Slimming World Journey Week #4

This week I didn`t `feel` it and it showed on the scales. I gained 1 1/2lbs this week, to say I`m disappointed is an understatement. I had been on plan 100% and went to the gym but still gained???

Maybe it was the fact that last week I was weighed first thing in the morning with no food in my system since the night before and yesterday I weighed-in in the evening?? I know for a fact as I previously tested this that I can gain up to 3lbs from a morning weight check to a night-time weight check. I`m not trying to make excuses, just trying to see where I may of gone wrong so that I can change it and have a loss for next week.

Oh well, a new week, a new challenge!!

Below is a small selection of this weeks meal choices.

Weigh-In Week #4

Starting Weight - 12st 5lbs
Current Weight - 11st 13lb - gain of 1.5lbs

Total Loss to date - 6lbs

Target Weight - 12st

Chickpea Dahl Muffins

SNACKS, SNACKS, SNACKS.



This is my obsession at the moment; I`m constantly on the look out for Slimming World friendly snacks which are good enough to satisfy that annoying hunger niggle mid morning/afternoon.

These little beauties are amazing. Chickpea Dahl Muffins.

Thanks to theprmummy for introducing me to these little mouthfuls of delight!!

They are SO easy to make and are completely FREE on the extra easy plan, so no worrying about going off plan.








Ingredients

1 x 400gm tin of Chickpea Dahl (Asda)
1 x Bachelors Super Rice GOLDEN flavour
5 x whisked eggs

Thats it!!

Method

1. Cook rice as instructed on packet.
2. Once rice is cooked combine the whisked eggs and Chickpea Dahl.
3. Lightly grease baking tin of your choice, I used heart shaped mini muffin cases and muffin cases. You can also make a Dahl loaf in a 1lb loaf tin.
4. Divide mixture equally into cases.
5. Cook at 190 for approx 25 minutes or till firm.
6. Enjoy.

Makes approx 24, depends on what size you use.

See I told you these were so easy to make and are scrummy. I like them warmed up with a fried egg and baked beans...weird I know!

My New Hobby - Hooked On Crochet

For one my New Years resolutions this year I decided that I wanted to try a new craft.
I love scrap-booking, card making,  cross-stitching and have even tried my hand at knitting but never really got the hang of it.

In the run up to Christmas last year I saw loads of cute ideas on pintrest for crochet decorations and thought I`d give it a go. I decided to grab a crochet magazine and learn from there but was amazed that the cheapest was £7.99!!! £7.99 for a magazine and a few basic pieces of crochet equipment..I dont think so!!

I then realised that I have the brilliant youtube to teach me. So I went to my local haberdashery store and grabbed myself a crochet hook for £1 and a ball of yarn for £1.




What I didn`t realise is just how many different video tutorials on learning crochet there are. After watching a few which all had different methods to get the same result I decided to go with a channel called Bella Coco, she explained everything really clearly and I managed to get the hang of it quite quickly.

I have to admit that I love doing crochet and this is now my new thing to do, its great, its a stress reliever and the best bit is that as my hands are busy I can`t eat of an evening!!!







I have only grasped the basics so far and My completed squares are a bit scraggly but am looking forward to being able to create some cool things for myself, family and home in the neat future.

My first project is going to be creating a nice blanket for my bedroom, once that is done I have seen a lovely chunky wave scarf...you never know I may actually have it finished in time for this Autumn/Winter!!


I`d love for you to share your crochet creations with me to give me some inspiration.

Here is the video I`ve learnt from.

Slimming World Journey Week #3

Today was weigh-in #3 since starting my Slimming World journey. The journey so far hasn`t been easy BUT it is getting easier!!

I never really got the whole idea of Slimming World or Weight Watchers as I didn`t like the idea of having to constantly count and weigh out what I was eating all the time. But with Slimming world there is minimal weighing so I don`t feel like I`m on a diet, I mean how can having a fry up every day be being on a diet??

The main thing that I have noticed since starting the diet is that I am not depriving myself of life`s little treats, I`m still having them just in moderation. I`m also making healthier choices when planning and cooking our meals.

