Boom It's In The Bag!!

This week has been really good I managed to get 3 sessions in at the gym completed and my food and diet had gone really well too. I found that I was full with what I had been eating without any snacks or cheats here and there. So I went along to group feeling quite confident all I needed was 2 and half pound to get that magical five and half stone award. I stepped on the scales and saw the number appear back at me, I knew I had done it and that is all I was bothered about the fact I got my five and half stone award I felt fantastic.

I sat back down waiting for group to start and people were asking how I had done but I couldn't remember what I had lost all I knew was that I had got my award. Once group started and Mandy went round telling everyone how we had all done did I learn I actually lost 3 and half pound this week, I was over the moon!

Not only did I get my five and half stone award I was also named Slimmer of the Week, wow what a night I had I was really chuffed. I am now aiming towards my 6 stone award and chasing down a fellow member and my mate who is also chasing after her 6 stone award, she is a real inspiration to me and I know she will get hers this week which is just awesome. I am not going to say how much I want to loose this week as anything off towards that next award is a bonus in my eyes, the weight I am currently at is just amazing to me as I really can not remember the last time the scales showed me this number. Bring on another good week and hopefully a week where my good mate gets her 6 stone award, fingers crossed for her this week people!! Here is a picture of my latest award towards my collection!

                                     

Chicken Jambalaya

 

Today i decided to try another Slimming World recipe so tonight's tea for the family was Chicken Jambalya. It was really really nice and just the thing i was looking when i was searching through the recipes for something abit different with a different taste. It really did hit my expectations and was enjoyed by my whole family too. This quick easy recipe is very filling and at only 1 1/2 syns per serving on extra easy it doesn't even have a big impact on your syns for the day. See below for the full recipe and maybe give it go yourself.

 

Ingredients

 

1 onion, finely chopped
1lb/454g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size chunks
6 Quorn sausages, sliced
1 red, 1 green and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
2 courgettes, roughly chopped
2 tsp dried thyme
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
400g can chopped tomatoes
9oz/255g long grain rice
16fl oz/454ml chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped

 

Method

 

1. Heat a large pan sprayed with Fry Light. Add the onion and fry for 10 minutes to soften. Stir in the chicken and Quorn sausages and carry on cooking over a medium heat for 10 minutes.

2. Add the peppers, courgettes, thyme, lemon zest, chopped tomatoes, rice and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season to taste. Leave the jambalaya in the pan for a few minutes to soak up any remaining liquid. Serve sprinkled with some freshly chopped parsley.

 

I am really hoping for a good weight loss on Tuesday my fitness really has took a hit which i found out on Friday night in the gym, however i realise that after being ill i have got to rebuild my fitness and allow my body to get used to doing the workouts again. Bring on 2 1/2lb on tuesday to get my five and half stone award i really hope so. Plus i am going back to the gym tomorrow night after work for my last chance workout and hopefully build on my fitness again a little bit more.

Any Difference?

 

I was slightly bored after updating my blog so thought i would have a play on Facebook and came across some old pictures and wow what a shock it was. The Photo below was taken a couple of years ago when both myself, Joanne (in the middle) and Charlotte (on the left) were on the big side shall we say and after looking at this picture of the three of us it made me realise how far we have all come. See what you think and maybe it will inspire to make that difference to your own life.

 

Below are 3 pictures of the three of us this Christmas and New Year and the change in all three of us really is a shocker even if i do say so myself. Not only am i proud of myself but i am also very proud of Charlotte and Joanne too. Well done us!!

 

Bolognese Pasta Bake

 

If you have read the post before this one you will see that i have struggled with my Slimming World Journey for about 2 weeks now, however i really want this one to be good. Day off work so i thought great i can get something new tried and still be on plan with my diet. Todays recipe is Bolognese Pasta Bake which is 2.5 syns on Extra Easy per serving. When it came out of the oven it did look abit dry however when i cut into it and started to eat, i realised it was actually really tasty and not dry at all. So if you fancy this dish here's how you can give it a go.

