Track Record to date:

Track reccord so far:

4/1/2012                   Week 1 - Start Weight - 12st 6.5lb (174.5lbs)
11/1/2012                 Week 2 -  Loss 4lbs     - 12st 2.5lb (170.5lbs)
18/1/2012                 Week 3 - Loss 1lb        - 12st 1.5lb (169.5lbs)
25/1/2012                 Week 4 - Loss 2lb        - 11st 13.5lb (167.5lbs) (1st silver 7 :D )
1/2/2012                   Week 5 - Loss 1.5lb     - 11st 12lb (166lbs)        
8/2/2012                   Week 6 - Loss 2.5        - 11st 9.5lb (163.5lbs)
15/2/2012                 Week 7 - STS              - 11st 9.5lb (163.5lbs)
22/2/2012                 Week 8 - Loss 2.5lbs   - 11st 7lbs (161lbs)
29/2/2012                 Week 9- Loss 2lbs       - 11st 5lb (159lbs) (2nd silver 7 & first stone! :D :D )
07/03/2012               Week 10 - STS            - 11st 5lb (159lbs)
14/03/2012               Week 11 - Loss 3lbs   - 11s 2lbs (156lbs)
21/03/2012               Week 12 - STS            - 11st 2lbs (156lbs)
28/03/2012               Week 13 - Loss 2lbs   - 11st (154lbs)
04/04/2012               Week 14 - Loss 1.5lb  - 10st 12.5lbs (152.5lbs)
18/04/2012               Week 15 - Loss 2lbs    - 10st 10.5lb (150.5lbs)
25/04/2012               Week 16 - Loss 2.5lbs - 10st 8lb (148lbs)

Total loss to date - 26.5lbs!

       

I'm getting there... and not giving up!!!!!

Really wasn't feeling this week. I tried, and indeed had moments of motivation...hours even... then i just felt bleugh!!!!

I was so close to getting my stone last week. Half a bloody pound.... don't get me wrong...losing 2.5lbs was fantastic, just seeing how close I was to getting that little stone and hitting 11st 6.5lb....

I worked away this week... Walking and Wii Fitting it, joggins etc... nothing over the top just 30 or 40 mins each night... Foodwise i was quite good. Made some good choices.

WI came on Wednesday, I was a bag full of nerves standing in that queue... watching as one by one people got onto that darn scales and got the good or bad news... then came my turn. All I wanted was 1lb.... just 1, just to get the stone and bring me over the threshold.

Mary called me up, asked me how my week had been... I told her I would tell her when i saw the score on the board... Up I got, I held my breath...there it was .... 2lbs down!!!! I hoped for 1lb, 2lb was brilliant!!!! I was over the moon...so was Mary... I had it... I had that little glass stone that means sooooo much.

I am sitting pretty at 11st 5lb now. 2lb off my 10% loss and I really don't think I have ever been more determined to do it. I have seen myself get lower than this before but it was just to get the weight off for something in the coming weeks or months, like a holiday... but this time, although I do have a hens and a wedding coming up... I want to do it, and keep it off.

I am actually starting to see the weight loss for myself now. I really, genuinely, couldn't see it. People had been saying it to me since I had lost 5lbs. But i really couldn't see it. In the last few days I have noticed that my face has more definition. I no longer have the family curse of the double chin... I even went and bought some work out clothes last weekend, some of them in a size 12... and they are actually a little baggy.

I have a long way to go yet.... 15.5lbs down, 26.5lbs to go.... but I WILL NOT GIVE UP... I WILL DO IT!!!!

Back on Track and changing it up

After last weeks sts... i have to admit i was really downhearted but i worked hard and stuck within my pp and used a lot more weeklies than i usually would.

My nerves were gone getting on the scales because it wasn't the kind of week with pp that i usually have. I needn't have worried. DOWN 2.5lb. I was delighted with  myself. until i remembered that I had 3lb to my first stone! what a kicker! haha! but at least I know I that if i work at it this week i will definitely have my stone next week.

I have started to change up my food too. More fruits. Different veggies. More fish.

Come on, how many times have you had chicken in the last week... it gets so tedious!

Chicken is so versatile, don't get me wrong and can be brilliant. But come on...chicken, chicken, chicken.... blah blah blah!!!

