2016 In A Nutshell

Right so here's my #throwbackthursday. The left photo is one of the many horrors from my uni days when I constantly had a drink in my hand (usually a pint of lager) and didn't care what I drank/ate. The second photo was sometime after uni, I'd lost about half a stone but still hadn't even thought about joining SW. I was in a relationship with someone who loved me for me (and still does) and I was happy. The 3rd photo is from about 3 weeks ago, I tried on that jumpsuit and genuinely had to ask if I looked silly, because I'd never worn something like that and it was fitted. I ended up buying it and wore it on xmas eve. 

I've had an amazing year and I'm actually gutted to say I'm finishing the year 1.5lbs heavier than last year although smaller clothes wise. The only positive is that I've pretty much maintained my weight. Yeah I've had some hefty gains but I've also had some incredible losses. I've tried new things and genuinely had an incredible year. I'm in the right mindset to hit target and I can't wait to get started. I think you genuinely have to believe that you want something to get there. 

You can fall off the wagon and restart a million times but then one day you'll just feel differently, you'll know you can do it and nothing will stop you. You are your own motivation and that's what this year has taught me. Massive thanks for all the love and support I've received since I started posting my journey on here, I can't wait to continue watching your journeys too! ❤️

The Days Between Xmas & New Year

Too many chocolates and too much booze has passed my lips. I'm living off of Celebrations and Cheese but somehow I lose 1.5lbs! I'm half on plan today, syn free steak and 0.5 syns of couscous being eaten in the hope I can slowly get myself back on plan in time for my return to work!

Also had a sit down with the new book and a brew and had a good read through. Determined to be organised... or going to try to be!

Fakeaway

So what do you do when you're craving a takeaway but wanting to get back on plan?! FAKEAWAY! Salt & Pepper chicken for 2 syns, 4 syns of mayflower curry sauce and syn free egg fried rice. AMAZING!

Weigh Day

So after a 6lb gain last week I only managed to scrape a 1.5lb loss tonight. I should be happy but I'm gutted. I really wanted to be close to my target weight than I am. I am now 11lbs away and I know that I won't get to that in the next two weeks.
Going to enjoy the festive period and make wise choice where possible but definitely getting my target come January! I don't want to get into the next stone bracket over xmas so I need to try and limit my gains. I only have 3lbs to play with but hopefully it's do able!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

So if Slimming World has taught me anything about food, it's that I don't need to rely on a jar of sauce to make something tasty. It is actually possible for me to just experiment and such and get a lovely outcome. The first picture here was Spaghetti & Meatballs made in about 15 minutes. I put the meatballs in a pan and I fried off some onions, added passata and a bit of tomato puree. Added seasoning and some chopped tomatoes and just let simmer whilst the spaghetti cooked.

This second one was actually done in the slow cooker, I spent the day wrapping presents and doing bits round the house so didn't want to have to stand around cooking. I simply added the meatballs to the slow cooker with passata, chopped tomatoes, soy sauce, oregano and 100ml of beef stock and left on high for about 90 mins then added the dry pasta for the last 30 minutes which helped soak up the extra stock etc. i was actually really impressed with the outcome it had loads of taste (despite sounding a little dodgy going off the ingredients) and was dead easy to do. I actually wish i'd made more!

Christmas Party & Weigh Day

So Monday was our annual Christmas Party in London and safe to say I was completely off plan. I haven't been on plan all week and weighed in today with a 6lb gain. I was devastated in all honesty but going off everything i've consumed this week it should have been a lot worse. I'm now 12.5lbs from my target which I know I won't get before xmas now but I'm still going to try my best to get as much as possible off again! I'm so close now and i'm determined not to sabotage it! This photo is from my Christmas Party (left) and the right hand one is one time hop kindly decided to show me from several years ago. I never remember actually being that big to be honest, I think I was in denial. I know a xmas party or a few days off with most likely end in a gain but I also know I will never be back at the weight I was on the right. This has been more about finding a love for myself rather than losing weight. I am finally getting happy with how I look and it definitely isn't about the number on the scales anymore it's more about how I feel in myself and when I can look in the mirror and know that i'm happy that's when I will know to call target; for the sake of SW I have set a target but this could change depending on the above.

