I'll be back again good and proper on Friday, January 1st, 2021.
Until then, as much as ever you can, have a Happy New Year. xx
I'll be back again good and proper on Friday, January 1st, 2021.
Until then, as much as ever you can, have a Happy New Year. xx
Good morning.
Yesterday's photos.
I really didn't fancy the planned breakfast so didn't have it - instead, I feasted on easy peelers and a lovely, ripe pear. I have bags of fruit to use so that's good. Good morning!
I feel so much better this morning , despite crashing a bit yesterday evening. Not to worry, it happens and if I've learnt anything it is that bad habits are harder to lose than good ones, particularly where food is concerned!
I've been decidedly un-frugal this morning and chucked out some unhelpful rubbish food. Not loads, but enough to trip me up. All the stuff I want to keep is now in the freezer, pretty much, down to some little pots of stilton, one A choice per pot - it'll do for soup or sauce.
I've been searching around for turkey leftover recipes, as you can probably tell from the meals I am planning! It's fun.
Here's yesterday's meal photos:
Porridge to the right and some fruit to the left - a plum, grapes and an easy peeler so that's two speedy fruits and one free. Good morning.
After three day's of self indulgence (and they were lovely), I'm back on the wagon again as from this morning. Even if I didn't want to, my rather fuzzy head would be pushing me in that direction.
I've managed to farm off most of the edible naughties onto Beth and Alex and the alcohol will go back to where I store it irritatingly far from the house. I have a lot of soft drinks left over but, as they are all of the sugar free type, they will be a positive help.
(I'm staying with the festive dividers until the end of the month)Here's my plans for today:
B: porridge, fresh fruit.
Just plain porridge with some sort of skinny syrup to sweeten and I have a mixture of fruit that needs using up in the next week.
SW: one healthy extra B for the oats and half a healthy extra A for some milk
L: turkey, cranberry and brie toasties with a simple salad; fruit
What it says really. I know I have already had a B choice but I'm having two As and two Bs today. OK, I know that brie is not a healthy extra but I am flexible enough to call it so! So there. Nine syns-worth, if I need that much, as a healthy extra is around 120 calories/six syns.
SW: one and a half healthy extra As (sort of) for around forty five grams of brie, one healthy extra B for the bread, three syns for two tbsp cranberry sauce (might be less, won't be more) plus a few syns for mayo, if I have some.
D: Christmas curry; yogurt
I have a jar of katsu curry paste, one syn per level tbsp so I shall assume three tbsp with a nice lot of turkey and veg plus some rice. I won't be doing the usual katsu thing of frying in breadcrumbs though
SW: up to three syns for the paste, half a syn for the yogurt
Body magic: I was going to take a walk but the weather outside is horrible so I will stay in the warm, bustle around getting things sorted out and generally burn off a few calories by being a bit active
Summary: two As and two Bs plus up to ten syns
It's OK to have two As and Bs on maintenance although I am totally sure that I am out of my three-pounds-either-side-of-target weight. I'm not worried though. I'll be up for a few weeks and then I will be within target range again. I am relaxed about that.
How did Christmas go for you?
Good morning!
How was your Christmas day. I'm hoping it was a lovely as mine. In one respect it was different to usual, what with limited numbers and a family chat on Zoom instead, but in many ways it was just the same and I enjoyed it.
I did say I'd be back on the SW plan on Boxing Day but I'm going to defer this just one more day. To be honest, there are things to use up, finish off, etc, and I'm not throwing away any more than I can possibly help.
Then, I might just take things really carefully for a few days rather than going back to full on syns/healthy extras/etc.
So - there will be detailed meal plans tomorrow and then ongoing again.
Just one photo. It looks enormous, doesn't it, but Christmas dinner is largely pretty healthy with lean meat and loads of veg. And it was lovely!
Happy Boxing Day, everyone.
Good morning, everyone!
Just to say that I'm closing this blog down just for a few days over Christmas. The next few days will be neither particularly frugal, nor Slimming World friendly so there's really no point.
I will be here again on Saturday, back on plan and with, undoubtedly, some poundage to deal with.
Thank you so much to all of you, my lovely readers, for staying with me, encouraging me, giving me strength when I can't find mine and generally keeping me going.
All my love to you, wishing you a very . . .
. . . packed with scrummy food and as much fun as these strange times allow.
Also, whatever the new year brings to us, I wish you health, safety and happiness and plenty of deliciously healthy meals!
Good morning.
Instead of making the usual omelette, I decided to turn it into an egg wrap, adding 30g cheddar to go with the smoked salmon and mushroom. It sounds an odd mix but it was really nice. The cheese was a healthy extra A. Good morning everyone.
Yesterday, the meals went OK until the evening when, again, it all went a bit topsy turvey but, honestly, I am not the least bit concerned.
Lunch was also lovely but, as I had guests (my support bubble), I didn't take any photos.
Good morning.
Yesterday's photos:
A very satisfying breakfast!D: There will be leftover roast beef so perhaps I can have it with salad or something. I will have a think - any suggestions?
