite foods into the program someway, maybe not every day but you can have them. I love to eat out and do a couple of times a month. But I choose carefully, and plan in advance for my meals out. Because of this I don't feel deprived and don't have to tell friends etc no to social plans, or be the bore with the plain salad and water because I'm on a diet. In fact I think if I didn't mention WW, most people wouldn't even know I was dieting.

Anyway, thats what is working for me. Would love to hear whats working for everyone else so let me know in the comments :)

Summer's Here!!

So the sun has been out and that means one thing - ice cream temptation everywhere. Here is a list a few of the ice creams/pops available and the pro - points. If we are going to be tempted then its best to be armed with the information.

Walls
Loop de Loop - 2pp
Twister - 2pp
Super Split - 2pp
Calippo - 2pp
Solero Exotic - 3pp
Brunch - 6pp
Ice Berger - 5pp
Maxi Twist - 5pp
Feast - 8pp
Magnum, original or white - 7pp
Magnum, almond - 8pp
Magnum, double caramel - 10pp
Cornetto Original - 6pp
Cornetto Mint - 5pp
Cornetto Strawberry - 5pp
Choc Ice - 4pp

Mars 
Bounty, standard size 59ml - 5pp
Bounty, large 100ml - 8pp
Snickers Bar - 6pp
Mars - 5pp
Malteaser - 6pp
Galaxy Cone - 7pp
M&M Cone - 5pp
Starburst Smoothie - 2pp

I know its not the same but frozen fruit is a really nice alternative if you are organised enough to have it ready, I particularly like frozen mango, banana, strawberries, grapes and blueberries. I prefer to buy these fresh and freeze myself if I'm going to be eating them as is and using shop bought frozen fruit in smoothies and desserts. Also you can make your own ice pops using sugar free squash, or just water with lemon juice/zest or water and mint (best to let the water sit in the fridge for the flavours to infuse for a day or so before freezing).

But I hope everyone is making the most of this glorious weather while it lasts and getting out there and maybe even fitting in a little walking!!

Weigh In 20

Never been so happy to see a STS than I was this week. I have to say I was so good up until saturday night. I had kept nearly all of my 49 weeklies for my big dinner out and had only used 3 dailies. 7 courses and wine there was no way I was going to even be able to track it. So I just wrote off all my weeklies and the rest of my dailies.  Was well worth it, we went to Bang on Baggot St and I swear each course was like a little taste of heaven. Dinner was a real event, 3 hours it took and we had some nice wine and everything. It was just lovely. Now if I had just stopped there I may have been ok, but I was in a real grazing mood the next day and I know there is lots of stuff that I ate that did not go on my tracker. Then when WI day came around I was getting sick and very stressed out in work and so I ate rings around myself before WI that day. So needless to say a STS was a very welcome sight on the scales.

Have really pulled myself back into gear this week. Its all going down on the tracker - have a couple of events this weekend but going to be so good on myself and not have it fall to pieces again. I am aware I haven't posted a recipe in ages, but I just baked a lovely chocolate cake tonight so will post the recipe for that. And I'm thinking of doing a post on sauces and marinades, just need to put a list together. 

Weigh In 19

I got it! My 2nd stone, and its so pretty. I was my usual nervous self, especially since I'd been away for the weekend and tracking had not been 100%. There was a lot of guesswork done but I really think that I have had a general change in my thinking. I make better choices without realising it and pay a little more heed to when my body tells me I'm full. But whatever I am doing worked as not only did I get the stone, I am 2lbs over  which means 30lbs in total. Thats 15% body weight gone, and halfway to goal. 

I treated myself to an Eddie Rockets after weigh in. Usually I don't pig out after but I had been craving eddies for ages so I just went for it. Didn't count it or track it and it was so worth it. Loved every mouthful. Am back on track today and keeping all my weeklies for a nice 7 course tasting menu in Bang. Another week down and looking forward to the next one already.

