Another pound gone. Slow but sure. I'd hoped for more but at least it's in the right direction!
It was a taster evening today so we all took in samples of food for others to try. I took in some lentil bakes. I'd usually make it as a loaf to eat in slices instead of meat for a roast, but today I made it into small patties, just right for a mouthful or two.
To make a loaf.
Put about 300g of red lentils in a large pan and just cover with water, adding a couple of veggie stock cubes.
Bring to the boil and turn low and cover and cook until lentils are soft, checking and adding small amounts of water if necessary, but you want it to cook dry, if the lentils are cooked but there's still any water you'll have to drain them.
Meantime chop a couple of peppers, a large onion, two or three cloves of garlic and several mushrooms very finely and gently cook in a pan sprayed with low cal oil. Add paprika, chille powder, salt and pepper to taste.
When both pans are cooked, mix them together. Use two small slices of whole meal bread, slightly stale if possible, to make breadcrumbs and add to the mix. It should be fairly dry. Add just enough beaten egg to bind the mix but DONT let it get too moist.
Turn into a small (1lb) loaf tin that you've lined with greaseproof paper and put in a medium oven and cook for about 40 minutes. Allow to cook a bit in tin.
Can be eaten hot or cold and will freeze well.
Syn free as long as you use bread from healthy 'b'.
Back to the gym tomorrow, might increase the distance I row and/or do more repeats on the weight machines. I'll see how it goes in the morning.
If you're reading this please leave a comment, it's a lonely job writing a blog.......
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Monday, 30 January 2017
Monday 30th. Jan.'17 (shepherds pie ish)
Mondays are fast becoming my favourite day. I'm loving the 5k challenge I've set myself and so far I've improved my walking time each week. I honestly don't think I can walk any faster, so I'm considering increasing the incline, which will slow me down but improve my fittness.
Slimming World day tomorrow. I'd been worried because eating out is fine, you can choose the best options and refuse fries, but you can't be sure quite HOW some of it is cooked. I'm hoping that my increased exercise is going to outweigh any naughty stuff lurking in the undergrowth!
Tonight I cooked a sort of shepherds pie, it was lovely.
Basically cook your 5% fat mince with onion, pepper,onions and mushrooms, using no extra fat until the meat is cooked through. Add garlic, chille powder, paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Pour over enough beef stock to moisten, but not swamp.
Put this in a casserole and slice potato on top. I did half potato and the other half sweet potato. Only because John won't eat sweet potato and I love it.
I cooked it in a medium oven for about an hour until it had browned on top.
Serve with plenty of your favourite veg, we had sprouts and carrots.
All completely syn free, and lots of speed food.
If you have no idea what that means, buy a Slimming World magazine, look on the web site or download the app.
I'm hoping for a 2lb loss tomorrow, keep your fingers crossed for me!
Slimming World day tomorrow. I'd been worried because eating out is fine, you can choose the best options and refuse fries, but you can't be sure quite HOW some of it is cooked. I'm hoping that my increased exercise is going to outweigh any naughty stuff lurking in the undergrowth!
Tonight I cooked a sort of shepherds pie, it was lovely.
Basically cook your 5% fat mince with onion, pepper,onions and mushrooms, using no extra fat until the meat is cooked through. Add garlic, chille powder, paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Pour over enough beef stock to moisten, but not swamp.
Put this in a casserole and slice potato on top. I did half potato and the other half sweet potato. Only because John won't eat sweet potato and I love it.
I cooked it in a medium oven for about an hour until it had browned on top.
Serve with plenty of your favourite veg, we had sprouts and carrots.
All completely syn free, and lots of speed food.
If you have no idea what that means, buy a Slimming World magazine, look on the web site or download the app.
I'm hoping for a 2lb loss tomorrow, keep your fingers crossed for me!
Friday, 27 January 2017
Friday 27th. Jan. '17 (bolognese)
I've just had 24 hours away in Sheffield and I wasn't sure how it would work out. As it turned out the food aspect was fine.
I chose steak, no sauce, fries or coleslaw (sob!) and a side salad. Drinking tap water I felt happy with myself. More water at the Arena while watching Strictly Live. Brilliant!
I'd taken herbal tea bags so when we were back at my daughters friends house I didn't have to worry about milk allowance.
Today I took them out for brunch and had to watch my daughter devour pancakes with maple syrup but I was able to choose bacon, scrambled egg, roasted vine tomatoes and mushrooms plus baked beans.....not a syn in sight, along with a cup of roibus tea which I prefer black anyway. That saw me through until I got home and I've just cooked a bolognese.