SW: not sure but I'll do my best to make it low syn.
Body Magic: A walk, I think, weather permitting.
Summary: can't say until I have decided what dinner to have,
Good morning.
It's a very odd thing but using the Christmas china seems to lift quite ordinary food into a 'treat'. It's a strategy I must remember - to shift the 'Christmas treat' focus from the food to something else. Right now, it is a big help.
I remembered to take photos yesterday.
Citrus flavoured yogurt, nutty muesli and an orange - and it was delicious.For dinner, I was a little piggy and had two pieces of salmon (and it was lovely) and I swapped the planned peas for some salad because it needs using up, plus some balsamic vinegar.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm thrilled to announce that I lost < trumpet fanfare > FOUR POUNDS at weigh in. That puts me back into my happy (don't have to pay) zone and it's the first time I have approached Christmas from a positive direction for as long as I can remember.
It rather reinforces my view that last week's gain was something specific, perhaps water retention for some reason or other
This week I'm going to remain on plan until the evening of Christmas Eve. Now I am back in my zone again, I can have four healthy extras (if I want) but I'm continuing to keep the syns low.
And then, on Boxing Day, it's straight back on plan again. I can offload naughty leftovers on to the family to take home with them. Not because I feel I have to but because I really want to. There should be plenty of helpful leftovers - turkey, veg, roasties, etc, to make lots of delicious meals. I do like having leftovers to play with.
I didn't take any photos yesterday so straight on to today's plans. I'm continuing to go into more detail because I found it really did help over the past week.
B: yogurt and muesli; fruitGood morning. Zoom meeting this evening so weigh day. Fingers crossed, please. I have to have my results in this morning so will weigh just before midday. It was suggested that I could have weighed yesterday at around five thirty which is the usual time but a day early. I might do that next week.
Yesterday's photos.
A very nice breakfast and more filling that you would imagine.B: fruit and yogurt
I rather like this breakfast. It's more filling than it sounds.
SW: speed, free and protein
L: scrambled eggs on toast; fruit
I've planned this but I have an appointment with the dentist in the afternoon so might not feel like it (pre-visit nerves). We will see.
SW: one healthy extra B and two syns for one tsp butter. If I have some grated cheese on top, that will be an A choice
D: steak, cheesy chips, peas or salad; kvarg; small bottle of wine
My usual well done/bad luck dinner after SW meeting apart from the wine - I just fancy a little bottle today - one of those not quite miniatures.. The chips will be done in the actifry, using spray oil.
On reflection, steak might be a bit silly although it is usually very tender. I'll see what my dentist says and might sub the steak for some more fish in which case I will also hold the wine.
SW: one healthy extra A and nine and a half syns
Body Magic: step and balance exercises
Summary: two healthy extra As, one B and eleven and a half syns (less if I don't have the wine)
Good morning.
This week is going so well. I'll be really fed up if I don't have a loss on Thursday but if I have learnt anything, it is that you just can't tell!
Yesterday's food photos.
Breakfast was delicious. I really must treat myself to proper nice bacon a bit more often - the difference is amazing!Good morning.
Yesterday's meals:
I didn't have any breakfast in the end. By the time I'd got over the dentist, it was so close to lunch that it was hardly worth it.
Today's plans:
B: bacon and baked beans
The beans are leftovers and the bacon is Very Nice Bacon so this should be lovely!
Breakfast has to be earlier today as I'm playing Santa this morning.
SW: free
L: ham salad; fruit
Very simple
SW: protein, speed and free
D: chicken, pepper and mushroom in a cheesy sauce, rice, sprouts; yogurt
I have a chicken to use up so today I will strip all the meat off and then pop the carcass into the slow cooker.
SW: one healthy extra A for cheese wedges for the sauce, two syns for oil (or maybe butter) and half a syn for dessert. The chicken is protein, the onion, mushroom and sprouts are all speed and the rice is free.
Body Magic: a walk
Summary: one healthy extra A and two and a half syns
Good morning. Yesterday went really well.
I have young adult grandson staying for a few days but he's quite happy to go along with whatever I cook, just more of it. I'm happy about that.
Here's yesterday's photos.
Fruit makes for a very colourful breakfast, doesn't it? Good morning! This week of being extra strict with myself is going well (so far, fingers crossed). I probably went to the top of my syns yesterday as I did some baking. I had half (honestly) a cinnamon shortbread biscuit and the smallest bit of biscotti (the end bit) to taste but was very, very chuffed that it didn't trigger anything. I won't say I wasn't tempted but I didn't give in. Victory!
Even today, when I thought I would have to go off plan, it's all worked out. I'm really pleased.
Yesterday's photos:
A classic breakfast and absolutely delicious! It's funny how the simpler things taste so good.Today's plans:
B: apple, pear and easy peeler; natural yogurt
A very light breakfast should help to minimise the damage
SW free. The fruit will be speed.
L: brie and winter spiced chutney quiche, chips, salad; fruit
A couple of days ago, I thought this wasn't on the SW food bank but it is now - someone must have added it. So I can stay on plan today although the syns will be high. The calories won't though as it's 246 cals per portion and as it is for a meal, not for snacks, the actual calories should be no higher than usual.
