Changing Tastes

Over this week i have noticed that my tastes have changed with certain things which isn't unusual. I've been at my BFF's for the last couple of days which has been great. For years i've always had semi skimmed milk and thought that skimmed milk was just watery but yesterday i tried some and it was really nice so i'll be getting some in from now on.

I also don't think my body can take cake any more (well with real cream and sugar in) as after having some the other day i was ill. As i have found lots of recipes for low syn cakes i can still eat it when i fancy it. This is not a bad thing and i'm glad that i found out now rather than later. It has also made me wonder what will happen when i have any alcohol as i haven't had any since i've been on this journey so that will be interesting, not sure that i'm looking forward to that one lol.

This weekend i have been corrupted by my BFF. She loves to cross stitch and has now got me at it and i'm all ready about half way through a bookmark she gave me to do. I also have a couple of things to do after i've done this so my life will slightly different but good. When i move on to the bigger projects i'll post them here.

Right i'm off as my foot is going numb and i need to move. Take care and happy slimming

A Break From the Norm

So today this post is taking a break from all slimming related topics. Instead i'd like to talk about a new book that is due to be released here in the UK on 1st September (23rd Aug in the US and Canada) by the wonderfully talented author Rachel Vincent. Rachel has written some truly amazing books like the Shifters series and the Soul Screamers Series. I've read everything that is available so far and i'm really looking forward to this new book.

This new book i'm talking about is BLOOD BOUND and is the first book in a trilogy. Here i have posted the book covers US and UK (I prefer the UK one) a video teaser and the official blurb (all of which i got from Rachel's blog, which i constantly stalk lol)

UK Cover

The official blurb:

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can’t touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend’s daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can’t rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it’s over…

I so can not wait to get this as i've been waiting for ages for it. I want it now and i'm so impatient lol. Below is the cover of the Book that is currently for sale in the US and Canada. Above is the UK version which i prefer so i don't mind waiting a little longer for it. So roll on the 1st. If you want to buy the book you can get it at Amazon and its a fab price.

Weigh Day 8

So it's that day again. This week i lost 1/2lb again, i'm not happy but at least it was a loss. I'm trying to workout what to do to loose more next week. I want to get my club 10 next month so i'm going to have to do more body magic to help the weight come off.

I'm not in much of a mood to write much tonight but i'll post more soon

Take care and happy slimming

Feeling bleugh

Having one of those days today where i really don't want to do anything and can't be bothered to cook. I haven't blown it by eating things i shouldn't so i am proud of myself. Out of a maximum of 15 syns that i can have a day i've had a max of 2 so far.

Tonight i just really didn't want to cook so thankfully i had a jacket potato and some chilli in the freezer so that's what i had and it was lovely.

In over a week i have friend moving in with me and he's taken it himself to paint. So far his bedroom and most of the hall stairs and landing has been done. The hall floor is covered in paint so its a good thing that its being re-done with new floor tiles. It's amazing how much brighter it looks and how much cleaner. It feels so much more like its my home rather than just living here. Getting the house together is more work than i thought it would be but in the long run its totally worth it. I do want to do my bedroom, kitchen and bathroom but i wait until next year for those to happen.

I think that losing the weight is giving me a new outlook on other things in my life. So in 2012 i will be a new me and i'll have a new look home. I'll be healthier and fitter and i may even meet Mr Right which would be nice. I'm looking forward now and not back so onwards and upwards.

As it's monday it means that tomorrow is weigh day and i'm not sure how i feel about it this week. I can't see why i won't have lost as i haven't done anything different from the weeks that i've had a good loss. I have also had some good body magic on a couple of days so hopefully that will so. I'll report back tomorrow.

Take care and happy slimming

Weigh Day 7

It's tuesday so that means its weigh day. I felt that i'd had a good week as i stuck to it and i even ended up doing more walking than i had been and also extra house work. So stepping on the scales i was expecting another good loss. Now don't get me wrong i did lose this week but only 1/2lb. So at least it was off not on. I just hope that i'll have another good loss next week. I'm not planning on doing anything different from what i have been doing since i started so i don't see why it shouldn't be.