Recipe. Only syns are the cheese you may want to top it with which can be your healthy extra.
Spray a saucepan with 1% spray oil, then add a sliced onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, finely chopped, and a chopped green pepper some basil and oregano to taste. Cover and cook slowly for about 5 min. until veg are getting soft. Add 250g 5% fat minced beef and raise the heat, stir until the beef is no longer looking raw. Add about half a tube of tomato purée (no oil) a tin of chopped tomatoes, a handful of chopped mushrooms and a HUGE handful of spinach (optional but it adds your veg quota) salt and pepper to taste, stir well and cook slowly, stirring occasionally for at least half an hour.
Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook your pasta or spaghetti according to the pack.
Serve with grated Parmesan if you like it or other cheese if you prefer.
This should feed four. If you've got other veg. such as courgette, carrot, aubergine etc. You can add that as well. If you're veggie omit the meat, use more veg or substitute it with soya or other protein.
I've not done my steps today, but will try to make them up tomorrow.
I chose steak, no sauce, fries or coleslaw (sob!) and a side salad. Drinking tap water I felt happy with myself. More water at the Arena while watching Strictly Live. Brilliant!
I'd taken herbal tea bags so when we were back at my daughters friends house I didn't have to worry about milk allowance.
Today I took them out for brunch and had to watch my daughter devour pancakes with maple syrup but I was able to choose bacon, scrambled egg, roasted vine tomatoes and mushrooms plus baked beans.....not a syn in sight, along with a cup of roibus tea which I prefer black anyway. That saw me through until I got home and I've just cooked a bolognese.
Recipe. Only syns are the cheese you may want to top it with which can be your healthy extra.
Spray a saucepan with 1% spray oil, then add a sliced onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, finely chopped, and a chopped green pepper some basil and oregano to taste. Cover and cook slowly for about 5 min. until veg are getting soft. Add 250g 5% fat minced beef and raise the heat, stir until the beef is no longer looking raw. Add about half a tube of tomato purée (no oil) a tin of chopped tomatoes, a handful of chopped mushrooms and a HUGE handful of spinach (optional but it adds your veg quota) salt and pepper to taste, stir well and cook slowly, stirring occasionally for at least half an hour.
Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook your pasta or spaghetti according to the pack.
Serve with grated Parmesan if you like it or other cheese if you prefer.
This should feed four. If you've got other veg. such as courgette, carrot, aubergine etc. You can add that as well. If you're veggie omit the meat, use more veg or substitute it with soya or other protein.
I've not done my steps today, but will try to make them up tomorrow.
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Wednesday 25th Jan. '17
Gym today. I'm really getting to enjoy this, which is not something I was expecting!
Whilst running on the treadmill, I started to think what the main things were that have helped me so far this year.
First and foremost. HAVING A TARGET
My youngest daughter is getting married this May and I really want to be a slim mother of the bride. So I want to be down to at least 10 stone by the middle of April so I can buy my outfit.
Second, and still VERY important. KEEPING AN ACCURATE RECORD OF WHAT YOU EAT.
There is no point in lying to yourself and having to write down EVERYTHING makes me think hard about whether I really want it or not. The important part of this is accurately measuring everything. 30g of cheese is NOT very big. Buying a scale that zeros means you can put a dish on and then know EXACTLY what you've got in front of you. My beautiful old cast iron scales, with lbs and ozs just wasn't up to this level of accuracy.
Finally. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS YOU CAN, THEN HAVE ANOTHER GLASS.
I don't like squash, but if it's the only way you can drink water, then do it but be aware of the sugar content. I refuse to knowingly use any artificial sweetener, but if you're not bothered then this is the way to go. It's recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Yes you do wee a lot at first, but you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it. Honest.
In case you're wondering I did a ten minute VERY FAST walk, used seven different machines for exercising different muscle groups, did 1000 metre row in a bit under 6 minutes, then because I had a bit of time before the bus, I did a further seven minutes run, slightly faster. Then I walked two bus stops back rather than waiting. A good day, plus walking around the marina twice and one of the fields. 15,928 steps so far!
Whilst running on the treadmill, I started to think what the main things were that have helped me so far this year.
First and foremost. HAVING A TARGET
My youngest daughter is getting married this May and I really want to be a slim mother of the bride. So I want to be down to at least 10 stone by the middle of April so I can buy my outfit.
Second, and still VERY important. KEEPING AN ACCURATE RECORD OF WHAT YOU EAT.