So this week, I bought some fresh fish in the fish mongers, lovely haddock with a pp value of only 2pp for 165g. Add in some mash (WW mash only 2pp for 3 discs) and loadsa free veggies, you are looking at a lovely dinner for just 4pp!!!

Made a lovely veggie stir fry with some noodles and then add in some frozen (or fresh) prawns instead and a dash of sweet chilli sauce... another nice dinner for 7pp.

I also like lovely creamy cheesey pasta. I chopped mushrooms and red onions and lots of garlic and fried them up in my spray oil... (all free so far) I cooked up 2pp worth of pasta (I use 20g of tagliatelli) into the veggies I throw half a tub of philly garlic & herbs (4pp). Once the pasta is cooked I throw it into the cheesey veggies and then just before I served it up I threw in some wafer thin ham for 1pp. This is HUGE!!! not too shabby at all for 7pp....

If like me you are mad for the likes of garlic bread, I made up my own, using the small ciabattas rolls which i have pp at 5pp. I cut them in half, use low fat spread to make the garlic butter (I use 2 teaspoons for 2pp) add some garlic and some herbs like parsely and stick it under the grill. It was MAGIC!!!!  I just had one half of the ciabata garlic bread myself so I pp at 4pp just to be safe.

What I have realised is, I can still have what I like, I just need to be careful in the preparation of it and make some good choices.

Don't get me wrong I would murder a batter burger! haha!!!

This weeks aim is to get that stone!!!!!

Static @ Week 6

This week was a mish mash of really good and then total deflation.

I worked really hard and got at least 30 mins of exercise in each day.

I stayed withing my points each and every day. Mixing up my meals so as not to get bored. i really felt like this was going to be a great loss.

Wednesday came and as I hopped up on the scales... -0.0lb

Granted it was not a gain, for that I was happy but to stay the same after all the hard work was so disheartening. Especially as I had such a surprise loss the week before.

Needless to say I was pretty disappointed, feeling sorry for myself because it was the first static week I had had since i started on Pro Points and restarted Weight Watchers.

Mary, my leader, was great. She advised me that earning so many activity points and not using enough weeklies could be my downfall.

So this week, well from Thursday morning onwards, I started a new. Trying to use at least 2 or 3 weeklies a day, or even using 5 one day and one the next. Just to even things out.

Am still exercising everyday, walking at pace or Wii fit or Zumba dvd.

So far I have used 22 weeklies and gained 15 activity points. Trying to resist the temptation to check my scales at home to see how im getting on...

Just back from a 3 mile walk (knocked 8mins off my usual time :) ) and felt motivated to update this...

Aiming for a decent loss this week...so fingers crossed! 

Goal List.... :D

Start - 12st 6.5lbs (04 Jan 2012)

• Lose 7lbs - into the next stone & Silver 7 (11st 13.5lbs)  (Reached 25 January 2012)
• Lose 2.5lbs - 5% goal (11st 11lbs) (Reached 8 February 2012)
• Lose 4.5lbs- 1st stone (2nd silver 7) (11st 6.5lbs) (Reached 29th February 2012)
• Lose 3.5lbs - 10% goal (11st 3lbs)
• Lose 3.5lbs - into next stone (3rd silver 7) (10st 13.5lbs)
• Lose 2lbs - 20lb down (10st 11.5lb)
• Lose 5lbs - 2nd stone (4th Silver 7) (10st 6.5lbs)
• Lose 5lbs - 30lbs down (10st 1.5lb)
• Lose 2lbs - into next stone (5th silver 7) (9st 13.5lb)
•  
• Lose 3lbs - 35lb down (9st 10.5lb)
• Lose 3.5lbs - 3rd stone (4th silver 7) (9st 7lb) GOAL!!!!!!!

Soupful Sundays recipes...

Firstly I made a vegetable stock from the peelings, skins and off cuts from all the vegetables. (Butternut squash skins, carrot skins, a stick of celery, offcuts of leek, apple skins, onions and herbs and 1 litre of water.) I brought this stock to the boil with some salt and pepper and then simmered on a low heat. I used this same stock for each of my soups.

 Tomato, Celery & Apple Soup 0pp

Taking my lead from the WW Fabulous & Filling cookbook, I made this recipe a zero pro point soup.