Weigh Day

I'll be honest and say I wanted more, I always do. But I feel this was a fair representation of the effort I put in this week. It's scary to think I only have 6.5lbs to go until I reach my target.
I do think I will lower my target at some point, but not by much. I want to concentrate on maintaining it as I feel that's where I went wrong last time I got close to target.
I'd like to get to target before Christmas (3 weigh ins) but I know I have a few events coming up that may stop that... but I also know its possible so we will see!
5 weigh ins left of my 12 week countdown so it would be amazing to go into 2017 a target member. Fingers crossed! Hope everyone else has a good weigh in this week!

Christmas Cake

I have always been a firm believer that I wasn't a fan of Christmas Cake, but the cake in the new Festive Feasts book from group looked really good... so I gave it a go! And it was amazing! I have had cake for breakfast everyday this week... So I'm not holding out hope for a loss tomorrow! I would recommend this AND I think its worth the 5.5 syns per slice! I've had half a dozen taste testers so far and every single one of them has approved! (I have brutally honest friends so I know they're being honest) I need to make another one already and I only made it on Monday Night!!! Taking the rest of this for group to sample tomorrow and then need to look at making another this weekend, there will definitely be a few of these consumed over the festive season!

Cheese & Crackers

9 syns of heaven. 6 syns for the crinklys and 0.5 syns for each of the cheese blocks (they are the laughing cow ones that come in a variety of flavours) this felt like such a treat. And seeing as I hadn't had any syns up to this point it was well within my allowance! Silverskin onions added for speed! :)

Mayflower Curry - Weigh Day

So tonight at group I had an unjustified gain of 1.5lb! I say unjustified... it probably was justified in some way I just refuse to believe it! I had a week off work which meant a week where I should have been planning meals and eating well which transpired to eating cake and living off service station coffee. Oh well! Hoping for a loss bigger than 1.5lb next week to balance it out! Here's my weigh day treat this week, no chippy or takeaway...a FAKEAWAY. It's the Mayflower Curry with some Egg Fried Rice. I really need to make this more! It was 4 syns worth because I used ALL the sauce but its a damn sight better than my other options!

Sensible Snacking

Sometimes I find it really hard to snack wisely when you aren't really hungry. When soup doesn't fill you but a meal would be overkill, so I think it's a great idea using chicken pieces etc to enjoy with some soup, it fills you without making you stuffed. I simple chopped my chicken up and cooked with some soy sauce and garlic and it was so nice! The soup is simple the 'Heinz' imitation soup which I actually prefer now to the real thing!!! Shocking I know, but it's syn free so it saves me a hefty chunk of syns!

A Full Day On Plan...

Attempting to post a full day to make me scrutinise what I'm eating, I want a good loss this week! And so far i've forgotten to photograph everything so here goes...
Overnight Oats for today made with 40g Oats, a sliced up orange, raspberries, fruitopolis yoghurt (0.5 syns) and then some protein syrup from The Protein Works (0.5 syns worth) tastes amazing and a nice change from my usual concoctions. It's 1 syn for it all if you use your oats as your B choice. I had this from about 10am until 1pm, as I was busy working swell so I didn't feel like having lunch as it was super filling.

Once I got home, I'd decided to have the Heinz inspired tomato soup so I decided i'd have an SP day (I know you're not supposed to have yoghurt on an SP day but it was a synned one and it was my decision to make). But as I didn't fancy the soup right away I made these little Pizza Thins using my second B choice for the thins & my cheese as my A choice. The picture pretty much explains what to do, you can add any veg you like but as I didn't have any I just stuck to cheese and tomato!

Finally, the soup as promised!

This is all I ate all day, I wasn't hungry and I sipped plenty of Winter Spice throughout the day too. Im shocked as I could normally eat 5 times this so I'm not sure whether I was just that busy I forgot to eat or if I just genuinely wasn't hungry.

Mayflower Curry Fakeaway

I MADE A FAKEAWAY THAT WASN'T S&P CHICKEN!
As you can see from previous posts I make S&P chicken quite frequently. I had completely forgotten about the joys of Mayflower Curry until I found it whilst out shopping this weekend. It's only about £1 for a box of powder (you make it up with water) and only 25g of powder is 4 syns it's fab!

