Another week, another weigh in...

.... another disappointment. The half pound I was down last week is back on, so I am still in a state of limbo. My weight hasn't really moved for a few weeks now - but obviously I know why. I need to take better control of my weekends. It's not good enough being good most of the time. I also need to stop avoiding exercise, I've built up some massive mental block and I've no idea why.

I'm finding this week somewhat stressful, my boss is on holiday and has landed me with a load of work at the last minute - most of which involves upgrading customer Production sites, stressful at the best of times, but when you've got a load of other crap to deal with too... well, let's just say I've become very liberal with swear words this week.

So, back to the drawing board with SW. I am giving myself another month to get results, then I may have to bit the bullet and join a class.

Last night I really couldn't be bothered to cook - we'd been to the pub for a couple of lime and soda's and I was hankering after a dirty McD's Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Fries. Thankfully, we've a freezer full of meat and we've always an abundance of veg thanks to Abel & Cole,  so I rustled up these bad boys.

Burgers made from 500g extra lean mince, chopped onion, a dash of Worcester Sauce and a tiny dollop of mustard with lettuce leaves instead of a bun and low fat cheddar. Served with home made wedges (potato, spray oil and salt and pepper) and a salad of broad beans, onions, tomatoes and peppers with lemon juice and balsamic. The only syns here came from the tomato sauce - a much better option (and tastier, I have to say) than McDonalds.

So... I know I have it in me to do this, I just need to get Friday, Saturday and Sunday right too and I might make progress.

We've a free Groupon Voucher to use tonight (a friend bought it and is now away and it runs out this week) at a local restaurant - we went on their Groupon menu a few weeks ago and I know the portions are tiny and have some SW friendly options, so I am not too concerned. Then I've no plans until Saturday when I am away with a couple of friends for an over night spa stay.

I shall do my utmost to report a loss next week!

Indulgence

I can't tell you how unhappy I was when the alarm went off this morning, I had a lovely weekend and really didn't want to be back to reality and work this morning. I suppose after all of the sad news over the weekend, I should be grateful for what I have and not be worrying about Monday mornings. Life really is too short.

Friday night ended up a bit of a drunken affair. I met up with my friend Steph in London for a few drinks and Matt and some of his mates ended up gatecrashing. Instead of a quiet few drinks a deux, we ended up as a group of 8 having drinks in the sunshine on Marylebone High Street. Very pleasant. The only downside of the evening was the bill when we went for dinner. I had Asparagus with Poached Egg,  followed by Steak and Chips, 1 glass of wine and a G&T. Imagine my horror when the bill was split and it was £110 each! I am not one usually for squabbling over a bill, but I had to pick myself off the floor at this point. Seems one member of the party (Matt's friends fiancé - who incidentally none of us had met before) had taken it upon himself to order 5 bottles of wine at £135 a pop. Happy days....

Other than that, the evening was very pleasant and it would appear I have set Steph up with Matt's best man - just call me Cilla :)

Saturday was quite a lazy day, lots of water was consumed in a bid to rehydrate after the excesses of Friday. We went for a little walk by the river, watched films and I cooked a delicious Lamb Rogan Josh packed full of Veg. We did finish the evening like this however.....

Seriously, this stuff is dangerous. I don't usually like ice cream, so when Matt wanted to buy it, I had no qualms. Oh my God. It's bloody gorgeous. Thankfully, the pot is very small.... Avoid at all costs if you love ice cream.....

Yesterday, in order to make up for the ice cream, I made a date with some exercise - first  time in months and it almost killed me, I curse myself for losing the fitness it took me months to build up. Still, no point worrying now, I just need to get back on top of it.

We met friends for Sunday lunch at the Hind's Head yesterday afternoon and I partook in a bottle of Apples and Pears Cider. Something about the sun makes me crave Cider. Food was also amazing. Scotch Egg, Devils on Horseback followed by Roast Pork with the most amazing Roast Potatoes.

In fairness, no other food was required for the remainder of the day. Small mercy perhaps.

In other news, it would appear we are definitely getting married next year. The ceremony is now confirmed as is the reception so I have paid a deposit and now I need to get down to the business of finding a dress. Eeeeeekkkkkkkk.

I'm back focussed on SW today - although I did manage to unwittingly use most of my days syns in one go. Note to self - you knew it was too good to be true that Waitrose Macaroni Cheese was only 4 syns - clearly it's the low fat version not the delicious full fat extra cheesy gorgeousness you consumed (still it was 13.5 syns bloody well spent).

