My sister the saboteur

My sister was a bit down last week that her weight on weighteatchers was slowly going up instead of down (she can't exercise because of a hernia she's got that is waiting to be operated on) so I had planned to visit her tonight with a shopping bag full of goodies for this healthy chilli recipe:

This month's weightwatchers mag has lots of yum looking recipes in it.

Half way through cooking my sis decided to season the chilli. 

And off came the salt lid.

With 3/4 of the salt tipping into my well planned, amazing tasting turkey and sweet potato chilli. 

This my friends is what you call a ruined meal. 

So we drained the juice from the chilli and ran it under boiling water for ages in the hope that we would wash the majority of the salt away. Luckily sis' cupboard was stocked with chopped tomatoes and a ready made sauce to replace what we lost. 

Here's the saboteur herself trying to save my meal

It actually ended up really yummy.

The funny thing is that I have a bit of a reputation for ruining meals. Once I tried to make a chocolate flan but I actually didn't put any cling film in between the pastry and the baking beans except that time I happened to use rice, which obviously ended up as a raw-rice-mixed-with-pastry-and-chocolate-flan. I also once completely failed a cheese and broccoli flan on bake off night (must be a pastry problem I have) and my sis had to run to the shop to buy eggs for an emergency omelette meal. 

So I kind of hold the crown for crap cook (I have actually made lots of amazing meals throughout my time but these are obviously cast aside for the funny rice flan story). My dear friend did give me a run for my money though when she put non-ovenproof plastic in the oven and nearly burnt down my sister's house. 

So tonight my sister has clearly truly taken my crap cook crown, I just wish I wasn't the only one here to witness it. Sodium overload, anyone????

Dans x

The real reason why I run

So this is the real reason why I run:

I pick up goodies for our bake off night once a month when the farmers market comes into town. My friend heads for the burger tent and me for the cake tent. These amazing treats were either peanut butter flapjacks or Oreo chocolate cookies. I try to feed my guests full of other people's amazing homemade treats before I start cooking so that they won't notice if my meals are awful :)

Now that I've completed 8x 30 min runs, my next plan is 4x 5km runs. Note that I know this plan is not going to make me the fastest, strongest runner in the world (and I hate speed work) so the aim of the game is to just get out there in the fresh air and improve my fitness and distance. 

Maybe after these runs are over I should look for a training plan on the internet to help my improvement, I was fond of Runkeeper's 10km plan but they charge now. 

I didn't get up for my 6am run. But I was true to my word and ran after work. It was the hardest run ever, I think I got it wrong assuming it was colder than it actually was and so my long sleeved top made me way too hot only about 5 minutes in. I really struggled and felt like I needed to give up. Mostly it was my breathing but for the last 1.5km my legs just didn't want to run anymore. I made it to 5km though although slightly deliriously. 

Thursday: 5.00km / 31:06 / 6:13min per km av pace

I don't know whether my face is a reflection of my top or whether I was actually that pink. 

Last night's bake off was a favourite of ours from an old weightwatchers mag. It is spinach & butternut squash spaghetti lasagne and this photo doesn't do it justice but it was yum and serves 6 at only 7pts+ each although we split it between 4. Accompanied by salad and the nicest g-bread ever. This lasagne is my sister and friend's speciality so I just stood and watched it happen. 

I made the dessert from a ww cooking for 2 recipe book - apple and sultana crumble cakes. 

They're not the best desserts as not sweet enough for me especially when you forget to add the demerara sugar on top like me but they did the job for a healthy bake off (we are not counting the brownies here).

(We are obviously also not counting the cream).

I'm so glad we are back to making healthy meals for our bake off. You can get into a rut ordering takeout or making bad food because it is quick and easy but it's so much more fun getting all of your friends in the kitchen to make a good meal from scratch, and it always tastes better too. 

Dans x

Another run and a fat lasagne

Today's Runkeeper motivation message really hit the mark:

It was raining tonight and I'm not feeling any better but I knew that if I held off a run until tomorrow, the circumstances would be exactly the same. I was hoping for a dry autumn but it doesn't look as though the rain is going to stop until at least August ;) so on went my cap and waterproof and out I went for a muddy trail run. 