There is no point in lying to yourself and having to write down EVERYTHING makes me think hard about whether I really want it or not. The important part of this is accurately measuring everything. 30g of cheese is NOT very big. Buying a scale that zeros means you can put a dish on and then know EXACTLY what you've got in front of you. My beautiful old cast iron scales, with lbs and ozs just wasn't up to this level of accuracy.
Finally. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS YOU CAN, THEN HAVE ANOTHER GLASS.
I don't like squash, but if it's the only way you can drink water, then do it but be aware of the sugar content. I refuse to knowingly use any artificial sweetener, but if you're not bothered then this is the way to go. It's recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Yes you do wee a lot at first, but you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it. Honest.
In case you're wondering I did a ten minute VERY FAST walk, used seven different machines for exercising different muscle groups, did 1000 metre row in a bit under 6 minutes, then because I had a bit of time before the bus, I did a further seven minutes run, slightly faster. Then I walked two bus stops back rather than waiting. A good day, plus walking around the marina twice and one of the fields. 15,928 steps so far!
Tuesday, 24 January 2017
Week three
Week 3 might be an unusual way to start a blog, but it was only tonight that I was asked to do one...and I thought....why not?
I started 2017 having put on over a stone and a half in 2016. I can explain the weight gain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia early in the year and could barely put one foot in front of the other. Walking was painful so I only did the minimum I could get away with. Medication eventually managed the symptoms but by then I'd already started to put a bit on. I've since been told that the medication can cause weight gain. Then, in a typical reaction to getting bigger, I didn't try as hard and put a bit more on.
Holidays were another excuse and Christmas was the final cherry on top of the cake (almost literally). I told myself that I'd get it together in the new year. I'd almost made myself sick with the amount of rubbish I'd eaten.
Coincidentally I met Debs at our Marina craft group and she'd been looking at Slimming World.
That was the start.
My husband John had been going to the gym three days a week for ages. I'd stopped going when the pain started and I just hadn't gone back.
So New Years resolutions were to lose weight and to get fitter.
Seven of us from the marina started going to the Willington Tuesday 5.30 group, led by Toni on 3rd. January, the day after I'd started back to the gym and decided on a walking regime.
I am now going to the gym thre times a week as much as I can. On Mondays I'm doing a 5k walk on the treadmill. The first time I managed to do the 5k in just over an hour. I now have got it down to just over 55 minutes. I'm unlikely to get to run, because the last time I tried it my knees and back suffered. But never say never.
On the other two days I do 20 minutes on the treadmill, 1000 metre row and between 24 or 30 repeats on various machines to build up different muscle group.
As well as that I'm trying to walk at least three times around the marina every day, which is about a mile each time. I've got a Fitbit and have upped my target from 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day.
As for food, it's basically cutting out fats and sugars and eating LOTS of fruit and vegetables.
I started 2017 having put on over a stone and a half in 2016. I can explain the weight gain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia early in the year and could barely put one foot in front of the other. Walking was painful so I only did the minimum I could get away with. Medication eventually managed the symptoms but by then I'd already started to put a bit on. I've since been told that the medication can cause weight gain. Then, in a typical reaction to getting bigger, I didn't try as hard and put a bit more on.
Holidays were another excuse and Christmas was the final cherry on top of the cake (almost literally). I told myself that I'd get it together in the new year. I'd almost made myself sick with the amount of rubbish I'd eaten.
Coincidentally I met Debs at our Marina craft group and she'd been looking at Slimming World.
That was the start.
My husband John had been going to the gym three days a week for ages. I'd stopped going when the pain started and I just hadn't gone back.
So New Years resolutions were to lose weight and to get fitter.
Seven of us from the marina started going to the Willington Tuesday 5.30 group, led by Toni on 3rd. January, the day after I'd started back to the gym and decided on a walking regime.
I am now going to the gym thre times a week as much as I can. On Mondays I'm doing a 5k walk on the treadmill. The first time I managed to do the 5k in just over an hour. I now have got it down to just over 55 minutes. I'm unlikely to get to run, because the last time I tried it my knees and back suffered. But never say never.
On the other two days I do 20 minutes on the treadmill, 1000 metre row and between 24 or 30 repeats on various machines to build up different muscle group.
As well as that I'm trying to walk at least three times around the marina every day, which is about a mile each time. I've got a Fitbit and have upped my target from 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day.
As for food, it's basically cutting out fats and sugars and eating LOTS of fruit and vegetables.
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