So, lets hope not too much damage has been done. My syns seem to suggest I am pretty much on track for the week - but you never know really (and I'm a bit hazy about exactly what I drank on Friday). I guess the scales will be brutally honest with me on Wednesday!

Food creations and weekend plans

I am so glad it's Friday, it's been a very long week. I've struggled a little bit to focus fully on Slimming World 100%. I've felt bloody knackered all week and cooking a delicious, yet healthy, meal upon my return from work has not been at the top of my wish list.

I've had the temptation of Office Cupcakes (These chocolate topped ones are actually only 6 syns), Coffee Shops and a Chinese Takeaway to contend with, but I've managed by the skin of my teeth to stick within my daily Syns.

Not all has been lost, however, I did manage a couple of cooking accomplishments. Yesterday, I was hankering after Fish and Chips - proper Chippy style, but I talked myself out of it and came up with this little beauty for a more manageable 5 syns (Tesco Lightly Dusted Cod Portion with homemade oven baked chips and mushy peas)

Not a bad alternative and my chips were bloody good even if I do say so myself.

I also ventured into unknown territory by creating a Slimming World 'Quiche'.

• 4 eggs
• 300g Tub of Very Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Courgettes
• Parma Ham
• Salt & Pepper

Dry fry mushrooms, onions and courgettes (and any other veg that takes your fancy)

Mix Eggs with Cottage Cheese and Season

Stir cooked Veg and Ham into the Egg mix and pop in a flan dish

Cook for around 20-25 mins at 180 degrees.

Eat for a totally Syn free taste sensation.

So, for once I have a fairly quiet weekend planned. I am out in London tonight to meet some friends, but I will wake up in my own bed on a Saturday morning for the first time since the 4th June - how mental is that?? That makes me sound like a dirty stop out... I'm not, honest, I've just been away a lot :)

The rest of the weekend is as yet unplanned other than Sunday Lunch with friends at the Hinds Head. Happy weekends everyone!

A loss by the skin of my teeth.....

Half a pound down this morning - which annoyingly I cannot register with SW online, so we're treating it as a stay the same. A miracle really given the weekend and my excesses yesterday.

I've come to the conclusion I cannot have bread in the house. Even if it is SW friendly and wholemeal - because as long as there is Lurpak in the fridge, then I will eat bread.

We'd booked a table for the Summer Tasting Eve at our local restaurant last night - which meant 7 courses, plus wine. Which means I should have really been on the ball yesterday with SW. I was not.  2 slices of toast - with Lurpak, Cherries, Tuna and Salad Sandwich, Walkers Crisps and 3 profiteroles, plus 2 more slices of bread and butter were all consumed yesterday in preparation for a 7 course meal. Really smart Linz.

Anyway, the food was delicious, as always, and I am today blessed with a fuzzy head due to the over consuming wine and lack of sleep. The spicy battered Hake with Sweetcorn Veloute and the Lamb were AMAZING. I am drooling now just thinking of them.

Anyway, once again, I am back at it. The last of the wholemeal this morning with a couple of Dairlylea light triangles and cherry tomatoes, Pasta with masses of veg and some bacon for lunch and SW Lamb Hotpot with greens for dinner - plus copious amounts of water. I might even dust off my trainers and head to the gym tonight. Let's not push it though, hey?

Cheesy Pasta - SW style

Part of my membership entitled me to a few copies of the Slimming World magazine - which I've been pouring over for hours looking at the food photo's and salivating.

I was interested to see a new addition to  the 'A' Healthy Extra section in the form of Kerry Low Low Cheese Spread, since you can have almost half the tub for one healthy extra and I'm greedy, it seemed like a winner to me.

So, today I was craving Macaroni Cheese - or some form of generally bad cheesy pasta affair and since this Low Low spread thinks its great stirred into Pasta - well who was I to argue.

Mushrooms, Onions and Courgettes - dry fried and mixed with pasta, half (almost) a pot of Cheese Spread dolloped in and seasoned with Salt and Pepper. I would have also put leeks and bacon in if my fridge was housing any. This is a large portion - I did save some for my lunch tomorrow, but it will probably not make it that far.....

This definitely hit the spot - if you are SWer and you love Macaroni Cheese - you need this in your life. WW followers, I don't know the points but it's reduced fat so I can't imagine it's too horrific :)

A weekend wedding

Another lovely weekend, which unfortunately tends to lead to excess. We headed off to Plymouth on Friday evening with Matt's best mate to attend the wedding of a mutual friend of theirs on the Saturday.

