Week 4 - 3lb loss

After a long, hard week following SP, I was rewarded with a 3lb weight loss! I could tell this week that I had dropped some inches as my clothes were all starting to fit better again and the jeans that I had to take off a few weeks ago, now glide on.

 I won't lie to you though, SP has been had work. Coming up with the menus was pretty difficult and I wanted to try and vary the fruit and veg that we were having so we wouldn't get bored. I have found myself quite short of energy this week, infact I have been shattered and although you can eat as much S and P food as you like, I did find myself getting hungry in the evenings and subsequently grumpy! 

But we stuck with it and we got some good results. If I can tie that in with doing some exercise next time, I reckon I could drop an even bigger number! Now pass me that pasta...

Starting weight: 11 St 4.5 lbs

Amount: 3lb loss

Closing weight: 11st 1.5lbs

Lbs to target: 15.5

1 Syn Brownie Cake Slices

 

 

Makes 24 Brownies

Half a Syn per brownie slice/ 1 syn per brownie cake slice

50 minutes

 

Ingredients

 

6 eggs, separated

70g low calorie sweetener

60g cocoa powder

1tsp vanilla extract

Fry Light

 

For the filling

 

150g Quark

1 sachet of options hot chocolate

 

Method

 

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C.

 

Prepare a backing tin by spraying with Fry Light and line with grease proof paper.

 

Whisk the egg whites together until they form soft peaks.

 

Mix the egg yolk, sweetener, cocoa powder and vanilla extract together in a bowl until stiff but beautifully blended. I added 3 tbsp. of water as the mixture goes very crumbly to start with and I mixed until most of the mixture was in the bowl and not clumping up my whisk!

 

Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and gently mix until you have a gorgeously well mixed brownie blend. It should be a light brown colour with no white bits to be seen.

 

Pour into your baking tin and pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

 

When your brownie is cooked, take it out of the oven and leave it to cool in the tin.

 

Meanwhile, make the frosting mixture. Mix together the Quark and hot chocolate sachet. I originally used a whole 250g tub and there was so much left over that I would recommend using 150g.

 

 

Once the brownie has cooled, cut into 24 slices. You can either have these as individual half syn slice or you can add a thick layer of the frosting mixture and stack them to make a 1 syn brownie cake slice!

 

The 1 syn brownie cake slice makes you really feel that you have had bit of a treat!

 

 



Berry Kebabs ~ SP

Dessert for this evening consisted of berry kebabs and a Curly Wurly. The berry kebabs are SP friendly and of course syn free. The Curly Wurly... our little treat for a mere 6 syns!

Cheese and Broccoli Bake ~ SP

 



 

Serves 2

Syn Free

30 minutes

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Broccoli - separated into florets

2 Peppers

1 tsp. garlic

Half an onion

2 large eggs

200g cottage cheese with chives

70g of light mature cheddar (HexA for two people)

 

Salad ingredients of your choice. I chose:

Lettuce, spring onions, cucumber and smoked ham

 

Method

 

Preheat your oven to 220 degrees Celsius.

 

Boil the broccoli for 5 minutes (or less if you like it al dente) before draining and putting into an ovenproof dish.

 

Whilst the broccoli is boiling, fry the peppers and onions for 5 minutes until soft then add on top of the broccoli.

 

Whisk the cottage cheese, eggs and garlic together until smooth then pour onto the vegetable mix.

 

Gently mix everything together until the egg mixture coats everything, then sprinkle over the cheese and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

 

Serve with salad ingredients of your choice!

Easy Chicken Curry ~ SP

This is taken straight from page 27 in the new packs (Jan 2015) Everyday Extra Easy Booklet and I have tweaked it ever so slightly to make it even easier!

Serves 4
Syn Free
40 Minutes

Ingredients:

Fry Light
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. Lazy Garlic
4 Skinless Chicken Breasts, diced
1 tbsp. Tikka Curry Powder
3 tbsp. Tomato Puree
200g Passata
300ml boiling chicken stock
Salt and Pepper
Bag of Mixed Veg
1 cup of rice

Method

Place a saucepan on a medium heat, spray with Fry Light and stir fry the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes or until soft.

Add the chicken and stir fry for a further five or so minutes or until the chicken is browned.

Add the curry powder, tomato puree, passata, stock and season well with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes (or until the chicken is cooked), stirring occasionally.

Cook the vegetables and the rice according to packet instructions.