 

Ingredients

250g Dried Pasta Shapes

1 Onion, finely chopped

2 Celery sticks, finely chopped

1 Medium Carrot, peeled and finely chopped

3 Garlic Cloves, peeled and finely sliced

250g mushrooms chopped roughly

500g extra lean beef mince

400g can of chopped tomatoes

250ml Beef Stock

1 Tsp Oregano

salt and pepper to season

6 Tbsp finely chopped basil

110g reduced fat mozzarella cheese, diced

 

Method

1. Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions until it is al dente (cooked through but not fully softened). Once done, drain and set to one side.

2.Place the onion, carrot, garlic, celery, mushrooms and minced beef into a large non-stick frying pan and stir fry for 6-7 minutes.

3. Add in the tomatoes, stock and oregano and bring the mix to the boil. Seasin well with salt and pepper and cook over a medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and then stir in the basil

4. Spoon half of the mixture into the base of a medium sized baking dish and top with the pasta. Spoon over the remaining bolognese sauce and top with the mozzarella cheese.

5. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes on Gas Mark 4, until bubbling.Remove from the oven and serve.

 

I served mine with thick potato wedges which had been cooked using my Actifry so this makes them free on extra easy. Other serving suggestions could include some seasonal veg or a nice side salad, this also adds to that one third superfree on your plate! Hope you enjoy it as much as me and my family did.



Self Destruct and Catch Up!

I suppose this post is better late than never so let's have a catch up shall we?
My last post on my blog was all about how i had managed to step up my fitness levels and on some weeks step up the amount of workout time i am doing now to before i started this new lifestyle.
I went to weigh in that week quite optimistic that i had done more fitness and my diet had gone quite well, no cheats or sneaky treats therefore my weight loss should reflect my hardwork. IT DID NOT!! I was fuming i only lost 1lb i really thought i had done far better than this but eventually i realised that 1lb off is still a loss and i should be proud of weight losses no matter how big or small.
The week following this weight loss my head was all over i could not seem to get my head in gear like i normally do after group so i seemed to eat anything i wanted including alot of naughty things which included takeaway, meals out and yes i found the Ben and Jerry's stash in the freezer so a tub of that fell in my face too. However illness also hit me i have felt under the weather nearly all week so i thought my indulgence could easily be justified with my illness. I did no workouts, not a single thing, i truly just could not be bothered to get myself to the gym, i was ill and had no energy again me thinking it would all be fine and i can write this week off. I have had these Self Destruction weeks in the past and sometimes i think i need them to keep me on track, after all if i am going to see this as a new way of life and not just a diet then throughout my life i am surely going to have good and bad weeks right?
Anyway i went to group on Tuesday still feeling pretty rubbish but knowing i needed to go and face the scales so that i could get my head back in the game and get back on track this week. I got on the scales and showed a loss, yes you read right, a weigh loss of 1/2 lb. Again i was quite mad i didn't deserve a loss and this time i was beating myself up for getting a loss at all after all i had eaten and severe lack of gym attendance. Group really cheered me up though, as they always do, and i love everyone of my "fat family" we had such a good laugh and i left feeling "on it" i was ready to get back on track with everything i had.
Normally a Wednesday night is in the gym with Charlotte however i was still suffering with my chest so i decided to skip it however i have not written off this week i have planned to get back to the gym on Friday and then i will go again on Sunday plus i have Swimming on Monday. I now need 2.5lb to get my 5 and half stone award if i stay on track this week, now im feeling better especially, i think i could pull that number, well heres hoping anyway.

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.

Weigh in results!