We were staying with another friend for the weekend - which obviously meant we had  to be sociable on the eve we arrived so headed out for dinner to a Japanese restaurant. I ordered Wasabi Steak - which I presumed would be fairly SW friendly - however the Wasabi was in Mayonnaise form so perhaps not ideal (although it tasted amazing). We then proceeded to drink our way through the cocktail list at the Plymouth Gin Distillery. Clever.

Saturday morning was unfortunately a rainy affair, but we headed off to the wedding with umbrellas in tow. Me and Matt managed to wear matching colours - how sweet :) 

Obviously, the food at the wedding was a bit beyond my control, I indulged in a few mini scones with Jam and Cream while the photos took place washed down with a fair few Pimms. For the Wedding Breakfast, I had a lovely Pea and Mint Soup, followed by Roast Beef with all the trimmings and far too much wine. All in all it was a lovely day so I won't stress too much about the damage I have possibly inflicted.

Back at it yesterday, so hopefully the scales won't hate me too much on Wednesday - although we have cleverly booked a table for the Summer Tasting Menu at our local restaurant tomorrow night. That might not help.....

I deserve that....

So the scales showed me a pound up this morning - and I am totally fine with that (she says through gritted teeth). Yesterday started off full of promise - fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, prawn salad with quinoa for lunch and then.... well I went out.

We went to Pizza Express an I was going to order a Salad, but then I wanted  a Pizza since everyone else was having one. I had a minor spitting out of my dummy moment in my head and ordered one. Romana Padana was soon winging it's way towards me. In my defence - the Romana pizzas are very thin - and I mean almost crisp like. Plus I'd rationalised any cheese could be counted towards my a. choice for the day (and it had spinach on - so that's good for me). And then - well then I had a small popcorn in the cinema. I ate about 2 handfuls of it, before deciding popcorn causes ones mouth to dry out beyond all belief and without a drink, that's not good.

Anyway - Bridesmaids is a very funny film. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had a few proper laugh out loud moments where I literally couldn't breathe. Happy times. And now I can't stop singing Wilson Phillips....

Today is shaping up to be better - I've had my yoghurt and fruit (Blackcurrants today) and a bacon sandwich on wholemeal bread and I've a pork/mushroom/onion/spinach rice concoction for lunch. Dinner is Veggie pasta.

Hopefully I'll kick that bloody pound into touch.

Oh and Lexie - thank you - the dress is very cheap and from Peacocks.... a bargain at £14 I believe :)

Madrid

I do not expect good things from WI this week. I had an amazing weekend in Madrid - it was so lovely and sunny and hot. I wish we had better weather in the UK - I'd maybe stay here a bit more often if we did.

Matt had upgraded us to Business Class on the way out as a birthday treat (admittedly my birthday was a month ago, but that's a minor detail) so we got access to the Lounge - i.e. free food and booze, plus afternoon tea on the plane. Seriously, I cannot say no to free food - or booze for that matter. Self control appears to desert me. 

So in Spain, I ate a lot of Tapas and drank Sangria, Red Wine and even Beer (I don't ever drink beer at home - something about the sun makes me want to down pints). We walked a lot, but I doubt very much there will be any downward movement on the scales unless you can attribute weight loss to sweating due to extreme heat. Wishful thinking.

A few more photos to bore the pants off you.

Me looking massive in the Plaza do Oriente, really near to our hotel.

In Plaza Mayor enjoying a few beverages.

Meat and Cheese. Amazing.

Chocolate and Churros - so not diet friendly.

I've been refocussed on SW 100% since I got back. Food yesterday was saintly. I've still not managed to get going with any bloody exercise though. Must try harder.

Breakfast - Oat Crisp with Fat Free Activia Yoghurt and a punnet of Blackberries.

Lunch was a Jacket Potato with Beans, Bacon and a massive side salad.

Followed by a massive steak grilled and served with a stir fry for dinner. Veg overload. 

Tonight I am off to the cinema to see Bridesmaids with some girlfriends - we are off to Pizza Express for dinner first so I am going to have to go down the Salad route I think (Pizza appears to be the work of the devil). 

So, fingers crossed a few days of clean eating will undo any major Tapas related damage. I shall advise accordingly tomorrow. 

Jinxing oneself

So, yesterday when I said, and I quote "I am feeling a lot less hungry", I clearly jinxed myself as I am bloody famished today.