30 minutes 

1/8 Monday: 4.66km, 6:27min/km av pace

2/8 Wednesday: 4.67km, 6:26min/km av pace

3/8 Friday: 5.09km, 5:54min/km av pace

4/8 Monday: 4.73km, 6:21min/km av pace

5/8 Saturday: 4.74km, 6:20min/km av pace

6/8 Tuesday: 4.64km, 6:28min/km av pace

It was my slowest run out of the lot but I'm happy with that. I went out with the thought that this was just going to be a good jog to get me out and about in the fresh air. A slow run is definitely better than no run at all and I would have only wasted the half hour on the sofa playing a dot to dot game on my iPad that I'm completely addicted to. 

The best thing about this run was the finish line. The even better thing about this run was the hot shower afterwards. I loved running in the rain and mud today. Two separate runners passed ,e and both said hi, I told you it was a great run. 

Perhaps my run was impeded slightly by this amazing breakfast

But the chocolatey goodness was worth it. 

I made up for it with a healthy lunch and some recipe inspiration 

This was after I got soaked in the rain running to get it. Wet two times in a day, this is coming from a girl who used to be paranoid about her appearance but really doesn't give a monkeys anymore :)

I've just demolished a huge lasagne courtesy of DC's mum and I'm going to spend the rest of the evening having cuddles with my bestest friend:

Dans x

How to get going again

So even thought I've officially quit weightwatchers, I still think the plan is an excellent way to lose weight, and it works. And if my weight ever gets out of hand or if I ever have children, the first thing I will do to get back track is rejoin. But I just don't want weightwatchers ruling my life at the moment; with so many other things on my mind the last thing I want to do is check in my weight every week. And anyway I am feeling much better taking a different approach to a healthier lifestyle (minus the crunchie).

I'm not giving up my Thursday night bake off, where me, my sis, her boyfriend, and two of my closest friends get together after weigh in to catch up and ether cook something healthy and new (three out of four weeks) or order a takeaway (monthly treat).

Tonight is takeaway night and I've come to my sister's house to learn that she put on 4lbs this week, and over the last three weeks her boyfriend has gained 9lbs. This obviously calls for action. There has been a holiday, her birthday, his birthday, my birthday and much more celebrating this month so to be fair to them they have had a well deserved month off and now it's back to it. 

My sis got up to a 5 STONE weight loss... How amazing is that!!! And is now back down to a 4st4lb loss. She knows she needs to get back into the plan. So how do we do that?

Where are my Knees have a great post today here on how to get back on track after plateauing. There's some inspiring ideas to take you back to the start of the plan and start losing again. 

Dans x

Some things are worth quitting and my birthday photo album

So everyone knows that the only way to get rid of leftover BBQ food is to have sausage cobs for breakfast the morning after, and another BBQ for dinner. These were the only two productive things that DC and I did yesterday, apart from cleaning the house. The other 18 hours were spent recovering from our amazing weekend, with some of those used getting frustrated at Minions Rush which I downloaded and we are now addicted to. 

I have seen so much meat this weekend that I think a veggie week is definitely in order. I am also back on the eating well wagon after a gazillion glasses of Pimms and far too much food. I think I forgot to mention that I quit weight watchers a few weeks ago. I'm done with counting points, bored of it. Instead I'm simply trying to eat more of the good stuff. So today is muesli for breakfast, a ham beetroot and coleslaw salad for lunch (I did sneak a packet of Snackajacks in there for lunch though) and jacket potato with salad and cottage cheese for dinner. With as much fruit as I like in between. I'm saving all of the good stuff I got for my birthday until the weekends. 

Anyway, I mentioned that I wasn't good at taking photos throughout my birthday on Sunday, so it's a good job that people around me are much better at it than me! Here's some snaps I've stolen:

I bought a new dress from Topshop (of course) to mark the occasion and I love it. 

Me & my most amazing friend, before the madness started. 

My cooking ladies saved me from spending all day in the kitchen. 

Our friends. 

The cutest nieces ever in the whole universe. 

Another one of us before the madness started. I like how I look as brown as DC here, usually he steals all of the tan thunder.

My most favourite ever photo from my birthday. 

Honestly look at that face. 

I was a bit crazy to clean the dishes at 2:47am but it saved my sanity on Monday when there was less cleaning to do!