Remove from the heat and serve.


TOP TIP! I made this for the first time in a large frying pan but I would highly recommend using a saucepan... especially for the part that requires covering! I found that a rather painful experience when trying to use kitchen foil so a large saucepan with a lid is ideal really! I also used a mag of mixed vegetables which I steamed in the microwave which cut down on time.

The original recipe also says to use 400ml of boiling chicken stock. I have reduced that to 300ml as I don't like the sauce to be too watery and I found 300ml gave it a good consistency.

To make this an SP meal, simply don't use the rice! Easy!

SP Preparation

Last night, as I always do before I go shopping the following day, I planned out my menu for the week so that I know exactly what I am going to buy but this menu needed a lot more planning as we have decided to try the SP menu out...

This weeks evening meal menu is:

Sat: Cheese and broccoli bake with salad
Sun: Gammon, swede and carrot mash with mixed vegetables
Mon: Chilli con carne with cauliflower rice and mixed vegetables
Tues: Easy Chicken Curry with mixed vegetables
Weds: We go to the in-laws for tea so today I don't really have any control
Thurs: ??

I have bought such a wide variety of fruit to snack on through the week and I'm going to cook up a spicy tomato soup so that should cover some lunches too.

The fact that I can have to HexB's on this diet is brilliant as I can have a 60g wholemeal roll that I can take to work as well as my normal breakfast of cereals. This is going to make things easier for me in that way yet I get the feeling I am going to be pretty hungry. I must admit though, I felt pretty smug when all my fresh fruit and vegetables were on the conveyor belt at the till in the supermarket. Everything was so colourful and fresh... a real rainbow of produce!

 No potatoes. No rice. No pasta.

This will definitely be a challenging week but I am looking forward to experimenting with some different foods and meals and getting inventive!

Thank God it's Friday!

And it's Friday! What a long week! I decided I wanted a bit of a fun meal tonight so went for sausage, eggs, chips and beans! All for 2 syns!

I've added a bit of peri peri mix on the chips just to spice things up a bit! Cajun works just as well for extra flavour.

This meal always makes me feel like I've had something a bit naughty but I've used Quorn sausages (which are half a syn each), slimming world chips, baked beans and a fried egg in Fry Light. From tomorrow, we are going to try a strict week following the SP menu so absolutely savoured the taste of those lovely fries!

Week 3 - half a pound loss

This week, we weighed in a day early at the Chickerell group and I lost half a pound. I know exactly why I didn't have a big loss this week... It was the cheeky white wine spritzers I had Sunday! 

I'm desperate for the weather to brighten up a bit so I can get out walking and help speed up my weight loss! I haven't done any exercise for a good couple of months and although you don't nessicerily NEED to do any to get a loss on slimming world, I really notice the difference when I lose weight and I tone my muscles! 


Starting weight: 11 stone 5lb
Weigh in: 0.5lb
Closing weight: 11 stone 4.5lb

Spaghetti Bolognaise

Serves 2
30 minutes
Syn Free

Ingredients

1 onion
1 pepper
1 tsp. lazy garlic
1 packet of Quorn Mince
1x tin chopped of tomatoes
250ml beef stock
1 level tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 level tbsp. tomato puree
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
300g spaghetti
Fry Light

Method

Spray a large frying pan with Fry Light and cook the onions and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes until soft then add the mince for 5 minutes

Add the tomatoes, stock and Worcestershire Sauce. Season and bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until reduced and thickened.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti as per the packet then serve with the sauce.

Use you HexA cheese allowance if you like!

TIP! I use Quorn mince in place of meat mince as I found it worked out cheaper. You can also pack this full of vegetables and even add in bacon!

Chicken Dopiaza

 

 

Serves 2 people

45 minutes

Syn Free

 

Ingredients

 

2 chicken breasts, diced

2 tbsp. medium curry powder

1 tbsp. Garam Masala

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 large onion

1 tsp. lazy garlic

200ml chicken stock

tin of chopped tomatoes

Fry Light

Cup of rice

Salt and Pepper

 

Method

 

Place a large frying pan over a medium heat and spray with fry light. Fry the chicken until browned.

 

Add the onions and fry until softened, then add the spices and cook for a further 30 seconds or so.

 

Add the garlic, chicken stock and tomatoes and season well. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a medium low, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.

 

Meanwhile cook rice as per packet instructions then serve immediately.