Cooked some chicken, onions and peas just like my normal chinese and then made up the sauce and added it. SIMPLE!
Then just made up some noodles as the packet said and stir fried some beansprouts in for extra speed and VOILA! Job done. This is also only have of the sauce so is only 2 syns (although I did have the rest of it later)

Best Voucher

For anyone wanting that bit of help before the festive season kicks in properly, I cannot recommend Slimming World enough, you don't have to go without. I still manage to enjoy all my favourite meals using my syns or just cooking things different. It's amazing. There is a voucher on sale from TUESDAY in BEST magazine that will give you free registration. What more could you want?

I'm looking forward to indulging this Christmas and if I gain a few pounds I know it will be worth it. I know I won't gain all the weight i've lost and as soon as I'm back on plan 100% it will be off. Trying to get as close to target as I can beforehand, 10lbs TO GO! This has by far been the hardest 10lbs to lose, I got down to 3lb from target and just couldn't maintain it but I am feeling a lot more positive this time round and I'm ready to get there!

Speedy Bolognese

I love a good bolognese but I hadn't made one for AGES! My other half makes a great bolognese and it's actually syn free.
Even managed to use my hex a for cheese now that I have my winter spice! I will get the recipe off him at some point...

Successful Day On Plan!

I've decided i'm going to try and photograph all my meals not just the pretty ones. And really look at what i'm eating vs. my losses etc. I had a beef stew for lunch after my Overnight Oats for breakfast (see previous post), followed by Salt & Pepper Chicken with peppers and onions and then a Fibre One bar with muller and raspberries for dessert.
All of that totalled by B choice + 6 syns, leaving me with 9 to use on snacks if I wanted to. I won't lie, I used it on chocolate, but that's fine, I satisfied my sweet tooth and I had the syns there to use. Winner!

The beef stew was done in the slow cooker and was quite literally some diced beef, 2 stock cubes and a bag of frozen casserole veg. I even chucked in some mushrooms and carrots that were left over and added salt and pepper. Popped the slow cooker on low for about 8 hours and thats it. Simple yet a real Winter Warmer.

Monday Morning Motivation

Overnight Oats prepped and ready to go. Starting the work week with good intentions and hoping to chip away at my 8lbs to target this week...
40g porridge oats, punnet of strawberries & a muller light. Simple. Here's to a good week...

Syn Free Winter Spice

This is the easiest way for me to have a hot drink and not use my HEA, especially in Winter. It tastes like Mulled Wine but without the syns! Managed to find it in Sainsbury's for £2!

Miss Slinky 2016

So now that I've got over the shock... I won this at group tonight.
I genuinely couldn't stop shaking I was so amazed to have gotten it. So many incredible people at my group tonight that inspire each other week in, week out. I've had a bit of a wobble recently I'll be the first to admit that so I didn't think I would even be nominated let alone win this.
An amazing taster full of low syn and syn free treats too, loads I want to remake, and my heads back in the game! 8lbs to go to target! Let's do this!

Half A Syn Sausage Rolls!

I am far too excited to devour a plate full of these at Taster tonight, and the best thing...
THEY'RE HALF A SYN EACH!!!

They are beautiful and will definitely be made again, in massive batches so I can live off them over the Christmas period and not feel guilty!

They are from the new Festive Feasts book that is available in groups this week, I got mine free with the Countdown Offer last month at group. I can't wait to try some other recipes from this book especially if they are as good as these!!

Weigh Day

So I maintained tonight. I was a bit gutted but I need to remember that 2 weeks ago I lost 7lbs (admittedly I gained 0.5lb last week) and that I should be happy i've kept it off.
Onwards and downwards! Here's a THROWBACK THURSDAY just to show how far i've come! Uni Days vs. a few weeks ago! 8.5lbs to go!

Low Syn Chocolate & Sweets

I know a lot of people struggle with low syn treats, even more so near halloween when they're EVERYWHERE so I thought i'd post this. I bought these 2 bags today from ASDA to stock up my syn drawer and worked out all the syns. I could have my own little feast and still be within my syns! Hope these help!

Overnight Oats

A lot of people seem to ask how to layer their oats so I took these step by step pictures to show how I do it. I do tend to find the more you layer the better it turns out the morning after, I tend to just make it up as I go along in all honesty. It just depends on how much fruit I have to add to it as i don't like putting in really thick layers of fruit as I find the yoghurt/oats don't really mix as well.