Dans x

This week at ww

I stayed the same for the third week running - not bad! I consciously tried to eat better but I did have a night out with DC that included a good few drinks and a McDonald on the way home...!

3.5lb to go!

Dans x

This week at ww...

Over the past few weeks I haven't particularly been following a weightwatchers plan, I have simply been trying to eat more natural foods. But my Thursday weigh in seems as I don't have to pay as a Gold member is a good way to keep track of my numbers.

I know that I'll eventually come off of the plan all together, I'm just not sure when. I'll definitely go back on the plan after any babies that may come along, and stick to it because I know it works. But I was thinking the other day... When was the last time I ate a chocolate bar and didn't feel guilty about it? That's not a fun life to live!

Dans x

5 more things I didn't tell you while I was gone...

1. Trev was finally taken for a clean, his first since I bought him six weeks ago... I have to admit it was getting a little shabby with how much I've been driving him around! DC took him for me as an excuse to get out of glossing our skirting boards...

2. It finally came around to my turn to cook for our office's Munch Club. One lady bakes every month so because I was last to move upstairs to the office I had to wait 12 months for my turn! My mum came around the evening before and we spent a good few hours baking. We made date slices, peach patisseries, and cupcakes... they were all yum and went down really well in the office, plus they were all mega easy to make.

3. I started planning my half year conference at work. Other than one mega mishap of changing the date, I really need to crack on as it's on 11 July and I haven't got much planned at the mo. Around 50 of the management team come together every half year for a business review, and it's a great chance for everyone to get on the same wavelength in regards to how the company is doing, and also a nice opportunity for the management team to get together from all across the country and catch up and see each other. I've booked our evening entertainment, which will be a game show style team event with rounds such as Catchphrase, Buzzcocks etc. I'm hoping I pull it all off!

4. In the weeks that I've been MIA, I lose 2lbs at weightwatchers, then put on 0.5, then put on 1.0... so I'm back to where I started. But now that a holiday is hopefully in sight, it's time to get bikini body ready!

5. My sis and I made sausage pasta on my Thursday bake off night and my sister wasn't too impressed with what the skins resembled, so I'll leave you with this image...

 Dans x

Thursday night weigh in...

I was dreading weigh in so much this week after not being able to resist anything that was bad for you. But I went along as I had promised myself from January that I'd make it through the weightwatchers door every week even on those weeks that I'd stuffed my face every day.

So I was happy to only have put on half a pound after all of the crab that had passed my lips, plus the fact that I hadn't ran all week due to a stinking cold that wouldn't let off.

I actually stayed for the meeting for the first time in forever as well, my friend C joined our village group and this isn't my regular class, I usually only go when I have plans and can't make my regular class, as this one is closer. So I had never attended a meeting given by the leader Julie before, and she was animated to say the least, she was so positive and it was like a breath of fresh air, even though I do love my regular class leader, but it was nice to have a different perspective.

Then after the class as a 'last supper' C and I stuffed ourselves with a yum Chinese takeaway and talked about our plans to stay on track next week. Then we kind of planned a cinema date with my friend J, which kind of includes a trip to Nandos whoops. But I'll cross that line when I get to it.

Dans x

Thursday night weigh in...

This week I stayed the same and I was really pleased. 9st 7.5lb is not an easy peasy weight for me when I'm not in the zone and it can easily go back on again. This week I attempted a filling & healthy week on weightwatchers. I knew that because I would not only be eating my calories but drinking them as well at the wedding on the weekend, that I needed to be careful about what I ate for the rest of the week.

 

 

For breakfast most mornings, I helped myself to a generous serving of shredded wheat minis. Some mornings I even had two helpings! Knowing that they were free on filling & healthy made me feel less restricted and I really started to enjoy my breakfast.

 

Allowing myself 5 propoints a day for snacks outside of the filling & healthy list, 1pt was used on this yummy Cadburys Highlights hazelnut hot choc. 40 calories and yum! I always add a dash of skimmed milk to my hot chocolate to make it a bit creamier.

 

 

Most of my lunches at work this week were sweet potatoes with tuna and sweetcorn. I am in love with this meal!! I've looked forward to it every day. I LOVE sweet potato! I used up 1pt on this meal, on a bit of salad cream for my tuna and sweetcorn mix. I found that this along with my breakfast really filled me up throughout the day - something I haven't felt in a long time!