SW: twelve syns for the quiche, two syns for oil for the actifty chips (it will likely be less that that really but, to be safe, I'll count it as two Salad is speed/free, as is the fruit.
D: cheesy beans on toast; natural yogurt
Nice and simple, filling but syn free. I will use part of one healthy extra A for cheese spread instead of spread on the toast and the other A on 30g grated cheddar.
SW: two healthy extra As (I'll spend the rest on milk in cuppas) and one B. Beans are free and yogurt is protein.
Body Magic: None today
Summary: two healthy extra As and one B plus fourteen syns
Morning, everyone.
Yesterday's meal photos.
Breakfast. The fruit was from a bag of mixed fruit - papaya, pineapple and mango - and, for once, it was all nice and soft, no hard bits.Today's meal plans:
B: boiled eggs, one slice toast and marmite; apple
SW: half a healthy extra B for the bread, the eggs are protein, half a syn for half tsp light spread, the marmite is free and the apple speed
L: smoked salmon on ryvita, babybel lights, salad; fruit
The ryvita is one of the kinds where you can have four for a B so I'm having two to make up my B choice for the day
SW: half a healthy extra B, one healthy extra A for the babybels, one syn for a tsp spread, the smoked salmon is protein and the salad and fruit will be speed
D: chicken stir fry with hoisin sauce and protein rice; yogurt
This will be just the same as yesterday, using what I didn't need yesterday.
SW: The chicken is protein, the stir fry veg is speed and free, halt a tbsp oil is three syns, the protein rice is one syn and the sauce is free. The dessert is half a syn
Body magic: Not sure yet.
Summary: One healthy extra A and one B plus five syns.
Leek, carrot and red lentil soup
Ingredients for one good portion.
one leek, washed and shopped - mine was ready trimmed and not too stout
one medium sized carrot, washed, topped and tailed and chopped
one and a half tbsp red lentils
around 300mls of good chicken stock
garlic and onion granules, Cajun spice, salt and pepper to taste. The spice gives a bit of a kick so be careful
a splash of milk to slacken, if needed
Method.
Put everything into a pan, bring to a boil, cover and simmer until everything is soft.
Blend until the consistency you want. I like mine smooth.
If it's too thick, add a splash of milk.
Reheat until just under boiling and serve.
The leek and carrot are speed, the lentils are protein, the stock and seasonings are free and the milk can be from a healthy extra or measure it and syn it.
A note about the stock.
Obviously the better the stock, the tastier the soup. I used home made stock made by boiling up a chicken carcass, straining and then reducing down to around two thirds. However, any stock would do, including a vegetable stock if you want to make it vegetarian.
I always boil roast chicken carcasses now and then freeze the stock in about 150ml amounts. It's so easy, makes the very best of the chicken and the resulting stock is lovely, even without anything else. You can add to the flavour by boiling the carcass in onion, carrot, etc, plus herbs but I tend to just do it plain. If you let it cool and then chill it, you can scrape any residual fat off the top.
Morning!
Weigh in at the SW meeting last night and, after a really 'good' week, I was expecting a couple of pounds off and I felt lighter and slimmer.
However, to my frustration and, I have to admit, anger, I had gained a pound. I have absolutely no idea why and can only think it's just One of Those Things. I was cross and felt pretty discouraged but I've woken up with fresh determination, helped by the arrival of the new Pinch of Nom book I had pre-ordered several months ago.
So it's back to the drawing board and my fingers are crossed for this coming week. But grrrrrrr . . . (or less polite equivalent!)
Yesterday's food photos:
Breakfast of plain Greek yogurt, sweetened with skinny syrup and topped with fresh kiwi and peach slices and cherries from the freezer.Today's food plans:
B: gingerbread yogurt with fruit
Like yesterday but with different flavours. I have a good selection of frozen fruit so I can make it interesting.
SW: half a syn for the Mullerlight yogurt, any additional syrup is free and the fruit will be free/speed
L: cheese and onion toastie, tomatoes; pear and apple
Using both my As should make for a nice, satisfyingly cheesy toastie
SW: two healthy extra As for cheese, one B for the bread. The onion will be softened in fry light so free/speed and the tomatoes are speed too
D: a sort of Chinese fakeaway - stirfry pork and veg in hoisin sauce; kvarg or yogurt
I have a nice, lean bit of pork fillet, a carton of fresh stir fry veg and a pot of SW hoisin sauce from Iceland which has been in the freezer for a while now so it is time I used it - fingers crossed I like it.. If (big if) I have rice, it will be the protein kind which might cost me one syn but is around 18 calories as opposed to the real kind at between 150 and 200 calories.
SW: the pork is protein, the veg free and mostly speed, the sauce is free, I will use three syns-worth of toasted sesame oil, the protein rice is one syn and the dessert is half a syn
Body Magic: step and balance
Summary: two healthy extra As, one B and five syns
(grrrrrrr . . . )