Step Up In Fitness

 

 

This week i feel great i have really tried to stay focused on my Slimming World journey and the Food Optimsing plan. I have really tried to think about getting a third superfree foods into my meals and also trying to think out the box, by this i mean thinking what other things i can try or eat to give my body what it needs.

One of the ways i have tried this week is by increasing my fitness sessions. So this week i have completed 3 gym sessions and 40 lengths at the swimming Pool.

As the quote says above set yourself a goal and then kick it in the face, if you feel that your body can give some more push yourself to acheive that bit more, trust me it feels great. One of my main goals is to improve my training in the gym. When i first started at the gym back in October 2012 i got on a treadmill and could just about manage 3 minutes of running before i was totally done in plus 27 minutes of fast walking and also walking with the treadmill on an incline to increase my heart rate and burn those calories. My total time on a treadmill has always been 30 minutes, this gets my heart rate going so i can push on with the rest of my training. Each week since then i have tried to push myself a little bit more. I am now upto 15 minutes running in 30 minutes so basically 50% of my time is spent running. This week i have hit the gym 3 times meaning i have done an extra training session to normal weeks and i feel great. I have worked every muscle in my body from legs to core to arms and chest and i can really tell a difference. I am hoping that i can try to keep this up in the coming weeks. I also managed to run on my treadmill on an incline which really was a tough challenge but i got through it and did this for 3 minutes out of my 15, i see this now as a stepping stone, remember set the goal and kick it in the face, i can do it in time and i will. Determination really is key.

After my 3 gym sessions totalling around 4 hours i have also done 40 lengths in the swimming pool which we all know is great all body workout. Now 40 lengths is not my personal best as i know i can easily do 50 but 10 short of my best isn't too bad and i really enjoyed it so im not disappointed at all.

So tomorrow its weigh in and time to see if the scales reflect my hardwork and determination lets hope so! I will be happy to see a loss of 2lb anymore than this and i will be really happy as it all heads towards my next award of 5 and half stone.

Gold Body Magic Award!

This Tuesday in group me and Charlotte received our Gold Body Magic award. This means that we have done 2 and a half hours of exercise a week and maintained it for 8 weeks.
I am so proud of this award as it really shows my efforts in the gym and swimming are really paying off and it is recognised by Slimming World. Before I started this journey I could barely be bothered to do anything I was unhappy very unfit and so lethargic, I always made the excuse I was tired after work or I didn't have time, these excuses were made not just about exercise but also with simple things like seeing friends which I deeply regret. Now I am so active and my new weight loss and exercise has changed me as a person, I have more energy and feel great for it. Nowadays I am out of the house 5 nights a week doing something, be it exercise or just being with my great friends, in comparison to before where it was more like 6 nights in and 1 night out.
So this award really does mean the world to me and really shows how much I have changed for the better.

Motivation is the Key to Success!

Tuesday night once again and as you all know last week i was a little bit down in the dumps. I thought i had lost all my motivation and felt like i was giving up on myself. Well after that bump in the road i re-read my Slimming World book and really got my focus back. Not only did i give it 100% with my Food Optimising i really pushed myself with the Body Magic aspect, and i am very proud to say it worked!!
I got on the scales at group last night and was praying that my hard work would pay off and it would reflect on the scales and show me a decent weight loss. I had told myself that i deserved a least 2 or 3 pounds off. Imagine my shock, pride and utter suprise when my best mates in group, who do the weigh in's, Sarah and Adele told me i had lost 4lb this week!!!!!
You seriously could have knocked me over with a feather. What a fab weight loss, and all because i got my motivation and focus into gear and really pushed myself. Its a great feeling when you know you have acheieved something. In image therapy i was also given the Slimmer of the Week title, another proud moment for me. The support of the group and all the new friends i have there is just brilliant, they really helped me last week to boost my confidence and basically push me forward, so i just want to say a massive thank you to everyone in my group without you lot i would not be writing this now!!!!
I now need just 2.5lb to hit my 5 stone award which i know and will be truly honest to everyone i will not get next week. This week is a really hectic and syn filled week for me.
Today sees the start of some time off work and if you read the blog of my best mate Charlotte you will have already seen how action packed it is. Basically after weigh in it was our groups night out which was a beautiful 3 course meal at The Viking in Goole. The night was brilliant, such a good laugh with all our new "Fat Fighters" friends. This also signifies the start of things to come, Thursday is a day out and meal in London, Friday night is Chinese Meal out with work and Saturday is a meal out in York. However, as Mandy, Our consultant says, if i take out those bad days i can really try and work some magic for the rest of the time. I am so focused now that i am going to be extra good on the other days and go to the gym 4 times plus swimming next Monday to see if i can at least maintain or come in with a small gain. If its a loss at all next week i will be exstatic so watch this space everyone.

