Spag Bol

Good old spag Bol, slimming world style :)

500g extra lean mince, finely chopped onion, grated carrot, 2 cloves garlic, heaped tsp basil, 2 tins chopped tomato. Served with whole wheat spaghetti. Syn free! 

Simple salmon tea

Been such a busy few days chasing up quotes for repairs following the mini flood, I haven't made time to plan meals properly nor cook. 

Tonight's tea was quick and easy - and very tasty. Beautiful piece of salmon in a lemon and dill dressing (Birds Eye Inspirations and syn free) with couscous (syn free) and carrots (syn free). Wasn't sure about the veg choice, but wanted to use up the carrots - as it turned out, a good choice!

Later on, I baked a batch of cappuchino weetabix muffins which work out to 2 syns each (would be free if using the weetabix as a HEB) and had one for a snack for supper - they're very filling and sweet :)

Also, reminded myself to take healthy snacks with me when I'm out and about - fruit, SW bar - otherwise it's too easy to make wrong, high syn choices.

Overdue update

Since reaching target I've neglected this blog somewhat! I've been at target for around 2 months now, and to date that's been uneventful - I'm still 2 lbs under target as of weigh in today. It's only varied by about half lb over the past few weeks.

I still can't quite believe it - I was overweight for so long, and to have lost 2 stone 2lbs still feels something like a miracle. I have 2 healthy A's and 2 healthy B's most days, which has meant being able to have some cheese again (love cheese so much) and some more wholemeal bread (and I love that too!)  At times I've gone way over syns - touch of the emotional eating if something's been amiss - but my damage limitation is a few days back on plan, and that seems to work for me.  I had a real chocolate blow out a week or two ago - and had a night of stomach pains and feeling bloated. It must have got something out of my system as I've had no urge to do that again :)

Just in the last few days I've been dealing with a water leak resulting in a lot of damage, and feel proud - and amazed - this time I didn't turn to my food comfort blanket (well, apart from 1 chocolate moment!) but just got on with the practicalities of getting it all sorted out.

Still enjoying my cooking although maybe got a bit 'stale', so need to try out different recipes and liven things up a bit. Just recently though with the hot weather I've been having tons of salad (pasta, or with new potatoes, etc) and cold meats or fish.  I was never a great salad eater before SW, but now love it.

So, am aiming to try out 1 new recipe a week, and will post photos, starting next week. This week is a bit chaotic dealing with insurance assessors, carpet firm, decorating and joinery quotes. Good job I've a supply of home cooked meals in the freezer, and lots of salads :)

1/2lb loss (last week) and birthday cakes :)

...so I'm now 2.5lbs under target.  I have 2 HEA's and 2 HEB's every day, and now have close on 15 syns each day, occasionally going over 15 if it's for a special reason. Which it was yesterday :)

Family bbq at my younger niece's home,  and 2 to-die-for cakes baked by my masterchef standard brother! One was a lemon curd cake, the other strawberries and real cream. All I can say is LUSH, and worth every syn! Mind you, I had few syns the previous day, and hardly any today, so am not concerned in the slightest.

No chance of a sneaky wrap up sadly, with 9 adults and 3 children :) But we all enjoyed tucking in!

Still at target - some musings

It's been a strange few weeks since I reached my target weight. I think we get consumed with losing weight each week, working towards our goal, and when we reach it it feels somewhat strange. Suddenly that impetus has gone and we enter Stage 2 of the journey, the Maintain phase.

Reactions towards my weight loss have been mixed - the vast majority of people are really pleased for you and tell you how well you've done. But there are the 'other' comments from others to deal with, e.g.  you'll be on a diet for the rest of your life (which shows how little they understand Slimming World!) and even 'you could do with putting a bit of weight back on' !!  Is it any wonder many of us get anxious?

Since getting to target, I've lost another 1.5lbs unintentionally, and had to have my target re-set as I was right at the bottom of the 3lbs leeway we're allowed.  I've increased my Healthy A and B allowances (includes milk, butter, cheese, bread) and also am eating a few more syns each day. Hopefully on Friday when I weigh in I'll have maintained, and really don't mind if I've put on a lb or so. Another target member in my group warned me that being at target can 'mess with your head' and I understand now what she meant - the mind games really start.

I joined a new Facebook group for SW target members which is brilliant - so good to hear we all feel much the same and to learn strategies to deal with it all. 

Meanwhile, I still eat my Slimming World meals as that feels normal to me and far more enjoyable than the stodge or processed food I used to eat up to 8 months ago.  Tea tonight was a lovely chicken salad with some potatoes and a squirt or two of a tasty garlic mayonnaise.  Yum!

Magic pancake

Love these - sweet pancakes.

You mix 35g of porridge oats (HEB allowance) with about 3/4 pot of Mullerlight yoghurt (I used a dark cherry one) and leave for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.

Add 2 beaten eggs plus 1-2 teaspoons granulated sweetener, and fry using Fry Light. Absolutely delicious!

When I first got the recipe, I was a bit dubious.....but tasting is believing :)

Oven baked meatballs - and an award :)

I reached target 2 weeks ago, but decided to go for another half pound loss, to achieve my 2 stone certificate. Got that today! Very happy indeed.
I've gradually increased my Healthy B choices to 2 per day, and use all my 15 syns each day. I think I'll try out increasing my Healthy A choices and see what effect that has - am hoping that'll keep my weight maintained, after the half pound loss today (which of course was very welcome).

Tea tonight - oven baked meatballs with onion, garlic, courgettes and aubergine.  Served with carrots and potatoes, and delicious!  Not a syn in sight - but I shall be having my usual chocolate fix later on :)