Shots, Shots, Shots...

Well..

Mug Shots.

Bonjourno!
So many people have asked (not me, but in general) what is the best snack to have on EE Slimming World. Apart from your standard "have some fruit and yoghurt" there hasn't really been anything that stands out for those of us that prefer a savoury snack to a sweet one.
There's always the "have some cold meat", which as appealing as it sounds, sometimes just doesn't cut it, especially on a cold day when all I want to do is eat a massive hot pizza. So I did a little digging and discovered Mug Shots, which are dried pasta and noodles in a range of savoury sauces. Seems to good to be true, a tasty pasta snack which is syn free?
Apparently not!

There's been a lot of confusion as to which Mug Shots are syn free, which have 1/2 syn value and which are more. It's fairly simple - the majority of the less than 1% fat ones are completely free on EE. But just to clear up any confusion, here's a simple diagram:

I hope this clears up any confusion for any slimming world-er!

Enjoy!

Ciao 

x

SW Progress and Paprika Pork Recipe

Bonjourno!

As you all you I was SUPER stoked last week when I went to Slimming World and found out that in one week I had lost a massive 12lb. This week I knew I wasn't going to to do as well - to lose weight that quickly would be unhealthy and there would be no way I would be able to keep it off. A theory suggests that 1-2lb a week is a healthy weight loss - in a year a 1lb a week weight loss adds up to a massive 4 stones!
I've already told myself over and over that this isn't a quick fix, I've given myself a year to change how I think about food, and to make myself a lot healthier than I was before. Continuing the way I am, I think that a year will do amazing things for me. Anyway, I went back this week for my weekly weigh in..

And discovered that I'd lost another 2 and a half pounds, leading to my stone award! :D

1 stone and half a pound in two weeks is just unbelievable, I can't believe how much I'm enjoying doing Slimming World, and I can't wait for the weeks and months to come to see how much my body will change. Maybe for once I'll actually look in the mirror and like what I see.

Here's to the next year!

This week I've also found a delicious syn free recipe for Paprika Pork, which is mouth-wateringly good.


You Will Need:

Low calorie cooking spray
Mushrooms
Peppers
500g lean pork fillet, cut into chunks
2 tbsp paprika
300ml chicken or vegetable stock
6 tbsp fat free natural fromage frais
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Method:

1. Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray. Add the mushrooms and peppers and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the pork and cook for 4 minutes or until browned. Sprinkle over the paprika and cook for 1 minute. Add the stock to the pan and bring to the boil, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Stir most of the fromage frais into the pork mixture and heat gently for 2 minutes. Season to taste, garnish with the remaining fromage frais and parsley, if using, and serve with boiled rice and vegetables of your choice.

Enjoy! Ciao 

x

Slimming World Progress!

Bonjourno!

As I mentioned in previous blogs, I started a new healthy eating plan in the new year in order to lose weight and generally be healthier. I joined Slimming World in the hopes that it would give me the motivation and support to be the way I want to be, rather than be miserable about how I am now. I have to say, the first time I went to the group it was super scary, I was so glad that my friend had decided to come with me and give me some moral support. However, after a while it was all okay, everyone was really nice - we're all in the same boat so there was no reason for anyone to say anything hurtful.
I think that is one of the main reasons why I went to Slimming World. I'm not the thinnest of people, and I never have been. I thought that I could just smile it off and pretend that I was happy with who I was - when in reality nothing made me sadder. I've grown tired of the comments that people try to say under their breaths, and the cat-calls that made my life a misery.

So, getting back to Slimming World, I went back after a week for my first weigh in last night. I was absolutely terrified, I thought that I would have put on weight for sure! I'd had a really good week though, eating so much fruit and vegetables and having way more energy from eating clean. Imagine my suprise when I discovered that I'd lost 12lb in my first week!

I was so delighted! I got my 1/2 stone award and everyone was really happy for me. I'm actually looking forward to next week to see if I can lose another 2lb and get my stone award!

Bring on the health!

Ciao!
x

Healthy Paella Recipe

Bonjourno!

As you all know, on Tuesday this week I decided to join Slimming World. I'm really enjoying the plan and eating clean again, and I feel this is definitely my time to do something about the body that I've always hated. Slimming World is so easy, you literally just fill your plate with healthy foods like veggies, chicken, rice, pasta.. with no measuring or weighing! I just have to watch how much dairy foods and fibre I have each day, and that's all.

So I decided to change a favourite dish that my friend used to make me, using way healthier foods and more vegetables. It's one of my favourites - Paella.

To make Paella you will need:

- 1 chicken breast

- Prawns

- Rice (I used boil in the bag but any rice is fine)

- Peppers

- Mushrooms

- 750ml of Chicken Stock

- Paprika

- Garlic (I used garlic salt)

- Mixed Herbs

Instructions:

1. Start cooking the rice so that it will be cooked at the same time as your chicken and vegetables.

2. Cut the chicken into strips or chunks, and heat in a pan with low calorie spray or water.

3. Add the mushrooms and the peppers, and heat until cooked.

4. Sprinkle paprika and garlic over the mixture for flavour.

5. When the rice is done, add to the chicken and veg and mix until the rice is coated with the juices.

6. Then add the chicken stock.

7. Sprinkle the prawns into the dish and stir well until everything is mixed together.

8. Leave to simmer for around 20-30 minutes - don't stir it until the very end!

ENJOY!

I can honestly say that this dish was amazing, and I couldn't believe it was so healthy and so filling. I will definitely be making it again!

Ciao!

x

Slimming World and Couch to 5K

Bonjourno!

So, I wrote last week that I was beginning a new weight loss/getting healthy journey, and I wanted all of you to come along with me. 
This week has ha many ups and downs, the first being the beginning of my couch to 5k training. The NHS Couch to 5K scheme is an easy to follow work out regime where you go from being a couch potato (literally me) to running 5 kilometres of for 30 solid minutes within around 10 weeks. Week one is going okay, I've done two sessions of 20 minutes alternating running and walking, it's really gentle exercise for those (like me) who suck at any form off exercise. I'm really looking forward to where this will take me, and being able to go out for a run sounds like something I would really love to do.
The second thing I did this week was finally join Slimming World. I've done this before and had major success with it, though I'm ashamed to say that I've put on all of the weight I managed to lose plus a whole lot more. It makes me sad that I've let myself get to the state I am, and I'm really happy that I'm now doing something about it. I'll be completely honest, when I got on the scales I almost threw up at the number, but the woman who runs the group was so lovely, she even gave out her phone number to all of us new members so that we could text if we were having an 'emergency craving moment'. 
Slimming World is not a diet. It's a whole new way of thinking about food, and I hope that one day I can inspire someone like me to change their lives for the better as well. I'm really looking forward to where this weight loss journey will lead me... maybe to a marathon?

Maybe not.

Still, it would be great to think that I could do one if I wanted to.. we'll see.

Keep watching for a week two update, moving onto longer bursts of running and seeing how Slimming World has worked in week one.

Wish me luck!

Ciao
x