Yes it's that time again I know they come round really quick!
This week has not really been a memorable one in terms of its neither been a great week or a bad week. One thing that I did do was go to the gym on my own. I can hear people saying yeah so what? Big deal. However for me this is a huge step at one time I would never go anywhere alone apart from getting in the car to work or to a friends house. Now I do not know if it has anything to do with my weight loss but something has changed and off I went to the gym alone and I must say I did well! I did what I had to do and never gave up so I am rather proud of myself for doing it!
So onto the scales at Slimming World this week, again I went alone this was because Charlotte's little boy wasn't very well so she couldn't make it.
I got on the scales and was happy to see a weight loss of 2.5lb I was really happy with this. I am now boasting a total weight loss of 5 stone 3 pounds and I still can't believe this is happening to me! As it was the last weigh in of January it was time to announce Slimmer of the Month. We were told that this person had lost 10lb in this month! It was ME i didn't even realise i had lost this amount since christmas. I left group very happy and very proud of myself plus I was full of enthusiasm for the coming week.
I think I am going to go for a 2lb weight loss this week and next week meaning in 2 week time I should be blogging about my 5 and half stone award! Keep an eye out

Beef Lasagne!

For a couple of week's now i have really crazed a really nice lasagne with some chunky wedges on the side. However due to me being busy all the time i seem to never have had the time to prepare and make one. This week i thought i have some spare time this weekend it has got to be a lasagne for tea. I did a quick shift at work today and came home and started preparing tea. If you like the look at my lasagne above here is the ingredients and method for you to give it ago.

Ingredients

Lasagne

500g Extra Lean Beef Mince

1 x Medium Onion

1 x Red Pepper

1 x Green Pepper

300g Mushrooms

Passata (I used passata with garlic and herb to add more flavour)

8 x Dry Lasagne Sheets

40g Reduced Fat Cheese

 

Bechamel Sauce

2 x Level tbsp Cornflour

275ml Skimmed Milk

150g Fat Free Fromage Frais

1 x Level tsp Dijon Mustard

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

1. Prepare all of your veg or whichever superfree you choose to bulk up your filling.
2. Lightly spray a frying pan with Fry Light and add in the mince cooking until just turning brown. Then add in your veg and cook until they begin to soften.
3. Add in your passata and allow the mixture to cook until all your ingredients are fully cooked through.
4. Meanwhile, In a small bowl blend together the cornflour with a little of the milk. Pour the rest of the milk into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Then add in the cornflour mixture and simmer for 1-2 minutes stirring continuosly until the sauce has thickened.
5. Remove the sauce from the heat and gradually beat in the fromage frais and mustard. Season well with salt and pepper, then reheat gently being careful not to boil as the fromage frais will curdle.
6. Once everthing is prepared and cooked prepare your lasagne dish, firstly add in a layer of the mince mixture, top with lasagne sheets then some of your Bechamel sauce, building up your layers as you go finally ending with a topping of sauce. Once finished add your cheese to the top.
7. Put your lasagne in the oven on Gas Mark 6 for approx 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and cooked. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

I served mine with cajun potato wedges and peas. The lasgane serves 6 people and is 3 syns per serving if using the Cheese as part of your Healthy Extra A allowance. The picture below shows my completed meal and it was so tasty and very filling.

Cottage Cheese Quiches!

 

 

Weekend off work so i thought its maybe about time i started trying some new Slimming World friendly recipes. The group that i attend has a fantastic Facebook Group where members can get support and inspiration from other members. People also post pictures of food they are having and things they have made and how they have turned out. There is one member on the group, im sure she will know who she is if she reads this, is so very inspirational. Her food pictures and recipie ideas are brilliant and really give you different ideas on what to try next.

This recipe is one that i have seen her produce and thought they look delicious so thought i would give them ago. So here is the recipe for Cottage Cheese Quiches and here's how you too can have a try.

Ingredients

4 medium eggs

300g Fat Free Cottage Cheese (I used onion and Chive Flavour)

Your choice of filling maybe you could add some superfree into them?

 In mine i added Ham, Mushrooms and Tomato.

 

Method

1. Prehat your oven to Gas Mark 5 and in a deep muffin tin spray the little compartments with a little fry light.

2. Chop your fillings up so that they are small enough to go into the tins without over filling them.

3. In a bowl blend together your eggs and cottage cheese until it is fully combined.

4. Place your filling into the muffin tin and then carefully pour in you egg/cottage cheese mixture so that each compartment is well covered.