Today i went for a picnic with my lovely son and BFF and her 3 kids. As it looked like it was going to rain we ended up going to the park instead of the beach which was our original plan. We still had a nice time and i didn't eat any of the crisps, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages or drink the full fat fanta that we had got for the kids to enjoy. The kids seemed to have a good time and we sat on the grass and chatted while keeping an eye on the kids as they played.

While we were there i said my lovely niece who i haven't seen in ages and she noticed that i had lost weight which was really nice and next time i see her i'll have lost even more.

It was a nice day but was a pity it wasn't sunny enough until we were on our way to group.

I have a busy couple of days of painting and laying new flooring (as long as i can pay for it lol) so hopefully that will give me body magic.

That's all for tonight. Take care and happy slimming

Beetroot Risotto with Rocket

I'm posting this recipe tonight as a lady called lisa on facebook asked for it after i said that i was having it for my dinner.

Serves 4----------------------Free

Fry light

1 red onion, finely chopped

2 celery sticks, peeled and finely chopped

13oz (369g) dried risotto rice

2pt (1.1l) hot vegetable stock

250g pack cooked vacuum-packed beetroot, cubed (reserving the liquid)

salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

A very small handful of fresh dill, finely chopped

4oz (113g) wild rocket leaves

Parmesan cheese, grated (optional, 1 1/2syns per tbsp)

1) Heat a deep frying pan sprayed with fry light. Cook the celery and onion, covered for 10 minutes until softened. Add the rice and cook for a minute

2) pour the stock into a saucepan and keep hot over a low heat. gradually add the stock to the rice pan, stirring frequently, adding more stock as the stock becomes absorbed. This will take about 20 minutes.

3) Add the beetroot and juice to the rice after about 15minutes of cooking and stir well. To see of the risotto is cooked, check the stock has been used up and the rice is tender , but al dente. Season to taste.

4) Divide the risotto between large shallow bowls and sprinkle with dill. Add a handful of rocket and cheese (if using)

This is a slimming world recipe (i think it was a magazine that i got it out of). I hope that you enjoy it coz i did.

Take care and happy slimming

Sweet Craving

Tonight i've had a massive craving for something sweet but not chocolate. I had some quark in the fridge and mixed it with two tubs of muller light and some sweetener. It was sweet and creamy and so nice. I ate some with a chocolate snack-a-jack but the craving is still there. I did some searching on google and found that this could be turned into ice cream so its now in the freezer and in an hour i have to take it out and mix it. This should become a creamy ice cream and syn free.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Take care and happy slimming

Sausage and Potato Salad

Now i have to admit that i'm not really a salad person as i don't like lettuce. But then i was introduced to rocket and i've not started to eat salads.

With alot of vegetables in the fridge i thought i'd have one for lunch today as put of my new healthy lifestyle. So here is my salad

Sausage and Potato Salad

Serves 4-------------------2 1/2 syns per serving

Charlotte potatoes, sliced and as many as you like

2 sticks of celery

1/4 cucumber, diced

1/2 pack radishes

1/2 tin sweetcorn

1 pack rocket, spinach and watercress salad

3 spring onions

mushrooms, sliced and as many as you like

10 cherry tomatoes, quartered

8 cumberland sausages, sliced (i used tesco low fat ones)

8tbsp fat free fromage frais

1tbsp extra light mayo

1tbsp wholegrain mustard

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1) Cook the potatoes and sausages and then allow to cool

2) Chop up everything and toss in a bowl

3) Add the rocket salad and potatoes in the bowl ans toss

4) Divide the sausages between serving plates and add the salad to the top

5) Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve

Remember that the dressing is where the syns are (apart from the sausages) so use as much or as little as you want.

After eating this i'm really full and i have lots left so i'll be eating it for ages. You don't have to use the dressing that i did. After i go shopping on tuesday i'll have some syn free salad dressings to use and i can't wait.