 



My absolute favourite snack these days is this new sweet & salty popcorn from Boots, part of their Shapers range. I think this flavour has replaced the maple one because I can't find that any more, but this one is AMAZING. I think it's the best 2pt snack out there, it's completely yum, and it'll save you over 20pts if you eat this at the cinema instead of their own servings! I like to have this for my 3pm munchies.

I really wasn't keen on these Nakd bars the first time I tried them; I think it was the texture that put me off, although I found that they filled me up so I stuck with it and now I have one every day. If you work them out on weightwatchers they are 4pts but seems as they are all natural products apart from the cocoa, I count these as 1pt when I'm on a filling & healthy week. That's probably cheating as I'm sure it's dried fruit and these have higher propoints, but sssssh ;)

 

I've also been filling up on my coffee with skimmed milk. Perhaps I should ask to get a new mug on order seems as I've successfully gone cold turkey on my added sweetener!

 

I've also been eating ham salads for my lunch, with brown rice to make it filling & healthy, instead of my usual coleslaw which I would have to point. Notice the tin of salmon on the side - I had been looking forward to a salmon and rice salad ALL DAY and when I bought it on my break and started to prepare my lunch back at work, the ringpull snapped off and I couldn't get into my tin. How annoying!

Here's to another healthy successful week!

 

Dans x 

Thursday night weigh in...

Well well well... a successful week!

I was really surprised to lose so much this week. I was always hoping that last week's 1.5lb would come back off, but I didn't anticipate another pound off as well.

There's a few factors that I think have been behind such a great week:

Water

I have been drinking soo much water at work this week, and it made me feel really healthy. I keep a tall glass on my desk and make sure I keep it topped up.

Breakfast
I bought some mini shredded wheat at the start of the week, ready for my plan to do a filling and healthy week next week. But I cracked them open early and helped myself to a couple of bowls - one as soon as I got into work around 8.30am and another one around 9.15am. This kept me full until lunch, which is new for me!

Snacking
I finally found a snack that I'm totally in love with - Boots sweet & salted popcorn. Only 2pts for the bag and I look forward to them every afternoon, meaning I hold off on my snacking because I know they're on my food list and I will enjoy them.

Exercise
I haven't obsessed about running this week and I think that really works for me. I think 3/4 runs per week is better than 5/6 runs per week, so I'm going to stick to this and not put too much pressure on myself.

Stress!
I have been a bit stressy nervous this week about buying / driving my new car and this usually has an effect on my weight.

Next week - filling & healthy!

Dans x

Thursday night weigh in...

I'm putting this down to my spa break (post coming soon!). Line drawn. Moved on!

Dans

Thursday night weigh in...

I finally had a good week on weightwatchers!!

 

 

I was so pleased when I stepped on the scales on Thursday. I kind of knew that it should be a successful weigh in because last week was the first time in around two years that I actually tracked every single little thing that went into my mouth. I stuck to my daily and weekly points for the first time in forever and even though I didn't do a huge amount of exercise, I think that most of my success was down to my Challenge No Thank You, where I tried my hardest to cut down on sugar for the week.

 

I'm really glad that I've finally made up for the two weeks where I consecutively put on 0.5 and 1.0, and now that that's finally off I can concentrate on moving forward and getting my weight down. I have the wedding in two weeks time and I'm hoping to get down as much as possible to my 9st5lb goal. It's not going to be easy, because I'm going away on Tuesday for a two night spa retreat with J, but we've planned our meals to be within points and we're going to try as hard as we can to keep the points down.

 

Here's to next week!

 

Dans

Challenge no thank you

After my disastrous weigh in last week, I knew I had to make a change. So I started a one man no thank you challenge, this week concentrating on sugar. I knew that I put on last week because of cake. Mmm cake. I just can't resist the cake!

So from Friday I gave 200% effort into cutting out additional sugar and sweeteners, and these were my hotspot successes:

Friday

Sweeteners - I always take one sweetener in my tea and coffee, and from Friday I went cold turkey - now I don't like the taste of tea that much, but I'm trying to get used to it!

Cake Bake - At work there was a cake bake to raise money for Loros. My colleague A and I went down to the canteen to have a look what was on offer, but we didn't buy one slice. Not one at all. And you can see how tempting it was...!