Weigh Day

So weigh day saw me gain 0.5lbs last night, and I'm okay with it! Normally when I lose a lot one week (7lbs last week) I then gain around half of it the week after so my main aim this week was to try my best to maintain or have a tiny gain and not splurge and ruin my hard work. I'm now 8.5lbs to my target weight and I want to get there for Christmas which is completely do able if I put my mind to it. Onwards and downwards!

Slow Cooker Stew

Now that it's getting colder I absolutely love making stews and casseroles. This was thrown together in the slow cooker and just left to cook for about 6 hours.
It's simply 800g of diced beef, a bag of casserole root veg (frozen) from asda and then some stock and 2 tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce. Browned the meat and then put it all in the slow cooker. Simple. Then seasoned to taste once cooked. All syn free and super filling with plenty speed foods.

Christmas Wish

So we got our little baubles last night to help keep us on track. It's completely up to us where we keep it, and I haven't decided yet, but I've taken a photo of it so I can set it as a background on my phone if I want to remind me of why I'm doing this. After my big 7lb loss last night I am now 8lb from target which should be completely doable by Christmas if I keep my mind to it!
What's your Christmas wish??

Weigh Day

So after 2 weeks on holiday I finally went back to group tonight. In my head I wanted 7lbs but after not being on plan for about 75% of my two weeks off I was doubtful. Safe to say I was pleasantly surprised to see I'd still managed to get my target! 8lb's to go until I reach target now and I want that by Christmas!

Chocolate & Strawberries

Some mornings I struggle having something filling like porridge or a full breakfast, due to time or just not being hungry. This morning I wanted something sweet so I had this that I had conveniently prepped the night before.
It's simply syn free natural yoghurt mixed with an options sachet (2 syns) then some strawberries chopped and thrown in. Then simply popped it in the freezer to set overnight. I took it out and took it to work so there was approx 90mins/2 hours between removing from freezer and eating which gave it time to soften a little. It was really enjoyable and satisfied my sweet tooth.

Rhubarb Crumble Baked Oats

So I have to say, getting to this time of year is great because it really puts me in the mood for wintery snacks and baked oats are one of my favourites. Theres a million and one different recipes to make baked oats but here is how I do mine:
40g Porridge Oats (see previous post for news on increase from 35g)
1 Rhubarb Crumble Muller Light
1 egg
1 tsp sweetener
Cinnamon and Mixed Spice

I simply combined all of these ingredients and spooned into my silicone moulds, cooked at approx 180 degrees for half an hour (and sprinkled some sweetener over them half way through). They feel lovely and wintery and my kitchen smelled like Christmas, I'm surprised they lasted till morning! Obviously you can switch the muller to any of your choosing, I have an Apple Crumble one I will be trying next I think. You also don't need to add sweetener if you find the muller lights too sweet, but i'm a sucker for really sweet things. As I only used minimal sweetener I am not worried about synning it as suggested in previous post, so this would be syn free using my Porridge Oats allowance (b choice) for the day.

Sunday Roast

Made a roast today, used my syns on the yorkies and gravy because I didn't have time to make them syn free but it was so yummy. Missed a good Sunday Roast! It's great you can make something like this and choose to be syn free if you like. Definitely need to try the syn free stuffing and yorkies at some point!

Sweetener Guidance

I've had a holiday from group for the past 2 weeks but this information has been released whilst i've been away. I always try and limit the amount of artificial sweetener I use so I think this is a really good point and should definitely be considered. Theres also a fab offer being released on Tuesday to join Slimming World for free, I would urge anyone thinking of doing it to use this offer and join your local group. It's easily the best decision i've made and with 11 weeks until Christmas just think where you could be?!

Salt and Pepper Chicken

So I use this recipe the most I think out of all the takeaway ones I've tried. I always feel I need to take new photos so I don't look like i'm just re blogging old stuff so here goes...