5. Place them into the oven for approx 30mins or until they are firm and golden brown.

6. Remove them from the oven and then you can either serve them warm or cold the choice is yours.

 

The above recipe should make about 10 individual quiches and the best bit is they are totally syn free. They can be enjoyed as part of a meal, maybe serving them with a nice salad or can be used as a snack. Due to them only being muffin sized they are also perfect to add into your lunch bags for work.

 

 



Weigh in.....I DID IT!!

I went to weigh in tonight feeling neither good nor bad. I hadn't had a terrible week but I somehow felt I hadn't done the greatest either. All day I have felt very bloated and basically fat (yes as unbelievable at it sounds even fat people have fat and thin days) plus i feel like am starting with a dreaded cold.
I got on the scales and looked down to see a weight loss of 1lb!!! I knew I had done it I have finally got that magical 5 stone award and I feel on top of the world never did I ever believe I would hit a weight loss of 5 stone half a pound!
I always seem to say its all down to the support of my group and Mandy my consultant but this time I am going to say that my biggest ever thanks goes 2 very special people and they are Charlotte and Joanne! My group and consultant are still fab and really have helped me on my journey but without the 2 people above I wouldn't be enjoying this award right how!
Firstly Joanne... After all without her own hard work with her own Slimming World journey I would have never been inspired to walk into that group!
And secondly my best mate Charlotte... She is my constant rock all week every week she picks me up and boosts me to do the best I can. She is my workout buddy and I have to say without her I probably wouldn't be attending a gym let alone enjoying it!
So a massive thank you to Joanne and Charlotte plus thanks to Mandy and group for your constant support every Tuesday night.
This week I would like a loss of anything 1lb or over as I will then drop into my new number!

Boredom is a killer!

I don't know about anyone else but I personally find boredom an absolute killer not only does it affect your mood but your diet seems to slip too.
Now I know what everyone is thinking that because I'm bored I sit and eat, well that's not strictly true. I don't sit and eat I seem to sit and think about food which in itself is bad! You think up all the "bad" food you think you want too eat which only makes you feel far worse!
So the point am getting at with this post is, I really want to know what everyone else does to conquer their own boredom or when bored and food is all you want what do you put your hands on?? I try to be good and stick to my slimming world diet but sometimes it just doesn't work so come on people help me out!!

It's Tuesday Night Once Again!

Tuesday nights come round really quickly and this means back to group for catch up with all my Slimming World family and time to face the scales!
This week I have had a really good week I have been food optimising all the way and made some really healthy choices. I has been to the gym twice and even managed 50 lengths at the local swimming baths so I was quite hopeful when I got on the scales.
I got on and watched the numbers jump up and down until they finally settled and revealed a weight loss of 4lb. I was over the moon and slightly disappointed all at once. Firstly i felt great i had pulled a brilliant weight loss and my hard work all week was finally showing on the scales however my second feeling of disappointment was in the back of mind. I had really wanted just another half a pound loss which would have taken me to the magical 5 stone award! My disappointment soon vanished and pride took its place, i had got a fantastic result and 4lb in one week is a brilliant acheivement how could i let myself be disappointed. Plus in image therapy afterwards i was named Slimmer of the Week i truly was chuffed to bits. This week also saw a couple of our new members step on the scales for their first week, and there was some fantastic results too, keep it up guys and you will see the results of your hard work in no time!
The aim for this week then is getting a loss off just half a pound, however you all know me better than that and know i like to push myself for decent numbers. So my actual target loss for this week is 3lb not only will acheive my 5 stone award i will drop into a new number on the scales, this means a hell of alot to me as the number i will drop into is one i have not seen for many a year.
Here's to a good week and pray i drop into the number!

First Weigh in for 2013!