Now i'm just wondering what to have for my dinner tonight.

Will be back soon so take care and happy slimming

Lamb Bolognese

Tonight for my dinner i had Lamb Bolognese. I got this from my bff and her weight watchers recipe book. The first time i had this was a few weeks ago when i stayed at her house. It's nice and spicy and very filling.

Serves 2-----------------1 1/2 syns per serving

fry light

1 onion, chopped

185g (6 1/2oz) lean lamb mince

2 large garlic cloves, chopped finely

1 tsp dried thyme

200ml (7fl oz) passata

100ml (3 1/2fl oz) vegetable stock

25g (1oz) dried apricots, chopped into small pieces

75g (2 3/4oz) canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

a few splashes of Tabasco (optional)

a few fresh coriander leaves

salt and freshly ground pepper

1) Heat a lidded non stick saucepan, spray with fry light and cook the onion for 5 minutes, covered stirring regularly until softened. Add the lamb and cook stirring regularly to break up any lumps, for 5 minutes until browned all over.

2) Stir in the garlic and thyme, then add the passata, stock, apricots and cannellini beans. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer over a low heat for 15 minutes. Add a splash of Tabasco, if using then partially cover the pan and cook for a further 15 minutes until the sauce has reduced and is thickened. Season to taste.

3) Serve with a jacket potato or mash potato

This is really worth trying and i hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

I need to have a reasonable night tonight as i have to be up early in the morning to go and help out at my consultants thursday groups.

Take care and happy slimming

Weigh in 6

It's tuesday so that means only one thing, it's weigh day. Being so close to having lost a stone and knowing how much more i have to go is keeping me motivated. Also helping my consultant Linda out when shes short handed is also good for motivation. Today's weight loss was a fab 3lbs which means that i got my 1 stone award and also slimmer of the week. I feel so good about this as i'm so focused.

I did help out tonight which felt good but i'm still learning the ropes so that i can help out when i'm needed.

This afternoon i thought that it was about time that i took my measurements and i'm now a size 22/24 and although what i'm wearing is baggy on me it's not too bad. I have quite a bit of size 18's hanging around from years ago which i can't wait to get into. As i don't have alot of money at the moment i don't want to buy any new clothes until i really have to. As my bff is losing as well and is smaller than me she's going to pass on her clothes as they get too big for her and i slim in to them so that we can save money. I know that i'm an hourglass and i've seen so many outfits that i really want to wear when i get to target. One of the big this i want is a pair of leather trousers as it's something that i have always wanted. I'd wear them with a corset and i know that i'll get it as i'm determined to. I really want to wear a bikini for the first time ever and be able to wear mini skirts and short shorts. In a way it seems shallow to want little things like this but to be honest it will do me the world of good and i'm really looking forward to it.

Anyway that's enough for tonight.

Take care and happy slimming

Diet Coke Chicken

Now this recipe sounds really weird but the smell when it was cooking was lovely and buy the time it was ready it was looking just as good. I served it mash potato, broccoli and cauliflower but you could have it with anything really. This turned out to be a very yummy meal and best of all it was syn free which is always good. I will be having this again and think it will become a family favourite. I have heard that some people have done this with fanta instead and that does sound just as interesting.

Diet Coke Chicken

Serves 4--------------------Free

4oog sliced chicken breast

1 onion, diced

330ml can diet coke

6tbsps passata

Dash of worcestershire sauce

fry light

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1) Heat a large frying pan and spray with fry light

2) Add the onion and chicken and fry until starts to colour

3) Add the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil

4) Simmer until the sauce thickens and reduces down to about half its volume about 30minutes

This is a really easy recipe to do and so worth it. It tastes like barbecue sauce and so good and you have to give it a go

Tomorrow is weigh day and i'm looking forward to finding out what i've lost this week (as long as its more that 1 1/2lbs), yes i did say looking forward. I feel that i'm still doing well so it can only be good news tomorrow.