Marks and Sparks!

So as I have said before I try to cook fresh as much as possible but as we all know that some times doesn't happen. When I can I cook up big portions of a pasta dish or a rice dish so I can freeze individual portions and have my home made ready meals to hand. Even with this there are some times when I am unprepared - I forgot to take something out of the freezer I was supposed to. Something comes up which means I just don't have time to cook or I am just feeling lazy. And there is an M&S on my way home from the dart station after work. So over the past while I have tried a few of these.  And here are my thoughts.

You have the 2 different ranges that tend to be weight watcher friendly - the obvious Count on Us and then the Simply Fuller Longer.

My preference is always going to lie with Simply Fuller Longer - if you read the ingredients on the back they are good ingredients and all recognizable. Sugar is pretty far down on the list of ingredients which is always good as it is usually one of the top ones in processed foods. And the big one, very few of the ingredients are listed as 'low fat' versions and yet these are still low in propoints. Things like feta

Weigh In 18

I was so hoping for my second stone this week. I was good and stuck to my propoints - I did use most of my weeklies but I have been doing that a lot and its been working for me. I did a bit of extra walking this week (still nervous about my back injury so I don't want to push the exercise too much, though I did a bit of jogging on one of my walks). Up I got on the scales and I was down a half a pound. Now don't get me wrong, half a pound is half a pound and I am happy enough with it - but I am just so disappointed that I don't have my second stone. I know I will get it, hopefully next week, but I wanted it this week.

So I need a plan for this week to keep me on track. I am going to Leeds to visit my friend - and she is one of those people who loves her chocolate and sweets and is TINY!! If she wasn't one of my best friends I might hate her :-) We did a lot of eating together as children and it is pretty easy to revert back to that when I am with her. Last time I went to Leeds (last time i was on weight watchers) I gained weight. Now I was there for 5 days, I went straight after my WI and I did not get back on track when I came home so I definitely deserved it. I do not want a repeat of last time, so careful planning is in order. I'm only going for 2 days this time, and I have to be sure that not a single weekly is used unless I am in Leeds. Am going to make the best choices possible in the lead up to it. My current challenge is to use less propoints for my lunch to leave some for incidentals. Lets hope it works :-)

Weigh In 17

Another week, another loss. Am 2 more pounds down and only 1lb away from my second stone. I am going to work extra hard this week to make sure I am down that pound. I want my second stone so badly - just so I can get started on the next one.

I'm starting to really need some new clothes, and the urge to spend all my money buying them is getting to me. But because I am only halfway there, and I don't want to waste money on clothes that I will hopefully shrink out of quickly - so I have decided to find other treats for myself to keep my mind off it. And for the moment that is going to be make up. I'm going to spend the next few months buying all the makeup that I need but never wanted to spend the  money on. I started with a full make up brush set - next on my list is a proper foundation, concealer and powder - as well as some beauty goodies from Lush. They will all be my treat for hitting my 2nd stone :-)

White Chocolate Florentine Heaven

So my making one sweet treat every week has turned into one sweet treat every month for my book club. And this month my trusty weight watchers calendar gave me my inspiration this month and I made some White Chocolate Florentines. They are AMAZING. I'm serious when I say you need to make these biscuits. So far the best of the sweet treats I have made. And they are so easy, anyone could make them.
Here goes:

Makes 12
3pp per Florentine

50g low fat spread
50g caster sugar
2 tsp runny honey
30g flaked almonds
20g chopped hazelnuts
50g plain flour
75g white chocolate

Preheat oven to Gas4/180C/fan 160C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Melt the low fat spread with the honey and sugar in a saucepan. Mix together the nuts and flour in a seperate bowl and gradually stir in the honey mixture. It should look like this.

Spoon the mixture onto  the baking tray and be sure to leave plenty of room, you may need to do this in batches. And bake in the over for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

When they come out of the over transfer to a wire rack for cooling. 