So today I weighed in at the earlier group as it`s hubby`s birthday today and we are of out for a family meal tonight. I knew that I had been good all week except for my one moment of naughtiness when I gave into temptation and had half a big bag of Jolly Ranchers...I haven`t seen them for years and just HAD to buy them!! I was hopeful as I stood on the scales and was delighted to see that I had lost 3lbs this week...making a total of 7 1/2lbs in 3 weeks on plan.

I am in shock!

I am in shock! I have tried many diets over the years only to give up after a few weeks due to no results but this time I am definitely keeping to plan and I WILL be at my target for this summer. No more chunky mummy who doesn`t have photos taken or join in with the fun.

Weigh-In Week #3

Starting Weight - 12st 5lbs
Current Weight - 11st 11.5lbs - loss this week of 3lbs!!

Total Loss to date - 7.5lbs

Target Weight - 10st

Kitchen Gadgets + Fond Memories!

This is so sad I know but I am so excited to have this little beauty arrive in the post today!! I remember my Nan having one of these years ago and have many fond memories of her peeling the potatoes and then allowing me to chip them.



Being on week 3 of my Slimming World diet I have found a need to for this in my life again as I`m making a lot of chips from scratch and snacking on carrots and cucumber sticks during the day. I know this is another gimmick but I am certain that it is going to make my life easier and quicker at dinner time.

May be now I might let me kids help me get their chips ready as would of never of let them near a sharp knife before.

Do you have a kitchen gadget that you can`t live without??

Slimming World Journey Week #2 - Only 1lb down :-(

I was not looking forward to tonight`s weigh-in; even though I have been on plan 100% this week I just haven`t felt right.

Its been hard to stay on plan and keep focussed, may be because its the time of the month this weekend and all I want to do is snuggle on the sofa wrapped up a lovely cosy blanket and eat my body weight in chocolate. The unusual thing is that I haven`t done that even though I wanted to!!

So tonight I stepped on the scales with my eyes closed and waited for the "you have a lb gain this week" but I didn`t hear that I heard "great, a lb loss"....I am flabbergasted!!

I have returned home feeling much better about everything and ready to take on the next week and have a good loss, its gonna be hard as its hubby`s birthday and we are planning an afternoon out bowling and dinner afterwards.......I WILL BE GOOD.

Weigh-in Week #3

Starting Weight - 12st 5lbs
Current Weight - 12st 0.5lbs

Weight loss to date - 4.5lbs

Clothes Size - same as last week 16/18

Target Weight - 10st

Mediterranean Cod

I`m starting to like this healthy eating lark, here is what I created last night......Mediterranean Cod.

Yet again all FREE on the Extra Easy plan!!

Serves 4

Cooking Time - approx 40 mins

Ingredients

4 x Cod pieces, frozen or fresh, if using fresh the cooking time is halved
1 x courgette, cut into large chunks
3 x tomatoes, cut into large chunks
1 x pepper, colour of your choice
handful of sliced mushrooms
1 x onion, finely chopped
1 x 300ml passata
Frylite
handful of olives
250gm rice

Method

1. Prepare rice to your preference. Whilst cooking...
2. Spritz a few sprays of Frylite into a frying pan and gently sweat down the onions for a minute.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes, passata and your choice of vegetables bar the olives and pepper along with 200ml of boiling water.
4. Mix together and simmer for 15-20 minutes or till mixture has thickened.
5. Add your fish pieces and peppers, slightly pressing the fish into the sauce. Cover and cook till fish is cooked through.
6. Add chopped olives to sauce just before serving on a bed of rice.
7. Enjoy 

One thing I have learnt in the last few days is that I need to brush up on my photography skills as the last few photos haven`t done the meals justice!!

Aloo Gobi - Slimming World Style

Welcome to my first Slimming World recipe of 2015!!

My plan is to share with you some of the amazing tasting food that is available on the new Extra Easy plan. One thing you wont believe is that you can loose weight whilst tucking into these amazing meals.

This week I won the weekly food raffle at our group meeting and won all the ingredients needed to make Aloo Gobi on page 69 from the Jan/Feb 2015 issue of the Slimming World magazine.

The recipe below is not set in stone as to what you can put in it, get creative!!  I included some mushrooms and peppers that needed using up from the fridge; just make sure that they are free foods and ideally S & P.