The above quote really sums up how i have been feeling this week. I have put everything into my Weight Loss and i was quite excited to step on those scales this week knowing i had really give it my all. 

 Before my weigh in though i will need to start back on the 2nd January when i got back to my Slimming World lifestyle. I decided enough was enough and got on the scales to finally see what the damage had been and draw a line well and truly under the festivities. As you have read in my previous blog post, Post Christmas Weigh In, i had a gain of 5.5lbs. When i got on my own scales on the 2nd January i had gained another 3.5lbs. So all throughout the Christmas period i had gained 9lbs which i wasn't too bothered about, i knew what i had done and knew i had to get back on it.

 So back to Tuesday and trying to remember that i had to get rid of that extra 3.5lbs before a loss would even register at group. When i got on the scales and were told i had lost 2.5lbs i was fuming, i had really tried this week and felt like i deserved more out of my efforts. When i sat down and got talking to Charlotte (my sensible support) she informed me i should be over the moon after all i had actually lost 6lbs this week. When the realization hit i was chuffed to bits with my loss and it has really pushed me on to have another outstanding week. I am going to try and go for 4.5lbs this week to hit my 5 stone however any loss i would be happy with after all a loss is better than a gain no matter how small or large it is.

 This week in group also saw a lot of new faces walk in to start their own Slimming World journey, it was great to see so many people so eager to get going and next week will be brillaint to see how they have done. So from me i will say a very warm welcome to Goole's Tuesday Evening Slimming World meeting you are sure to find everyone very friendly and welcoming.

2013 and A New Start!

Today is the 3rd January 2013 and for many people it has been a day of going back to work and back to reality after the Christmas period. If you have been reading my blog and thinking maybe you should give Slimming World a go, now is the time to change. A new Year and a new you, if i can do it so can you.
The details on the image below show full details of the group times for the group i attend with Mandy as the Slimming World Consultant. There are a variety of times so you can attend whichever group suits you.

If you are not near to my group in Goole don't worry there are plenty of Slimming World groups up and down the country where each and every one will be as warm and welcoming as ours. Don't be afraid of walking in as a new member you will be greeted with a smile and made to feel like you have always known everyone. Take that first step for yourself not for others and see if Slimming World can make you as happy and healthy as it has made me. Check out the Slimming World Website at www.Slimmingworld.com to find your nearest group and lets make 2013 a great year for all.

Fast and simple lunch idea!

 

 

This is a fantastic, tasty and really quick lunchtime idea which really is ideal for anyone who doesn't know what to take to work for their lunch or simply someone who hasn't got time to stand and mess around creating a lunchtime meal.

The picture above shows my idea of a mock "stir fry". It basically consists of a Batchelors Deli Noodle Box and some quick, microwavable veg.

The Deli Boxes come in 4 brilliant flavours, firstly there is Mild Curry, BBQ Beef and Chow Mein all of which are brilliant at only 1.5syns per box and the fourth one is Chicken flavoured which is 2 syns per box.

How can you create this filling lunchtime meal? Cook your Deli box according to the instructions on the box and then i bought Tesco Microwaveable vegetables, which come in a number of different varities, all adding to your intake of that very important Superfree foods of course. Simply cook your veg as per the packet instructions, once they are cooked and your noodles are soft, mix everything together to create your quick, simple meal.

The whole thing takes aprox 5mins to make so everyone can squeeze in this brilliant dish antime of the day.

Post Christmas Weigh In!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas filled with fun, laughter, food and drink I know that's exactly what mine has been filled with!
Sunday night and it was the biggest weigh in I have ever had to face literally! I knew that I had been bad and my fate was left to the scales all I could do was pray!
I stepped on nervously to find out I had gained 5 n half pounds, yes it's quite a big gain but I was over the moon, I was filled with relief that it wasn't worse. Now weigh in was done it is seriously onwards and upwards I will soon have that back off and more I hope. The next weigh in for my group isn't while 8th jan now so I have plenty of time to get a decent loss.
Finally I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year and here's to a brilliant 2013 for all. I am also going to say that 2012 has been a brilliant year for me and I hope it continues. The support and inspiration of every person at my slimming world group has been immense I love everyone of them, I actually look forward to going to group just to see them. So a massive thank you to you all because without you I would not be here with a 4 and a half stone weight loss and a new healthier, happier life!!
Now all the festivities are over I can't wait to get back in the gym and start eating properly again.