While they cool, melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Dip half the cooled Florentines into the choloate to coat and leave to set. By the last couple of Florentines it is easier to use a spatula to spread the chocolate as there is very little left in the bowl for dipping. 

Here is the finished product. Will take a better photo tomorrow when they have set properly and update this. 

Honestly, give these little guys a go. If you don't like white chocolate, you can use dark or milk and it wont affect the propoints. They keep for a few days in an airtight container, and they are good for bringing to friends houses for tea, or to have when you are having people over. These do not taste low fat at all, so good for all those who frown when they know its a low fat recipe. 

Weigh In 16

And I'm down another 2lbs. That brings me to a grand total of 25lbs in 16 weeks which I have to say is pretty alright.

The change that this 25lbs has made is immense, I mean I still have a good way to go, but I am starting to feel more comfortable in my skin again. I'm not automatically covering my stomach with my arms, or hiding away when talking to people. I feel like I am now more worthy of their attention now that I am slimmer. I know these things were issues that were in my head before, but that is what being overweight does to some people. It can become a vicious circle of emotional eating when you just get bigger and bigger, or you can channel all the negative feeling into changing your predicament. I'm starting to become aware that the better I am feeling the risk of becoming complacent in my journey becomes bigger. I need to keep reminding myself of my reasons for doing this and that I can finally once and for all get to goal. I just need to take one small goal at a time. So here it is, my list of mini goals to come. I have already hit 5%, 10%, fist half stone, first stone and getting into the 12 stone bracket. Going forward here are my goals and my targets for the first 4.

• 2nd stone - 3lbs away. Target: June Bank Holiday
• 15% body weight loss- 5lbs away. Target: Mid June
• 11stone bracket - 7lbs away. Target: July
• 5th silver 7 - 10lbs away. Target: August.
• 20% body weight loss - 15lbs away
• 3rd stone - 17lbs away
• 7th silver 7 - 24lbs away
• 4th stone - 31lbs away
• GOAL - 34.5 lbs away

Fish Cakes!!

I made the most delicious fish cakes last night. From the complete kitchen cookbook and they were so easy. My dad who is absolutely anti low fat cooking even thought they were delicious. There is actually no 'lowfat' ingredients in them. Just good natural healthy things which is great. My dad and my sister were having spring lamb so me and mum served these with the veg they made, but I think they would go very nicely with a leafy green salad. They are a good size and because I had some extra propoints left on sunday I was planning on eating 3, but the recommend serving size of 2 is actually very filling. They also freeze uncooked which is handy if you cook for one. You can make a batch of 8 and then freeze them in portions. So anyway here goes with the recipe.

Spicy Fishcakes with Chermoula Sauce

Serves 4

8pp per serving

450g sweet potato, peeled and chopped roughly

450g haddock fillet

1tsp ground cumin

1/2 red chilli, de-seeded and diced (I used a whole one, I like spicy)

Grated zest & Juice of 1/2 a lemon

6tbsps chopped fresh coriander

1tbsp plain flour

100g fresh breadcrumbs

1 egg, beaten

1 garlic clove, crushed

1/2 tsp paprika

3 tomatoes diced

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and add the sweet potato. Return to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. (Should be soft enough to mash). When cooked drain and leave sit for a few minutes to steam off any excess moisture.

Place the haddock in a deep frying pan, cover with boiling water and cook gently for 5 mins. (Should flake easily). Remove from the water, and break it into large flakes removing any skin or bones.

Mash the sweet potato until smooth and stir in half the cumin, half the chilli, 1tsp of lemon zest and half the chopped coriander. When combined, add the fish and stir gently. At this point I would add a little salt and pepper, it didnt say to in the recipe but I felt after tasting it needed a small bit. Should look like the below:

Shape this into 8 fishcakes. Then turn each fishcake in the flour, then the egg and finally coat with the breadcrumbs. Transfer to a non stick baking tray, cover with cling film and leave sit in the fridge for 30 mins. (I didn't leave mine for quite that long, and they did hold together except for one).

