What Makes Me Proud

So the #swphotochallengejanuary for today was 'makes me proud'... This might just be a picture of a food diary (from Fox And Moon by the way!) and a SW book to some, but to me, still doing Sliiming World is what makes me proud. It's taken me a good while to get where I am and I'm still a way from where I want to be but the fact that I haven't thrown the towel in when it hasn't gone my way is what makes me proud.

I genuinely love Slimming World, it's changed my life. I love cooking again, I've tried fruit and veg I'd never have dreamed of putting on my plate. I've made friends that I'd never have met otherwise, I'm in a happy place, and I try and help and support anyone else wanting to do the same. The love and support that Slimming Worlders have for each other is amazing and I'm so proud to be a part of that. If I had the time and the money I would train to be a consultant without a doubt. Maybe one day! ❤️

Porky Lights & Comfort Food

So I finally got hold of these Porky Light sausages that everyone is raving about. I even bought 5 packs because of how many people have raved about them... so I was hoping they would be good!
I decided to make Sausage and Mash for tea on Friday night. The total for this entire meal was 1.5 syns (for the sausages at 0.5 syns each) and I'd have thought I was eating full fat, meaty sausages. They were fab! I added some milk from my A choice to my mash and I cooked off some mushrooms and onions with stock and hot water which in turn acted like a gravy. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of them and will definitely be stocking up my freezer!

I then had some more on Saturday morning just to make sure I was sure I liked them obviously... I can't fault them at all I just wish they were a little cheaper. But i'm more than happy to pay £2.25 per 6 sausages if they taste like that!

I may have also then had two on Sunday morning with my cooked breakfast... Definitely a winner in this house!

My Journey So Far

I thought it was important to write this. I think a lot of people just expect a diet to help them lose weight and they never think of gaining/maintaining, I know I thought that. I thought i'd be at my goal in a year and be loving it. I probably could have done that if I didn't have a life, or if I'd have been 100% on plan 24/7 for 365 days but who can say that they can physically do that? I know I can't. Here's my graph from SW Online, it shows my losses but it also shows my gains and maintains, you can see how close I came to my target (the purple line) and also the massive gain the week after as I just couldn't physically maintain that weight, I don't think I was in the right mind set.

2016 was a busy and eventful year as you can see, and I finished the year 1.5lbs heavier than what I ended 2015 but in that year I learned a lot.

I learnt to accept that there is no harm in a gain and I also allowed myself to enjoy everything and just get back to plan when I can.

I plan on reaching target this year and I feel a lot more focused now than ever.
I know that it is possible and I feel I'll be able to maintain it this time which I think is down to proving to myself I can maintain a weight which is what I did last year. I'll never be back to where I started - which truth be told is another 18lbs on top of where this started, and I've now accepted that.

I'm confident in achieving my goals this year and I just wanted to write this for the newbies out there or the ones that have lost their way. I lost my way the entire year last year, I'm only human. It just takes something to click and all of a sudden you're back and you're raring to go. So to anyone starting out don't be afraid to fall off the wagon just get back to it as soon as you can, and to those currently off the wagon I hope you find you're way back soon!

A lot of people see weight loss stories and just assume it was all plain sailing and it dropped off just like that, and for some people it does. But for some of us it doesn't and that's okay too!

What a way to start 2017!

So I went to weigh in expecting a gain, and probably a hefty one at that! I was amazed to find out I'd lost 1lb. I lost 2.5lb over Christmas last year and I lost the same this year, I'm quite impressed. It's shown me I can still enjoy myself and lose weight, I definitely wasn't on plan! I also won Slimmer Of The Week, because hardly anyone had lost both last week and this week! The last time I got a SOTW Certificate was 2015, time to start adding some more I think!

I normally have a takeaway treat on weigh day, but I remembered I had some Egg Fried Rice to use up and after a hefty lunch I wasn't overly keen on a massive tea so I just had the rice and some Mayflower Curry Powder (4 syns for 28g) so easy to do and really nice, it felt like i'd nipped to the Chinese! Even better! Here's to a good week and another loss next week!

Sweet Chilli Chicken

So in an attempt to stay on plan this evening I made the Sweet Chilli Chicken recipe from the booklet we got at group over Christmas. It works out at 1 syn for these two pieces and it was lovely. I didn't feel much like having any 'speed' veg if i'm honest but I still added an onion to some egg fried rice so there was some in there! The egg fried rice I made was free and is my obsession at the moment!

Successful day on plan complete, I just have a really bad headache but I'm putting that down to being completely back on plan and the sugar withdrawal!

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! ❤️

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Christmas Target

So has anyone realised how quickly Christmas will be here?

Today is 100 days until Christmas Day!
I currently have 11lbs to lose until I reach my target, I would quite like to lose a stone (to put me 3lb under) so I know I can over indulge over Christmas and still be within target. Does anyone else have a plan? I know a lot of social calendars get booked up pretty quickly this time of year with nights out/birthdays/christmas parties etc. Have you actually looked to see if you have any full weeks on plan between now and then?

I'm struggling at the moment with maintains and very small losses so I know I need to switch it up and try new things if I have any hope of getting to target for Christmas... CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

I'm going to try and be a lot more active on here and on instagram (doylie_sw) as I find it really helps me stick to plan if I'm being honest about where I'm at and what I'm eating!

Would love to know if any of you have set targets for Christmas and any plans of action?

xxx

Woman of the Year Party

So last night was our Woman Of The Year finals, I didn't win but I'm not bothered. It was amazing to even be nominated. I dug these out to take to group and it helped me realise how far I've come. I also got a lovely message from a friend I haven't seen since I left university 5 years ago (I think) and the last time she saw me, these shorts were my best friend. I wore them all the time with leggings and now, well, they fall off. I might not be where I want to be just yet but I'll get there and this has made me even more determined 💪🏻 11.5lbs from my target and then I'll see how I feel! 4 sizes down! 

Also made these coconut macaroons for our party along with the famous cinnamon swirls! But I forgot to take a photo of those so here's an old one! 

All recipes can be found on this blog in previous posts as always. 

Woman Of The Year Nomination

So I found out over the weekend that i'd been nominated for Woman of the Year at my Slimming World group. Safe to say I was gobsmacked and it's definitely given me the kick up the bum I needed to help me re focus! Our finals are this Thursday and we've been asked to bring a before photo and/or some old clothing. I dug out my shorts that I used to live in at uni when I was at my biggest (a size 20) and I was pleasantly surprised with just how different I look in them now (I can't wear them as they fall off me) I've only dropped approx 3 stone at the moment but the difference is ridiculous! 

*photo to follow*

Weigh Day

Maintained. 

I was gutted because I've had two really good weeks and I don't feel my gain last week and my maintain this week are justified, but line drawn and moving on. 

I've also decided to change my target back to what it originally was. So I only have 9lbs to lose. I didn't do this so I reached target quicker, in all honesty I had no idea what my final weight would be and I was more interested in my size rather than the number on the scales. 

I managed to squeeze into my target jeans the other day so I know I'm not far off which was also the reason I knew I didn't need/want to lose another 16lbs and I feel like these 9lbs will be enough. Going to up my gym and concentrate on toning too so I think that will help me maintain once I get to target. 

Onwards and downwards. 

Weigh Day

So after a few cheeky drinks and bbq's I'm actually alright with this. I wanted more but after a busy and amazing weekend I can't complain! Still on for my goals which is good. Just need to knuckle down now :)