 

 

I love this recipe! Unlike some other curries that can appear quite watery, this sauce really thickens and it is so quick and easy!



Week 2 - 1lb Loss

This week I lost 1lb which to be honest with you I was a little disappointed with but hey, a loss is a loss right?!

This week I am upping the amount of veg I'm having with meals as looking back at my food diary, I don't appear to have had too much with my meals last week. 

I also had not been having a HexA either so I wonder if that might have something to do with it too.

To help with shopping ideas, I decided to buy the 2015 Branded Food Directory from the group which I carry around with me now so if I ever need to check anything when I am out, I always have it to hand. It costs about £2 for members and has already proven useful!

Starting weight 9th Jan: 11st 6lbs
Weigh In -1lb
Closing Weight 15th Jan: 11st 5lbs

Pork Pad Thai

Serves 2-4 people
Syn Free
20 Minutes

Ingredients

1 pack of Extra Lean Pork Mince
1 tsp. lazy garlic
1 tsp. ground ginger
2 tbsp. dark soy
3 spring onions
1 chilli
Pack of stir fry mix (I have used mixed peppers)
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 nests of dried noodles
100ml hot vegetable stock
Fry Light

Method

Heat the Fry Light and in a wok and brown the mince

In the mean time cook the noodles and set to one side

Once the mince is browned, add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, stock, spring onions and chilli and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the stir fry vegetable mix and stir fry for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft on a high heat.

Add the cooked noodles and mix together then pour on the beaten egg and continue to cook on a low heat until the egg is cooked.

Serve immediately.

I have taken this recipe from the Fakeaways Book and slightly tweaked it to make it even simpler by using pre-prepared vegetables... Which makes this an ideal meal for when time is short!

Overnight Oats

I've decided to give this a whirl as I have heard such good things about overnight oats!

Ingredients:

35g porridge oats (HexB)
1 x mullerlight fat free yogurt
1 x portion of mixed frozen summer berries

Method:

Add the ingredients in layers.

I started with a spoon full of porridge oats, followed by a couple of spoonful's of yogurt then a couple of spoonful's of mixed summer berries and repeat until all the ingredients are in.

Seal, and leave in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, mix it altogether and enjoy!


TIP: This is another one of these amazingly versatile dishes as you can add any flavour yogurt and all sorts of different fruit. You can have a different flavour for every day of the week.

Weekend Preparation

Gearing up for a good week 2 and a busy weekend. I've always struggled with social events as I always see it as a time to let my hair down and relax. This time though, I'm prepared!

We are going to a friends house tonight and its an evening event so I cooked us up a large all day breakfast as a late lunch (fried eggs, Quorn sausages, beans, bacon with all the fat trimmed off and two pieces of Warburton's bread for HexB) so that should keep us going for a few hours. I've also made a cheese and bacon tortilla after I found a recipe on Pintrest that I wanted to try out!

 

 

I've also just found "no added sugar" bitter shandy... which is Syn free from Tesco's. This is going to help me out this year for sure!

 

 

The fridge is stocked and ready for a busy week ahead. This has to be one of my favourite views. Please note that the bottle of wine tucked down the side is closed and has remained that way for two weeks. Now THAT is how focused I am!

 

 



 

 

Week 1 - 4lb Loss

So, the first weigh in after the being back on it for 1 week and I have lost 4lb! That's the 3.5lb gain that I  had put on over Christmas and New Year plus half a pound! That is just what I needed to get the ball rolling and continue on the right path! We went back to basics and utilised the food diaries and really kept the Syns down.

One of my New Years Resolutions this year was to stay to group again and so we stayed tonight and it was brilliant - especially with the recent changes. The only downside is that we didn't get home until 9pm and then I had to cook tea so I decided on my favourite, Arrabbiata Pasta. I'll post the recipe on here soon but for now here is a picture! 15 minutes later and it is ready!

We had this with Quorn Swedish Meatballs and it is delicious!

This week I hope to ride on the momentum of my 4lb off and I aim to lose 2lb next Thursday. It has been a good week and I am so glad that it has paid off.

Starting Weight: 2nd Jan - 11 st 10lb 
Weigh in: -4lb
Closing Weight: 8th Jan -11 st 6lb

Brush Your Teeth!

If, like me, you can't open a bag of sweets without demolishing the whole bag... Carefully count out a set amount of syns and once you have eaten them... Brush your teeth! That way you will be less inclined to continue eating them!