Bake the fishcakes in a preheated oven (Gas 6/200C/fan180C) for 20 mins, turning halfway.

For the chermoula sauce, toast the rest of the cumin and the paprika in a dry nonstick pan for 30-40 seconds. Add this to a bowl with the rest of the chilli, lemon zest and juice and garlic and stir to make a paste. Stir in the tomatoes, the rest of the coriander and 2tbsps of cold water. and its ready to serve. Next time I would chop my tomatoes a little smaller as I felt it was a small bit chunky, but its not really important!

The recipe also says you can swap the fresh haddock for smoked, the sweet potato for normal potato and the chilli, cumin and coriander for 2tbsp chopped parsley and 1tbsp of horseradish and cook the same way. Propoints stay the same. 

Weigh In 15

And its another loss on the scales :-) Half a pound down. It may not seem like much but I am taking every single loss where I can. Also I was a bit bold on the weekend. I was meant to have a great Saturday night, use my weeklies and then be right back to normal the next day. I just kept on eating. I tried to pull it back a bit on Monday and obviously something is sticking with me.

Back on tracking this week like a mad thing. Don't think I'm going to drink a huge amount this week, maybe a glass or 2 of wine on Saturday night and see how I get on. I am also going to give the couch to 5k challenge a go to start my training for the mini marathon. It seems doable so I just gotta stick with it and see how I go.

Night away!

Tomorrow night I am heading on a romantic night away so I have been planning all week for it. Originally I was hoping to get to the gym twice before and once after but with the problems I have been having with my back that has just gone out the window. I have done more walking this week which is one positive. I have also been extremely good with my pp so far, have not had to touch a single weekly, and since it has been passover until tonight I have been having a wheat/grain free week which has to be good (more about that later). So the plan is to have some eggs for a late breakfast to keep me going and then just snack on fruit and veg and maybe a cereal bar until the dinner out. I will probably have a whole bottle of wine (we get one free with the room and we will probably get one with dinner). But I am going to make the best food choices possible for dinner. I'll check in when I come back to see if I stayed on track.


Anyway, just regarding the wheat/grain free passover period. While I found it harder that usual in some ways this year, I also found it easier in others. Breakfast was very difficult - found myself not really having a breakfast, just grazing on fruit and coffee until lunch time. But other meals were great, I ate more protein and was really full and satisfied. However I missed my chocolate treats - I appreciate the ww mini roll so much more now. And tonight I made the Fragrant Chicken and Tomato Pasta Bake from the Complete Kitchen cook book (I definitely wanted my pasta fix) and I was soo stuffed after it, and I am pretty bloated after it. It has made me realise that I do need to cut back on my carbs a little. Lunch without a slice of bread/wrap is fine - and I don't need the popcorn in the afternoon, I was just having it for the sake of it. So hoping these lessons will stick with me.

Now I was going to post the recipe for the Bake but someone on youtube has posted a video with step by step instructions which I thought were great. I made it with chicken breast for 8pp and I aslo added 2 peppers with the onions and chicken, and 2 cloves of garlic, crushed into the tomatoes and stock.
So here it is:  http://youtu.be/wHg4GTHagcg

Weigh In 14

So as you can tell from the picture I got my third silver 7 this week! Am down 2 more pounds which brings the grand total up to 22.5lbs. Every single week I am surprised by my losses, I keep expecting the bubble to burst or something. But I am sticking to my propoints, tracking everything that goes into my mouth and drinking lots of water. So I guess if I keep to it as rigorously as I have been then hopefully it will keep working. 

