A blip...

So, even though I got an award and a big loss this week, it seems to have set my levels of motivation to zero.  I haven't been on plan at all. I have binged on the foods I used to eat frequently and without even considering the syns. I have had two other weeks like this on this journey so far. I am weighing-in in a couple of hours and I know that I am in for a gain, but you know what... I am not guilting myself over it.

I have done exceptionally well so far and sometimes I think I need to have these weeks where I can let myself go and I can have all the food I miss. As long as I go back on plan tomorrow then I think it's ok. I think the difference is that in the past, I haven't seen weight loss as a long term thing. It has been a case of cheating as much as I can to get as much off the scales. Now, I am more focused on the long-term. I want to be thinner, I love how it feels to try something on and know it used to be too tight to wear; I like being able to paint my toes with ease and I love it when people ask 'have you lost weight?!'.

So tonight, after weigh-in and facing up to the consequences off my binge on the scales, I am going to Tesco and getting back on track. I have to. I need to.

So, I am not beating myself up. I am not going to wallow in the guilt of eating junk food- that's where my emotional eating comes into it's own!! I am going to put it down as a blip on the overall journey of getting to target.

Sian xx

2 1/2 Stone Award

When I got on the scales tonight and saw 5lbs off, I couldn't quite believe it. I had been having two quite low weeks and lost 1/2 lb and then 1lb even though I was on plan and going to the gym. This week I hadn't made it to the gym but I had went on a few long walks (one that was 3 miles because I got lost and had to keep walking- thanks to Google Maps I got home! haha)...

So, I am at a loss of 2 stones 10.5lbs....

If you had told me when I started Slimming World, three weeks before my holidays in May that I would have dropped 2 dress sizes, lost 10% of my body weight and be nearing three stone off, I don't think I would have believed you. 

It just shows that it can be done. And it does work! People are really starting to notice the difference and that has definitely given me a boost in confidence. For the first time in a long time, I am starting to feel more comfortable in my own skin and that is immeasurable. 

Sit up? Shut up!

If you had told me a few weeks ago that I would be going to the gym and (key point:) actually enjoying it; I would have told you to wise up! I have been in my current job for almost 3 years, in that time I have utilised my free gym membership in our gym all of four times.

Put simply, the gym terrifies me. It's the thought of the yummy mummies in their designer lycra and the buff bodybuilding boys that just made me want to hide at the prospect of having to walk in there!

However, after having lost over 2 stone, I realised that I needed to start supplementing my healthy eating with some exercise, or 'Body Magic' to us Slimming World followers. So last Friday one of the lovely girls who works in our gym, Stacey, designed me a little programme and spent time with me walking through it.

I have never done a sit up in my life. The thought of one used to make me break out in a sweat! But I did 50! FIFTY! That, for me, is a massive achievement. Basically Stacey has me doing 5 minutes of stretches then 10 minutes on the tread-milling (up to a power level of 4.5) to get me power walking. Then 10 sit ups using a medicine ball. Then 5 minutes on the rowing machine (I have big trouble with this due to some lower back issues) then another 10 sit ups, 10 minutes on the exercise bike (keeping above 70rpm) then more sit ups, a warm down on the treadmill and some stretching to finish.

...And I loved it!

I couldn't move on Saturday or Sunday after I had done it though! I guess you need to feel the discomfort to know that your body is changing. Apparently it will take 10-12 weeks for my metabolism to start balancing out and reacting to the exercise, but we will see!  It's the small steps on this big journey that give me the motivation to keep going on. I'm not worrying about my metabolic rate or muscle formation- I just want to feel a bit healthier and boost my weight loss, so fingers crossed I see my sweat (and tears) translate to losses on those scales!!

Take care!
Sian x

Chicken Curry

I have tried all sorts of Chicken Curry recipes, the mushy pea one, tomato based ones, korma inspired ones with coconut yoghurt and your basic curry powder ones... and I have finally found one I love!

So, into the pan I put: Chicken breasts, diced along with: 1 onion, chopped. Once the chicken was browned and the onion softened, I added: 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, chopped. I added a little bit of balsamic vinegar just to taste the chicken.

Then I added a chicken oxo cube, 2 teaspoons of mild curry powder and 2 teaspoons of tikka curry mix to 3/4 litre of boiling water and allowed it to settle whilst the chicken cooked and peppers softened. 

I added this liquid bit by bit into the pan with the meat and veg and then turned it down to a simmer and allowed it to reduce slightly (for about 10 minutes). When it had, I added 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce (1.5 syns per tbsp).

As soon as I felt curry was at right consistency and had reduced enough, I took it off the heat and left it to sit for about 5 minutes and then added about 4 tablespoons of natural, fat free yoghurt. Do not add the yogurt when the curry is on the heat as it will curdle!

I served it with some rice with peas and sweetcorn added in for extra veg!

Et voila! It was by far my most favourite dinner ever!

Slimmer of the month for July!

Can you believe it?!

I know, I can't! When Michelle was announcing the slimmers of the week and then month, I really wasn't expecting it to be me. My July was a little up and down, what with my 2.5lbs gain due to a wee week away up the North Coast (eating and drinking whatever I felt like!) but thankfully, I was able to get straight back on to plan as soon as I came home. The joys of having my weigh-in and group on Mondays, gets you set for the week!

I just can't believe I lost more than anyone else in my group for July. It's an amazing feeling and came a week after getting my 2 stone certificate and after getting my Club 10 award too. What a month!

Onwards and upwards! (Or should that be downwards, given that's the way I want the scales to go?!)

Love,
Sian xx

Pancake Saturday

I have heard about the Slimming World 'magic pancakes' for a while but had never either had the time or patience to make them. So, as a treat for myself this weekend, I thought I would give them a go!


They turned out to be SO simple to make- foolproof, delicious and so filling. I served mine with raspberries, bananas and fromage frais. In future, I would maybe try (as an extra syn's treat) some honey or maple syrup and banana. I think at most 2 syns extra but would definitely be worth it. 


The recipe is:
One sachet of Oat So Simple (use as Healthy Extra B)
One tub of Muller (I used Vanilla with Chocolate Sprinkles)
3 eggs
2 tbspns of sweetener.


I soaked the oats in the yoghurt overnight in the fridge, you dont have to but I definitely think this helps. 
Then in the morning, added the eggs and beat the mixture for a few minutes.
Add the sweetener.
Spray a small non-stick pan with frylight and let it get hot.
Ladle in your mixture to the pan and wait til there are bubbles forming on the side not on the pan then flip!


Ta-Da!! So simple.
I then stacked my pancakes (this mix makes about 6 pancakes, so I have left half for later), and put my fruit and fromage frais in layers. 


It just makes such a change from healthy cereal or eggs on nimble. It was so good, that I would have no qualms about making this as a breakfast for my non-SW friends!! 

Just saw this and it made me giggle!