• Chop 2 sticks of celery and use some low fat cooking spray to fry them with some finely diced shallots. Add 1 apple (I used a granny smith apple) and fry until soft.
• Stir in a tin of chopped tomatoes and simmer
• Add a few spoonfuls of the stock at a time and then transfer to a blender or food processor
• Once blended, return to the pot and check consistency, season to taste

Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup - 0pp

• Sweat off some onions and add softened butternut squash & carrot (I steamed them in the microwave... )
• Saute these in the pot for 5 minutes and add some parsely
• Stir in some of the stock and blitz in the blender/processor
• Check the consistancy add more stock if needed, season to taste

Roasted Tomato & Pepper Soup 0pp

• Roast half a red, green and yellow pepper in the oven @ 180 for 20 mins with about 8 cherry tomatoes & lots of black pepper
• Once roasted add to a pot and saute with some onions
• Add some of stock, and let simmer for 5 mins.
• Blitz in the blender/processor
• Add more stock if required
• Season to taste

Leek & Sweet Potato Soup - 1pp

• Steam some sweet potato in the microwave (I used 100g for this recipe)
• While this is steaming, saute the 1 large leek with shallots or onions
• When the sweet potato is steamed, add to the leeks and break the sweet potato up and saute off for 5 mins
• blend to a paste in blender/processor
• Return to the pot and add stock until you get the consistency you like
• Season to taste

I haven't got a lot of lunchboxes/ containers so I decanted these soups into zip lock bags. The plan is to take them out the night before I need them and put them into a lunchbox to be reheated in work! :D

Hope you find these as tasty as I do... :D

Very productive Sunday after less than productive week...

So after struggling with points all since Wednesday... I have decided to take the bull by the horns and plan ahead this week.

Today I made soups. 4 different soups which I have ready to freeze for the whole week.

Butternut Squash & Carrot
Roasted Tomato & Pepper
Tomato, Celery & Apple
Leek & Sweet Potato

I have been really struggling to get moving. TOTM is a nightmare... never usually this bad. The motivation to get up and get moving has totally left me. So while Im trying to get my skates on, I am concentrating on getting myself ready for the week ahead...

Onward & Downward!

Week 4... still on the way down.... :D

So this week I had worked really really hard, both with food and exercise. Was naughty at the weekend and had a KFC so that dipped into my weeklies in a big way!

Weigh in on Wednesday evening is always something I dread. The whole week... "I can't wait to see what I am this week" then when I'm standing in the queue i get petrified.

But this week I needn't have worried.... down 1.5lb! That is 8.5lb in 4 weeks. Very happy with that!

This weeks meetings were all about getting out and getting active. I can honestly say, I haven't been very active this week. I hate this "time of the month" :(

For the last few weeks I had a great routine going... We would arrive in from work and change straight away into our trackies and runners and head right out the door. I have been knocking a few minutes off my usual route consistently over the last few times I have done it. 50 minutes for a brisk 5k walk. not too shabby, for me anyway.

I haven't moved at all since Wednesday...not even the Wii fit, so i am determined to get out tomorrow and get moving. Hopefully any retaining weight I have will be going this Wednesday.

I am in no position to be preaching about getting fit and I am hardly going to run a marathon but trust me, the old adage... Eat less, move more is really working for me. Between being overweight, a smoker and having a dodgy leg (thanks to blood clots last year... which I blamed for putting on the 2 and a half stone I now need to lose.... any excuse except for the real reason which was that i just got plain lazy and ate my way out of depression and in a vicious circle ended up right in the middle of it again.... ), I can honestly say I am enjoying getting active again.

It is onwards and downwards from now on.... i just need a shot of motivation to get up of my hopefully soon decreasing ass!

Goal for this week is 1lb.... if i get there, I will have 5% in 5 weeks!



Weight chart week 4

Shared from Libra for Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.cachapa.libra

Chinese Cod & Mushroom Parcel - 5 Pro Points per serving

This recipe is just for one!

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 175g skinless cod fillet
• 1 rounded teaspoon of clear honey
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 small garlic clove (sliced)
• 1/4 of a red chilli (deseeded and sliced)
• 3 slices of root ginger (peeled and cut into matchsticks)
• 1 head of pak choi (halved)
• 60g of chestnut mushrooms (sliced thickly)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200c or if using a fan oven 180c
• Tear off a large rectangle of tin foil and lightly spray the dull side with the cooking spray
• Place the cod in the centre
• Mix the honey, soy sauce, garlic, chilli and ginger together and spoon half over the cod
• Sit the pak choi and mushrooms on top of the fish and drizzle with the remaining soy mixture
• Fold the foil up around the fish and vegetables, crimping and folding the edges together tightly to seal.
• Place on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 15 minutes

Tip: This works well with chicken too... just cook for an extra 5 minutes!