Aloo Gobi

serves 4 

Ready in about 15-20 minutes

Ingredients

250gm dried long grain rice
Frylight
175gm spring onions, sliced, reserving some to garnish
4 tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tbsp korma curry powder
juice of 1 lemon
1 large cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 x 300gm cans small new potatoes in water, drained and thickly sliced

Method

1. Cook the long-grain rice according to the packet instructions. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, spray a deep frying pan or wok with Frylight and place over a medium-high heat. Stir-fry the onions for 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook gently for a further 3 minutes.
3. Mix the curry powder with the lemon juice.
4. Add curry and juice mixture to pan and cook for 1 minute. 
5. Add the cauliflower, potatoes and 300ml of boiling water, cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender
6. Serve with the cooked rice and garnish with the reserved onions.

Extra Easy FREE

I have to admit that the whole dish took alot longer than the advised time to cook, most probably because I may of not cut the cauliflower into small enough chunks! This dish is so filling and has the most amazing taste, you must give it a try!

Slimming World Journey Week #1 3 1/2lbs down!!

Last night was my first weigh-in after being on plan for a full week.

I`m not gonna lie its been a hard week for me; learning a whole new way of eating and planning our meals.

Saying that things are starting to get easier already as I finally get to grips with the new Extra Easy plan. I now know what I can and can`t have and am really looking forward to getting more creative in the kitchen creating some amazing tasting and looking food.

I was really nervous about stepping on the scales this week but all was good and I really enjoyed staying on for IMAGE therapy. 3 1/2lbs down in my first week, I was so shocked. Maybe this plan does actually work!!

Plus I won the food raffle this week...bonus!! I won all the ingredients needed to make Aloo Gobi from this months Slimming World magazine, guess what we are having for tea tonight?

Above is just a small selection of what I ate this week, there should be more but I kept forgetting to take photos as the meals looked so scrummy I just tucked on in!!

Weigh-In Week#2

Starting Weight - 12st 5lb
Current Weight - 12st 1.5lb - 3 1/2lb LOSS!!!!! OMG!!!

Clothes Size - same as last week 16/18

Target Weight - 10st

My Slimming World Journey Week #1

Tonight I attended my first ever weigh in at my local Slimming World group. And to say I was nervous was an understatement. Luckily I went with some of my very good friends which spurred me on to actually get through the front door.

The group was so friendly and welcoming that I felt comfortable being there almost instantly. Our consultant Susie has so much positive energy and loves her job so much that you just can`t help leaving the group feeling that you can accomplish anything and reach your target weight with ease.

So then, my weight today is 12st 5lb - not too bad after all the christmas treats, but still I`m not very happy with the fact that I have gained 4lbs over the festive season as I weighed 12st 1lb the day before christmas eve.

Right then, work needs to be done!!

Each week I will post my progress here, plus I will be posting some of the lovely slimming world friendly meals that I will be trying to create........keep checking back to see if I can get to my target weight of 10 stone.

Weigh In Week #1

Starting weight - 12st 5lbs!!!!!

Starting clothes Size - 16/18

Target weight - 10st

New Year, New Start??

Happy 2015 to you all!

I can`t believe it is 2015 already; where did the last year go??

It seems like only yesterday we were sorting out our budget and planning the family holidays for the year and in the blink of an eye the year has passed.





Now is the time for the obligatory new years resolutions to be made and sadly, usually broken within the first few days!!

My main resolution this is year is the same as it has been for the last decade...WEIGHT LOSS.

What`s different this year I that I mean it; no more chunky mummy who is fed up with not having any clothes that fit and avoiding the camera like the plague. No more comfort eating about being the size I am them moaning about how many calories I have just eaten.

I took the first step on my weight loss journey in September and joined my local gym. My aim was to go at least twice a week, more if possible and I have kept to that aim most weeks. Inevitably the few weeks running up to Christmas have been hectic so the gym attendance has slipped and haven`t been for 3 weeks now, weirdly I actually want to go and am looking forward to getting back into the routine of going.

Since September I have lost 10lb through exercise alone but want to take the weight loss up a level now by joining my local Slimming World group.

My bestie theprmummy and good friend onebusywahm have inspired me with their weight loss stories so am going to see what all the hype is about.

I`ve learnt that a good diet is also key in loosing weight, not just exercising so I hope I can have as amazing results as Emma and Natalie in the next few months.

Tomorrow is my first weigh in and group meeting so check back to see how I got on.

xx Jeni xx