Mmm, cake!

 

Dessert - Why is it that family gathering always include cake?! We cooked dinner for DC's mum on Friday night, and DC bought a huge chocolate cheesecake from Tesco, to serve up with squirty cream. And I didn't have one piece.

Saturday

Cake - Another family gathering on Saturday - all of the family gathers around my Grandparents' house every other Saturday, so this Saturday was 'Nana's Day' and my aunties had brought around my favourite - cherry bakewell tarts, and Batternberg cake. Do you know how hard it was to resist!

Biscuits - Because DC works out so much in the week, he can eat whatever he likes on the weekend. We did our food shop late on Saturday afternoon and DC bought a double pack of bourbon biscuits, which he continued to devour with his tea all throughout the afternoon. I had to make do with an apple dipped in cashew butter... mmm!

Sunday

Left over cheesecake - each time I opened the fridge on Sunday, I was welcomed with the sight and smell of the leftover chocolate cheesecake. I was finding it harder and harder to resist. I made some muffins from the blueberry muffins recipe to have as my go-to treat, but I used tinned apricots as well and they didn't work, they were soggy and uncooked in the middle, so I settled for some granola and yoghurt.

Sundays - Sundays are always so hard when it comes to healthy eating. We were busy cleaning the house and tidying the garden in the morning, but in the afternoon when we were chilling out it was so hard to resist the goodies in the house.

Monday

I was really good on Monday and there was not much put in front of me that I had to resist! DC and I always make sure we get back into a healthy eating routine when the week starts again, so we were extra good and I didn't go out on my lunch hour at work so didn't have any temptations.

Tuesday

Tuesday, I buckled. But at least I can admit it! I had a funny turn in Marks & Spencers on my lunch hour - I went really hot and sweating (TMI sorry!) and my legs turned to jelly. This used to happen to me ALL of the time back when I had an awful diet - I assume it's usually a sugar dip but I put it down on Tuesday to being really stressed out, my Mum was in the hospital and I had spent Monday night rushing around grabbing clothes and taxi-ing it to and from Mum's house / the hospital. I had 10 points of chocolate to make myself feel better, but avoided bad food for the rest of the day.

Wednesday & Thursday
I was really good on Wednesday. My colleague Ads and I went into town on our lunch break, there is a German market that takes place for a week every month and we had a good look at all of the yummy cupcakes, meringues, waffles and pastries, but only looked and didn't touch! Thursday was obviously a good day as it was weigh in day!

I'm so pleased with myself for sticking to this - mostly - throughout the week! It was SO hard at times, especially at the weekend when everyone else was tucking into desserts and cakes and biscuits, but I feel so much better for it in the long run.

I'm definitely going to continue this for another week and hopefully it will help keep my weight down!

Dans

Bake off #5

Weightwatchers Blueberry and Muesli Muffins

 

I'm always happy when the new weightwatchers mag comes out because the recipes are so much better and clearer than the Your Week we get each Thursday at our class. As soon as I opened the mag I knew I had to bake these!



 

Recipe

Makes 10

4 propoints+ per muffin

 

175g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

75g soft brown sugar

60g muesli

1 egg, beaten

200ml skimmed milk

30g low fast spread, melted

150g blueberries

5 tsp clear honey, to serve

 

I used gluten free muesli and Sainsburys basics blueberries. I didn't have any proper muffin cases so I used this silicone mould that my Grandad gave me yonks ago, it just meant that the muffins were smaller than they should be, which is not a bad thing as it makes the propoints+ of each muffin lower.

 

 

They were really simple the make. The flour and baking powder was sifted into a bowl before being mixed with the sugar and muesli. Beat together the egg, milk and spread, and mix this into the flour mixture before adding the blueberries.



 

After spooning them into the cases, into the oven they went. It advises to cook them for 15-20 minutes but as with everything I kept them in closer to 25 minutes.

 

 

And here is how they turned out. They were YUM. DC wasn't too keen and didn't eat too many, he said they weren't sweet enough for him, but they were the perfect go-to snack for me when I was peckish but didn't want something too high in propoints. I counted them as 3 propoints+ because they were smaller.

I can't wait to try these again. I made them again today and substituted the blueberries for tinned peaches, and also half of the sugar for splenda, but they didn't work out and I had to throw them away! I may try them again with dried fruit though.