This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous and Filling Cookbook 2010 - Converted to Pro Points System



Pan Fried Turkey & Ham Escalopes - 6pps per serving

This recipe serves 2 people and trust me! it's DELISH!!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 x 125g turkey breast steaks
• 40g low fat soft cheese with garlic and herbs
• 4 slices of waver thin smoked ham
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of plain flour (seasoned with salt and pepper)
• 150ml hot chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Method:

• Place the turkey breast steaks between two layers of clingfilm and flatten using a rolling pin to approx 5cm thick.
• Cut each steak in half and spread each part with the soft cheese and use a cocktail stick to secure a slice of ham to each piece of turkey
• Add the oil to a non stick frying pan and heat the oil til hot
• Dip the escalopes in the seasoned flour and fry for 3 minutes on each side, cooking the ham side first
• Tip any remaining flour mixture into the pan and stir into the pan juices
• Blend in the stock and the lemon juice and bubble rapidly for 2 minutes
• Serve immediately
• DONT FORGET TO TAKE THE COCKTAIL STICKS OUT!!!

This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Fabulous and Filling cookbook - 2010 (converted to Pro Points System)





Quick Herby Chicken Curry - 5 Pro Points per serving

This recipe serves 2 people

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 1 small onion (sliced)
• 2 x 125g skinless chicken fillets (diced)
• 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
• 1 teaspoon of grated root ginger
• 1 teaspoon of garam masala or medium curry powder
• 2 teaspoons of cornflour
• 150g low fat natural yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh mint
• 3 heaped tablespoons of fresh coriander

Method:

• Heat a non stick frying pan until hot and spray with the cooking spray.
• Fry the onion for about 4 minutes
• Push onions to one side and add the chicken to the pan
• Cook for 3 or 4 minutes
• Stir onions and chicken together
• Add the garlic, ginger and garam masala or curry powder and cook for one minute
• Reduce the heat to medium, then remove from the hob
• Blend the cornflour with 1 teaspoon of cold water and stir this into the yogurt
• Gradually stir the yogurt mixture into the pan, one spoonful at a time
• Return to the bob and gently bring to a simmer
• Stir the herbs in right at the end and serve!!!

ENJOY!!!  15 minutes well spent!!!!!

Lucky Number 7

So this week was a good week. I got my first silver seven. First of many I hope.

It hasn't been easy. I have had more than my fair share of wobbles. The lure of freshly cooked chips with salt and vinegar, or beautifully fattening chicken balls looked set to break me.

I hung on. Thanks again to my buddies on the boards.ie forum for keeping me on track.

I'm quite lucky, bar one person at home who seems intent on bringing chippers home every second evening, the rest of my brood are so good with motivation for me. Whether its eating my low cal equivalents to their favourite dinners or even just coming walking or swimming with me, not to mention the compliments about how proud they are of me.

Living in a bit of a mad house, with mammy, my hubby, my sister and a boisterous ten year old along with mammy's partner and sisters boyfriend who come for dinner or breakfasts most days, we could all do with some form of healthy eating regimes, bar the ten year old who seems to have a metabolism of supersonic proportions!! Her likes and dislikes when it comes to food are quite easy to deal with on the WW wagon. She loves fruit, loves making smoothies, but like her father has a major addiction to pizza!! And playing basketball and swimming with her is great for the aul activity points!!!

As for the rest of us, well we are hardly an advertisement for fat families but my being on WW has had a really good effect on every one else. My mam, who bless her, hasn't been too well over the last few years and at 50 feels that your health is your wealth has really taken to a new outlook on her health. She still has the odd few chips every now and again, but she is more and more inclined to have the healthy option with me and as I said earlier, she has started walking with me and this evening... jogged!!!!! :D

The hubby is brilliant! He eats what I eat, although, he does have an amazingly sweet tooth so he tends to eat lots of chocolate etc...but his help with the walking... "Come on Ali, we are going for a walk" "Are ya ready to go swimming" etc... He stops me letting the day at work get to me and sit and veg on the couch... And the fecker is losing tonnes of weight himself... I would say at least half a stone if not more... He looks so much more toned already...