I'm borrowing my bff's yoga dvd to give it a try before i go and buy my own. I keep hearing how good it is for weightloss and i can't see what i have to loss by giving it a go. If i get used to doing it now as i get smaller and even when i get to target i'll be used to doing it. I'll let you know how i get on.

Take care and happy slimming

More blogs to follow

Well i have more blogs for you to follow. Now i have to admit that i've only just come across these with thanks to Diet Momma on facebook but i will be paying them regular visits. With out further ado here they are

Flab 2 Fab

Losing....with Slimming world

BeeBee's Recipes

Fat Bottomed Girl

Laura's Slimming World journey

My slimming world journey

I hope that you take a look them and that they help to motivate you.

Take care and happy slimming

Body Magic

One thing that i'm learning during this journey is that Body Magic is important. What is it i hear you ask, well it's exercise. A while ago i got a kinnect for my xbox 360 and have been meaning to try it out. The other day i gave it a go with the dance central game and even thou it's a good game i'm just not fit enough for it at the moment. Hopefully when i've lost a bit more and have tried something else first like maybe yoga i'll be able to play it better and then i'll use a few times a week.

At the moment i'm working towards my silver body magic as i got my bronze a couple of weeks ago. I want to be fit as well as slimmer so i need to do this. At least three days a week i'm walking at least 4 miles a day and i'm hoping that i can make it more. Will post here as i get fitter

Take care and happy slimming

Salad Day

Tonight i decided that i would try one of the salads from this fortnights menu. Its Chilli, Crab and Mango Salad which i got out of an old weight watchers recipe book. Its really nice but i think i will end up playing around with it as when i made it it was a bit wet.

Chilli, Crab and Mango Salad

Serves 4 ---------------- 4 1/2syns per serving

240g (8 1/2oz) fresh crab meat or 2 x 120g cans white crab meat, drained

1 medium cucumber

8 small pink radishes, halved and sliced thinly

2 medium ripe mangos or papayas, peeled and sliced

2 tsp sweetner

1 1/2tsp fish (nam pla) or soy sauce

1 tsp crushed dried chilli

juice of 2 limes

1 small red chilli, deseeded and chopped

50g (1 3/4oz) roasted peanuts, chopped

a small bunch of chives or coriander, chopped to garnish

salt

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and toss together gently. Pile onto serving plates and top with the chives and serve

This summer salad is well worth a try. I think that i will have some more and try it with some rocket.

Take care and happy slimming

Follow This Blog

I have a blog for you follow if you like mine you'll like this one. It belongs to my bff who is gorgeous and wonderful and my biggest support and she's like a sister to me so we are family. She started at weight watchers a week before i joined slimming world and is one of the reasons i finally took the first step of this journey. Tonight she has take the plunge and started her own weight loss blog called My Weight Watchers journey. So head on over there and see how well shes doing.

Although we are working from different plans we are still supporting each other and its great to be going through it with someone else as i don't feel on my own. One of the worst things is if you don't get any support from friends and family as it makes the journey more difficult. You need to start this journey for your self and not worry what others around you think as you can do it in your own time. I know that this time i'll do, well we both will as we'll support each other and pass recipes to each other and i've already nicked a few.

Anyway do head on over to her blog and say hi. That's it for tonight.

Take care and happy slimming

Weigh Day

So it's that time of week again and it's getting easier each week to go and get weighed as i'm being so consistent. This week i would really have liked to have lost 4lbs to get my 1 stone award but i knew that would be asking too much. I wasn't disappointed with this weeks loss of 2 1/2lbs which is a total of 12 1/2lbs in 5 weeks. While i was there i paid for a countdown which was £24.75 for 6 weeks so i now don't have to worry about paying again until the second week in september and saves me £5 which can't be bad. Also i brought a new recipe book called family feasts for a fiver and there are loads of recipes i can't wait to try but will have to wait a fortnight as i've done my shopping now.

I'm not feeling to good so this is going to be a short one.

Take care and happy slimming