This week is going to be fun, am heading for a night away on saturday night which means a dinner out and lots of drinking. I want to enjoy it but I also want a loss next tuesday. The plan is to be extra vigilant every other day and not have a single weekly propoint so I have them all for saturday night. I was also planning on doing some extra exercise for the week but I have done my back in which means I can't make the gym. It does seem to be getting better, and I have decided to ditch the car in favour of walking to and from the dart station every morning. That means I am doing roughly an hour walking every week day (slowly today because of the back so a little longer) which hopefully will help too. My mini marathon training is non existent so as soon as my back is better I might give the couch to 5k ago - if I can even run 5k of it I will be happy!

Only 5.5 more pounds to go for my next stone! Onwards and downwards :-)

Happy Easter/Passover

As we all know long weekends always pose the biggest challenges and this weekend is the worst as a 4 day weekend with easter so lots of temptations on offer.

I guess I am slightly lucky in that I am Jewish and this year passover starts today. For Passover, starting sundown this evening, I can't have any grains for the next 7 days. So no bread, wraps, pasta, crackers, flour - and pretty much most processed foods tend to have some sort grain in them as an added ingredients. So usually when I manage to stick to that 100% its an easier week for weight loss. However tonight there is a big Seder dinner where there will be lots of food, so I have to reign myself in a bit and make sure that I eat really slowly so I don't over eat. However I think the dinner will be easier than the usual Good Friday parties that are on, where there is lots of junk food and alcohol.

There will still be temptation. I've always celebrated easter with my non jewish family too though I stopped getting easter eggs when I was about 12. But there is always chocolate EVERYWHERE! I think the key to this is to allow yourself some, don't deprive yourself completely otherwise you will just crave it more. And know the propoints in what you are eating before you eat it. Its never a good idea to eat and then point - recipe for disaster right there.

Also going to avoid drinking for the weekend, trying to cut back in general to save both money and propoints. And I need to get back into the routine of exercise again. Once this post is done I'm going to go to the gym for the first time in about a month. I have been sticking so rigidly to my propoints that I have still had losses everyweek. But the mini marathon is sneaking up on me so need to get training again! 

Weigh In 13

Weigh In last night saw me down another half pound!! TOTM was due (and arrived today) and so I was expecting a STS or even a gain. I would have loved to have got that pound and got my third silver seven but am going to seriously work hard to get it next week.

When I told my friend that I had lost 20lbs - she told me that was just about how much her 10 month old daughter weighs. That shocked me, because while I knew 20lbs was quite an achievement, equating it to the size of a 10month old baby really put it in real terms for me.

Risotto time

I have to say I LOVE risotto. It has always been one of my favourite dishes. For today here is one of most recent ones I have made.

Butternut Squash Risotto
Serves 4
Total - 31pp
8pp per serving


250g arborio rice - 25pp
1 small butternut squash peeled and cubed- 0pp
1 small onion chopped finely - 0pp
2 cloves of garlic crushed - 0pp
1tsp chopped thyme
Salt and pepper
1 chicken or veg stock cube made up with boiling water.
25g parmesan cheese - 5pp

Steam the Butternut squash until it is about halfway cooked and set aside. (you can do this over a pan of water or in the microwave)

Weigh In 12

 

After being very careful all week to counteract last weekend I am happy to say that the scales this week showed a glorious -2.5lbs. That is 20lbs gone in 12 weeks. Got my 10% sticker and book, and I am one third of my way to goal. I have one more pound to my next silver 7 so fingers crossed that comes next week.

I figured out why the weight I thought I am was half a pound lighter than the WW scales, my starting weight was half a pound more than I thought. On my white card the was a little squiggle beside the 4st 3 and that squiggle was half a pound. So I've still been right with what I have been losing, just wrong with where I started.

I have to say I am really starting to feel the weight off me. I feel lighter, more confident. My clothes are all fitting me better, this week I fit back into a pair of jeans that I bought last year and I was only able to wear for a month before they got too small. So I am making a promise to myself now, they next time these jeans don't fit me it will be because they are too big, and they will never be too small again!

And now to get going on another week! Onwards and downwards!!