Week 26 at Slimming World

I can't believe it has been 26 week since I first walked into my first ever Slimming World meeting, all those nerves and unknowing what was going to happen. Now the group is like my second family they are a brilliant group!
This week was a brilliant weigh in I lost 2.5lb which I am so happy with I feel amazing and I am now at a total loss of 4 stone 4 pounds! Only 3 more pound to go to hit my Christmas wish of 4 and a half stone before the festivities begin. My Slimming World consultant, Mandy, also told me that my average weekly weight loss over 24 weigh in's ( missed 2 due to holiday) is 2.5lb a week which I'm chuffed with.
So tonight it was back to the gym with Charlotte and building up the body magic points, only 3 more week need to get my gold award!! I really pushed myself tonight and now I'm aching slightly but hopefully it will be worth it. I am aiming for 2lb this week, fingers crossed!

100% Food Optimising

I have made a vow that from today I am going to stick to my diet 100% I'm really going to try my best and go back to basics!
Today's meals have been really healthy, having my healthy a and b (milk and cereal) for breakfast topped with banana and then for lunch I used my soup cubes and had a lovely warming bowl of Slimming World mushroom soup, perfect in this autumnal weather, with an apple and plum for dessert. Then finally ending my day with jacket potato and pasta salad for my tea.
So day one has gone really well and I still have about 8 syns left for a treat in front of the tv but before that its back to the gym and back to the body magic with Joanne!
All in all a good positive day and I feel better for it too! Oh and Happy Halloween to everyone

Day off work and a new reciepe to try!

After a quick gym session this morning which consisted of me hitting the treadmill to warm up then slowly building myself up to a decent workout, and i managed to increase my running up to a collective 8 minutes which is a massive achievement for me. After i was warmed up i moved onto the bikes for 10 minutes and then ended on the weight machines, not a long workout today but some is better than none i say plus i was restricted with time today.

 So with it being my day off and while i have time i like to experiment with new recipes from Slimming World and cook for the rest of my family. On the menu tonight for tea was Homemade Meatballs with SW Arribiata Sauce on Tagliatelle pasta. It was so easy to make and was really tasty with a little kick from the slightly spicy sauce.

 

If you want to give it a try yourself this is the ingredients you will require and how you to can create this beautiful meal.

 

Ingredients

 

Meatballs

500g extra lean mince either pork or beef

1 small onion either red or white which ever you prefer

2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp dried oregano

 

Arribiata Sauce

400g Passata

200ml Vegetable Stock

2 red chillies deseeded and finely chopped

2 garlic cloves

1 onion

 

Dried pasta your choice on type and also amount depending how many you are serving.

 

Method

1. In a large bowl mix together your mince and onions, once it has all combined together add you Worcestershire sauce and oregano. Mix well until all ingredients are well combined. Then roll small amounts of the mix together in your hand to form a small meatball, then place on a baking tray. Repeat this until you have used all your mince mix. This amount of ingredients should make between 15 and 20 meatballs. Then place your tray in the fridge to allow them to bind together and marinade. Leave them for about 15 Min's, then remove them from the fridge and using a frying pan sprayed with fry light gently cook the meatballs until sealed and slightly browning. remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Now begin your sauce, spray a pan with some fry light and fry together the chillies, garlic and onion until softened. Then add in the pan the passata and stock and stir it to mix everything together. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat, add you meatballs and allow the dish to simmer for 15-20 minutes until your sauce has reduced slightly and thickened and your meatballs are cooked through.

3. Whilst your sauce is simmering cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain and set aside.

4. Once everything is ready serve immediately whilst warm.

 

Here is a picture of how mine looked when completed. The best thing about this whole dish is you can enjoy it Syn Free on your Slimming World Diet.