I would recommend this to anyone who is missing a good salt and pepper chicken dish in their SW lives! it's low syn and worth it!
Ingredients

Chicken breast, cut into chunks
Plain flour (25g is 4 syns)
Salt & Pepper
Garlic granules
One egg, whisked
Fry Light
A pepper
An onion
Soy sauce
White wine vinegar
Sweetener

Method

Preheat oven to approx 180 degrees.
Combine Four tablespoons of flour in a bowl (25g is 4 syns), with half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper, along with half a teaspoon of garlic granules. (I now double this so please amend to suit your own preference).
In another bowl, whisk your egg and add a splash of soy sauce to season.
Pop your chicken chunks in the egg and then in the flour mix.
Once this is all done, arrange on a nonstick baking tray, sprayed with some Fry Light first.
Then spray the chicken with Fry Light - this will help it to brown.
If you're using the oven, leave the chicken for 15 minutes, and turn over, and then give it another spray of Fry Light and then give it another 10 minutes, or until golden.
When the chicken is on the second round of cooking, in a non-stick pan, gently soften your peppers and onion.
I'd add a splash of soy sauce for extra flavour.
Once everything is soft add your cooked chicken from the oven.
Mix together two teaspoons of sweetener with two tablespoons of white wine vinegar and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
Add this to the pan and stir on a gentle heat.
This will be quite dry, as Salt & Pepper chicken is, but that vinegar/sugar mixture really makes the dish.
Taste and add some further salt and pepper if it needs it.

The only syns are for the flour - I used 25g so 4 syns and 2 of us had it so was only 2 syns each!

No Appetite

I think the worse thing about Winter is the fact 9 times out of 10 I end up with a cold, and when I get a cold my appetite decides to bugger off. So here's my attempt at still trying to be on plan whilst suffering with a cold! I made a syn free Onion Bhaji loaf (same recipe as the balls but just in a loaf tin) and then made up some mayflower curry sauce to go with it. Counting 4 syns for the sauce even though I didn't have the full portion. Easy way to stay on plan and hopefully the spice will help make the cold go away!

Pulled Chicken - Slow Cooker

This recipe is so easy to do and could easily be done with another piece of meat if preferred. It is quite simply a recipe you can bang it all in and leave it. I find it works better if you mix the sauce and simmer fir a little bit first but it isn't necessary if you don't have the time.

4 chicken breasts
1 tsp mustard powder
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
500g passata
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp of garlic
2 tbsp sweetener
Salt and pepper
1 red onion - I used the ready sliced so I could just throw it in.

Method:
1. Mix passata, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, mustard powder, garlic, sweetener and seasoning. Transfer to a small pan and simmer for 15 minutes.
Layer the bottom of your slow cooker with the red onion.
Add the chicken and the BBQ sauce and leave on low for 6 hours.
Pull the meat apart with 2 forks and mix with the sauce.

Overnight Oats Prep

I am a pain for not prepping breakfast and then having to panic buy something or go without, but prepping a few days of oats gives me no excuse. You can use frozen fruit aswell which means it stays fresher that little bit longer I find. With these I simply layered my oat allowance with frozen raspberries and a muller light of my choice (one was rhubarb, one apple, one toffee) then simply kept in the fridge ready to take to work with me. These lovely jars were only 3 for £1 as well from a local pound shop, always looking out for a bargain!

Cinnamon Swirls

It was a good while since I made the original post so I thought it might be good to repost. I made these cinnamon swirls the other night watching Bake Off but I popped them in the freezer and forgot about them. Got them out tonight and baked half of them - these ones are 2 syns each. Recipe is below the picture!

1 X jus-roll puff pastry sheet (light) - 53 syns

Cinnamon powder

Sweetener

Water

Method

Make a paste out of the sweetener/water/cinnamon - I usually make it quite thick but it's to your own taste. 

Spread the mixture across the pastry sheet and then roll up and pop in the freezer for approx 20 mins (usually). 

Cut into however many you like and then bake for approx 20/25 mins on 180 - turning half way

Enjoy! 

Chocolate Orange Coffee Cakes

Scan Bran Chocolate Orange Coffee cakes.

Soak 5 scan bran in some hot water, sweetener and coffee (I used the chocolate orange coffee from the Beanies Coffee range) until soft. 

Drain the excess and then mash up

Add 3 eggs and combine

Bake on 180 for about half an hour or until golden brown 

All 5 for your healthy B choice or 1 syn each

Face To Face Friday

My face to face Friday submission this week was this. I might be struggling terribly at the moment as I seem to have hit a wall so things like this are spurring me on. 

Transformation Tuesday

Late night Transformation Tuesday. Now vs March 2015. Not a massive difference in weight but a massive change in how I feel about myself ❤️ 

11lbs until target although this might be lowered!