I am back

I have decided to make a return to Slimming World. Weight watchers was ok but I struggled, I aren't discrediting it but different things work for different people. I lost 2.5 stone with Slimming World so that is the best results for me. Since leaving in March I have lost 4lb so I am happy to not have gained since leaving and happy to be back!

For those of you who do not know me I am a student radiographer, I spend time working full time at the NHS along with going to university full time so I am a lover of quick breakfasts, most of my lunches are eaten out (usually a packed lunch) and I love a big home cooked meal.

I will be posting any tips I have, photos of meals and weigh in updates.

I also have a Slimming World recipe blog www.littlemissjess91.blogspot.com, check it out for recipe inspiration :)

A few of my meals since I rejoined;

 

1. Jacket, beans and salad, pear & fanta zero from work

2. Pineapple

3. Strawberries & kiwis

4. Batchleors pasta n sauce with extra onion and 2 kiwis

5. Scrambelled egg with garlic and herb mushrooms

6. Chicken curry with rice and chips

Weekly weigh in

I thought I would start posting my weekly weigh ins.

Starting weight with weight watchers : 13 stone 5

Weight lost this week: 5.5lb

Total loss: 8.5lb

I cannot believe this! I am very shocked and it was well worth resisting pizza for! 5.5lb to my stone award!

Since I started my weight loss journey Ive lost 3st 3.5lb, my BMI has gone from 39.7 to 31.5, a size 20 to a size 12/14 and miserable to happy :D

Recipe: Creamy broccoli soup

3pp - makes one big portion or 2 smaller portions

400g broccoli (fresh or frozen)
1 onion
1 tsp of garlic granules
350ml of boiling water
1 vegetable stock cube
100g light evaporated milk (3pp)
Salt & pepper

1. Chop the onion finely, add the garlic and 50ml water and simmer for 10 minutes
2. Mix the vegetable stock with the remaining 300ml water and add to the pan with the chopped broccoli
3. Simmer for 10 minutes until the broccoli is soft but still green.
4. Remove from the heat, add salt and pepper and blend till smooth.
5. Whisk in the evaporated milk and serve immediately.

12 months

I have had a crazy 12 months, so much has happened and changed since 1st August 2012, good and bad.

Good -
I got into university to do my dream degree
I bought my first house
I became an auntie for a second time

Bad-
My parents divorced
My grandma got diagnosed with terminal cancer
My great grandma passed away
My grandma passed away

There seems to be more bad than good but in a way that a blessing in disguise. The bad things are terrible but they have made my braver, stronger and have changed my forever. These events will stick with me for life as they've shaped my future. The bad have come in my way and made my first year of university a struggle but in here, alive and I got through it so I know next year at university things will be better.

My grandmas cancer could be linked to her gastric band surgery and acid reflux which spurs me on to lose weight and not have to take drastic action.

I truly believe everything does happen for a reason!

Here's to the next 12 months!

Recipe - Turkey meatballs and a vegetable sauce

This recipe is full of fresh ingredients, the main ingredient is turkey which is very lean and cheap and lots of low cost vegetables. I found it very satisfying and filling and look forward to trying again.

Serves 2, 12pp per person on Weight Watchers or syn free on Slimming World.

400g Turkey mince (14pp)
500g baking potatoes (10pp)
1 packet of mushroom
1 red pepper
1 onion
Mixed herbs
Garlic granules
1 tub of passata
Salt and pepper
Fry light

1. Chop up the red pepper finely, add half to the turkey mince and half into a large pan.
2. Mix the turkey mince, mixed herbs, salt and pepper and red pepper until well mixed, shape into 14 balls then set aside.
3. Sliced the mushrooms and chop the onion finely and add to the pan with the red pepper.
4. Cube the potatoes and mix with the mix herbs, fry light, garlic and salt and pepper - I cooked mine in the actifry for 15 minutes but they can be cooked in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
5. Start the potatoes cooking, the vegetables and start to fry the meatballs in a frying pan with fry light.
6. When the vegetables have softened add the tub of passata.
7. Fry the meatballs 10-15 minutes until browned then added to the pan of sauce.
8. Cook the meatballs in the sauce for 10 minutes, the sauce with thicken and reduce.
9. Serve immediately with the potatoes.

Temptation

Last night I had a bad craving for this gorgeous curry pizza from our local take away. It's so amazing and I've had it in my head 3 days so I have been doing well resisting but last night it almost got too much. Thanks to twitter & Facebook friends I resisted, had some fruit and went to bed.

Resisting temptation is very difficult and is something to be proud of every time you do it. This morning I feel very happy that I did not have it and I'm sure my body thanks me too!

Top tips to resist temptation;
1. Have a think, do you really want this, will it make you feel better?
2. Think how bad it will make you fe, can you hold back on treats the rest of the week just for one treat?
3. Wait an hour or so, if in an hour you still want it then maybe buys chances are you will have changed your mind.
4. Would you go out & get it? No? Is it just convenience because you can?
5. Is it worth it? It will probably make you feel bad and you will probably regret it.

Fresh

To most people weight watchers is tempting and appealing because of the convenience foods. we do not always have time to cook meals from scratch and time to time I do have them and they are enjoyable.

Tonight when I was prepping tea I realized how much I enjoyed cooking with fresh ingredients from scratch to produce a great meal. The variety of colours in fresh vegetables and the smell of them lovely!

Now I have six weeks off I am looking forward to cooking majority of means from fresh over the coming weeks.

Tonights tea prepeating, top to bottom - my vegetable sauce, herbed potatoes and turkey meatballs.