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! ❤️

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!

Slimming World Top Tips

So following on from the Photo Challenge I thought it might be worth expanding on some of my top tips for following Slimming World...

1. Take Photos: if anyone ever looked at my camera roll I'd probably look extremely vain and obsessed with food! But it helps massively. I regret deleting old photos because I don't have many to choose from now but I am constantly taking photos so I can compare them along the way as I don't think you can always see a difference when you're looking in the mirror on a daily basis.

2. Identify Your Weaknesses: by that I mean if you've got a sweet tooth, make sure you look for low syn treats etc so you aren't going without, if you're a brew addict make sure you're measuring your milk and synning excess. If you love pizza, find a way to make it work for you. Everyone is different and everyone will use their syns for different things which leads me into my next point...

3. Plan Ahead: if you know you get a sweet tooth at night, make a syn box or have low syn treats in so when it strikes you aren't drawn to the highest synned chocolate in the house. Also, if you know you're off out for a meal it always helps to try and see a menu online or search the SW website for syn values to see what will work best for you.

4. Batch Cook: I'm not saying batch cook a months worth of meals and start from there (feel free if that's your thing but it's definately not mine) but if I use a recipe that's for 4 and there's only us two, I can portion up the others for lunches or freeze them so I've got them for a busy day. I also like to batch cook soups etc so I've got them handy for work and I don't have to go in search of food on my lunch.

5. Variety: I think this is the biggest thing, if you make the same thing day in day out you get bored, anyone does. Try and vary the meals you make. This works well with the batch cooking as you can build up a nice variety in the freezer to pick from. I try and do a new recipe a fortnight even if it's a new dessert recipe or try a new snack. I know some people are busier than others so some have the ability to make a new one a week or every day but that's certainly not me!

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! ❤️

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.