Pre Christmas Weigh In!

Due to the Christmas period the weigh in's for group are all slightly different. Today was our choice head to group Christmas Eve morning and see how we had done before the Christmas "treats" appeared.
Well I got on the scales hoping for a loss, yea I would have loved to tell you I had really done well this week but in truth I knew it hadn't been one of the best. Especially when last night I went out to Toby Carvery for a meal which included a pudding oopsie! So I was really pleased when I lost 2.5lb this week I am now only 1.5lb away from getting my 5 stone award which won't be this week!!
To end I would like to say a huge Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog and all your families I hope you all have a fab time and I will up date my "Post Christmas Weigh In" on Sunday after group!

Bad week turned excellent!

Well what a truly horrendous week for my diet it has been. I had some time off work which meant that there was places to go and people to see. The first glitch was after weigh in last Tuesday when we all went out for a lovely xmas meal. Moving on to Thursday it was our annual trip to London for the day where I basically lost all control of my diet and ate whatever I wanted this included a chicken and mushroom pasty at 01:30am at the service station! Friday came around and it was a Xmas meal out with work so off to the all you can eat Chinese I went and again didn't even think about slimming world. Then finally Saturday a Xmas shopping day in York where once again I had a meal out with family and friends and once again it wasn't slimming world friendly!
Tuesday night and it was truly time to face my fate! I stepped on the scales hoping it wasn't going to be too bad but when the figure jumped up by 4 stone I practically fainted however thanks to my slimming world consultant Mandy winding me up and stepping on the back of them it wasn't true phew!!! So in the end I came away with a 1 and half gain which I was very pleased with.
This week in group it was Christmas party week which is where members took in some low syn treats for the table and also the big Christmas raffle. The raffle came round and it was time to see who had won the main prize of a tefal actifry. So a bad week came good when it was my number that got shouted out, I was so over the moon I couldn't believe it!! Merry Christmas me and thanks to Mandy for my prize!
This week is last week before Christmas and next weeks weigh in is on Christmas Eve morning so my socks have been pulled up and I am set for a good week hopefully I can pull off a nice 4lb weight loss to hit my 5 stone award before Christmas that really would be an amazing Christmas present.

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.

Almond Christmas Cookies!

 

Here is another recipe that i tried whilst on my weekend off work however i've only just had the chance to put it on here! So here are all the details you need to create your own.

 

Slimming World Almond Cookies

 

Ingredients

57g Self raising flour

113g Plain Flour

42g Low Fat Baking Margarine

100g Vanilla Mullerlight

4 x Tbsp Sweetner

Fry Light

6 x Drops of Almond Essence

 

Method

1. Seive the flour into a bowl and rub in the margarine until the mix in your bowl resembles breadcrumbs. Add in the yoghurt, sweetner and almond essence, then knead the mix together until it forms a soft dough. Wrap your dough in clingfilm and place in the fridge overnight.

2. Preheat your oven to 220oc/Gas 7. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment and sray lightly with fry light. On a floured surface rollout your dough to the thickness of a pound coin. The using a cutter (i used christmas trees but the recipe says a star cutter) and cut out 24 cookies. Place them on the baking sheets and bake them in the oven for 12-15 minutes until they are slightly risen and browned.

3. Remove the cookies from the oven and place them onto a wire rack and allow to cool. Then enjoy

 

If you would like to decorate your cookies remember that 1 tsp of icing is 1syn. These cookies are brilliant to add onto a buffet or just to snack on with a hot drink. They are only 1.5 syns too so can be enjoyed without breaking your syn allowance.