I'm a bit out of my usual daily routine as I decided I was feeling a lot better today (I was up coughing half the night but we'll brush over that) and would go out tonight, hence me getting the train to work. This means I don't come armed with all of my usual half a million tupperware pots of lovingly prepared SW friendly food. I only brought a Yoghurt for breakfast (we're out of fruit) and some Tuna/Pasta/Salad combination for lunch. Both were consumed before 11am.

Thankfully (I am ashamed to admit), I found solace in one of these bad boys.

I feel dirty just looking at it. It's like a Pot Noodle - except it's Syn free with SW on an Extra Easy day (and I suspect a Green day too). I mean it's convenience food at it's worst - but it was bloody tasty and I've not done any damage, so please don't judge me :) I nipped out at lunch and stocked up on loads of fruit, so hopefully the rest of the day will be without the feeling I want to gnaw off my own arm.

I'm off to Waterloo tonight for drinks, but I'm only staying a couple of hours. I really don't want to get home in the early hours of the morning as is the norm when I go out in London. Not sure what the plans are for food, I appear to be obsessed, but obviously I will try to be on my best behaviour.

I doubt I will get time to post tomorrow as I'm on a very tight schedule before heading off to sunny Spain!

Have a good weekend y'all x

Another 2 bite the dust...

It was with some trepidation that I stepped on the scales this morning. Having been a bit bleurgh, I've not completely had my eye on the ball all week with regards to SW, plus its that dreaded time of the month when I cry at adverts, but something has clearly gone ok as I've dropped another 2 pounds. Happy dance.

I'm finding myself a lot less hungry - perhaps it's because my breakfasts are slightly better than they were, or perhaps its all in my head, but either way, I am liking it. Yesterday I had fruit and fat free activia yoghurt for breakfast, a roast beef and salad sandwich for lunch and then a massive bolognese last night stuffed full of veg with a little bit of pasta and a sprinkle of reduced fat cheese. Totally delicious food and totally satisfying. It's amazing how much I actually enjoy the 'healthy' stuff I've been making. Matt had been hankering after a Chinese, but I stood firm and he actually said he enjoyed the dinner I'd cooked more than he would have done a takeaway - firm praise indeed from a Chinese addict.

I actually feel a lot more human today too. I'm sounding less like Mariella Frostrup and more like my old self and I managed to sleep fairly well last night. The feeling that someone is standing on my chest constantly has abated somewhat, which is a bit of a winner.

So, plans for the week are - meet friends in London tomorrow after work if I feel 100% better, work from home on Friday and then fly to Madrid for the weekend, spend Saturday and Sunday enjoying the sunshine (36 degrees!), sampling some delicious wine and eating tapas. Bliss.

Fingers crossed I can work some  jamón into my food diary for the weekend.

Weekend shenanigans

The weekend has been a bit hit and miss with regards to SW, I'm finding it a bit easier to make better choices, but I'm still feeling under the weather (oh hello Bronchitis, you are such fun) so I've been fairly lazy in regards to cooking. I must try harder.

I've had a lovely weekend. Take That on Friday were amazing - I screamed a lot, which possibly contributed to me sounding like a man all weekend. Food options at Wembley are useless and they don't allow you to take your own food in, so that was really good, I had a hot dog, minus the bun.... Not overly tasty or satisfying, but the best I could come up with. The only downside of the night was it took us 1.5 hours to get away from Wembley, so I didn't get to bed til 2am. Bad times.

On Saturday, one of my best friends arrived from Liverpool so we spent a lovely day in the sunshine catching up, drank a few ciders and then met some other friends for dinner. I had a delicious Steak (a few frites) and the world was a happy place.

Yesterday, I had completely lost my voice, so talking was a bit of a struggle, but me and Deb's met our other friends for Sunday lunch in Windsor. A delicious Roast Beef (along with Yorkshire Pudding and Cauliflower Cheese, awesome but not SW friendly) and a couple of spoonfuls of pana cotta were consumed. Deb's then set off for Liverpool and I came home and snoozed.

I was in bed for 9pm last night and slept 9 hours and I still feel rubbish! I've got a half day today, so I am off into London with my best friend this afternoon for a spot of pampering. Hopefully that, coupled with the copious amounts of fruit and veg I am forcing down my neck will make me feel a little but more human tomorrow. I've been under the weather for a week now and it's becoming very blooming tedious.