I have to say, the idea of Weight Watchers being a diet has totally left me. I see it as a lifestyle now. It makes complete and utter sense to me. If you eat crap day in day out the only way your weight is going to go is up. But if you have your treat and say to yourself, well I was naughty last night, maybe I should take it easy today. COMPLETE LOGIC!!!

 I really think my WW leader has got a lot to do with that. She helps sooooo much. She doesn't ram the programme down your throat. She gives tips that can actually be put into practise. Like me, she is more of a carbs girl and she lets the people in her class choose their own goals within the healthy weight range, and doesn't demand you set your goal on day one. Take one mini goal at a time.

Next goal for me is 2.5lbs down to my 5% goal!!

I will be posting some more recipes over the next few days.

(sorry for the rambling...this is my little vent for the day!! )



Tomato, Celery & Apple Soup - 1PPS

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 1 Onion chopped roughly
• 850ml of hot vegetable stock
• 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 4 Celery Sticks
• 1 Cooking apple
• 1 tablespoon of finely grated root ginger or 1 tablespoon of dried ground ginger
• 25g of soft light brown sugar
• Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

• Heat a large saucepan and spray with the cooking spray
• Fry the onion for 3 mins
• While stirring add 4 tablespoons of the stock
• Cover the pot and cook for another 3 mins until onions starting to soften
• Add the tomatoes, celery, apple, ginger and sugar plus the remaining stock
• Season with black pepper and bring to the boil
• Simmer with a lid on for 25 mins
• Transfer this to a liquidiser or food processor until smoth
• Return to the pan and reheat
• Serve in warm bowl

*This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010 and has been converted to Pro Points

Apple & Raspberry Muffins - 4PPS

Ingredients:

• Low fat cooking spray
• 225g Self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
• A pinch of salt
• 25g of porridge oats
• 100g caster sugar
• 150g apple sauce
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 175g low fat natural yoghurt
• 6 tablespoons skimmed milk
• 1 egg beaten
• 100g raspberries (fresh or frozen)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 200c/ 180c for a fan assisted
• Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin with the cooking spray
• Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Reserve 1 tablespoon of porridge oats for the muffin tops, then stir the remaining oats and sugar into the flour
• In a separate bowl mix the apple sauce, oil, yoghurt, milk and egg together
• Stir this wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until still slightly lumpy
• Stir in the raspberries
• Spoon into the muffin case holes
• Scatter the tops with the remaining porridge oats
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes until risen, firm and golden brown
• Cool on a wire rack

*This recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010

Peach & Mango Smoothie - 0pps (WW Fabulous & Filling)

Ingredients:

• 1 can peach slices in natural peach juice
• 1 ripe mango (peeled and stoned)
• Juice of 1 lime
• 4 Ice cubes

Method:

• Tip the tin of peaches into a liquidiser or food processor
• Roughly chop the mango flesh and add it to the peaches
• Add the lime juice and ice cubes
• Blend until smooth and serve immediately

*This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Fabulous & Filling Cookbook 2010 converted to Pro Points

Wobbly Week Three

So well into Week 3 now... Have had a few wobbles but had a loss last week which was very much unexpected! -1lb! That is 5lb down over my first few weeks. So this week's aim is 2lb... I want that silver 7!

Have been having a few wobbles and I have got very disheartened a few times, but thanks to the other half I am still on track. I made him promise that this time he is not to let me give up! No matter how much I moan! Its working! He is doing really well with helping me motivate my wobbles to walk, jog, exercise generally.

I have been tracking everything, measuring out my portions, drinking water. My tracker and my little purple book have been my bibles for the last few weeks.

This week I have rooted out my old Fabulous and Filling Weight Watchers cookbook and converting them to pro points, and have dug out a few receipes to try out.

Found a few really good for economising points too!

Will be adding them in the next hour or so....

Roll on WI on Wednesday evening.

Cheesey Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake

Tasty dinner for all the family.

Ingredients:

• 2 Chicken fillets
• 8-10 mushrooms (quartered)
• Peppers
• Tub of Low Fat Philly Garlic & Herb
• 1 large red onion
• Penne/ fusilli pasta
• 2 Cloves of garlic
• Basil (dried or fresh)
• Salt & Pepper

Method:

• Cut chicken into thumb size chunks & fry in some low calorie spray oil
• When chicken has turned white, toss in chopped peppers, mushrooms, onions and garlic.
• When softened add half a tub of Philly Garlic & Herbs
• Cook pasta until al dente
• Toss the drained, cooked pasta into the chicken and veg mixture
• Mix in some basil and place into an oven dish
• Bake in oven for 15/20 minutes @ 160

Enjoy!!!!