Dans



Thursday night weigh in...

So I'm not doing particularly well lately, and my weight is creeping up. I don't think I'm trying enough, and I'm just reaching for the sugar at work when I'm stressed / bored / hungry / happy / sad... Basically I'm just eating cake at any given opportunity, and this needs to stop!!!

I did make my own blueberry muffins this week as a 3 point reach-to snack, from this month's Weightwatchers mag (recipe coming soon) but I did this AND ate cake.

So this week I need to concentrate on my sugar intake. I have our friends' wedding coming up in three weeks and if I put on any more weight I won't fit in my dress!!

My sis & set up a Whatsapp group last week to let each other know our food diaries, and I think this helped so we're going to continue that this week.

Better luck next week!

Dans

Thursday night weigh in...

 

So, I put on 0.5lb this week. I think the weightwatchers people above thought "ok, she's eaten crap ALL WEEK, but we won't punish her too much, we'll give her one last chance to be good."

I ate SO MUCH rubbish! Indian takeaway, Chinese takeaway, Easter eggs, wine, chocolate, you name it I had it. I had NO idea how I only put on half a pound, but it's definitely made me want to be good for next week.

Dans

Thursday night weigh in...

So, my overview on my 29.14 plan:

Friday After polishing off a Cadbury's creme egg and the rest of the yum weightwatchers lemon curd sponge, I realised I had gone 755 calories over my 29 points+ for the day. Yikes! Not a good start indeed. My run on Friday counteracted 204 calories, and so Friday ended with 551 remaining cals to burn off.

Saturday I stuck to 24 points+ worth of food on Saturday, before a glass of wine took me to 29. I was naughty when I got home from my night in town and ate a crunchie, adding 185 calories. My Saturday morning run burned 233 calories, and so Saturday ended with 503 cals to burn off through the week.

Sunday I was soooo good on Sunday, managing to stick to 29 points+ with no extras - hurrah! Hmm but then I ate a 800 calorie chinese takeaway. Whoops! I was suddenly in this way over my head! No run for me due to the ice, so I was 1,303 calories too high.

Monday I went 300 calories over on Monday, and burned the same amount on my evening run. I was also running out of time to claw anything back...

Tuesday I stuck to 29 points+ on Tuesday, and burned 370 calories on my run, leaving me 933 over.

Wednesday I'm estimating that I burned around 150 cals during my hour pilates class.

Which leads me to weightwatchers and the end of my week, finishing on a +783 calorie gain, equalling 19.5 weeklies. Not bad really huh? And it was quite fun (and crazy) working it out.

However...

 

... my master plan obviously didn't work. Back to counting dailies and weeklies the usual way next week.

 

MUST. TRY. HARDER.

 

Dans

Bake off #2

Weightwatchers Lemon Curd Sponge

Last night we tried out a weightwatchers lemon curd sponge recipe, and it was delicious! It was so simple to make.

To make the base we whisked 3 eggs with 100g caster sugar before mixing in 100g flour - a pretty standard cake sponge mixture. However this was supposed to make two separate bases to put together but the mixture didn't seem to want to go that far - perhaps we didn't mix it for long enough but we ended up having to go through the recipe twice with double the ingredients to get our two bases.


Not much of a cake!

 

So this automatically doubled the points+ to 10 per piece instead of 5.

 

Each base only took 9 minutes in the oven until they were golden brown, and then it was on with the lemon curd and soft cheese mixture - I don't like that every weightwatchers cake recipe includes using soft cheese for the icing as sometimes it tastes far too cheesy, so I was a bit skeptical about how it would turn out.

 

 

Into a mixing bowl went the soft cheese, lemon zest and icing sugar (we added more icing sugar in because of our worry about having a cheese-tasting cake) before it was spread over the bottom sponge base and then covered in lemon curd - yum.

 

We added the rest of the mixture to the top of the cake and ignored the recipe's suggestion for adding lemon slices on top - we opted for mini eggs - it is nearly Easter after all and we just couldn't resist.

 

 

And voila, the easiest most yum Easter lemon curd cake in the world. DC and I polished the rest of it off last night and it tasted even better the day after. Sometimes there's nothing better than a simple sponge cake!

 

Dans