Thai Green Chicken Curry

Serves 2 people
3 syns per person
45 minutes

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts, diced (P)
500ml chicken stock (I use hot stock)
100ml light coconut milk
2 tbsp. that green curry paste
1/2 pack of sugar snap peas (S)
1 tin of bamboo shoots (S)
2 chillis, chopped (I deseed) (S)
1 cup of rice (I use 2 thirds of a mug!)
Fry Light

Method

Spray a frying pan with fry light and cook the chicken until browned.

Add the Thai green curry paste and chilli's. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring so that the paste doesn't burn.

Add the stock and bring to the boil.

Once the stock is boiling, add the veg and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cook the rice according to packet instructions. Normally takes about 10 minutes.

As the rice is cooking, I bring the heat right down on the curry and pour in the coconut milk and stir until the mixture is creamy.

Serve immediately!

I have used 1 tbsp.. of Nam Pla (Fish Sauce) and the juice and zest of lime in the past however, I have found that it is just as scrummy without!

TIP! Don't add the coconut milk into the curry too soon as it can split. I always make sure that the curry is cooked and then bring the heat right down then add the coconut milk. Once the curry is hot again, it is ready to serve but be careful not to boil. Don't worry if the milk does split... it still tastes amazing!

Chicken Chow Mein

 

 

 



Serves:4 people      
1/2 Syn per person
1 hour (cooking and marinating time)

Ingredients

2 x Skinless chicken breasts - diced (P)
Dried Noodles (I use one nest per person)
4 tbsp. light soy sauce
4 tbsp. dark soy sauce
1 tbsp. hot chilli sauce
1 tbsp. sweet chilli sauce
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. Chinese 5 spice
1 tsp. lazy garlic
1 red pepper (S)
1 green pepper (S)
1 tin bamboo shoots (S)
2 chilli peppers (I deseed) (S)
half a packet of sugar snap peas (S)
4 spring onions (S)
2 eggs (P)
Fry Light

Method

In a bowl, marinate the chicken in the light soy sauce, hot chilli sauce, ginger, Chinese 5 spice and the garlic. Marinate for about 10/30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the noodles (usually take between 5/10 minutes) drain and keep to one side.

Spray a wok with Fry Light and cook the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, add the vegetables.

Once the vegetables have been cooked, add the dark soy sauce and the sweet chilli sauce.

Add the cooked noodles in and mix all together to coat the noodles in the sauce and distribute the chicken and the vegetables.

Plate up in large bowls and serve with a fried egg on top.

Delicious!

I cook this for Matt and I as it is so quick and easy. You can marinate the chicken over night if you wanted to. I genuinely prefer this over the version we used to get from the takeaway. This dish is so versatile as you can use any vegetables you like or try it with beef or pork!

TIP! This dish is great for dinner parties as everything bar the noodles can be prepared in advance so you spend less time cooking and more time living!

The Beginning

 

 

So this is me at the very start of my journey in August 2012 in Rome. All 13 stone 12 pounds of me. It was a blazing hot holiday and I was tired, grumpy and hot. Walking around the magnificent ruins, I felt miserable. Needless to say when I saw the photo's from this holiday I swiftly signed up to Slimming World on 16th August 2012 along with my partner, Matt.

 

I didn't have a good reason for being overweight. I loved food. All the wrong kinds of food. And I couldn't really cook so going to somewhere like McDonalds or getting a takeaway just seemed like the easy thing to do. If I had a good day, I would reward myself with food. If I had a bad day, I would console myself with food. And exercise... well I might go to the gym once every couple of months or so.

 

I wont lie to you, I was very upset to see these photo's. I was shocked. I knew that I was getting bigger but I didn't realise just how big and in such a short space of time.

 

From the day I joined Slimming World, the whole way I think about food has changed. I've learnt how to cook and how to plan. I'm still totally obsessed with food but I have learnt to strike a balance. There have been times where I have been so close to target and then I've taken my eye off the ball for a few weeks and have put on weight again but I know what I need to do.

 

I wanted to create a page to keep me focused and inspired. I want to share with you my journey (I have definitely taken the scenic route!) and I would love to share your journey's too.  I really enjoy trying out new recipes and tweaking them to suit our tastes. At first felt completely overwhelmed at the idea of having to cook food from scratch but now I love knowing exactly what has gone into my meals and I get that satisfying feeling that I created that awesome meal we just ate.

 

I really hope that I can help to inspire and to also find inspiration.