What a weekend! Motivation come find me!?

I had my first real test of my motivation this weekend.

Mammy taken into hospital on Friday morning, that meant no breakfast, and A&E being A&E, no lunch either... Mammy is fine... taken up residence in Tallaght Hospital for the weekend and as far as I can see is totally enjoying the break from a mad house! :)

Friday was a disaster. No food AT ALL until 7:30/8pm in the evening, so of course I was starving and despite having a Light Choices Lasagne with homemade coleslaw, I went well over my dailies by adding curly fries and garlic bread to the fray.I felt physically ill. Stuffed. Fit to be rolled into the bed!

Saturday was a new day, and if not for my new found friends on boards.ie Weight Watchers thread and the support of my OH and little one I really think I would have thrown in the towel. Instead, I started with a 7 pro point breakfast, poached egg, potato farl, 1 piece of bacon, lots of mushrooms and tomatoes. Really filling and really enjoyable.

From there I hit the park, dragging the family with me. Brisk walk with the two of them approx a KM, then of course DD wanted playground so Daddy brought her there while I carried on for a further 3k jogging and walking. A few minutes on Wii Sport with DD when we got back then a 0point soup for me, Spiced Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup.

Up to the hospital for a vist, while avoiding the sweets and crisps on offer, I opted for the grapes.. :)

Back home for a really low point dinner of Pan Fried Haddock fillet with Lemon Cous Cous with lots of veggies. 5 pro points!!!! I used up the rest of my points on a snack of crackawheat and spreadable cheese (with cracked black pepper) and a yummy WW dessert for 2 pro points and a glass of WW wine for another 2 pro points.

Today, another 7 pro point breakfast, a lovely Prawn Salad with Pepper Carpaccio and a tea of a bacon, cheese & tomato tostada. Wii Fit for a good hour too.

So motivated I even made a lovely Cheesey Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Bake for tomorrows dinner...

Sorry for the long post!!!!

Recipe: Spiced Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup - 0 Pro Points

Ingredients:

1 Butternut Squash
2 Carrots
1 onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic
Chilli flakes
Cumin
Salt & pepper


Method:

• Peel and chop the butternut squash into thumb size pieces
• Peel and chop the carrots into chunks
• Place on baking tray and spray with 2 sprays of low calorie spray
• Sprinkle with a teaspoon chilli flakes, half a teaspoon of cumin and toss
• Roast in the oven for approx 40 mins on 150c
• Chop the garlic and place the onion in a pot and fry in 2 sprays of low cal oil.
• When the squash and carrots are roasted and soft let them cool a bit then place them in a blender or food processor and blitz to a pulp.
• Top them out into the pot with the garlic and onions and fry off for 5 mins
• Gradually top up with water until the consistancy of choice

Total pro points - 0

First Weigh In

After countless attempts and all best intentions which lasted about as long as it took the Chinese or Chippy to arrive, I have really decided that enough is enough and I had to take the bull by the horns and finally do something about this collection of tyres I am collecting.

I think like most people I had a moment of pure "OMFG!!!" when I saw photos of myself from a recent holiday. After being ill and unable to walk properly for the guts of a year I tended to use that as an excuse not to get up off my ever growing backside. A bit like the "oh I just had a baby" while whispering the fact that the baby is walking and talking and is already halfway through primary school.

2012 is going to be the year of BIG changes.

There is 46lbs to lose. Two weddings, a hens and a holiday to aim for. It shall be done!!!!

So after the initial shock of how much weight I had gained over the past 2 years (almost 2 stone!) I cracked on with my 27 pro points a day.

The new plan seems really good. I very rarely feel hungry which is great. The bonus points are coming in handy too. This week I used just 11 of the 49 weekly points. And earned 16 activity points and considering how lazy I am, I am pretty happy with that.

The Chef inside me is in her element, with Fajitas, Quesadillas, Tikkas and Fritattas being created over the last week.

First weigh in down and I have lost 4lbs!

42lbs left!!!!

Aim for next week is 3lbs. I want that silver 7!!!!!